Rob Wright🌻

Photographer; storm & aurora chaser; and sports fan. For pretty pictures follow @RobWrightImages.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@F3OneD @IAPonomarenko Just say what you really want to say. You really want to call Trump his superior; his daddy. You reeeeeeeeeeally want to.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@PeterRVincenzo @IAPonomarenko @AVindman Elon doesn't wear a suit and tie in the Oval Office and he's our head of state...

[Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenko]

FYI, Zelensky’s semi-military official attire represents a very, very important aspect of life in Ukraine right now—tactical clothing and various gear that is worn by everyone who has any connection to the war and combat operations.

Over the years of war, an entire subculture of tactical clothing has developed in Ukraine, along with popular domestic brands such as M-Tac or Talan, and at times, we have as many military surplus stores as shawarma stands (often owned and run by veterans).

Pants, T-shirts with Velcro patches for insignia, jackets with multiple pockets, tactical backpacks, caps, knives, boots—demi-season, summer, winter—ballistic glasses, gloves, multitools, all kinds of accessories for body armor, weapons, and gear. Black, gray, olive, navy, coyote, every possible camouflage pattern, and everything else.

You could go on forever.

The culture of military patches, both official and unofficial, where there’s space for the wildest imagination and exercises in wit, is a whole separate topic, worthy of thick books.

Many soldiers are constantly buying extra gear to supplement or replace the standard-issue military clothing and equipment provided by the state. Many newly mobilized recruits rush to military stores and buy everything they see, even if they are drafted as accountants, only to later realize they have no idea what to do with piles of tactical gloves and night vision devices.

Tactical clothing is also worn by journalists, demobilized veterans, instructors, volunteers—many people involved in the war, supporting the army, and working in the combat zone.

Yours truly, for example, has not parted for years—from the days of the "ATO" in Donbas to the battle for Bakhmut—with my black "police-style" jacket worn under body armor, as well as black tactical pants, a backpack, and M-Tac coyote boots. They were with me even in the rainy equatorial forests of East Africa.

It’s not just incredibly practical, it’s also a statement—I'm not a soldier, but I am part of the common cause of defending the country from the aggressor, of saving our nation and our way of life, and I am making my contribution.

Here’s an example: at the start of the battle for Kyiv, when Russian troops were already storming the outskirts of the capital, many who remained in the city were preparing for bloody urban combat. And many were stocking up on tactical clothing and gear (just because you're in a battle doesn't mean you shouldn't look fabulous and well-equipped, right?).

I was among them—and when I arrived at one of the major tactical stores still operating in the city, I was taken aback because I found a line stretching half a kilometer long.

This is an important aspect of life in Ukraine, visible every day in cities across the country. It’s also important to buy from Ukrainian brands, supporting veteran-owned businesses, as well as to wear national symbols—such as the Tryzub of Prince Volodymyr the Great.

One crucial rule—civilians (unless they are demobilized veterans) have no moral right to buy and wear camouflage clothing, whether it’s Multicam or our Ukrainian military patterns like the army’s "pixel." In this community, it is considered immoral and unacceptable. Camouflage is a mark of honor for a soldier. Want to wear it? Take the oath and join the military.

But if, for example, a civilian involved in the war effort wears tactical clothing in black, gray, dark blue, olive, or beige—there’s no issue. It’s practical, and it fits the times.

This is exactly what Zelensky does when he meets world leaders in front of the cameras in semi-military tactical attire. He represents a fighting Ukraine, where millions of people are not just serving in the armed forces but also contributing to the country’s defense for the sake of a common future in their homeland.

And Zelensky does it the right way—he deliberately avoids wearing an official military uniform or camouflage, which other politicians have shamelessly and absurdly used for self-promotion.

Yes, he is the Commander-in-Chief, but he is not a soldier, and even he does not have the moral right to wear camouflage, which is sacred, because it is in that uniform that Ukrainian soldiers shed their blood for our country and heroically fight against one of the largest and most ruthless armies in history.

All of this is far beyond and far greater than those petty, sneering giggles "Do you even have a suit?"

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@Mrosetti7 @jeff_gluck Right? No mention of Allmendinger since the restart and he ended up 30th. I can't imagine his tires behind THAT bad. Crickets from FOX.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@IAPonomarenko And yet, it feels like it's only 10 PM and we have many more hours to go.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@DonRohr This is where I'd be saying "Ugh, I'm so tired tomorrow."

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

Boston hit 50º+ five times to this point in 2024, then went above 50º three consecutive days (26/27/28) at the end of February.

[Mike Wankum @MetMikeWCVB]

We may hit 50 Tuesday. That would be the first time this year.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@Foxhound2931 @jeff_gluck The danger aspect I refer to that's compelling would still exist no matter how safe the cars are; the danger of a driver crashing out and ruining their race, even if they walk away unscathed every time.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@Foxhound2931 @jeff_gluck The danger aspect is part of what makes it compelling.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@jeff_gluck There has to be a way of responding to those wrecks quickly and safely while preserving the leaders being able to race to the finish line on the final lap. If a better system was in place, NASCAR could be much quicker to throw the yellow than they are now.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

Due to recent experiences this year, no more first dates/vibe checks in the week before Christmas and my birthday, or the day after them, to minimize the anxiety/awkwardness/letdowns on those days.

[Rob Wright Images @RobWrightImages]

May's calendar photo for the 2025 Wall Calendar is from the unforgettable night of #Auroraborealis back on May 10th at the Nubble Lighthouse.
--
11x17" wall calendars with wire bend at the top, printed on premium card stock. $30 each at the link: https://t.co/a8h9nlJBrc

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

THE ROAD IS WET.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
THE ROAD IS WET!
#drought

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@DirtyMoMedia @SteveLetarte Or, keep things the way they are with playoffs but award a separate champion based on total points accumulated the entire year. You have your playoff champion and your points champion.

All the glory might go to the playoff champion but the points champion gets a huge $ bonus.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@DirtyMoMedia @SteveLetarte Hey, as long as we're trying out crazy ideas, why not make every playoff race an elimination race? The lowest-finishing playoff driver each race gets eliminated until we get to Phoenix, then highest finish of the remaining drivers wins the championship.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@PatCallaghan6 @InTheArenaMaine @phil6_2 @mayorstrim @WMTWTV If kids are being sent home with a packet of busy work that's enough to tick the box and call it a school day, I'm really meh about it.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@BiggusDick49490 @JakeSherman @PunchbowlNews And then we know the big secret.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@RobertMSterling I never wanted Trump to win and when one of my best friends revealed she voted Trump, I thought I couldn't be friends with her anymore but decided to listen instead, and I'm glad I did. Like it or not, this is MAGA's time and I'm genuinely curious to see how it plays out.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@nosmh_x I noticed this with his education plan as well.

[Rob Wright🌻 @robwright11]

@piyushmittal Another missing piece is that we need people to continue to buy foreign materials and pay the tariffs so they'll offset his tax cuts.