Author: Vic Socotra

Nellie Bly Beats Some 55-Gallon Drums

(The image above is of author and Stunt Reporter Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, circa 1916). We have been looking at her remarkable life this week because her pen-name became a real one in our Family. She was widely known as “Nellie Bly,” a name taken from an old Stephen Foster song. Elizabeth made her name by […]

Around the World With Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly was a journalism pioneer, not just for women, but for all reporters. She had burst into the public view with her account of ten days in a mental asylum for women. But in 1889, another one of her projects attracted even more attention: a trip around the world by train, steamship, rickshaw, horse […]

Ten Days in the Mad-House

(Elizabeth Cochran Seaman at rest in Mexico in 1885, and before she became a false mad-woman and then world traveler. This is how our family borrowed her pen-name “Nellie Bly” for our Elizabeth, who carried the name all of her life- and ours!) All right, we want to continue the story of how the greatest […]

Meeting Nelly Bly

(This is the real Nelly Bly, circa 1887, whose real name was Elizabeth Cochran Seaman. She was an Pennsylvania adventurer with whom we thought we shared DNA until this morning!) Morning, Gentle Readers! The Chairman was stunned this morning and burst into the Production Meeting with unexpected verve and energy. We are not kidding on […]

Arrias: Emalia

The reason an heroic movie, an heroic character, attracts us is simple: vicariously, we become heroes. Whatever the scenario, we place ourselves in it – Ben Hur in the galley, the homesteaders on the high plains, or perhaps Schindler saving his workers at “Emalia.” At the same time, we know we’ll never have to actually […]

War No More

Busy morning here in Arlington on both sides of the big river. They are active on Capitol Hill on a variety of topics, including calls for impeachment for a few Administration personalities. We have been through this fairly frequently of late, so it may be time to put down our burdens and do a little […]

Trey’s Helmet

Well, here we are. We have advanced to the Holy Day in this week and are feeling satisfied with the accomplishment. We noted successful. sustained respiration through all the other days, and we are confident in our ability to move forward. Thankfully there is no work out there lurking to be accomplished. We are thankful […]

Sammy’s Niece

(487th Bomb Group crew poses with their B-24 Sammy’s Niece). It is a little strange for a Holiday to come on a Saturday, a known Day Off, but that is the calendar. This was the day in 1918 when the fighting came to an end. In the First Big One, anyway. The horror of what […]

Arrias: Ship’s Surgeon

I recall thinking he looked old and frail. I was 14, it was my freshman year in high school and I remember him sitting there, on one of the love seats that my mom and dad had in the den, between the dining room and the living room, in that beautiful house we lived in […]

Monkey Business

Author’s Note: We were going to just wish the Marines in the crowd a “Happy Birthday” this morning. They are 248 years old, institutionally, this morning and they make us all a little proud. My son and I share experience with Marine Drill Instructors, though neither of us were members of the Corps. A special […]