From the battle for the White House to the dynamics of a first date, our lives are being reshaped by the constant presence of our phones — and our evolving relationship with the idea of being connected to everyone and …
“For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside.”
‘American Photographs’ by Walker Evans
The 75th anniversary edition of Walker Evans’ American Photographs, published by the Museum of Modern Art, reinforces the power and mastery of the legendary photographer’s work.
BattlelandAfghanistan
What U.S. Troops Are Doing to Curb Insider Attacks
On Tuesday, Pentagon leaders said they’d prefer to call the rash of “green on blue attacks” – where members of the Afghan security forces kill their U.S. and allied partners – “insider attacks” instead. They …
Paul Ryan’s Grand Vision
Maybe the GOP’s vice-presidential pick has a plan for the well-off, but what about everyone else?
BattlelandWeapons
Bigger Bang For The Buck
The Navy has just authorized full-rate production of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, a laser-guided rocket system that manufacturer BAE Systems says costs only a third as much the Hellfire missile commonly …
BattlelandMilitary Spending
Sequester: Muster the Bluster
Many have predicted that the January 2, 2013 “sequester” of $55 billion out of the $620+ billion Pentagon budget for 2013 would cause a lot of noise, even hysteria, during the presidential and congressional elections.
How right they were. But as usual, the politicians, the advocates and the pundits are paying attention to themselves, …
One More Time: Yes, College Is Worth It
A new study shows that despite the plight of unemployed college graduates, a degree still holds its value. Plus, education news on plagiarism in online courses and high school dropouts.
BattlelandAfghanistan
Black Hawk Down: Double-Edged Blades
Helicopters are wonderful machines that, like a bumblebee, are supposed to be unable to fly. It’s all that whirling hardware linked by shafts, masts, transmissions, cyclics and collectives that give them their amazing …
BattlelandMilitary Mental Health
Grim Record: Soldier Suicides Reach New High
A record number of soldiers – 38 – are suspected of killing themselves in July, the Pentagon said Thursday. It marks a startling jump in the suicide epidemic that has been frustrating Army leaders for years.
Switzerland Has Its Own Kind of Obamacare — and Loves It
The country requires everyone to purchase private health insurance, a system that seems to work efficiently while keeping costs under control.
BattlelandSuicide
This Isn’t Funny…
The Army’s failure to cut down on its suicide rate makes it a target for people without taste. Alas, the July figures due out shortly are unlikely to help.
As someone who has covered military suicides, and the folks waging the …
BattlelandPacific
War’s Legacy Plagues Japan and Its Neighbors
Resentment stemming from World War II resurfaces as Asian neighbors dispute over island territories