T P O

T   P   O
The Patient Ox (aka Hénock Gugsa)

G r e e t i n g s !

** TPO **
A personal blog with diverse topicality and multiple interests!


On the menu ... politics, music, poetry, and other good stuff.
There is humor, but there is blunt seriousness here as well!


Parfois, on parle français ici aussi. Je suis un francophile .... Bienvenue à tous!

* Your comments and evaluations are appreciated ! *

Showing posts with label Biographical (Personal). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biographical (Personal). Show all posts

Saturday, November 5, 2016

The Latest Statin Scare - by Hénock Gugsa


Click the image to tnlarge

Yet another prescription drug quagmire! 

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"Statin Use Linked to Increased Parkinson's Risk"

- by Nancy A. Melville, Medscape Medical News, 10/26/2016 -
(http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/870996?nlid=110304_2981)
//// Contrary to previous research, a new study shows a higher, rather than lower, risk for Parkinson's disease associated with statins. ////
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My take on the Latest Statin Scare
~ by Hénock Gugsa ~

A few years ago, Lipitor was prescribed for me to curb my high cholesterol count. When I started having serious joint problems, I complained to my Doctor. He changed the prescription to Pravastatin, but I have been so traumatized by such types of "medicine" that I'm naturally gun-shy about taking it. I only take it for about three days before the next check-up so my lab-test results would show a passing grade or better.

Aside from the joy of being a rebel, I have over the years grown to seriously question the wisdom of those in the medical profession. So, in that vein, may I here offer a piece of Ethiopian wisdom: "Nobody knows about the self better than the self!" .... That should answer your puzzlement as to why, although these doctors keep asking you questions, their own answers (understandings) are in the end no better than guesses !!!


George C Scott

Saturday, October 29, 2016

A Mental Hurdle ?! - by Anonymous


A Mental Hurdle ?!
~~ by Anonymous ~~
====================
During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the Director how do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.

"Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because its bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No." said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

Winona Ryder


Monday, October 24, 2016

The Demise of Language - by Hénock Gugsa


"Through a glass darkly"
The Demise of Language 
- by Hénock Gugsa -
======== **** ========
// Someone asked on Facebook  (and I paraphrase):  How does the citizenry get dumbed down so effectively, so fast? ....  And the same someone answered (again I paraphrase):  By the systematic decline and neglect of the national language within the educational structures  ....  Then, a bit later, the same person wrapped up the discourse with a reference to the story of the Tower of Babel. //
~~~~ 
My response:  I don't believe Government has ever made a conscious and deliberate move similar to God when He was punishing humanity for their pride, and their insolence toward Him.  And if Government ever had any such nefarious  designs on its citizens, it would certainly not have been so lucky as to have willing accomplices like science and technology.  In this day and age of acronyms, emoticons, icons, and the vehicles of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.), the destruction of our language by abbreviations and punctuation marks is inevitable and unavoidable.

The limited boundaries set in Twitter, for instance, are emblematic of a society already addled by attention-deficit-disorder.  But then again, even in ordinary situations of police reporting or doctors' or nurses' medical chart reports, the English language is so stilted and mechanical-sounding, it does not even sound human.  Strangely, the police may surprise you with their vocabulary which may include the word: "semaphore" ... but then at another point, they would confound you with: "vic", or "unsub".  


Conclusion:  I don't think the Government has cursed us into the situation we are in.  I think that, much the same as in the time of Babel,  we ourselves are our own ruination! 
~~~~ 
Robert Downey, Jr.

 

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Boo-da! - by Hénock Gugsa



The werehyena!
Boo-da ! – the Ethiopian WereHyena !!!
- by Hénock Gugsa -
~~~~~~~ !!!!!!! ~~~~~~~
Yes, Halloween is approaching, and children are trembling with mock fear because all the monsters they know are fake.  And whose fault is that? – Why, the parents' of-course!  They keep telling their kids that frightful dreams are just nightmares – they’re not “real.”  So the children grow up dismissing and disavowing bad things, evil things.

Well, boys and girls, young and old!  Perk your ears and listen well.

In Ethiopia, there is a monster nobody dismisses … and he has been around for eons. Ethiopians don’t disbelieve the unimaginable, the unheard-of, or the truly horror-filled.  You’ve heard of Ethiopia, haven't you? ....  The land of myths and fables.  Aesop (Aethiop) was from there, dontcha know?!

Ethiopia’s traditional lore is rich in both good tales and in horror stories.  In my blog, I have already written about a demon called, Meganya.  He is literally a scary slapper whom nobody should want to encounter.

But today, here, I’m going to give an account of an entity simply known as a “boo-da”.  The name is spelled phonetically, and you should have no problem pronouncing it.

Now, boo-da is not the same as Buddha (the kindly Prince Gautama).  Far from that!  A boo-da is far from compassionate and actually belongs in the realm of evil.  He is not unlike the werewolf (the wolf-man) because they both lead double lives.  But the Ethiopian monster’s alter ego by night is the hyena, not the wolf.  However, unlike the werewolf, a boo-da is not self-conflicted or complicated.  He accepts himself as what he is, and has no qualms or conscience about his deeds. 

As told to me, the story of the boo-da is one that will keep children up all night from fright.  A boo-da is a cursed human who is doomed to live a double life alone as a social pariah.  Except for the three rainy months during a year, a boo-da transforms himself into a fiendish hyena every night during the hours of darkness.  Each night, his legs would shrink to half their length, his arms would elongate, his shoulders get hunched, and he would almost appear to have a hump on his back.  His body is suddenly covered with short mangy brown hair from head to toe.  And fleas appear out of nowhere to attack his lean body.  So he jumps around hooting, wailing, and making shrill, screaming sounds.  Then he furiously kicks and breaks up the ground under him.  He naturally prefers red clayey ground, and of-course there is plenty of that where he lives.  A red dust billows up on his body as he throws himself on the ground and twirls and rolls around killing his enemies, the fleas.  All during the dirt bath, the cacophony of the noises he makes have graduated to hyena squeaks and cackles mixed in with snorts and grunts. 

Eventually, he stops everything he’s doing, gathers himself up by his short hind legs.  He emerges from his abode, and he is very hungry … ravenous, really.  Naturally, he is a dedicated carnivore … but, he is not discriminatory in his diet, he will eat anything when he is hungry-hungry.  Of-course, a boo-da has night vision same as a hyena, and he accurately remembers where the pre-selected prey lives.  Humans are his enemy, but most importantly for him, they are also his meal.

At night, households in the countryside lock their doors, stables are secured with the animals safe inside, and guard dogs are at their posts.  Families hold their dear children tight and near.  Fires are kept going, and dark corners are lit well.  Nothing is left to chance.

Outside, no person travels alone.  Everybody has his spear or his sword by his side!

Day or night, children are normally safe because their parents make them wear tiny leather pouches (talismans) around their necks for protection.  These magical potions are specially prepared by the head shaman in the community, and they are not exactly cheap.  A family with four children may have to give the shaman a cow for four talismans.  The ingredients in the talisman as well as the written words on the little leather pouch render a child invisible to a boo-da.  No wonder villagers always warn:  woe be to the careless child who loses his talisman!

As you may have surmised, a boo-da reverts to his human form during the day.  People who think they have seen him in person usually describe him as shifty-eyed and unsociable.  He always appears to be spying on people and their belongings.  No doubt, people are convinced that he is the one with the evil eye.  That is why they know better than to eat or drink outside in the open and neither would they bathe naked in the river.  If a boo-da happens to be nearby and catches sight of you in a vulnerable state, he will mark you in his memory and you will not be long for this world.  Either the boo-da will get you, or you will suffer and die from a sudden incurable disease.

As has been pointed out earlier, a boo-da is very crafty and stealthy, and no one knows the location of his residence.  His animal instincts, and especially his sense of smell and hearing alert him to humans if they accidentally come anywhere near his abode.  He then quickly relocates to a new place, and his solitary life resumes.  A boo-da can live to a ripe old age.  And when he dies, it will usually be from starvation because he is too weak from old age to go out and hunt humans anymore. 
                 
Terrified, screaming woman
~~~~~~~~~~ Any doubters ? ~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, August 27, 2016

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. 

         

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

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)   
 

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

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. 



Sunday, July 17, 2016

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!!


"Open shutter, please!"


Sunday, July 10, 2016

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.




Friday, May 27, 2016

A Facebook Exchange - by Hénock Gugsa


What a day it was !

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!
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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.
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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."


Cary Grant -  "Charade"