Ffolkes,
~~ H.L. Mencken ~~
The La Gonda Has Launched
Screenshot capture from the BBC Movie, “Have His Carcase”
Good morning…. As we join our protagonist, he sits at his computer, madly typing, as if the demons of hell had him on deadline. The early morning light throws his face into sharp relief, revealing the tight, tense features of a man in dire stress…. Not for nothing have we come to this juncture; no, that’s not correct. We ARE here for nothing, for that’s what we do…. nothing.
Well, I suppose that’s not accurate. This isn’t nothing. It’s something, even if exactly what kind of something has never been made clear. Not that it has ever BEEN clear. But, I digress…. In fact, I dither. And blather. And piffle…. In fact, I do that on demand, but, since there’s no particular demand for it, I think maybe we ought to try to find something a bit more constructive, before the Relevance Police come to haul us away for massive crimes against literature…. Instead, let’s try this….
Shall we Pearl?
“The question was put to him, what hope is; and his answer was, “The dream of a waking man.” — Diogenes Laertius (c. 200 AD) — Aristotle, xi
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In 1970, I heard this improvisational comedy group for the first time, laughing myself breathless many times during my initiation to their madcap comedy. The album I’ve included for your pleasure today is the album I heard then, their fourth as a group…. Brilliantly funny, and fast moving, you’ll need your funny bone to keep up… Enjoy!…. and, please, don’t break the precedent….
The Firesign Theater
I Think We’re All Bozos On This Bus
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Although this is the ranting section, I don’t have a fresh rant to give today; too much sleep, I suppose…. I did find an article which stimulated my dubiousity, though in a good way. We recently observed Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor the fallen heroes in our nation’s armies, who fell in battles to protect the country. It’s been observed since the mid-nineteenth century, and has lost much of its meaning, since we have been in numerous, almost numberless wars, police actions, or “engagements” where some of our soldiers have died…. not always in a place or way that was particularly heroic, or even moral….
One man, identified in the article you will see, and hopefully read, wondered what day we had set aside to honor all the fallen VICTIMS of war; the innocent children, women, and men who were not involved in the fighting, yet got their homes destroyed, or their families killed, or their cities bombed, dying in countless droves, all for the glory of war…. He thinks we should set aside a day to honor those people, who far outnumber the so-called ‘heroes’, by a factor of A LOT…. and I agree with him…. In fact, I’d be willing to forget the original, and replace it with this one, which shows a much more civilized set of beliefs than honoring men tricked into killing for their country’s capitalist agenda….
Read the article, ffolkes, it makes a lot of sense….. Since what you see above is the extent of my rant for today, we’ll fill in afterward with an old-school pearl, with some comments on the issues under the scope today…. Okay, go cogitate now….
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2015/05/26/when-is-memorial-day-for-the-innocent-victims-of-war/
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He that will not reason is a bigot.
He that cannot reason is a fool.
He that dares not reason is a slave.
~~ William Drummond, “Academical Questions” ~~
“All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” — Thomas Paine
“A pacifist who calls the police isn’t one; hired violence is still violence.” — Clayton E. Cramer
“The cure for capitalism’s failing would require that a government would have to rise above the interests of one class alone.” — Robert L. Heilbroner
“Conservative Definition of Compassion: I got mine, Jack.” — Smart Bee
“He didn’t say that. He was reading what was given to him in a speech.” — Richard Darman, director of OMB, explaining why President Bush wasn’t following up on his campaign pledge that there would be no loss of wetlands
“A nation’s advance as a civilized society can be properly gauged by the manner in which it treats the poor and the elderly – often the same people.” — Smart Bee
“A society that lacks the patience to read, and loses the ability to do so, is rendered defenseless against its most profound stupidities. As an example, consider the ease with which Americans came to regard a president known for his inaccuracy and imprecision as the great communicator, and by the tendency of American elections to give victory to the candidate who can afford the greatest number of 30-second TV spots.” — Mike Schmoker
“It is courage the world needs, not infallibility… courage is always the surest wisdom.” — Sir Wilfred Grenfell
“Nuff said…. That’s all you get today, ffolkes…. gigoid has spoken. So be it….
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I’m lazy, as you know. Hence, yet another poem from the archives, this one written with tongue planted firmly in cheek….
A pig in a poke’s got nothing on me,
cuz I’m as confused as a man can be.
This ol’ world’s got me spinnin’ around
cussin’ and spittin’, a penny for a pound.
Forty ‘leven times since I was a kid, well,
I’ve fallen in love, ‘least too close to tell.
Every damn time, it all went to crap,
Forty ‘leven times I’ve felt like a sap.
‘Course, each time it happens, I forget the last;
why not? I’m havin’ such a blast….
Livin’ in each moment, filled with joie de vivre,
’til it’s all gone away again, nothin’ left up my sleeve.
Don’t want y’all to think I’m sad or blue,
life’s full of sorrow, lots for me, and/or you..
T’other side of that coin, we can be glad,
is joyful love, and that ain’t at all bad.
My road’s been littered with parts o’my heart,
each one colored with trust, which ain’t always smart.
Yet, long as I don’t lose my connection to joy,
I’ll find my own true love, and be a happy boy.
It’s been some kinda fun, even when I’d take a fall,
and doin’ it over makes no sense at all, at all
Day after day, I keep on keepin’ on, as it’s said;
Guess I’ll keep on doin’ that ’til I’m dead.
‘Nuff said….
~~ gigoid ~~
Written 3/23/2013.
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Today’s final old-school pearl is another concerned with our favorite subject, being, naturally, the closest to our hearts, the ever-popular Life at Large…. I suppose it’s what Smart Bee knows best; me, too, for that matter. In this particular case, the group our joint efforts gave us is a bit eclectic, in terms of the historical spread, over time, of the various authors, ranging over a span of approximately 2500 years, from about 600 BC to somewhere in the early- to mid-twentieth century…. They also cover quite a bit of ground in terms of the variety of issues upon which they would like to encourage y’all to ponder… So, go on, now, think about it…. and, enjoy the process. Once thinking becomes a joy, you’ll want to do more of it…. See? Where else can you find free lessons?….
Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?
~~ Lao Tzu ~~
“The hour which gives us life begins to take it away” — Seneca
“How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.” — Thomas Jefferson, “Writings” Vol. XVI
“Death is all in the mind. Once you’re dead you forget all about it.” — Jack Storey
“”He means well” is useless unless he does well.” — Plautus
“A desire not to butt into other people’s business is at least eighty percent of all human wisdom… and the other twenty percent isn’t very important.” “You butt into other people’s business. All the time.” “Who said I was wise? I’m a professional bad example. You can learn a lot by watching me.” — Jubal Harshaw, from Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein
“It is in the shelter of each other that people live.” — Irish proverb
“Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are dead.” — Aldous Huxley
I awoke and saw that life was duty.
I acted and beheld that duty was joy.
~~ Rabindranath Tagore ~~
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Whatever degree of quality may exist in the above is purely a matter of chance, and can be ascribed to the power of routine, and the ever-present, ever-fruitful power of the Metaphorse. Me, I just channeled it. Now I’ve done so, we can get on with our day… Ain’t Life grand? See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, if’n the feds don’t catch me….
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
gigoid, the dubious
The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.
PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.
“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch
À bientôt, mon cherí….
gigoid 
😳
Doh! Didn’t mean to click on my own Like button… but, I AM a Bozo, so, it’s to be expected now and again…
gigoid
😎