(A World War II veteran walks at the Red Square in Moscow, on May 9, 2012, after the Victory Day parade. Thousands of Russian soldiers marched today across Red Square to mark the 67 years since the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Photo Kirill Kudryavtsev/Agence/AFP/Getty Images) I am messed up this morning. […]

I am not going to launch on a tirade this morning, even though there are at least three interesting stories in the blabbosphere. They all have something to say about The Narrative of Life in These United States that are quite electrifying, if you pay attention to those sorts of things. Sometimes I do, and […]

  (Jack Reid’s Patrol Squadron 44 “Golden Pelican” crew. Jack is in the middle, flanked by his co-pilot and navigator. Photo USN).   I am going to be headed out to Pearl in a few weeks. It strikes me as a little surreal at this distance, and the point of going is to honor the […]

(Order of Victory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.)   The Victors poured into the streets of Paris and Athens last night. It is a sort of Victory in Europe Day for the forces of progressive anti-austerity. You saw the headlines this morning: Francois Hollande edged Nicolas Sarkozy to become the first Socialist President […]

If you haven’t been following things, and chose to get ready for the Kentucky Derby with a dollop of tequila, I would not blame you. I was fully ready for the greatest two minutes in sports, though it came with the peril of nearly missing it altogether. There was so much going on. Japan, home […]

(French Zouaves encounter Mexican cavalry at the first Battle of Puebla, 1862. Photo Wikipedia via Mike Manning.) I don’t think I have a lot more of those sorts of trips left in me. Of course, my learned co-worker pointed out that there were not a lot of requirements left for this sort of thing, and […]

(The President’s new campaign slogan, rolled out this week to much fanfare. You can imagine how the Right is going to doctor this one up.)   Morning. I am not back from the astonishing freedom of the road, where I was complete Captain of my destination (and, perhaps, Destiny.) According to the messages from my […]

  (Breezewood, PA, the village of Motels. Photo Courtesy Automatic7).   The roads that connect North and South are always filled with adventure and the possibility of mischance. A real delight sometimes, and sometimes agony. This trip had both.   Approaching the Capital yesterday, I realized suddenly how this all works. I got a palpable […]

(The park and marina, looking toward the former Socotra compound on the bluff in The Little Village By the Bay.) It is a global holiday dedicated to the glory of Labor. I am not sure what that is, precisely, except that when Caleb and I were sweeping out the garage attached to the main house […]

(Still life with ladies hats from the back downstairs bedroom amid innovative storage systems of several eras, both metal and plastic. Crap. Photo Socotra.) I agree with you- the episode yesterday was an uplifting prelude to the final send off. I felt good. the day was bright, though a cirrus clouds began to wave tendrils […]