Vago Muradian's Recommended Reading: The 7 Deadly Sins

From the mind of the inestimable Vago Muradian, this should be next on your reading list. It's less juicy than it sounds.




Vago hosts a defense issues show on the local (DC) ABC affiliate, which goes head to head with Meet the Press on Sunday mornings. Nobody watches it. I don't watch it, though David Gregory's warm milk and second-rate guest list has me sorely tempted to switch.

And yet I admire Vago's singular focus and be-medalled friends, and I like the fancy ships and tanks which roll across his screens. I like the idea that someone is watching the impenetrable DoD, interviewing its flaks and questioning its priorities. And I want him to do more, and better.

For now, though, I will read the book he recommended, and suggest that everybody do the same. Did you know that (according to Vago) the US Navy war-gamed a carrier attack on Pearl Harbor in 1931? It was a smashing success (for the offense), but someone cried foul and the lessons were lost. Vago says it could happen again, and so we should all read 7 Deadly Scenarios by Andrew Krepinevitch, Jr. Écouter?

Great Grey Green Greasy Cancer River, All Set About With Fever Trees

Fevers might remit cancers. Got your attention?

It's February, named for the Roman god Februalia, from the Etruscan Februus, god of Malaria and source of our word "fever." From Arts & Letters Daily, this is a fascinating piece on the role of fever in the body's fight against cancer cells, the history of experimentation in this field, and the possible explanations for the observed efficacy of fever-treatments. Related issues: the biology of streptococcus pathogens, the innate vs. adaptive immune systems, and the narrow experimental approach of "magic bullet" pharmaceutical research. Also, lipopolysaccharide layers and mannan-binding lectin pathways (MBL). Cheers! Écouter?

All Hail Yanar Dağ, the Everlasting Fire

This is Yanardag, the Everlasting Fire. Near Baku, in the Caucasian republic of Azerbaijan, it's a methane seep which just burns and burns, like a natural, earthy version of those pipes they stick in landfills. Also, Azerbaijan sits atop nearly half the world's active mud volcanoes Posted in today's New York Times, in their science section slide show, was this tidbit: somewhere in the middle of the Eurasian landmass there is a pit of burning rock called Yanar Dağ the Everlasting Fire. "Yanar Dağ" means "Fire Mountain," which makes a kind of literal, call-it-as-you-see-it sense, I guess.

I had a number of questions about this, and other similar spots around the world. How long have they burned? Were they burning before humans found them? Can't you imagine some hairy ape smoking an ancient cigarette, watching the sunset with his lemur buddy, tossing away the butt and *poof-kaBOOM!* it's goddamned Prometheus come to Earth?

Finally, I wonder how cool it was for ancient people to have this resource, an everlasting fire. I don't know how many of you have ever been stuck in the woods eating snails and grass, but fire makes a HUGE difference. I bet these types of land features could have rivaled rivers in their benefit to developing societies, by incentivizing people to gather in a specific place over a long span of time, sharing ideas and resources.

Also for the spa effect. Mud volcanoes are SO good for your complexion. Écouter?

Papa Muammar, Adult in the Room

Listen to the Old Man of Libya talking about "Isratine" and the "One State Solution." He sounds shockingly practical and smart, if you're not an Israeli or an Arab. Écouter?