When the Central Powers of Europe mobilized their armed forces in August 1914 and the Allied Powers mobilized theirs in response, it was widely believed by many on both sides that the conflict would be glorious, short-lived and decisive. Few of the pro-military interventionists gave any credibility to the prospect of a protracted, drawn out…
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Leftoverture at 40 still crisp by Kansas at 44
Online purchase of two tickets, four rows back from Stage Left: $216.00 Pre-concert dinner of Coneys, Frito Pie and iced tea: $8.95 The cheapest swag item and two skunky draft beers: $43.00 Taking in the sounds of one of the most iconic bands of my youth in the same venue where I paid to see…
Continue ReadingThe United States of Oceania?
We have survived into the second week of President Trump’s America and to say this has been a newsworthy few days is an understatement. In just over one week there have been over a dozen Presidential Executive Orders including some that impose unconstitutional overreach on specific segments of the population. Through it all, the President…
Continue ReadingIn honor of the 44th President
As the Presidency of Barack Obama enters its final hours, I wax nostalgic and remember fondly the breath of hope his victory in 2008 gave many of us in the face of frightening national and world events. His impressive fifty state grassroots campaign for President of the United States bore the embodiment and inspiration of…
Continue ReadingTransitioning into resistance mode
One of my more caustic memories of the 2016 campaign involved an incident experienced by my local Democratic state house candidate. One of his campaign signs placed along side of a busy thoroughfare was vandalized. An obvious Trump supporter stapled a placard over both sides of the sign with the following message: THE SILENT MAJORITY…
Continue ReadingFarewell 2016: Wrapping up Volume 42
As the year winds down, this is the time I tend to get introspective and wax philosophical on the record of the past twelve months which I have kept on a daily basis. When I key in my account of the final day of December 2016 this evening it will be the 366th entry of…
Continue ReadingI remember Pearl Harbor
I can never think about Pearl Harbor, the December 7th, 1941 attack, any book or movie about it or any story an old veteran ever told me regarding it without vividly remembering my time serving on or near that hallowed body of water and the ground surrounding it. Today, the 75th anniversary of the attack…
Continue ReadingMy take on the outcome of the 2016 General Election
As an Oklahoma Democrat, this is how I view the results of the 2016 General Election in my mind’s eye: I need to update the page on this blog to reflect yet another Presidential election where 77 out of 77 counties in Oklahoma were carried by the Republican ticket. Believe it or…
Continue ReadingWhat a wonderful rainy day for a poll dance
My dear brothers, sisters, readers of Reason Rest Stop and only friends, history is upon us today as General Election Day 2016 has arrived! I awoke early to a rainy, drizzly but at least not a cold morning. I got ready and dressed and made my way over to my voting precinct, which is literally…
Continue ReadingTulsa: Namesake of a ship of the line once again
Having served aboard a ship of the line during my first enlistment in the U.S. Navy, names of sister vessels have stuck in my memory. I served aboard a Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer for roughly two and a half years. These and other small combatant vessels of that era known as frigates…
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