Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Reclaiming the Third Space

Source: Brownstone Institute
by Mollie Engelhart

“The first space is home. It is where our domestic identity lives. Family, rest, intimacy, and routine. The second space is work. It is where we contribute, produce, and create value. The third space exists in between. It is the neutral, shared place where people gather informally, without obligation or performance. Historically, these were cafés, churches, town squares, barber shops, libraries, local diners, pubs, and markets. Places where you could show up, be recognized, and belong without needing to achieve or prove anything.” (06/26/26)

https://brownstone.org/articles/reclaiming-the-third-space/

Thomas L. Knapp

“Vespa is a way of life”: Thousands ride through Rome as Italy’s iconic scooter turns 80

Source: France 24 [French state media]

“An icon of the Italian way of life, the Vespa was celebrating its 80th birthday on Saturday, as thousands of riders paraded through Rome on the legendary scooters. A few donned biker jackets despite the scorching heat while others opted for t-shirts, the hum of their machines filling the capital with a colourful buzz. … The Vespa, which means ‘wasp’ in Italian – a reference to the sound of its engine – was born on 23 April 1946, when the first patent for its manufacture was filed in Italy by Piaggio. It is still produced at the Pontedera site in Tuscany. … Thousands of ‘Vespisti’ from all over the globe turned up in the scooters, which are instantly recognisable because of their rounded lines, their brightly coloured metal bodywork and their round headlight mounted on the handlebars.” (06/27/26)

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260627-vespa-is-a-way-of-life-thousands-ride-through-rome-as-italy-s-iconic-scooter-turns-80

Thomas L. Knapp

Under Pressure

Source: Law & Liberty
by Peter Campbell

“Historical illiteracy has become a real problem in our time. The downsides of this have become rather glaring lately, as for instance in Tucker Carlson’s 2024 interview with Daryl Cooper, whom Carlson called ‘the most honest popular historian in the United States.’ Cooper claimed that Americans’ understanding of WWII was deeply flawed and that the true villain was Winston Churchill. The fact that some young Americans found this message sympathetic is very troubling and speaks volumes about our failure to educate the young about history. I regularly tell my students that reading history is their best defense against disinformation.” (06/26/26)

https://lawliberty.org/under-pressure/

Thomas L. Knapp

Iraq: Officials, including lawmakers, arrested on corruption charges in overnight raid

Source: New York Post

“Several Iraqi political officials were arrested early Sunday on corruption charges, Iraq’s state-run Iraqi News Agency reported. It said the arrests were based on statement made by former Deputy Minister of Oil Adnan al-Jumaili, who was arrested last month, and ‘included members of Parliament whose immunity had been lifted.’ Iraqi security forces sealed off all entrances to the capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone early Sunday and carried out raids inside the compound that houses key government institutions and foreign embassies. A security agency report obtained by The Associated Press said that seven people were arrested, among them five members of Parliament.” (06/28/26)

https://nypost.com/2026/06/28/world-news/iraqi-officials-including-lawmakers-arrested-on-corruption-charges-in-overnight-raid/

Thomas L. Knapp