Joshua Tree Report: February 19th, 2017

This is the Joshua Tree Report for February 19th, 2017.

General Data

The temperature in Cody is 50° Fahrenheit and the weather is fair. The temperature in Kirkwall is 8° centigrade and the weather is stormy. The temperature in Muscat is 24°; centigrade and the weather is clear. A barrel of crude oil is selling at $53.40, and $1.24 currently exchanges for £1. This week's geospatial image is the Korengal Outpost (featured in the documentaries Restrepo and Korengal) in Afghanistan.

In the News

Here are a few of this week's top stories.

Did Rogue Russian Agents Plot a Coup in Montenegro? (War is Boring)

Russia Deploys Banned Cruise Missiles While A Spy Ship Hangs Out Off The U.S. Coast (Foxtrot Alpha)

U.S. Commander Warns of Russian, Iranian, Pakistani Influence in Afghanistan (Voice of America via Small Wars Journal)

Why Is Russia Helping Anti-U.S. Insurgents In Afghanistan? (NPR via Small Wars Journal)

Spies Keep Intelligence From President Trump (Wall Street Journal)

Trump’s Flaws Don’t Justify Illegal Leaks (National Review)

House members: EPA officials may be using Signal to “spread their goals covertly” (Ars Technica via Small Wars Journal)

T.E. Lawrence and the Desert Bromance That Sold America on a War (The Daily Beast via Small Wars Journal)

U.S., Mideast Allies Explore Arab Military Coalition (Wall Street Journal via Small Wars Journal)

The battle of al-Bab (BBC)

Syria war: 'Dozens killed' as jihadists clash in Idlib (BBC)

Somaliland agrees to UAE military base in Berbera (BBC)

New Mac malware pinned on same Russian group blamed for election hacks (Ars Technica)

Border Agent Demands NASA Scientist Unlock Phone Before Entering the Country (Gizmodo)

A Guide to Getting Past Customs With Your Digital Privacy Intact (Wired)

De-Anonymizing Browser History Using Social-Network Data (Schneier on Security)

How to Secure Your Home From Corporate Snoopers (Gizmodo)

Probe after Aberdeen cinema fight during T2 Trainspotting (BBC)

Fight at Aberdeen theatre during Michael Jackson Thriller Live (BBC)

Top Podcasts

These were my favorite podcasts from this week.

The spy who couldn’t spell: how the biggest heist in the history of US espionage was foiled – podcast (The Guardian)

#272: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Myth of Progress (The Art of Manliness)

No, the Trump transition isn’t endangering U.S. nukes. Here’s what to really worry about (War College)

The huns have got my gramophone: advertisements from the Great War (The National Archives)

Course Report

ENG 199: I gave ENG 199 a pass this week.
PAC 130: Due to unforeseen circumstances, PAC 199 is cancelled until further notice.
BA 480: I read five pages in The Design and Evaluation of Physical Protection Systems by Mary Lynn Garcia.
HST 406 (O): I re-outlined my manuscript, made some edits (additions and culls) to my master Great War timeline, re-organized my manuscript, and re-wrote my preface.
REL 199: I completed Symbolon 2:4.

Quote of the Week

"There are no two words in the English language more harmful than 'good job'."
- J.K. Simmons as "Terence Fletcher", Whiplash, 2014