Eric M. Murphy
@ericmmurphy.bsky.social
Birds, Math, Literature, & Airpower. BoD Member @Strategy_Bridge, #Strategy, #Development, #NationalSecurity, #MilitaryAffairs. Repost is not endorsement. Nothing interesting to say.
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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.
And, for the record and to head off the inevitable cleverness from the peanut gallery, of this and other things I am not certain.
Makes Machiavelli look like Kant by comparison. 😉
February 10, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Makes Machiavelli look like Kant by comparison. 😉
Indeed.
For whatever reason, lost in the mists of time, that’s the way the dust jacket was printed.
For whatever reason, lost in the mists of time, that’s the way the dust jacket was printed.
February 10, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Indeed.
For whatever reason, lost in the mists of time, that’s the way the dust jacket was printed.
For whatever reason, lost in the mists of time, that’s the way the dust jacket was printed.
I think I’ll change the titles on this little shelf each month.
A combination of factors—weather, work, furlough, fire—delayed this post, so here’s an easy out…some Liddell Hart (& adjacent) stuff. He was a self-promoter full of snake-oil, charlatanry, & circularity, but DAMN he could write.
A combination of factors—weather, work, furlough, fire—delayed this post, so here’s an easy out…some Liddell Hart (& adjacent) stuff. He was a self-promoter full of snake-oil, charlatanry, & circularity, but DAMN he could write.
February 10, 2026 at 2:10 AM
I think I’ll change the titles on this little shelf each month.
A combination of factors—weather, work, furlough, fire—delayed this post, so here’s an easy out…some Liddell Hart (& adjacent) stuff. He was a self-promoter full of snake-oil, charlatanry, & circularity, but DAMN he could write.
A combination of factors—weather, work, furlough, fire—delayed this post, so here’s an easy out…some Liddell Hart (& adjacent) stuff. He was a self-promoter full of snake-oil, charlatanry, & circularity, but DAMN he could write.
Post your favorite Lord of the Rings character. Wrong answers only.
February 8, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Post your favorite Lord of the Rings character. Wrong answers only.
“Roethke Plain”
John Malcolm Brinnin
John Malcolm Brinnin
February 8, 2026 at 10:22 PM
“Roethke Plain”
John Malcolm Brinnin
John Malcolm Brinnin
That’s a fun question. The argument is left to the reader.
February 7, 2026 at 11:15 PM
That’s a fun question. The argument is left to the reader.
I’m not thrilled by the prospect. I just think it’s one of the possible forcing functions for constructive cultural change in the professional structure of the US military.
February 7, 2026 at 11:14 PM
I’m not thrilled by the prospect. I just think it’s one of the possible forcing functions for constructive cultural change in the professional structure of the US military.
Jena and Auerstadt?
February 7, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Jena and Auerstadt?
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"Did you check the syllabus?"
"Did you check the syllabus?"
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"What does the procedure say?"
"What does the procedure say?"
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"I'm sorry, I'm still waiting on the insurance to get back to me."
"I'm sorry, I'm still waiting on the insurance to get back to me."
February 7, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.
"Did you check the syllabus?"
"Did you check the syllabus?"
A very solid little two-player game!
February 7, 2026 at 6:44 PM
A very solid little two-player game!
One of my favorite quotes from any film…and applicable to so many situations.
I love that Fish Called Wanda clocked the pundit class like 40 years ago
February 7, 2026 at 12:07 AM
One of my favorite quotes from any film…and applicable to so many situations.
I did not know that, I withdraw any aspersions, and it makes the whole thing subversively BETTER.
February 5, 2026 at 1:28 AM
I did not know that, I withdraw any aspersions, and it makes the whole thing subversively BETTER.
“Dr. Strangelove” was the first that came to mind.
February 5, 2026 at 1:27 AM
“Dr. Strangelove” was the first that came to mind.
“Bich” is maybe the greatest Freudian typo of the day…maybe even the week!
February 5, 2026 at 1:23 AM
“Bich” is maybe the greatest Freudian typo of the day…maybe even the week!
If only he offered any evidence of having read (rather than selectively quoting) Clausewitz. 😉
I agree that in many ways this book is a delight. Among the scholars in that Yale program, though, Hill’s book is by far the best, IMO. (Caveat: It’s been a minute…I reserve the right to be be wrong.)
I agree that in many ways this book is a delight. Among the scholars in that Yale program, though, Hill’s book is by far the best, IMO. (Caveat: It’s been a minute…I reserve the right to be be wrong.)
Amazon.com : grand strategy charles hill
www.amazon.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:20 AM
If only he offered any evidence of having read (rather than selectively quoting) Clausewitz. 😉
I agree that in many ways this book is a delight. Among the scholars in that Yale program, though, Hill’s book is by far the best, IMO. (Caveat: It’s been a minute…I reserve the right to be be wrong.)
I agree that in many ways this book is a delight. Among the scholars in that Yale program, though, Hill’s book is by far the best, IMO. (Caveat: It’s been a minute…I reserve the right to be be wrong.)
My wallet screams, but this is lovely.
"I realised that people abroad reduced Africa to a place that was simply conflict ridden."
fivebooks.com/best-books/b...
fivebooks.com/best-books/b...
Books About African History by African Writers
Five books about African history, as recommended by broadcaster and president of SOAS, University of London, Zeinab Badawi
fivebooks.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:04 PM
My wallet screams, but this is lovely.
Loss of confidence.
a man in a suit and headphones is saying you lost a bit of confidence
ALT: a man in a suit and headphones is saying you lost a bit of confidence
media.tenor.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Loss of confidence.
I’m already on the edge of appropriate, but I’ll say the extremity of my suggestion is based exclusively on the last 72 hours.
February 2, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I’m already on the edge of appropriate, but I’ll say the extremity of my suggestion is based exclusively on the last 72 hours.
If I were king, there would be a solid slate of NDU folks headed for the Tower and a trial after today.
Queen Of Hearts Alice In Wonderland GIF
ALT: Queen Of Hearts Alice In Wonderland GIF
media.tenor.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:59 PM
If I were king, there would be a solid slate of NDU folks headed for the Tower and a trial after today.
I’ve had bad days watching leadership fail despite everyone around them pushing as hard as they can.
Today is maybe in the running for worst.
And I failed in not making them do better. I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m a little despondent.
But there are still students who need us to stand in the gap.
Today is maybe in the running for worst.
And I failed in not making them do better. I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m a little despondent.
But there are still students who need us to stand in the gap.
a close up of a man wearing a helmet and a sword .
ALT: a close up of a man wearing a helmet and a sword .
media.tenor.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:40 PM
I’ve had bad days watching leadership fail despite everyone around them pushing as hard as they can.
Today is maybe in the running for worst.
And I failed in not making them do better. I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m a little despondent.
But there are still students who need us to stand in the gap.
Today is maybe in the running for worst.
And I failed in not making them do better. I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m a little despondent.
But there are still students who need us to stand in the gap.
“Why hast Thou forsaken Sausage?”
January 29, 2026 at 11:53 PM
“Why hast Thou forsaken Sausage?”
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
January 29, 2026 at 11:53 PM
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”