R.R. Hicks's Blog, page 9
February 14, 2014
…. Could Be Worse . . .
Remember, no matter what, your Valentine’s Day could always be worse: Filed under: History, Stuff
February 2, 2014
A Dominican Priest and the Archduke
Reblogged from Some Gallant Lies: There are almost five full months before the centennial of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand the seemingly fairly minor event (this is where one usually adds the disclaimer "but not for his family" but, as we'll … Continue reading →
January 5, 2014
A Never Ending War
Reblogged from Some Gallant Lies: The Belgian Army has a special, highly trained unit whose motto is 'I Do Not Fear Dangers'. The 63 men of the DOVO are experts with high-explosives, white-phosphorous, and chemical weapons. They racked up 2,000 sorties last … Continue reading →
December 15, 2013
R.I.P. Peter O’Toole
I’m convinced a goodly measure of my fascination with history and an even greater measure of the way I write about it is directly attributable to Peter O’Toole. I saw Becket, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Lion in Winter … Continue reading →
December 5, 2013
R.I.P. Nelson Mandela
For me, this picture says it all, eloquently… Nelson Mandela wearing a Springbok jersey, absolutely, gut-crunchingly amazing. Nothing symbolized Apartheid South Africa, and the oppressors like the national rugby team …. and yet Mandela walked into a full stadium and … Continue reading →
November 19, 2013
Trivia, Fantasy Sports, 150 Years from the Gettysburg Address
150 years ago today Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. The speech, about 270 words long (there are 5 versions, no one is really sure which one he gave) speaks for itself, and will forever do so. I’ve been reading articles … Continue reading →
November 11, 2013
The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month
Reblogged from rolandrhicks: Thank you veterans, thank you for your service, enjoy the day -'tho you deserve more . . . Never forget, however, lest we relive it: Today is Armistice Day. At least to me, perhaps a few hundred … Continue reading →
October 28, 2013
Lou Reed, the Patron Saint of Outsiders . . .
If ’Roy Orbison sang for the lonely’, Springsteen for the working man, Patti Smith for feminists of all stripes, Dylan for all of us at one time or another…. …… then Lou Reed wrote for everyone who was ever on … Continue reading →
October 10, 2013
Boehner, Obama, the Tea Party, and the Ghost of Ben Wade
No pecuniary consideration is more urgent, than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt: on none can delay be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable. – George Washington, 1793. … Continue reading →
October 5, 2013
Oh, to be so wonderfully oblivious …
Heard a Tea Party think-tanker-adviser-founder-pundit this morning who unintentionally summed up the Government shut-down perfectly with this self-centered, oblivious, ignorant, flip-James Madison- and- company- over- in- the- grave comment: Hey, look, I have no problem at all funding the parts … Continue reading →
