Read This: Redeployment

I love a good short story collection, and specifically remember discovering the works of Tobias Wolff, Tim O'Brien and Junior Diaz as an undergrad. There is nothing more satisfying than finding a book that you just don't want to end, or a collection that keeps you in the house on an otherwise gorgeous day.

That's how I felt this weekend about Redeployment a collection of short stories about life during the Iraq War. It's sad and nuanced and there's plenty of gallows humor. It'll give you a better understanding of the Iraq War than anything you'll find in the news.

It's gotten some great review on The New York Times and NPR. You can buy it here and thank me later.

Who Throws A Shoe, Honestly?

Am I the only one who saw the video of Bush getting a shoe thrown at him in and thought of this scene from Austin Powers:

Journos In Iraq Have It Rough

"Iraq: all the whiskey a man can drink, but not a piece of ass in three
time zones," said an embedded guy friend who is in Baghdad.

Reuters: War Is Hell

The fifth anniversary of the Iraq war is fast approaching, and news outlets are putting together their retrospectives.

Reuters put together this interactive feature in which they interview three of their journalists who have been there since 2003. It's definitely worth checking out.