Tag Archives: Bertrand Russell

Hard lessons….

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Ffolkes,

“Appearances often are deceiving.”

~~ Aesop (620-560 B.C.) ~~

Ensenada plus 035

Southern view from La Bufadora, Ensenada, Baja Mexico…

Hajime…. Well, here we are, ffolkes, sitting, once again, to compose an opening statement for the latest version of sane craziness we call Pearls of Virtual Wisdom, aka, gigoid’s Folly. For nearly six years, up to about six months ago, I posted an average of 1500 words/day, with the specific purpose of ridding my own inner self of the dross and drivel that tends to build up over time, during my personal dream quest, otherwise known as living large in the real world, or, more commonly, life as we know it….

Approximately six months ago, physical issues related to aging (gracefully is a word not yet applicable to the process, sadly…), caused a change in both the paradigm, and the process, all of which is a complicated way to say I stopped posting as much, and stopped feeling guilty for having done so. The events I’ve experienced while re-encountering the Big Blue Room have been, quite simply, compellingly interesting enough to have completely shattered my consistency at posting, without even giving me a single quiver of angst. I suppose, were I to try to analyze the why’s & wherefore’s, I’d go back to being relatively insane, which, while not necessarily an unfamiliar hardship, still is not my preferred state of mind. Hmm… Gee, is that too complicated? Probably… But, it’s relatively accurate, and, did take up an entire paragraph, so, we’ll let it stand, and not worry about any sort of relevance….

That isn’t to say I don’t try to be relevant; it’s just not a habit I care to let solidify. Reality is far too fluid to expect it to fit into any of my, (or anyone’s, for that matter…), preconceived notions of how it should go. And, that is as it should be. If we knew too much of the future, we’d probably end up even crazier than we already are, and I don’t think Reality would hold up very well. Well, in truth, WE are what probably wouldn’t hold up, not that we ever have done so. I guess that’s as good a statement of how it all works as anything else I’ve encountered, so, perhaps we’ll just leave this train of thought right here in the station, and go walkabout instead….

Having thus arrived at a logical jumping off point, I shall leave this where it has collapsed, & just get on with what I’ve managed to cobble together in the past eight days, since my last fresh post…. The next time I return, I promise to have a NEW poem; the one that’s been leaking out for the past two months is finally beginning to gel, so, I’ll do my best to get it done for a couple days from now. For the nonce, let’s see what there is below to help us get on with this, before we start sliding down the slippery slope….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Dreaming permits each and everyone of us
to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.”

~~ Charles William Dement ~~

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clapton

I have been listening to the music played by this man for virtually my entire life. Beginning in 1963, with the original Yardbirds, his virtuosity with the guitar has been the benchmark for any and all aspiring guitarists to reach. The video I’ve included today is his latest work, from January of this year, and shows exactly why he has always been, and continues to be the best of the best…. Enjoy!….

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Eric Clapton Live
2018

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Comedy_Tragedy

Augmentation: Inner Aye

Distant, peals of thunder, vividly.
Closer, a patter of rain, falling gravidly.
Between the light and the darkness of fear
find merely the remnants of one lonely tear.

Do not hate us, though we have not sinned;
eager for courage, upon whom all hope is pinned.
Tales of insolence, hatred, or fallen virtue
fill us up, not down, in such pristine foreign venue.

Capable hands severed, able hands tied;
the future is angry, all but now denied.
Multiple times, warnings sounded across the pale
nobody heard, nobody came to tell the tale.

Gifted by time, salience fails in epic rhyme;
watchmakers watching, each a separate crime.
Logical solutions refuse to emulsify
forever pretending to cruelly crucify.

Blood will fly alongside pertinent composure,
never seeking, never finding tea, or closure.
Falsely laid trails on mountains of gold
imply no happy endings, no fortunes told.

Ages past have no time for repetition;
further chances only lead to perdition.
Destiny feels a shameful portion of guilt,
for a thousand sand castles, never built.

~~ gigoid ~~

3/2/2016

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Strangely congruent….

*******

“One does what one is;
one becomes what one does.”

~~ Robert Musil, c. 1930 ~~

*******

“Men are used as they use others.”

~~ Pilpay (or Bidpai), “The King who became Just’, Chap. ii, Fable ix ~~

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“The most important thing
that parents can teach their children
is how to get along without them.”

~~ Frank A. Clark ~~

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“I like reality. It tastes of bread.”

~~ Jean Anouilh ~~

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“It matters not how long you live, but how well.”

~~ Publius Syrus, Maxim 829 ~~

*******

“To fear love is to fear life,
and those who fear life are already three parts dead.”

~~ Bertrand Russell,” Marriage and Morals” ~~

*******

“It is good to live and learn.”

~~ Miguel de Cervantes, “Don Quixote”, Part ii, Book iii, Chap. xxxii ~~

*******

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As he read over the words produced, the old man shook his head, slowly, with a small, sardonic smile. “Pathetic drabble”, he muttered. “But, it’ll have to do….” With some reluctance, but, a sense of renewed purpose, he slowly typed the last few lines, vowing to himself the next time would be different. With that small victory clutched tightly to his chest, he waves, and shouts, “See y’all in a day or two!”…. Be well, and happy as you may, 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

Kowabunga!

À bientôt, mon cherí….



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Ffolkes,


“Dragon? What dragon?”


~~ Famous Last Words ~~


viansa entrance


Winery entrance road, Sonoma Valley….


Hajime…. Elements of style & grace notwithstanding, there is a lot to be said for virtuous industry, even if the root cause remains an anomaly. In the larger sense, this implies a certain responsibility, to find purpose wherever it may hide itself, allowing no stray miscreants opportunity to fail, hirsute as they may be. Untidy, as a descriptive adjective, falls consistently short of successful parody, while an old, broken pantheon of forgotten gods sits, weeping silent tears, in memory of faded glory. All remains dark on the horizon, where the sun has forgotten to rise, again….


There. That, I think, is a sufficiently strange opening paragraph, which demonstrates both my erudition, and my insanity. The latter, in particular, holds me at ransom this morning, in spite of waking in a relatively common manner. The oddity of my own mind’s path often washes me up on the shore like this, leaving me high & dry with nothing but what passes for thinking to consume. As you may guess, it can be somewhat tricky to deal with reality, &, as the opening paragraph clearly shows, that’s no small feat. Since the only way to get past all of it is to let it flow out of my head as quickly, & ruthlessly as possible, such displays of perversion become the norm.


Ah, well, one can’t have everything, can one? No, of course not. Where would one put it all? Moreover, one remains responsible for one’s own words, no matter how oddly they strike the psyche of the world. My own manner of coping, as you can plainly see, is to take it to the limit, where the boundaries of sanity are stretched past their own belief; only there can I find my own balance, teetering in jeopardy, but, safely insane…. So be it….


I did manage to put this Pearl together, though without the new poem, which continues to dribble out, rather than gushing. Since all the proper elements are in place, and, we have sufficient blather accumulation here in the intro, why don’t we just cut our losses, & get on with it, so we can all move on to bigger, or better things…. It should be easy today; I’ve already softened the edges of reality, right in front of your eyes, so, the transition should be pretty seamless…. Watch and learn….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.”


~~ Roy Goodman ~~


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bonnie (2)


I had a hard time deciding on music today; eventually, I went with my own preferences, which is why y’all are being treated to one of the finest musicians alive today, who has been entertaining millions of people for several decades. Fine, fine blues & slide guitar, a voice like an angel, a red-haired beauty…. what’s not to love about her? Here she is, ffolkes, live in Oakland in 1989, it’s Bonnie….


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Bonnie Raitt

 Live in concert 1989






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Comedy_Tragedy


Neurons/Parade Rest


Forlorn, he thought, but, then,

no, not really so.

Old, sad, strong; polluted by time’s red pen.

Nowhere left, to be, nor to go.


Tricks, not treats, forever remote,

strike fear into hearts fettered in fog.

Biting deep, stinging, we simper by common rote,

mired eternally in such bilious bog.


Torturous vision, bloody, capitulates in duplicate;

don’t ask for whom the spell trolls.

Ambiguity is real, impossible to extricate,

that’s how it rocks, then rolls.


Spiteful instruments offer no respite, patently.

Filigree lacks properly significant doubt.

Alternative answers formulate motivation, elegantly,

portraying reality as a vulgar lout.


Poltroons, there’s a good word,

for idiotic farmers, enthusiasts who borrow

time, filled with the blood of a bird;

solitary, the trickster cannot follow.


Affable moments trip the light, fantastic;

salacious intimacies fill a shimmering bower.

Night falls, eventually, monastic;

eternity calls with irresistible power.


~~ gigoid ~~


8/11 – 8/15/2016


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pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Living & dying in 3/4 time….


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“Dum vivimus, vivamus.”


(While we live, let us live…)


~~ Latin proverb ~~


*******


“You see things, and you say “WHY?”

But I dream things that never were,

and I say “WHY NOT?”


~~ George Bernard Shaw, “Back to Methuselah” ~~


*******


“In the bigger scheme of things,

the universe is not asking us to do something,

the universe is asking us to be something.

And that’s a whole different thing.”


~~ Lucille Clifton ~~


*******


“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


*******


“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else,

you will have succeeded.”


~~ Maya Angelou ~~


*******


“I feel better about world problems now!”


~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~


*******


“Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me.

That means nothing.

People like us, who believe in physics,

know that the distinction between past, present, and future

is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”


~~ Albert Einstein ~~


*******


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I am not too sure what happened today, but, it happened, so, I’ll be content with that. And, so will you. By the power vested in me as a human in good standing, I declare this version of the Daily Pearl to be complete. I’ll even forgo the usual nonsense, & merely say, see y’all soon. I’m going walkabout….


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….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
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Ffolkes,


“Human beings are perhaps never more frightening

than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right.”


~~ Laurens Van der Post, The Lost World of the Kalahari (1958) ~~


cali fall colors


California’s moderate response to Autumn…


Hajime…. More than a mere modicum of recent data indicates I’ve lost the will to blog; in fact, the pile of evidence is mounting quite high. I spend more time away from cyberspace than has been the case for several years, yet suffer very little from the usual angst & sense of failure of duty I’ve been accustomed to experience since mid-2011, when I first retired from the maintenance of gainful employment. But, I did say I’d post today, so, in spite of having no fresh poem yet, (it’s stalled a bit…), I’ve cobbled together all the basic elements, & will now undertake to format & post it, before I am once again called to go walkabout for the day….


If I feel any guilt at all, it is for not visiting the blogs I’ve followed for so long, to enjoy the dialogue that goes with such visits. But, even that small guilt isn’t enough to drown out the call of the wild, a call I seem to hear more clearly each day. It seems the longer I spend ‘off grid’, so to speak, the better I seem to feel, and, in turn, the more clearly I seem to be able to think. I can’t say if it will last, or, if so, how long, but, I also can’t seem to work up any reason to alter the current path I am on. So be it.


For today, this means some moderately ruthless trimming, in the area it will most help, to wit: my standard course of blather, with which I tend to fill up the empty space here at the top of the page, in the hope nobody will notice any particular vacuity in what follows. Without even knowing whether such an assumption is verified by the reality of the process, I choose to go on, regardless, just as if I knew exactly what consequences may follow. In fact, if I can increase the degree of ambiguity one encounters herein, I will know, if nothing else, I am emulating the real world, as far as I understand it to be…..


On that obscure note, I shall proceed to fire up the old neurons sufficiently to go post this mess, & be done with it for the morning, at least. Hopefully, y’all will find a nugget or two you can take away, & use to enhance your daily bout with the vagaries of life. If not, well, I will have done all I can do, and as we know, that’s all I can do…. Enjoy, ffolkes….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Human beings, who are almost unique

in having the ability to learn from the  experience of others,

are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to  do so.”


~~ Douglas Adams, “Last Chance to See” ~~


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


Having left myself short of time, again, you’ll just have to settle for some of the best music humanity has ever produced, an assertion made with confidence, as the pieces included have stood the test of time, time, and time again…. Enjoy! Or, not, as you wish…. Your choice, as always….  *grin*


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Classical Music






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Comedy_Tragedy


Lamenting Empathy, No Grace


Strange, strong, passions burn from within

Selling nothing short, nor out

Consumed, loudly, failing to mark the spin

Sad, resigned, in singular redoubt.


Fallow grounds for twisted seed

Become fated, grow, and die.

Experience never fills critical need

Save perhaps once, in ages gone by.


Shouting in severe, dulcet tone

Brittle, flaking, destiny floats away

Making noise, rattling the bone

Simply ageless fears held at bay.


We mask our illusions in faux belief

Tied to reality by matter of rote,

Send them postcards, without relief

Consecrated time, forever remote.


~~ gigoid ~~


12/19/2014


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pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Random Notes on Life at Large….


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“Always cut the cards.”


~~ Lazarus Long ~~


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“A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth

the first time he bites off more than he can chew.”


~~ Herb Caen ~~


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“Become a student of change.

It is the only thing that will remain constant.”


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


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“What you don’t know will always hurt you.”


~~ First Law of Blissful Ignorance ~~


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“There is much pleasure to be gained in useless knowledge.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


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“The more you know, the less you think you know.”


~~ Subtle Bee ~~


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“I like life. It’s something to do.”


~~ Ronnie Shakes ~~


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As is generally the case when I post with such haste, I find myself here at the end without anything particularly clever to say. Ah, well, such is life at large, I say, and, so be it. I’ll be back, perhaps even tomorrow. Until I am, stay well, be as happy as you may, and, damn it, be strange….. 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


Featured Image -- 15125


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
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Ffolkes,


“A chief event of life is the day

in which we have encountered a mind that startles us.”


~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~


exodus monument


Monument for the Exodus, Galway, Ireland


Hajime…. The simple truth is, I’m becoming a reclusive hermit. From all I can determine, the world at large, in this country especially, has gone stark, raving mad, & I find the most satisfying way to deal with it to be to ignore it, and most of the people in it, as far as possible. I stopped watching TV several years ago; the only time I see what’s on is during my occasional trips to a lounge, on those relatively rare occasions I want to sip a nightcap & socialize to some degree with those others who retreat from the madness. Other than that, my socialization is limited to interacting with my familiar, who remains an enigma, like any Siamese cat, and to conversations with a few people over the internet, via email or comments on a blog. The only ranting I do these days is confined to those comment sections, which seems to be enough to assuage the urge to do so at all….


Perhaps the failure to connect is with me; I can’t seem to bring myself to care much. The more I ignore the world, the more satisfying Life seems; whenever I try to deal with some part of it, I am presented with ample evidence of the depths of insanity to which human culture has plumbed. In my defense, I’ll note I keep trying, interacting with all I meet, and, to be honest, I meet a lot of fine people, who, if they were not so deeply buried in odd misconceptions, which they possess due to the sheer weight of misinformation they’ve been taught all their lives, would otherwise be interesting. As it is, simply dealing with most of them becomes problematic, as their ignorance adds to the overall insanity so prevalent in every aspect of society, making it hard to elicit any sort of rational response from any of them.


You might think this makes me judgmental, but, I would say, no more so than anyone else human; we all judge, according to our own set of likes & dislikes. I like to think the standards by which I judge are loose, in terms of compassion & understanding compared to the average. I try to give people a lot of leeway, to be fair, and so I can honestly expect the same in return. Unfortunately, this is, apparently, too rational for most folks to deal with, making it even more problematic for me to connect with most humans on more than a surface level; when I get to know them more intimately, they too often turn to their ignorance, rather than their rationality, & I am, again, disappointed to find them unreachable by any rational means. SIGH…. silly humans.


I guess that all sounds like a complaint; it really isn’t. I guess I’m just saying I can only wish that I could find a small group of humans living in my vicinity who spent more time ‘thinking’, & less time ‘reacting’ to what goes on in the world. But, I’m old enough to realize I can’t make any changes in anyone else; I’m the only one I have any power to change. Since I’m already in the ongoing process of doing just that, I suppose I’ll have to be satisfied with that, & forget about making a lot of ‘acquaintances’. I’ll hold out for those with whom I can call ‘friends’. I have several of those, and family, and that will have to be sufficient….


For now, I suppose I should cease the meandering ramblings, & get this posted. The poem I was working on disappeared; I think I accidentally deleted it during a cut & pasting session, & can’t seem to find it in my head. So, I’ve used an older poem; the rest is fresh, & relevant as I can make it, given my less than compelling urge to get anything at all written for this blog. The good news, for me, is I am now up to more than two miles a day walking; I’ll be doing three to four in no time at all, at this rate. My increased stamina is matched by other positive signs of physical healing of some of the problems brought by aging; I’m fully regular, and my sleep habits are approaching normality, as I’m averaging 7-8 restful hours each night, with no problems in falling into sleep…. That, by the way, is a BIG improvement over the past five to ten years….


Hmm… I see I’ve rambled rather extensively, & it’s getting late; I suppose I should get this posted before I decide to blow it off for another day. I also suppose I’ve rambled so much, I should do so without any further delay. Here’s how that one works….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Even while a thing is in the act of coming into existence,

some part of it has already ceased to be.”


~~ Marcus Aurelius ~~


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angelina jordan


Angelina Jordan


Image from YouTube.com via Google Images


A bit over three years ago, this young singer, then age 7, won the “Norway’s Got Talent” competition, singing a series of jazz/r&b/ballads of vintage distinction, covering artists such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Etta James, and others. She is now age 10, an internationally known artist; her YouTube page has received over 100 million views of her performance videos alone. She has appeared all over the world, on TV, in festivals, & can be considered, in my mind, one of the finest young talents to ever shine.


Her voice is incredibly rich, & not merely because of her tender age… She has a massive range, and her ‘feeling’ for the songs she chooses to sing is, simply, astounding; she is the living embodiment of an “old soul”.  The link under her name is for her You Tube channel; the embedded video is of her singing a version of “Feeling Good” in the style of Nina Simone… You’ll see why people all over the world listen to her sing, myself among them…. If you don’t like this, well, you really should think about widening your scope of interests…. (*smile*), because she is amazingly good; I think she is a living example of what makes us human….


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Angelina Jordan


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Pwa4nFvIPbtYVLcBGDpjA






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Comedy_Tragedy


Unconscious prophecy….


In the semblance of Time described below,

Circumstance plays its part.

Though Fate has its say,

only the most elemental of emotional responses

could conceivably hold sway before the throne of Reason.


As the light of Illumination grows stronger,

Fear retreats, hidden in shadowed halls behind the stairs,

while Serenity fills hearts and minds.

Gladly, the people sleep, unwary, unaware,

t’will be long before they woke….


Dreams, unnaturally natural, gently haunt slumber,

of course; how else to wander from various to sundry?

Angelic demons vie, posing as professional guides,

while demonic angels simply watch, impassively laughing.

Eternity, of a sudden, seems to yawn.


Twice now, Forever has come, gone; ah, look!

It came back, a bit bedraggled, to be sure.

(A little whiny, too…)

Perhaps, shifting reality into dreams is not such

a bad idea, after all.


If Time stops, how will you know?


~~ gigoid ~~


12/12/2016


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pearls_3


Naked Pearls


“You are Here”….


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“I have an existential map.

It has ‘You are here’ written all over it.”


~~ Steven Wright ~~


*******


“If you want to know all about the sea,

you go and ask a sailor, or a marine biologist, or an oceanographer,

and they can tell you a lot about the sea.

But if you go and ask the sea itself, what does it say?

Grumble, grumble, swish swish.

It is too busy being itself

to know anything about itself.”


~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~


*******


“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


*******


“If there is a sin against life,

it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as

in hoping for another life and

in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.”


~~ Albert Camus ~~


*******


Narim: What your mind doesn’t know, your heart fills in.

Carter: I don’t know what that means, exactly, but it’s beautiful.

Narim: Which is exactly what it means.


~~ from Stargate ~~


*******


“For him who has conquered the mind,

the mind is the best of friends;

but for one who has failed to do so,

his mind will be the greatest enemy.”


~~ Bhagavad Gita ~~


*******


It costs so much to be a full human being

that there are very few who have

the enlightenment or the courage to pay the price…

One must abandon altogether the search for security

and reach out to the risk of living with both arms…

One has to embrace the world like a lover…

One has to accept pain as a condition of existence…

One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing.

One needs a will stubborn in conflict,

but apt always to total acceptance

of every consequence of living and dying.”


~~ Morris L. West, “Shoes of the Fisherman” ~~


*******


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I should think the five-plus paragraphs of blather found in the intro section would be enough for anyone’s taste, so, I’ll skip any more here at the end, in favor of getting posted before I lose the focus to do so. I hope you enjoyed today’s outburst, & that you’ll continue to drop in now & again to see what’s come up. I intend to continue my relative hiatus, but, can feel some stuff building up that will have to come out somewhere; it may as well be here. Until then, be well, be as happy as you may, and stay strange…. Trust me, life’s tastier that way…. 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


dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
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Ffolkes,


“Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do.”


~~ Bertrand Russell (1872-1967) ~~


leelumdob


Leelu Magicat, Daughter of Bastet, at her ease…


Hajime…. In my battle to regain a modicum of composure, intellectually, at least, I managed to cobble together a pretty interesting Pearl. It’s a bit longer than usual, but, only because I cheated in the final, old-school section, by using the entire Pearl of Virtual Wisdom as posted on 10/15/2011, only a couple months after beginning here on WP. All in all, I’m content, if not entirely happy, with what occurred; under the given circumstances, it’s the best I can do…. which is yet another situation where “So be it….” becomes appropriate….


To make the transition, from standard reality to mine, a bit smoother, I think a strong display of will power is in order; applying it to an efficient trimming of this introductory section may enhance today’s overall reading experience, enough to make it more palatable than otherwise may be the case. Of course, this presupposes it is edible, or potable, in the first place, but, we’ve been known to make unwarranted assumptions previously, & can’t be expected to change overnight, & most especially, on command. We can, however, be expected to back up those assumptions with a bit of proof. Now, if we could only find some, all would be well. Since we cannot, our only possible alternative is to completely ignore it all, & go on as if nothing at all has taken place…


Mostly, you’ll note, it hasn’t. Let’s see if we can’t find something a bit more entertaining, if no more compellingly ridiculous. We’re getting pretty close to complete absurdity, as I retreat further & further from true reality, hoping to find surcease, if not redemption, in a magnificent display of madness, which, given our predilection for such displays on short notice, might have been possible, had it not been for your alert reaction. Go figure, eh?….


Now, then…. If you aren’t completely confused, well, then, so am I. Let’s see what other madness we can generate….


Shall we Pearl?….


“A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth

the first time he bites off more than he can chew.”


~~ Herb Caen ~~


***************************************


chooka


Chooka Parker


Image from Pinterest.com via Google Images


In 2011, this young man, then 16 years of age, walked onto a stage in Australia, as an entrant in the Australia’s Got Talent TV show. He proceeded to play the piano, but, with a slight twist. He made his song up on the spot, improvising it as he played, expressing how he felt at that moment…. He went on to win that competition, with his second and third improvised songs, (each better than the last….), and now plays all over the world.


Follow the link in the player to his You Tube page, where you can find any number of great videos showing him play, in his unique style, every note improvised. Somebody DID eventually teach him to play standard music, (I suspect he can play anything he hears once, though I haven’t looked into that talent in his case); I watched a clip of him making up a blues/boogie-woogie song about 5 minutes long, which was, without doubt, the most incredible piano work I’ve EVER seen or heard…. Just watch & listen; your mouth will drop open, I guarantee, at his brilliance….


***************************************






Mozart, Reborn

 Chooka Parker






***************************************












***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Illusory Time


Viewed from askance, the river is long;

deep, uncompromisingly intent, swift and strong.

In duality, perception creates our only reality;

such faux metaphoric paradox enforces mutability.


By two we perceive, both zero, and one;

digital, binary, on or off, such fun.

Separate, melded, we exist, knowing not what we know

ego, striving to be solitary, looking above, seeing below.


Furiously asleep, cultural anomaly claims a victim of choice;

validly unconscious, nobody speaks, nary a voice.

Potential escapees stir in dreams, fighting to wake,

until taking the wheel, for their own bloody sake.


Pots boil in due time, when the fire’s hot,

time exists to our advantage; or, not.

The solitary warrior, head bent in pain,

fights on, with, or without gain.


Night fell, day after day it persisted;

of those who knew, none showed any care, or resisted

Angels, ministers, none had any defense, nor grace;

all that remains is a face.


~~ gigoid ~~


10/22/2016


***************************************


pearls_3


An Ancient Pearl


From 10/15/2011….


Ffolkes,


The Sun, life-giving orb of light and warmth, which dies each night, is born again each morning, gloriously aflame with potential. As the world turns in slow majesty, a scene of aching beauty is revealed; small plants and trees stretching their leaves toward the source of warmth, creatures great and small moving over the land, greeting the day with energy and purpose, colorful birds arcing and swooping through the warming air.


With a look at each other, the two young boys grinned, and with a cry of pure joy, took off running toward a nearby stand of trees. Legs pounding as hard and fast as their hearts, evenly matched, they ran with abandon, startling birds and small creatures, laughing in sheer exuberance. When they came to the edge of the trees, they stopped by mutual accord. Breathing hard, they gazed into the shadows, thinking about why they had come, why they were here, filling their souls with beauty at the beginning of the day….


I’m told that constant practice makes for constant improvement, and if this is so, then I should be getting damn close to competence, if not perfection. The paragraphs above are the start of yet another story that will most likely never be told. I write them principally to keep dross from building up in my psyche, and as a sort of contrast to the reality of the rest of the piece. An introductory bridge, as it were, carrying the reader into the realms of thought, where I can then provide you with an upgrade to the DABSDS (Defense Against B___S___ Delivery System) that comes installed in your brain. It gives me a chance to limber up my typing finger, and loosen the mental muscle, which, as we all know, is an essential precursor to the use of these peripherals without sustaining injury.


Today’s group of Pearls is an eclectic one, with a diverse, compelling batch of authors. Cultural values from all over the world, and from many different ages of history are represented here, and I think the variety is part of its strength; it goes to show that wisdom is not limited to one book. Indeed, I believe that the admixture that came together today is greatly enhanced by the contrast of ideas, creating a more powerful effect upon the reasoning mind… hope you enjoy!….


“If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.” — James Thurber


The only real failure in life is the failure to try.


“It is a misconception that spirituality brings everlasting happiness. There is no such thing. Sadness still comes to the wise, but, unlike most

people, their clarity of mind allows them to see beyond the temporal emotionalism of the moment. They are farseeing, and so happiness and sorrow become the same to them.” — Deng Ming-Dao


Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go,

the beautiful, the tender, the kind;

Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.

I know.

But I do not approve.

And I am not resigned.


~~ Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Dirge Without Music” ~~


“Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of–but do it in private and wash you hands afterwards.” — Lazarus Long


“We turn not older with years, but newer every day.” — Emily Dickinson


Trust yourselves, my friends, so that ye may trust one another…..y’all take care out there…..


***************************************


It’s done. Looking back over it, I have decided to leave it alone. It’s odd enough as it is. In fact, I’ve done enough damage for one day, so, I’m outta here…. I’ll see y’all next time; no predictions today as to when; we’ll all have to be patient, & allow time to tell…. 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 -- 14285


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Dangerous yearnings….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				3			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,


“Murder is always a mistake….

One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner.”


~~ Oscar Wilde ~~


profuse color


Midsummer colors….


Hajime…. Though I know ‘hope’ to be, in general, a denial of reality, I still allowed myself to entertain some, investing it in my wish to write a most excellent Pearl, including a bright, catchy, and compelling intro section. As usual, ‘hope’ fails the test of time, & while all the elements of a decent piece of work are present, the bright, compelling part has shown  itself to be rather problematic. This, of course, is a natural function of my brain, to find even the simplest of tasks problematic; I can’t be positive, but, it’s a pretty sure bet it’s my own fault…. I mean, given my history, (I AM a human…), and my  inclinations, (curmudgeon-in-training….), whom else can I blame?….


Still, I guess I can be content with having completed it, at all; my recent lack of consistency, while unsurprising after so much time, still manages to cause me a bit of unwanted and unfamiliar guilt, which, having completed today’s task in a relatively timely, if uncomfortably rushed fashion, can be dismissed as misguided, for today, anyway. As for tomorrow, well, I AM old enough to know better than to place much faith or hope in THAT; after all, as we all know, tomorrow may never come, right? Right. So, we’ll regard that as a fait accompli, which if you think about it, is a pretty neat trick….


What? That last reference is unclear? SIGH…. It must be the extra scoop of coffee I put in the basket this morning; got me typing nearly as fast as I’m thinking. That’s always a confusing thing when one starts discussing matters of time; past, present, future are all rather uniquely related, in a very real way, & our imagination, while a powerful tool, usually isn’t up to the task of keeping them all in their appropriate places, actually believing it has the power to do so in reality, as well as in the mind…. Silly humans. Ah, well, don’t fret; it’ll all be clear eventually, & if not, well, it will give you something to chew over in those quiet moments….


As for me/us, & today’s Pearl, well, we’ll practice what we preach, & get on with it, any time now. In fact, isn’t that our signal? Yes, yes it is, and, look! We’ve already been cleared for landing, or, take-off…. It’s our choice, & I promise, we’ll make it as random as we can….


Shall we Pearl?….


“The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.”


~~ Henrik Ibsen, “An Enemy of the People”, 1882 ~~


***************************************


Yield_Logo


Today’s music is one of our default selections, used when I can’t think of anything else, & time is short. Go figure, eh? It’s well worth a listen, and even more worth donating a small bit of gelt, to an organization that works for peace through music…. Enjoy!….


***************************************


Playing For Change

 Ripple


***************************************




***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Augmentation: Inner Aye


Distant, peals of thunder, vividly.

Closer, a patter of rain, falling gravidly.

Between the light and the darkness of fear

find merely the remnants of one lonely tear.


Do not hate us, though we have not sinned;

eager for courage, upon whom all hope is pinned.

Tales of insolence, hatred, or fallen virtue

fill us up, not down, in such pristine foreign venue.


Capable hands severed, able hands tied;

the future is angry, all but now denied.

Multiple times, warnings sounded across the pale

nobody heard, nobody came to tell the tale.


Gifted by time, salience fails in epic rhyme;

watchmakers watching, each a separate crime.

Logical solutions refuse to emulsify

forever pretending to cruelly crucify.


Blood will fly alongside pertinent composure,

never seeking, never finding tea, or closure.

Falsely laid trails on mountains of gold

imply no happy endings, no fortunes told.


Ages past have no time for repetition;

further chances only lead to perdition.

Destiny feels a shameful portion of guilt,

for a thousand sand castles, never built.


~~ gigoid ~~


3/2/2016


***************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Um… Isn’t it obvious?….


*******


“When we look at a rock

what we are seeing is not the rock,

but the effect of the rock upon us.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


*******


“When it’s dark enough you can see the stars.”


~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~


*******


“Down in their hearts, wise men know this truth:

the only way to help yourself is to help others.”


~~ Elbert Hubbard ~~


*******


“How many cares one loses

when one decides not to be something

but to be someone.”


~~ Coco Chanel ~~


*******


“Big, undreamed-of things.

The people on the edge see them first.”


~~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr ~~


*******


“The real voyage of discovery

consists not in seeking new lands,

but in seeing with new eyes.”


~~ Marcel Proust ~~


*******


“It is something to be able to paint a particular picture,

or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful;

but it is far more glorious to carve and paint

the very atmosphere and medium through which we look,

which morally we can do.

To affect the quality of the day,

that is the highest of arts.”


~~ Henry David Thoreau, “Where I Live”


*******


***************************************


I’m fairly certain there are any number of appropriate techniques for ending today’s outburst, but, since I can’t think of any of them, how about I just say, see ya, ffolkes? Hey, it’s always good to try something new, especially when it offers the possibility of getting out of this intact. In that spirit, y’all stay stay alert, & I’ll see ya on the flip side….


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 -- 13906


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Certified balderdash, at random rates….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				8			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,


“‘Change’ is scientific, ‘progress’ is ethical;

change is indubitable,

whereas progress is a matter of controversy.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


rustic selfie


Chance, or design?….


Hajime…. As we all know, or, if not, should know, every day is new & different from any previous day. (We won’t go into any questions regarding the science of similarity….) I, for one, am fully aware of this, yet, after enough time, many days SEEM to be exactly like the rest of them, & change seems as a dream. But, then, I do consume large quantities of several types of chemicals which tend to alter consciousness, and, concurrently, perception. So, who’s to say what Reality really is, or means, or whether any of it actually exists as anything other than a fevered dream, of a self-aware monkey, lost in inner space….?


Whether or not I have any opinion on any of that (discount the mere fact I wrote it….), here we are, again, & once more, I’m both late, and clueless. But, I do have the answer to both of those, if only for a few moments; chutzpah. If you have to look it up, you won’t understand it, anyway; for those who know its meaning, or, more importantly, its implications, a complimentary cup of broth will be awarded, upon verification of your genome. For those who simply don’t want to make the effort, you win. It’s all nonsense, anyway, just to fill a bit more space, a tawdry distraction to keep you from realizing what crap this is….


Oh, well; so be it. I don’t really have anything to say, that either hasn’t already been said, or, would make any difference. To keep from getting distraught over what I am currently unable to change, or control, I’ll use my executive authority to call a halt to any further attempts at making y’all laugh, or cry, or whatever I can get. Instead, I’ll have mercy, & this is what we’ll do, in recompense….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Hatred is the coward’s revenge for being intimidated”


— George Bernard Shaw ~~


***************************************


playing-for-change


As is the case often on such days (following an absence), I am, if not late, pretending to be, to keep myself cracking…. Yes, even I must, at times, resort to tricking myself into doing right…. Go figure, eh? Well, I AM human…. approximately…..


***************************************






Playing For Change

 Gimme Shelter






***************************************












***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Illusory Time


Viewed from askance, the river is long;

deep, uncompromisingly intent, swift and strong.

In duality, perception creates our only reality;

such faux metaphoric paradox enforces mutability.


By two we perceive, both zero, and one;

digital, binary, on or off, such fun.

Separate, melded, we exist, knowing not what we know

ego, striving to be solitary, looking above, seeing below.


Furiously asleep, cultural anomaly claims a victim of choice;

validly unconscious, nobody speaks, nary a voice.

Potential escapees stir in dreams, fighting to wake,

until taking the wheel, for their own bloody sake.


Pots boil in due time, when the fire’s hot,

time exists to our advantage; or, not.

The solitary warrior, head bent in pain,

fights on, with, or without gain.


Night fell, day after day it persisted;

of those who knew, none showed any care, or resisted

Angels, ministers, none had any defense, nor grace;

all that remains is a face.


~~ gigoid ~~


10/22/2016


***************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Hard lines….


*******


“He who despairs over an event is a coward,

but he who holds hopes for the human condition is a fool.”


~~ Albert Camus ~~


*******


“The man who follows the crowd

will usually get no further than the  crowd.

The man who walks alone

is likely to find himself in places no  one has ever been.”


~~ Alan Ashley-Pitt ~~


*******


“No one is useless in this world

who lightens the burdens of another.”


~~ Charles Dickens ~~


*******


“The most pathetic person in the world

is a person who has sight

but has no vision.”


~~ Helen Keller ~~


*******


“For one human being to love another human being:

that is perhaps the most difficult task

that has been entrusted to us,

the ultimate task, the final test and proof,

the work for which all other work

is merely preparation.”


~~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~~


*******


“If you want to be loved, be lovable.”


~~ Ovid ~~


*******


“Life consists in penetrating the unknown,

and fashioning our actions

in accord with the new knowledge thus acquired.


~~ Leo Tolstoy ~~”


*******


***************************************


“That’s all she’s got, Captain! The engine’s won’t take any more!” — Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery Scott, on numerous occasions. If I am any judge, neither will my Gentle Readers, should any have lasted this far. Ah, well. Such is life. The best part of all this is, I get to try again. But, that can only happen if I stop this one, before it gets any further from anything resembling art, or, even phil. See ya, ffolkes, if the meds take effect….


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


dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
There are no plans to wobble in the lobby….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				Reply			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,


“To teach men how to live without certainty,

and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation,

is perhaps the chief thing philosophy can still do.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


Day the next 013


Sunrise/Sunset….


Hajime…. Never seen, but, known well. Known, but, never seen well. Oft, in simpler days, this was enough. Now, it failed the test of existence, only to return, dead, as the night wore on into day. No one cares, no one feels, and all the pretty flowers have turned to dust & ashes. But, we still have our health….


Enough! Crying foul won’t alter reality, but, if I can just make it to one more…. YES! I made it out of whatever that was….


‘Tis I, gigoid, the dubious, attempting, yet again, to come up with an opening that will titillate, or, at least, exonerate. I’m pretty sure what you see in the first, short paragraph is a combination of words never seen previously…. nor, if we’re lucky, ever again. That provides no excuses, but, if considered in the appropriate light, will distract sufficiently to allow us to move on to the next, yet-to-be-instigated paragraph, where, maybe, just maybe, we can find a shred of the rationality with which we awoke.


Fat chance of that, I admit, but, hope springs eternal, & it got us into the third paragraph, still without any significant injury, so, I must be doing something correctly. I will also admit it isn’t going to be enough, not to prevent what seems to be threatening, which I shan’t go into, to prevent panic. Not yours, mine. Of course, I’ve been in a panic state for about five minutes, so, I guess that’s also a wash. In fact, it’s looking pretty grim right now, in terms of any sort of rescue. Maybe, if I try this new device, we might get on with this, before I ruin everything completely.


Hmm…. I wonder what happens if I push this button?…..


Shall we Pearl?


“Be not as one that hath ten thousand years to live;

death is nigh at hand:

while thou livest, while thou hast time, be good.”


~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus — Meditations, iv, 17 ~~


***************************************


david bromberg


Image from You Tube via Google Images


I was listening to this concert yesterday, & realized I’d forgotten just how good a musician David is; along with three of his band members, he shows virtuosity on every instrument he picks up. For him, that includes guitar, fiddle, and mandolin, just in this concert. The last third of this show, the band, with a bit of help from Phoebe Snow on a torrid blues tune, is some of the finest improvisational music I have EVER heard…. They made magic on this night, & I am very glad I heard it…. You will be too, if you enjoy good music at all….


***************************************






David Bromberg Band

Capitol Theater, 4/15/77






***************************************












***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Savory


Blown across steppes of imagination, a spore

finds a niche, takes root,

tries to live longer than now, before

chaos/peace descends, and desire is moot.


Feathered into fecundity, another possibility

builds a nest, hatches kin,

aims at immortality, sans responsibility,

chance manifests, as it does, again.


Leading toward peril, entropy saves creativity,

making tools, and lazy time;

solid signs imply such simple nativity,

as another snitch drops his dime.


Subtle compassion billows, passion to unfold,

covering hearts bloodied by time,

burning flesh made valid, unwaveringly bold,

turning love to brilliant rhyme.


Years weigh lightly, supported by youth,

gaining weight with each year,

only the old men know the actual truth,

peace comes only when we lose our fear.


~~ gigoid ~~


4/9/2013


***************************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Listen up….


*******


“If you obey all of the rules, you miss all of the fun.”


~~ Katherine Hepburn ~~



*******


“How a person masters his fate

is more important than what his fate is.”


~~ Wilhelm von Humboldt ~~



*******


“Dreams are real while they last. Can we say more of life?”


~~ Havelock Ellis ~~


*******


“Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life.”


~~ Bertolt Brecht ~~



*******


“I want to beg you, as much as I can, dear friend,

to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart

and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms

and like books written in a very foreign tongue.

Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you,

because you would not be able to live them.

And the point is, to live everything.

Live the questions now.

Perhaps you will then gradually,

without noticing it,

live along some distant day into the answer.”


~~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~~



*******


“It’s the RINSE CYCLE!!

They’ve ALL IGNORED the RINSE CYCLE!!”


~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~



*******


“And now there is merely silence, silence, silence, saying all we did not know.”


~~ William Rose Benet ~~



*******


***************************************


After looking back over today’s effort, I am compelled, by logic, and intuition, to cease and desist without further delay. The tricks used above, in the intro, won’t work here at the end, so, I’ll just say, see ya, ffolkes, & let it go at that…. Who’d a thunk it?….


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 -- 13293


À bientôt, mon cherí….

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Lightly flavored with lime….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				3			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,


“I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.”


~~ William Butler Yeats, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”~~


gull gang


Gang of young Irish Seagulls, Galway….


Hajime…. When one makes the decision to battle internal demons, one takes on an opponent with special knowledge, of all one’s weak points, and avenues of attack. It also means one’s own skills and talents can be used against one; I can attest, it makes any battle sure to achieve epic proportion. I’m not complaining; the alternative is to live in Hell, & that just isn’t going to happen, not while I live. But, it also means any clear victory comes at a heavy cost, at a time my bank account is at a low ebb. SIGH….. It’s a good thing I’ve learned to accept that nothing worth doing is going to be easy….


As I have often related, I do this to stay sane; whether or not it works is probably an area of judgment I would rather not enter, lest the answer be too much to bear. So far, I have lived, and loved, for a long time, and have yet to break my vow to refrain from killing; in some circles, that can be enough. For me, it’s never enough; if I was satisfied with my own state, it would never change. So, I struggle on, to find the center, where change is welcome, for we are balanced enough there to adapt to any change.


Now I’ve thoroughly confused everyone who stumbles in today, with a healthy dose of obscurity, I think it’s best to get the rest of this mess done, & get on with another day in Paradise, or, wherever this is. I can’t say, with any degree of confidence, I can predict how it will go, but, that’s probably a good thing. Too much too easily becomes too much, indeed. Rather than tempt Murphy’s kind attentions, let us adjourn to the meat of the matter, where we may find another piece of the puzzle. If not, well, so much for another day; we can always try again tomorrow, right? Right. For now, let’s do this….


Shall we Pearl?


“Forget about likes and dislikes.

They are of no consequence.

Just do what must be done.

This may not be happiness, but it is greatness.”


~~ George Bernard Shaw~~


***************************************


celtic design


When I went to look for inspiration for music today, this is what I found…. Given our opening lines, and the photo I chose, go figure, eh?. I guess you can take the boy out of the shamrock, but….


***************************************






Irish Folk Music






***************************************












***************************************


***************************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Illusory Time


Viewed from askance, the river is long;

deep, uncompromisingly intent, swift and strong.

In duality, perception creates our only reality;

such faux metaphoric paradox enforces mutability.


By two we perceive, both zero, and one;

digital, binary, on or off, such fun.

Separate, melded, we exist, knowing not what we know

ego, striving to be solitary, looking above, seeing below.


Furiously asleep, cultural anomaly claims a victim of choice;

validly unconscious, nobody speaks, nary a voice.

Potential escapees stir in dreams, fighting to wake,

until taking the wheel, for their own bloody sake.


Pots boil in due time, when the fire’s hot,

time exists to our advantage; or, not.

The solitary warrior, head bent in pain,

fights on, with, or without gain.


Night fell, day after day it persisted;

of those who knew, none showed any care, or resisted

Angels, ministers, none had any defense, nor grace;

all that remains is a face.


~~ gigoid ~~


10/22/2016


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pearls_3




Naked Pearls


Pieces of the whole….


*******


“To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves

and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows.

It’s easy to say no, even if it means dying.”


~~ Jean Anouilh ~~


*******


“Nothing matters very much,

and very few things matter at all.”


~~ Lord Balfour’s Contention ~~


*******


“Brains first and then Hard Work.”


~~ Eeyore, Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne~~


*******


“Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: “I’m with you kid. Let’s go.””


~~ Maya Angelou ~~


*******


“In times of profound change, the learners inherit the earth,

while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped

to deal with a world that no longer exists.”


~~ Al Rogers, Global SchoolHouse Network, at CUE ~~


*******


“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”


~~ Bertrand Russell ~~


*******


“Truckin’, like the do-dah man

Once told me “Gotta play your hand.

Sometimes your cards ain’t worth a dime

If you don’t lay’em down.”

Sometimes the light’s all shinin’ on me;

Other times I can barely see.

Lately it occurs to me

What a long, strange trip it’s been.”


~~ “Truckin'” by Garcia, Weir, Lesh, Hunter ~~


*******


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Well, Ollie; this is another fine mess you’ve gotten us into. Fortunately, it’s done, so we can just ignore any warning signs we may have encountered, & be on our way with a smile and a whistle. Well, we could, if I could whistle any more…. I guess I’ll just say, see ya, & let it go at that for today…..


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.


dozer3


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


À bientôt, mon cherí….

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Deeply sincere confusion, in short pants….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

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Ffolkes,


“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.

Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow.

Let reality be reality.”


~~ Lao-Tzu ~~


Not today


I ate the mouse….


Hajime…. Usually, when my nose gets red, round, and begins to run, I am merely being a Bozo, a very large clan of humans. Today, however, my bozoid tendencies are merely the root cause of said runny redness. Though I know a natural method of avoiding the worst effects of a cold, I neglected to apply it when the symptoms began to appear, thus ensuring I would feel the full effect of my folly for at least a week, if not more, rather than a mild misery for a couple days. I can hear the loud honking, even in my sleep; well, I can when I’m not sneezing, anyway….


Oh, well; I’m the one who blew the technique off, so, I can’t complain about the consequences. I could, of course, but, what would be the point? Mere self-indulgence, from which I am attempting to refrain, as much as possible. It doesn’t work well with mindfulness, &, in fact, makes such a state damn near impossible to attain. Since I am not going to give in to such weakness, having already given in too far, I’ll just leave this where we find it, & go on to more productive, if less co-dependently soothing malapropisms. Shoot! Who’d a thunk we’d have to resort to such despicable indulgence so early in the day? Not me, but, then, thinking, at this time of the morning, isn’t always my strongest suit, a statement I think we may assume applies to most of us humans.


Gosh, that’s chatty, & informative, as far as it goes, I suppose, but, I’m not sure it’s exactly what I had in mind when I envisioned today’s opening section. Ah, well, so be it; it’s not as if I ever have a clue as regards the content that will end up here; it’s pretty much a random event, as such events go. Rather than challenge the way it came out, why don’t we employ a bit of ruthless efficiency, & be done with it. I have the feeling this Pearl will be better for it, & that’s all I really care about at this point. I’ll even use our most efficient method for getting down the page, which works like this….


Shall we Pearl?


“Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth,

more than ruin, more even than death….

Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible,

thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit.

Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid.

Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world,

and the chief glory of man.”


~~ Bertrand Russell (1872-1967), “Selected Papers” ~~


***********************************


Yield_Logo


Playing For Change


I’m running a bit late, so, we’re going with one of our default musical selections. The video you see is one of many by the Playing For Change organization, of which I am a proud member…. In my less than humble opinion, the music you hear from these artists is the freshest, most original you can find, anywhere…. We’ll begin your exploration today with a classic tune of Bob Marley’s, played & sung by artists from around the world…. Enjoy!…..


********************************






Playing For Change

One Love






********************************












********************************


********************************


Comedy_Tragedy


Rainbow Connection


Why are there so many songs about rainbows

and what’s on the other side?

Rainbows are visions, but only illusions

rainbows have nothing to hide.

So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it

I know they’re wrong, wait and see.

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me.


Who said that every wish would be heard and answered

when wished on the morning star?

Somebody thoughta’ that and someone believed it —

look what it’s done so far.

What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing

and what do we think we might see?

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers, and me.


All of us under its spell

we know that it’s probably magic.

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?

I hear them calling my name.

Could it be the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?

The voice may be one and the same.

Well I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it

it’s somethin’ that I’m s’posed to be.

And someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection,

The lovers, the dreamers, and me.”


~~ Kermit the Frog ~~


********************************


pearls_3


Naked Pearls


Reminders….


*******


“All life is an experiment.”


~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~


*******


“History, despite its wrenching pain,

Cannot be unlived, but if faced

With courage, need not be lived again.”


~~ Maya Angelou, “On the Pulse of Morning” ~~


*******


“There is nothing with which every man is so afraid

as getting to know how enormously much

he is capable of doing and becoming.”


~~ Soren Kierkegaard ~~


*******


“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 ~~


*******


“If you never assume importance you never lose it.”


~~ Lao-tzu ~~


*******


“A person needs a little madness,

or else they never dare cut the rope and be free.”


~~ Nikos Kazantzakis ~~


*******


“Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.”


~~ Things We Can Learn From Dogs ~~


*******


********************************


I shan’t trouble you further; I’ve probably done all the damage available to be done. I’ll even forgo my usual nonsense, & just say, see y’all tomorrow, hopefully. This cold may make that problematic, but, such is life, eh? 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


dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….