Get Zany! - by Hénock Gugsa

 Get Zany! 

- by Hénock Gugsa -

Why be morose, and crotchety?  Old age is bad enough as it is.  So, perk up, lighten up, and get a friend ... preferably non-human ... oh heck, just get a cat.  Make an effort and befriend it!

A cat will ignore you when it thinks you need to be ignored.  But it will be affectionate and cuddly at other times.  Never persistently demanding, a cat will be playful, tolerant, and always good company.

And cats are quiet and unobtrusive most of the time. 

         

My Ancestry - by Hénock Gugsa

My Ancestry 
(as told to me by my father, Gugsa Asta!)

- by Hénock Gugsa -

=====//======

Legend has it that a tribesman traveled from Zula, an ancestral town in eastern Eritrea, to a place called Adi-Abo which was located in the southwest, in the region known as Tigray.  When he got there, he settled down, got married, and began to prosper.  Soon he became quite wealthy, and achieved a respectable status in the community.  However, he and his wife were childless, and so he was not as content with his life as could be expected.

As it happened, there lived in that town a sorcerer who was quite reputable in his wisdom and extra-sensory powers.  So, the wealthy but childless man decided to go and consult with him for a solution to his problem.

"Why can I not have any children?  Can you give me some medicine to help me and my wife be fruitful?" He begged.

The sorcerer replied, "You must understand that your destiny is unique.  The only offspring you will have is from a lioness."

"But a lioness is a mighty ferocious, and wild creature.  How is it even possible to approach a lioness, let alone procreate with her?"

"Follow my instructions to the letter, and you will succeed in this mission, fear not!"  The sorcerer commanded.

He then told the man where he would find the particular lioness that was destined to give him offspring.  The lioness had a favorite watering spot at a little clearing near a hillside from whence a stream flowed.  The man was to go to that place when the lioness wasn't there, and he was to build a dam and divert the stream in another direction.  Then at the exact spot where the lioness drank, he was to place a large vat filled with mead.  When the lioness came to the spot as usual, she would not find water there ... and because she would be mightily thirsty, she would be forced to drink the potent mead.  When sated, she would head back to her lair for her evening siesta.  The mead was bound to overcome her, and she would fall into a deep slumber.  That would be the time for the man to show his intrepid side, and give her his seed. 

Then would come a waiting period when the man would have to stalk the lioness from a distance and see how she was progressing along.  Not too long after she had given birth to a daughter and three sons as predicted by the sorcerer, the proud father was to repeat the same crafty deception with the mead and get the lioness intoxicated again.  He would then kidnap the four infants with the help of an assistant that the sorcerer had provided.  Additionally, the sorcerer emphasized that they should make sure they stayed downwind from the lioness at all times during their escape.  That way, her eventual search and pursuit of the kidnappers and her babies would be thwarted.

Following the successful daredevil deed, the man and his offspring left Adi-Abo and returned to Eritrea.  The man stopped and settled in Hatsenna in order to raise his children.  When the children were grown, he first saw to it that his daughter got married and made her home there.  When that was accomplished, the man and his three sons were off and on the road again. 

At long last, the man finally made his home in the place we now call Asmara.  One of his sons, Asmael, stayed there with his father, and they both settled down for good.  Asmael became the patriarch of all the people that lived in that region.  And in time, the town, Asmara, was named after him.

As for the other two sons, they left their father and brother behind and headed east toward Zula.  But midway, the second son whose name was Jenn-Alle decided to veer a little bit to the south toward Adi Keyh (the Red Land).  When he reached Berhenet-Arett, he stopped and this became his home.  Jenn-Alle is our ancestor, and his blood still runs in our family!

Tekle-Semaat, the third son, continued on to Zula.  He settled there and had many offspring.  We believe his descendants, our cousins,  are still there.
/// === \\\    

(Please click on map to enlarge)     

In response to Giuliani - by Hénock Gugsa

In response to Giuliani
- by Hénock Gugsa -
~~~~~~ // ~~~~~~ [Rudy Giuliani on FOX News: "When they come to save your life, they don't ask if you are black or white, they just come to save you!"  Rudy Giuliani thanked all the police officers who are out protecting us [sic] ....]

But that is their job! And that is what we expect them to do ... to do their job!

The police are public servants, they are expected to serve and to protect.  Neither they nor we should expect them to do any more or any less than their duty.  We  of-course love and care for them as members of the community .... They should be (and are) well compensated.  They should be well-equipped and trained to do their duties just as the military does with one difference.  The police are a civilian force which means that they are civilians and should not have a battle (war) mentality!

There is also one other aspect of our relationship with the police that is often overlooked or hardly ever mentioned.  It is the covenant of trust that we have laid at the feet of the police.  They are bestowed all the power and privileges of the "law enforcer."  Naturally, we expect policemen to carry out the delicate task of the day-to-day application of the law in people's lives.  Most importantly,  we entrust the police with the protection of our lives, our property, and our human rights.  We expect the highest standards of unwavering moral conduct, and we expect responsible, respectful behavior from our policemen.  These are the actual job requirements of the police.  If it is deemed that they cannot be met, that we are asking too much of the police, then maybe these folk need to find other softer or cushier positions like, for example, the clergy. 

Here is a look why the police should not demand respect and special thanks just for doing their jobs ....  Think of your mom and dad ... you expect them to love, protect, and nurture you ... but you don't expect them to do all that because they expect you to thank them.  They're doing their duty and your happiness and welfare is their only reward!

The work that policemen do should not be looked at collectively, but individually.  We should assess a policeman by his record, not just by the fact that he is wearing a blue uniform.  Let us give the police special honor and thanks following a job performance review just like every citizen in the country.  To do otherwise is to invite hubris and abusive behavior from folk whom we have given the highest honor of our trust. 

Depressed! - by Hénock Gugsa

Depressed! 

- by Hénock Gugsa -

I went to church this morning; and when the service was over, I found myself depressed by two things that had happened ... ====>
 
1 - During the sermon, the pastor brought up the topic of the recent social turmoil here regarding police killings of young black men.  The pastor actually began his comment with,  "All lives matter and it saddens us that ...".  I was almost tempted to raise my hand and object, but I restrained myself.  How can he not comprehend that when people have been crying in anguish that "Black lives matter!", there is a contextual (unsaid but understood) reference to inclusion, as if saying 'black lives matter too' ... don't forget us.  Why do things have to be spelled out to people?  Where is your comprehension of language? 
Also, and above all, why are people so reactionary and so defensive?  Why are they so dismissive, and why do they egregiously trivialize the serious concerns of a group with legitimate grievances?!
 
2 - During the "Peace" greetings of the congregants to one another, I shook hands with an old lady who said to me, "Are you a visitor?"  I started to say that I wasn't because I have been there once before.  But then I replied, "Yes."  However, I got neither a "Peace to you,"  nor a "Welcome." ....  Walking home, I thought why should things be this way?  Isn't a church a house of God where everyone is automatically and unquestionably welcome to worship?  Or is God approachable only exclusively to regular congregants?  Is God a bartender?!
-------------------------------------------
Phisshh ... I am so depressed!!

The Police State - by Hénock Gugsa

 

The Police State
- by Hénock Gugsa -
====== *** ====== I'm sitting here wondering what next ... I am utterly confused.  Are we in Israel fighting Palestinians?

These days, the Police everywhere in America are actually militarized over and above what has been the norm for years.  They have nightsticks, tasers, Glocks, sniper-rifles (with scopes), shotguns, bullet-proof vests, night-vision goggles, mob-controlling shields, etc., etc. .... And now we are adding "Killer Robots"!!!

And don't forget: The police are presumed to have received thorough training in all aspects of stressful confrontations including proper application of force.  Cops are expected to have and to display mental and physical fortitude.  They are supposed to be well-equipped in every way.

Nonetheless, one wonders: Are the police protected enough?!  What more should be done to lessen their fear of the public that they are supposed to serve and protect?

Is all their armament sufficient or necessary to cope with single life-and-death situations?  Or is it needed to impose and perpetuate a permanent siege mentality? 

I don't know about you, but I sure don't feel particularly well-protected or served.

 

A Facebook Exchange - by Hénock Gugsa

In response to WZ's Facebook post (thread) of 5/20/16 titled: 

"all right, losing "friends" who must be H Rotten supporters"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mr. DB :>  Real friends share the same principles as you do.   Anyone voting for that @#%&! [Hillary Clinton] obviously do not. F@*k 'em [sic]. You're better off without them anyway.
--------------------------------------------------------
Hénock Gugsa :> "Real friends" don't have to agree with you all of the time, but they should stand up for your right to be different from them at times. Also, true friends don't judge ... instead, they strive to understand!
--------------------------------------------------------
Mr. DB :> I didn't say they have to agree with you on everything. You obviously don't understand what I said. I said they have to have the same PRINCIPLES as you do. I couldn't be friends with people who don't share my BASIC PRINCIPLES, and neither could anyone else. This isn't about what kind of music someone likes or what kind of food is their favorite, it's about the very foundation of how you view cheating, corruption, lying, abuse of power, and other things that aren't (or shouldn't be) negotiable in people. That's what I said, that's what I meant. And for the record, I'm pretty sure Wynne understood.
---------------------------------------------------------
Mr. DB :> BTW, people "judge" all the time. If you didn't, you'd be friends with literally everyone! I don't like everyone! Neither does anyone else. That's a fact among ALL creatures. That's why some people have "poor judgement" and other have "good judgement". There's a difference between realizing that some people are bad for you, and being UNFAIRLY judgmental within your circle of friends.
---------------------------------------------------------
Hénock Gugsa :> It's true some people are bad for you. They could be even worse ... they could even be toxic to you. Thank you for your clarifications, I am in agreement with you on your initial post above. I was really questioning why such people were labelled "friends" to begin with. As you know, many people here on FB compile hundreds of "friends" over time. I don't think people do any serious vetting when they make "friends" here on FB. The term is used too lightly here on FB! Yes, people do "judge" people all the time, and that is unfortunate ... and I'm saying that those that judge you are not "real friends" to begin with. So, in the end you and I are on the same page, I hope.
---------------------------------------------------------
Mr. DB :> I agree about FB. When I first got on, I was naïve as well and let too many people on. Now, I'm in the position of having to get rid of people who I never hear from, whom I don't know and haven't talked to, who don't ever respond to my posts, or post questionable or downright horrible things to their page. I was hoping you'd understand that I meant the difference between UNFAIRLY judging someone and FAIRLY judging them based on what they've shown you to be.  And I'm glad that you do that, or else you'd be in a lot of danger, here and in the real world.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hénock Gugsa :> True. There is indeed real danger here [on FB] !!!
======================================================
SUMMATION ===> As you may have observed, Mr. DB appears to be a highly-strung, opinionated, and harshly judgmental type of person.  I do not see much compassion or tolerance (understanding) in his words.  I had to employ a lot of patience and diplomacy, and it was difficult getting my point across.  What's more, he was taking everything I said personally, and he was defensive to the end.  Since my efforts to sway Mr. DB from being judgmental obviously failed, I had to try to get him to understand what "true (real) friendship" means.  I don't think that I succeeded in that either.  I am now wondering how he would have reacted if I had said to him: "Judge not lest ye be judged."

Reading "The Catcher in the Rye" - by Hénock Gugsa

/// Reading "The Catcher in the Rye" /// by Hénock Gugsa
===================== Back in high-school, in my teenage days, I never got around to reading J D Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye".  I'm sure many of my friends and acquaintances have read it and probably came away with some lasting impression of one sort or another.

I don't exactly know why I have never read it.  Probably, it was because I was more drawn to other books or activities.

Well,  now I am in my later years for sure; and I am determined to challenge myself to accomplish the things that I remember I never bothered to do from start to finish.  So, I have started and actually I'm two-thirds of the way reading this iconoclastic book.  To be sure,  many readers and critics have hailed it as the greatest literary exposition on America's youthful angst and self-torture.

Although, I haven't finished reading the book yet, my impressions and opinions of the leading character are already negative and  unsympathetic.  I must also confess that it has been well over three months since I borrowed the book from the library ....  I've already extended the loan three times!
 
The reason it is taking me so long, I suspect, is because I've found the book so depressing.  The main character, Holden Caulfield, is such a self-centered, egoistical, nihilist that it is very difficult to see any redeeming quality in him.  He is such a snot about everything and everybody (including sometimes himself) that you want to slap him, or walk away from him in disgust.  I know there is an irony here, and it is that I am beginning to think and sound like him.  And, this probably is the great lure of the character, and of course of the author himself.  I can say without reservation that Mr. Salinger's genius is that he has packed all this insight about alienation, frustration, and rebellion in the person of a lone young man who is undergoing serious growing pains.

In conclusion, I promise I will bravely finish reading this classic book.  I have to find out the meaning behind the title: "The Catcher in the Rye".  And maybe after that, I will think of tackling "Moby Dick"....  That was required reading in my English class at ERHS.  I think Mrs. Barrett expected  the class to read it completely, over one single week-end!

But what about my social life, Teacher?!!! 

== Postscript :  I did eventually finish reading the book.  I now declare that I am proud I did ! ==

Educating Myself about War - by Hénock Gugsa

 

Educating Myself about War  - by Hénock Gugsa - 

Recently, someone on Facebook suggested that I educate myself on the military and the good that it does.

No, thanks, I think I'll pass on that.

I already know that the main purpose and function of the military is for engagement in wars.  They may call it "peace keeping", "defense", and getting rid of "threats". But it all boils down to ===> W A R !!

Well, war is a product of hate ... and there is hate on all sides. The question here, however, is how you conduct war ... the degree of detachment or cold-bloodedness is what is worrisome. On one side, you have snipers, drones, and maybe carpet-bombing. On the other, you have RPG's, IEDs, and self-exploding humans.  And in peace-time, there is all that "unexploded ordinance" (bombs, mines) left behind to do more damage!

War is all ugliness, and how you measure war "heroism" is an even more dubious exercise.  But that is another discussion for another day.

How much more do I need to know or to educate myself about war? Not much ... just that it is fabricated and especially cancerous when you conduct it thousands of miles away from your shores and in a foreign land that was not your equal and did not threaten you at all.

So again, no thanks, I don't need to educate myself ... I know enough about war!

Faux Patriotism ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

Faux Patriotism  ~~ Hénock Gugsa ~~

When I was in 10th Grade in Ethiopia (I won't tell you what year), I had a Canadian teacher who was literally a goldmine of both useful and trivial knowledge.  I swear he would have made a great "Jeopardy" champion had that TV game been around back then.
 

Anyways, I remember him telling us about a tiny Japanese town (or island) called USA. At the time, Japan was the up-and-coming economic threat to the United States. This teacher told us that Japan was labeling  some of its exported products as "Made in USA" and selling them worldwide. This little piece of information taught me a very wise life lesson: Never put much credence on labels!
 
The commercialization of patriotism is even more widespread now; and sadly, no one questions the legitimacy or veracity of labels anymore. If you remember back 15 years ago, in the aftermath of 9/11, the Chinese unloaded on us cheap "patriotic" items like U.S. flag pins and even U.S. flags. They were the most bizarre and absurdly exploitative commercial products in anybody's memory !!!
 
Rampant and dishonest commercialism/materialism is accepted as a fact-of-life. Even the most learned and leery consumers just smirk and stop questioning what is real and what is phony. When we stop questioning the truths behind labels, we are only a step away from forgetting our values. In the end, there is no difference between a phony (deceptive) product label and the phony (unsubstantiated) claims of patriotism.

Feeling Vindicated - by Hénock Gugsa

Feeling Vindicated *

- by Hénock Gugsa - 

Way back in '79, when I was in Ethiopia and working for Ethiopian Airlines, I was a member of a fleet expansion committee.  In our search for cost-effective aircraft that were good-fit for our needs, it was de rigueur to invite high-powered salesmen/engineers from internationally renowned aircraft manufacturers to come and present their products for our consideration.  The top companies in our sight-scope at the time were Boeing and the McDonnell-Douglas companies. 
I remember once, in one of the presentation sessions, asking the representatives of either Boeing or McDonnell-Douglas if they envisioned non-petrol consuming aircraft at some point in the future.  I specifically mentioned planes that would use solar power as energy source. 
My colleagues in the committee reacted with so much eye-rolling, smirking, and loud impatience.  That was bad enough, but the response I got from those salesmen was even worse.  It was non-committal, amused, and even condescendingly polite.  In essence, my question was treated as an inane exercise because it "seemed" to lack relevance to the discussion points on the table.  I must declare that it was devastatingly painful to be viewed as a foolish academic who was wasting everybody's time.
////====> But I am now remembering that push-aside dismissal, many years ago, with different eyes.   I feel vindicated now ...  I am glad I have lived long enough to see the possibility of solar aircraft becoming a practical reality.  
I have no doubt that, very soon now, such aircraft will, after some refinements, be commercialized; and they will dominate the world's skies !!! 
==================================== 
*  This article is written in response to:  "Solar plane completes dangerous 3-day flight over the Pacific Ocean" ---------->
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/solar-plane-completes-dangerous-3-day-flight-over-the-pacific-ocean/

 

Fear is Everywhere - by Hénock Gugsa

Fear is Everywhere 

- by Hénock Gugsa -

//// ~~~~ ////

Fear is everywhere ... out in public, in the privacy of our homes, or online in social media!  We all need to be careful what we say lest it be misconstrued and it gets us into a mess of unintended heartache and misery.

I don't personally buy into the "Freedom of Speech" propaganda anymore because I don't trust anything or anybody willy-nilly.  I am, however, glad about the "freedom not to listen" ... and I am thankful and I appreciate the power to mute, to change the channel, to unfollow, to unfriend, and of-course to turn off and shut out the unpleasant things or people out there. 
 
An aside [tongue-in-cheek] ===> I have never felt so powerful and fearless in my life before!  

"Rubio - pendejo by design!" - by Hénock Gugsa

 "Rubio - pendejo by design !"

by 
Hénock Gugsa *

Didn't he [Rubio] also say some time back that he wouldn't mind sitting and having a beer with Malala Yousufzai, the young Pakistani Nobel Prize winner?
At least three things wrong with that picture ....
One, she is a moslem (alcohol is forbidden) ...
two, she is an underage female and he is almost middle-aged ...
and three, he presumes that he is doing her the greatest honor by sitting with her!
===  How embarrassingly stupid can you get ?!  ===
------- ##### ------- ##### ------- ##### ------- ##### -------
* recently posted on Facebook and caused the following reaction from a "friend" who wrote the following ...
<<
Henock:  why are you such a name calling hater?? Your political posts are offensive! Do you think this hate tactic will change any minds?! Or do you post them to impress your fellow extreme liberal 'friends'??? Why don't you post POSITIVE ideas by your liberal candidates instead of hateful name calling personal attacks against Republicans???Name calling is the lowest level is [sic] debate. >>
---------------------------------
This was followed by a private message threatening to "unfriend" me if I continue in this manner in the future.  I started getting visions of being banned from posh and exclusive country clubs. So, I promptly and unceremoniously beat her to the punch ... I unfriended her. As we say in Ethiopia: Less beans, Less fart!   " ባቄላ ቢቀር ፈስ ቀለለ !! "

In a Pig's Eye! - by Hénock Gugsa

In a Pig's Eye! 

- by Hénock Gugsa -

A couple of days ago, a big fat guy was driving an SUV in front of me ... and I noticed he had a bumper sticker that said: "Cop Lives Matter too!"

** I was so outraged and I did not know what to make of such stupidity!  The only way I can respond is by designing a meme of my own that encapsulates the totality of my reaction! **

Cursed or Blessed?! - by Hénock Gugsa

Cursed or Blessed  ?! 

- by Hénock Gugsa - 

One afternoon, earlier this month, I was coming out of a Social Security Administration branch office ... and in the parking lot, I was accosted rather aggressively by a young African-American man wearing an expensive-looking sport jersey shirt.  He shouted at me and asked what my first (favorite) language was. 

I gave him a puzzled look and inquired why he was asking me that.  

He said because he needed to know if I spoke "Hindi or moslem or whatever."  

I replied that I spoke English alright.  

Then he got huffy, reached into the seat of his pickup truck, picked up a small (3.5"x5") flyer, brought it over and handed it to me.  As he was walking away, he yelled at me: "Jesus Christ is your savior. Read that, or you'll perish!"

I responded, "Oh, really?!" I got into my car, and making sure that he was looking at me, I shredded that piece of paper into bits. 

Then I drove away, grinning.  A little while later, I dumped the little bits of the unread flyer into a public trash bin elsewhere.

  

My Dad's Views - by Hénock Gugsa

 My Dad's Views

- by -

Hénock Gugsa

~~~~ *** ~~~~

My dear departed father had an unequivocal theory about people.

He said they "are" predetermined by the manner they came out of their mothers' wombs. 

The greedy persons appeared with a hand  stretched out in a grasping manner ....

The lazy people showed their buttocks to the world first ....

Restless people shot their feet out first ....

The talkers came out with their mouths open ....

Last, but not least, the thinkers presented the top of their heads slowly ...  and they began using their brains immediately!

.... There you have it all explained the Ethiopian way!
  

Tricky Tuesday - by Hénock Gugsa

Tricky Tuesday *

- by Hénock Gugsa  -

===//===//===

* June 30, 2015

A Tuesday in May - by Hénock Gugsa

A Tuesday in May *

- by Hénock Gugsa  -

======= //// =======

* May 19, 2015
 

Carnivores => Herbivores <= Omnivores - by Hénock Gugsa

Carnivores => Herbivores <= Omnivores

by 

Hénock Gugsa
========== /////// ==========

It has always been a strange mystery to me why ...

1 -  Carnivores love to kill and eat herbivores.

2 -  Carnivores will kill other carnivores for territorial domain. Also, they don't like to share their kill with others outside their own group.

3 -  Herbivores hardly ever kill except in self-defense or by unfortunate accident.

4 -  If carnivores think that herbivores taste good, then why won't carnivores go to the initial sources of good taste ... grass, plants, and weeds!!! 

5 -  And then there are the omnivores ... they kill everything, and eat everything. Sometimes they kill for no reason at all. They are similar to locusts in their appetites and in the blight they leave behind them.

6 -  Why don't carnivores and herbivores join forces and wage war on omnivores?!

"Love and Hate" - by Hénock Gugsa

" Love and Hate "
by Hénock Gugsa
(4/28/2015)
==== ~~ ====

Have you noticed in your readings of people's commentaries in Facebook (or in your general life observations) how these two words are bandied about casually and without examination of their meanings. Love and hate are practically weightless and meaningless!

Here's my take ... Do you really love something that [or] someone whom you may forget in some degree after a lapse of time? ... same question for hate?

Think of something or someone you loved or hated many years back. Do you still love them or hate them with the same fire and passion today at this moment? If you honestly do, then maybe those are the real passions for you ... and good luck with them.

In my old age now, I have come to adopt a safe and healthy approach ... I try not to hate, I do my best to avoid it; and I am not averse to love, I try to cultivate it and nourish it.

Above all, I follow my wife's wise counsel: "You are not perfect, but keep trying. And when you run into a distasteful situation, don't dwell on it ... let it go, let it go!"

 

Me and My Triplets - by Hénock Gugsa

Me and My Triplets 
by Hénock Gugsa
~~~~~~ // ~~~~~~

This morning, my eyes had opened and I was looking at nothing in particular. It was still dark, and the house was quiet except for the comforting buzz of the warm air coming out of the heat vents. Then, it happened. The little red LED digital time clock quietly announced the time, and I saw it at the exact nano-second of its unfolding. Whoosh ... it had gone from 5:54 to 5:55! Christopher Columbus! It was exactly 5:55!!

I whispered quietly, "Holy cow, it's 5:55!"

That woke Jean up. She sounded startled as she asked, "What? What's wrong? What's happened?"

I sheepishly replied, "It's the clock. It just turned 5:55."

Jean sighed with mock exasperation. "Sheesh, you and your triplets."

It is true, me and my triplets. There are quite a few of them ... 1:11, 2:22, 3:33, 4:44, and 5:55 ... then you skip the 6th, 7th, 8th,and 9th hours ... and you're back with the rest of the triplets on the face of a clock ... 10:10, 11:11, and lastly 12:12.

So there you are. I've got myself 8 triplets, but it is never a sure thing when I will catch them. It is all an accidental experience. When I do catch any one of them, however, it is like living life in the moment. Buddha would be so proud of me!

Okay, now. Please don't go technical or scientific on me. Let me just enjoy this moment in peace.