Weekly Reading: the DC Metro Suck, Camo of the World, PERFORMANCE, Poverty in America, the Big One, God's Death? and Naval Innvoation

This Map Shows Every Country's Military Camouflage Pattern
Just a cool little map.

The Death of God Is Greatly Exaggerated
Good Wall Street Journal article on the important advocacy work being done by Eric Metaxas.  And great points on the important role the Christian faith has played and continues to play in our society and culture.

Application Period Opens for CNO Rapid Innovation Cell
I don't think it's a question of whether or not this will prompt new 'innovations'--it will.  But the bigger question is what will be the allowable limits of innovations.  And if there are articial limits, is it really innovation?

The Infuriating History of How Metro Got So Bad
Yikes.  Looks like things have gotten worse...much much worse since we left DC a few years ago.

In the age of Amazon, used bookstores are making an unlikely comeback
Love to see the resurgence of used bookstores.  Bookstores are still amongst my favorite weekend activities (i.e., when I am not in Africa).

The Really Big One: The Earthquake That Will Destroy the Pacific Northwest
Easily one of the most terrifying articles that I've read...maybe ever.  The short of it: the entire Pacific NW is due for a cataclysmic natural disaster like none ever before experienced in the United States.

The Life and Times of Strider Wolf
Ugh.  Such a sad and depressing story about poverty in the United States.  But also an important story lest we forget the scope and depth of poverty in the U.S.

While DoD-centric, below is a great cheat-sheet for anyone looking to elevate their own performance...or more holistically evaluate a subordinate or peer.

An excerpt from "Death Before Dying"--Sufi poetry from the 17th century

My Granny Nanny Darling (yes–that is the name by which my grandmother prefers to be addressed) and I exchange letters, books and poems from time to time.  I shared with her some Bedouin poetry that I had come across in my grad school research and she shared the below excerpt from The Sufi Poems of Sultan Bahu 1628-1658.  Sultan Bahu was a Sufi saint and prolific writer.  I love the poem below--it captures beautifully many aspects of Sufism but also the prospect of facing death at the end of life.  He remains one of the most popular poets in India and Pakistan today.

Neither am I Sunni nor am I Shi’a–my heart is bitter with both

of them.

All long, dry marches came to an end when I entered the sea

of mercy.

Many nonswimmers tried and lost; a few climbed the other bank.

They made it across safe and sound, Bahu, who clung to the

guide’s hem.

From “Death Before Dying” 

More links:
Sufi Poetry Blog

Some of my favorite poetry books: