Ffolkes,
~~ Pliny the Elder ~~
Morning Glory, Indeed.
Good morning…. For the record: Later today, I’ll be hitting the trail, off to see a friend in another state. I’m hoping to be able to post as usual, but, the details and demands of life away from one’s base can alter our intentions to fulfill necessities of the trip…. In any case, if you don’t see a post at the usual time, check back later to see if I was able to get it done; if nothing else, I’ll try to post a few words to fill the empty spaces left by my absence…. Other than that, I doubt the Space/Time Continuum will see much effect from that absence…. And, for the nonce, it means we can get on with this show, forthwith….
Shall we Pearl?
~~ Thomas Jefferson ~~
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Image from Amazon.com via Google Images
Some of the most familiar names in the history of Rock & Roll were members of this band; when it broke up in the late 60’/early 70’s, the members went on to form several other extremely famous iconic groups, including Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, Emerson-Lake-Palmer, Loggins & Messina, and others of equal fame. Almost all of them went on to brilliant solo careers as musician/songwriters…. In the beginning, before all the glitter and fame, there was Buffalo Springfield….
Buffalo Springfield
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“War is Capitalism with the gloves off.” — Tom Stoppard
Careful, Mister. Old Zeke is liable to fire that sucker up! Uh, oh! Now you’ve done it!….
Just what, you may ask, is that all about? And, well you may ask, as it turns out…. To be honest, I had some notion of passing myself off as the proverbial Zeke, but, it sort of felt weird even as I put it up there…. However, it still fits the issue at hand, which is, the quote by Mr. Stoppard, a phrase which, like it or not, I intend to discuss, as it perfectly fits the rant I have in mind…. Yes, that’s right, we’re going to indict the Asininnies again, into a bloody pulp, if possible…. Why? Well, why the hell not? They fuck with us…. no, make that, they fuck us, on a regular, consistent, daily basis; it’s our duty to give it back to them whenever the opportunity arises… Remember, ffolkes….
“War is capitalism with the gloves off.” How adroitly accurate! I’m in awe, for, Mr. Stoppard has, in a mere seven words, laid out an entirely rational, evocative argument for revolution, wherein the root cause of the problem, and implied correct solution, becomes as plain as the nose on a Bozo’s face. I can’t think of a better way to call a spade a spade….
The entire history of this country since WWII has been one of war after police action after war after terrorist hunt after humanitarian intervention after invasion after war after police actions…. well, you get the picture…. All of it, in one respect at least, has only one purpose in mind, to spread the “benefits” of freedom and capitalism to the rest of the “undeveloped” world, as well as to our ideological adversaries, who wish to do the same thing in the name of socialism, or communism, etc…. In my opinion, it’s all a case of mewantitall-ism…. Basically, our human governments consist of a bunch of men, mostly, who never grew up, so never learned they can’t have all they want. Their entire existence is centered around obtaining power over others, in order to be free to ignore their own responsibility, giving up honor for avarice…
In truth, the entire stated purpose of the imperialistic advances of Western civilization is all a sham, a two-sided excuse to apply the principles of economic slavery to yet another unsuspecting culture, to fill their minds with TV, and all the illusory “good” things that come with a slave society, where the many work for, and at the behest of, a very few elite narcissists, who believe in their own entitlements, and nothing else….
“Conservative Definition of Compassion: I got mine, Jack.” — Smart Bee
One one hand, these predators justify their depredations by the time honored catch phrase of bringing freedom, and justice, the American way, to those countries whose economic dependency isn’t tied to the business of business, also the American way…. We’ll bring them good old American know-how, and flood their markets and bodies with American poison, er, the boon of fast food (with enhanced nutritional value, and a tiny bit of actual food included), and advanced medicines, which will cause autism, obesity, and a lifetime of dependency on pills which keep you sick (Can’t sell pills to well people, now, can you?). We’ll sell them cars they don’t need every year, and a new phone every 3 months, and convince them they’re happy as pigs-in-mud, striding swiftly down the road to an early grave, while wading ineffectually, blindly, through their own hell…
“Where there is much light there is also much shadow.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
Which, by the way, is the second gift we bring to those other lands we visit all over the world, invited or not…. We’ll use the promise of immortality as reward for obedience, balanced by a threat of a fiery hell for ignoring dogma, allowing our missionaries to bring the gift of Christianity to the natives…. Yes, Christianity, that insane, vicious, gruesome, wonderful, old-time religion, as described so vividly by hundreds of passages in the Bible, with battles where they killed not just warriors, but, the women, children, old people, and animals of their enemies, just because they could….
The religion of LOVE, so it is said, though you couldn’t tell by the way the countries they visit all end up, as yet more slaves to the corporate snakeheads, with the full cooperation and support of the religious teachers, who all preach obedience to worldly authority, in exchange for the promise of eternal life, AFTER you’re dead, (and, thus, can no longer contribute to the church, you’ll note….)
“It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged.” — G. K. Chesterton, The Cleveland Press, 3/1/21
Boy, howdy; now THAT is priceless! Yes, yes, yessiree! I can say, without a qualm, I resemble that remark!
I also can say, unequivocally, I strongly agree with G.K.; how else, when I wish I’d said it!…. Of course, I’m sure he would have included the preachers in there with the politicians, had he thought of it, or, had he been able to figure out a short, pithy way to do so…. Otherwise, it’s perfect!…. Every damn one of them is clinically insane; on the political side we have your predatory, narcissistic, pathological liars, who live for rape (which is the ultimate power over others…), who have absolutely no compassion, or honor…. Their sense of unbridled entitlement comes out of their delusional belief in their own divine right to rule others…
On the religious side, we have your delusional, pathological, emotionally abusive, passive-aggressive manipulators, who sycophantically brainwash children with their own delusions, so they can enjoy the sense of entitlement of being close to God, thus, immune from the laws of Man…. These are even worse, in some ways, than the politicians, for they actually believe they are doing good, when, in truth, every time they “save another soul”, they save it into slavery, thinking, wrongly, they’ve done well…. By their very example, they teach how to embrace ignorance over reason, to value shadow over substance, and to deny reality in the face of desire…. Not to mention the whole thing about never having to be responsible for doing wrong, as long as you believe, and confess….
“A long and wicked life followed by five minutes of perfect grace gets you into Heaven. An equally long life of decent living and good works followed by one outburst of taking the name of the Lord in vain, then have a heart attack at that moment and be damned for eternity. Is that the system?” — Robert A. Heinlein
No wonder the world is a mess!…. We’ve come to a point in this narrative where we can continue to indict our BRC, or take a rest for today, to come back to this subject later…. Since I’m feeling compassionate, and want to get on the road, we’ll call it a day…. Just remember, ffolkes, the people who run the governments of this world are NOT doing so for YOUR benefit…. They’re in it for all they can get for themselves, and nothing else. Anything else they tell is a LIE…. Believe it, or, be a slave; it’s up to you…. And, believe this, for sure…. In this Universe, being good at being stupid doesn’t count.
~~ Nicholas Ling ~~
So be it.
gigoid has spoken….
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I always get lazy before going on the road…. Well, about stuff like this, anyway. To demonstrate this concept perfectly, here is another poem of mine from the archives, to follow up (sort of….) on today’s rant…. Enjoy!….
“Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so…”
I’d be crying a river, I thought
if ever such crap I bought.
Sorry if it hurts your sense of style,
but, hypocrisy always gives me bile.
Being lied to accidentally is okay,
but, deliberate lies make me angry, and fey.
Oh, God, hear what I pray!
Keep me from your followers today.
Having to listen to so much that is wrong
makes me puke, before it makes me strong.
I don’t know why it isn’t clear to other folks,
which is alright, you know, different strokes.
But, why should that mean that they must
force me to believe, or fail in trust?
Spare me the lies, and the make-believe,
fairy tales are easier to hear, and to weave.
They give us a lesson which we can feel
but don’t pretend at all to be real.
Reality can scare us, that’s a given fact,
still, met with care it will leave us mostly intact.
Met without fear, standing tall and alone
Life will allow us to make it our own.
Folly beckons, and so many follow
mass delusions seem to me most hollow.
I’ll have to stick to my own chosen way
while so many go so sadly astray.
It’s lonely at times, it may seem sad,
but really isn’t, and I’m quite glad,
that knowledge is always stronger than fear,
year after year, tear after tear…..
~~ gigoid ~~
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Today’s final old-school pearl is another of the classic type, filled with good ideas on how to enjoy the good parts of this Universe in which we live…. In short, tips and tools for living life large….
“Touch is the most fundamental sense. A baby experiences it, all over, before he is born and long before he learns to use sight, hearing, or taste, and no human being ever ceases to need it. Keep your children short on pocket money — but long on hugs. ” — Lazarus Long
“Who wills can. Who tries does. Who loves lives.” — Smart Bee
“We desire nothing so much as what we ought not to have.” — Publius Syrus — Maxim 559
“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” — George Santayana
“Although the world is very full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller
“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” — Dale Carnegie
“Truth exists for the wise, beauty for the feeling heart.” — Johann von Schiller
“The strongest tyrant cannot crush freedom of thought.” — Smart Bee
“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about little puppies.” — Gene Hill
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I have to confess, this one came together without ALL my attention; I can’t say if that will affect the outcome, or not…. which is, obviously, a perfectly good metaphor upon which to take our leave, having thus described LIFE in one short phrase (“I can’t say, etc…”). Not bad for a (formerly) fat (still) old fart, with flatulence, fatally obsessive flippancy, and a plethora of personal issues… Besides, it’s done. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, should Mother Nature grant me one more try at this….
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 