Author: Vic Socotra

Arrias: Salvaging a Maritime Power

Editor’s Note: We welcome Arrias back to the regular line-up. Salvaging A Maritime Power On April 21st KRI Nanggala, an Indonesian submarine, sank in the waters north of Bali. This past week the Chinese military offered a large, state-of-the-art salvage ship to assist the Indonesian Navy in recovering the remains of that submarine. > > […]

Birthing People Day

We seem to be in a place of change as a nation, and as a people. The phrase above has been in the news, of late. Being a member of the “senior” category of citizens- wait, sorry, that is probably another of those words that is not acceptable to many of these times- I think […]

Marlow’s Old Tricks, New Place

Editor’s Note: Marlow continues his exploration of an ancient place with new eyes. We have shared the view of distant shores under novel skies, and the energy and decadence of tropic isles anchored in more than one sea. Have fun with this- it is a joy to look back at it all, the laughs and […]

LTJG Winky

Oh, no! Not again! Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the famous USS Midway Library’s Scuttlebutt. There has been a concerted effort to find relics from a small part of that wonderful ship’s history and get them back into the context from which they came. LTJG Winky is part of it, since he was a […]

It is Over!

Just thought I would drop a line to give you some good news for a change. The Plague that has devastated the planet has been vanquished! Life is going back to normal! I had a premonition that something was up when I crutched myself into the health complex yesterday. There were these white things, rectangles […]

Cinco de Mayo!

First of all, it’s not Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually celebrated in September sometime. This cool day commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over Napoleon III’s French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. We were busy doing other things up here at the time, and Confederate forces were occupying the Farm. As you […]

Battle Alley

(This image from the Times-Exponent shows what was planned for the Rapidan Front area of our county just south of Refuge Farm. It was proposed as 1,800 acres of black “green” glass, which means it is “renewable” in that it must be replaced every thirty years or so.) We are fighting again here in Culpeper […]

CIS-Happy

(Still image from CIA recruiting ad welcomed across the country, demonstrating we are all either what, or what not, is needed for duty in a complex and challenging world). It was a delightful country morning in the Piedmont. The tree that was falling toward the fence and the lower pasture gate has been handled adroitly […]

Now, Forward!

The Piedmont of Virginia is lethargically casting off the artificial swaddle of the Holy Day, and getting back to work with enthusiasm and vibrant energy. Or something. We hosted a splendid luncheon with the Russians on a lovely Sunday afternoon. A superb roast, dynamic mashed potatoes, broccoli with delightful piquant cheese sauce, and fresh vegetable […]

The Day After Walpurgisnacht

You may have been celebrating the old holiday the old way. Which is to say, there was a pagan tradition that roundly welcomed the return of the warm season. We will speak softly, just in case. The old festival of Bacchus was transmogrified into a Christian celebration in Germany under the tender ministrations of St. […]