Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Eric M. Murphy

@ericmmurphy.bsky.social

1.5K followers 830 following 2.9K posts

Birds, Math, Literature, & Airpower. BoD Member @Strategy_Bridge, #Strategy, #Development, #NationalSecurity, #MilitaryAffairs. Repost is not endorsement. Nothing interesting to say.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · Aug 19

I’m led back to this: “Of all sins, the greatest is certainty.”

And, for the record and to head off the inevitable cleverness from the peanut gallery, of this and other things I am not certain.

3 3 20

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 1d

I agree.

1 1

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 1d

I’m a birder. I came to this thing, not quite an obsession (except when it is), relatively late in life.

There are classic works that capture and communicate what this is. Now, I have a new one.

This is good. So. Fucking. Good.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...

LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching

YouTube video by owen reiser

m.youtube.com

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 1d

“Inniskeen Road: July Evening”
Patrick Kavanagh

allpoetry.com/Inniskeen-Ro...

The bicycles go by in twos and threes -
There's a dance in Billy Brennan's barn to-night,
And there's the half-talk code of mysteries
And the wink-and-elbow language of delight.
Half-past eight and there is not a spot
Upon a mile of road, no shadow thrown
That might turn out a man or woman, not
A footfall tapping secrecies of stone.
I have what every poet hates in spite
Of all the solemn talk of contemplation.
Oh, Alexander Selkirk knew the plight
Of being king and government and nation.
A road, a mile of kingdom, I am king
Of banks and stones and every blooming thing.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 1d

Fun note:

I first looked for the book at the public library, using a card catalog. There were two cards. One was filed under G: “Goldman, William…see Morgenstern, S.” The other, was filed under M: “Morgenstern, S…see Goldman, William.”

I shit you not. I friggin LOVE librarians.

3 10

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 1d

On an exciting Sat night in the laundry, I found this in our residents’ little lending library. It’s frivolous but fun. I saw the film in the theater, found the book at a library, read it repeatedly, & watched the film daily for a summer. I never tire of it. The song over the CREDITS makes me cry.

2 2 7

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

I didn’t see any National Guard, a constant presence in this part of DC. For that absence, I’m grateful, and I’ll sleep a little better.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

I would normally suggest that the @chargers.bsky.social are dead to me, but we don’t celebrate the misfortunes of the dead.

When I was young, I hoped for the Raiders and Cowboys to lose, and I prayed for a Chargers win.

Today, I hope for and celebrate anything ill that befalls the Chargers.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

It was cool, with a breeze. The water was quiet, the people occupied with puppies and priorities to which I’m not privy.

It was lovely, but I shoulda oughta gone home tonight. 🤷‍♂️

1 1

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

I think there MUST be a story here for @99pi.org and @romanmars.bsky.social. I would TOTALLY listen.

a man in a tuxedo is singing into a microphone with the words `` it 's up to you '' behind him .

ALT: a man in a tuxedo is singing into a microphone with the words `` it 's up to you '' behind him .

media.tenor.com

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

Walking home from the office tonight & carrying a wire hanger. (Don’t ask.). This hanger is from a German dry cleaner, I’ve had it (& its compatriot) for YEARS, & it’s an example of Germans doing the simple things SO WELL. Strange that a HANGER tells you everything you need to know.

a woman is screaming with the words " no wire hangers ever " behind her

ALT: a woman is screaming with the words " no wire hangers ever " behind her

media.tenor.com

2 2

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

More adventures in editing:

"Holistic" describes an approach concerned with complete systems. "Wholisitc" is not a word and has no place. Martin Garner, to my delight, draws an etiquette parallel, comparing the latter to "audible flatulence."

They are not interchangeable. Please stop. (137/X)

1 4

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

I was looking through this thread to see if a recent annoyance have already been covered, and it occurs to me that it might to be clear to most that is this a sub-skeet of nearly everyone (who (mis)quotes Clausewitz).

clausewitz.com/mobile/souve...

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

And would likely have had a nice, hot war with China had we invaded North Vietnam.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 4d

Did you happen to read through the comments and see the GREATEST two-factor authentication of all time?

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 4d

That’s a bit of delight.

2 1

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 4d

2 35

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

I do. I get care packages from NM.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

Jesus. I was bored from 2nd grade to War College…with the exception of pit stops in real grad schools that cared about nothing but real performance.

These people not interested in ability or achievement. They’re looking to drag everyone down to the lowest common denominator.

1 7

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

In the day, if you were lucky, Pedro would accost you at the grocery store. He’d flirt with the ladies and dare the men to try the hot.
M

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

It may seem a trivial thing, but I have a life hack for happiness.

If you can, try the best salsa in the history of salsa. (Is it the best? YES! I’m not taking questions.) Is it available only in the Albuquerque area? Unfortunately, yes.

The “hot” is my fave, but a dare. The medium is perfect.

3 6

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

If the name seems familiar, this is the father of Daniel Day-Lewis.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

“Almost Human”
C. Day Lewis

www.babelmatrix.org/works/en/Day...

The man you know, assured and kind,
Wearing fame like an old tweed suit ---
You would not think he has an incurable
Sickness upon his mind.

Finely that tongue, for the listening people,
Articulates love, enlivens clay;
While under his valued skin there crawls
An outlaw and a cripple.

Unenviable the renown he bears
When all's awry within? But a soul
Divinely sick may be immunized
From the scourge of common cares.

A woman weeps, a friend's betrayed,
Civilization plays with fire --
His grief or guilt is easily purged
In a rush of words to the head.

The newly dead, and their waxwork faces
With the look of things that could never have lived,
He'll use to prime his cold, strange heart
And prompt the immortal phrases.

Before you condemn this eminent freak
As an outrage upon mankind,
Reflect: something there is in him
That must for ever seek

To share the condition it glorifies,
To shed the skin that keeps it apart,
To bury its grace in a human bed --
And it walks on knives, on knives.

2 1

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 5d

The robot umpire can’t come fast enough. The jackass at the plate owes the @padres.com a written apology and public penitence.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 6d

Nobody said, “Stand in front of your battalion & fix your problematic zeitgeist.” That would be silly. You’re making a strawman of the ideas here.

The words we use matter. Suggesting military leaders get beyond cosplay and think about their profession is a good thing.

But I’m not the boss of you.

Eric M. Murphy @ericmmurphy.bsky.social · 6d

I disagree. Strongly. He does understand branding, I think, but he objects (as do I) to the brand. It’s not “out of touch” but rather “in touch” and responding to a profoundly problematic zeitgeist.