Whatismoo
@whatismoo.bsky.social
Transatlantic Doctoral Student covering the Cold War to the present.
Logo adapted from that of the Soviet Army Studies Office
Logo adapted from that of the Soviet Army Studies Office
Reposted by Whatismoo
As always, if you are interested in writing for @josms.bsky.social check out our list here docs.google.com/document/d/1... but please reach out to an editor first to make sure something isn’t already in the works. An author or publisher with a recommendation, reach out too!
JSMS Books for Review - PUBLIC
Books that The Journal of Slavic Military Studies would welcome a review of. Reviews can look at a single book or spend additional length doing a more involved review essay on a couple texts (and othe...
docs.google.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:31 PM
As always, if you are interested in writing for @josms.bsky.social check out our list here docs.google.com/document/d/1... but please reach out to an editor first to make sure something isn’t already in the works. An author or publisher with a recommendation, reach out too!
Reposted by Whatismoo
Reposted by Whatismoo
Putin admits that he wants to turn Ukrainians in occupied territories into Russians, and that he is thus committing genocide in Ukraine.
Too many genocide scholars fail to recognize the ongoing genocide in Ukraine. Shame on them!
Too many genocide scholars fail to recognize the ongoing genocide in Ukraine. Shame on them!
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Putin admits that he wants to turn Ukrainians in occupied territories into Russians, and that he is thus committing genocide in Ukraine.
Too many genocide scholars fail to recognize the ongoing genocide in Ukraine. Shame on them!
Too many genocide scholars fail to recognize the ongoing genocide in Ukraine. Shame on them!
Reposted by Whatismoo
The proofing copies for both "Littoral Commander: Australia" 🦘 and 2nd Edition "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific" 🗺️ are here! I will be confirming some last details before the print run goes into high gear! None of this would have been possible without your support. 🎲 😁 💥
November 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The proofing copies for both "Littoral Commander: Australia" 🦘 and 2nd Edition "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific" 🗺️ are here! I will be confirming some last details before the print run goes into high gear! None of this would have been possible without your support. 🎲 😁 💥
From what I've been able to gather the issues are almost wholly that we didn't pursue a clean sheet design, so "just buying FREMM unaltered" (as Dr. Devereaux suggests) wouldn't work. Not the least because, and I cannot stress this enough, we would need to put American weapons and sensors on it.
Well, the Constellation-class is dead, long live the Constellation class, since we're presumably going to see a new development effort to produce basically the same set of specifications because the Navy still needs a cheap, semi-expendable frigate.
November 27, 2025 at 12:45 AM
From what I've been able to gather the issues are almost wholly that we didn't pursue a clean sheet design, so "just buying FREMM unaltered" (as Dr. Devereaux suggests) wouldn't work. Not the least because, and I cannot stress this enough, we would need to put American weapons and sensors on it.
Reposted by Whatismoo
yeah this is exactly why USians continues to irritate me
Like it’s one thing for a group of people to say “I prefer to be called this” it’s another to TELL another whole country of diverse ethnicities and heritage that you will now be calling them something else.
November 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
yeah this is exactly why USians continues to irritate me
Also as many sea mines as can be sown, and ways to lay them quick, fast, and in a hurry. Bottom, moored, drift, surf zone, anti-landing. Probably in the hundreds of thousands, and tens of millions of land mines.
A serious Taiwanese defense policy involves gender-agnostic conscription and mobilization for shelters, supplies, robust and well-practiced plans to ruin landing areas and quickly wreck ports, etc., to withstand a siege and buy time, not fantasizing about magic nukes.
November 26, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Also as many sea mines as can be sown, and ways to lay them quick, fast, and in a hurry. Bottom, moored, drift, surf zone, anti-landing. Probably in the hundreds of thousands, and tens of millions of land mines.
My numbers may be wrong, but I think Korean Americans served at the highest rate of any population in the US during WWII? From what I can tell around 100 Korean-Americans served, out of ~1700 total Korean-Americans, per the 1940 census.
November 26, 2025 at 10:33 PM
My numbers may be wrong, but I think Korean Americans served at the highest rate of any population in the US during WWII? From what I can tell around 100 Korean-Americans served, out of ~1700 total Korean-Americans, per the 1940 census.
Reposted by Whatismoo
The things Lizza is claiming he knew and didn’t report are themselves disqualifying, as if his previous sexual misconduct wasn’t enough
I found it too and my jaw is on the floor. If it’s true, how did he sit on it for a year (during which RFK Jr was confirmed at HHS)?
November 26, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The things Lizza is claiming he knew and didn’t report are themselves disqualifying, as if his previous sexual misconduct wasn’t enough
As a damnable yankee, I endorse all foreigners calling all Americans Yankees or Yanks (Yanqui also works). Not only does this not include Canadians (as norteamericano does) or have racial connotations (like gringo) but it REALLY pisses off certain kinds of southerners.
I also cast a vote for Norteamericano because it is just way nicer to say than “USian” (and I have actually heard people say it off the Internet)
literally say norteamericano regularly
November 26, 2025 at 10:04 PM
As a damnable yankee, I endorse all foreigners calling all Americans Yankees or Yanks (Yanqui also works). Not only does this not include Canadians (as norteamericano does) or have racial connotations (like gringo) but it REALLY pisses off certain kinds of southerners.
Reposted by Whatismoo
God this is so depressing given the political response to it
"the economic response to the pandemic really worked. Indeed, there is a good case that it was the most successful example of countercyclical policy in US history." jwmason.org/slackwire/at...
At Groundwork: Lessons from the September Jobs Report – J. W. Mason
jwmason.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:34 PM
God this is so depressing given the political response to it
Reposted by Whatismoo
I directed the episode of MURDOCH MYSTERIES set in 1910 where they invented the internet AND the concept of the nude selfie.
best we've got right now is Murdoch Mysteries, a detective show set in late 1800's Toronto, where the lead characters regularly invent modern technology by accident. Detective Murdoch created the Roomba. Tatiana Maslany's brother plays a gay jewish cop. It's incredible.
November 26, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I directed the episode of MURDOCH MYSTERIES set in 1910 where they invented the internet AND the concept of the nude selfie.
Reposted by Whatismoo
A Russian drone that crashed in Moldova ended up right outside the Russian ambassador’s office. In response, Oleg Ozerov fell back on Cold War-era tactics, spouting absurdities.
He claimed the drone was originally shot down over Kharkiv and bizarrely suggested Ukraine repaired and relaunched it. .
He claimed the drone was originally shot down over Kharkiv and bizarrely suggested Ukraine repaired and relaunched it. .
November 26, 2025 at 5:52 PM
A Russian drone that crashed in Moldova ended up right outside the Russian ambassador’s office. In response, Oleg Ozerov fell back on Cold War-era tactics, spouting absurdities.
He claimed the drone was originally shot down over Kharkiv and bizarrely suggested Ukraine repaired and relaunched it. .
He claimed the drone was originally shot down over Kharkiv and bizarrely suggested Ukraine repaired and relaunched it. .
Reposted by Whatismoo
I am so sick of hearing about Olivia nuzzi
November 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I am so sick of hearing about Olivia nuzzi
Reposted by Whatismoo
The Civil war is pretty incomparable in terms of the Types of Guy it mustered together
Brigadier General Charles Harker, leading a brigade of Illinoisans and Ohioans in Sheridan’s division tried to copy his commanding officer’s stunt but mounted a gun that had just been fired. The red-hot barrel scorched his ass so badly he couldn’t sit a horse for weeks (18
November 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The Civil war is pretty incomparable in terms of the Types of Guy it mustered together
Reposted by Whatismoo
there’s a reason ken burns titled his national parks documentary “america’s best idea”
Every time I’ve asked someone who’s never been here why they’d want to visit the US, the national park system is in the top 3 answers. Every time.
National parks have SO MANY people from other countries (since they get real vacations!)
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
November 26, 2025 at 5:44 AM
there’s a reason ken burns titled his national parks documentary “america’s best idea”
Reposted by Whatismoo
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
Reposted by Whatismoo
In principle I appreciate diverse perspectives in the history of (nuclear) science & society.
In practice, when it's as condescending as this, I find myself appreciating the would-be subjects of British imperial anthropology who drove their interlocutors off with spears and Martini-Henry rifles.
In practice, when it's as condescending as this, I find myself appreciating the would-be subjects of British imperial anthropology who drove their interlocutors off with spears and Martini-Henry rifles.
Cold War arms-control pioneers perhaps weren’t peacemakers we thought they were — Harvard Gazette
Nuclear-age historian argues scientists who backed arsenals as deterrent aided military-industrial complex, hampered disarmament.
news.harvard.edu
November 25, 2025 at 10:43 PM
In principle I appreciate diverse perspectives in the history of (nuclear) science & society.
In practice, when it's as condescending as this, I find myself appreciating the would-be subjects of British imperial anthropology who drove their interlocutors off with spears and Martini-Henry rifles.
In practice, when it's as condescending as this, I find myself appreciating the would-be subjects of British imperial anthropology who drove their interlocutors off with spears and Martini-Henry rifles.
Reposted by Whatismoo
F/A-XX in shambles, Connie canceled, LSM/LAW stuck in perpetual torment, SM-6 production in shambles, F-35C buys at lowest rates, F/A-18E/F line being terminated, DDG(X) sent to the indeterminate future. The US Navy's century of Burkiliation is here. Arleigh-Burkes now and forever.
November 25, 2025 at 11:03 PM
F/A-XX in shambles, Connie canceled, LSM/LAW stuck in perpetual torment, SM-6 production in shambles, F-35C buys at lowest rates, F/A-18E/F line being terminated, DDG(X) sent to the indeterminate future. The US Navy's century of Burkiliation is here. Arleigh-Burkes now and forever.
Hrm. Giled is usually pretty on the money.
FFG 62 has numerous naval architecture issues. I’m annoyed we wasted this much time on it to soothe the ego of a long-departed CNO I’m hardly shedding tears for the program.
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Hrm. Giled is usually pretty on the money.
Reposted by Whatismoo
I don't even have much to say. This was a good vessel, the USN panicked at the slightest hint of delays and now is killing the program. There has not been a single vessel in US Navy service that hasn't been redesigned, delayed, and had some cost overruns in the last 60~ years.
This is the stupidest and most self-destructive USN procurement decision in at least a decade.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
BREAKING: Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I don't even have much to say. This was a good vessel, the USN panicked at the slightest hint of delays and now is killing the program. There has not been a single vessel in US Navy service that hasn't been redesigned, delayed, and had some cost overruns in the last 60~ years.
Reposted by Whatismoo
This is the stupidest and most self-destructive USN procurement decision in at least a decade.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
BREAKING: Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program - USNI News
The Navy is walking away from the Constellation-class frigate program to focus on new classes of warships the service can build faster, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced Tuesday on social me...
news.usni.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This is the stupidest and most self-destructive USN procurement decision in at least a decade.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
Constellation was a relatively healthy program and progressing on a realistic budget and schedule, mostly baseless criticism of it notwithstanding.
Absolutely fucking baffled what alternative would be faster than contracting a second yard?
BREAKING: Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program - USNI News
The Navy is walking away from the Constellation-class frigate program to focus on new classes of warships the service can build faster, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced Tuesday on social me...
news.usni.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Absolutely fucking baffled what alternative would be faster than contracting a second yard?
Reposted by Whatismoo
One of the not so fun aspects of a big research project I wasn't prepared for was realising that, no matter how well you plan your primary source base prior to the writing process, you're not going to be able to foreesee or plan for everything.
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
One of the not so fun aspects of a big research project I wasn't prepared for was realising that, no matter how well you plan your primary source base prior to the writing process, you're not going to be able to foreesee or plan for everything.