Press ESC key to close search

Vic Socotra

Author: Vic Socotra

  1. Home
  2. Vic Socotra
February 15, 2023 Vic Socotra

The Closed

(This is a 1979 encounter between one of our VF-151 F4J Phantom jets with one of the Soviet four-engine heavy bombers. It was part of an otherwise busy military day at sea in the either the North Pacific or Sea of Japan, we forget which. We liked this one, taken by another squadron crew stepped […]

February 15, 2023 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Detour, Day 11

May 2001 Detour Version 1.0 Day 11 “The Seed Collector of Oatman” Based upon a dirt biker’s advice during a Day 10 gas stop in Flagstaff, we continued from Kingman via Oatman en route Needles California as a prestage to crossing the Mojave desert on I40. We left Kingman at 0700 without breakfast as we […]

February 14, 2023 Vic Socotra

A Day Worth Celebrating

We took Valentines Day a little easy this season. I procured red roses a week or so ago, and a quite delightful new ceramic vase suitable for attractive term coffee storage has appeared. So, external holidy aspects are complete, and it seems appropriate to concentrate on the essence of the day itself. It is busy, […]

February 14, 2023 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Detour Day 10

May 2001 Detour Version 1.0 Day 10 “Whoa” -English translations of German and French tourists’ reactions to the Grand Canyon Trip’s third and final breakfast waitress at Mike & Rhonda’s won the roadtrip’s snappy comeback award to Steve’s daily waitress/server baiting. We’ll really miss THE PLACE, the food and its folks. We entered the Grand […]

February 13, 2023 Vic Socotra

Arrias: Tonkin Gulf and the Nord Stream Pipeline

 I was reading several old interviews of Admiral Stockdale this afternoon, in which he commented about the Tonkin Gulf incident and how Washington – the Johnson White House – was determined to get the “facts” they needed to justify the actions they wanted to take. Stockdale was a man of the highest principals; it led […]

February 13, 2023 Vic Socotra

Detour Version 1.0 Day 9

Gentle Readers, Marlow contributes a recollection of an America we knew in a place now ensnarled in new turmoil. It seems appropriate this morning to contrast with other events. Some here in the Writer’s Section had experience with air defense technical issues long ago. So the story of mysterious objects being blasted in the sky- […]

February 13, 2023 Vic Socotra

The Next Holiday

We understand there are no holidays until tomorrow, though that requires a cross check from secular to national issues. We will devote today to adjustments from Game Day antics and attempt look prepared for tomorrow’s romance. We took a minor poll and discussed whether the findings in the aftermath were worth comment. The Super Bowl […]

February 12, 2023 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Detour Version 1.0 Day 8

Editor’s Note: There is a confluence of interesting events today- a sporting event seemingly cast larger than those of the past, Add some uncertainty about the hemispheric air defense system and this morning has a distinct flush of energy. It is appropriate to channel some of it through Marlow’s view of the American Road. Installment […]

February 12, 2023 Vic Socotra

Game Day

The panoply about the sporting event later today can be viewed as an interesting pivot point. We couldn’t tell if withdrawal from televised sports is what makes the wanton publicity more garish than usual. That mild uncertainty started before the pandemic, and reflects the breadth of change. There is a partly religious aspect to some […]

February 11, 2023 Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Detour Version 1.0 (Day 7)

Editor’s Note: Morning! If this is your first venture into Marlow’s American Road, please join him this morning in a plunge into the American Southwest. This adventure was a couple decades ago. It reflects the change in our lives with drama. – Vic My bike, it no start. Damn. Damn. Triple Damn. Battery was barely […]