The historian Will Durant commented that the Reformation “…(left) the Church purified… into an organization politically weaker but morally stronger than before.” In short, the Reformation didn’t change what the Church really believed, but it did serve to change how those in the Church thought about political power and the various nations-states of Europe, and […]

Editor’s Note: Arrias takes on the bureaucracy this morning. – Vic McGuffey and the Federal Reserve Without looking it up: what are the differences between Alexander Hamilton’s and Thomas Jefferson’s perspective on the role of the federal government? Pundits often question the efficacy of Pentagon strategies, whether it’s Vietnam, tanker escort operations in the Persian […]

Ypres, April 22nd 1915: the Germans launch a gas attack on the Western Front. Germany had twice attempted to use gas (October 1914 and January 1915), but both efforts failed to produce the desired results. At Ypres results were consistent with German hopes; along the 4-mile front where chlorine gas was used effects were so […]

Editor’s Note: Seventy-five years ago, the analysis of what had happened in the Coral Sea in the first carrier-vs.-carrier encounter of the Pacific War. Nearly half the survivors of the oiler Neosho were still adrift, Lady Lexington was on the bottom and Yorktown was gravely wounded. Against that stark backdrop, Australia had been spared the […]

Editor’s Note: Arrias is a distinguished Nay veteran, and has been to this rodeo before in his distinguished career. His views do not necessarily reflect those of Socotra House LLC management, nor that of the Hong Kong Fireworks Co, Ltd. Happy May Day! – Vic 01 May 2017 A Bigger US Fleet President Trump wants […]

Editor’s Note: Standard disclaimer. Arrias is a real person with a distinct and discerning mind of his own. – Vic Civil Ignorance and Common Interests A frenzied press “revealed” that after President Trump publicly stated he was moving an aircraft carrier towards Korea, the carrier actually departed port and headed south – the opposite direction […]

Editor’s Note: It is Easter Sunday, a day of joy throughout Christendom for the resurrection of the Risen Christ. Have the very best holiday possible! And remember, Arrias is a real person, not the Easter Bunny. – Vic North Korea’s Weapons: Whose Money? They held a parade in Pyongyang on Saturday… It’s worth searching the […]

Standard Socotra House, LLC, Disclaimer: Arrias is his own guy. I happen to agree. It was an interesting week: The Supreme Court received its latest judge – one with a decidedly traditional view of the Constitution; Judge Gorsuch believes it means just what is says, and if you want to change that, there is a […]

Editor’s Note: Remember, Arrias is a real human being and he writes powerfully. Under the hard country of West Texas and eastern New Mexico, Comanche country, lies a 70,000 square mile geological formation called the Permian Basin. Since the first commercial oil well in the Basin in 1921, approximately 30 billion barrels have been pumped, […]

Editor’s Note: Arrias is the pen name of a real human being with superior analytic and communications skills. It is not me. The thoughts and opinions expressed are his, and not necessarily those of Socotra House LLC, the Department of Defense, or the Hong Kong Fireworks Co., Ltd. His commentary is provided for the exclusive […]