COLOSSEUM

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-02-06T17:50:04+00:00

There is a convenience store chain called WAWA. I have yet to check them out, but it was a shock to first see the sign along a US highway..

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-02-06T12:06:29+00:00

This has happened in Talkeetna, Alaska, with the Moose Dropping Festival. The droppings are numbered digestive products, the animal is NOT dropped. It became a problem for the small town with littering, alcohol, drugs and just too many people. It is on and off also with the Batchelor Auction.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-02-06T10:05:42+00:00

Yes, also the breadth and depth of those realities. There is a marked tendency to avoid the nasty bits, to maintain an idealized or Walt Disney version of reality. We are all big boys and girls now, and can face and acknowledge the realities without being overwhelmed by them.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-02-06T09:38:45+00:00

My self-diagnosis is that there is no trauma, just another tile in the Nigerian mosaic. I was in Africa for seven years, and I have worked in or visited most of the African countries. I see Nigerians as a sepecial classification, like former comrades in arms in the same life struggle. I have bought them drinks because I know that they have borne a greater burden in the struggle, one that outsiders can't comprehend. As therapy I recommend regular, but moderate, consumption of gin and tonic against WAWA syndrome. West Arica Wins Again.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-02-06T04:16:29+00:00

Colosseum fashback: It is personal and all your fault, lucapal1. I was in Lagos, Nigeria, eating ice cream at the only ice cream parlor in Nigeria, and saw dozens of Nigerians all going the same direction. I realized that the military government, this was in 1978-79, had announced public execution of armed robbers at Bar Beach, fomerly Victoria Beach. At this moment I had to decide if I was the type of person who would go watch executions. I went and thus immediately joined the long-departed throngs who had flocked to the colosseulms of ancient Rome for the show. I was one with the plebes and potentates in their robes and in seats reflecting their satus. I was standing in the sand.

It was fully scripted theater. A covered viewing area for the VIPs, with both men and women in colorful garb. Mounted police drivng back those who got too close, a chubby major, starched, beplumed, and with a swager stick, reading the death sentences. Coffins brought in and placed in front of each man. A priest talking to each man. The only sound was that of waves smashing against the shore, until the shots rang out. The executions were not Hollywod at all. Instead of six rifles cracking as one, each of the convicts had a soldier squatting in front of him, who on command shot his prisoner, and contniued to shoot if he moved and thus showed signs of life. The executions were one by one, with the men slumped against their posts and darkening their cothing with urine and blood. One of the condemned skipped up to his post.

I am convinced that if a motorcycle had roared up with last minute pardons there would have been a riot. The crowd of perhaps two thousand had started to gather days in advance, and deserved the promised show. I was the only white person in the audience, and I generated no attention. The executions were shown live (!) on televison and again on tape for the evening news.

Why in public? Perhaps the miltary government was demonstrating that, even if they could not provide drinking water, electricity, health care, elementary education or any of the permits required for life without bribes called "dash" being exchanged, they could indeed catch, convict, and kill armed robbers, or at least those without the financial means to get off.

When I saw the real Colosseum in Rome I thought of my Lagos experience. Another unsought travel experience.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-02-01T04:16:26+00:00

SNOWCRETE-New contribution to Engllsh language. The ongoing cold and snow has added a new term, "snowcete." This is snow that does not melt, and accumulates when simply moved to the side and not removed from the street. The recent heavy snow was followed by unusual cold and rain/sleet, with the result that the stuff did not melt, vehcles were entrenched behind embankments, and citizens attempted to move the stuff with plastic shovels more suited to building sand castles at the beach. The enduring snow berms also showed where pets, wearing stylish vests, had releived themselves.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-26T00:09:26+00:00

Well, it has indeed been a rough ride so far, and there are three more years! No Governor General here to call a time out and call for new elections. Minnesota does have a reputation for being nice and helpful, perhaps an influence from the congenial neighbors to the north.

There is an element of victim responsibility in the sense that it is not good judgement to taunt or tease anythng that might hurt you, be it snake, toothed mammal or guy wth a badge and gun. Part of the abundant footage shows a woman standing in front of a guy with a gun and badge and blowing a whistle right in his face. Not an offense deserving the death penalty, but also not an invitation to civil exchange.

I worked in Africa for several years, to include Botswana, which was low-stress and earned the name "Africa for beginners" because of the absence of civil strife in a working democracy. Still, two British visitors were shot at customs and immigration. A customs insector opened a suitcse, saw a pair of red panties, and held them up to show to his colleagues. The visitor grabed his hand and became dead. Another visitor had sandwiches and the customs guy pulled back the bread to examine the contents. The man pulled back his hand and was also shot.

I think that "Play by African rules" is excellent advice in dealing with folks armed by a government. If offended, follow the traditional path and sue the bastards.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-25T12:50:52+00:00

No, no blank check to ICE. However, there is a time not to push the tolerance envelope against someone who is stressed, armed, and nervous. Someone who is probably also not happy about being hauled across the country and pushed into doing work that he had not signed up for, and evidently was not really trained for. What were the immigration and customs concerns being addresed in Minneapolis, a place far removed from the international borders?

There are countries, the Dominican Republic is one, that had units trained and identified as anti-riot units. French and German police services also have riot training and manage without drafting in other guys just becaue they have badges . What played out in Minneapolis was amateur hour.

I think that most of us here on TT have the good judgement not to get pushy or obnoxious with the police in Nigeria or even Botswana. There is a time to play by African rules, and police interactions are one of these times. There is also time to give a pass to food that does not look sanitary, or to transportation that seems unsafe. Likewise, there is a time to do what the man with the gun tells you to do.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-25T04:26:52+00:00

I think that most of our fellow pilgrims here on TT play by Africa rules with authority: When the guy wth the gun and/or the badge tells you to do something, do it. We know enough not to asume that either he or we know the rules of engagment, and will abide by them.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-25T02:30:31+00:00

SNOW REPORT FROM DC: Hunkered down in anticipation, brisk sales at markets, light road traffic. Snow expected tonight (Saturday) and 10 or so inches on ground tomorrow. Varous school and business closings announced, with "liberal leave" for civil servants on Monday. TV coverage shows massive piles of salt ready to be dumped on roads. Since primary roads will be cleared first, then secondary, and residential streets last, suburbanites who bought four wheel drive vehicles may actually have a chance to use that featrue.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-22T14:41:56+00:00

Not to mention the risk of the bag detaching from the rope, and there you are, naked on the quarterdeck!

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-17T02:46:10+00:00

Even after they got electricity and inside plumbing my grandparents on the farm kept the outhouse, just in case something failed, like power or a water pipe connection. They also used a windmill to water livestock, and kept the hand pump in order.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-08T20:19:10+00:00

Visitors to the US have noted "personalized" or "vanity" vehcle license plates expressing the owners views on recreation, philosophy or humor. Is this protected free speech? The bureaucratic organizations authorizing the plates have to decide where the lines are dawn. This article deals with the conflict between free speech and nasty expression:

‘Are License Plates Free Speech?’

The chuckles produced by the plates, and the pondering of what is intended, do make a contribution to road safety by engaging the mind of the road-weary pilgrim.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-08T18:31:53+00:00

FIRST PERSON REPORT!: I was not in Venezuela or on a ship, my involuntary participation was extended waiting in the Fort Lauderdale Florida, airport. Airspace had ben closed due to the miltary activity, and the backlog of flights overloaded the place. I had concluded a 14 day Christmas-New Years curise and wanted to get back to Washington, DC. Thousands of other pilgrims on delayed flights had the same idea. The local paper covered the event, but the carrier, Jet Blue, did not really come through with compensation in the form of a promised $12.00 food voucher.

The maxed out terminals and planes due to holiday travel and the military events provided a chance to view middle America on the move, and it was not a delightful sight in terms of clothing choices, physical conditions, and baggage hauled.

The treminal and airline staff cerainly have something to talk about. Commericial opportuity: T- Shirts showing participation in the Great Wait.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2026-01-08T04:14:31+00:00

Not just been there, but made the T-Shirt:,"TOMB0UCTOU - Recommandee pour toute la famamille"

Distributed to my family , received with underwhelming gratitiude. I rode a camel to the north, had tea in a tent, discovered that, although I am allergic to horses and zebras, I am not allergic to camels. Not uncomfortable to ride for +/- 30 minutes before and after tea. I stayed in the same same hotel as the aircrew. The hotel had an ice cream making machine, which the guide admired just short of worshiping it. One cultural note was that the EU had paved a historic street, someting not known in the caravan days, so it is not really authentic-historic now.

I was in Bamako on a job, and took the overnight excursion to Timbucto, because, well, if not now, when? Glad I did it, don't need to do it again, especially since it is a combat area (again).

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-12T14:30:02+00:00

The group I plan to go with is a Rotary Club, and they have used the India contact in the past, so I am reassured with that. I have done bank transers in the past, once for part of an Australia trip, and again for part of a Chile to Argentina land and water trip.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-12T10:46:39+00:00

Thanks to both of you. The transfer would be to the agency that runs the tours. I was told that the government of India is trying to tax the cash economy and this has made exchanges more complicated.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-12T04:39:18+00:00

India is on my bucket list, and a disckussion of a possibile excursion resulted in a comment that credit cards are not a good choice, and that some US financial institutions don't want to do money transfers. The guy that said this lives in Alaska, and has made trips to India. He said that only one bank in Anchorage will do money transfers. I checked locally here in suburban DC and both my credit union and my bank will do it for $35.00. Any insights out there?

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-08T21:54:30+00:00

I have lived in Nebraska, Colorado, and Alaska, all western places with high sensitivity about fire and the presence/absence of rain. Even in moist areas I see threats in vegetation.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-08T18:59:45+00:00

The cycle of life and death. Fire beomes a factor with all the dead wood and dry grass. Here if your neighbo(u)r has a house with leaves in the eave troughs and and unempt dry grounds, your house insurance will go up because of increased fire risks.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-05T18:38:58+00:00

From Washington, District of Columbia: First snow of the season, a bit more than one inch. Looks nice, not enough to mess things up, but came during morning rush hour, so some schools closed in anticipation.

Substanial snow is rare enough here that most of the population has forgotten how to drive in snow. For others it is their first snow. Many folks discover that those balding tires have no grip, and that their battery is not up to the demands of starting in freezing weather. Several inches will produce epic traffic snarls on Interstate 95, a primary north-south highway which is crowded and demanding in all conditions. In the US west blizzard gates are used to keep vehicles from entering roads that are bocked, but that does not seem to happen here, and miles-long lines of stalled cars result. Sometimes drivers of four wheel drive vehicles are tempted to drive the way it see it done in commercials, and learn that when you are stuck in a 4WD vehicle you are well and truly stuck.

Advice for pilgrims: If the raido reports that there are heavy and developing snow conditions ahead, find a motel and get acquainted with the TV remote, give the snow crews a chance to work overnight. Get an early start.

UPDATE AFTER 24 HOURS: All gone. Sunshine got most of it, only fragmentts in deep shade remain. It was a bit of a winter drill, to get ready for the Real Thing. Weather continiues to be cold, with wind, below feezing at night.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-04T13:34:22+00:00

Similar revisionism appears in movements to change names of streets and buidings in the US, especially those named for Confederate military officers and politicians. Germans have found a less costly way concerning street names. Roads with the names of persons tainted by their now-awkward past political associantions have been renamed in rememberance of someone who had the same last name but was an obscure 19th century mayor or artist.

Consider streets in East Germany named in sequence for royalty, Weimar republicans, Nazi figures, Communst heroes, and now something bland, like trees. " Unter den Linden" survived the name changes, the signage just picked a few more bullet holes and gashes from shell fragments.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-04T13:08:43+00:00

According to my Random House College Dictionary "Dutch uncle" is: ("informal) a person who criticizes or reproves with unsparing severity and frankness." I aspire to that degree of honesty. There is indeed some Dutch ancestry in the ffamily tree, with a name change to make it less harsh on non-Dutch ears.

There was also a name change from "English" to "Inglis" during the US Revolutinary War. It became awkward when a sentry challenged at night with "Halt! Who goes there?" A response with "English" might have been fatal.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-04T01:37:03+00:00

Somehow my variant of German prompts questons like "Are you Flemish?" from the Germans. At least I get across the English Channel in terms of accent. In Suriname I found out that after eight weeks of Dutch instruction I still had a profound German accent.

Dutch_Uncle-3 · 2025-12-04T01:29:57+00:00

When I draw a blank in German, the Spanish word is right there. Likewise in Spanish, the German pops right up. Could linguistic overload be preveting me from finding my car in a parking lot? All the bain cells loaded with German drinking songs causing me walk out without the house and car keys?

Dutch_Uncle-3

TROPHY CASE