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This is about a baseball glove.

In The Complex: How the Military Invades our Everyday Lives, Nick Turse writes:

"The Complex thrives on the very obliviousness of the civilian population to its existence in the world it has made so much its own. But if you look closely, it can suddenly come into focus and be seen almost everywhere: on our TVs and in the movies we watch; in the video games we play and the products we buy; in the coffee we drink and the boots we wear; in the stocks we own and the Web sites we visit; and in almost every other facet of our lives."

Turse's book is a sobering study, one that reveals just how deeply embedded the military is in our everyday lives. The military's presence is nearly everywhere--academia, the entertainment industry, government, news media, science, etc. More than the direct influence it purchases through its contracts and consulting services, the military also cultivates a set of aesthetic practices that affirm pro-military feelings. This extends beyond the obvious "support the troops" ribbons and bumper stickers and makes its way into any number of mundane objects.

This is where the baseball glove comes in.

I bought this for my 3-year old daughter. She and I found it at Target, on clearance for just $5. It was a better deal than the other on-clearance little girl glove (that all little girl gloves are pink is a post unto itself). That one was $7. So, I picked it up and we happily played catch (inside the house, with a soft fabric miniature Chicago Cubs ball, of course). Then my wife pointed the camoflauge pattern. Dammit.

My job is to be a critic. And much of my recent scholarship has specifically focused on the intrusion of the military into the minutiae of sport. Yet, somehow, I missed this entirely.

Welcome to The Complex.