As all of us tend to find out during our lives, at some point, that knowing what to do, and doing it, are two separate events, with very little, if any, reason one HAS be connected to the other, other than by natural interest. However, the process of finding out what we know, and bringing what we know into action are essentially mutually exclusive, and one of our most important lessons is in learning to keep the two separate in our own minds and efforts….

Now, this little piece of advice on life is pretty good, and actually works to help a lot of folks…. But, it’s pretty damn obscure, too, and not something that a lot of people think about too often…. This doesn’t even mention how deliberately obtuse I’ve made this discussion of these characteristic habits of human behavior, or how I’ve made this just as thick and nonsensical as I could, just because…. This is what happens when I allow my bozoid tendencies get mixed in with my scientific training…. It only happens early in the morning like this, so you may not have noted it previously…. Wait, no, that’s backwards, again… you may HAVE noted it previously….. Duh….

Yep, that’s correct, ffolkes, this intro is another experiment, one that worked out reasonably well, all in all. My thought was to just start typing about a subject that was NEARLY real, but, not quite, then to treat it as material that would otherwise be regarded as TOTALLY real…. It was my thought that the contrast thus set into play would create an atmosphere that would encourage intellectual play, or at least a compelling literary experience…. Sad to say, though, I think it isn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, in spite of my earlier enthusiasm (all the way back at the start of THIS paragraph!….), and in spite of all the advertising-inspired language I heaped on it….

That’s okay, though, it’s working, if not exactly as I’d envisioned. I find that a lot in reality, don’t you? It works, but not exactly the way we expect it to work…. Hell, that phrase right there could be made into an internet meme, couldn’t it? “Things don’t always work the way we expect!!” Just put it to music, have some funny little animal flying by on a severely animated GIF, and it would go viral in a heartbeat, what do you want to bet? I saw where one of those made it onto a list of the Year’s Best Viral Videos, so, it’s almost a sure thing, or, as much as anything these days can be called that….

Speaking of sure things, we’ve got a Pearl to put out here, and this discussion, such as it is, and as interesting as it may be, is NOT getting us any closer to completing that process. We now have five paragraphs here in the intro, which makes it a legal document, for our purposes, and I’m taking advantage of that little section of the law to end this here, without any legal ramifications or otherwise annoying announcements….

Shall we Pearl?

“One lie does not cost you one truth, but the truth.” — Friedrich Hebbel
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So, there I was, cruising through an archived piece, and I came across this politirant, with religirant undertones, (well, to me, anyway….) from January of this year…. I think I may have used it fairly recently, but, don’t remember for sure, and don’t feel like looking to find out (Don’t forget, I AM exceedingly lazy….. It’s a gift….).

It doesn’t matter, because it is one of my best rants, and it’s worth a do-over, just because it’s all still true, and still needs to be said…. Along with the evil selfishness of those who seek power over others in the public venue, the attitudes taught to children, and adults, by those who would have us join them in the delusions of religious dogma, are evil, dangerous, and, patently, are demonstrably responsible for the problems and issues facing our species in today’s world…. Thus, any time I can take a few shots at them, and at the BRC at large, I will…. They’re just lucky, that the shots I take are not out of the guns I don’t own….  yet….

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From 1/21/13:

“Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” — Justice Louis D. Brandeis, dissenting, Olmstead v. United States, 277 — U.S. 479 (1928)

Finding pearls is sometimes frustrating, but then I find one like this, which is just a perfect representation of what I want to say, and it all seems worthwhile again…. This statement, though written in 1928, could not be more relevant to the present if it were written yesterday. We are observing this principle in action, as the POTUS and Congress thrash around, trying to convince the public they are responding intelligently to the furor over gun control. Of course, there IS no intelligent response possible, but they’ve never let that stop them before, so….

Gun control will always be a hot-button issue, even after they’ve been taken away. And, you can bet your booties that day is coming, as the BRC and the unseen manipulators who control society will continue to create conditions that produce the mad ones, the ones who ultimately break free of their insanity, to let it loose on the world. This scenario suits the purposes of the ruling class very well, as it allows them to keep the populace stirred up in fear, making them easily led to the place they wish them to go. It is always easier to take away a right, when the people clamor for the government to take it away, out of unreasonable fear….

A mighty pain to love it is,
And ‘t is a pain that pain to miss;
But of all pains, the greatest pain
It is to love, but love in vain.

– Abraham Cowley (1618-1667) — From Anacreon, vii, Gold

This is often how I feel about my country. I consider myself to be a patriot, in the classic sense; I support the idea of my country, but do not necessarily support the government. I love the idea of America…. a place where men and women are free to work out their own destiny, without the interference of the system they have created to oversee the necessary societal issues, i.e., without being persecuted for their beliefs, whatever they are…. The concept is an ideal, and one that the world has never actually seen before, not in practice. There have been attempts in history, but none so bold as the one made by our forefathers, who managed to create a system with the potential to create a veritable utopia….

But, within moments of the signing of the Constitution, the bankers, the preachers, and the lawyers were all taking their shots at the system, trying to find ways to amend its protections, and weaken the defenses against the very things they are trying to do. Since the Bill of Rights became law, there have been members of the Beloved Ruling Class trying to dismantle them, and reduce the protective qualities they possess. Much of the time they don’t even bother to hide it, but just couch it in terms that distracts the public from examining their claims too closely….

That struggle, to maintain the purity and intent of the original Bill of Rights, continues to this day, and is now undergoing its most fearful threat since the initial days of this country, more dangerous even than the Communist Purge in the 1950’s, during the McCarthy era of our political history. Once again, events have been manipulated to make it appear as if there is great danger, to the public, and most significantly to our children. Emphasizing this danger to our progeny is the most powerful weapon the BRC possesses, and they are making full use of it in the media, you can be certain…. Manifest a threat to children, and the ire of the public is yours to control…. much like Pavlov’s dogs….

I also think that Justice Brandeis was being nice, when he mentions that the BRC may be acting with good intentions, but lack of understanding. I think that the BRC knows EXACTLY what it is doing when it pursues legislation such as the current limits to gun ownership, and I don’t think they care at all that people don’t really NEED their protection or their help to protect themselves from the evil in the world. What the citizens DO NEED is less intrusion by the BRC into their private, or even public, lives.

I don’t care how ethical a government official SAYS they are, I don’t think they are more ethical than me, or the average Joe…. Nor can they be trusted to act in a manner that is beneficial to me, or to any other private citizen; their actions are only concerned with their own private agenda, and anything they say to the contrary is a BIG, FAT LIE! (Sorry, don’t mean to shout at you….)….. This, I think, is an assertion that doesn’t even need me to point out the proof, as it jumps up in everyone’s face on a daily basis…. The BRC LIES TO US, every day, and it isn’t hard to catch them at it, as it happens virtually every time they open their mouths to speak….. What amazes me is that they get away with it so easily….

“I believe and I say it is true Democratic feeling, that all the measures of the Government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer.” — William Henry Harrison

As is obvious, I’m not the only one who is dissatisfied with the BRC, or as some say, the Government. I like to use the BRC, because then I can supply the defined parameters to include ALL of the various types of assholes who are part of that group; lawyers, preachers/priests, bankers, Senators, Congressmen, judges, elected officials, all are charter members of the BRC, and the targets of my ire, as well as the meat for my consumption here on ERC. I guess it would be accurate to say that the BRC consists of all those who seek power over others for their own personal gain, and just let it go at that….

“One of the most difficult of the philosopher’s tasks is to find out where the shoe pinches.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein

There is the pinch-point, ffolkes…. There are essentially two types of humans…. those who seek to have power over other people, and those who seek power over themselves. Anyone who doesn’t fit into those two categories is not living up to their full potential as a human being, and will not in any way have any say in what happens in the world. They are the cannon fodder, the unwashed masses of folks who go through life without ever directing their conscious mind anywhere but right in front of themselves, oblivious to all the evil that occurs around them, as well as unaware of all the beauty that exists.

That is their choice, and I cannot fault them for their lack of courage; it’s a scary world out there…. but, as human beings, I believe we have a duty to our fellow man, and that duty means NOT keeping quiet, NOT letting those who would do evil act with impunity. In my position, all I can do is speak up when I see injustice, or immorality, and issue my objections to what I observe…. It’s all I can do, so I’ll do it all I can…. because, as Albert sez….
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Being the sort of person who appreciates tradition, even if it is only my own, we will now proceed to the dock, where I shall dive into the deep waters that hold and protect my oyster beds…..  There, swimming peacefully among the colorful denizens of the sea of knowledge, I will endeavor to find, hidden among the more delectable physically edible specimens, a worthy group of lustrous gems, to form into one strand that will encircle and encompass the wisdom of the ages….

Hmm… You don’t think that’s just a little too ambitious, for one little pearl? Or, perhaps, to fanciful an expression of the concept as metaphor? No? Good, neither do I…. Let’s see what I, and SB, can come up with today….

“No man can be brave who thinks pain the greatest evil; nor temperate who considers pleasure the highest good” — Cicero

Piglet of Borg: “If I weren’t such a small Borg, resistance would be useless.” — Smart Bee

“Before you have sex you have to be elected to a high government position.” — Zippy

“If an ass goes travelling he will not come home a horse.” — Thomas Fuller

“Behead a Lawyer for Allah!” — Smart Bee’s Jihadic Imam

“The major contribution of Protestant thought to the knowledge of mankind is its massive proof that God is a bore” — H.L. Mencken
(It certainly worked that way for me!…..)

When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love, in the spring becomes The Rose.

— Amanda McBroom, The Rose, as performed by Bette Midler

Ffolkes, I’m a fairly smart guy…. Not that that particular piece of information is terribly useful, but, it is, for the moment, relevant… I’m smart enough to see that this is a pretty damn good pearl, with shiny individual gems, some of which made me laugh out loud, and others that made me cry in both joy and sorrow. There’s even a bit of good advice from one of the ancient sages…. What more could anyone ask for, before they’ve even had any breakfast? Smart as I am, Smart Bee was smarter today, and I like it…. So should you….   😉
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New method for proofing…. Before starting on this closing section, proof and edit…. Seems to work okay, and certainly gives me a good idea of the total picture…. Now, what the hell do I do with it? I’m done! I don’t NEED it now I’m done…. Sheesh! I am a bozo, of this there can be no doubt…. I’ll see ya tomorrow, should I survive that long….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest  Carole, Mark, and Theresa…
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.