Author: Vic Socotra

Life & Island Times: Detour, Day 20

Almost ran over a guy as he foolishly tried to mosey across US-50. L-to-R in front of us, all the way, never once tired to trot, let alone run out of danger. Only hard evasive repeated actions by us saved him from having his shorts browned or his head turned bright red after being launched […]

Weather Report: Clouds in the East

You would think the skies would know which way the prevailing winds blow, you know? Like the climate models, it depends on how you load up the computer with the assumptions of the programmer. If you believe in the story you are attempting to tell, naturally the process will direct you to what you know […]

Life During Wartime, Part 2

have inflicted almost 5,000 missile strikes, 3,500 air strikes, and more than 1,100 drone strikes on the territory of Ukraine24 February 2023 Life During Wartime, Part 2 It is an anniversary this morning, and has been for a few hours. The featured event is in Ukraine and has been highly anticipated, and the fireworks about […]

Life & Island Times: Detour, Day 18

Editor’s Note: Building Management at Big Ink ran a test of complete Condo Association conversion to Renewable power sources. The initial test, scheduled for dawn on a cloudy day introduced unplanned variation in composition management and iteration control. The mis-ordering of episodes is the regrettable full responsibility of the independent editorial contractors with a distant, […]

Arrias: Riding the Tiger

There was a young lady of Niger Who smiled as she rode on a tiger; They returned from the ride With the lady inside, And the smile on the face of the tiger. – W.C. Monkhouse Sometimes it helps to look at things backwards…What should the US government recommend to Ukraine if they were losing […]

Life & Island Times: Detour Day 19

May 2001 Detour Version 1.0 Day 19 “Utah has Arizona’s scenery but a better color consultant.” -Marlow to Steve after driving through Utah Grand Junction Colorado and the last of Steve’s friends are our city stops. Stopped for brunch in Delta Utah at the Topps Café. First meal of the trip where the sole coffee […]

Life & Island Times: Detour Day 17

May 2001 Detour Version 1.0 Day 17 Go east, young man, go east. -roadtrip guidance from those back in Virginia We left San Jose after light breakfast and headed for Nevada, crossing the Sierras via CA88. In the Stockton area, we passed through a series of ridges covered with monstrously large windmill driven electrical generators. […]

Preparations

(This ad accurately reflects the “pros” and “cons” of “survival,” either way. Remember Civil Defense?) Seasonably cool and grey this morning in Virginia. A look at the information streams flowing off the flat-screen showed sharp dichotomies on what we are supposed to believe, several of them with potential consequences. Socotra House is an alert organization […]

Life & Island Times: Detour, Day 16

Editor’s Note: Land warfare in Europe is in progress. There is a Chinese proposal to talk about peace on the table unacceptable to two of the participants. In response to tension, our Navy has eliminated fitness standards. The ground in Ukraine is thawing, making movement a challenge for the next few weeks. The crisis grinds […]

Life & Island Times: Detour, Day 15

May 2001 Detour Version 1.0 Day 15 To each, his own. Steve wanted another southern slice of the PCH, while I wanted to revisit some old haunts on the peninsula and the new to me Monterey Aquarium. The aquarium’s 35 foot tall, swaying kelp beds were entrancing. The geriatric otters (>14 years old) in residence […]