Author: Vic Socotra

Memorial Day: May They Rest in Peace

General Order No. 11 Headquarters, Grand Army of the Republic Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868 I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in […]

Arrias: Ted Williams, Nuclear Weapons and Our Dear Leaders

What’s the probability Ted Williams will get a hit at his next at bat? And while we’re at it, what’s the probability that Mario Mendoza will get a hit at his next at bat? Ted Williams – Marine fighter pilot and Red Sox outfielder – had a lifetime batting average of .344 – 7th highest […]

Plague Chronicle Notes — Part XVIII – One Month Open

Ben Affleck socially distanced dining-in at Savannah’s B&D Burgers last Wednesday Bless their hearts One month into reopening thus far, it’s not so bad in the Empire. Guess we barefooted, way too early, jumping the gun, southern hicks got lucky. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Last weekend’s national news reports mentioned a sotto voce how we […]

Life & Island Times: Plague Chronicle Notes — Part XVII — A Tear

Veiled Lady”, Raffaelo Monti c.1860, Minneapolis Institute of Arts … A tear in our plague shroud? Wanting to see how this new reality unfolded, I narrowed my focus briefly to local observations with little to no following of the broader national, regional, or state plague reporting. Upon this closer view, I noticed that people looked […]

Armed Forces Day

I packaged and sent an installment of Marlow’s series on the plague this morning. I love his hang loose approach to global pandemic, always with a distinct rhythm of melody and distant old times. Or new ones. The House passed a three trillion dollar bill, biggest in the history of the republic in one shot. […]

Swamp Postcard, sans Card

Retirement is odd. I think it is Friday, a festive reflection of a work rhythm of all those years of schedules. Now this week I lost Wednesday altogether and it didn’t seem to mind. In the background is everything else, all swirling around like a Joe Biden interview. So the Flynn thing blew up again. […]

Point Loma: Pet Sounds

Editor’s Note: Point Loma looks back on a parade of non-human close friends that enrich our lives. I was thinking of my first puppy the other day, and our next twelve was together. Having more time to think while under our Governor’s House is a marvelous mystery. I wonder how this clash of past and […]

Arrias: Culture, Budget, and the Virus

Mr. Braithwaite, nominee to be the next Secretary of the Navy, noted that: “the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors, but primarily the failure of leadership.” He went on to say that: “It is my No. 1 priority, if I am confirmed, to restore the appropriate culture in the […]

Point Loma: Raquel

The Famous Fur Bikini I just saw some clickbait ad that said Raquel Welch will turn 80 this year in September – 80. She is still one of the most beautiful women to have ever graced the Planet Earth and for most of us, she never really got old – but here we all are. […]