Ffolkes,
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery;
none but ourselves can free our minds.”
~~ Bob Marley ~~
Random Building, Liverpool, England
Hajime…. I’d thought to begin today’s effort with a fictional opening. The resulting morass of insanity created in my mind was too much, even for me. Rivers of blood, fires raging, world’s colliding, dogs & cats mating; not going there so early in the morning. Besides, I figured, given the explosion of Gentle Readers who came by yesterday, I’d best come up with something a bit more, shall we say, attractively intellectual, if I hope to see any of them again. Of course, finding anything resembling intellectual in this head may be asking a bit much of reality, but, hey, it was a thought…. Not all of them can be good ones….
Since any elegance has been shot down so effectively, maybe I should wander off into nonsense for a while. It’s one of my best things, especially on a day like today, when Murphy hovers over my shoulder, tapping random fingers to create typos, and the forces of chaos are standing ready to bury anything resembling coherence. Trying for ANY directed thinking is probably not going to work; entropy rules apply on all levels during such a storm of inanity. I suppose I could shoot for sheer insanity, but, that always makes it hard to get back to even a semblance of normalcy. Maybe today isn’t the best time for that.
Oh, well. So much for thinking my way out of this. Leelu isn’t helping either; her only answer to my queries is, “Aren’t you going to throw that paper?” She’s kinda focused on routine at this time of day. Damn! It sure can be a pisser, ffolkes. Trying to come up with a compelling intro every day is NOT as simple as it may seem, especially for someone with my proclivity for self-abnegation, combined with an extreme talent for waffling. Hey! Wait! There’s the ticket! Yeah, that’s it; we’ll smother the whole thing in syrup! Then, nobody will be able to even tell how awful it was…. I knew I could figure it out….
On that odd little note, I think we’ll go on, before this becomes any more impenetrably obscure. I think, if we go on right now, we may be able to save this. It’s worth a try. We’ll just use this ruthless little number right here, which will get us out of here practically before I can fini….
Shall we Pearl?….
All of us who are worth anything,
spend our manhood in unlearning the follies,
or expiating the mistakes of our youth.”
~~ Shelley ~~
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Yep. You guessed it. Today is a default music day. How do I know this? Well, it may come as something of a shock, but, I just know. So be it. Give yourself half a chance, & you’ll enjoy it. A whole chance could lead to even bigger things, but, I don’t want to spoil any surprises, so, just listen up, & pay attention. All will be well….
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Classical Music
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“Religion; humanity’s greatest folly, greatest curse.”
~~ Kevin Harris ~~
In the past five years or so, while writing this blog, I’ve discussed this concept any number of times. In doing so, I have progressed in my thinking from a tentative agnosticism to a firm atheism regarding the idea of a God. All my explorations and research into the subject have confirmed my initial unease at accepting the generally accepted view, to wit: I find absolutely no convincing evidence in reality to support the idea there is some supernatural being sitting up in the sky, who created all we perceive, and actively gives a crap about what happens to us. Sorry, but, that’s the truth; there just isn’t anything to be found to make that true; this makes believing in it a delusion, as far as I am concerned.
Once that is accepted, it becomes easy to see just how bad the whole idea has been for humanity. The difficulty arises from the simple fact that those who choose to believe such nonsense make a couple assumptions, neither of which is true, but, if held as such, cause the believer to act completely contrarily to all common decency, because they have made themselves separate from the rest of humanity, by choice. One false assumption made is to believe the idea that only they possess the actual truth about such matters. This gives them a false sense of entitlement, while simultaneously giving them permission to cease all rational thought, both of which are disastrous for society at large.
I could, and probably should, continue in this vein for some time…. However, to keep from overdoing it, I’ll retreat into the archives to finish this small indictment…. Here is a relatively short, but sweet, treatise on this subject, from a slightly different starting point, though nonetheless cogent for that. It will do until I build up enough new angst to finish this off properly. Plus, it will move us along, so we aren’t stuck here in today, forever…. Enjoy!
From 12/5/2012:
One day a gate breaks down between heaven and hell. So St. Peter arrives on the scene and calls out for the devil.
And the devil saunters over and says, “What do you want?”
And St. Peter says, “Satan, it’s your turn to fix it this time.”
And the devil says, “I’m sorry. But my men are too busy to worry about fixing a mere gate.”
And St. Peter says, “Well, then, I’ll have to sue you for breaking our agreement.”
And the devil says, “Oh yeah? Where are you going to get a lawyer?”
— Soupy Sales
It occurs to me, Soupy’s next line from St. Peter would have to be…. “I don’t need one, I’ve got a fix in with the judge….” That would give not only balance to the argument, but would accurately reflect the actual level of corruption implied in the picture of the universe painted by the Judeo-Christian model of religion. It would also probably more closely reflect Soupy’s sense of humor, which was much more pointed than he got credit for…. People just thought he was a little strange sometimes, not recognizing lines that were making active fun of the establishment (as we old hippies were wont to call the mainstream of American society…..).
In reality, this joke is another example of the bad press that the Devil always gets; it isn’t often you’ll see a joke that ends up with Satan coming out on top. No, he is always given the role of the asshole, the manipulator, the one who wants to drag us down into Hell for eternal torment. Everyone seems to forget that they have ascribed omnipotence, and omniscience to God, and that He is the one who a) made the Devil the way he is, and b) could change it if he wished…. which seems to indicate that he DOESN’T wish to rid us of Satan, but prefers he be around to tempt and distract us…. That sounds to me like just a bit of manipulation in itself; how ’bout y’all?….
The preachers would have us believe that God allows Satan to exist out of his sheer benevolence, forgetting this is the same God who, in the Old Testament, sent forty bears to a town to kill all the children, just because a few small boys made fun of one of His prophets. He is also the one who threw Satan out of Heaven for objecting to some of what He had done on Earth, then turned around and allowed him free access to us humans, just so He would have a ready-made way to test us at His convenience. Just a little self-serving, don’t you think? This God, to my way of thinking, acts more like a spoiled little kid than a deity capable of creating universes…..
Okay, I’ll quit now. It’s really too easy to shoot at dogma; it never tries to hide, and just stands there, looking dumb, as you sight in on its forehead. But, hey, it’s a necessary job, and somebody’s got to do it…. Boy, it sure would be nice, though, to see humanity grow up, and learn to face reality without crutches, and without having to invent a supernatural being to explain away the stuff that isn’t clearly understood…. But, I guess it is job security, in that sense, because it means I’ll always have something about which to write….
“I’m RELIGIOUS!! I love a man with a HAIRPIECE!! Equip me with MISSILES!!” — Zippy the Pinhead
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Momentary Terror
Absently casual, memories pester endlessly
leaving only bleeding remnants, amiable and loving.
Coming awake, I cry to still the pain, shamelessly.
Elsewhen, time gives surcease, if only to live,
shoring broken pilings, worn and gray.
Passing on, I laugh at the pain, accept all it will give.
Time will build a shelter, warm and ever safe
save for Fate’s busy hands.
Enduring, I follow the pain, knowing it will chafe.
Fixed against a darkened sky of starry black
such beauty brings us to our knees.
Entranced, I welcome the pain, ’tis all I lack…..
~~ gigoid ~~
2/4/2013
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Naked Pearls
Truth in advertising…
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“A man that should call everything by its right name
would hardly pass the streets
without being knocked down as a Common Enemy.”
~~ Lord Halifax ~~
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“Driven by the force of love
the fragments of the world seek each other
that the world may come into being.”
~~ Teilhard de Chardin ~~
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โEverything that I understand,
I understand only because I loveโ
~~ Leo Tolstoy ~~
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“A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are for.”
~~ John A. Shedd ~~
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“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”
~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~
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“Nowhere is now here.”
~~Nakagawa Soen Roshi ~~
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“Around existence twine,
(Oh, bridge that hangs across the gorge!)
ropes of twisted vine.”
~~ Basho ~~
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“An it harm none,
Do what ye will.”
~~ Wiccan Credo ~~
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“Do you love it do you hate it
There it is the way you made it”
~~ Frank Zappa, “Brown Shoes Don’t Make It” ~~
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Okay, ffolkes. It’s done. Not only is it done, but, upon reading it, I have to say…. Now, THAT’S a Pearl! Full of smarm, nonsense, sense, and some pointed sarcasm, too. Not bad for an old fart with flat feet, flatulence, and a funny red nose. Since I don’t think I can possibly do any more damage than I’ve already done, I’ll leave you here, sans any further torment. I will, however, issue the usual caveat and disclaimer, to wit: it’s not my fault! If you can believe that, my work here is done. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; just try to stop me….
Y’all take care out there,
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
ร bientรดt, mon cherรญ….
Fair morn to ya…..God? If there is such a beast he gave me a brain and I intend on using it…..but my fave quote among these subjects…”God gave man reason not religion”…..enough said, huh?
Having one of my bad days…..no likey…..see ya in awhile….chuq
Feel better, my friend…. The music today might help; it’s your favorite classical type… quite nice.
See ya….
gigoid
\
I love the music, Ned; I’ll let it play a while…
Religion is such a touchy subject; you’re either for or against or somewhere in between or between a rock and a hard place or guilt ridden or impossibly compromised or saddened or down right belligerent. That being said, Ned; each to his own! ๐
However, you are never one to pull any punches… I love it; no matter what the subject!
xoxoxo
I’m glad you enjoy my words, Carolyn. I know there aren’t many who believe as I do; in at least one sense, this tells me I’m probably on the right track… *wink* I know religion is a touchy subject for many folks, but, my own beliefs couldn’t be what they are if I didn’t allow others the same freedom to believe what they wish….
Hope your day’s progressing well…. Blessed Be, milady
xoxo
Ned
โAn it harm none,
Do what ye will.โ
~~ Wiccan Credo ~~
Sadly.. in history..
rarely does any major
religious philosophy
rise to this height
of human all natural
innate altruism when the
tribe is needed to survive in
cooperation.. with every effort
and unique talent from hunting to
gathering to general foraging and
two spirit philosophies to get the
job all the way done from birth
to death holding hands..
WitH all social roles
valued fully as such..
but of course much
easier to do.. if one IS An
American Indian back then..
on the banks of creeks teaming
with fish just awaiting a spear
and a fire to cook over for
a full tummy.. any season
of the year.. but no.. not
the same when one lives
in arid desert lands where
even water is scarce and fertile
land is even more scarce where
territory that CAN SUPPORT
human life is not in much
abundance.. so obviously
Strife is gonna be the way
as folks compete for
basic survival
against other
tribes outside
the social circles..
So.. Religions developed
same as politics to control
the resources for survival.. and
back in the America’s.. the brown
guys over here were thriving in Nature
easily seeing and feeling the interconnecting
interdependent relationship of all stuff life and
sure it is more humbling to see the grand mountains
and majestic Oaks as something greater and same as us..
than when one is walking flat on arid desert lands were human
is the biggest thing all around.. give or take a Lion on the Savannah..
and such as that.. anyway.. like they say until one walks in the other
shoes it can be hard to say.. i for one am born in Paradise where the
Fish and the Seagulls team together free with us.. one and same..
Tall Whispering Pines in a state of Flowers also known as Florida
too.. and passing by a Saint Michael’s Catholic church with
an Angel Michael on top with a sword bearing for
wars against the enemy is simply a reminder
to me that the origin of that sword
was over dispute of fertile
land where a living
could be made..
seriously it’s a sad
state of affairs to me when
i take my Google Earth tool and see
how folks live in barren lands in what
look like roach motels.. wHere green
is scarce and dust blows as sand
in eyes covered from that
and body overall
covered too. to
keep moisture
in also.. to prevent
dying from hydration..
where water is scarce too..
Life’s not fair.. no.. it’s not.. some
folks are born in Paradise of abundance
and some folks are born starving to death..
bottom line.. folks do what they can to get by..
and perhaps one day folks will freely give and share
enough around the world.. wHere theRe wiLL be greater peace
instead of
the
sword
of Angel
Michael Steel..
i try to understand
and hope for the best..
i dissent but i am not cold
hearted enough not to say
i understand why.. the struggle
goeS.. on and a hand to hELp iS
the only thing that WiLL change
human Nature back to what it is
truly evolved to be in altruistic
way wHere the love comes
back and the sWord
dissolves into Sweeter
SoNGs oF
DancE..
my FriEnd..:)
Most excellent song today, my FRiEnD… A beautiful summary of much of where our species has gone wrong since the days when there was room for all to be…. which gives rise to such philosophies.
Of late, I’m beginning to believe more strongly in the simple fact of ego getting our way more than it helps; it is where our emotions and need to make judgments about reality originate. There are moments when I can see/feel/experience the serenity which goes along with being free of all that need to make a decision as to whether something is good, or bad, because the only way to judge is by my own perception and reaction, and has no actual bearing on what is real….
Natural laws have no pity; we are the only ones who believe they should…
At this time of day, I’m tending to fade, even with the stimulation… gonna save the rest for tomorrow’s Pearl…. As always, thanks for reading, & leaving your words/thoughts behind…
Love
gigoid
My PleaSure.. My FriEnd..
alWays many MoVinG words
and sonGS you bRinG heRE for
inspiRaTiOn.. and how lucky
wE trUly are noW wiTh
Freedom of expresSiOn..
to tale iT aLL withOut restrAint..
And yes.. thaT iS the best pARt
oF aLL Of the Internet to mE..
to Be Free aWay
from Chains
of those who would
otherwise do tHeir best
to hOld hUmanKind back
to the dARKages oF tHeir
illusory fears and
subjugation
for control
of the Natural
resources iN every thing
from water to bread to the
breasts that feed the child..
as such.. liGht iS heRE ..
iT’s jUst a matter
of geTtinG
the tale
out
to free
Pandora’s
BoX once and
foR aLL i FeeL..
FReEDoM WiLL
wiN as thaT iS whAt
liFE AiMs to do.. Survive
and thrive.. wheN WeLL @lEast..:)
Cool!
An early morning bathe is just what the doctor ordered…..
So refreshing…
Great photo..ThumbUp!
Conjures up a myriad of thoughts…
๐
This is one…
“The Army was organized on a decimal system, up to divisions of 10,000 or myriads”
Oh My!
That is no random building that is the Royal Liver Building!!!? ๐ ๐
LOL! Really? Okay; I’ll take your word for it. I didn’t go into it; just took the picture from across the road. It was a cold, damp day in Liverpool, so, I didn’t spend much time exploring…. Next time I’ll go look inside…
No offense intended, milady…
gigoid
No taken , you really made me smile!!!!