(Gift cards at the Front Page are splendid gifts!) Gentle readers, This Christmas morning my thoughts are thousands of miles away. I have a son who will rise on the Windward Shore of the island of O’ahu, and another who is involved in the intricate mystery of life with his newborne and his wife. I […]

(Robert Burns, who is most famous for his recasting of the traditional folk poem “Auld Lang Syne,” was born in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of William Burness (1721 – 1784) or Burns (Robert Burns originally spelled his surname Burness, but eventually dropped the ‘ess’), a self-educated tenant farmer from Dunnottar, Kincardinshire, and Agnes […]

Editor’s Note: I was going to do something else this morning- my intentions were good enough, but news from the outside intruded, and not the kind we have sadly become accustomed to these days. I would elaborate, but my family is intensely private- and I can’t blame them in the slightest. Would you blame them? […]

Editor’s Note: There have been many significant developments this week. I am sure you can think of some of them. I am done with thinking for the moment, and will take a short break from the book project to share with you some seasonal mirth. Gifts were distributed at The Front Page on the traditional […]

Editor’s Note: I had a chance to attend a ceremony at the Office of Naval Intelligence yesterday in which the Director of Naval History and Heritage formally signed off with the ONI Commander and the Chairman of the Naval Intelligence Professionals to collaborate on a project to document the 150 years of Naval Intelligence contributions […]

Editor’s Note: The alleged revolt of the Electors did not happen yesterday, and the die seems to be cast for whatever is going to come next. I don’t know, but have not lost hope. Perhaps we can try being grownups for a while and see how that works out? – Vic Chardonnay for Breakfast It […]

Editor’s Note: I am writing from Refuge Farm, where I was pleased to find no roosting vultures in the back yard. I maintained a high level of vigilance, but eventually relaxed my alert. Yesterday, I was working outside and saw something from the corner of my eye and looked up. At least five great winged […]

Editor’s Note: I rose at the farm this morning. It was an adventure with the ice that came yesterday morning. A tanker-truck slid off an overpass on I-66, clobbering all movement. On I-95, there was a 55-car pileup that included a fatality. I bided my time, checking the ice on the concrete of the patio […]

Editor’s Note: I had lunch with Annie, the den-mother of our fractious group of brash officers who inhabited the back room at the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon. There were some stories to be had in that office, let me tell you. They were about the trips we arranged for Congressional members […]

I looked at Liz-S across the bar. “Hey, is this the last day you are the bar manager?” She smiled broadly, tossing her chestnut ponytail. “I will stay, part time, but as of Monday I am an official grown up.” “Awesome. It is about time. You are on your way.” Friday’s at Willow are transitional […]