Random Thoughts 8/5/10

• Ouch, here's a scathing rebuke of the COIN strategy in Afghanistan that worked so well in Iraq. I do have to concede this one point: although President Obama called this the "good" war, I have no earthly idea what victory would look like in Afghanistan. I just don't think that place can become what Iraq was/is, i.e. a functioning and relatively stable nation state.
• Sikorsky's X2 helicopter set a speed record recently of 259 miles per hour (225 knots). The goal of the program is a 250 knot (288 mph) helicopter for both the military and civilian markets. Of special interest would be rescue and medical evacuation aircraft, where a speed boost of about 100 mph could mean the difference between life and death.
• New multi-layer football helmet design here. And speaking of sporting head gear…
  
• Here's a great article by Paul Lukas on the ubiquitous baseball cap, which is found absolutely everywhere, in every culture and in every sport.
• Happy birthday, Irvin. You too Kyle.
• NFL training camps have opened as does it seem like there are more injuries this year than usual? Assuming the teams can field eleven healthy players, I'm really looking forward to this season.
• Chiefs' coach Todd Haley is the worst radio interview… ever.