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Vic Socotra

Author: Vic Socotra

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January 21, 2019 Vic Socotra

Arrias: Rotting From the Head Down?

Comedies are often far better at revealing subtle truths than are drama; perhaps that’s why good comedies are more rare than good dramas. In a scene in the movie “Major League” the Cleveland Indians, ahead by one run, face a tight situation: runners on, the big Yankee slugger stepping into the batter’s box. The relief […]

January 20, 2019 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Riding Lessons

After an 18 year hiatus from motorcycle riding, I decided in my late 40s to begin again. I decided to take a three day safety riding course that, if passed, would exempt me from displaying my skills at the local DMV, when applying for my Virginia driver’s license endorsement as a legal two wheeled rider. […]

January 14, 2019 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Random thoughts at the end of a road trip

Gentle Readers, It is good to have friends. I am nestled in an eiderdown of snow in central Virginia. The federal government is closed today. I have no way to tell the difference. Now, to Marlow…. This is from a 1999 motorcycle trip journal. – Marlow January 2019 Random thoughts at the end of a […]

January 13, 2019 Vic Socotra

Arrias: The Corporate Conscience

Snow here in the Country. No one with any sense is going anywhere. The larger is sacked and the fire is roaring. – Vic The Corporate Conscience There’s a common warning, given to everyone at one time or another, to “stay in your lane.” Stated otherwise, focus on what you’re supposed to do. A recent […]

January 11, 2019 Vic Socotra

Country Living

I have been down in Culpeper for the last two weeks, right across the holidays. The skies have been filled the portents of the season- gray skies and chill rain with the prospect of as much as three inches of the white stuff. In preparation, I ventured to the Safeway and the VABC store, just […]

January 10, 2019 Vic Socotra

Old Glory

She’s a grand old flag. A high flying flag. She once belonged to the Clinton campaign- the second one, as I recall. I was working in the building on Glebe Road in the Ballston neighbourhood of Arlington, VA, on the right side of the Potomac. With the exception of a few years downtown, I have […]

January 9, 2019 Vic Socotra

Swamp Postcard: Let the Games Begin!

I mentioned to a pal that I could not have predicted that each week in The Swamp would get loonier and loonier. I mean really, what are they going to do to top this bizarre week. On the upside, a mega-sized moon and lunar eclipse with be visible all across North America. I am hoping […]

January 8, 2019 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Highwayman

No, this is not about the Detroit 1%er motorcycle club. – Marlow I motorcycled the highways Along coastal roads I did ride Leather and jeans protected my back side Many a mile was covered as I pursued this trade Many the moments did I speed through glen and glade Some gravel hung me out to […]

January 7, 2019 Vic Socotra

Arrias: Tyranny or Liberty?

A really smart friend of mine once noted, while speaking of the DOD: “You need to remember that we don’t do why!” Joe’s point was that there is, in all government bureaucracies, a resistance to anyone trying to get to the primary reason that would explain actions, because in the end bureaucracies are really about […]

January 6, 2019 Vic Socotra

Spicy Artichoke Dip

OK, OK, it is the New Year and we have to move on. I am going back to the kitchen and try this recipe. I will always remember a Temporary Alternative Duty assignment that brought me back from Yokosuka to San Diego in a year that seemed like 1980. The first night back in the […]