Searching for sufficiency….

Ffolkes,

“You cannot conquer a free man, the most you can do is kill him.”

~~ Robert Heinlein ~~

fiery sunset

Sonoma County Sunset On Fire….

Hajime…. R.D. Laing, a Scottish psychiatrist who wrote extensively on the experience of psychosis,  once said, “Insanity — a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.” Considering my own experiences in living in today’s world, I can but agree, wholeheartedly. In fact, my recent extensive forays into the world at large have been little else than a continuing series of solid evidence supporting this idea. It also has been verification of my own decision to embrace and enjoy my own reaction to most of what occurs in my presence… In short, I no longer suffer from my tendencies to retreat into unreality; instead, I have embraced it, and learned to appreciate the irony that punctuates every insane act I see around me, as well as those I commit myself….

Oh, fear not, gentle reader; I haven’t gone completely off the rails; it only LOOKS that way. Mostly, I am using the unique perspective I find to be so useful for mitigating the angst that would otherwise build up to the point of explosion, leaking it out, instead, in tiny bursts of laughter (which, admittedly, can startle the natives, confusing them unmercifully….) and random acts of kindness and generosity, which few understand, but make me impervious to the ill effects of self-denigration. If that’s unclear, well, so be it. I find myself less concerned with what others think of me than has long been the case, and the sense of liberation is exquisite….

I suppose this is all a long-winded attempt to explain some of my absence, but, in looking back over what I’ve written thus far, I see it falls short of clarity. Since we’re already three paragraphs into this intro, it might be prudent to cease attempting to explain, or, even worse, justify my recent lack of production, & get on with what we have for today’s mess, if only to save a bit of time. Of course, saving time is merely another of our illusions; time is what we use to keep track of all that stuff that isn’t happening NOW, & cannot really be ‘saved’, or ‘lost’; those are merely distinctions important only to our human egos…. In truth, time just is; we only have a view of the present, with the past as immutable, and the future unborn. No wonder we’re confused.

Therefore, let us make an honest attempt to reduce our confusion, if only for a short time, by, moving on to the rest of today’s little mess, where you’ll find, if naught else, something different than this display of ill-conceived verbiage. Hell, you might even find something you enjoy; hope always springs eternal, even for those of us who have lost all hope. Well, lost all faith in hope, anyway, as happens with any failure of imagination. On that esoteric, if depressing, note, let us find our way down the page….

Shall we Pearl?….

“You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

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dubliners

The Lads from Dublin, 40 years later….

At some point in your life, you’ve heard these lads play their music, which they’ve been making together since the middle of the last century. Whether one is a fan of Irish/Celtic music, or not, watching one of their shows is an education in both Irish culture, and musicianship. I’ve been listening to them for almost my entire life, and still find their music to be a source of joy…. I hope you do as well…. Drink Life, and, slainté!….

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The Dubliners
40th Year Reunion Concert

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Comedy_Tragedy

The new poem upon which I’ve been laboring is still not done; it’s dribbling more than actually leaking. To sublimate, here is a poem I wrote about 5.5 years ago, one of the first I wrote after a 40 year hiatus. I like it, and I hope you do, as well….

A Failure to Germinate

Marking the days in elements of sad disarray
only holds me thrall, as I laugh while I may.
With cold, hard hands so impatient and cruel
pulling me to this vale of tears, a pathetic old fool.

Feelings sit silent, cast in shadows and light
breaking forth to implicate such vengeful might.
Just below the surface they patiently hide
to sally forth bravely, colors bright as they ride.

Tears and pain transform valued assets in hand
while comfort and serenity retreat to a far land.
Bold, bright patterns of hope garnish my ruinous state
until reality enters, full of disdainful portions of hate.

I sort out the illustrious measures of vision gone mild
only to find them transformed, now vicious and wild.
In my deepest desires I find myself calloused and cold
with faithless advocates whose souls have been sold.

My search finds little to support any hope of relief
far too much time has passed to bolster such belief.
The sad becomes real, and real becomes unfounded
until flights of such fancy are all dead, and grounded.

Nature has informed me of the newly hatched crime
of which reality boasted proudly, time after time.
The last answer we think of is always the best
as we come to terms with fate, our hope at rest.

~~ gigoid ~~

9/27/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Did you know….?

*******

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

~~ Aristotle ~~

*******

“A man should be greater than some of his parts.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

“When mind soars in pursuit of the things conceived in space,
it pursues emptiness.
But when the man dives deep within himself,
he experiences the fullness of existence.”

~~ Meher Baba ~~

*******

“Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.”

~~ Mark Twain~~

*******

“How would you know you are alive, unless you had once been dead?”

~~ Subtle Bee, (with thanks to Carl Jung…) ~~

*******

“Who is more foolish:
the child afraid of the dark or
the man afraid of the light?”

~~ Maurice Treehill ~~

*******

“Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art of ending…”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*******

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I hope y’all will take note of the final pearl in the last section, which was placed there simply because of the appropriate nature of its message, in re: today’s offering. I find it both ironic, and satisfyingly smarmy. Y’all, of course, may make your own decisions; we are nothing if not tolerant in the face of absurdity. Since we have now used the one word most applicable to this entire process (from at least two perspectives….), I shall bid thee adieu, until I can manage to cobble together another fresh Pearl for your pleasure. Be well, be happy as you may, and, be just as strange as you can stand…. I guarantee, I will….

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….


Advertisement

Syncopation is oddly soothing….

Ffolkes,

“To love someone deeply gives you strength.
Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.”

~~ Lao Tzu ~~

electric eye leelu

Focused meditation….

Hajime…. Since retiring from work, I have discovered the part of living in contact with much of the world I miss the least, & that is, quite simply, drama. The emotional turmoil in which much of the world seems to spend the majority of its time seems to me a complete waste of what little time we have here in this plane of existence, and I cannot understand why most people keep on walking on a path strewn with pain, and suffering caused by emotions, which are, after all, transient, by their nature. Because we are invested so heavily in EGO, we seem to find our own inner world, with its chaotic feelings, to be the way of the world, and our disappointment is intense when it proves not to be so.

All that, by the way, is the result of drama intruding upon my life, caused, as is generally the case, by others who are merely peripherally connected to me, by their connection to those I love. Without going into detail, I have to say, it’s more intense than I enjoy, and has no purpose beyond the fear felt by a narcissist, who then, according to their neurotic nature, pass their own fear and anger to everyone around them. These others are those to whom I am connected, so, some of the emotional chaos ends up at my door. Thankfully, I don’t have to engage in it, nor do I; it’s just hard to see those I love having no choice but to deal with it in all its intense, ‘in the moment’ importance, thus making their own journey through life more uncomfortable….

All has receded enough for me to finish this post, though not with the light-hearted humor with which I intended to start off. So, I’ll forgo trying to inject anything of that nature, as it would, no doubt, fall flatter on its face than a flounder, which is pretty flat. Instead, I’ll just mention how well I’ve coped with it, all in all, and get on with the process of posting. I didn’t manage to leak out the new poem yet; it’s blocked, somehow, by the presence of drama, at least until it’s all assimilated and processed into metaphor. But, I’ve included some most excellent music, a damn good older poem, and, a set of old-school pearls with which I am quite pleased. Good shit, as they say….

So, let’s go see what there is to see, eh? It can’t be any less thrilling than this has been, right? Right. We’re off now, so, hang on….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Everything in life is unusual until you get accustomed to it.”

~~ L. Frank Baum, “The Marvelous Land of Oz” ~~

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NinaSimone

Nina Simone, 1933 ~ 2003

Image from kcur.org via Google Images

There is a lot I could say about this artist, but, it would all be superfluous to the experience of just listening to her sing. To show respect for that, I’ll let y’all do just that, without any further words from me, except to say, enjoy….

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Nina Simone

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Comedy_Tragedy

Blue chameleon

It’s hot today, with chances of pain & rain.
So it says on the news.
Guess there’s nothing to do again
unless it’s sing the blues.

The blues are gettin’ old, though.
So I say, & I should know.
I been singin’ the bloody songs, y’know?
For what seems a long row to hoe.

S’pose it could get better someday.
I’ve heard that tune before.
Always seemed out of tune anyway;
I ain’t waitin’ any more.

Bang those drums & kick the cans.
May as well raise some hell.
Clang together some old pots & pans;
It hides the little voices so well.

Never worry, don’t you fear at all.
We’ve got certificates of note.
Bureaucratic protections, officially small.
Non carborundum illegitimi, he wrote.

Time, and circumstance, wrote me today.
It came in the daily mail from home.
It said I shouldn’t write unless I say
you’ll be charged for the distance you roam.

~~ gigoid ~~

5/28/2016

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life @ Large….

*******

“Do you want to be a power in the world?
Then be yourself.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Trine ~~

*******

“If life seems jolly rotten,
there’s something you’ve forgotten,
and that’s  to laugh and dance and jump and sing.”

~~ Monty Python ~~

*******

“Live dangerously and you live right.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Faust” ~~

*******

“If you haven’t found something strange during the day,
it hasn’t been much of a day.”

~~ John Wheeler ~~

*******

“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge
and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you,
you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”

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

*******

“If you’re going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

“Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art of ending…”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*******

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

Though I can’t lay claim to any recent displays of brilliance, I am pleased with the last few ending pearls, for their completely apropos nature to what has gone before. In this case, Henry has it right, so, we’ll take his advice, and pursue our art as a properly brief ending. I’ll see y’all, or y’all will see me, soon enough, though how long it may be I cannot say at this time. Until I return, please be well, be happy as you may, and remember to utilize the one greatest characteristic nature allows us, to wit, be as strange as you can be. You may be sure, I shall. 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 -- 15300

À bientôt, mon cherí….


					

Hardly soft, but, pungent….

Ffolkes,

“A talent is formed in stillness, a character in the world’s torrent.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~

Ebb tide galway

Ebb tide on the Strand, Galway Bay, Ireland….

Hajime…. I write because I found, early on in life, it helps me to organize my thoughts; in doing so, it aids in maintaining a relative degree of what is often termed ‘sanity’. At this point in my life, a fair piece down the road, I might add, I am ambiguously happy to report, it hasn’t worked too well at all. Now, I will agree, that’s a pretty ambiguous statement, as well, but, it’s accurate, for all it may be ironic, or more pointedly, sardonic. I’m happy to be insane, but, ambiguously, because it’s not a sane world, which rather makes the whole exercise somewhat of a conundrum. I suppose, if I stop to think for long about it, that’s not only a fair assessment, but, shows clearly, my sanity bears little resemblance to what others might accept as such….

I have related the above, not because I am particularly proud of it, or even concerned by it. No, I only do so to demonstrate for y’all, in graphic clarity, a set of thoughts that, if considered with gravity and compassion, can provide some understanding of why it often gets a bit strange around here. It doesn’t necessarily excuse it, or even attempt to justify any of it; it only offers an opportunity to process the strangeness, so it can be assimilated into your own understanding of consensual reality, at least well enough not to laugh outright at any of this. Well, I guess laughing is okay; I do try to be humorous.  But, it also will, hopefully, help y’all to see why I’m so fucking weird, which can only help. Right? Right…..

Now we have that completely squared away, as far as it will ever be, I think I’ll get on with the rest of what I’ve cobbled together for today. I am aware enough this morning to be able to realize, if I don’t, it may never happen. Wouldn’t want that; I’d be mentally constipated all day. Instead, let’s go consume some fibrous material for the mind, such as it may be.

What? No, we’re all out of rationality, so, don’t ask. Instead, just hang on, & before you know it, you’ll be on your way to your next scheduled stop…. I would suggest, however, you fasten your restraining belts; it might get a little turbulent….

Shall we Pearl?

“He that respects himself if safe from others;
He wears a coat of mail that none can pierce.”

~~ Henry Wordsworth Longfellow ~~

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

I am in need of soothing music, as is often the case in the midst of creation. Today’s selection was chosen, as is also often the case, because I like the picture it displayed on You Tube. I hope you enjoy this hour-long selection of classical pieces, put together by a random computer user…. Abondanza!….

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Classical Music

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Comedy_Tragedy


Fine and Good, Good and Fine

A pig in a poke’s got nothing on me,
cuz I’m as confused as a man can be.
This ol’ world’s got me spinnin’ around
cussin’ and spittin’, a penny for a pound.

Forty ‘leven times since I was a kid, well,
I’ve fallen in love, ‘least too close to tell.
Every damn time, it all went to crap,
Forty ‘leven times I’ve felt like a sap.

‘Course, each time it happens, I forget the last;
why not? I’m havin’ such a blast….
Livin’ in each moment, filled with joie de vivre,
’til it’s all gone away again, nothin’ left up my sleeve.

Don’t want y’all to think I’m sad or blue,
life’s full of sorrow, lots for me, and/or you..
T’other side of that coin, we can be glad,
is joyful love, and that ain’t at all bad.

My road’s been littered with parts o’my heart,
each one colored with trust, which ain’t always smart.
Yet, long as I don’t lose my connection to joy,
I’ll find my own true love, and be a happy boy.

It’s been some kinda fun, even when I’d take a fall,
and doin’ it over makes no sense at all, at all
Day after day, I keep on keepin’ on, as it’s said;
Guess I’ll keep on doin’ that ’til I’m dead.

‘Nuff said….

~~ gigoid, tongue firmly in cheek ~~

3/23/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life at Large….

*******

“All that glitters is not gold”
is from “Parabolae”, a book of poems written circa 1175
by Alanus de Insulis, a French monk:
“Non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum”
= “Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold”.
It was Englished by Chaucer in the “Canterbury Tales” (1389) as:
“But al thyng which that shyneth as the gold
Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told.”

~~ Smart Bee ~~

*******

“A day dawns, quite like other days;
in it, a single hour comes, quite like other hours;
but in that day and in that hour the chance of a lifetime faces us.”

~~ Maltbie Babcock ~~

*******

“So seek the wolf in thyself
Shape shift – nose to the wind
Shape shift – feeling I’ve been
Move swift – all senses clean
Earth’s gift, back to the meaning of wolf and man.”

~~ Metallica “Of Wolf and Man” ~~

*******

“Not all those who wonder are lost.”

~~ J. R. R. Tolkien ~~

*******

“In the moment between stimulus and response lies freedom.”

~~ Steven Covey ~~

*******

“The world is full of cactus, but we don’t have to sit on it.”

~~ Will Foley ~~

*******

“I see my life go drifting like a river
From change to change; I have been many things –
A green drop in the surge, a gleam of light
Upon a sword, a fir tree on a hill,
An old slave grinding at a heavy quern,
A king sitting upon a chair of gold –
And all these things were wonderful and great;
But now I have grown nothing, knowing all.
Ah! Druid, Druid, how great webs of sorrow
Lay hidden in that small slate-coloured thing!”

~~ William Butler Yeats, “Fergus and the Druid” ~~

*******

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Well, there you have it. While I wouldn’t call it classical literature, I would say, it’s done. I’ll add, thank goodness for that. This one should probably never have happened, but, who am I to argue with consensual reality? Rather than belabor such an obvious point, I’ll just say, see y’all next time, and let you be until then…. 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

dozer3

À bientôt, mon cherí….


					

Tricks of the tirade….

Ffolkes,

“He that respects himself if safe from others;
He wears a coat of mail that none can pierce.”

~~ Henry Wordsworth Longfellow ~~

Crabcomb

The Crab Nebula, composite photo of 5 DST images, via NASA,…

http://nineplanets.org/news/the-crab-nebula/

Hajime…. The Pearl you will find below is one you may find to be resistant to classification, or, for that matter, quantification. Even more, it defies all normality, due to a recent decision made by my subconscious mind, which seems to indicate I have given up trying to maintain any semblance of sanity. It seems, according to all the evidence I can gather, insanity is a more rational response to life in today’s world. I suppose it makes R. D. Laing’s statement the most relevant, to wit: “Insanity is a sane reaction to an insane world.”…..

In truth, this is not, necessarily, a cause for worry; in fact, I regard it as a good sign, that I am on the correct path to find my ‘bliss’, as it were. I’ve been reading, and thinking long and hard about, the work of Joseph Campbell. His lifelong study of human mythology, examining the common thread running through all the cultures of humanity throughout our history, led to what I think is the most coherent, inclusive, and accurate assessment of the human condition. By identifying the ‘monomyth’, the story of humanity’s expression of our core nature, and our connection to the universe, he offers us all an understanding of ourselves, and each other, which I find incredibly valuable, as a means of learning how to be true to our nature….

This, naturally enough, has occupied a great portion of my mind’s attention for the past few weeks, which has, as a side effect, influenced the production of Pearls, generally by sending me out into the real world, to re-engage with those parts of reality I have been neglecting, in favor of spending time in cyberspace, or in my own head. The most telling reflection is shown by the number of times I’ve missed posting, or re-blogged, rather than creating anything fresh. Go figure, eh? It seems the real world is more engaging than my need for the sanity which creating Pearls maintains….

I suppose it makes sense, though; real is always more engaging than unreal, if not as attractive. I mean, it does demand we be mindful, for the consequences of NOT doing so are uncomfortable, to say the very least. But, in this insane world we have engendered as a species, the distractions provided to befuddle and control the less mindful are powerful, making the lessons to be learned rather less valuable, than any of those taught by nature. This, of course, ties in quite nicely with our human talent of denying reality, and our own nature, so, it isn’t hard to figure out; it’s only hard to avoid….

It also takes a lot of practice time, which is why fewer Pearls have been seen here; I’ve been practicing the skills needed to live according to the dictates of my nature. Writing about that merely slows down the actual doing of it, so, less of it has been forthcoming…. So be it. It’s taken me 66 years to arrive at the point on my path where I currently exist, & I’m still searching. The search, as is required by our very nature, is all that matters….

I guess this intro doesn’t resolve much; neither does it explain much, I suppose, but, it got us this far…. Let’s go see what else happened, & get on with the rest of our journey for today….

Shall we Pearl?

“The greatest happiness you can have
is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness.”

~~ William Saroyan ~~

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Finding-Joe_feature

This video comprises a summary and exploration of the ideas of Joseph Campbell’s work, as seen through examination & discussion of the central ideas, regarding the commonality present in all human myths, from all human cultures. The presentation of those ideas is laid out clearly, so clearly, and so powerfully, I wept through the first 30 minutes I watched, simply from the joy of learning; the truth has a power not to be denied…. Watch it all, and think about it, for it can change your life….

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Finding Joe
The Timeless Tale of
The Hero’s Journey

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Comedy_Tragedy

Further Proof

No evidence exists, no rumored promise
of a guide on the path we seek.
Salient information lies hidden, seeking solace;
each possibility lost, no longer unique.

The past cascades through today, resolute;
finished and gone, by all reputable report.
Common failings decry any fever in the root,
as pillars of salt offer up little retort.

Longitude has latitude, one dimension to the next;
truth and lies, mirrored, transform on first exposure.
Born in chaos, living in change, by guile and pretext;
artful insanity, with no rational cure.

‘Tis no wonder, some do say now and then,
such creatures are doomed, by their own hand.
Cursed by the force of their very own ken,
until only the leaving seems very grand.

Perhaps, but, then, say those who doubt,
it’s all part of how it works, in fact.
We can’t know, really, what it’s all about
without completing the final act.

Is there any hurry?

~~ gigoid ~~

6/23/2016

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Love at Large….

*******

“Time is precious, but truth is more so.”

~~ Benjamin Disraeli ~~

*******

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go….”

~~ Dr. Seuss ~~

*******

“I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping…”

~~ George Harrison ~~

*******

“And what is good, Phaedrus, and what is not good,
Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?”

~~ Robert Pirsig ~~

*******

“Your task is not to seek for love,
but merely to seek and find
all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.”

~~ Rumi ~~

*******

“Anything worth doing well is worth doing slowly.”

~~ Gypsy Rose Lee ~~

*******

“All I know of love is that Love is all there is.”

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

*******

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

Hmm… It’s done, & the words used in the intro remain valid; it defies description. So be it. I’m done for today; moreover, I cannot say when I’ll be back. I have to write; that is a given. But, it’s also a given I will be walking on my hero’s journey much of the time, & have yet to figure out how to do both. When I do, I’ll let you know…. In the meantime, try to enjoy your own journey; be safe, & let your love shine…. 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

Dozer

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Percipience is helpful in such cases….

Ffolkes,

“After the first death, there is no other.”

~~ Dylan Thomas ~~

ferry-ride

Silver Path to the Golden Gate….

Hajime…. Ugh. It is now 0403 here in California. I’ve been up for a bit over an hour, having decided several weeks ago to cease the morning battle with my familiar, & just get up when she does, rather than starting the day already adrenalized. It seems to be working, as it allows me ample time to compose, and post the daily Pearl, and still furnish Leelu with enough attention to satisfy her need to play, or cuddle. I’ve related previously how much like being married it is to have a familiar; the evidence for that continues to mount….

The only problem with getting up so early is the time it takes from my ability to get things done out in the BBR, for, by the time the rest of the world is awake around here, I’ve been up close to six hours. At my age, that means I need a nap, right around 0900, if I’m to make it long enough to see sunset, much less the next sunrise. It also means I do get to see the latter every day, which is enjoyable, as well as uplifting, as any sunrise is to us humans. We do like beginnings, so full of promise…..

What happens after sunrise is anybody’s guess, and does not always match our hopes for it. Such, then, is life, for all of us. Since I’ve managed to wax philosophical so well, so early, I’ll take advantage of the relative comatose state that has, no doubt, engendered in your minds; it isn’t deliberate, but, since it’s handy, I’ll take advantage of it. I don’t think we’ll cause any lasting harm by doing so, unless, of course, someone begins to struggle. Then, the restraints we use as a matter of course, (and, insurance regulations) can cause some bruising, from the rough ride. But, most likely, y’all will just nod your heads, and wake up somewhere down the page. So be it.

Since I’ve set the stage so well, why don’t we jump right in….

Shall we Pearl?….

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word
is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

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Images both public domain, via Google Images

Today’s music was originally intended to accompany a rant I’m working on; it isn’t done, but, the music will work fine for today. The piece is one of my favorite songs, as performed live, with some help from a friend. The sound quality is excellent, and, should you wish for more of the same, there are plenty of choices on the You Tube page where the link in the screen will take you…. Enjoy, ffolkes; this song may be more relevant than you may think….

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Crosby, Stills, & Nash
with Grace Slick
~ Wooden Ships ~

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Comedy_Tragedy

Intelligent Crimes

The value of wit is often said to cause harm,
for those who think, such is its greatest charm.
The new and the bold cannot be fulfilled
if innovation and change is left unwilled.

Society behaves at its base as a mob
conformity and submission its primary job.
Any sign of rebellion against the mob’s rule
is met with resentment, naming such rebel the fool.

Intellect and talent are looked at askance,
expressing artistry stands nary a chance.
To stand out from the rest of mankind
is fraught with danger, for body and mind.

Often I stand to watch in solemn dismay
as beauty and joy are left by the way,
ignored and reviled by the unwashed masses
who prefer darkness, and acting like asses.

With shouts of derision the normals make known
their fear of intelligence, greater than their own.
They hope to stop all semblance of progress;
for thoughts and ideas, they couldn’t care less.

The world struggles on in spite of all opposition,
managing to maintain its advanced position.
Pulling the foolish along in spite of reluctance,
helping each to learn the survival dance.

Hard though it may be to keep up with the future
genius manages its plans to develop and nurture.
In the final analysis, those who live by reason
enjoy life the most, season to season.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/7/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

More thoughts on process and program…

*******

“The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless,
unremembered acts of kindness and love.”

~~ William Wordsworth ~~

*******

“Where the map differs from the terrain, believe the terrain.”

~~ Swedish Army Manual ~~

*******

“Do not speak of what men deserve.
For we each of us deserve everything,
every luxury that was ever piled in the tombs of the dead Kings,
and we each of us deserve nothing, not a mouthful of bread in hunger.
Have we not eaten while another starved?
Will you punish us for that?
Will you reward us for the virtue of starving while others ate?
No man earns punishment, no man earns reward.
Free your mind of the idea of *deserving*, of *earning*,
and you will begin to be able to think.”

~~ Odo, The Prison Letters ~~

~~ Ursula LeGuin, “The Dispossessed” ~~

*******

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies,
we would find in each man’s life a sorrow
and a suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*******

“Doubt is the key to knowledge.”

~~ Persian Proverb ~~

“As knowledge increases, wonder deepens.”

~~ Persian Bee ~~

*******

4. When you say, “I love you”, mean it.

~~ Instructions for life ~~

*******

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

~~ Native American Proverb (Blackfoot) ~~

*******

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Blog posts are, in some ways, like a photograph. They show the version of reality experienced by the writer, at the moment of posting, with evidence within each line of the experience of each moment it took to write. Thus, to assume the picture, or the blog post, represents anything more than that instant of time, is to make a mistake in reasoning. Each person who writes a blog is more than what you see, no matter how well they have infused themselves into what they’ve written.

What does any of this have to do with a closing? Not much, other than to point out my day, from this early point onward, will be much different than what you may see here, and may well be a better story/poem/song/dance. Or, not. No matter how it turns out, this one is done, and that’s what matters just now. I hope y’all enjoyed it, and hope to see y’all again tomorrow, when, despite all methodology, and despite all opposition, from reality, and from my inner demons, I’ll do this again. On that, you may rely….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

It’s all in the wrist….

Ffolkes,

“Humankind cannot stand very much reality.”

~~ T.S. Eliot ~~

london-bridge

London Bridge from the Thames….

Hajime…. While gazing once again at the massive field of blank white screen before me this morning, several fantasies, mostly science-fiction based, passed through my head as potential material for exploration. None of it was particularly original, so, I decided to let it all go the way of most ideas, passing it into disposable memory without any significant delay. Since that left me with nothing to write about, you see before you all the remaining thoughts currently inhabiting my frontal lobes. Not much there, is there?…. Or, rather, not much here, I should say….

I am certain there are a couple directions to which I could hare off, where I could comfort myself with sheer nonsense, or batter y’all with prevarication, or even throw out a bit of ranting; none of it strikes my fancy, though. I suppose, in the best interests of all concerned parties, the most relevant, compassionate decision is to cease and desist all efforts to make this excellent, or, for that matter, average. Best all around, I think, to employ some rather ruthless, but, effective techniques developed for our use by some fly-by-night literary chop-house for a bargain price. It’s actually not too unattractive, if somewhat outdated. How does it work? Oh, easy…. like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“A reverence for life does not require one to respect nature’s obvious mistakes.”

~~ Robert A. Heinlein ~~

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clapton

Last night, I went cruising on You Tube, to find some music to which to listen while reading a book. I found this video, just short of an hour long, with Eric at his absolute best, playing the blues as only he can. The third and fourth cuts, particularly, are outstanding examples of the improvisational genius he has displayed his entire career. This one is for blues, and guitar aficionados, who enjoy listening to the best…. Enjoy!

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Eric Clapton
Blues Favorites
1994,1995

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Comedy_Tragedy

Off the proverbial cuff….

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

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

4/30/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

More notes on process and program….

*******

“I have everything, yet have nothing;
and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.”

~~ Terence — Act ii, Sc. 2, 12, (243.) ~~

*******

“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight,
and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”

~~ Oscar Wilde ~~

*******

“There are some things that are so serious that you have to laugh at them.”

~~ Niels Bohr ~~

*******

“Resist much, obey little.”

~~ Walt Whitman ~~

*******

“All life is an experiment.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*******

“Fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke.”

~~ J. R. “Bob” Dobbs ~~

*******

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

Once again, I have completed my chosen duty, though, not without some rather severe contortions, which y’all never see, thank the stars. Rather than allow this to turn either dilatory, or maudlin, we’ll acknowledge its completion, without any unwarranted fanfare. Instead, I’ll note our penultimate position, and, supply the final words needed to make it all good. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; believe me, it’s for the best if I do….

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 -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Aggrandizing for the masses….

Ffolkes,

“Dying is a wild night and a new road.”

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

primroses

Simple Beauty….

Hajime…. Probably, what’s going on is merely a function of my own mind, in dealing with all the crap that builds up in there. Whatever the case may be, I’ve been going into some strange places lately. In my head, that is; sadly, I don’t get out enough to say that about the Big Blue Room. These places have the unfortunate ability to keep my attention on them, rather than on Reality, where I have things that need to get done, if only for my own comfort and serenity. I can’t say I’m suffering, per se; I can say I am not happy with Reality just now, and the only responsibility for it rests securely on my own head.

I’d say life can be a bitch, but, that’s not taking responsibility, and the world suffers THAT way too fucking much for me to add to it. I can’t say I’ll be able to put it all aside with any degree of simplicity, but, I will do so, regardless of how much more uncomfortable I get. If I don’t it won’t change, now, will it? Nope. Such is life….. With all that said, I can get to the meat of the matter, which is simply this: I didn’t get much of a Pearl done. I’ll finish it up, best I may, and post it, but, it’s not anywhere close to what can usually be expected around here. All I can say is, oh, well…. Moreover, I’m going to go against my usual habit, and make that all I say. I have a feeling, ruthlessness is the only thing that will get this posted, so, here is ruthless…

Shall we pearl?….

“Do nothing secretly; for Time sees and hears all things, and discloses all.”

~~ Sophocles (496-406 BC) ~~

~~ Hipponous, Frag. 280 ~~

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

As is our wont, we’ll go with our old standby, classical music, because I know it will always do for its purpose…. Today’s selection purports itself as being designed for reading…. Enjoy!….

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Classical Music

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Comedy_Tragedy

Off the proverbial cuff….

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

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

4/30/2013

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

pearls_3

Today’s final, old-school pearl requires a moment of explanation. It is what I call a random harlequin pearl, chosen completely by instinct. Smart Bee offers up a group of pearls, and my unconscious mind picks out the ones that have something to say to us for today. Don’t ask me how it works beyond that, because I don’t know, and wouldn’t say if I did. If I look too closely at it, it might go away. In any case, here is our offering for today. There is a meaning to it all, but, you have to figure it out yourselves…. Enjoy!….

*******

“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

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

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

*******

“…all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

~~ George Bernard Shaw ~~

*******

“Deeds, not words shall speak me.”

~~ John Fletcher ~~

*******

“If a person is to get the meaning of life
he must learn to like the facts about himself —
ugly as they may seem to his sentimental vanity —
before he can learn the truth behind the facts.
And the truth is never ugly.”

~~ Eugene O’Neill ~~

*******

“Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.”

~~ Things We Can Learn From Dogs ~~

*******

“Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”

~~ Subtle Wiccan Bee ~~

*******

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

Okay; it’s done. Possibly the fastest ever created, but, we won’t worry about that. We’ll just post it, and be on our merry way. To fulfill our regulatory obligations, I’ll mention I will be back tomorrow. Use the time between now and then wisely; it’s your only real possession, you know…. See ya, ffolkes; count on 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

Kowabunga!

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Affability can be an asset….

Ffolkes,

“In the moment between stimulus and response lies freedom.”

~~ Steven Covey ~~

dfw-leelu

Grrr….

Hajime…. Sometimes in the morning, one receives a lesson. Today is not such a day. Any lessons I might have learned this morning would have been fruitless, as my mind resembles nothing more than a colander; most everything is leaking right out. In order to successfully produce today’s Pearl, I will be shortening this intro unmercifully, since anything I write would be suspect. How merciless are we going to be? Well, I’ll show you….

Shall we pearl?….

All that is harmony for thee, O Universe,
is in harmony with me as well.
Nothing that comes at the right time for thee
is too early or too late for me.
Everything is fruit to me that thy seasons bring, O Nature.
All things come of thee, have their being in thee, and return to thee.”

~~ — Marcus Aurelius Antoninus — Meditations, iv, 23 ~~

Today, while appreciating this sentiment from our old friend Marcus, all I can say is, “I wish”….. Onward, he said, grimly….

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Bob Marley

During the process of yesterday, (you know, getting by, getting through….), I had occasion to use one of Bob’s best lines, to wit: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, …”, etc., (from “Redemption Songs), in a comment on FB. Since I have a touch of OCD about such, using it required looking up the exact wording, which took me to a page with ALL his video mentions in Google, i.e., the Google playlist for his work. I began to listen, naturally, whereupon I decided the mix of songs was perfect for today’s Pearl. Hence, Mr. Marley…. If you listen long enough, you’ll hear everything of his there is to hear, some more than once…. Excellent….

Following the music from Bob, I’ve included a video of an unknown street performer, somewhere unknown in the world, which I found while cruising You Tube. You will NOT believe how good this man is on the guitar, or why you have never seen nor heard of him…. Watch, and try to keep your jaw from dropping; you don’t even have to know anything about guitar to see what a genius he is….

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Bob Marley

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Comedy_Tragedy

Choosing a Theme

Powerful words playing hide and seek in my mind,
teasing with subtle cruelty, pretending to be kind.
Grand visions and flowery verses of beauty and truth
evaded my inner eye all through the days of my youth.

Affable interludes interspersed with allegorical wit
softened the crimes, against all reason, to finally acquit.
Time became at once an enemy, and an ally
Never once compelled to provide an answer why.

Giving gifts of simple kindness are their own pay,
spreading ripples of compassion are felt far and away.
Love given freely is precious, we are ever told,
increasing love received, more than a hundred fold.

Living long and with passion has centered my soul,
allowing me room, and time, to choose my own goal.
Now that I’ve gone past any need to pretend
I love everything in life, even knowing it will end.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/21/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Who knew?….

*********

“Reality is a cliche from which we escape by metaphor.”

~~ Wallace Stevens ~~

*********

“Who are you?”

~~ Curious Bee ~~

*********

“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving till the right actions arises by itself?”

~~ Lao Tzu ~~

*********

“If you would hit the mark,
you must aim a little above it:
Every arrow that flies
feels the attraction of earth.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*********

“Do thou restrain the haughty spirit in thy breast,
for better far is gentle courtesy.”

~~ Homer ~~

*********

“Gli arcobaleni d’altri mondi hanno colori che non so.
Ma lungo i fiumi d’altri mondi nascono fiori che non ho.
[The rainbows of other worlds have colors I don’t know.
But along the rivers of other worlds flowers are born that I don’t have.]”

~~ Fabrizio De Andre ~~

*********

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

~~ Leo Tolstoy ~~

*********

“What is man’s chief enemy? Each man is his own.”

~~ Anacharsis (f1. c. 600 B.C.), Scythian philosopher ~~

~~ Stobaeus, Flor., II, 43 ~~

*********

“In every enterprise consider where you would come out.”

~~ Publius Syrus — Maxim 777 ~~

*********

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Following the prophetic words from Publius Syrus, we have come out precisely where we intended. Since the ruthlessness displayed in the intro was so effective, not to mention efficient, let’s carry on with that here. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, if I’m still breathing, and able to type….. good odds on that….

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….

Reasons to move deftly….

Ffolkes,

“I know who I am. Sometimes you go away, but I’m still here.”

~~ Everyone, always… ~~

sunset

Sunrise/Sunset

Hajime…. All things considered, this might just work. Some ruthlessness is called for, but, being human, that’s not an issue. The pearls, naturally, take care of themselves. Provided I can come up with just enough to say, this should do well, or, at minimum, do. Nothing more to do but, smile, smile, smile, and be on our way, sans delay. It’s day one of a new beginning, so, what say we head out, and start enjoying it? I think that’s a SWELL idea…

Shall we pearl?….

“Few people have the imagination for reality.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~

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pearls_3

“Belief is the death of intelligence.”

~~ Robert Anton Wilson ~~

*******

“As the tempest and the thunder affect not the sun or the stars,
but spend their fury on stones and trees below;
so injuries ascend not to the Soul of the great,
but waste themselves on such as are those who offer them.”

~~ Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) ~~

*******

“The problem with aging
is that you stuffing starts to come out.
You don’t have the youth, looks and energy
to keep stuffing the feelings you tried to hide.
To grow old is to face who you are
behind the mask you created in youth
face the spirit which lives in a decaying body.”

~~ Callan Williams ~~

*******

“I dreamed a thousand new paths… I woke and walked my old one.”

~~ Chinese proverb ~~

*******

“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*******

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

“Is an atheist church a non-prophet organization?”

~~ Smart Bee ~~

That should do for a first try. I like the last quote from SB; it’s a good ending, don’t you think? No? Oh well. So be it. We’re done here, so, regardless of anyone’s contrary opinion, we’re outta here. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, as long as the center holds….

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 -- 9548

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Snippets of old, sad songs….

Ffolkes,

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

~~ Bob Marley ~~

Liverpool 003

Random Building, Liverpool, England

Hajime…. I’d thought to begin today’s effort with a fictional opening. The resulting morass of insanity created in my mind was too much, even for me. Rivers of blood, fires raging, world’s colliding, dogs & cats mating; not going there so early in the morning. Besides, I figured, given the explosion of Gentle Readers who came by yesterday, I’d best come up with something a bit more, shall we say, attractively intellectual, if I hope to see any of them again. Of course, finding anything resembling intellectual in this head may be asking a bit much of reality, but, hey, it was a thought…. Not all of them can be good ones….

Since any elegance has been shot down so effectively, maybe I should wander off into nonsense for a while. It’s one of my best things, especially on a day like today, when Murphy hovers over my shoulder, tapping random fingers to create typos, and the forces of chaos are standing ready to bury anything resembling coherence. Trying for ANY directed thinking is probably not going to work; entropy rules apply on all levels during such a storm of inanity. I suppose I could shoot for sheer insanity, but, that always makes it hard to get back to even a semblance of normalcy. Maybe today isn’t the best time for that.

Oh, well. So much for thinking my way out of this. Leelu isn’t helping either; her only answer to my queries is, “Aren’t you going to throw that paper?” She’s kinda focused on routine at this time of day. Damn! It sure can be a pisser, ffolkes. Trying to come up with a compelling intro every day is NOT as simple as it may seem, especially for someone with my proclivity for self-abnegation, combined with an extreme talent for waffling. Hey! Wait! There’s the ticket! Yeah, that’s it; we’ll smother the whole thing in syrup! Then, nobody will be able to even tell how awful it was…. I knew I could figure it out….

On that odd little note, I think we’ll go on, before this becomes any more impenetrably obscure. I think, if we go on right now, we may be able to save this. It’s worth a try. We’ll just use this ruthless little number right here, which will get us out of here practically before I can fini….

Shall we Pearl?….

All of us who are worth anything,
spend our manhood in unlearning the follies,
or expiating the mistakes of our youth.”

~~ Shelley ~~

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

Yep. You guessed it. Today is a default music day. How do I know this? Well, it may come as something of a shock, but, I just know. So be it. Give yourself half a chance, & you’ll enjoy it. A whole chance could lead to even bigger things, but, I don’t want to spoil any surprises, so, just listen up, & pay attention. All will be well….

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Classical Music

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https://youtu.be/TC94iWNzmaQ

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Dont keep calm

“Religion; humanity’s greatest folly, greatest curse.”

~~ Kevin Harris ~~

In the past five years or so, while writing this blog, I’ve discussed this concept any number of times. In doing so, I have progressed in my thinking from a tentative agnosticism to a firm atheism regarding the idea of a God. All my explorations and research into the subject have confirmed my initial unease at accepting the generally accepted view, to wit: I find absolutely no convincing evidence in reality to support the idea there is some supernatural being sitting up in the sky, who created all we perceive, and actively gives a crap about what happens to us. Sorry, but, that’s the truth; there just isn’t anything to be found to make that true; this makes believing in it a delusion, as far as I am concerned.

Once that is accepted, it becomes easy to see just how bad the whole idea has been for humanity. The difficulty arises from the simple fact that those who choose to believe such nonsense make a couple assumptions, neither of which is true, but, if held as such, cause the believer to act completely contrarily to all common decency, because they have made themselves separate from the rest of humanity, by choice. One false assumption made is to believe the idea that only they possess the actual truth about such matters. This gives them a false sense of entitlement, while simultaneously giving them permission to cease all rational thought, both of which are disastrous for society at large.

I could, and probably should, continue in this vein for some time…. However, to keep from overdoing it, I’ll retreat into the archives to finish this small indictment…. Here is a relatively short, but sweet, treatise on this subject, from a slightly different starting point, though nonetheless cogent for that. It will do until I build up enough new angst to finish this off properly. Plus, it will move us along, so we aren’t stuck here in today, forever…. Enjoy!

From 12/5/2012:

One day a gate breaks down between heaven and hell. So St. Peter arrives on the scene and calls out for the devil.

And the devil saunters over and says, “What do you want?”

And St. Peter says, “Satan, it’s your turn to fix it this time.”

And the devil says, “I’m sorry. But my men are too busy to worry about fixing a mere gate.”

And St. Peter says, “Well, then, I’ll have to sue you for breaking our agreement.”

And the devil says, “Oh yeah? Where are you going to get a lawyer?”

— Soupy Sales

It occurs to me, Soupy’s next line from St. Peter would have to be…. “I don’t need one, I’ve got a fix in with the judge….” That would give not only balance to the argument, but would accurately reflect the actual level of corruption implied in the picture of the universe painted by the Judeo-Christian model of religion. It would also probably more closely reflect Soupy’s sense of humor, which was much more pointed than he got credit for…. People just thought he was a little strange sometimes, not recognizing lines that were making active fun of the establishment (as we old hippies were wont to call the mainstream of American society…..).

In reality, this joke is another example of the bad press that the Devil always gets; it isn’t often you’ll see a joke that ends up with Satan coming out on top. No, he is always given the role of the asshole, the manipulator, the one who wants to drag us down into Hell for eternal torment. Everyone seems to forget that they have ascribed omnipotence, and omniscience to God, and that He is the one who a) made the Devil the way he is, and b) could change it if he wished…. which seems to indicate that he DOESN’T wish to rid us of Satan, but prefers he be around to tempt and distract us…. That sounds to me like just a bit of manipulation in itself; how ’bout y’all?….

The preachers would have us believe that God allows Satan to exist out of his sheer benevolence, forgetting this is the same God who, in the Old Testament, sent forty bears to a town to kill all the children, just because a few small boys made fun of one of His prophets. He is also the one who threw Satan out of Heaven for objecting to some of what He had done on Earth, then turned around and allowed him free access to us humans, just so He would have a ready-made way to test us at His convenience. Just a little self-serving, don’t you think? This God, to my way of thinking, acts more like a spoiled little kid than a deity capable of creating universes…..

Okay, I’ll quit now. It’s really too easy to shoot at dogma; it never tries to hide, and just stands there, looking dumb, as you sight in on its forehead. But, hey, it’s a necessary job, and somebody’s got to do it…. Boy, it sure would be nice, though, to see humanity grow up, and learn to face reality without crutches, and without having to invent a supernatural being to explain away the stuff that isn’t clearly understood…. But, I guess it is job security, in that sense, because it means I’ll always have something about which to write….

“I’m RELIGIOUS!! I love a man with a HAIRPIECE!! Equip me with MISSILES!!” — Zippy the Pinhead

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Comedy_Tragedy

Momentary Terror

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

2/4/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Truth in advertising…

*********

“A man that should call everything by its right name
would hardly pass the streets
without being knocked down as a Common Enemy.”

~~ Lord Halifax ~~

*********

“Driven by the force of love
the fragments of the world seek each other
that the world may come into being.”

~~ Teilhard de Chardin ~~

*********

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

~~ Leo Tolstoy ~~

*********

“A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are for.”

~~ John A. Shedd ~~

*********

“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

*********

“Nowhere is now here.”

~~Nakagawa Soen Roshi ~~

*********

“Around existence twine,
(Oh, bridge that hangs across the gorge!)
ropes of twisted vine.”

~~ Basho ~~

*********

“An it harm none,
Do what ye will.”

~~ Wiccan Credo ~~

*********

“Do you love it do you hate it
There it is the way you made it”

~~ Frank Zappa, “Brown Shoes Don’t Make It” ~~

*********

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Okay, ffolkes. It’s done. Not only is it done, but, upon reading it, I have to say…. Now, THAT’S a Pearl! Full of smarm, nonsense, sense, and some pointed sarcasm, too. Not bad for an old fart with flat feet, flatulence, and a funny red nose. Since I don’t think I can possibly do any more damage than I’ve already done, I’ll leave you here, sans any further torment. I will, however, issue the usual caveat and disclaimer, to wit: it’s not my fault! If you can believe that, my work here is done. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; just try to stop me….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….