EMC

Reads. Writes. Chats. Civil discourse. Civ-mil. Arts. Library-land. History. Introvert.

[EMC @SoundScopeSight]

For posterity.

[EMC @SoundScopeSight]

@DrHelenFry The story Wing Commander F.F.E. Yeo-Thomas, the “White Rabbit”. His torture by the Nazis, escape from Buchenwald, and ability to rally resistance in the direst of circumstances is a credit to him and the SOE.

[EMC @SoundScopeSight]

What the fuck.

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Hegseth: "I'm also proud that today we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."

[Widmerpool Appreciation Society @AtticumFloreat]

RIP Patricia Routledge, an absolute legend.

[Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig]

BREAKING: Four people have been injured in a car and stabbing attack at a synagogue in Manchester, UK.

On the morning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day for Jews, they are coming to our synagogues to murder us.

[Boze Herrington, Library Owl 😴🧙‍♀️ @SketchesbyBoze]

Saw someone say, “Stop hoarding books, we don’t need paper books anyway” and I can’t express how misguided this is. Online libraries disappear, digital books can be altered, and with Big Tech seeking to destroy history and literacy, print media has never been more essential.

[Duffel Blog @DuffelBlog]

Applebee’s admits its heart just isn’t in it anymore https://t.co/Bl4aH1xgOY

[EMC @SoundScopeSight]

@PuppiesIover Scottish Breakfast Tea.

[EMC @SoundScopeSight]

The heartbreak. 💔 24 years.

[FDNY @FDNY]

“We try to honor them every single day, not just on 9/11. We try to live up to the expectation that they set. They had airplanes hanging out of buildings, and nobody turned around and walked away,” said Captain Thomas Riches of the Rescue Battalion.

Riches joined the department in 2006, following the path of his father, retired Deputy Chief James Riches, and three brothers, including Firefighter Jimmy Riches, who made the Supreme Sacrifice on September 11, 2001, just a day shy of his 30th birthday.

[Dr Helen Fry | WWII Historian @DrHelenFry]

Preserving the wartime stories of our treasured Second World War veterans is crucial for educating both present and future generations.

Please take the time to record the contributions of your family members—it is essential!

[Julia Ioffe @juliaioffe]

I’m old enough to remember American commentators asking, every time Putin did anything increasingly authoritarian, why Russians weren’t out in the street protesting and toppling the dictatorial regime. Wondering what they’re thinking now—and why they’re not asking that about Americans.

[NASA @NASA]

A statement from the family of Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell on his passing:

"We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, USN Captain James A. "Jim" Lovell, a Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader, and space explorer. He was 97.

We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight. But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind."

[CBS News @CBSNews]

BREAKING: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, says it will close down after federal cuts. https://t.co/oECVS5nbDT

[Sir Humphrey @pinstripedline]

According to previously unseen highly SECRET files release today (22 Jul), in 1989, the UK Government began planning in the utmost secrecy for the mass evacuation of millions of people from Hong Kong ahead of handover to China.

This was called 'The Armageddon Scenario'

[EMC @SoundScopeSight]

@AmericanGwyn Great list! Also, love the penmanship.

[Ryan Shead @RyanShead]

From Colonel Bree Fram:

I have been placed on administrative leave, effective tomorrow, pending separation.

In my last official act, I was able to pin medals on three of my folks. The last salute broke my heart in two and the tears flowed freely even as I have so much to be thankful for and so many amazing memories.

There are two moments that bookend my authentic service that will stay with me always.

The first was in 2016, the day the Secretary of Defense announced that transgender individuals could serve openly. That very day, I came out to my teammates. After sending the email, I left for the gym to burn off the nervous energy, uncertain of how life might change. When I returned, one by one, my teammates came to my desk, shook my hand, and said versions of, “It’s an honor to serve with you.”

The second came just last week at my final 1-star level sync with the Joint Staff. I provided one brief update and then shared that it was my final meeting and because it was an unplanned departure we’d have to figure out my replacement soon. The colonel next to me asked where I was going. I let him know that I didn’t meet the current standard for “Military Excellence and Readiness” and would be departing on administrative leave.

There was a moment of silence before reality settled in. Then, one-by-one, a room full of senior leaders, admirals and generals, walked over to me and the scene from 2016 repeated. They offered those same words, now tinged with the sadness of past tense: “It’s been an honor to serve with you.”

Both times, I walked away with tears in my eyes. It wasn’t from sadness, but because everyone had it backwards: it has been my honor to serve with all of them.

While my time in uniform is ending far earlier than I had hoped, rather than grieving what has been lost I am choosing to focus on all I have gained.

What I gained, most unexpectedly, was a family. A team that stood by me through life’s most difficult trials. From the loss of a child and another who fought for life after being born 12 weeks early, to a cancer diagnosis and life-threatening surgery, to the circumstances leading to my separation today, they were there. They offered encouragement, extended their hands, shared their love, and showed the kind of care that can only be forged through shared service. I will never forget the countless times they lifted me up. My hope is that I was able to offer that same support in return.

This chapter may be ending, but I leave far richer for having gone on this grand adventure.

I will miss the mission deeply, but I will miss those I have served with even more than I can put into words.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this nation and defend the freedoms and opportunities we have as Americans. My wildest dreams came true wearing this uniform.

#Pride #PrideMonth #Military #Veteran

[Joel Chan @kjoules]

Claudia Mo breaks her silence since being released from prison: “Prison life was surreal, almost Kafka-esque to start with.”

https://t.co/uOZJKo4MzQ

[Maude Frome @frome_maude]

The magical world of one of the greatest women illustrators - Beatrix Potter #FolkloreSunday #Easter

[EMC @SoundScopeSight]

@TheFigen_ Kindness. 🥹🫶🏻💕

[Haley Britzky @halbritz]

Recent firings at DOD are just one symptom of the dysfunction that has enveloped Hegseth’s office as leaks and infighting have left him increasingly suspicious of even his closest longtime advisers, sources tell @NatashaBertrand @jaketapper @ZcohenCNN + me
https://t.co/Ab4KhE8Y6u

[olexander scherba🇺🇦 @olex_scherba]

Her name is Olena. A Russian missile killed her today in 🇺🇦 Sumy.

One of 34 dead (so far).

#StandWithUkraine