Month: October 2023

Moshi Moshi

On By scottpetersenIn Moshi moshiLeave a comment

Long ago, I had a year long course in the Japanese language. In addition to conversation, we studied the phonetic alphabet (hiragana) and to a lesser extent the Chinese characters (kanji) and characters used for foreign language translation (katakana ). While I can still offer the usual niceties, I can also reveal to people that I am the great blue-eyed legend (“watakushi wa seigen no hakuryuu densetsu“). Anywayyy. . . .

We all get robo calls. Spam. Unwanted nuisance calls. A regular for us is some pushy character who calls once a day from some sketchy “support” group. When I see the caller ID say “spam” or “robo” I will occasionally pick up the phone, pause and offer “go ahead.” And then hang up after the opening “Mister Petersen, I’m from the . . . . ” (click). It is normally advised not to say “Yes” (our words are likely recorded). Yesterday, the phone rang. I looked. “Spam.” So I decided to speak in a non-traditional manner. I answered the phone as you would in Japan. I adopted a higher pitched voice, picked up the receiver and whispered “moshi moshi.” There was a pause and I repeated louder – “moshi moshi.” At the other end, there was a cough and the deep voice just said “sorry – we’ll take you off our list” (click). Donna was standing right there and gave me a nod and wink. And we laughed! We’re off the list!!

So next time the phone rings and you look down and see “Spam,” you might try answering in Japanese (“moshi moshi“). Of course it could be embarrassing if it turns out to be your child’s 4th grade teacher. Or someone from the Nippon Foundation . . . .

The Hospital

On By scottpetersenIn HamasLeave a comment

According to Hamas, hundreds of souls perished in the recent rocket attack on the hospital in Gaza. However – as we now know — it was not Israel that fired the rocket. It was the Islamic Jihad – or an errant Hamas rocket. Some theorists suggest that Hamas did it on purpose — killing their own people as they have done for decades. We also know, the rocket fell in the parking lot (not on the hospital) and casualties were significantly lower than reported by Hamas.

For years, Hamas has hidden behind civilians of Gaza. Using children as human shields (as they are now using hostages and their own people). Over the last few decades, Hamas and Hezbollah rockets would indiscriminately rain down on Israel. They would make incursions. Kill innocents. With Israel responding as needed. Yet I have to wonder why these organizations keep getting a pass – while Israel is faulted for defending itself. And why the left celebrates the indiscriminate murder of Israelis (I mean really?). Now we have October 7th. I’d be interested in your “take”? What should Israel do? I trust the destruction of Hamas would be at the top of your list. . . . .

Unidentified Flying Objects

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Between 1947 and 1969, at the height of the Cold War, more than 12,000 UFO sightings were reported to Project Blue Book — a small, top-secret Air Force team. Since then, UFO occurrences seem to happen on a regular basis. And apart from visual sightings of UFO’s – some involve “close encounters” and even a few involve “abductions” (which may explain the personalities of some of our politicians).

I wondered about UFO sightings pre-1947. Was anything going on in 1946? 1857? 196 A.D.? The quick answer? Darn tootin’. Soooooo . . . . fasten your seatbelts my fellow ufologists (those who study UFO’s). The ride apparently starts 3000 years ago. . . .

The earliest recorded UFO sighting purportedly took place in 1450 B.C. in Lower Egypt (Jebel Barkal). The Tulli Papyrus reports that a “star came down” to set fire the adversaries of Thutmose III. In 218 B.C. Livy recorded that “phantom ships” were seen cruising in the skies above Rome. In 7 B.C. Plutarch reported that the sky in the Roman Empire “burst asunder” with flames falling between two armies set to do battle.

Fast forward a millennium, in April 1561, residents of Nuremberg reported seeing a triangular object in the sky. Soon this object morphed into hundreds of spheres, cylinders and other objects that flew overhead. In August 1566, spherical objects appeared to fly out of the sun. In early 1803, a local fisherman reported finding a strange vessel with small windows adrift in the waters off Japan (Hitachi Province). And a woman emerged speaking a strange language. On August 12, 1883, the astronomer Jose Bonilla counted 400 UFO’s coming out of the sun (he allegedly took photos). And the list goes on.

I’m sure that all of these sightings can be explained as meteors or shooting stars. Then again. . . .

Burning Leaves

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(A fall classic – first posted on September 11, 2016)

For millennia, folks have been burning garbage and “stuff” with relative impunity.  The smoke was often choking.  And sometimes toxic.  Now – thankfully – there are limitations on such activity.  

But. . . . as a kid, I remember my father – and other men in the neighborhood – raking leaves in the fall.  And ushering them out to the street – at the curb – and lighting them up.  Saturdays and Sundays in October were the optimal days for raking, gathering and burning leaves.  And the distinct smell of burning leaves was overpowering.  And – from my recollection – not so unpleasant.  Everyone burned their leaves.  I mean what were families supposed to do with them?  My dad would stand – smoking his pipe – and talking with the other men.  As the leaves burned. . . . .   

I tend to think it would be nice if for a few hours in the fall, everyone could spoon some dead leaves out to the street.  And burn them.  Like the “good old days” (did I really say that?).    I don’t need a “bad for the environment” speech.  Or “think of what it does to your lungs.”  Or “aren’t there regulations?”  Just think about sharing an indelible olfactory moment of an autumn afternoon long ago . . . . .

The Drinking Glass

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[A repeat from May 3, 2020] When I was a kid, our kitchen and each bathroom had a “drinking glass.” The one in the kitchen was usually a jar of jelly that when empty doubled as a glass. In our two bathrooms, we had plastic glasses. 

These glasses were rarely washed.  When my parents or I wanted a drink, we held it under the faucet, rinsed it out, filled it up and drank.  If the plumber came over and wanted a drink – yep – he’d rinse it out and drink.  My friends Eddie, Arthur, Curt and Chico had the same protocol in their homes.   We’d be out playing and one of us might yell “I’m gonna go get a drink” and disappear into somebody’s kitchen to rinse, fill and drink.  Or maybe not “rinse” as the case may be. . . . .   

I remember that occasionally my mother would take a sponge to the glass when there was “buildup” on the bottom (no, I don’t want to think about it either).   But otherwise, the drinking glass was there to use.   Today – many want an unused glass for every drink.   Sometimes if one switches from water to Coke – a new “fresh” glass will be employed.  Other folks will employ paper cups (or even those crinkly plastic ones) for each new libation.  Use once.  And toss.  As some readers might know, I’m not a big fan of killing trees or creating needless waste.   So I do – in the spirit of the 8 year old within me (that Donna says still make a regular appearance) – leave my coffee cup in the kitchen to reuse during the day for water from our filtered tap.  Regrettably though – it mysteriously disappears each evening into the dishwasher requiring a fresh cup each morning.  

Ahl al-Kitab

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[A relevant post of August 23, 2012] As a follow up to my previous post — what is the status that Jews and Christians hold — according to the Muslim faith?  We (Christians and Jews) are considered Ahl al-Kitab — “People of the Book.”   

Islam accepts Old Testament (the Tanakh) as the Word of God.  Muslims believe the Quran is considered to be the completion of these Scriptures.  Since Jews, Christians and Muslims all derive from Abraham, “People of the Book” refers to those who share Abrahamic Scripture and believe in one God.  Sabians (who are mentioned three times in the Quran) are also considered Al al-Kitab. 

The Quran offers tolerance toward the Ahl al-Kitab — e.g. Surra 3 (“The Family of Imran“).  In Surra 5:69, the faithful are advised “Verily!  Those who believe and those who are Jews, Christians and Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward . . . .”    Then there is Surra 5:82 “. . . you will find the nearest in friendship to be those who say ‘we are Christians.’  This is because there are priests and monks among them and they do not behave proudly.” 

Every religious tradition has its own interpretation of Biblical text.   The Old and New Testaments and the Quran have been selectively interpreted over the centuries to justify various faith traditions and practices.  And to trivialize (or demonize) others.  It would be nice if we could recognize the shared heritage of our respective faiths so as to foster cooperative and ecumenical headway into some of the world’s most pressing, agonizing – and dangerous – problems.

Anti-Semitism

On By scottpetersenIn Anti-Semitism, Deborah LipstadtLeave a comment

[An appropriate update of June 1, 2019] Donna and I went to a local synagogue to hear James Carroll speak about his book The Cloister. The presentation was on a Saturday following Shabbat services. As we approached the entrance, we were greeted by a heavily-armed security guard – wearing body armor. We looked okay so we entered the temple.  And I donned my kippah. . . .

Mr. Carroll, a former Catholic priest (who remains a devout Catholic), discussed his book — and the love story of Heloise and Abelard.  But then he began discussing the issue of anti-Semitism which has roots going back more than a thousand years.  14 million Jews in the world.  1.8 billion Muslims.  2.18 billion Christians.  And who today gets an uneven distribution of hatred?    Yep. . . . .

I just finished the book Anti-Semitism – Here and Now by Deborah Lipstadt.  Read it.  Please.  Most of us are aware of anti-Semites from alt-Right jerks.  But there is anti-Semitism from progressives and those on the left. We see bigotry and hatred of Israel and Jews in American colleges and universities. For the latter, it is pointless to ask why we do not boycott human rights abuses in China, Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Sudan, Zimbabwe. Oh no. It is Israel that is in the cross hairs of the left.  And because many Israelis are Jewish, it is their faith that take the heat. 

In Europe it can be dangerous for a man to wear a kippah in public.  Synagogues are guarded by police.  And Jews feel concerns for safety from the moment they arise in the morning.   Anti-Semitism.  Making a comeback.  But did it ever leave?   

Randy Rosenthal’s Chicago Tribune review comments and quotes Lipstadt’s work “And so if we think ourselves to be liberal, or progressive, or simply decent, ‘we must insist that anti-Semitism be treated with the same seriousness as racism, sexism, homophobia and Islamophobia.'”  I hope you say “Amen.”   

The Honeymooners

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[An oldie from June 7, 2012] We all have favorite T.V. shows.  Donna likes “Dancing with the Stars” and a couple other network offerings.  For me, there is not much that captures my attention.  “Squawk Box” while I’m having breakfast and reading the newspaper.  The Weather Channel if the weather is “iffy.”   But there is one series that I love to watch.  Pretty much anytime.  “The Honeymooners.”  Talk about an upper.   I have seen each of the episodes perhaps a couple dozen times.  And I never get tired of watching.  This series is iconic. . . . . 

“The Honeymooners” — which was based on a “Cavalcade of Stars” sketch that ran from 1951 to 1955 —  had only 39 original episodes (I have them all on DVD).  The series aired in 1955 and ended in 1956.  The stars were Jackie Gleason (1916-1987) as Ralph Kramden; Art Carney (1918-2003) as Ed Norton; Audrey Meadows (1926-1996) as Alice Kramden; and Joyce Randolph (born 1924) as Trixie Norton.  When the episodes ended, Gleason revived the program for occasional short sketches up until 1978. 

The shows were filmed before a live audience at the Adelphi Theater in New York.  Rehearsals were spare since Gleason wanted spontaneity.   When he forgot a line, he would pat his stomach (which he seemed to do with some frequency. . . . ).    Alice would look at the refrigerator. . . . .  There was nuance and hilarity.  Ronnie Burns, son of George and Gracie, made a cameo appearance in one episode as bebopper “Wallace.”  In another episode, Norton refers to a coworker as Nat Birnbaum.  George Burns real name was “Nathan Birnbaum.”  In 1960, the animation “The Flintstones” was based in large measure on “The Honeymooners.”   

The only living cast member is Joyce Randolph.  There are wonderful recent interviews where she spoke of the show – and her fellow cast members (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLuDunqv5VE ).

The theme song was actually written by Jackie Gleason.   And away we go. . . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2maOGkKE_A

Ghettoside

On By scottpetersenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

[A repeat from May 7, 2016] “Death was bad enough. The death of a child, unbearable. But the murder of a child? There was nothing worse.”

“The hurt was too great for crying—tears belonged to a realm of earthly physics, but the murder of her son had transcended the coordinates of her world.”

Jill Leovy nailed it in her classic work Ghettoside:  A True Story of Murder in America.  This bestseller deals with the poisoned soul of gang violence which is endemic to inner city, poverty-stricken neighborhoods in Los Angeles.  She targets the horrific black-on-black murder rate that soars in these communities (witness Chicago with its thousands of victims of gang violence – the vast majority – black).  I don’t need to “review” the book.  Suffice to say I recommend you read it.  

To me, the big question is what do we do about this blight of violence?  One political party profits from poverty — because the poor are a voting block.  The other political party is accused of coming up with only tough love solutions.   And – like certain other issues today – no one is allowed to discuss the root causes of poverty lest they be accused of racism or bigotry.  So it goes on.  And gets worse.  Wouldn’t it be great if caring folks with pure hearts and sound minds could deal with problems in America unencumbered by politics, social agenda and political correctness?  Nahhh.   That’s way too much to ask. . . .