David Gessel
Shipley is a Rock Star
Who would’a thunk a little site like dis.org, the on-line clubhouse for a few bay area computer types, would make both the barracuda block list and the UAE block list. How cool is that?
If you’re not in the UAE: here’s the block list https://web.archive.org/web/20130409222119/http://www.etisalat.ae/assets/document/blockcontent.pdf
And if you’re inappropriately blocked:
Our Last Night at COB Basra
We had a nice cook out thanks to George, brats on the grill and alkoholfrei Lowenbrau and a few friends.
When the Alert Sounds
If you’re not already in a hardened building, when the alerts sound, you get to sit in one of these until the all clear. They’re kind of homey in a homely way.
History of the COB
The Brits had the base first and left their marks here and there.
Iraq sites
Baghdad was the recipient of Saddam’s largess (and the PLO too), but the south wasn’t really on the nice list and has been a cross roads for conflict for a long time, which has left a mark on the landscape.
Proof! There is Yellow Cake In Iraq
Finally, conclusive evidence of the presence of whole trays of yellow cake in Iraq, and at extremely low prices, well within the reach of any organization.
A Few Pretty Spots at VBC
Saddam managed to build a fairly pretty complex here, with lots of artificial lakes (originally filled with potable water). Along one of those lakes is the Gates of Babylon restaurant. The food is excellent and the adjoining room is a hookah bar. The Nex5 does a pretty good job at night.
The palace is pretty inside, though the construction is legendarily shoddy and parts of the palace are starting to disintegrate as salt in the sand mixed in with the concrete disintegrates it. The main hall is quite dramatic with a three story chandelier.
Rain in the Desert
The road to our camp turns into a 4wheel drive adventure.
A little different from the sun a day before
Visiting Iraq
Carolyn showed me the best parts of the base, starting with the coffee.
