The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Hospitalman Matthew G. Conte, 22, of Mogadore, Ohio, died Feb. 1 while his unit was conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

Conte was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii serving as a hospital corpsman in Iraq under the command of I Marine Expeditionary Force (forward).

Momma Africa

Tanzania was stereotypical Africa. Animals, backwardness, poverty, beauty, and an irresistable pull. I love it. Dysfunctionality can be charming. So much land, so much richness, so much possibility. Unending possibility in the face of tragic history.

This world is maddeningly small. How do we manage to fuck it up?

Ining picked me on for taking pics of birds, but hey, birds are cool. Right?