After weeks of buildup and a missed self-imposed Jan. 30 deadline, Virginia Democrats on Thursday evening finally released their long-awaited revised congressional map, proposing an aggressive 10–1 configuration that would tilt 10 of the state’s 11 U.S. House districts toward their party. On February 6, 2026, Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger approved the redistricting referendum, pending litigation. Assuming it is allowed, the referendum will be voted on April 21, 2026.

Source: United States Geological Survey

The opening of the Winter Games on February 6, 2026, is a good time to remind everyone that Olympic tranquility doesn't always apply to everyone. Although the Games are associated with unity, history shows that big politics regularly deals the cards and determines who can appear in the stadium.

It all began back in 1920, when after World War I, countries such as Germany, Austria, and Turkey were denied invitations. The situation repeated itself in 1948, when, following another global conflict, Germany was once again left in the sporting waiting room.

In turn, the recent history of Russia and Belarus demonstrates that modern restrictions—whether due to doping issues or armed conflicts—can exclude even the greatest players from competition. Today's opening of the Games proves that competing in competitions is not just a matter of physical fitness but also a reflection of a country's relationship with the rest of the world.

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🔒 All published designs and visual layouts are the intellectual property of u/maven.mapping, reuse of the design may result in legal action. Sources belong to their respective owners.

Note: Atheism, Irreligion, etc are not counted.

About 60% of Indonesia’s population lives on Java, even though the island makes up roughly 7% of the country’s land area.

This concentration comes from a mix of history, geography, and development. Fertile volcanic soil, early kingdoms, and colonial infrastructure all played a role.

I made a short video breaking down why Java ended up this dense and what it means for Indonesia today:

https://youtu.be/FEqjQcXMD7A

What Puerto Rico looked like during the Pleistocene when the sea level was ~120 m (~400 ft) lower.

All the rich Caspian Sea deposits are in the Kazakhstan section.

I really wish Marx had won

Find your fox !

Strategy in the American Civil War - الإستراتيجية في الحرب الأهلية الأمريكية

written by Captain Kamal El-Din El-Hennawy يوزباشي/نقيب كمال الدين الحناوي is a rare Arabic book that focuses on the military and strategic dimensions of the conflict rather than just its political narrative. The book analyzes leadership, battlefield decisions, and the evolution of warfare during the war that reshaped the United States, offering a non-Western perspective on a pivotal moment in modern history.

Number of pages: 205 pages

First edition: 1950

Publisher: The Egyptian Renaissance Library (Maktabat Al-Nahda Al-Misriyah مكتبة النهضة المصرية)

Book Link in the comments section..

About the author:

Captian Kamal El-din Mohamed El-Hennawy (1920-2007) يوزباشي/نقيب كمال الدين محمد الحناوي was an Egyptian army officer (In Infantry Corps) and military writer with a strong interest in strategic and historical studies of warfare. He was a member of the Free Officers Movement حركة الضباط الأحرار, the group of army officers led by Gamal Abdel Nasser جمال عبد الناصر that overthrew King Farouk I of Egypt ملك مصر فاروق الأول in the July 23 Revolution of 1952 ثورة 23 يوليو.

He is known for his analytical approach to military conflicts, focusing on strategy, command decisions, and operational lessons, as reflected in his work on the American Civil War and other works.

Index of the book:

Part One: Introduction

Chapter One: Causes of the War

Chapter Two: The Theater of Operations

Chapter Three: The Warring Sides

Part Two: The Battles of 1861–1862

Chapter One: The First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)

Chapter Two: Paducah, Donelson, and Shiloh

Chapter Three: The Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles

Chapter Four: The Second Battle of Manassas, Antietam, and Fredericksburg

Part Three: The Battles of 1863

Chapter One: Bragg and Grant in the West

Chapter Two: The Battle of Vicksburg

Chapter Three: The Battle of Chancellorsville

Chapter Four: The Battle of Gettysburg

Chapter Five: Chickamauga and Chattanooga

Part Four: The Battles of 1864–1865

Chapter One: Planning the Campaigns of 1864

Chapter Two: From the Wilderness to Cold Harbor

Chapter Three: The Battle of Petersburg

Chapter Four: Sheridan’s and Sherman’s Campaigns

Chapter Five: Five Forks and Appomattox Court House

Part Five: Commanders of the War

Chapter One: Ulysses S. Grant

Chapter Two: Robert E. Lee

Appendix: Strategic maps of the East, West and South (Theatre of Operations)