David Gustafson's Blog: Bonjour Amigos!, page 27
October 15, 2015
A "Tail" of Two Nice Dogs
Hokey and Dokey are two dogs with remarkable talents. Hokey is a dog that can be wagged by its tiny, little tail while Dokey will cheerfully chase its bushy tail for hours and hours without any success.
Hokey is a very unhappy dog while Dokey is a blissfully busy one.
One day while Hokey was suspended in midair being wagged by his stubby, little tail, Dokey gave up the joy of the never-ending chase to have a few words with her friend.
"Why does that make you so unhappy, Hokey? I do not understand unhappiness."
"I used to be a happy hound, but here I am, fluttering in the breeze like a leaf just when I was on my way to my doggy dish. I am a hungry dog and no one likes to be pestered when they are hungry."
"Why did you let this happen in the first place? After all, you are the dog and that little thing is your tail."
"One day, a long time ago, I thought I was being nice and since my tail is so tiny and vulnerable compared to me, I let it have its way with me. I come from a nice family. I was brought up to be nice."
"That was very nice of you."
"Thank you, Dokey. Being nice suits a dog like me. That is why I never asked you why you chase your own tail all day long . That is so strange. What would you do with that big bushy thing if you ever caught it?"
"Sounds to me like you have a little tail envy, big boy."
"Envy? Me? With a tiny little tail that can wag me around like a handkerchief whenever it wants to? Woof on that one!"
"Yes, that is impressive if you are happy being wagged rather than being the one doing the wagging."
"Thank you, Dokey, but tell me, I am as curious as I am nice, why do you chase your tail around like that?"
"That was really not very nice of you to ask. I never gave it any thought because it makes me happy and I like to be happy. Dogs are meant to be happy."
"I used to be a happy dog," sighed Hokey,"
"Maybe you should ask your tail why it likes to wags you?"
"Because it can?"
"Can you still wag your tail if you want?"
"Not without asking."
"Well, nice talking to you Hokey. I am feeling a little hungry at the moment. I know I will like the food they put in your dish since you come from such a nice family."
Hokey is a very unhappy dog while Dokey is a blissfully busy one.
One day while Hokey was suspended in midair being wagged by his stubby, little tail, Dokey gave up the joy of the never-ending chase to have a few words with her friend.
"Why does that make you so unhappy, Hokey? I do not understand unhappiness."
"I used to be a happy hound, but here I am, fluttering in the breeze like a leaf just when I was on my way to my doggy dish. I am a hungry dog and no one likes to be pestered when they are hungry."
"Why did you let this happen in the first place? After all, you are the dog and that little thing is your tail."
"One day, a long time ago, I thought I was being nice and since my tail is so tiny and vulnerable compared to me, I let it have its way with me. I come from a nice family. I was brought up to be nice."
"That was very nice of you."
"Thank you, Dokey. Being nice suits a dog like me. That is why I never asked you why you chase your own tail all day long . That is so strange. What would you do with that big bushy thing if you ever caught it?"
"Sounds to me like you have a little tail envy, big boy."
"Envy? Me? With a tiny little tail that can wag me around like a handkerchief whenever it wants to? Woof on that one!"
"Yes, that is impressive if you are happy being wagged rather than being the one doing the wagging."
"Thank you, Dokey, but tell me, I am as curious as I am nice, why do you chase your tail around like that?"
"That was really not very nice of you to ask. I never gave it any thought because it makes me happy and I like to be happy. Dogs are meant to be happy."
"I used to be a happy dog," sighed Hokey,"
"Maybe you should ask your tail why it likes to wags you?"
"Because it can?"
"Can you still wag your tail if you want?"
"Not without asking."
"Well, nice talking to you Hokey. I am feeling a little hungry at the moment. I know I will like the food they put in your dish since you come from such a nice family."
October 12, 2015
The Revenge of Fröken Elvis
Swedish Television, SVT.se, is an HD, on-demand site where Swedes and students of that charming language can tune into Swedish TV.
For us students of the language, nothing can be quite so annoying as to hear some of Sweden's best singers performing in English on various entertainment programs such as my own favorite show, "Go'kväll."
Fröken Elvis, a five member female band has begun offering a little revenge by performing Elvis covers in Swedish.
Here are some YouTube links to give you a little taste of their talents.
"Always on my Mind"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QdxL...
"Devil in Disguise"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kKxO...
For us students of the language, nothing can be quite so annoying as to hear some of Sweden's best singers performing in English on various entertainment programs such as my own favorite show, "Go'kväll."
Fröken Elvis, a five member female band has begun offering a little revenge by performing Elvis covers in Swedish.
Here are some YouTube links to give you a little taste of their talents.
"Always on my Mind"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QdxL...
"Devil in Disguise"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kKxO...
October 9, 2015
The Migration Migraine
Within the last two weeks there has been a significant 12% opinion shift in Germany concerning its ability to absorb the tidal wave of immigrants coming from the Middle East.
51% no longer believe Germany can manage the overwhelming situation while those who still think so have dropped from 57% two weeks ago down to 45% this week.
Apparently, Germany has gotten a much closer look at these new arrivals and rather than desperate young families with crying children, over 75% are healthy young men.
Will Frau Merkel and the CDU remain hostages to the polls taken two weeks ago or will they begin to sway to the music?
In Sweden, the KD, (Christian Democrats) have withdrawn from the "December Agreement" that insured a coalition budget agreement freezing out any influence from the right-wing SD (Swedish Democrats).
This will almost insure that there will be a new election in the very near future. The results of this one could be quite shocking.
Sweden and Germany are the most ardent supporters of migration. Stay tuned- democracy can sometimes be painfully amusing.
51% no longer believe Germany can manage the overwhelming situation while those who still think so have dropped from 57% two weeks ago down to 45% this week.
Apparently, Germany has gotten a much closer look at these new arrivals and rather than desperate young families with crying children, over 75% are healthy young men.
Will Frau Merkel and the CDU remain hostages to the polls taken two weeks ago or will they begin to sway to the music?
In Sweden, the KD, (Christian Democrats) have withdrawn from the "December Agreement" that insured a coalition budget agreement freezing out any influence from the right-wing SD (Swedish Democrats).
This will almost insure that there will be a new election in the very near future. The results of this one could be quite shocking.
Sweden and Germany are the most ardent supporters of migration. Stay tuned- democracy can sometimes be painfully amusing.
October 6, 2015
Incongruous anomalies and anomalous incongruities - #6
Barack Hussein Obama's Snoop Dogg Presidency is coming to an end. His Holiness, blessed be His name, will be gone sooner rather than later.
After almost fifteen years of George W. Bush and Barack Hussein Obama, those two puny, punky imbeciles with scant accomplishment in the world of grown-ups, one would think that America would be ready for a breath of fresh air. Instead, it is staring at the likes of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Apparently, the "decline and fall" is a long, long, long ways down.
After almost fifteen years of George W. Bush and Barack Hussein Obama, those two puny, punky imbeciles with scant accomplishment in the world of grown-ups, one would think that America would be ready for a breath of fresh air. Instead, it is staring at the likes of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Apparently, the "decline and fall" is a long, long, long ways down.
Incongruous anomalies and anomalous incongruities - #5
Given that Germany has the best automotive engineers in the world, why would Volkswagen not solve the emissions problem rather than cheat at it?
Russia has some of the most outstanding mathematicians, physicists and material scientists in the world and yet it does not have one, not one, world trademark that can stand alongside Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Samsung, Alibaba, Baidu, Amazon, Mercedes, BMW, Honda or Toyota. Why does Putin not spend his energies solving a puzzle that would contribute to every Russian's well-being rather than dreaming of a return to those glorious Stalinist May Day parades and a frightened society that snitches on its friends and neighbors?
Russia has some of the most outstanding mathematicians, physicists and material scientists in the world and yet it does not have one, not one, world trademark that can stand alongside Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Samsung, Alibaba, Baidu, Amazon, Mercedes, BMW, Honda or Toyota. Why does Putin not spend his energies solving a puzzle that would contribute to every Russian's well-being rather than dreaming of a return to those glorious Stalinist May Day parades and a frightened society that snitches on its friends and neighbors?
September 28, 2015
Dueling Piss Flowers
America had to scrape the bottom of the shit hole muck for three days and three nights to come up with those two irrefutable arguments against democracy, George W. Bush and Barack Obama while Russia has offered up its very own Vladimir Putin.
Today at the UN, Obama and Putin presented dueling teleprompter recitals on Bashar al-Assad, the civil war in Syria and what might be done with those seventh century, woman-stoning, decapitating scholars from ISIS who consider a Kalashnikov to be a worthy substitute for a university education.
That two such useless, incompetent, shit-for-brains piss flowers are stirring this witch's brew can only aggravate the final outcome and/or proliferate its miseries worldwide.
Today at the UN, Obama and Putin presented dueling teleprompter recitals on Bashar al-Assad, the civil war in Syria and what might be done with those seventh century, woman-stoning, decapitating scholars from ISIS who consider a Kalashnikov to be a worthy substitute for a university education.
That two such useless, incompetent, shit-for-brains piss flowers are stirring this witch's brew can only aggravate the final outcome and/or proliferate its miseries worldwide.
September 24, 2015
Migrants, the Media, Merkel and those Pesky Human Rights
A trouble-making satirist might suggest how hysterical the European media reaction would be towards a march of thousands of masked protestors against women's rights in Berlin or towards a march of thousands of masked protestors against gay rights in Stockholm.
What would be the media reaction to those marches when the masks came off and the protestors were neither Germans nor Swedes?
Surprise, Frau Merkel!
What would be the media reaction to those marches when the masks came off and the protestors were neither Germans nor Swedes?
Surprise, Frau Merkel!
September 20, 2015
Fatal Contradiction
The European Union would never pass a resolution designating women as second-class citizens of humanity, as a piece of property or chattel belonging to someone else.
Yet Europe, led primarily by Germany and Sweden, is opening the doors of its cultural sovereignty to a tidal wave of migrants bringing with them a fanatical belief that subjugates all women.
Has Europe taken leave of its respect for its own mothers and grandmothers, its own wives, its own daughters and sisters?
Germany and Sweden are knocking on the gates of Hell with chocolate marshmallows.
This ego-altruism will not turn out well for either one of them…nor for the rest of Europe.
Yet Europe, led primarily by Germany and Sweden, is opening the doors of its cultural sovereignty to a tidal wave of migrants bringing with them a fanatical belief that subjugates all women.
Has Europe taken leave of its respect for its own mothers and grandmothers, its own wives, its own daughters and sisters?
Germany and Sweden are knocking on the gates of Hell with chocolate marshmallows.
This ego-altruism will not turn out well for either one of them…nor for the rest of Europe.
September 7, 2015
Ego-altruism and Migrants
Thousands and thousands of predominantly Muslim migrants are streaming approximately 3400 kilometers towards Munich, Germany rather than 1900 kilometers towards Sunni Muslim, Saudi Arabia with its billions of petro-dollars and common language.
Very soon, the thousands will become millions.
Will Europe's delirium of ego-altruism lead to the eventual dissolution of The European Union?
Very soon, the thousands will become millions.
Will Europe's delirium of ego-altruism lead to the eventual dissolution of The European Union?
August 13, 2015
March Violets
After complaining that I was running out of re-reads from Raymond Chandler's oeuvre of Philip Marlowe mysteries, a friend suggested that I take a look at the noir novels of Philip Kerr's Berlin detective Bernie Gunther. Never heard of him. I took a quick look.
One reviewer even claimed that Kerr was even better than Chandler. Really? I doubted that, but I promised myself that I would be pleased if Kerr were almost as good. I was a heroin junkie coming off my noir addiction and I needed a quick fix. Methadone would be better than nothing.
I began with "March Violets," Kerr's first effort at finding his voice with Bernie Gunther and this genre.
Kerr's noir lingo has more of the flavor of American ketchup than an authentic German sauerkraut and instead of ringing a paragraph at the end with a startling, single note chime that comes out of nowhere like Chandler, he sort of leans on the noir doorbell a little too much. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as too much noir smack mouth. Still, I had to admit that he is almost as good as Chandler so I am a happy reader.
This history nerd is giving Kerr an extra star for setting this novel in 1936 Germany. In March 1933, six days after the Reichstag was allegedly set ablaze by a Dutch Communist, the Nazis received 44% of the vote. It would be Germany's last free election until 1949. On March 23, the Enabling Act was passed making Hitler dictator of Germany and unleashing a police state that would consume, intimidate and terrorize the citizenry.
"March Violets" takes place in 1936. The police state has consolidated most of its power though there are some powerful rivalries at play. Germans are afraid to even speak openly to their friends and relatives. Many fear that their past associations will catch up to them, ruin their careers or even land them in prison.
In this environment of fear, where very question has the potential to incriminate, Bernie Gunther is hired by the Rurh steel magnate, Hermann Six, to find the diamond necklace that was stolen from a safe when his daughter and her husband were murdered and their house set ablaze.
Of course, Bernie Gunther cannot find the necklace without digging further into the murder that has some very dangerous political ramifications.
Kerr leads the reader through an array of encounters with police, Gestapo, gangsters, government officials, the upper class and the underclass with all of the usual twists and turns one expects from the noir genre.
Halfway through, I did figure out the final twist, but not the reason why.
Philip Kerr has passed the "almost as good as Raymond Chandler" test. "The Pale Criminal" waits in the on deck circle.
One reviewer even claimed that Kerr was even better than Chandler. Really? I doubted that, but I promised myself that I would be pleased if Kerr were almost as good. I was a heroin junkie coming off my noir addiction and I needed a quick fix. Methadone would be better than nothing.
I began with "March Violets," Kerr's first effort at finding his voice with Bernie Gunther and this genre.
Kerr's noir lingo has more of the flavor of American ketchup than an authentic German sauerkraut and instead of ringing a paragraph at the end with a startling, single note chime that comes out of nowhere like Chandler, he sort of leans on the noir doorbell a little too much. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as too much noir smack mouth. Still, I had to admit that he is almost as good as Chandler so I am a happy reader.
This history nerd is giving Kerr an extra star for setting this novel in 1936 Germany. In March 1933, six days after the Reichstag was allegedly set ablaze by a Dutch Communist, the Nazis received 44% of the vote. It would be Germany's last free election until 1949. On March 23, the Enabling Act was passed making Hitler dictator of Germany and unleashing a police state that would consume, intimidate and terrorize the citizenry.
"March Violets" takes place in 1936. The police state has consolidated most of its power though there are some powerful rivalries at play. Germans are afraid to even speak openly to their friends and relatives. Many fear that their past associations will catch up to them, ruin their careers or even land them in prison.
In this environment of fear, where very question has the potential to incriminate, Bernie Gunther is hired by the Rurh steel magnate, Hermann Six, to find the diamond necklace that was stolen from a safe when his daughter and her husband were murdered and their house set ablaze.
Of course, Bernie Gunther cannot find the necklace without digging further into the murder that has some very dangerous political ramifications.
Kerr leads the reader through an array of encounters with police, Gestapo, gangsters, government officials, the upper class and the underclass with all of the usual twists and turns one expects from the noir genre.
Halfway through, I did figure out the final twist, but not the reason why.
Philip Kerr has passed the "almost as good as Raymond Chandler" test. "The Pale Criminal" waits in the on deck circle.
