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 Moscow Mule Special night. With Russia so prominent in the news, it seems only appropriate to honor the considerable contribution of Smirnoff-brand Vodka tothe advancement of Western Civilization, particularly when combined with the rich gingery taste of Fever Tree Ginger Beer. The bottler uses a trio of gingers — from Nigeria, Kochi and the Ivory Coast — to make this brew with a big punch of ginger and a nice hit of heat along with the exhilaration of the distilled rocket fuel. The company also makes a light version that has the same flavor with less sugar, as they do with their Reduced Calorie tonic- an essential feature for holiday tippling with all those wonderful holiday treats within arm’s reach. Responsible tipplers want to maintain their girlish figures, after all. Elsewhere in town, the place is starting to empty out as people flee to families and hearths across the nation and the world. As Tiny Tim observed in Dicken’s A Christms Carol: “God bless us, every one!”

Only in this surreal time could someone take offense at that, but of course, they did. The principal of Lake Washington High School near Seattle canceled a dramatic performance of the Charles Dicken’s classic partly because he feared it would raise questions about the place of religion in public schools. The cancellation perfrectly sums up the dictionary people at Miriam-Webster to name their 2016 “Word of the Year” as ‘surreal.’

I am in complete agreement. Happy Holidays!

– Vic

Half-price burgers, too, though they must be consumed on the premises. Hey, this isn’t charity, you know?

Local artist and craftswoman Grace Clemency has mastered the creation of magnificent wearable knit works of art! She can produce three of them a day!

Taking time out from merriment, Jon-Without diagrammed the theory of increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere forcing global surface temperatures inexorably and catastrophically upward.
Then we had another Moscow Mule.

The decorated decanter anchors Murderer’s Row at Casa Socotra, with the rocket fuel carefully arranged by the height of the individual bottles to form the sort of found-art that both inspires and sedates.

Back to the Mac Showers saga tomorrow!

Copyright 2016 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com