Adam Smith
@adambikewrench.bsky.social
Defence / History / Oceania / Wargaming
Former 8541, messenger and bikewrench
Massey CDSS alum
(Certified bicycle mechanic with decades of experience in shops, feel free to DM or post with questions)
Former 8541, messenger and bikewrench
Massey CDSS alum
(Certified bicycle mechanic with decades of experience in shops, feel free to DM or post with questions)
Pinned
Reposted by Adam Smith
My humble and basic observations kindly quoted by Andrew Greene regarding identity and origin of the PLAN flotilla currently underway in the Philippine Sea, possibly (!) heading further down under, pun intended.
thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...
thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...
Chinese firepower claim that should alarm Australia’s navy
The grim warning on Beijing’s flotilla in the Philippine Sea came the same week that Beijing flexed its maritime muscle with more than 100 vessels in the region.
thenightly.com.au
December 5, 2025 at 1:54 PM
My humble and basic observations kindly quoted by Andrew Greene regarding identity and origin of the PLAN flotilla currently underway in the Philippine Sea, possibly (!) heading further down under, pun intended.
thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...
thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...
Reposted by Adam Smith
The 22nd MEU has been providing assistance to Jamaica for the last month. Just because no one pays attention to US disaster response doesn’t mean the it’s not routine for Marines. It’s why they’re based forward.
www.22ndmeu.marines.mil/News/Press-R...
www.22ndmeu.marines.mil/News/Press-R...
December 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
The 22nd MEU has been providing assistance to Jamaica for the last month. Just because no one pays attention to US disaster response doesn’t mean the it’s not routine for Marines. It’s why they’re based forward.
www.22ndmeu.marines.mil/News/Press-R...
www.22ndmeu.marines.mil/News/Press-R...
Ok, the Spotify wrapped analysis had me at 73yo lol. But not all wrong.
December 4, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Ok, the Spotify wrapped analysis had me at 73yo lol. But not all wrong.
I should have mentioned that yesterday there was a package waiting at my front door when I got home. 🙏🤩
#SecretSantaAoNZ
#SecretSantaAoNZ
December 3, 2025 at 5:18 AM
I should have mentioned that yesterday there was a package waiting at my front door when I got home. 🙏🤩
#SecretSantaAoNZ
#SecretSantaAoNZ
Reposted by Adam Smith
Brutal "band of brothers" profile from Reuters tracking 11 young Ukrainians who volunteered this spring and deployed to the front together. Zero of these men are still fighting today. 4 were wounded, 3 are missing, 2 deserted, 1 fell ill, and 1 killed himself. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Band of brothers: how the war crushed a cohort of young Ukrainians
Reuters followed the fortunes of a group of raw recruits who enlisted in the spring as part of Ukraine’s drive to refresh its depleted ranks. None of them are still fighting.
www.reuters.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Brutal "band of brothers" profile from Reuters tracking 11 young Ukrainians who volunteered this spring and deployed to the front together. Zero of these men are still fighting today. 4 were wounded, 3 are missing, 2 deserted, 1 fell ill, and 1 killed himself. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Adam Smith
While standard monitoring systems showed empty ocean, Starboard successfully detected and tracked this "dark" PLA(N) Surface Action Group in the Philippine Sea.
We identified a Type 075 LHD, Type 052D Destroyer, Type 054A Frigate, and Type 903A Replenishment vessel.
#MaritimeSecurity #OSINT
We identified a Type 075 LHD, Type 052D Destroyer, Type 054A Frigate, and Type 903A Replenishment vessel.
#MaritimeSecurity #OSINT
December 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
While standard monitoring systems showed empty ocean, Starboard successfully detected and tracked this "dark" PLA(N) Surface Action Group in the Philippine Sea.
We identified a Type 075 LHD, Type 052D Destroyer, Type 054A Frigate, and Type 903A Replenishment vessel.
#MaritimeSecurity #OSINT
We identified a Type 075 LHD, Type 052D Destroyer, Type 054A Frigate, and Type 903A Replenishment vessel.
#MaritimeSecurity #OSINT
Reposted by Adam Smith
Reposted by Adam Smith
If you’re shopping today @usni.org is running a big holiday sale with 50% most books, including On Tactics, On Operations, and 21st Century Ellis.
www.usni.org/press/books
www.usni.org/press/books
November 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
If you’re shopping today @usni.org is running a big holiday sale with 50% most books, including On Tactics, On Operations, and 21st Century Ellis.
www.usni.org/press/books
www.usni.org/press/books
Reposted by Adam Smith
November 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by Adam Smith
182 years ago, on the 28th of November 1843, England and France recognized Hawaiian independence. This day is still celebrated as the Hawaiian Independence Day (or Lā Kūʻokoʻa) by proponents of Hawaiian sovereignty. Hawaii became an American territory in 1900 and a state in 1959. #otd #history 🗃️
November 28, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen (plus a couple more, as I remember them…)
David Bowie
Fugazi
Shellac
Jon Spencer*
Sonic Youth
Screaming Trees
Bikini Kill
Boredoms
David Bowie
Fugazi
Shellac
Jon Spencer*
Sonic Youth
Screaming Trees
Bikini Kill
Boredoms
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen (and a couple more, to show diversity)
--
Afghan Whigs*
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy*
Pearl Jam*
Old Crow Medicine Show
Dropkick Murphys/Bosstones
KISS
Fabulous Thunderbirds/Bluesfest
Metallica
*multiple times
--
Afghan Whigs*
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy*
Pearl Jam*
Old Crow Medicine Show
Dropkick Murphys/Bosstones
KISS
Fabulous Thunderbirds/Bluesfest
Metallica
*multiple times
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen —
(And some others because I'm bragging)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Huey Lewis and the News
America / .38 Special
The Beach Boys
U2
The Eagles
James Taylor and Jackson Browne
Bob Seeger
Heart
(And some others because I'm bragging)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Huey Lewis and the News
America / .38 Special
The Beach Boys
U2
The Eagles
James Taylor and Jackson Browne
Bob Seeger
Heart
November 28, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen (plus a couple more, as I remember them…)
David Bowie
Fugazi
Shellac
Jon Spencer*
Sonic Youth
Screaming Trees
Bikini Kill
Boredoms
David Bowie
Fugazi
Shellac
Jon Spencer*
Sonic Youth
Screaming Trees
Bikini Kill
Boredoms
Reposted by Adam Smith
Deloitte also fucked up the same way in Australia www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
November 23, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Deloitte also fucked up the same way in Australia www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Anyone found any particularly good replacement ear tips for Powerbeats Pros? None of several types I tried fit that great.
November 25, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Anyone found any particularly good replacement ear tips for Powerbeats Pros? None of several types I tried fit that great.
Reposted by Adam Smith
Reposted by Adam Smith
The Cook Islands allowed over a hundred shadow fleet tankers trafficking sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. A Big Read from me looking at the curious case of Maritime Cook Islands with an investigation employing big data analysis and fieldwork in Raro. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
The dark fleet hiding in our own backyard: How the Cook Islands sold its flag to Moscow and Tehran
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: How shadow fleets made the Cook Islands flag inconvienent.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Cook Islands allowed over a hundred shadow fleet tankers trafficking sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. A Big Read from me looking at the curious case of Maritime Cook Islands with an investigation employing big data analysis and fieldwork in Raro. www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
Reposted by Adam Smith
I have a brilliant idea on how to counter Russia and China. We could focus on building up our partners in Asia and the ongoing conventional fucking war in Europe instead of a pointless war in South America.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Cracks me up how you could just replace Venezuela and Venezuelans with Iraq and Iraqis and it’d be indistinguishable from something written in 2002
November 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I have a brilliant idea on how to counter Russia and China. We could focus on building up our partners in Asia and the ongoing conventional fucking war in Europe instead of a pointless war in South America.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Reposted by Adam Smith
Check out this great work by @strategictrends.bsky.social
(and shoutout to allies, partners, and amphibious defense)
(and shoutout to allies, partners, and amphibious defense)
For my Master's thesis, my most important finding was America's traditional asymmetric advantages enjoyed over China, being technological superiority and experience, will almost cease to exist over the next 15 years, but more impactful ones will endure!
Many reasons to hope.
Lets talk about it.
Many reasons to hope.
Lets talk about it.
November 24, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Check out this great work by @strategictrends.bsky.social
(and shoutout to allies, partners, and amphibious defense)
(and shoutout to allies, partners, and amphibious defense)
Reposted by Adam Smith
RIP Udo Kier, the most gonzo Dracula.
November 24, 2025 at 12:24 AM
RIP Udo Kier, the most gonzo Dracula.
Reposted by Adam Smith
Former Finnish PM Sanna Marin put it bluntly: “To end the conflict, Russia must leave Ukrainian territory.”
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Former Finnish PM Sanna Marin put it bluntly: “To end the conflict, Russia must leave Ukrainian territory.”
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Just one point. Nothing more to discuss.
Not as much chatter as I would hope on Winston going for the #temuferryoption.
Is this the NZ version of a pivot to China (COMEC)?
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Is this the NZ version of a pivot to China (COMEC)?
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
How the government plans to save $2b on new Cook Strait ferries
The costings have been revealed for the project which will see two new ships sail into New Zealand.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 21, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Not as much chatter as I would hope on Winston going for the #temuferryoption.
Is this the NZ version of a pivot to China (COMEC)?
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Is this the NZ version of a pivot to China (COMEC)?
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Reposted by Adam Smith
Descendants of A Company 28th Māori Battalion: the book research trust would like your stories / photos.
Otamatea Marae, Maungaturoto.
29 November.
Pōwhiri at 11am - gather in the carpark by 10.45am.
RSVP on image, and in alt text.
Otamatea Marae, Maungaturoto.
29 November.
Pōwhiri at 11am - gather in the carpark by 10.45am.
RSVP on image, and in alt text.
November 20, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Descendants of A Company 28th Māori Battalion: the book research trust would like your stories / photos.
Otamatea Marae, Maungaturoto.
29 November.
Pōwhiri at 11am - gather in the carpark by 10.45am.
RSVP on image, and in alt text.
Otamatea Marae, Maungaturoto.
29 November.
Pōwhiri at 11am - gather in the carpark by 10.45am.
RSVP on image, and in alt text.
Is your tree up yet? #SecretSantaAoNZ
I love reading history and literature, films, modelling and some diy if cornered.
Vinyl and dvd collector, 'zine culture, dada and surrealism.
Te ao Māori
I love reading history and literature, films, modelling and some diy if cornered.
Vinyl and dvd collector, 'zine culture, dada and surrealism.
Te ao Māori
November 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Is your tree up yet? #SecretSantaAoNZ
I love reading history and literature, films, modelling and some diy if cornered.
Vinyl and dvd collector, 'zine culture, dada and surrealism.
Te ao Māori
I love reading history and literature, films, modelling and some diy if cornered.
Vinyl and dvd collector, 'zine culture, dada and surrealism.
Te ao Māori
Can anyone point me to a good analysis of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021? Specifically, actions that would have made it "better."
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Can anyone point me to a good analysis of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021? Specifically, actions that would have made it "better."
Reposted by Adam Smith
I don’t think FIFA would move the World Cup from Seattle. Trump is full of bluster. But this isn’t on Katie Wilson to address. It’s on Seattle’s business community, which needs to stop falsely claiming Seattle isn’t safe if they want to protect their potential profits. More here:
November 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I don’t think FIFA would move the World Cup from Seattle. Trump is full of bluster. But this isn’t on Katie Wilson to address. It’s on Seattle’s business community, which needs to stop falsely claiming Seattle isn’t safe if they want to protect their potential profits. More here:
Reposted by Adam Smith
Pay her.
I’m 250 paid subscribers away from a major goal. Think we can get there tonight? www.thehandbasket.co/upgrade
New — I wrote about the myriad ways journalism’s moral rot manifests, and how our crumbling institutions have created the conditions for it to fester:
November 19, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Pay her.