Andrew Burtch

Black and white photograph of a porter (on the right, with white jacket and dark cap) leaning over to light the cigarette of a patient lying in the bed on the left. Image source: Library and Archives Canada, e011871941.

Reposting & updating a blog post of mine from 2025 as part of Library and Archives Canada's Black Porter Perspectives series. Pic of porter & veteran Jean-Napoléon Maurice & Private Clarence Towne as entry to archival sources (1/5):

thediscoverblog.com/2025/02/18/b...

#BlackHistoryMonth #CdnHist

I still laugh when I remember the genius of Hot Roddy the Bullymancer.

Happy Flag Day everyone! 📸: Multinational Force and Observers South Camp, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. 2019.

Much has been made of single engine and Northern Ops. What's your take?

This rendering depicts what every academic hopes the reaction will be to their presentation at a conference, people clearly blown away, beards bristling in excitement or outrage, etc.

No. No. Unacceptable.

For some reason, this morning I gave some thought to Project Habakkuk, the iceberg aircraft carrier idea from the Second World War. If they ended up making it, would there have been a crew library? A Habakkuk Book Nook, perhaps? I'll see myself out.

This morning's chuckle: Capt. Stephen S. Tucker, RMR to Lt. Col. William W. Loring, RMR. "I have the honor respectfully to forward the within resignation and strongly urge its acceptance. This officer has on several occasions evinced a total imbecility in the discharge of his duties."

Quality post here folks

A black-and-white portrait photo of a man with short, neatly combed light-colored hair, facing directly at the camera with a serious, neutral expression. He has a narrow face, prominent ears, and is wearing a dark suit jacket, a white collared shirt, and a light-colored tie. The background is plain and light-colored, typical of a formal mugshot or identification photo style.

On this day in 1919, Igor Gouzenko was born north of Moscow. In 1945, he defected from the Soviet Union to Canada with documents that proved the Soviets were spying on their Second World War allies.

Learn more in my Deep Dive 👇
buff.ly/fPen98J

It is excellent. But I like all his stuff.

I am reading Ian MacEwan's What We Can Know and it is a fun speculation on just this.

This is a bit of fun.

Very interesting, especially to learn JTF2's initial operation name in Afghanistan.

Just me sitting atop a pile of Oni raiders playing a sick tune on the ol' shamisen. My daughter loves the painting part so I reserve those for when she's around so she can do them.

Literary theme park ride idea:
Old Man and the Whee?

30 Rock "What a week" meme: "What a year, huh?" "Lemon, it's January 3rd."

I believe that is called a night terror. Possibly a snore. I recommend the United States sleep on its side.

I love how many times "Turkish Bath" is repeated in one ad. Real Gabbo vibes.

ME: (first day practicing Bug Law) May it please the Court—
BUG JUDGE: (sternly) Bug Court.

Lil guy just heard someone open a bag of chips.

For this operation you must wear these poorly fitted plastic fangs and these capes.

True enough!

One of the great things about military history is that you can spend years reading about it and still learn that someone landed on "Operation Dracula" as the name for a serious military operation.

For no reason whatsoever I'm remembering Richard Holbrooke's position that if the Serbian negotiators at Dayton started a history lecture he was out of there.

lol

In the midst of the darkest of times, a hero stands up for what is right. The brutal, deliberate attack against Jewish Australians celebrating Hanukkah at #Bondi Beach today is an abomination. For those murdered while celebrating the 1st day of the Festival of Lights, may their memory be a blessing.

Guardians of the North Atlantic

An early Christmas present for all you naval nerds - our book on NATO maritime strategy and ops is out next week!

My contribution is on mission modularity and why it isn't a panacea for, like, actual capability.

It was an honour to work with such a great crew!

www.nomos-shop.de/de/p/guardia...

It's fitting that the cover on AI mindlessly apes an earlier creation and also displaces workers while elevating Silicon Valley plutocrats.

Reimagine the ethics of conflict studies with a committed and smart group of scholars. Please send them your abstract!