Soft landings not included….

Posted on October 18, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Love isn’t love until you give it away.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

Curtola Parkway in early fall….

Hajime…. For me, the process of blogging has, for the past six-plus years, served as a means of staying within shouting distance of normalcy. Oh, not that I ever wanted to BE normal; I just enjoy being around it, as the world is less unpredictable in that neighborhood. Actually being normal, myself, was never part of the issue, which, in the final analysis, is a good thing, for trying to join the ranks of those who practice such habits would be futile; you see, I am not normal, by any stretch of the imagination…. This is not just mouthing platitudes, it’s an aspect of reality of which I have always been aware; moreover, I’ve always accepted it as my lot in life, without resentment. In fact, I rather enjoy my differences. for variety is, indeed, the very spice of life, as many noted philosophers have noted….

In my own case, being NOT normal comes with a price tag, expressed in reality’s only currency, to wit, challenges to our balance and stability… in short, to maintain any semblance of sanity, one must learn to wrestle with demons… & not just any demons, but, the most vicious & dangerous sort, to wit: the demons we create ourselves. I’ve always enjoyed the relevance of the following meme, a picture with a poem that expresses much of the “look and feel” of what I am attempting to describe….

Yesterday, as some gentle readers noted, I blew off blogging altogether, for the simple reason the stress of recent days apparently bled out of my head into reality, & I spent the day fighting a series of personal demons. While not an unfamiliar process, it is time-consuming enough to keep me from any sort of creative activity, other than creating new ways to both torture myself, and to fight the urge to do so. In such times, there is almost nothing I can do to distract myself from the task at hand, to wit: keeping myself from falling into one of the deep holes with which I find myself surrounded. Sadly, since I am a rather over-educated warrior, my demons can draw upon my own depth of knowledge to formulate their attacks, making it a tricky process, indeed, to formulate a defensive strategy, much less implement it against a foe who knows my every weakness….

It all sounds rather complex and distressing, to be sure, and, I can attest, it is very much so. So much, the only thing which saved my ass long enough to get this far today was putting together today’s messy, yet critical post. If you need to ask why it is ‘critical’, well, perhaps you need to pay closer attention. But, that’s neither here, nor there, as it turns out, and would be impolite to discuss any further. In fact, I have the feeling, if I don’t get this done, starting now, it won’t ever get done. So, I am going to pull this plug, rather abruptly, I’m afraid. Y’all had best hang on; the ride could be a bit rough today, as I have been compelled to pilot this vehicle myself…. It’s been a while since I’ve practiced, so, I suggest exercising some caution….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Every moment is precious. And precarious.”

~~- Edward Abbey ~~

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

French composer Camille Saint-Saens

On a day in which all is defaulted to paradigm, we, of course, go with a default choice for our musical selection. This compilation is from one of my favorite composers, and, one to which I listen on an almost daily basis…. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do….

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

Camille Saint-Saëns

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

Momentary Terror

Absently casual, memories pester endlessly
leaving only bleeding remnants, amiable and loving.
Coming awake, I cry to still the pain, shamelessly.

Elsewhen, time gives surcease, if only to live,
shoring broken pilings, worn and gray.
Passing on, I laugh at the pain, accept all it will give.

Time will build a shelter, warm and ever safe
save for Fate’s busy hands.
Enduring, I follow the pain, knowing it will chafe.

Fixed against a darkened sky of starry black
such beauty brings us to our knees.
Entranced, I welcome the pain, ’tis all I lack…..

~~ gigoid ~~

2/4/2013

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

Naked Pearls

Esoterica….

*******

Though one must first learn skill and ethics thoroughly,
one must come to embody them so completely
that they become subconscious.
Reacting to a situation
by asking what is right and wrong
is already too slow.”

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

*******

“What is the first business of one who studies philosophy?
To part with self-conceit.
For it is impossible for any one to begin to learn
what he thinks that he already knows.”

~~ Epictetus — Discourses, Book ii, Chap. xvii ~~

*******

“The greatness of a man can nearly always be measured
by his willingness to be kind.”

~~ G. Young ~~

*******

“The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.”

~~ Leo Tolstoy ~~

*******

“You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet ~~

*******

“Heaven embraces the horizon.
No matter how jagged the profile,
the sky faithfully conforms.”

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

*******

“I am going a long way
With these thou seest–if indeed I go
(For all my mind is clouded with a doubt)–
To the island-valley of Avilion,
Where falls not hail or rain or any snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies
Deep-meadow’d, happy, fair with orchard lawns
And bowery hollows crown’d with summer sea,
Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.”

~~ Alfred Tennyson, “The Passing of Arthur” ~~

*******

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

That’s all, ffolkes. I have nothing else, literally. I’ll do my best to find some balance, and hope to return soon. Y’all take care, & stay tuned to this channel for further announcements, as they become appropriate. Be alert, be strange, and, be happy as you may…. Sometimes, that’s the best you can hope for; expecting it doesn’t work, as reality resists all attempts to predict with any reliability…. 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

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Unfortunate innuendo, unleashed….

Posted on September 6, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“The one who tells the stories rules the world.”

~~ Hopi proverb ~~

Leaving Galway on the Dublin Train…

Hajime…. Okay, so, if y’all can hang on a moment, I’ll find my stash of witty repartee, & we can get this slow on the toad. Have a seat, grab yourself something from the bar, & try to be patient; there’s no telling where I hid the silly stuff, as the last time I had a good grip on it, it turned on me, saddling me with several paragraphs of blather & relative nonsense. I suppose, in truth, that’s nothing out of the ordinary for around here, but, in our less coherent moments, we like to think so. On that completely insane note, we’ll go on….

Of course, doing so may make it worse, but, we’ll take the chance; otherwise, we’d be stuck here in the intro until the cows came home… which promises to be a LONG time, as we don’t own any cows, or even any naughas, from which we obtain that fabulous fashion couch covering so well-known to us here in the States. I mean, it goes so well with any sort of plastic, especially pink. Now, some of you may ask, what the hell does that do to get us further into today’s mess? Well, not much, but, it did give us one more paragraph to add to the mix, even if it makes nothing resembling sense. Go figure, eh?….

Yes, I know, I’m cheating unmercifully. That’s because, despite getting sufficient rest, and awakening at a reasonable hour, I’m still at a complete loss for any sort of mental acuity. Don’t know where I left it, & too confused to go look for it, so, I’m doing what most of us do in such instances, & falling back on our one remaining strength, to wit; a talent for blather (often called bullshit, especially when it smells this bad….), combined with a complete lack of shame or guilt. In short, this is what I’ve got, so this is what you get. C’est la vie, as we say downtown….

Not only do we say that, we often mean it. Today, we’ll ignore it, just as we are ignoring all the rules. Instead, I’ll use my executive authority to declare this introduction complete, whether it’s legal, or not. I simply haven’t any interest in the legality of any of this; there’s no point in it. What’s more, there’s less of a point in continuing, so, watch this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Become what you are.”

~~ Buddha ~~

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

Today’s musical selection could be considered a default choice, if not for the simple fact I had plenty of time to pick it, and, I’m not under any self-induced pressure to post soon. No, I simply want to listen to this man’s work today, as is my habit when I am working. It’s the perfect selection for reading, or writing, or simply sitting & listening; it ticks off all the boxes, for me, at least; I’d wager anyone with their humanity intact will appreciate it. The converse may also be true, but, I’m in too good a mood to go there. All I can suggest is, turn it on, & forget it’s playing; it will soothe your spirit any old way you choose to hear it…. Enjoy, if you will….

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

Camille Saint-Saënz
Violin Concertos

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

A word is dead
When it is said
Some say.
I say it just
Begins to live
That day.

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

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

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

Naked Pearls

More Notes on Process & Program….

*******

“An intelligent mind is a mind which is not satisfied
with explanations,with conclusions;
nor is it a mind that believes,
because belief is again another form of conclusion.
An intelligent mind is an inquiring mind,
a mind that is watching, learning, studying.”

~~ J. Krishnamurti ~~

*******

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

~~ Anais Nin ~~

*******

“Life is the sum of all your choices.”

~~ Albert Camus ~~

*******

“He should not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.”

~~ Elrond ~~

*******

“Where pain predominates, agony can be a valued teacher.”

~~ Frank Herbert ~~

*******

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

~~ Pericles ~~

*******

“Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.”

~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

*******

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

Such as it is, there ’tis. To avoid any of the unpleasantness engendered so copiously in the intro section, I’ll bring this to a rapid close, sans any foolish attempts to clean it up. In keeping with that sentiment, I’ll add, see y’all tomorrow, & let this die a natural death. Be strange, ffolkes; it’s one of the few rights you retain….

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….

Slight traces of affability….

Posted on July 26, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“I call a fig a fig, a spade a spade.”

~~ Menander (292 BC) ~~

Two bridges, one strait….(the Carquinez, if you must know…)

Hajime…. In my defense, there are reasons for being so late, as well as for my recent inconsistency in posting. Since going into detail would be both indulgent, and pandering, I’ll skip all that, & just go with ‘there are reasons’…. So be it. All the proper elements of a complete Pearl are in place; it’s all fresh, though not particularly so, since all but the final section includes previously used sources of material. The final, old-school pearl is a good one, though, with some rather telling metaphoric sarcasm shaping the conclusion to be inferred. I like it, and so will you….

Not only am I late in posting today, I’m in a rather strange mood, even for me. It feels as if anything I write could turn on me, should I, even for an instant, lose track of my balance, which, though solidly embedded, nonetheless seems delicate. To head off any outbursts of sanity before they occur, we’ll cut this intro short, so as to maintain the illusion we’ve worked so hard to establish, that of a mind in control of itself, if only for this moment in time. In that vein, I appeal to your sense of compassion, or empathy, whichever works best, to allow some leeway before judging us too harshly. If, for some reason, your own sense of balance is shaky, well, try harder…. I’ve done, as is my wont, all I can do, & that, as you know, is all one can do.

Shall we Pearl?….

“To lead the people, walk behind them.”

~~ Lao-Tzu ~~

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

French composer Camille Saint-Saens

In the relatively recent past, I’ve experienced a number of times when my anger… no, my rage… has gotten the better of me, thanks to a combination of physical issues aggravating PTSD symptoms, so generously provided by my broken mind, as a result of past choices in work. Without going into superfluous detail, let’s just say, the music of this man, Camille Saint-Saëns, has helped me to find my way back to some balance more than any other music, save perhaps Bonnie’s, or Eric’s (if I have to include surnames, y’all haven’t been paying attention sufficiently….). In any case, it always hits the right notes, so, please, enjoy….

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

Camille Saint-Saëns
Symphonies

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

Early Observations

Until I knew there was more,
I wanted to know God.
They said he was a nice guy,
and would let me live forever.

All I had to do, they said,
was live my life for Him,
always living by scripture
cleaving only to his Way.

But, everyone I saw in church,
acted different at home.
Living wild, cussin’ and fussin’,
nobody lived like they said.

Still, I tried to be like Jesus,
he was sort of cool.
He never hurt nobody
and walked on the right path.

‘Course they killed him for that,
they couldn’t stand his example.
Turned him into a martyr,
hid his real words among their own.

Then I found the Buddha,
and met Lao Tzu at the gate.
They saw things real different,
showed me how to see straight.

Right thought, and right action
replace blind obedience and faith.
Reality becomes manageable,
fear retreats, the universe expands.

Brother John said it pretty well,
“Imagine there’s no heaven,
it’s easy if you try.”
Sounds like he knew why.

Day to day, life is grand,
we walk in eternal beauty.
Open your eyes and hearts,
find yourself already immortal.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/12/2013

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

Naked Pearls

A metaphoric précis of Human History….

*******

“Yes, many primitive people still believe this myth…
But in today’s technical vastness of the future,
we can guess that surely things were much different.”

~~ The Firesign Theater ~~

*******

“One never realizes
how much and how little he knows
until he starts talking.”

~~ Louis L’Amour ~~

*******

“Ancient custom has the force of law.”

~~ Wise Bee ~~

*******

“When the need arises — and it does —
you must be able to shoot your own dog.
Don’t farm it out —
that doesn’t make it nicer, it makes it worse.”

~~ Lazarus Long ~~

*******

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

~~ Anais Nin ~~

*******

“It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value.”

~~ Arthur C. Clarke ~~

*******

“Ward, I’m worried about the Beaver.”

~~ June Cleaver ~~

*******

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

I’ve checked to make sure, & all the parts are where they’re supposed to be; on a morning such as this, that’s more than merely satisfying, moving right past that into edifying, as well as encouraging. I’ll take it, and run. See y’all next time, whenever that may be; it’s too iffy today to make a prediction. I’ll shoot for tomorrow, & with a bit of luck & perseverance, we’ll see y’all then. Be well, be alert, be strange, and…. well, you know the rest…. Don’t worry; if you don’t, reality will provide you with clues…. so, pay attention!….

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….

Genuflections to the spirit of Pan….

Posted on April 30, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“We’re all Bozos on this bus.”

~~ The Firesign Theatre, from the album of the same name ~~

thyme bloom

Blooming in thyme…

Hajime…. Having, with an unexpected degree of success, completed the elements of today’s Pearl, I sat down to begin writing the introduction. After ten minutes, with any number of false starts, I’ve decided to just begin writing, & let my brain catch up whenever it can. It gets like this, quite frequently, it seems, trying to compose a new, interesting bit of literature every damn day. Not that I’m complaining; the process, successful or not, is what has kept me relatively sane for the past six or more years. No, just reporting the facts, ffolkes, because I’ve got nothing else to go with today.

Now, I can treat you to some nonsense; the way I feel today, it could be rather amusing, if only to note how awful it turns out. Or, I could get philosophic, & regale y’all with tales of virtue & glory. That one, however, is well beyond anything I could do just now, so, we’ll keep looking. I could, if I had no sense at all, try to convince you I planned it this way, but, that seems too futile, even for me on days such as this. I guess, all things considered, I’ll just have to resort to the recently acquired ruthlessness I’ve found so useful, just to keep from frustrating myself, and, y’all, any further than I have already.

Fortunately, that one is pretty simple to apply, especially at this point, when I’ve set the stage, so to speak, so precisely. In fact, so precisely, I can tell you, without fear of contradiction, we’ve arrived at that juncture most efficacious for our purpose. What juncture, you ask? This one….

Shall we Pearl?

“Hope is the denial of reality.
It is the carrot dangled before the draft horse
to keep him plodding along in a vain attempt to reach it.
I say we remove the carrot and walk forward with open eyes.”

~~ Raistlin Majere, “Dragonlance Chronicles” Vol. 1 ~~

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

French composer Camille Saint-Saens

Yesterday, I selected the piano concertos of Mozart to provide some reading/study music. Today, I have chosen to select another set of music from a single classical composer, to wit: Camille Saint-Saëns. He was an extremely prolific composer, yet, everything I’ve ever heard of his shows the same brilliance. Works for me…. Enjoy, ffolkes….

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

Camille Saint-Saëns

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Adjectives of Quality ~~ Bloody Friday

A baleful lump of ironic introspection
sits upon my shoulder today
leaving traces of fey reflection
with a smattering of true dismay.

Resistance may be futile, many have said,
belief didn’t necessarily follow.
Abnegation of fear marks all bills paid,
leaving such empty threats hollow.

Symbolic courage never sleeps so deeply
as when delusion holds sway.
Bartered virtue, sold far too cheaply,
stands in shame, until honor fades away.

Too many culprits exist to count just one;
all of us bear obvious blame.
Evil is as evil does, only, when it’s done,
it begins again, all same-same.

Nobody seems to care enough to deny the lies.
Ignorant fear rules humanity’s masses.
When evil passes unremarked, innocence dies;
silence equals guilt, leaving only hope’s ashes.

Reality screams; tales of terror unfold,
flames fanned with purposeful malice,
insidious dangers hide beneath atrocity untold
as Gaia weeps into an empty chalice.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/3/2015

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Reality can bite….

*******

“Of all lies, art is the least untrue.”

~~ Gustave Flaubert ~~

*******

“Reality is that which,
when you stop believing in it,
doesn’t go away.”

~~ Philip K. Dick ~~

*******

“Before you can build a house,
you must first believe
that the bricks are in fact bricks.”

~~ Schopenhauer ~~

*******

“If you shut up truth, and bury it underground, it will but grow.”

~~ Emile Zola ~~

*******

“A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.”

~~ Michael de Montaigne — Essays, Book i, Chap. xxxviii, Of Solitude ~~

*******

“You can never get rid of what is part of you, even if you throw it away.”

~~ Goethe ~~

*******

“The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.”

~~ Bob Dylan ~~

*******

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

Well, there you have it, such as it is. I’m going to continue to use the ruthless tool, simply because I STILL don’t have much to say. I guess what awaits me in the rest of the day is distracting me; I just want to get done, & get out there to play with the mundanes. I’ll give in to my own lobbying, by bringing this to a rather abrupt close. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; remember…. be as strange as you can possibly be…. It’s our best defense against much of what gets tossed at us each day….

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….

Nary a spare neuron in sight….

Posted on February 20, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“We never reflect how pleasant it is to ask for nothing.”

~~ Seneca ~~

Leelu, Dispossessed….

Hajime…. Though the crisis at Lake Oroville’s Dam has receded to precautionary warnings, and the level of the dam’s reservoir has dropped to manageable levels, it continues to rain here in northern California, to the delight of sea birds & other aquatic creatures, and the chagrin of all the spoiled, self-centered denizens of the human culture, most of whom begin whining after one day of such weather. People are getting testy from the lack of sunshine, it seems, though, personally, I enjoy a spot of rainy weather. That’s due to experience, though, which most folks find hard to assimilate into their thinking apparatus….. but, that’s a tale for another day….

For the nonce, let it suffice to say, it’s wet here. The Pearl you’ll find below is what today’s culture would call a ‘mash-up’, consisting, as it does, of the various parts of other, older Pearls, with a bit of original smarm from yours truly thrown in to distract anyone from any uncomfortable questions, or, noticing anything off. Hey, it works like a charm for the government flunkies who infest the airwaves with their BS, to distract the public from what they’re doing in those back offices & darkened conference rooms; why can’t it work for me? No reason, I think, since humans are so adept at NOT thinking; you’d think we’d find something better to do with all this grey matter we’re wasting, but, no…. we just carry it around from toilet to toilet, moving water from place to place while we dither….

If you couldn’t tell, I’m feeling a bit snarky today; it should work well for me when I start working on the huge ‘discussion’ in my temp files. However, to keep it from getting too sticky here, (it tends to get tacky after it sits a while….), I think I’ll just mention the construction alterations I’ve used today, & get on with it….. Most of what you see below was stolen, from a Pearl first posted in mid-2012. The poem is from that date, as is the final section’s old school entry. This is simply to save time, (Smart Bee went on strike again….), and energy, which can be better utilized later today for a walk out in the storm. So be it, he said, grimly. He also said, watch this….

Shall we Pearl?

“Hope is the fawning traitor of the mind,
which, while it cozens with a color’d friendship
robs us of our best virtue-resolution.”

~~ Lee ~~

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

French composer Camille Saint-Saens

Today’s musical selection is a two hour collection of violin concertos from this man’s work, which I use a lot to provide myself with music, by which to write. I hope it soothes today, as you read the mess I’ve put together….

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

Violin Concertos
Camile Saint-Saëns

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

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

I Speak Not

I speak not, I trace not, I breathe not thy name;
There is grief in the sound, there is guilt in the fame;
But the tear that now burns on my cheek may impart
The deep thoughts that dwell in that silence of heart.
Too brief for our passion, too long for our peace,
Were those hours – can their joy or their bitterness cease?
We repent, we abjure, we will break from our chain, –
We will part, we will fly to – unite it again!
Oh! thine be the gladness, and mine be the guilt!
Forgive me, adored one! – forsake if thou wilt;
But the heart which is thine shall expire undebased,
And man shall not break it – whatever thou may’st.
And stern to the haughty, but humble to thee,
This soul in its bitterest blackness shall be;
And our days seem as swift, and our moments more sweet,
With thee at my side, than with worlds at our feet.
One sigh of thy sorrow, one look of thy love,
Shall turn me or fix, shall reward or reprove.
And the heartless may wonder at all I resign –
Thy lips shall reply, not to them, but to mine.

~~ George Gordon, Lord Byron ~~

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

Today’s final section is, again, graced with the material used in the Pearl posted on 7/13/2012; it carries a flavor tease, of a part of the massive ‘rant’ I’m working on in my spare moments… I hope you enjoy this little group of pokes, targeting one of humanity’s most persistent delusions….

From July, 2013:

Here then is an old-school pearl…. Strung together, each of these distinct ideas blend to become one scathing exposé of society today…. Just what that exposé consists of is, of course, left as an exercise for the Gentle Reader…..

“And it came to pass that in the hands of the ignorant, the words of the bible were used to beat plowshares into swords…” — Alan Watts

“Religion is the masterpiece of the art of animal training, for it trains people as to how they shall think.” — Arthur Schopenhauer

“What do you mean, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch?” *YOU* are the free lunch!” — Solomon Short

On a sidewalk near Portland State University someone wrote `Trust Jesus’, and someone else wrote `But Cut the Cards’. — Smart Bee

Those Jesus Freaks
Well, they’re friendly but
The shit they believe
Has got their minds all shut.
— Frank Zappa, “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing”

“Honesty isn’t any policy at all; it’s a state of mind or it isn’t honesty.” — Eugene L’Hote

and last, but certainly not least….

“Apes evolved from Creationists!” — Smart Bee

Well, there you have it…. perhaps a bit less scathing than sardonic, but attractively presented, if nothing else, eh? Don’t forget to offer a cut to the player on your right before you deal the cards ….

🙂

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

Hmm… well, it seems to have worked; my efforts, despite their randomness, got me here to the final, closing section, without much hesitation, otherwise known as ‘dithering’, and, more importantly, with sanity, if not completely intact, at least still present. That, in itself, is worthy of celebration; too bad I don’t have any champagne. Since I don’t, I guess I’ll just finish this off, & call it a day. While that may be more rational than the alternative, we’re not choosing to do so for any rational reason. No, sirree, Bob; we’re doing it cuz we’re done to a turn. Rather than stick around, chancing awkward questions or comments, I’ll just say, see y’all later, & hope for the best. Besides, I’ll be back, eventually; maybe it will all make sense, one day. Until then, be strange…. it’s cool out there….

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

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

Which is Why….

Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Oblique references at reality’s core….

Posted on February 3, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“A mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought, alone.”

~~ William Wordsworth ~~

George Orwell’s Home, London….

Hajime…. Nearly a week has passed since the last fresh Pearl of Virtual Wisdom was posted. In that week, I’ve seen this country, and the world, edge ever closer to either a civil war, or a world war, take your pick, as both scenarios are receiving some attention in the available news, whether fake, real, or just out there. Since there is little, at this point, I can do about any of that, beyond what I already have done to prepare myself, I find myself rather bored by it all, sort of Oscar Wilde-ish in my impatience with the tedious nature of most of my species. The very worst of human behaviors are on full public display, as the ignorance of the American people is played out on the world stage in the most appalling manner. SIGH… ah, well, bell curve, is all I can say….

I am working on a rant, but, even the degree of angst I’ve built up watching the nonsense going on all around me isn’t quite enough to have it ready, given the physical and emotional wars I’m waging on a daily basis. Suffice it to say, the rant may get outrageous, so, we’ll save it until it’s fully developed, to savor any potential impact it may produce. In the meantime, over the past four or five days, in the few moments per day allotted to me for sitting in a chair, I’ve managed to string together the basic elements of a fresh Pearl, which I now present for your viewing/reading pleasure. Of course, only you can decide whether it produces the desired effect, but, I’m sure you’ll let me know, if only by completely ignoring it. What the hell, I’ve blogged here on WP for more than six years now; I know better than to worry about how many will see what I produce; basically, it’s a crap shoot, & I never did figure out the odds on craps..

All that said, with the standard lack of purpose or justification, I’m going to be a trifle rude, & drop y’all right here, so I can get this finished & posted in a timely manner. Lots still to do out in the BBR today, laying in supplies for the coming month/times, & generally avoiding the rain as much as possible. Not that I mind the rain; I spent four years living in the state of Washington as a boy, & the rain is just a part of life, one you learn to enjoy, or suffer all the damn time. I like to control my suffering, so, I choose to enjoy the rain. It’s not hard, it’s just cold. So be it. And so be this intro, which I now declare done. Watch this….

Shall we Pearl?

“I am not an Athenian or a Greek, I am a citizen of the world.”

~~ Socrates ~~

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

French composer Camille Saint-Saens

Camille Saint-Saëns

Today, I feel like some classical music; by my personal experience, one cannot choose better than this man’s work, no matter what particular type of orchestral arrangement wishes to hear. Here are two plus hours of violin concertos, to ease your way into the day…. Enjoy!….

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Camille Saint-Saëns
Violin Concertos

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

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Stray Cats

The veils that billow and fold
between dreams and reality
may sometimes part,
showing the visions of one to the other,
blending, bleeding as one,
only to bring us up short,
closely jammed against immovable fate.

Still, we keep our watch,
seeking to find the vision
that brings with it the mark of reality’s regard,
a humble mind, and a compassionate heart.

Events of broad impact draw us away again,
distracting with shiny glitter and tinny music,
leaving our feelings raw and bruised,
the victim of universal disregard.

Now, in the twilight of years, the music is fading,
and the glitter has all gone….
yet the memory of visions remains sharp and clear,
melancholy reminders of reality’s promises,
unkept…..

~~gigoid~~

4/12/2013

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

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life at Large

*******

“Death tugs at my ear and says: “Live, I am coming.”

~~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. ~~

*******

“We should consider every day lost
on which we have not danced at least once.”
And we should call every truth false
which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.”

~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~

*******

“Perfect valor is to do unwitnessed
what we should be capable of doing before all the world.”

~~ Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld ~~

*******

“Sure, understanding today’s complex world of the future
is a little like having bees live in your head.
But there they are . . .”

~~The Firesign Theater ~~

*******

“If you understand, or if you don’t.
If you believe, or if you doubt.
There is a universal justice
and the eyes of truth are always watching.”

~~ Enigma ~~

*******

“My life is light, waiting for the death wind,
Like a feather on the back of my hand.”

~~ T.S. Eliot ~~

*******

“What I tell you three times is true.”

~~ Lewis Carroll, “The Hunting of the Snark” ~~

*******

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

Well, there you go. I can’t think of anything else this needs, so, I’ll forgo any tricks, traps, or distractions, & merely say, see y’all soon. Not sure when a fresh Pearl will next appear, but, I can guarantee it will, as long as I survive long enough. Until then, be well, and happy as you may… In the infamous words of the Terminator, I’ll be back….

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….

The blank faces of myrmidons….

Posted on December 24, 2016 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Socrates thought that if all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap,
whence every one must take an equal portion,
most persons would be contented to take their own and depart.”

~~ Plutarch ~~

~~ Consolation to Apollonius ~~

The Bar at White’s Tavern, Est. 1630, Belfast, Ireland

Hajime…. Hmm… Here ’tis, early in the morning before the day our society’s most common delusion is celebrated. Those of us who don’t buy into that particular fallacy have not much reason to join in the game being played during this massive distraction from reality, but, we enjoy the simple fact that all who do are, usually, in a better mood, making it less likely we will need to employ any curmudgeonly techniques to keep them at bay; sort of a mini-vacation, as it were, from the stress of maintaining the socially amenable face so necessary during the rest of the year, negating the necessity of engaging in dishonorable battles of wit with an unarmed populace. I guess you could call that our seasonal gift….

That said, I’ll refrain from any further comments on the season, other than to wish y’all a peaceful holiday, filled with love and family, and a happy new year, whatever that means. Don’t worry, no ranting today. In fact, the Pearl for today is done, I’m just filling in this space, as is our wont, so it won’t look so empty and cold. It’s cold enough outside, right? Right. Wet, too, around here, anyway. But, that’s a story for another time.

For now, I think I’ll just get this slow on the toad, so we can all go about our scheduled activities…. On such days, it’s for the best; ffolkes have other stuff to do, and reading my drivel probably isn’t at the top of the list….. S’okay by me; even us curmudgeons have people to see this time of year…. Not that we expect them to be home, but, hey, the drive is always nice….

Just kidding; I’m going back to bed a while, then going for a long walk. In the meantime, here’s today’s mess, all dressed up & ready to go. Take a deep breath, & close your eyes…. It’s less scary that way….

Shall we Pearl?

“Most people are on the world, not in it…”

~~ John Muir ~~

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Camille Saint-Saëns

Image from mfiles.co.uk via Google Images

Rather than play another playlist of boring Christmas music we’ve all heard too many times, here is one with music from one of the most prolific composers of the Romantic Era…. He’s one of my favorites, for I’ve never heard any of his music I didn’t enjoy…. You will, too….

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

Camille Saint-Saëns

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

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

Last year, at this time, I was going through the final stages of withdrawal from the opioids I had been taking for ten years. I’m not sure how, or, why, but, on this date, I wrote a poem for Christmas; here ’tis again, just because I can….

A Seasonal Gift

Affordable, these moments in time,
all quite free, not costly, nor for sale at all.
Merely more misspent periods making rhyme.
seeking a peaceful heart, as my words fall.

A price, many will tell you, or me,
is due for every transaction.
In truth, everything you see is free;
Illusion seldom offers any real satisfaction.

Some also tell us we need some sort of god,
we’re told ’tis the only path to immortality.
On the path I’ve followed, that seems rather odd;
I’m quite happy with honorable mortality.

Some days it gets a bit lonely, for a bit,
out here in the cold light of reason.
Solitude is, however, well worth it;
Love, felt and treasured, gives warmth all season.

I suppose one could easily say,
this poem is the only gift I’ll give.
If I can teach love and kindness with the words I say,
such will be fine; it’s enough to live.

Happy Winter to All…

~~ gigoid ~~

12/24/2015

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

Naked Pearls

Notes on the Journey….

*********

“If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

~~ Yogi Berra ~~

*********

“Since everything in life is but an experience perfect in being what it is,
having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection,
one may well burst out in laughter.”

~~ Long Chen Pa ~~

*********

“You may not, cannot, appropriate beauty.
It is the wealth of the eye, and a cat may gaze upon the king.”

~~ Theodore Parker ~~

*********

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along,
listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

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

*********

“How much pain have cost us
the evils which have never happened.”

~~ Thomas Jefferson, “Writings” Vol. XVI ~~

*********

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness,
and nothing is so gentle as true strength.”

~~ Ralph Sockman ~~

*********

“In anything at all,
perfection is finally attained,
not when there is no longer anything to add,
but when there is no longer anything to take away.”

~~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery , Wind, Sand & Stars ~~

*********

“An it harm none,
Do what ye will.”

~~ Wiccan Credo ~~

*********

“Isn’t this my STOP?!”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

*********

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

Okay, then; it’s done. Upon looking back over what I wrote, I can find much to improve, yet, nothing I’d change. I guess, for what it is, it’s about as good as it’s going to get. Go figure, eh? Funny how being done can make it look different, if not better. I suppose that’s what Einstein was talking about when he codified his Theory of Relativity… which, most simply stated, says, “It’s ALL relative…”. On that odd little note, I’ll take my leave, with the hopes that Santa’s sleigh doesn’t knock down your chimney, and that you have a very happy seasonal celebration, however you may choose to go about it. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; it’s my only hope….

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….

Inculcated with deliverable accents….

Posted on December 7, 2016 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“When washing your face, can you see your true self?
When walking, can you feel the rotation of heaven?
When speaking are your words without guile?
When you shop are you aware of your needs?
When you meet the suffering, do you help?
When you meet conflict, do you work toward harmony?”

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

Bridge to Eternity….or, maybe just to Marin…

Hajime…. As if you were unable to tell on your own, I will tediously inform you, it’s a Deng Ming kinda day…. Now, that could seem rather obscure, but, what with the rather obvious quotes bracketing today’s intro, I don’t believe it is. Just read ’em, and weep. Oh, not from pity, or joy, or any of the finer emotions; just weep because I wasted a few more moments of your precious time on Earth relating such nonsense to you. I’d apologize, but, it got us into the next paragraph; rather than exhibit disgusting hypocrisy, we’ll simply move on, just as if it hadn’t occurred.

Some of y’all may wonder, given the unusually strident tone of the first paragraph, whether I have it all together today. To be honest, I haven’t a clue. But, since the Pearl for today is already done, such as it is, I’ll merely continue my search for rational discussion, which may, or may not, serve to fulfill any personal requirements I have for getting this posted in anything like a timely fashion. Oh, wait, timely is never a problem, is it, when one has a Tardis? Oops! Forgot; the Doctor would be ashamed. But, then, he’s pretty emotional, all in all; it’s part of his charm…. Now, where was I, before I so efficiently distracted myself? Oh, right.

That’s about all I’ve got today; it seems my brain is taking a hiatus from actual thought, leaving me with little choice but to close this off, and go finish the ending. Before I completely give away all my secret techniques of time-management, or get too close to actual literature, I’ll do just that. Before I do, I should probably tell you…. No, I’d better not. Better if you don’t know beforehand. Let’s do this, instead….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Metaphysical totalitarianism of any kind stifles the freedom we have as human beings.
It is not acceptable to have a religion where the alternative to faith is punishment
– that’s how you train dogs, not develop people.”

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

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Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer during the nineteenth century, who created a huge body of work during his lifetime. Here are five of his piano concertos, which I like to listen to while working/reading…. Enjoy!….

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Camille Saint-Saëns

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