For the Love of Coal Fires

This is a post that could have easily appeared over at Operation Highlander, but I've been pretty consistent about posting over there lately, so I'll post it here. Something I enjoyed during my days in Orkney was a nice coal fire. The photo I've featured above, which somehow never made it on to the Operation Highlander blog, was taken during the Winter of 2013 when I was yet in Orkney. I know that coal is taboo due to environmental concerns, but it was so cool to come into Helgi's off the cold, blustery street and warm myself by the fire while enjoying a dram or a pint. In November of last year, I discovered that there's an hour-plus-long video of a coal fire (apparently filmed in Poland, not Orkney, but I'll take it), so I figured I'd share it.

As you can see from this second photo, I used the occasion of some cold nights in my since-vacated East Coast apartment to pour myself a dram or cuppa, light candles in my since-liquidated (and dearly missed) Moroccan lanterns, bundle myself into a cozy blanket, and enjoy a good book (like the Orkneyinga Saga, pictured) - or possibly a Washington Capitals game on the radio - while the coal fire burned happily on the television. Someday, I hope to have a house with an actual hearth in which Lady Jaye and I can build and enjoy a nice fire - maybe even burning a few chosen lumps of coal! Until then, I'll have to enjoy the spark and crackle of that YouTube video. Less heat, inferior ambience, but I'll take it.

The Referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan

A couple of years ago, I posted about my concerns for Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraq's Kurds are preparing to vote in an independence referendum. I'm getting caught up on news, and caught up on some articles I've saved on the topic. I may write something more substantial in the next few days. In the mean time, I wanted to share some of the articles I've collected.

Iraqi Kurdistan on the front line (BBC News, May 2016)

A referendum on Kurdish independence from Iraq carries grave risks (The Economist)

The Kurds Are About to Blow Up Iraq (World Affairs Journal/Michael J. Totten)

On the Kurdish Front Line, a Tense Night Fending Off Islamic State (War is Boring)

Iraqi Kurds Stockpiled Captured Islamic State Explosives (War is Boring)

For Iraq’s Long-Suffering Kurds, Independence Beckons (New York Times, via Small Wars Journal)

Iraqi Kurds 'prepared to draw own borders', Barzani warns Baghdad (BBC News)

Iraqi Kurdish leader: 'Our right to seek independence' (BBC News)

Iraq parliament votes to remove Kirkuk governor (al Jazeera)

Why is the Kurdistan Referendum Controversial? (VOA News, via Small Wars Journal)

Iraq MPs vote to sack Kirkuk governor over Kurdish referendum (BBC News)

U.S. Special Envoy: Kurdish Referendum Could Undermine Fight Against IS (VOA News, via Small Wars Journal)

UN urges Iraqi Kurds to drop referendum, hold talks (AFP)

Iraq army 'to intervene' if Kurds' referendum escalates (al Jazeera)

Kurdish referendum in Iraq: What and where? (al Jazeera)

Iraq top court rules to suspend Kurdish referendum (al Jazeera)

What is at stake in Iraqi Kurdish vote for independence? (BBC News)

Iraqi Kurdish referendum must be suspended - Iraqi PM (BBC News)

Northern Syria’s Anti-Islamic State Coalition Has an Arab Problem (War on the Rocks)

The Big News

Well, it's been a big month, with a lot of news. The biggest bit of that news? Well, I went and got myself married.

My first contact with Lady Jaye was in August of 2012. We met for the first time in December of 2013 - mere hours before January 2014. I proposed marriage in June of 2016. In August, we were married in her hometown. It took a lot of work, but when the dust settled, we got as close to a perfect wedding weekend as we could have possibly asked for. (That is, save for the unwelcome logistical disruption of the total solar eclipse, but it was more of an annoyance in the long run.)

The wedding followed some other big events for me: leaving my employer of ten years and relocating home to the West Coast after more than three years in Northern Virginia. Lady Jaye joined me for a few weeks in July, so we were able to do a joint goodbye tour, followed by my solo goodbye tour. My departure was bittersweet, because even though I don't feel as if I accomplished the goals I set when I moved to the National Capital Region in the first place, we had a great time in the process, and I think I set myself up for long-term success now that I've moved back home.

So... What now? Well, stay tuned.