Browsing the archives for the Wisdom I Have Learned category

Prussian Officer Categories

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Sayings, Wisdom I Have Learned

Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf[1] von Moltke is credited with dividing the Prussian Army Officer Corp into four categories: the industrious and smart, the lazy and smart, the industrious and dumb and the lazy and dumb. His recommendations for how any officer should be used were: industrious and smart make good staff officers; industrious and lazy make good commanders; lazy and dumb make good field officers; industrious and dumb are dangerous, get rid of them. Think of persons you work with in your job, your club or your church. Do these categories help in figuring whether they are being well-used for their abilities?

Don’t Sell “The Donald” Short

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United States, Wisdom I Have Learned

Without a powerful and increasingly hated monied upper class (mostly Jewish) and a downtrodden petty bourgeoisie (workers) as described here Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party would never have gained the power they got from otherwise good, God-fearing Germans. How much of a reach is it to compare what happened then with our current situation of an increasingly frustrated and angry middle class overlaid with Tea Party types, rich who are getting richer and a Donald Trump who will say anything (today he’s honored???) to get the crowd’s attention and possible approval?

Riding a Light Beam

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bio, Wisdom I Have Learned

I’ve always been guided by Einstein’s response to how he came up with the theory of relativity: he said he “rode a light beam,” meaning he imagined taking a trip on one and all the aspects of such a trip. When I am considering any new important thing I try to run a movie of all the different aspects of it in my mind. For example, if I’m selling a property I imagine a single realtor brings in a family of four to view the house, two adults and two teenagers. The realtor begins a room by room tour, but soon the teens have gone off on their own. As they enter my bedroom and bathroom — or any other room — what might they do that I wouldn’t want done?

It’s Banana Republic Time

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Economy, Heavy Lifting, United States, Wisdom I Have Learned

In November those of us who vote, if only by slipping on our slippers, opening another beer and turning the TV louder, have the opportunity to turn “USA NO. 1!!!” into an English speaking Banana Republic (even though Hawaii produces only about 10,000 tons/year — and, yes, it is one of the “50” states).

We will be aided, in fact led, to bring about this political change through the efforts of the Democratic politicians that some of us have been so naive as to vote for in the past, those same brave patriots who are trying desperately to leave the halls of Congress without casting a substantive vote on any (even possibly controversial) bill.

Load up the Senate with the nut cases (following in honorable footsteps) as they run for election from places like Nevada and Alaska. Bring back Steven Colbert and other thought leaders to testify this time before Senate Committees. Put C-Span on your list of cable comedy channels.

It should be a fun couple of years!

Old Vaudeville Routine

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Humor, Sayings, Stories, Wisdom I Have Learned

There were two comedians who had a long running vaudeville routine. One called himself Bad Enough and the other went by the moniker Well Enough. Vaudeville audiences dwindled and the pair fell upon Hard Times (a street not far from “Times” Square). They started squabbling, about money — of course. One thing led to another, punches were thrown, and they finally ended up in court before Judge O. Noyoudont.

After they had finished telling their stories the judge laid a small fine on Well Enough, but he threw the proverbial book at Bad Enough: a $1000 fine, 5 nights in jail and probation for a year. Bad Enough couldn’t understand, so he asked the judge for an explanation of why he had received what he considered a harsh sentence. The judge was surprised by his question, shook his head a few times to clear his head, then looked down at him and explained, “I’m trying to get you to learn to leave Well Enough alone.”

Many Thanks to Flip Wilson of Delightful Memory!

If It’s Monday This Must Be Memphis

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bio, Egypt, Trips, Wisdom I Have Learned

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And we’re talking the place outside of Cairo (the ancient predecessor of Cairo) not the one near Nashville.

It’s taking me a while to realize what sightseeing is all about albeit that I’ve been doing it. It’s about going to famous places camera in hand to take pictures that will prove you were there and with luck to have pictures taken of you in front of some monument or other.

It’s not something to do to satisfy a drive to become an accomplished photographer. Those are the frustrated folks waiting for Koji to move from the front of the statue so they can get a shot without Koji’s smiling face. I fancied myself in this category, but it’s not easy to discern that from looking at the pics I’ve taken. If I try to do anything special with the pictures I take of well-photographed sites it is to wander off the “beaten path” to take photographs from a different perspective. Anderson Cooper directed me to an entry on another traveler’s blog that informs what I was trying to say here.

So the question becomes where do I stand with Egypt. I remember explaining to someone years ago that Paris was a place to be not a place to see. Egypt, for me (I fear), is a place to see.

Since the above ruminations worked their way out of my head and into this blog while I was once again sitting on a bus waiting for the rest of the folks, I will leave them for now.

Before I forget I wanted to mention the only free time I had on the trip. Our last night in Luxor, I took a stroll along the Nile as far as the Luxor Temple. The air was cool and delightful and I especially enjoyed the night view of the temple.



First of all, the question arises for any reader who knows at least a small bit of Egyptian geography — how did I get to Memphis which is outside of today’s Cairo when the last time you heard from the intrepid reporter he was in the environs of Luxor? Early Monday morning we got on a bus, went to the Luxor airport and flew back to Cairo. Then another bus in Cairo and to our first stop, the Mit Rahina Museum. The few pictures taken are here.

After Mit Rahina we were back on the bus and driven to our last site of the trip, the Saqqara Necropolis containing the oldest know pyramids. My pictures are here.

Saw Spencer Day Last Night

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Entertainment, Spencer Day, Wisdom I Have Learned

Years ago when I first saw Clint Eastwood playing Rowdy Yates on Rawhide I predicted he was “going to be big.” I said the same the first time I saw Barbara Streisand on The Tonight Show. I also said the same about Richard Chamberlain playing Doctor Kildare. Oh well, two out of three is not bad for such large predictions. I’ve got to add one though: Spencer Day is the “real deal” (as I told him while shaking his hand after a performance last night). He’s going to be big.

Icy Roads

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My Sister-in-law's, Sayings, Wisdom I Have Learned

Don’t drive on icy roads if you can help it.

Last Drink

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My Sister-in-law's, Sayings, Wisdom I Have Learned

Have the last drink at home.

Don’t Be Cantankerous

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My Sister-in-law's, Sayings, Wisdom I Have Learned

Don’t be cantankerous with your spouse.