The Parting Glass ~ by Liam Clancy

 

 

The Parting Glass 

~ by Liam Clancy ~

//////// 🇮🇪 🇮🇪 🇮🇪 ////////

 ... and may joy be with you !

 

The Last 4 Years ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

The Last 4 Years 

~ by Hénock Gugsa ~

FC ===> The last four years are in the category of life experiences. They are neither good or bad, as they are simply events from which other events will emerge.

HG ===> FC, ... Sometimes, I can't swallow neither "good" nor "bad" despite the connectivity between them. But right now, it feels like a respite from whatever situation we've been in; and I'm aware things could change back. I'm thinking positive thoughts to maintain my current state of calm and tranquility.

FC ===> Changing back is impossible, and it's not desirable either.
Change is the constant, let's adapt to it.  😉

HG ===> FC, ... You are right, of-course, 'changing back' is not a plausible concept.  I should have chosen my words carefully.  What I was striving to get across is the idea of a reversal of direction, i.e. going backward instead of forward as in physical motion.

Despite the futility of attempts to affect 'change', as humans, we never tire of trying ... we think and believe that under similar sets of conditions, similar outcomes can be achieved again and again.  But isn't that what scientists believe in when they keep trying to simulate a situation?  Politicians want to take us back to a former time (e.g.- MAGA).  Then, on the other hand, there are those who want to move us forward to a utopia of sorts, and they don't want their idea of 'a perfect world' to change.  

The whole point of my post is to state that I did not particularly like our experiences of the last 4 years, and my subjective prognostication for the years ahead is :  relief and continued improvement.  We'll see !!! 🤔 

 

Most Impressive ! ~ by TPO

 

Most Impressive ! 

~ by TPO ~

This young Ethiopian gal competed in Norway's version of "Idol" ....
~ At the end, she does the "Eskesta", the Ethiopian crazy dance !
~ She is a free spirit !!!~
💚 💛 ❤️  🇳🇴  🇪🇹

   

               

A Smile Multiplied! ~ by Anonymous

 

 

A Smile Multiplied!
~by Anonymous~ 

 Someone gave me a smile today.
I tried my best to give it away
to everyone I chanced to meet,
as I walked down the street.

But everyone that I could see,
gave my smile right back to me.
When I got home, besides my smile,
I had enough to reach a mile.

 

About the Unresolved ... About Doubt ~ by Rainer Maria Rilke

 

About the Unresolved ... About Doubt 

~  by Rainer Maria Rilke ~

~ I want to beg you, as much as I can, dear sir, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.

~ Your doubt may become a good quality if you train it. It must become knowing, it must become critical. Ask it, whenever it wants to spoil something for you, why something is ugly, demand proofs from it, test it, and you will find it perplexed and embarrassed perhaps, or perhaps rebellious. But don’t give in, insist on arguments and act this way, watchful and consistent, every single time, and the day will arrive when from a destroyer it will become one of your best workers — perhaps the cleverest of all that are building at your life.
 

An Uneasy Moment ! ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

An Uneasy Moment ! 

~ by Hénock Gugsa ~ 

I'm not sure how the following memory bits just floated to the surface of my consciousness.  Yet, it is neither probable nor even possible that they could ever have been erased completely!

I was maybe six-years of age at the time, tops.  I had just been worshiping with my father at our neighborhood's St. Marcos Orthodox Church in Sidist Kilo, Addis Ababa.  It was not only an important bonding moment between father and son, it was also, for me, a first serious introduction and immersion in our family's religion, the Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Christian Church.

My father had coached me on what I was expected to do at the end of the grueling hour-and-a-half long prayer and hymnals called Kidassé (ቅዳሴ ).   So, as is customary to most Christian churches, what came next was the Eucharist or Holy Communion.  I approached the priests and mimicking my dad, I received the sacraments without a hitch.  Then, my dad and I exited the church and walked out into the warm and deliciously sunny morning air.

We came out of the church's compound and headed home. Not even five minutes later, as we were walking up the concrete side-walk, my father noticed the fidgety discomfort and fear on my face.  He stopped and, bending down, examined me closer.  He asked me what was wrong and if I was ill or something.  

I must have looked more guilty as I tried to respond, but words  couldn't come out of my mouth.  My dad looked sternly at me, and all I could do was open my mouth wide and point inside with my finger.  I shall never forget the shock and fright that fell over my father's face.  He dropped to his knees, and made several signs of the cross with his right hand.  He looked at me with the greatest worry and  care, then ordered me to chew and swallow immediately the Holy Host that was lodged in my mouth.  As I was doing that, he prayed fiercely and hurried us home.  He instructed me to stay inside the house all day that day, no questions asked.  Meanwhile, he said he was going to go back to the church and get some Holy Water for my protection.  Then he dashed out of the house, loudly mumbling prayers in Geez, which he could speak better than many priests.

So, that Sunday, that whole day, I was incarcerated at home after drinking the Holy Water that my beloved dad brought.  Every moment was fearful as I stayed alert for any signs of Evil.  None came.  I believe I have been blessed even up till this day !

~~~~ /// ~~~~

Pranked big time ! ~ by TPO

 

Pranked big time ! 

~ by TPO ~

 

 

" Leaning on the Everlasting Arms " ~ Iris Dement

 

❤️  " Leaning on the Everlasting Arms " ❤️

~ by  Iris Dement  ~ 

  

 

Nibble and Gnaw ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

 Nibble and Gnaw ~ by Hénock Gugsa 

======= ~~~ =======

 

Here It Comes ~ by C T R

 

Here It Comes

 ~ by C T R ~

"Here It Comes" - by Chance the Rapper

 

 

A Not-so-bright Idea ! ~ by NY Times

 

                                        A Not-so-bright Idea !  

~ by NY Times ~

 

Reactions to "A White Person Complains" on Facebook

 

Reactions to "A White Person Complains" on Facebook 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     H G === >  I am not sure where this person is coming from. Has he ever had a history of his person-hood being denied ? Has he or his ancestors ever been enslaved? Has he been given freedom that really was not "freedom" ? Has he or his ancestors ever suffered under injustice ? Has he or his ancestors ever been kneel(ed) on and deprived of breath and of life by "the law" ? If he complained that his life matters, has he been mocked and told facetiously, "all lives matter" ? ... and shame on Morgan Freeman for believing that playing "God" in movies makes him a fair and reasonable judge of humanity.

     H G ===>  If anything, that whole rant by P G is nothing but an affirmation for "white racism". The length of his essay only makes it clear that he is unburdening himself of long-held resentment (maybe even hate) of a group or groups he thinks of as the "other". They are encroaching on his most vile character, "racist"! He resents that he cannot think of himself as a member of a "superior race". But at the same time, he hypocritically denies ever having a racist bone in his body !

     B B ===>  H G ... first off Pat did not say this she copied and pasted from someone else and Pat is a beautiful lady who is def not racist.

     H G ===>  B B ... We don't know who said it or started it .. but copying and pasting anything without a personal input only leads by default to the perception that one supports or believes the matter oneself. If one is not the author, one should say so and also declare one's position if any. And I apologize for mentioning her name but my comments will still hold for the original (unknown) author. This is also a great lesson for me not to respond or comment to "copied & pasted" posts. Let us put it behind us, please.

     B B ===>  That is alright ... that is your opinion ... and yes put it behind us.

A White Person Complains ! ~ by PG on Facebook

 

A White Person Complains ! 

~ by PG on Facebook ~

I have said this for a long time.
I am NOT racist and I will never be, but this is true.
I have often wondered about why Whites are racists, and no other race is......
Someone finally said it. And it was Morgan Freeman! How many are actually paying attention to this?
There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc.
And then there are just Americans.. You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction.
You call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,' 'Whitey,' 'Caveman'... And that's OK...
You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you....
So why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?
You have the United Negro College Fund. You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET....
If we had WET (White Entertainment Television), we'd be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.
If we had White History Month, we'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives, we'd be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce.
Wonder who pays for that??
A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.
If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships... You know we'd be racists.
There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US .
Yet if there were 'White colleges', that would be a racist college.
In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights.
If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.
You are proud to be black, brown, yellow, and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it.
But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.
You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us.
But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.
I am proud...... But you call me a racist.
Why is it that only whites can be racists??
There is nothing improper about this post.
Let's see which of you are proud enough to send it on.
I sadly don't think many will.
That's why we have LOST most of OUR RIGHTS in this country.
We won't stand up for ourselves!
BE PROUD TO BE WHITE!
It's not a crime YET.... But getting very close!
-----------------------------------------------------

 

" Asmah Na Marah " ~ by Yodit Abraham

 

" Asmah Na Marah " 

~ by Yodit Abraham ~

 

 

Let the Love Flow ~ by TPO

 

Let the Love Flow 

~ by TPO ~

 

The Meaning of Life - by TPO

 

The Meaning of Life - by TPO

~~~~ // ~~~~

 

"Interregnum" ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

"Interregnum" ~ by Hénock Gugsa 

//////////////////////////

 

OBONATO ! ~ by TPO

 

OBONATO ! 

~ by TPO ~

[ From: Eleanor Preger
November 5 at 10:31 p.m.  ===> ] 

The anthropologist invited the children from the African tribe to play one game.  He placed a basket of fruit near the tree and announced, addressing the children: "The one of you who reaches the tree first will be rewarded with all sweet fruits."

When he signaled to the children to start the race, they locked their hands tightly and ran together, and then they all sat together and enjoyed the delicious fruit. The astonished anthropologist asked the children why they all ran together, because each of them could enjoy the fruit for himself. 

To which the children replied: "Obonato".  Is it possible for one to be happy if everyone else is sad?  "Obonato" in their language means: "I exist because we exist."

 

Robin Williams ... beautiful moments! ~ by TPO

 

 Robin Williams (1951-2014) - and - Laurie Williams (1922-2001)

Robin Williams ... beautiful moments! 

~ by TPO ~

Beautiful moments between a wonderful comic and his mom !
Robin Williams and his mother, Laurie ... !
🤔 ❤️ 👍

  

 

R.I.P Sean Connery ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

R.I.P  Sean Connery (1930 - 2020)

~ by Hénock Gugsa ~

He never came across as pompous, arrogant, or boring. He had a delightful swagger, but it was never over-done. Above all, there was always that silky-smooth voice that gave Bond's humor a very classy quality.🤔

 

 

BLM (Black Lives Matter) ~ by Hénock Gugsa

BLM (Black Lives Matter) 

~ by Hénock Gugsa ~ 

      ... more specifically "human beings with genetically dark skin pigmentation" matter because those with little or no pigmentation seem to be negatively obsessed about them.  

     I used to work for Unisys Corporation.  Every year, they required employees to update their personal data in their personnel files.  One of the reasons they gave was that they were required by the Government to prove they adhered to EEO (equal employment opportunity) rule.  Otherwise, they could lose government contracts, etc.  

     I resented being asked about my race or ethnic origin.  Every year, I would fill in a different choice (option) from the drop-down menu.  One year, I would select "Hispanic or latin", the next year I would choose "South Pacific Islander", next year: Asian,etc., etc.  Some years, I would even put down "Caucasian".  There were times when I selected "Other" and specified with : Abyssinian, or Human, etc.

     Nobody ever came back and challenged me about it!

 

Commentaire politique ~ FranceInfo

 

Commentaire politique 

~ FranceInfo ~

 Notos: ===>
     Si Trump vole les élections au peuple américain il n'aura plus aucune légitimité. Une guerre civile sera inévitable jusqu'à l'éjection du "président" qui ne sera en fait qu'un imposteur et un dictateur.
     Les mensonges et surtout les aveux de Trump sont le terreau d'une grave crise politique aux USA qui s'ajoutera au fiasco sanitaire et économique.
     Trump a déjà fait énormément de mal à son pays en le divisant et en refusant de prendre des mesures pour sauver son peuple de la pandémie. Sans parler de l'image des USA catastrophique à l'international.
     Biden gagnera. Et si Trump réussi son putsch en sabotant le vote par courrier, il devra être délogé par l'armée. De plus il ne sera plus du tout audible et plus rien ne pourra se faire sans que le pays explose. Et la communauté internationale pourrait se liguer contre les USA tant qu'ils n'auront pas un président légitime. Le fond du trou pour les USA.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BD1dotNet : ===>
     Le problème est qu'il va perdre cette élection...!!!
     Et qu'il ne voudra pas céder sa place...!!!
     Donc effectivement le risque d'une guerre civile est très élevé...!!!
Trump est extrêmement dangereux et doit être stoppé, s'il perd car il doit perdre (ses retards dans les sondages sont abyssaux et irrattrapables) ce sera pour lui une humiliation suprême. Il n'aura plus qu'à gémir dans son coin en disant que les élections sont "truquées". Quel triste personnage...
____________________________________________
Source:  https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/usa/presidentielle/donald-trump/presidentielle-americaine-pourquoi-le-vote-par-courrier-pourrait-etre-un-facteur-important-de-l-election_4076625.html#xtor=CS3-794

Cannibals ?! ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

Cannibals ?! 

~ by Hénock Gugsa ~

     There's a kind of a funny little story about Ethiopian soldiers in Korea during the war there in the early '50s. I know that you know Ethiopians have a predilection for raw meat. Well, it so happened that they came upon some unattended cow grazing in the field. So they caught it, quickly slaughtered it and gathered around and began to eat the meat raw. They were ravenous as they hadn't had raw meat for a long time ... they were slicing the meat and eating it right off their bayonets. It was a sight to behold !
     In the meantime, a group of Chinese and North Koreans were approaching the encampment intending to make a surprise attack.  But when they saw the Ethiopians happily gorging themselves on blood-soaked meat, the Asians  shrieked with fright and scattered to the wind. Soon after that, it was said that the Koreans and the Chinese spread the word that the Ethiopians were cannibals and should be avoided rigorously ! 🤔🐮😂

 

Backlash Blues ~ Nina Simone

Backlash Blues *  

~ Nina Simone ~ 

 =====================================

Mister Backlash, Mister Backlash,
Just who do you think I am?
Tell me, Mister Backlash,
Who do you think I am?
You raise my taxes, freeze my wages,
Send my son to Vietnam.

You give me second-class houses,
Give me second-class schools,
Second-class houses
And second-class schools.
You must think us colored folks
Are second-class fools.

When I try to find a job
To earn a little cash,
Try to find myself a job
To earn a little cash,
All you got to offer
Is a white backlash.

But the world is big,
The world is big and round,
Great big world, Mister Backlash,
Big and bright and round—
And it's full of folks like me who are
Black, Yellow, Beige, and Brown.

Mister Backlash, Mister Backlash,
What do you think I got to lose?
Tell me, Mister Backlash,
What you think I got to lose?
I'm gonna leave you, Mister Backlash,
Singing your mean old backlash blues.

You're the one,
Yes, you're the one
Will have the blues. 

* “Backlash Blues” (1967) written by Langston Hughes  for his friend, Nina Simone. This was one of the last of Langston Hughes' protest poems before his death in 1967.  

 

Universal Love for Music and Dance ~ by TPO

 

Universal Love for Music and Dance ~ by TPO

Music and Dance ... that's what we're all wired for !
ሙዚቃ እና ዳንስ ... በደም ሥራችን ውስጥ ነው ያለው !

💙 ♫ ❤️ ♫💙

[ Silent Place - by Jiggy ] 

 

La Grandeur de la France ~ le New York Times

 

La Grandeur de la France 

~ le New York Times ~

~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

About Nationalism ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

About Nationalism ~ by Hénock Gugsa 

============= 

I love America as much as the next guy.  I have assimilated and absorbed all of the best features of this great land.  However, I've always felt that less bragging and a more realistic self-acceptance are a proper way to go.  The can-do attitudes of Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Truman, and Eisenhower were the greatest things about America.  

Currently, obviously, they seem to have vanished.  Could they be retrieved ?  Perhaps, yes.  But, I think it will require a revolution of sorts !!!  Above all, we should be wary of the dangers of "nationalism", especially the intolerance it foments.  

One of the things I love about America is the freedom of speech, and the non-kowtowing to power.  But now, fear seems to have crept in thru the backdoor on the coattails of  "false patriotism".  I think we should be open-minded and read about or listen to alternative insights on our corner of the world.  Comedians can sometimes tell the brutal truth !

"Women living with their Erikas" ~ by Eve Pollard

  

Woman’s Editor Eve Pollard gets it off her chest:
    What it’s like living with your ‘Erikas’

================

 We all know what men think of big bosoms.  The roar of the 68,000 rugby crowd at Twickenham a week ago said it all.

    In a flash our heroine was free.  Bristol lost a lot of its claim to fame as the mammorable phrase “a lovely pair of Erikas” was born.    

 Women, of course, don’t all feel the same as their menfolk.

  In fact their varying views of Erika Roe and her size 38 double D cup bosom are often based on how well-endowed in the chest area they themselves are.

    So I have to breathe in, pull my shoulders back, puff up my chest, and be counted.  With a 36 C-cup size bosom, I am glad that once again the busty birds are having their day.

    Having a big bosom isn’t necessarily the greatest stroke of luck, though.

    I have been described as a girl with “more front than Brighton*. ”   Yet I still get embarrassed by the way that a woman who carries all before her somehow appears much more available to the opposite sex than her flatter-chested sisters.
_________________________________
* Brighton, a resort on the south coast of England, in East Sussex, is noted for its 5.4-mile expanse of shingle beach.

Source - wordhistories.net

"CATS" and Francesca Hayward ~ by Hénock Gugsa

 

"CATS " and Francesca Hayward 

~ by Hénock Gugsa ~

Despite all the horrible reviews it has picked up here and there, I found "CATS" [now on HBO] quite enjoyable.  The music and the choreography are quite good, and a new and charming discovery is regaling her talents to the medium of film ....

Her name is: Francesca Hayward.  I guarantee you'll fall in love with this sweet Kenyan-British ballerina !! 

🤔  ❤️  🙂