Opus 2019-163: New Terms: Mugabe It

The unlamented death of Robert Mugabe brings to mind the miracle of transformation that some tyrants have.  He took a country that was one of the world’s great exporters of food and turned it into a land of starvation.  It is a real talent, real but unfortunately not rare.  Unlike what was mocked as “trickle down economics” as Mugabe transferred the wealth of a nation into his own pocket very few crumbs trickled down to the masses.  This was real “voodoo economics”. 

It might be a good time to assign his name the value of a verb.  He mugaged Zimbabwe.  Maybe we could start something like the Academy Awards and award a pot metal Mugabe to the year’s most destructive person.  We could even offer posthumous awards to people like Hugo Chavez for his mugabing of Venezuela.  We could give honorable mentions to people like Barak Obama who tried hard but couldn’t quite pull it off.

I think Mugabe is a word from an obscure African language which means, “Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”

If you want some nominations for future awards you might look to the Democratic candidates for president.

homo unius libri

Opus 2019-162: Subtle Patriots

The Walmart decision is not what it seems.  It is not part of a plot to undermine freedom in the United States.  It is not a secret death wish by their corporate leaders.  It is really the first step in a brilliant plan to revitalize the downtowns of America.  It is carefully thought out to bring business back to the small businesses that have been struggling and closing down because they could not compete with Walmart.

I for one will be finding alternatives to my shopping.  It will bring variety and serendipity to my life.  It is not underhanded and un-American.  It is subtle and patriotic.

Thank you, Walmart.

homo unius libri

Opus 2019-161: Headlines: A Turning Point

Who knows when the balance tips or the pendulum starts its return?

If you are old enough you can remember when all telephone lines went to Bell.  How could that ever change?

You remember when IBM was computers.  They had it locked down.  How could that ever change?

You remember the days when a days shopping would involve Sears and Penny’s.  They were the giants.  They had the key spots down town.  How could it ever change?

Just a few weeks ago I would have said that Walmart had a corner on the retail sails in the country.  We are now going to watch how that changes.  It won’t happen overnight.  It will be hard for many of us to stop the automatic “run to Walmart”.  There are probably still many out there who don’t realize that they will not be able to stop in on their way to the range or the hills for some ammo until they get to the counter in the sporting goods department.  And there will be millions who will go on with life because cattle generally don’t pay attention to the slaughter house they can’t see.

In case you have been asleep, Walmart has announced that they are going to stop selling handgun ammunition and rifle ammunition that will fit in the most popular guns in America.  The leadership of what used to be a patriotic American company has crossed to the dark side.  I hope they say hello to Dick’s and Target while they are there.

But change will come.  I am already asking myself if there is anything I really need at Walmart any more.  I wonder who will emerge to fill the shopping gap.

homo unius libri

Opus 2019-160: Baby Talk: One Part Observation

Grandparenting is often a hands-off type of experience.  It is one part observation, maybe more than one part.

Recently my daughter sent some photos.  She does this from time to time.  Never enough but more than I deserve.  The latest brought a smile to my face when I wasn’t even looking at them.  If you are a grandparent you know what I mean.  If you aren’t then I hope you can get a slice of the pie vicariously.

What I was enjoying was not just the pictures of the toddler but the joy in which her father was interacting with her.  It was radiating from the photos.  He was making faces and generating lots of happiness on her face.  I rejoice in the richness of her life and mourn for all those children I see being ignored by parents that have other things to do.

I celebrate knowing that I will receive a visit in a few months and get my chance to make faces and tickle bellies.  For now I will observe and smile.

In regard to the litter box they will also be bringing the cat.

homo unius libri

Opus 2019-159: New Terms: Grandcat

My wife just called.  I am still not sure why.

What got my attention was her comment that she was looking at a gray litter box and somehow the sentence segued into a mention of our granddaughter.  That was too good to let pass so I asked if your granddaughter really cared what color her litter box was.  She clarified that it was for our “grand cat”.  There is a new term for you.  It may seem strange to you but I am used to this kind of thinking.

I was also informed that she had bought honey and pink salt so that if the end comes we will be well supplied.  There were a lot of other things mentioned but since most of the sentence were not finished I don’t know if she bought them or had them thrown at her. 

I feel much more secure now.  If society falls apart I will be able to have pink, salted honey.

homo unius libri

Opus 2019-158: Keeping the Faith

Warning:  Theology ahead.

Faith.  If you have been around Christians much you hear them talking about it.  We talk about being saved by faith which is not technically correct.  We are saved by grace because of our faith.

(Eph 2:8 KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

We talk about living and walking by faith.

(2Co 5:7 KJV) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Faith becomes a mysterious thing of great power. 

From whence does this faith come and what is it?  Is faith something we do or something we are given that does through us?  Is it some thing we possess or does it posses us.  As believers are we not possessed by demons, but possessed by faith? 

If you look at the Ephesians verse you notice the word “gift”.  This is one of the places where Christian theology has split into two main paths.  One branch of the Christian church says that the gift is grace.  Through it God bestows his salvation.  It is up to you to believe by free choice.  The gift is available.  The other branch says that the gift is faith.  In order to be saved you are first chosen, or elect, and then given the faith which saves you.  To me it seems to be a done deal. 

I am in the first group.  I have a hard time believing that God decided arbitrarily at the beginning of creation whom was to be saved and whom was condemned.  I don’t understand how God can know the future and we can have free will and I will continue to struggle with it but I don’t expect to get the answer in this life.

But then there is eternity to work it out but, first I want to find out why Charley had to die early and how the three persons of the trinity can be one.

homo unius libri

Opus 2019-157: On the Street: Stocking Syndrome

I know I have vented on this before but it keeps happening.  I am getting out of my car to go into the grocery store.  I am looking around to see if there are any stray shopping carts and I see two just outside the door of the store.  I notice a guy moving up the walkway.  He walks past the first one which was even pointed in the right direction.  He walks past the second one.  I figure he is just coming to buy a box of Jello but no, he walks past the door to get a shopping cart out of the queue.  ?????

I figure that if people would pick up a cart on their way into the store then an employee would not need to be paid to fetch them back.  It is amazing how often you can do it without going out of your way.  If it requires a few extra steps then your heart thanks you.  It might even keep the carts in better shape and save the cost of replacement.

It may be an American thing.  I know that Americans will throw trash on the ground instead of taking a few steps to the obvious trash can.  In Japan you have to search for a trash can and yet there is little litter.  In Japanese airports you don’t have to pay $5 for a luggage cart.  They are free and readily available because people return them.

I wonder if it starts with mothers not demanding you pick up your socks.

homo unius libri