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Masked gunmen in military fatigues took control of a government building in another Ukrainian town.

Unshaken by the latest surge in violence, Iraqis braved the threat of bombs and attacks to vote today in key elections for a new parliament amid a massive security operation as the country slides deeper into sectarian strife.

A new defense pact reflects closer U.S.-Philippine ties.

President Obama's pivot to Asia will lack a crucial military underpinning next year, when for four months, the Navy will not have an aircraft carrier in the region.

China's A2/AD capabilities have many in Washington worried. America's land forces could help. 

Senator: Benghazi e-mails reveal White House misinformation.

Secretary of State John Kerry accused Moscow of accelerating the crisis in Ukraine instead of sticking to an agreement to ratchet back tensions.

The United States has proof that the Russian government in Moscow is running a network of spies inside eastern Ukraine.

The fate of the A-10 close-air support platform has been the most contentious issue between the Air Force and Congress over the last six months. If comments made yesterday are any indication, it's a fight that isn't going away.

House lawmakers have rejected proposed cuts in housing allowances and commissary funding, as well as an overhaul of the Tricare system that would increase out-of-pocket costs for some beneficiaries.

The House Seapower subcommittee markup that was revealed yesterday offered at least one surprise - cutting the Navy's request for three littoral combat ships to only two - but the bill supports the other new ship requests, including two destroyers and two submarines.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has directed all of the services to review their hairstyle policies in response to a letter from the Congressional Black Caucus.

Hagel's defense cuts: a good idea.

The Air Force chief of staff explored the proper force ratio between the service's active duty and reserve components in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The Army's most iconic helicopter is about to go pilotless.

Michael D. Shear examines how popular culture has incorporated the issues that President Obama has faced.

What happens when a normal guy gets to fly in a Thunderbird F-16.

Finally: Sunglasses that ping your phone when you leave them behind.

The cast of the new Star Wars movie has been announced.

Carrie Fisher is auctioning a bunch of her rare Star Wars stuff.

Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5), Bill Rieflin (Swans, Ministry), and Kurt Bloch (ex-Fastbacks) have formed the band super-Earth.

Finally: Road House fight chart.

OK, stop doing whatever the heck you're doing, because this is it. ...

LINK: Original photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.29.14 >>>

A pair of back-to-back bombs ripped through an outdoor market northeast of Baghdad today, killing at least 17 people and wounding 42.

Negotiators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have arrived in Ukraine to try and win the release of an international observer team that has been held hostage by separatist forces in the town of Slavyansk in the eastern Ukraine since April 25.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu assured Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel during a phone call yesterday that Russian forces would not invade Ukraine, according to the Pentagon. 

The U.S. will focus on economic sanctions against Russia and put Ukraine's pleas for U.S. weaponry on the backburner.

North Korea conducted live-fire artillery drills near its disputed western sea boundary today.

How will the Ukraine crisis affect the defense budget? The more US Reps. Mac Thornberry of Texas and Rick Larsen of Washington state spoke yesterday, the more clear it became just how far apart the former's Republican Party and the latter's Democratic Party stand on national security issues.

While Obama scored points with skeptical Asian allies simply by showing up, not everything followed the White House plan. 

Foreign Policy: From bad to none.

U.S. Special Operations Command issued a formal request for "Advancement of Technologies in Equipment for Use by U.S. Special Operations Forces."

The mystery jets that were spotted over Amarillo, Texas, and Wichita, Kan. earlier this year are in fact Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bombers on a training sortie.

Army increases in-flight situational awareness for rapid response forces.

Marine dirt bike "gangs" of Afghanistan.

The U.S. Navy announced a record $17.645 billion contract to build 10 new SSN 774 Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Defense Department CIO Teri Takai is set to step down in the coming days.

Report backs The New York Times op-ed piece linking vets to hate groups.

Amazing timelapse of massive 7-ft long Lego Serenity spaceship.

This bastard kills more humans than all the deadliest animals combines.

A 3,500-year-old NYC monument is being cleaned with freaking lasers.

Craig Ferguson is leaving The Late Late Show.

The Daily Show just hired a new correspondent.

Showtime put the premiere of its new monster-themed series, Penny Dreadful, on YouTube.

If Jedis from Star Wars fought wizards from Harry Potter, who wins?

Finally: Check out a comprehensive list of all of Don Draper's clients on Mad Men.

It's a looking glass into the past...

LINK: Original photo by Spc. Mike MacLeod

The Seattle Mariners professional baseball team hosted its 13th annual Salute to Armed Forces event April 26 during a game against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field.

The festivities kicked off an hour prior to the game, with a special pre-game program that honored U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and military service supporting organizations.

"We feel strongly that it is appropriate and important to pay tribute to the men and women who serve our country in the military," said Seattle Mariners Director of Public Information Rebecca Hale.  "The biggest change over the years is how inclusive it has become to all the branches of the military, as well as veterans and disabled veterans groups now being represented. Our goal is to be as inclusive as we can be and to pay tribute to as many individuals and organizations as we can."

A member from each branch of the military - Army Staff Sgt. Rodney Greenway; Marine Corps Sgt. Ariel Hargave; Navy Master at Arms 1st Class Joseph Reyes; Air Force Reserve Maj. Marc Miller; Coast Guard Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jason Gale; and Washington National Guard Staff Sgt. Jason Fox - lined up along the baseline prior to the game to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

"It feels pretty good right now, knowing that I will be throwing out a first pitch," said Fox, who works with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment.  "It will be a little interesting, trying to throw a pitch in my service uniform, but I think I can get it accomplished."

>>> Col. William Krueger receives a commemorative plaque on behalf of the U.S. Air Force from the Seattle Mariners during the Salute to Armed Forces Night at Safeco on April 26. Photo credit: Gary Lott

>>> Col. Jeremy Horn, Washington National Guard, receives a plaque from the Seattle Mariners. Photo credit: Gary Lott

This was just the beginning of a night dedicated to America's men and women in uniform.

The Mariners also presented officers from each of the U.S. military branches with a  commemorative plaque. Those receiving plaques were: Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, U.S. Army; Maj. Gen. David Berger, U.S. Marine Corps; Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, U.S. Navy; Col. William Krueger, U.S. Air Force; Capt. Matthew Miller, U.S. Coast Guard; and Col. Jeremy Horn, Washington National Guard, on behalf of Brig. Gen. John Tuohy.

The Joint Base Lewis-McChord I Corps Army Band performed the National Anthem, and the colors were presented by the U.S. Joint Service Honor Guard. "Taps" was performed by Army Spc. Raymond Deleon, and during the 7th Inning Stretch, Tech. Sgt. Alfredo "Freddie" Garza of the U.S. Air Force Reserve performed "God Bless America."  

Along with the many military representatives on the field, organizations including the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Washington State Guard and Reserve and the USO were introduced during the pregame ceremony.

Organization representatives handled the honorary duties of delivering the lineup cards and game balls.

Fans had the opportunity to support the USO by bidding on silent auction items such as autographed baseballs, game-used items and other memorabilia.

>>> Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Army I Corps Band performs the National Anthem before the Seattle Mariners played the Texas Rangers April 26. Photo credit: Gary Lott

>>> Washington National Guardsmen Staff Sgt. Jason Fox, Bravo Company, 1-161, throws out one of the six ceremonial first pitches at the 13th Annual Mariners Salute to Armed Forces. Photo credit: Gary Lott

"Because we are located in a community that is close to so many military installations, we recognize that there are a lot of fans who are associated with the military," Hale said. Discounted tickets for the game - as low as $11 - were available to members of the military.

 "This year, we have made the discount a blanket 10 percent for all remaining games. So if you're coming from Whidbey, or Bremerton or JBLM, it might be a little easier to come on a Friday night or a weekend than a week night," Hale continued.  "Offering a discount is one small way we can show our appreciation to the men and women, and their families, who have served our nation."

Military personnel receive 10 percent off select main, terrace and view-level seats for all home game tickets on the Mariners 2014 home schedule. Tickets are available at mariners.com/tickets.

"I'm honored and blessed that I'm actually able to come out and do something like this to support my unit," Fox said. "A lot of us have been out on deployments overseas and seen some bad things. It's nice to see that [the Mariners] recognize what we have done, as well as what the service members in the past have done." 

SEE ALSO McChord security forces reservist sings during Mariners' Salture to Services game

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.28.14 >>>

Obama administration imposed a new round of targeted economic sanctions against cronies of Russian President Vladimir Putin and 17 companies in response to Russia's involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.

The Philippines and the United States announced they would sign an agreement today to allow a greater US military presence on Filipino soil for the next decade.

America's Treaty Allies: worth going to war over?

U.S. Official: Iran must prove it's not building nuclear weapon.

An Iranian newspaper is reporting that the country's military plans to target a mock-up American aircraft carrier during upcoming war games.

Sequestration is forcing the Defense Department to "literally build two budgets" and, if the automatic cuts are continued, will damage the quality of U.S. weapons systems and deter innovation.

Report: Pentagon to destroy $1B in ammo.

The U.S. Air Force's decision to divest itself of the A-10 has created a massive headache to the service.

An investigation is underway into whether Marine Corps higher-ups retaliated against an officer who accused the commandant, Gen. James Amos, of meddling in a prosecution.

America's gazillion-dollar Joint Strike Fighter is supposed to go virtually unseen when flying over enemy turf. But that's not how things are working out.

More leaders in government, industry and academia disapprove of U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's job performance than approve.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Bassett: the decades-old Paladin 155mm mobile howitzer system has undergone such a radical upgrade that it's managed essentially as a new program.

Soldier Pay: How much is enough?

West Point wants more women to keep the academy ahead of the curve as the Pentagon lifts restrictions for women in combat jobs.

What Google's really working on.

The Food Luminati have you everywhere you turn: Exposing the Satanic roots of energy drinks.

List: 15 words "you didn't know were coined by famous writers."

John Oliver's new show, Last Week Tonight, has posted a bunch of clips from the premiere on YouTube.

Are These Real?: Lost art of the lurid VHS cover.

Thanks!: Game of Thrones handy family tree.

Wedding crashers apologize after their drunken antics go viral.

This movie looks cool ...

Original photo by Lt. Col. Keith Moore, Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.26.14 >>>

Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on Muslims to kidnap Westerners, particularly Americans.

Russian jets cross into Ukraine airspace.

With Ukraine in turmoil, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel can't get Russian counterpart to take his calls.

Hagel is taking a backseat to other players in the Obama administration when it comes to the crisis in Ukraine. 

Leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed to impose extra sanctions on Russia over its intervention in Ukraine.

Five NATO-led service members were killed when a helicopter crashed due to technical failure in southern Afghanistan.

Did Obama just draw another red line in the East China Sea?

Military officials in Europe are pushing back against reports the U.S. was conducting humanitarian assistance projects in Crimea as a ruse to establish a military base in the region.

North Korea denies drones were sent to South.

Military suicides down for active duty, up for reservists.

Army's basic training is no longer basic: Lessons for business.

SpaceX has filed a protest against the U.S. Air Force over the service's decision to award the United Launch Alliance a sole-source block buy of 36 launch cores.

Reserve soldiers augment active-duty drill sergeants.

Cadet Command looking for professors of military science.

With final approach, U-2 pilot's career makes celebrated landing.

5 best submarines of the Cold War.

New rule: Recruits must buy U.S.-made athletic shoes.

The Internet is buzzing right now with the latest, greatest (and potentially fake) Worst Thing Ever. Meet Code Babes, the stripping amalgam of everything that's wrong with tech culture today.

Chances are, you missed Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends comedy special that aired late last night on Adult Swim, but you can catch up online. Guests at the wonderfully random table include True Blood's Dale Dickey, Gilbert Gottfried, Fred Melamed, The Newsroom's Alison Pill and Girls' Alex Karpovsky.

The world premiere of Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed debuts on Comedy Central April 27. Here's a taste.

Hmmm: Beer lollipops

The British Pathé on YouTube newsreel archive has posted more than 80,000 clips of cultural milestones and memories. Check 'em out, even just for all the Mick Jagger stuff.

The former member of Joy Division and New Order has a new book out about one of England's most famous clubs in the '80s and '90s.

Finally: Thanks to Petit Tube, we can graze the surface of all the weird, wonderful, an often disturbing YouTube clips.

Star Wars as you've never seen it before: with really terrible sound effects dubbed in...

Original photo by Defense Imagery Management Operations Center

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.25.14 >>>

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to start a third world war. 

President Obama encountered setbacks to two of his most cherished foreign-policy projects on Thursday, as he failed to achieve a trade deal that undergirds his strategic pivot to Asia and the Middle East peace process suffered a potentially irreparable breakdown.

Be Afaird: China can't control North Korea.

North Korea represents a threat not just to Asia but to the United States, Pres. Obama said today, as he and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye warned they would respond firmly to any "provocations".

Rates of suicide in the military were slightly worse during the war years than what the Pentagon previously reported, according to new calculations released by Defense Department officials today.

Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) said the former watchdog at the Department of Homeland Security should be fired and possibly prosecuted if allegations over his misconduct are true

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called on Congress to pass the Military Justice Improvement Act to address military sexual assaults.

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command's effort to grasp morale problems and outline steps to improve the nuclear community is moving beyond missileers to bomber crews.

The Navy will conduct a battle exercise off the West Coast next month that could help determine whether another 22 more EA-18G Growler aircraft will be built.

Group links military to cyber, robotics innovators.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel got a first-hand look at a life-size robot Tuesday that resembles Hollywood's "Terminator," the latest experiment by the Pentagon's hi-tech researchers.

Boeing has worked to offer the Navy an escape hatch from the costly Joint Strike Fighter program.

Many retirees and active duty families may stop shopping on base if DoD is allowed to slash commissary budgets.

The Army has taken a step toward officially acknowledging "humanists" among other faiths and belief systems, ending years of resistance to the idea.

Probe of Army general calls insular military culture into question.

Video: The science of tsunamis.

Time unveiled its annual "Influential People" feature.

Three digital images produced by Andy Warhol have been recovered on floppy discs.

Awesome: Giant robot sound effect slippers make your cyborg fantasies come true.

Take a journey into Homer's brain and push the boundaries of animation.

Ronald McDonald has gone a (still-creepy) wardrobe change.

Finally: What if Forrest Gump were a Wes Anderson film?

Keep your chin up ...

Original photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roger Dey

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.24.14 >>>

Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country, the Interior Ministry said. 

Russia insists that Kiev pull back its troops from eastern Ukraine.

Paratroopers from the 173rd Infantry Brigade are now in Poland.

Afghanistan is not a country known for its aeronautical industry, but at least Gen. Mark Welsh, U.S. Air Force chief of staff, believes that could change.

Welsh also defended the service's plan to retire the A-10 attack plane, even as lawmakers continue to voice opposition to the idea.

And ... Welsh says the Air Force is simplifying the way it grades nuclear-missile officers on their monthly exams.

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is beginning Operation Agile Eagle II, designed to localize and implement the larger Department of the Army-directed Brigade Combat Team 2020 initiative.

The U.S. Air Force needs to do more for its overworked drone pilots, a specialized force that has little time to train and suffers from low morale, according to a recent report by a government watchdog.

The next step toward autopilot in combat.

The Pentagon wants a cheap cruise missile that can strike anywhere in the world without risking American soldiers or aircraft. It's a great idea. As long as it doesn't inadvertently start a destabilizing arms race.

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The military is looking to roboticize the most exhausting aspects of flying jets.

A White House petition calling for the president to order the Army to reconsider its new grooming regulation fell short of its goal.

First lady announces one-stop job site for vets.

Ten of the most exotic and weird calculators on the Internet.

Finally: The coolest visualization of Pi

Awesome chemical reactions that look like impossible sorcery.

The new Star Wars movie will have the biggest budget of all the Star Wars movies.

Hear Seth Meyers interviewed on Fresh Air.

Sad: The drama surrounding the Gregg Allman biopic.

Super Dad!

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.23.14 >>>

U.S. President Barack Obama said engagement with Beijing would not come at the expense of its Asian allies.

Why Obama's Asia tour is bad news for China.

The Pentagon has laid out plans for how it would cut $66 billion in procurement and research-and-development projects between 2016 and 2019 should U.S. defense spending caps remain in place.

Ukraine's president ordered the country's forces to renew a military operation against pro-Russian militants in East Ukraine after the killing of two men and a shooting at a plane.

Four Army units heading to Eastern Europe.

Germany helped prep Russia for war.

Commercial satellite imagery shows increased activity at North Korea's nuclear test site.

Report: U.S. may leave fewer troops in Afghanaistan.

New recruits in the U.S. military are getting slightly older.

U.S. Army denies it will lay off 3,000 officers to meet force reduction goals.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program personnel demonstrated five technologies under development to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Defense officials agree that the military must change the way it buys satellites and space services. They just can't settle on exactly how it should be done.

Buying in bulk is key to lowering the cost of the F-35 joint strike fighter, the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program.

Rising jet production lifted Boeing's profit above Wall Street estimates, and the company notched up its full-year forecast.

As the Department of Veterans Affairs nears officially ending vet homelessness in 2015, job training, sustainment is critical.

Watch where 26 asteroids recently slammed into Earth.

The simplest explanation of climate change you'll ever see.

You'll Watch the Whole Thing: The formation of the United States of America in one cool animated map.

Future: We got the doors from Star Trek. The ones that go swooooosh - and that's about it.

Putt like Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Finally: Tiny desktop-sized version of Jupiter.

Researchers from the University of Colorado Denver have been looking into the most common unfriendings on the social network.

See what Stephen Colbert had to say to Dave Letterman last night.

Read GQ's new interview with Louis C.K.

Listen: New Pixies record is streaming at NPR.

Finally: An oral history of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

In case you missed it yesterday ...

Nearly 52 years after an Air Force fighter jet crashed in the Olympics and killed the pilot, two Seattle outdoorsmen are going to search this spring for the wreckage that has never been found.

Tomasz Biernacki and Phil Anderson have researched the crash and believe they have come up with some new evidence.

"We hope that our fresh approach and research will help locate the wreck site," Biernacki said. "After reviewing the crash and news reports from that time, we think the military may have been misled in their initial search."

On Nov. 10, 1962, Capt. Robert Lucas was flying a F-102 fighter interceptor on a routine training mission when his plane crashed somewhere between Lake Cushman and Lake Quinault. Hunters said they heard an explosion near the Wynooche watershed on the same day.

Multiple searches never found the plane or the pilot. Lucas is believed to have ejected from his plane before it crashed.

>>> Capt. Robert Lucas

"We have some evidence that has lead us to explore a few possible new locations for the jet crash," Biernacki said.

Biernacki and Anderson have been waiting for the snow to melt before they begin their search for the wreckage in the OlympicMountains.

The two outdoorsmen will film their search and it will be part of their adventure documentary series exploring the Olympic Peninsula, My Olympics.

The adventure documentary will include an episode on Anderson, who is nicknamed "Cougar Phil." Anderson, following the advice of a local Indian, will spend five days in the wilderness, living off the land in an attempt to experience what Indians called "Vision Quest." He'll only have knife and a survival kit.

Another of the six planned episodes Biernacki and Anderson will be shooting will be on cougars.

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.22.14 >>>

The Obama administration is sending nearly $10 billion in new 'security assistance' to Ukraine as that country stares down Russian force,

Russia displays a new military prowess in Ukraine's East.

Moscow's aggressive push into Ukraine has forced Pentagon leaders to rethink the push to redistribute resources to the Pacific.

Militants wearing military uniforms carried out an overnight attack against a balloting center in a remote area of Iraq's north and killed 10 guards.

Forget the A-10. The Air Force needs a mix of aircraft and capabilities for the 2023 fight.

U.S. combat air forces are ill equipped to fight a technologically empowered enemy, and it could be years or decades before the Pentagon deploys more advanced weapons.

As Army shrinks, young officers are being pushed out.

What we left behind in Iraq.

U.S. Special Operations Command's plan to build an Iron Man suit may only be possible in big-screen sci-fi movies.

Would Jeb Bush's defense policy look more like his father's or brother's?

Petition: Tan beret only for the Ranger regiment.

Dozens denied Navy base access due to past crimes.

Listen: Jack White's new single.

Wow: HBO renewed Silicon Valley.

An interesting map of the most famous brands from every state.

Finally: R2-D2 measuring cups.

Too Much Free Time: Dude is trying to collect every VHS copy of Speed that still exists.

77-year-old man narrowly escapes being hit by a train.

Everybody's favorite Dear Leader likes it and, therefore, so do you. ...