Monthly Archives: June 2016

Unavailable for comments or plastic ducks….

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Ffolkes,

“Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength
which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there.”

~~ Marcus Aurelius ~~

Wind Spinner

Wind Spinner

Hajime…. To avoid getting either maudlin, or whiny, I’ll forgo relating how I’ve spent the past three days, three days in which no Pearl was posted, for the first time in five years. Suffice it to say, I’ve not been having fun, nor have I been frantically writing down the thousands of irreverent, or psychotic, take your pick, thoughts that have paraded past my inner censors, without ever seeing the light of day. No doubt, that sentence will bring beads of sweat to the brow of anyone trying to decipher any real meaning, for it wound its way tortuously to a bad end. This, perhaps, more than anything else, should tell you how its been around here….

Nevertheless, here I am, bad syntax & all. I’m going to post this, come Hell or High Water, so, I suppose it would be best to just get on with it. If I take the time to compose a thorough introductory section, I have a feeling we’d never get out of here, or, get anywhere close to finishing this in time to even post it with today’s date. To make a long story short, I’m pretty frigging off the rails right now, without a clue as to why, or even why not. When I have a clue, I’ll be okay, but, right now, the price for one is out of my range, so, I’ll just have to fake it, as I have been now for three days. So be it.

Since, in spite of all planning I managed to find a somewhat cryptic note, we’ll use it to twist our way down the page, in the interests of fair play, while simultaneously pretending it’s not unusual. How’m I doing? No? Well, okay. We’ll just go on, without any further bullshit…. Hmm. Let’s do this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“If nothing went wrong today, you’re probably dead.”

~~ Murphy’s Last Law ~~

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royalty-free-clip-art-vector-logos-of-black-and-orange-floral-acoustic-guitars-by-seamartini-graphics-6573

For a return to routine, default is perfectly appropriate, not to mention, lovely. Enjoy, ffolkes, if you wish. Hard not to with such music….

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Classical Music

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https://youtu.be/09t0twQlPSI

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Sandclock .jpg

I’m working on a rant, which, naturally, isn’t done, as I haven’t written at all in three days. To fill in for today, here’s a relatively light piece from a couple years ago…. Enjoy!….

From 3/11/2014:

As iterated above, there will be no rant today…. However, having found the first quote in this group on the very first try today, I believe I can put together an old school variety pearl that will serve as well to take a few telling shots at the dignity of the BRC, as well as pulling as many of their covers as I can grab hold of…. Enjoy…..

“Governments are the world’s real terrorist organizations. They function by means of inducing fear in their victims to gain compliance.” — Westley F. Deitchler

(Now, if that isn’t the most truthful, most logical, and most accurate quote I’ve seen in many moons, then, nothing at all fits that description…. This is the absolute truth, ffolkes, and something EVERYONE ALIVE should be made aware of…. let’s hope the rest of what Smart Bee finds for us is as potent….)

“I could not milk the cow and leave it thirsty.” — Munyawera, current volunteer and former client — of Christian Children’s Fund — on why he donates his time to CCF.

(Now, if only we could find a politician who felt this way….)

“Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.” — Gore Vidal

Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?

— T. S. Eliot, Choruses from the Rock

(Nowadays, we KNOW where our information is, don’t we? And, if we don’t, we have the NSA, who tracks and collects all of it for us….)

“Is being an idiot like being high all the time?” — Janeane Garofolo

(I’m not sure of the answer, but I figure we could just ask any elected official to find out….)

“No science is immune to the infection of politics and the corruption of power.” — Jacob Bronowski, in “Encounter”, 1971

And, lastly, just because we can….

“How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.” — Petrarch

Now, THAT’S what I’m talking about…..

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Comedy_Tragedy

Gently Came a Wounded Child

But you shall not escape my iambics.

Soft, sinuous patterns of unearthly beauty
blithely commune with sinking stars,
as pale shadows of former virtue hover
near, ever clean, ever tolerant.
These unbidden habits are worn with age and care,
ready now for dissolution,
welcoming gladly the kiss of Death’s handmaiden.

Unknown to all, the child stands aside,
weeping for the lost days of youth,
days that now shall never be,
nor yearned for ever after.
Only darkness shall lay upon the landscape,
cold, hard, eternal.

Such then are the signs and portents
as we enter into the unknown future,
they are grave indeed.

Uncertainty will be our sole companion,
as the search for hope yields no result.
The lamentations of the gods
shall sound the elegy for Man,
who never learned to see the gift that was made,
so many echoes ago, in the hopeful past;
thus will we pass this plane of existence
as we came, baffled and afraid….

~~ gigoid ~~

written 2/2/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

It only seems like a joke….

*******

“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west;
people create distinctions out of their own minds
and then believe them to be true.”

~~ Buddha ~~

*******

“There is no sun without shadow
and it is essential to know the night.”

~~ Albert Camus ~~

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“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
Don’t let yourself indulge in vain wishes.”

~~ Rabindranath Tagore ~~

*******

“He who searches for truth must not appease his urge
by giving himself up to the narcotic of belief.”

~~ Hans Reichenbach ~~

*******

“Here is the world,
sound as a nut, perfect,
not the smallest piece of chaos left,
never a stitch nor an end,
not a mark of haste, or botching, or second thought;
but the theory of the world
is a thing of shreds and patches.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

“Do not look for all the answers at once.
A path is formed by placing stones one in front of the other.”

~~ The Giant from Twin Peaks ~~

*******

“So this is what it feels like to be potato salad”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

*******

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It’s done. We’ll treat it like a gift horse, & go post it before I can change my mind. I’ll try to do this again tomorrow, but, at this point, I’m not making any guarantees. Most likely, I’ll be here tomorrow; odds are once again in our favor. Until then, be strange, because it’s cool out there….

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

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À bientôt, mon cherí….

That’s balderdash, with a ‘b’….

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Ffolkes,

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.”

~~ Albert Camus ~~

casual beauty

Casual Beauty

Hajime…. As some of y’all may know, the word at the beginning of this line, and blog, is a Japanese word, meaning, “Begin”. It is used as the start for all Japanese martial arts matches; it’s use here means exactly the same as it does to each of the opponents, to wit: “Ready or not, let’s dance.” Sort of. At any rate, I like to use it to bring myself into the focused state of mind necessary to write with any skill. Not that my skills are all that highly developed, but, the presence of mind is always helpful. Besides, it works.

That said, my state of mind today is what I’d call fatalistic, in the sense I don’t give a rat’s shiny ass about much of anything. Not sure where this feeling came from, unless it’s a reaction to the last two weeks of fighting off my inner demons. Whatever it is, it’s put me in a mood, one which doesn’t lend itself to rational exposition In fact, I would characterize the way I feel as relatively homicidal, but, that’s just me; I like to give things their proper name. In terms of today’s Pearl, that translates to what is best described as diddly-squat. In short, I’m not creating a Pearl today, and that’s just the way it is. We’ll all have to deal with it for at least 24 more hours, because, at the end of this intro, I’m done for today.

I’ll be back, hopefully by tomorrow morning. But, no promises, as I am currently unsure as to how may of these demons there are to vanquish before I can think about any sort of recreational writing. I’m planning on putting together enough to post tomorrow morning, but, as noted, I am not promising that, for I won’t promise anything I may not be able to do. So be it.

See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes. Who knows? I might even have something rational to say. There’s always a first time for everything. See ya….

Shall we Pearl?…. Well, no, actually, we shall not….

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;
the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

~~ Plato ~~

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

Featured Image -- 8636

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Creating a plausible bargaining chip….

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Currently, the reality around here is filled with bad/evils, not to mention a lack of balance so keenly desired. Here is a Pearl from a day somewhat less stressful, with some fun to relate. If naught else, it gets me to tomorrow, when a fresh Pearl will show its face, for sure. Hope springs eternal, yes? Y’all take care, & we’ll see you on the flip side….

Enjoy the Wise Old Cone…

gigoid

gigoid's avatargigoid

Ffolkes,

I’m fully cognizant of the advantages of staying busy, and it’s true that life tastes better in big bites (thanks, Lazarus…). Both of these contentions are proven, with numerous incidents available as evidence of their veracity…. What isn’t so obvious is the reason I’m writing this paragraph, since the point I intended to make just flew out the window, honking querulously at me as it flew away…. I can’t say I’m terribly disappointed, aside from the damage it has done to this intro already, before I even get a decent start…. In fact, I’m going to try again…

Well, I’d try again, but, it seems that isn’t going to work either….  Every time I turn around, in my head, to find a new starting point, these little glitches keep popping up…. such as this time, when I reached for the keyboard to begin, only to be struck with a…

View original post 1,380 more words

A stranger sits down, gingerly….

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Ffolkes,

“All the knowledge in the world is found within you.”

~~ Anthony J. D’Angelo, The College Blue Book ~~

old swan street view

The Old Swan

206 Kensington Church Street, Notting Hill, London

Hajime…. Last evening, on the advice of a friend, I went out to a bar, to get some socialization under my belt. Naturally, I overdid it, being somewhat out of practice. Had a good time, but, am now paying the price for my foolishness, in the form of a mild hangover, not debilitating to any huge degree, but, definitely an annoyance. SIGH…. Even us smart guys can make poor decisions, I guess; all part of being a Bozo on the Bus….

That being said, what it means is y’all get a break from having to listen to my ranting, or any of my other literary trickery. What I have done is what you’ll get. It’s not too skimpy, but, no rant, and nothing fresh other than the old-school pearls you’ll find. The music is again from our friend Eric C. with what I hope is a tribute to Freddie King, with some really, really hot blues licks. But, since I did that part while severely handicapped by whiskey, I am unsure if I got that part right. So be it…. I checked; it’s a compilation of live cuts, starting with a really hot version of Ramblin’ On My Mind…. That will do nicely.

That’s it, ffolkes. That’s all the fresh in me. Let’s get this done, so I can try again tomorrow to get it done the way I prefer it. For now, we’ll just g on, in our new, efficient way…. prompted by less than sterling competence.

Shall we Pearl?….

“Everyone must row with the oars he has.”

~~ English proverb ~~

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Eric_Clapton_Unplugged

As noted above, whatever you see is what you get….. Enjoy!….

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Eric Clapton
Ramblin’ On My Mind

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https://youtu.be/_BvwlxRwY5w?list=PLbw8R6g9XbgpA-Cig38RiV49hcdihzNc9

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Dont keep calm

“To generalize is to be an idiot.”

~~ William H. Blake (1757-1827) ~~

I’d intended to use the above to create a discussion, but, in stead, what you get is the five-star pearls you see, which you may use to direct your own, self-propelled rant, in your own mind…. Have fun!….

“Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.” — B.F. Skinner

“How can you control yourself, master your behavior, when you come from a country where people howl at funerals?” — E.M. Cioran

“The real work of men was hunting meat. The invention of agriculture was a giant step in the wrong direction, leading to serfdom, cities, and empire. From a race of hunters, artists, warriors, and tamers of horses, we degraded ourselves to what we are now: clerks, functionaries, laborers, entertainers, processors of information.” — Edward Abbey

“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires” – — Susan B Anthony.

“It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race.” — Mark Twain, spoken by Huck Finn, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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Comedy_Tragedy

Justifiable Insanity

An incredibly insane, vivid abhorrence fills me up today,
because of a thought which occurred to me.
I was merely thinking about what all the headlines have to say,
when I was pushed onto a train of thought, you see.

I began to ride the train, resigned to wherever I went, as it willed.
I was directed by imagination, to consider for a moment or two,
to seek how many reasons a Man has given for when he killed,
count them, count them, curiosity demanded, or, suffer, you…..

So, I tried to count the words I’d seen, or read, or heard,
in the reports we see all over the news and TV’s.
I had to grab a dictionary, to check off each word,
my memory is good, but, not for such numbers as these.

It seemed so simple, when I began my chosen task,
how many could there possibly be?
I probably should have known better than to ask,
for every page had an example; look for yourself, and see.

How many did I come up with, many might ask?
Too many to count, as it turns out,
at least, for anyone of flesh and bone to complete the task.
Even a computer would simply freak out.

If you think I’m being funny, well, you are dead wrong.
Just like all the people who die each day, for ideas, principles, or religion,
or any of the tens of thousands dying each hour, because of delusion so strong,
Mankind’s entire history consists of little more than perverted contagion.

~~ gigoid ~~

12/10/2015

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Stuff worth knowing….

*******

“Although a cloth be washed a hundred times,
How can it be rendered clean and pure
If it be washed in water which is dirty?”

~~ Nagarjuna ~~

*******

“What is reason?
Knowledge informed by sympathy, intelligence in the arms of love.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

*******

“Whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and purpose,
and whose actions have been burnt by fire-of-knowledge,
him the wise call a sage.”

~~ Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 19. ~~

*******

“Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.”

~~ Juvenal, Satires ~~

*******

“Life is not separate from death. It only looks that way.”

~~ Native American Proverb (Blackfoot) ~~

*******

“And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

~~ The Beatles, The last lyric of their last song ~~

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There you have it; that’s the best I’ve got. I hope you enjoyed it; if not, well, you can get a refund of all you paid, except for the time it took to read. Of course, there’s a lot of paperwork for that, so, you might want to think about it. In the meantime, I’m outta here, until tomorrow. That’s a for sure. and for certain…. See ya….

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

Featured Image -- 8561

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Miso, marmalade, or muskrat?….

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18

Ffolkes,

“Nature forms us for ourselves, not for others;
to be, not to seem.

~~ Michael de Montaigne ~~

~~ Essays, Book ii, Chap. xxxvii, ~~

old swan

Bar at the Old Swan, London

Hajime…. Of the nearly 80 hours I spent in London in 2013, many were spent in the public house you see pictured today at the top of this page. The Old Swan, established in 16something, was about as typical a pub as you’ll find anywhere in England. Since it was located about one block from my B&B in Kensington, I spent many a happy hour observing the day and night life of the Londoners who frequented the old pub. This morning, I chose the picture simply for the good memories it brings, of a trip I’d dreamed of my entire life.

Today, I appreciate the memories, as they are a welcome change from the OTHER memories recently flooding my brain, of other times and places that bring back an entirely different kind of memory, the kind that will drop one right into the morass of depression in a heartbeat. Bugger that today, as they would say in the Old Swan; I’ve got other plans. Since I do, why don’t I curtail this intro yet again, thus preventing further maudlin introspection, in favor of moving things along to their natural end. Sounds a bit more productive, as well as comfortable. Well, as close to comfortable as I get, these days….

Doing just that has become much easier, now I’ve managed to figure out all the toys in the Tardis. Since I have, I’m going to apply this one, which may be the most efficient one I’ve come across. It’s pretty simple, really, and works like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
The realist adjusts the sails.”

~~ William Arthur Ward ~~

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clapton

The Man

By now, most of y’all have heard the sad news regarding Eric Clapton. He has begun to suffer from degenerative neuropathy, which will make it progressively more painful, and difficult to play his guitar. Since I’ve regarded him as the best player alive for most of his, and my life, this is bad news for all who appreciate good music, and those who play it with such heart and soul. Here is a mix of live cuts compiled by another fan of his, which I hope you enjoy as much as I will….

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Eric Clapton

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https://youtu.be/O_j9KEjrY4o?list=PLbw8R6g9XbgpA-Cig38RiV49hcdihzNc9

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Dont keep calm

Since I’m up a little late, here is a rant from the archives, on a subject important to ALL of us…. Still trying to get the message to those who need it….

From 6/14/2012:

“We shall never understand the natural environment until we see it as a living organism. Land can be healthy or sick, fertile or barren, rich or poor, lovingly nurtured or bled white. Our present attitudes and laws governing the ownership and use of land represent an abuse of the concept of private property…. Today you can murder land for private profit. You can leave the corpse for all to see and nobody calls the cops.” — Paul Brooks, The Pursuit of Wilderness (1971)

This statement is now over 50 years old, according to the attribution. From what I can see in the real world, it remains as true today as it was when uttered. We are killing our planet, or rather, we are killing ourselves, and making the planet suffer in the process. No matter how God-like we believe our powers to be, I don’t believe we can quite destroy a whole planet. But, we can sure make it a tough place to survive, and we are doing that rapidly…. I refer to to the World Clock once again….

http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock/env/

Why are we doing this to ourselves? I’m not the only citizen who is asking this question; there are actually millions of people like me who are aware of how bad things have gotten, and I’ve seen a lot of printed material on the subject. The problem is that nobody with any power to make changes to society at large is at all concerned with the problem, because A) They tend to deny it, as it doesn’t match their delusional view of reality, and B) They don’t care…..

The first reason, denial, is rooted in the avarice and selfishness of those who seek political and/or religious power. Their purpose in life is to “get” as much as they can, gathering resources, money, and power over others to their bosoms like a mother cradles her babe. This purpose keeps them focused on their own goals, and denial is the simplest way to deal with any ideas that are contrary to those goals. There is a popular saying these days, that I’ve heard many, many times, most often with a smile and a wink, to show that the person wants us to believe they are kidding, when they really are not…. that saying goes, “He who dies with the most toys, wins….” That’s America, all over….

The second reason, indifference, was taught to these folks by the Christian religion. That’s right, religion is responsible, fully and completely, for most of what is wrong in today’s society. This statement will no doubt cause some consternation among those believers who are still buying into that shell game, but it is nonetheless true. It is difficult to build a rational institution when one’s beliefs are based on a basic untruth. More simply, false conclusions are the only possible result of beginning with a false assumption….

The common dogma [of fundamentalists] is fear of modern knowledge, inability to cope with the fast change in a scientific-technological society, and the real breakdown in apparent moral order in recent years That is why hate is the major fuel, fear is the cement of the movement, and superstitious ignorance is the best defence against the dangerous new knowledge. When you bring up arguments that cast serious doubts on their cherished beliefs you are not simply making a rhetorical point, you are threatening their whole Universe and their immortality. That provokes anger and quite frequently violence.” — G Gaia

What, you ask, is this false assumption? Well, I hate to be the one to break it to them, but hey, Mankind is NOT the top of the food chain. Mankind is NOT superior to the other animals, and plants, that live here with us. Mankind is NOT the “owner”, or the “steward”, or the “ruler” of this world. We are not the “Lords of Creation”, nor do we either deserve or actually possess the entitlement so many of our beloved ruling class feels, or claims. We are nothing more than a fortunate (for us) accident of Nature, no less than any other creature, but no more, for certain….

Here the free spirit of mankind, at length,
Throws its last fetters off; and who shall place
A limit to the giant’s unchained strength,
Or curb his swiftness in the forward race?

~~ William Cullen Bryant — The Ages, xxxiii ~~

It is unfortunate in the extreme that so many people believe this prideful boast! Being able to reason hasn’t improved our morality. Being able to imagine has not increased our empathy, or our compassion, though it should. As a species, looked at from an outside viewpoint, we are much less efficient as an animal than are almost any of the other animals we know of; dogs and cats are far superior morally, ethically, and operationally than are humans; I would add they are more intelligent as well, but the humans out there won’t believe that, even though it is obvious to me. I mean, who is feeding who here? Although still subject to the cruelty to which humans so often resort, dogs and cats control their humans pretty well, as a rule…..

“Dogs are animals that poop in public and you’re supposed to pick it up. After a week of doing this, you’ve got to ask yourself: Who’s the real master in this relationship?” — Anthony Griffin

All this goes back to the same old message that I’ve been sending out for years. If this species, Australopithecus modernus, does not make a change in it’s mental viewpoint, in our morality and how that makes us deal with the world, we’ll all be dead within 200 years. The planet will recover; all the poisons we’ve pumped into the environment will be neutralized, and the damage we’ve done will heal over time. But, we will be gone, if we don’t figure out how to change the whole way we deal with reality, from the top of society down…. I hate to be a cynic, but I don’t see it happening, and that is just sad…..

“Time destroys the speculations of man,
but it confirms the judgment of nature.”

~~ Cicero ~~

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Comedy_Tragedy

Off the proverbial cuff….

I never meant to kill that period of time,
it didn’t give me any choice.
It tried to hem me in without reason, or rhyme,
refused me any vote, or any voice.

You have to admit, I buried it deep and fast,
just as if I cared.
I knew, though, it would never last,
or ever be fully repaired.

No news, no pictures can bring it back,
once is all we get.
No pleas of public good, or even public lack;
in stone the past is set.

Futuristic visions now occupy my dreams,
I’m ready to go on.
Look! It fills up the screen, and it gleams!
Where’s the moment I’m sitting on?

Now, I remembered, at long, long last,
is all we really can hold.
Every moment goes by so bloody fast,
we’d best fill them all with beauty, warm and bold.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/30/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Further Notes on Life at Large

*********

“Put forth your effort
With no thought of gain.”

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

*********

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”

~~ Walter Winchell ~~

*********

“Self-pity is the worst poverty.”

~~ Hazrat Inayat Khan (Sufi writer) ~~

*********

“He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another.”

~~ Seneca ~~

*********

“Perseverance is more prevailing than violence;
and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together,
yield themselves up when taken little by little.”

~~ Plutarch — Life of Sertorius ~~

*********

“Education is not a preparation for life;
Education is life itself.”

~~ John Dewey ~~

*********

“Whatever you can lose, you should reckon of no account.”

~~ Publius Syrus — Maxim 191 ~~

*********

Knowledge is gained by learning; trust by doubt;
skill by practice; and love by love.”

~~ Thomas Szasz

*********

“What fools these mortals be.”

~~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~~

*********

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Having submitted my usual outpouring of blather & nonsense, I shall forgo further torturous prattle, to bid thee adieu for another diurnal period. Little did we know, when we began, just how strange it would get, but, as they’re fond of saying downtown, what the hell? It’s finished, and, around here, that’s all that’s required. Well, we also try to do this each day…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; such is our lot, and we welcome it. Go figure….

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

Featured Image -- 8561

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Corpuscular ambiguity, gift wrapped….

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17

Ffolkes,

How does it feel?
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown?

~~ Bob Dylan ~~

Alaska Grand Adventure 069

Need more proof?….

Hajime…. Whatever you find here today should be taken with a measure of reserve; the conditions under which my life has proceeded for a couple of days now have been rather stressful, in the sense my own mind has been consuming itself, with some relish, I might add. Not the pickle kind, either. I am unsure as to the reason for such a meltdown, but, it hardly matters at all, as the end result is just as miserable, no matter how it came to be. And, regardless of why it happens, the answer to getting past it is always located in the same place, to wit: inside my own mind/heart/being.

At this moment, I do feel a bit better, as I just hung up after talking with an eminently rational friend, who lives in England. Having spent much of yesterday in a funk, wandering the house, annoying the cat and desperately casting about for distraction from my own thoughts, I needed some rational conversation before beginning this task. We chatted for almost an hour, and I feel much more connected than I did beforehand. Yay, me, and thanks to my friend for being a friend; it may have given me enough balance to be able to finish this, with, possibly, some grace and style. Of course, that would be a first, so, let’s not get excited yet.

In fact, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves at all; for a change, we’ll try to show some forethought, and tact, by making this introductory section an actual introduction, rather than yet another opportunity to blather. There’s been enough blather in the last few days. Instead, I’ll get on with this, as best I may, so we can all get on to bigger things. (Note I did not say better; we try to maintain a small degree of hope….) Some of it was already done, thankfully, so, we might even get this posted at a reasonably appropriate time. Or, close, anyway.

I won’t even use any tricks. We’ll just go on, leaving this section to fend for itself. It’s really rather a simple technique; all I have to do is say this….

Shall we Pearl?….

” If you see a man approaching you with the obvious intention
of doing you good, you should run for your life.”

~~ Thoreau’s Law ~~

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cakehole

Cakehole Presley

Image from twitter.com via Google Images

Today’s musical selection is a band from the British Isles, specifically Cardiff, Wales. Fronted by Chris Ridgeway, one of the most talented singer/songwriters in today’s musical world, their music is raw, intense, and political, which hits all the right notes for this old hippie…. Thanks to Lady P. for the referral…. Make sure you listen to their song written for the 2015 election in Britain, called “Don’t let the bastards grind you down….” Brilliant!…

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Cakehole Presley

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https://youtu.be/2L_SfIpzE80?list=PL64CE9B8E7A91CF7E

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Dont keep calm

While speaking with my friend this morning, I made a statement regarding religion(s), which I’d like to repeat… I said, “The entire concept of religion has been humanity’s most egregious obstacle to ever achieving our true potential; all of them need to just GO AWAY!” The more I look at what is happening in the world, the more firmly I believe this. With the concomitant other delusions under which society suffers, to wit: money and government, religion has done nothing for us but keep us from finding any real truth, about ourselves, or reality…. If you don’t agree, I can only invite you to say so, in the comments, or, via email, and we can discuss it at length. For now, here is a relatively short, but cogent discussion of this from a few years ago….

As you can see from the material below, this is not a new idea for me. So, if you wish to discuss it, bring some strong arguments; I’ve been thinking on this for a while, and know whereof I speak…. I hope you enjoy this, or, alternately, I hope it makes you think…. Don’t worry, it may hurt, but, it won’t actually hurt you in any permanent way….

From 6/15/2012:

“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” — Genesis 1:28

Is it any wonder that our society is falling apart? Given the above, I think that any doubts one may have about who and/or what is responsible for the mess in which we find ourselves are pretty well dispelled. This decree of Entitlement is taken seriously by every priest, every preacher, and every politician who ever trod American soil (the phenomenon is world-wide, but for now let’s just concern ourselves with our problems here at home….). Did you ever hear a clearer statement of justification for hatred, bigotry, and prejudice? If you can answer yes, I’d be interested in hearing it, as this is just about as clear an expression of elitism as any I’ve ever heard….

Perhaps it is just me, but I find this to be disgusting. It is a clearly false assumption, based entirely on hearsay that was uttered by men who wanted to have control over others, and wanted to establish in the minds of those others the idea that God gave them the right to do so. I’m not sure just how they got everyone to believe them, to buy into the delusion, as it seems completely obvious to me that it is a lie of major proportion. But, they did, and for well over two millennia this idea of Mankind being the Lords of Creation has led us down a primrose path, straight to the edge of extinction…. The efforts of sages, philosophers, and clear-thinkers throughout the ages has not been sufficient to convince the majority of Mankind that our entire societal make-up is based on a lie, in spite of the simple fact that it is true….

As long as the majority of people in this country, or any other, for that matter, accept this lie, this entitlement, then the changes necessary to survival for our species are never going to happen. This sort of separation from the remainder of the Circle of Life is what will keep us from ever becoming part of that Circle. Our species will not survive, if we do not choose to join the rest of reality; we cannot survive alone, and every action taken to divide us from the other inhabitants of Earth pushes us further down the path to extinction. It pisses me off no end to know that this inevitable end is all because the majority chooses to embrace a lie, a delusion, rather than having the courage to face the universe as we are….

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Comedy_Tragedy

Unbidden, treasure unfolded…

Taken by surprise, Psyche sits numb
Amidst tall phrases worn of elder time
Seeking a not-new place from which to come
No shiny new horizon, nor altered paradigm.

Sudden regrets shape dreams as times maintain
Shades of memories bring poignant clear sight
Visions of duty, each chosen wild campaign
Shouts echoing clamors to enfold the night.

Arisen from less than eternal havens of sleep
Facing moments created in torment and pain
Destiny weighs upon those chosen to keep
As the sparrow flies now to sever the twain.

Faded pathways lead away, hazy and long
Burned out verges, so long unknown
Images of yesterday, clear and strong
Bleed into today, though t’is but my own……

~~ gigoid ~~

6/13/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life at Large

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“To be alive is to take risks;
to be always safe and secure is death.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

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“Know that joy is rarer, more difficult,
and more beautiful than sadness.
Once you make this all-important discovery,
you must embrace joy as a moral obligation.”

~~ Andre Gide, “Fruits of the Earth “~~

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“A heart is not judged by how much you love
but by how much you are loved by others.”

~~ The Wizard of Oz ~~

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“All teachings are mere references.
The true experience is living your own life.
Then, even the holiest of words are only words.”

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

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“How you do anything is how you do everything.”

~~ Zen proverb ~~

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“Be not diverted from your duty by any idle reflections the silly
world may make upon you, for their censures are not in your power,
and consequently should not be any part of your concern.”

~~ Epictetus ~~

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Considering my state of being at the start of today’s effort, it can be considered a victory to find myself here at the end, finished. So, I will do so, with some satisfaction. Beyond that, deponent sayeth no more, lest fate be tempted to take it all away. Rather than torture y’all, and myself, any further, we’ll go on, with my good wishes for y’all to experience a bountiful day. I will, however, warn y’all of my imminent return, tomorrow, same time, same place, relatively speaking. (The planet will be in another part of space, as will the solar system, the galaxy, and all the rest….) with yet another offering at the altar of self-abuse. See y’all then, ffolkes; I’ll be greatly surprised if you don’t….

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

Featured Image -- 8561

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Don’t forget to pack a sewage pump….

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Ffolkes,

It’s a Sunday, isn’t it? I have stuff, all of which needs done asap, even though sleep once again managed to elude me for much of the night. In order to try to meet reality’s demands, I’m re-blogging this decent Pearl from 2013. I will be back tomorrow, presumably. Time will tell…. Wish me luck, ffolkes; I’ll need it today….

Enjoy!…

gigoid's avatargigoid

Ffolkes,

Powerful visions often pass through my mind, generally on their way somewhere else, thus making them merely an annoyance, rather than a joy. Such is life in reality, where we seldom get a proper chance to do just as we would like, even though we adjust and flex both our efforts, and our desires, in the quest to achieve whatever it is we are seeking to accomplish. This is because reality is like an amoeba, always changing shape and character, right before us, with nothing we possess that can affect it one way or another before it changes. All we have is the ability to change our minds, which, to those of us who study reality, is our most valuable tool….

This ability is the one saving grace we have in the face of reality, so it is a good idea to train it well. If not used, and…

View original post 1,750 more words

Snippets of old, sad songs….

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Ffolkes,

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery;
none but ourselves can free our minds.”

~~ Bob Marley ~~

Liverpool 003

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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https://youtu.be/TC94iWNzmaQ

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Dont keep calm

“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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Comedy_Tragedy

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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pearls_3

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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“Everything that I understand,
I understand only because I love”

~~ 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

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Habitually burying the lead….

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Ffolkes,

“Why should I add to my troubles by facing reality?”

~~ Realistic Bee ~~

caroles rose

A rose for Carole….

Hajime…. What a night! There I was, sleeping peacefully as I ever do, when, at about 0130 AM, I was rudely awakened, by an extremely off-key young woman, seemingly five feet outside my window, warbling an unrecognizable tune at the top of her voice, in a bathroom (you can tell by the echo in the sound…). The screeching went on for quite a long while, repeating the same line over and over, just loud enough to keep me awake, getting more wound up with every repetition. I eventually had to bang on the wall, to let the neighbor know they’d awakened me, whereupon it finally stopped…. only to start again at 0230!

I finally got them to stop, but, by the time they did, it was 0300, so I got up to begin my day…. That lasted until 0400, when my eyes began to droop…. whereupon, I returned to bed, thoroughly confusing Leelu. Since I was thoroughly grumped, I didn’t care, and she’ll get over it, just as I will get over the angst I feel from not getting my chosen duty done at the time I am accustomed to finishing it. I’m going to be very late, and don’t care at all. Not bad, eh? I can only hope my unconscious mind isn’t sitting on a surprise for later; it will do that occasionally, dumping me in a deep hole, out of nowhere, just because it can….

The Pearl you’ll see was mostly done, anyway, as I actually found some ‘muse’ time yesterday afternoon. Lucky me, I guess. And, hopefully, lucky you. I suppose both of us will find out below, won’t we? Since I really don’t have much going yet, having disrupted my coffee intake severely, I’ll end this intro, here and now, so we can make a valid attempt to get back on track. Wish me luck; I’ll need it…. While I’m looking for it, I suggest we go finish the rest of this mess…. and, we’ll do it like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“The most pathetic person in the world
is a person who has sight
but has no vision.”

~~ Helen Keller ~~

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Yield_Logo

Playing For Change

By now, this organization should need no introduction. They make music for peace. That’s all you need to know, except that you should support their work, by donating what you can afford to their music schools, and by purchasing the CD’s & DVD’s of the performances they sell to keep the schools going…. Who else do you know who is working for peace in this world? I can’t think of very many, so, please, give them what you can…. Thanks, from me, and from all the children in their schools…

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Playing For Change
Live Outside

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https://youtu.be/4bmaz2s5YtM

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Aristotle_Bust_White_Background_Transparent

Aristotle

If there is anyone in history with whom I identify, it is Aristotle. By that, I mean, he is, of all those people of whom I’ve read about throughout my life, (a lot, trust me….), he is the one I think comes closest to having a philosophy of life with which I most closely agree. This isn’t to say his attitudes and/or beliefs are the same as my own; there is a large gap of time between us. If no two people in the same time can truly be the same, the same must be understood to apply to two people who lived at least 2500 years apart in time.

That said, the impression I get of Aristotle’s philosophy can best be expressed by relating my own, for, in my own mind, if in no other, there are too many points of congruence to deny the connection. I first codified this in 1985. The first time I sent it anywhere for anyone to see, via email, was in 1997, while living in Sonoma, California, a married father of two teens, living the life of any such human male in modern America, struggling to maintain my sanity while pursuing a dream that ceased to exist many years ago.

I carved out a study in the back of the garage, thought about my life, and all I’d read. The conclusion I came to was, “If Aristotle, Plato, Sartre, and all the rest can do it, why can’t I?” So, I did. The following, with one axiom added over the intervening years, is exactly what I wrote:

Peruaosophy

The wisdom of pearls…
(The world is my oyster; which way to the pearls?)

Axioms

1) I think am; that’s close enough.

2) The nature of the Universe is Change.
Unpredictable, innovative transformation of Reality is the Norm.
If you have a p problem with this, you’re in for a rough ride in Life.

3) Thou art God, you know. Let’s do lunch
.
4) Excellence is its own reward.

5) Girls think differently. So do boys. Don’t fight it.

6) Axiom #2 X axiom #5 = And god so loved the world, she said, “Quit whining!”

7) Do your Duty. Respect Life. Honor the Truth. Share your Love.

8) Go back. Everything you need to know is in the first seven axioms.

~~ gigoid ~~

At this point, it may occur to some Gentle Readers, for example, “What a crock!” In response, I can only say, not only is that a trifle harsh, but, incredibly short-sighted. However, rather than creating self-fulfilling imaginary conflicts in my head, I’ll take a few moments to explain just how it could be a mistake to assume there is no merit in this exercise of my imagination, as expressed by my experience in reality. Oh, and, I will add, for those who might have forgotten how things work here at ECR, never forget the power of the Metaphorse….

Did you catch it? Do you see how that works? Now, we have a multitude of directions in which to take this treatise. I can dissect the axioms, individually. I can discuss the entire group, in relation to what is not said, and how that relates to my opinions of current world events. Or, I could try to explain the term, “Metaphorse”, for anyone who needs it, and/or, the amusement of those who do not. Since I’ve already taken up a lot of your time, to get us this far, let’s do it the long way, and try them all, at once, okay? Okay!

Never mind; I wouldn’t do that. Well, not to y’all; I might do it to an enemy, or, to anyone who wants to be. But, for today, I’ll just say I’ll try to remember to get back to all this, because, hey, fresh rants, right? For now, I’ll just answer any immediate thoughts anyone may have regarding the above assertions in the comments, and get on with the rest of the mess for today, thus ensuring we all live through this, to see which of the fascinating above-mentioned exploration may be first to launch our mutual melding of minds. Let’s go read a poem….

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Comedy_Tragedy

Penance, Made Simple

After all the dross is sent away
a celebration can begin,
time will face up to space, to stay
willing, to shine from within.

Anger and confusion come in to share
brushing reason aside,
eager to welcome all that is fair,
alert to danger, eyes wide.

Re-gift the wicked with their own pain
stand with the just;
fail to partake of the ill-gotten gain,
living in honor, the only must.

Standing fast in the face of wrong
is its own prize and reward.
Holding on to truth makes us strong,
well worth working toward.

Little is left to chance by fate
our lessons are never free of cost.
Seldom does reality make us wait
only when alone, are we lost.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/23/2012

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pearls_3

“If you begin the day with love in your heart, peace in your nerves, and truth in your mind, you not only benefit by their presence but also bring them to others, to your family and friends, and to all those whose destiny draws across your path that day.” — Ancient Human Wisdom

Two things. First; when I attribute a quote in this manner, it is because I cannot find ANY source that can lay claim to it. I’ve found, in my experience, this means it has been around so long, it is considered basic knowledge for humans, and always has been so… Second: You know what? I don’t think today’s final section needs anything further, at all. This is enough, all by itself. So be it.

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Since the last section cut itself short, it’s done. Very late, but, done. I’ll take it. To ensure it gets posted in a relatively timely fashion, this is all you get. I will, as always, return tomorrow, though, given today’s disruption, I won’t try to predict exactly when that may occur. Just know, it will happen; as far as I can, I guarantee it…. See ya, ffolkes….

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

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Passionate barbers will suffice….

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18

Ffolkes,

“Clay is moulded to make a vessel,
but the utility of the vessel lies in the space where there is nothing. …
Thus, taking advantage of what is,
we recognize the utility of what is not.”

~~ Lao Tzu ~~

Cobh

Cobh, Ireland

Hajime…. Most ffolkes, when able to sleep in a relatively normal fashion, probably wake up feeling pretty good. I can only wish that were the case with me, for it would sure be nice to wake up that way on occasion. As it is, even though I managed to garner six good hours of rest, I am in a foul mood upon awakening. Don’t ask me why, because, apparently, even that pisses me off; I asked myself that simple query, & damn near tore my own head off. This, sadly, leaked over to the point where even Leelu’s morning attention-seeking behaviors prompted a blow-off of steam out of my ears, along with some creative cursing, which probably shocked her delicate sensibilities…..

Now, of course, I can add guilt to the mix, as there’s no reason to take my angst out on an innocent cat (if there be such a thing….). Even though, by now, she ought to have figured out when to leave me be, there’s no justifiable reason to take my feelings out on any creature not deserving of it. So, I’m going to take a break, make up with her, then come back to finish this missive, such as it may be with all the handicaps I’m experiencing in getting it done. I did manage to finish some of it yesterday, during breaks in the fog in my head, which has been slipping in & out of my consciousness for a week or more. The rest will have to come out of whatever is in there this morning…. So be it….

It’s days such as this which make me wish, strongly, for a God upon which to blame the universe. It would be so convenient, if I could only bring myself to believe in such a convenient delusion. But, I can’t, so, that makes it my responsibility to pull my own chestnuts out of this fire…. Again, so be it. If I don’t, it won’t get done. To give us half a chance to do so, I’m going to take that break now, then return, & go on from there. Wish me luck, ffolkes; I have a feeling I’ll need some….

Shall we Pearl?….

“The man who carries a cat by the tail
learns something that can be learned in no other way.
He will never be dim, or doubtful.
Chances are, he won’t carry the cat that way again;
but, I say, if he wants to, let him!”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

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super session

Image from http://www.youtube.com via Google Images

My friend, chuq, who has a blog called In Saner Thought (here: https://lobotero.com/ ) told me he was listening to this yesterday. I hadn’t thought of it for a long time, so, naturally, here it is today for your listening pleasure. An iconic album, with three of the best of the time, playing together with verve, and genius. Enjoy, ffolkes; it doesn’t get much better than this in the rock & roll world….

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Super Session 1977
Kooper, Bloomfield,Stills

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https://youtu.be/SKgHhKmQZ50

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Dont keep calm

“Hate, the price you pay
For thinking you got the only way…”

~~ Blues Traveler ~~

As iterated above, my state of mind is rather, well, shitty. Trying to rant would, probably, not be a good idea, as the results could conceivably bring charges. Since my lawyer is on permanent vacation, we won’t go there. I’m already feeling enough self-inflicted guilt, so, rather than torment y’all with another piece from the archives, I’ve cobbled together a self-directed rant for your reading pleasure…. Maybe, if I do it right, it will soothe my angst well enough to get through the rest of today sans any further debilitation. (Good luck with that, I’d say, but, hey, it counts that I’m making an effort, right?)….

So, with the opening lines from Blues Traveler echoing in your head, follow the bouncing thoughts through the seven pearls below, and you will find yourself at the end of a perfectly decent rant against the machine, and my work will be done for the day. Even if you end up confused, well, such is life, and that may be even more of a lesson than anything I can provide. Either way, it gets us down to the next section, so, we’re going with it, regardless of how it may appear, or, for that matter, not appear. So be it…..

“The revolution WILL be televised, but you’ll only be able to understand it if you don’t watch the television coverage.” — Russ Nelson

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” — Voltaire

“If you can see in a given situation only what everybody else can see, you can be said to be so much a representative of your culture that you are a victim of it.” — S.I. Hayakawa, educator and politician

“History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren’t there.” — George Santayana

“Much that is dreadful and inhuman in history, much that one hardly likes to believe, is mitigated by the reflection that the one who commands and the one who carries out are different people. The former does not behold the sight and does not experience the strong impression on the imagination. The latter obeys a superior and therefore feels no responsibility for his acts.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

“Well, it just seemed wrong to cheat on an ethics test.” — Calvin

“I feel better about world problems now!”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

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Comedy_Tragedy

Today’s poem was selected simply for the title, which fits into the obvious theme for today…. From a bit over a year ago, during my time in Hell, I give you my lamentations….

gigoid’s lament

Not a bit of all the pain I feel
is worse than all I see;
all worldly truth, solid and real,
has faded away, never to be free.

Honor stripped of all regard,
while compassion simply fails;
Ignorance , powerful, hard,
crows as reason wails.

Crushing resistance, mandating the vote,
selling illusion, smiling all the while.
Pundits, speaking purely by rote,
arrange all the lies in a tidy pile.

Stupidity ’tis said, is a risky choice;
the price is always the same.
Reality has no pity, no warning ever voiced,
only a gravestone, carved with, our name.

~~ gigoid ~~

1/19/2015

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pearls_3

Our final pearl for the day is fresh. It’s rather abstruse, from what I can tell, but, it’s all pretty clearly a lesson in life at large. Since it’s the only part of today’s Pearl that is relatively fresh, it can stay, no matter how it comes across…. I do hope you enjoy it; it IS pretty good, which means it may not entirely fit in with the rest, but, fuck it. I’m not in a mood to care…. Enjoy, if you will….

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“As far as we can discern,
the sole purpose of human existence
is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.”

~~ C. G. Jung ~~

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“The miracle is not to walk on water.
The miracle is to walk on the green earth
in the present moment,
to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.”

~~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~~

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“We are all born mad. some remain so.”

~~ Samuel Beckett ~~

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“What you leave behind
is not what is engraved in stone monuments,
but what is woven into the lives of others.”

~~ Pericles ~~

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“… denn da ist keine Stelle, die dich nicht sieht.
Du musst dein Leben andern.”
(… for there is no place that does not see you.
You must change your life.)

~~ Rainer Maria Rilke, “Archaic Torso of Apollo” ~~

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“To demand ‘sense’ is the hallmark of nonsense.
Nature does not make sense.
Nothing makes sense.”

~~ Ayn Rand ~~

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“For after all what is man in nature?
A nothing in relation to infinity,
all in relation to nothing,
a central point between nothing and all
and infinitely far from understanding either.
The ends of things and their beginnings
are impregnably concealed from him in an impenetrable secret.
He is equally incapable of seeing the nothingness out of which he was drawn
and the infinite in which he is engulfed.”

~~ Blaise Pascal ~~

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Well, ffolkes, there you have it. Since I already know just how good this one isn’t, we’ll leave it all to chance, and go post it while I’ve got the chutzpah. Which may not last too long. I’ll be back tomorrow, if only to make sure this isn’t the final words you hear from me. I don’t think I’d be able to live with that. See y’all in the morning, ffolkes, if I decide to let myself live…. Not to worry, that’s just rhetoric…. accurate, but still rhetorical. See ya….

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

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À bientôt, mon cherí….