What bad fiction do you like?

Me, it’s military fiction. Not that all military fiction is bad. It’s not, by any means. But I read the poorly-written, barely-literate stuff just as avidly as I read the exemplars.

It’s because I was in the military, and it all strikes a chord with me. And it seems that a lot of the worst writers actually know the most about the military – having served – and so their version of the military never has any ridiculous garbage like saluting indoors (in most circumstances) or a helicopter pilot magically knowing how to drive a tank.

I don’t see it as a guilty pleasure, though. I read what I want to read. The literature and the pleasure police will just have to fucking deal.

Two biggest highly-concordant truths I know about photography:

1) You miss every shot you don’t take.

2) A shitty shot is better than no shot at all.

I used to know David Petraeus professionally and personally (a little), and I am no fan of his – his political ambitions and astuteness always overmatched his martial skill – but I agree with this, that America’s fear of sex was what brought him down and really nothing else, or nothing relevant.

Background: I served with David Petraeus in the 82nd Airborne Division, which is a “required” command if one wants to advance as an officer in the combat arms, as it is a prestige unit.

He was a full-bird colonel brigade commander, and I was a military photojournalist. I have been on many morning runs and military jumps with the guy.