Tag Archives: Horace

If only zucchini was more charitable…..

Posted on by
Reply

Ffolkes,
In today’s world, it can become hard to maintain a positive outlook, especially about the future. The Beloved Ruling Class is so intransigent, and so self-centered, I can see little hope that the changes needed for us to survive as a species will ever happen. This is, of course, tragic, to say the least, and is possibly NOT the best subject with which to start the day’s effort. A bit dark, don’t y’know?. But, I got an email last night while I was asleep that was extremely touching, and have to deal with the issue before I think too hard about it…..

As a matter of policy, I’ve never given in to chain letters, of any kind, whether, as in olden days, they had stamps, or the more modern email variety. I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe in the idea that an email, or a letter, that I don’t forward to many people, will cause me to have bad luck, or that doing so will bring me good luck. Life, and Murphy, don’t work that way; this I know for a fact. But, occasionally, one will come along that has something else going for it, and for these I will break my policy about sending it on…..

I’ll be forwarding the email to my Pearl Drops on this occasion, and I’ll tell you why….. The letter, though full of all kinds of examples of the assumptions and faith-based beliefs about which I often rant, has something that the other chain letters don’t have, and that is a compassionate reason for sending it. The person who sent this to me did so because of their own compassion, for me, and for others, in spite of, or maybe because of, the fact  she has cancer herself, and is currently fighting the battle to stay alive we all will face one day. Yet she has the strength of spirit to want to give to her friends, and to feel that she is helping in some way……

Now, I’m not going to tell you that I’ve changed my mind about the healing power of faith, because it is actually one of the few parts of religious activity that I do believe is real. I fully believe the human mind has the power to heal through its own power of suggestion and belief; in history there are numerous examples of healings that cannot be explained any other way. I won’t allow that the power comes from God; I believe that power already resides within us. We all have the power to heal ourselves, and others, by dint of believing it strongly enough; we may not be able to see, or describe how it works, much less explain it, but, there are too many examples to deny the evidence…..

So, I believe in the power of the human mind, and in some unknown way, letters like these can distribute that power to where it needs to be, and can help people heal themselves….. So, I’ll be sending it along, with my own wishes for good fortune to those of my friends and acquaintances who struggle with physical issues, in hope that all comes out well in the end…. And, it’s like my friend said when she sent it…. it can’t hurt……

I’ve used up my intro section for this, and will double up its usefulness by copying it into the letter I’m forwarding. If anyone would like to see the letter, please leave your email in a comment, and I’ll send it to you; I don’t really want to paste it here, as it might shock some of my regulars out of their socks to see it on my site…. It’s a nice letter, all in all, and I really do appreciate that my friend sent it to me, even though I don’t buy into their faith… it is the impulse of compassion from them that is my concern, and I really feel loved for having them in my life….. Thank you, C….

I believe I’ve managed to accomplish my purpose without falling into either sappiness, or melancholy, so that makes this a GOOD intro, right? Well, whatever it is, it will have to do, as I don’t have the energy to go back and do another one. Time, I have, energy requires a bit more regulation, to ensure I can get as far as I can with what there is to use…. an amount much smaller than in previous periods of my life, to be sure. Before I figure out some way to screw this up, I think we should begin our dive for today….. Shall we Pearl?…..

“I hope something GOOD came in the mail today so I have a REASON to live!!” — Zippy the Pinhead
__________________________________

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank

Statements such as this are the saving grace of mankind, to my mind. It always astounds me how people who have been subjected to evil can react to that treatment by becoming the antithesis of evil, i.e., they simply become more good, in response to the evil perpetrated upon them. Anyone who can deny that Ms. Frank was witness to, and subject to, some of the most evil events in history is a fool; no, they’re an idiot. Probably both…. Yet, in spite of all that she saw happen to her family, her friends, and all she endured to survive in the face of the evil she experienced, her writing is filled with optimism and hope, and faith in the human spirit. It is almost enough to convince me of her insanity, but, I know that, even if considered insane, this kind of goodness is real….

The problem is that this kind of good is nowhere near as plentiful in human culture as are the more evil aspects of personality that we humans display. The kind of activities that took place in Anne Frank’s world are all too common in human history, and indicate the overwhelming majority of those who follow those precepts, of ignorance, hatred, and bigotry, rather than subscribing to more positive rules of conduct. In essence, what I’m saying is, there are more assholes out there than there are nice guys, no matter how we would like it to be otherwise, and no matter how strong our faith in human nature. It is the ugliest part of the dichotomy we experience as part of the universe that is based on opposites, to know that the evil in us, so far throughout history, is stronger than the good.

“As a man can drink water from any side of a full tank, so the skilled theologian can wrest from any scripture that which will serve his purpose.” — Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita was written a long time before the birth of Christ, so we know that the human proclivity to turn ideas to their advantage, no matter the original intent of the concepts, has been an issue for society for a long time. This is the difference between those who subscribe to improving human nature, and our understanding of life and our place in it, and those who use their talents to obtain power over others. While the former works toward the betterment of all people with whom they come in contact, the latter spend their effort to manipulate and control everyone they meet. In the real world, these deliberately self-oriented assholes (sorry, gotta let it out now and again….) are the ones who seek elected office, or go to seminary, or study law, or business, or become police officers…. not to help others, but to find every way they can to take advantage of the naive nature of their peers…..

SIGH…. (That’s a sigh as commonly sighed in County Clare, Ireland, indeed, in all the west counties of Eire; long, drawn out, slowly exhaled, complete with mournful expression, shrugging of shoulders, and shaking of head….) I don’t know the answer, though I have some ideas that might work, should they ever be considered. But, they all involve a certain degree of “giving in” to the more violent side of our nature. Though it is a soothing thought to think of all those assholes getting what they deserve, it is, to some extent, assuming the same characteristics that define them in their state of anti-humanity.

To get rid of them, we would have to become them, if only for a short time, and would thereby lose part of what makes us different in the first place…. So far, I haven’t been willing to give in to that extent. I don’t know if that shows that I have integrity, or if it means I am afraid to change to that degree, even if temporary. How to get back to the same ethical standing seems to me to be the issue, and I just don’t know the answer…. My karmic balance is no doubt too delicately perched on the cusp to risk any unreasonable violence without just cause….

But, if it gave the rest of us a chance to make some changes to society that would be of help to all of us, rather than just a few, well, I think I’d be willing to pick up a weapon and join the fray. Maybe having honorable motivation would be enough to get the job done, and still maintain some integrity…. If nothing else, it might give us a bit of breathing space, in order to come up with a more permanent, and more humane, solution to the issue…. Hard to say, as things have been the way they are for a long time, and rooting out the Beloved Ruling Class from their well-fortified position is not going to be a simple task…. As we all can see, human nature is what it is, and it doesn’t WANT to change….. None of us do…. unless, of course, we want to keep on living…..

“Either you think — or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
__________________________________

“A picture is a poem without words.” — Horace (65-8 B.C.)

And a poem is a picture of Life, with words as colors….. Here is what I think is possibly the best poem ever written by an American poet…. No other poem I’ve seen or heard of comes close to matching the depth of its simplicity…. and that phrase is precisely what I mean to imply…. Enjoy!…..

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost
__________________________________

Okay, so there I was this morning, cruising along through Smart Bee, and all these pearls kept popping up in front of me, demanding inclusion without telling me why. Being the patsy I am in re: my muse, I did so…. and this is the group that ended up as the end result of my indulgence. It makes a good point, or two, actually, and I really like the way it ends, with the pointy finger and all…. The points it makes, of course, are left as an exercise for the Gentle Reader, with bonus points for knowing which parts to chuckle at, and which to guffaw….. (a thinly disguised manipulation on my part to get the word “guffaw” into a pearl…. I love it when a plan comes together…..)…..

“Love of money is the root of all politics.” — Smart Bee

“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire

“Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism — how passionately I hate them!” — Albert Einstein

“The vultures are circling…they have the faces of presidential candidates and carry bowling balls in their buttered claws….” — Smart Bee

“Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of fools, but that fools would not imitate the good examples of wise men.  — Plutarch (46-120 AD) — Life of Marcus Cato

‘And if you’ve just tuned in, we’re talking about the red-hot,  tight-buttocked, hairy host of Hell.’  — The Church Lady

And there you have it, all wrapped up in a nice big bow….. Ta ta, then, luvs….
__________________________________

I’ve gone over it thrice, and proof-reading aside, it ain’t too bad….. Not too bad at all…. and, it’s done. So, I’m going to now indulge  myself again, and spend the next five minutes leisurely getting this copied, pasted, emailed, and posted to WordPress…. which is all the time it takes, now that I am once again blessed with home internet service.

Strange how things work out sometimes, eh? A state of existence that didn’t exist at all 20 years ago, now becomes an essential ingredient to a comfortable lifestyle….. It isn’t a surprise, so much, to those of us who grew up reading Science Fiction, as it is a gleeful sense of fulfillment that imagination and reality merged into such a powerful societal manifestation. Or, is that infestation?  🙂   Nah, it’s a good thing…. and it sure makes my day a lot more enjoyable, without a doubt…..  Y’all take care out there, and May the Metaphorse be with you…..

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

gigoid

Kowabunga!

But for the grace of Sally….

Posted on by
Reply

Ffolkes,
So begins another day in Paradise, eh? Paradise being defined, of course, as wherever I am. As the romantic fool that I am, I’d love to be able to say that “Paradise is wherever ____ is….”   the blank space used here to delineate the lady who makes me feel that way. Sadly, I currently have no name to put in the space, though I hold out hope that it won’t stay blank forever. Until then, I, like every other old fool in these parts, have to furnish my own paradise, such as it may be…..

No worries, though…. all things considered, I am a pretty easy going guy, and it doesn’t take a lot to make me happy…. A good book, a bite to eat, and I’m pretty much good to go. I’ve learned to live without the extreme pleasure of morning conversation, or the balm of knowing there is someone at home who cares enough just to want to be there. I do miss that feeling, though, that knowledge that there is someone out there who gives a shit what happens to me, and actually spends time thinking about me during the day, just as I miss having someone to occupy my mind in that way. Ah well, life goes on, and that kind of relationship only happens when we stop thinking about it, and start getting on with life…..

In that spirit, I think I’ll make this one of the shortest intro sections in several months, and get on with today’s dive. I’m trying to cultivate patience, in my quest to keep from killing any federal employees, so I will extend that cultivation into the area of relationship, and be patient for the appearance of someone with whom I can find happiness…. who knows, maybe they’re already nearby, and I just haven’t been attentive enough to what is around me…. Time will tell….. In the meantime, Shall we Pearl?…..
__________________________________

“”We’re not talking about the same thing,” he said. “For you the world is weird because if you’re not bored with it you’re at odds with it. For me the world is weird because it is stupendous, awesome, mysterious, unfathomable; my interest has been to convince you that you must accept responsibility for being here, in this marvelous world, in this marvelous desert, in this marvelous time. I wanted to convince you that you must learn to make every act count, since you are going to be here for only a short while, in fact, too short for witnessing all the marvels of it.”” — Don Juan

So far this morning, my mind is playing tricks…. It is allowing itself to become distracted by any little thought that passes by, refusing to settle in to one train of thought for long. I’ve now been at this about an hour, and not even this wonderful pearl from Carlos Castaneda is able to push my brain into an analytical mode of operation, at least, no so far……

I first read the Don Juan series of books, the first four anyway, when I was in my twenties, having first come across them when in college. They were a significant part of my philosophical training, and included my earliest attempts at moving away from the more classical forms of philosophy. I even went so far as to experiment with the mushrooms used by the Indians to produce visions, the psilocybin branch of fungus whose use became popular through the books. I can’t say I saw the visions I expected, but, it was definitely a learning experience….. I’m just not sure exactly what I learned….

But, that is what Don Juan is saying here, after all…. We don’t really pay attention to the universe, because we are too busy trying to control it, so we end up missing the perceptions that would be the most valuable to us, while we are trying to change that which cannot be changed. The universe is filled with “stuff” about which we know nothing, because we are unable to free our perceptive abilities sufficiently to see, or hear, or feel them. We are like blind men, shuffling about a dark room, bumping into furniture we cannot see, and exclaiming that we love the pain in our shins….

For example, in one of the Don Juan books, the brujo, Don Juan, describes to Carlos Castaneda a method of traveling rapidly across the desert…. The runner assumes a bent over posture, with arms hanging down by their sides, in a posture that appears as if they are bending over to grasp an object on the ground. While standing in place, one begins to bring the legs up to the chest in a high kick, but without kicking, but dropping the leg down as the other comes up, producing a running in place movement, with the feet rising high over the ground at each step, and bounding like a kangaroo when it hits the ground. The runner then focuses their vision a fairly long distance ahead, leans forward, and begins to run across the landscape, like a bounding, bent-over beast…..

It all sounds rather odd, and awkward, but, I have experimented with it, and can honestly claim that it is exactly as effective as it is claimed to be. While on a visit to my uncle, who lived near the desert in Phoenix, AZ, I went out into the open desert nearby to try to perform the described method. I assumed the posture, began moving my legs (and found my breathing automatically fell into a synchronous pattern that matched the leg movement), and then leaned forward to run….

It was an incredible experience, as one begins to almost fly over the ground, touching only with the feet for a second or less, then bounding on…. I didn’t keep count, but after only a moment of running, I stopped, and turned to look back at where I had begun…. I was astounded to see that in a mere few seconds, perhaps fifteen or so, I had traversed several hundred yards…. literally about five times as far as I could run over flat ground in the same amount of time, running normally…. I was dumbstruck, but, being a scientist by training and nature, I proceeded to try it again, with exactly the same results…. I’ve tried on different types of landscape, and it is as effective on the beach, or on a hilly mountain area, as it is in the desert; even in urban landscapes, as I’ve covered several blocks in mere seconds in my experiments…..

Now, of course, I don’t run at all, (too much risk of tweaking my back….) but, should it ever be needed, it remains a way that I could travel a long distance with little effort, for I found that after running this way, one is NOT fatigued, but, if possible, one feels even more energetic at the end of the run than at the outset. It also serves as a reminder that the universe is much bigger than just what we see, or pay attention to in our little bubbles of attention. It is our place as humans to explore all of that universe that we can, to try to understand as much of it as we may….. And the quest to know must go on until we are laid beneath the ground, to pass on to the next stage of existence…..

“People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.” — St. Augustine

I guess it all boils down to this:  Pay attention!…… You never know what may come in handy…..
__________________________________

“Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

Black Cat

A ghost, though invisible, still is like a place
your sight can knock on, echoing; but here
within this thick black pelt, your strongest gaze
will be absorbed and utterly disappear:

just as a raving madman, when nothing else
can ease him, charges into his dark night
howling, pounds on the padded wall, and feels
the rage being taken in and pacified.

She seems to hide all looks that have ever fallen
into her, so that, like an audience,
she can look them over, menacing and sullen,
and curl to sleep with them. But all at once

as if awakened, she turns her face to yours;
and with a shock, you see yourself, tiny,
inside the golden amber of her eyeballs
suspended, like a prehistoric fly.

Rainer Maria Rilke
__________________________________

The price of Truth varies over time, and according to the whims of circumstance. Though its intrinsic value is, of course, immutable, the consequences of its publication, or its suppression, can change drastically. I had originally thought to put a diatribe here, a pointed rant on a frequent flier in the skies of ECR (Exploring Consensual Reality…. you know, this blog, the place you ARE….). The rant, however, faded from my mind after a couple of pearls showed up to distract me…. then came the other two of those included below, and I saw that I was done…. These four simple statements make a very valid, pointed argument for Reason, and Truth, and for their value in bringing some sort of order from the chaos in which we live…. So, here is an old school pearl, with a very sharp point….. read it carefully….

“A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.” — Oscar Wilde

“If the Bible proves that God exists then comic books prove the existence of Superman.” — Smart Bee

“It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.” — Buddha

“Who then is free?  The wise man who can command himself.” — Horace (65-8 B.C.)

See? Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it? And you’ll be glad to know that this WILL be included in the final exam, to be given someday, far in the future….
__________________________________

“I’ve wasted an excellent opportunity to remain silent.” — Smart Bee

I sure have! Too late now, though, so it will have to do. I’ve already labeled it for placement in the “it’s done” category, and as you know, once it goes there, there’s no turning back….. I’m off, to try to figure out how to pass the time until the mail gets here, to either delight, or depress, me, depending on the contents, or lack, thereof…. Boy, isn’t grammar, punctuation, and syntax wonderful? I think so….  Y’all take care out there, and May the Metaphorse be with you…..

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

gigoid

Kowabunga!

Night birds sing their own songs….

Posted on by
1

Ffolkes,
Birthdays often lead to self-examination, as we are forced to acknowledge the passage of time with yet another celebration of an event that may or may not warrant such…. not that celebrating birth is bad, necessarily….. I’m just pointing out that not everyone feels as if their life is currently something worth celebrating….. Plus, there is the whole aging issue here; after 62 of these days over the course of my life, they lose a some of their “special” feeling, ya know? It’s hard to get excited over a day that mostly signifies the advent of further medical issues…..

I always kind of liked the way Hobbits dealt with birthdays in the Shire. On their birthday each year, they would throw a party, inviting all of their friends, and give each one of them a present to celebrate the day…. This, as J.R.R. Tolkien pointed out, meant that during a common year, hobbits only had to remember their own birthday, and buy a present for everyone then, one time a year. During the remainder of the year, they would be invited to many parties, getting a present each time, as their friends celebrated their special days. It always seemed a much more logical way to approach the whole subject than what we humans use….. less remembering of dates to accomplish, and presents and parties all year long…..

Ah well, one of the advantages of reaching an age like 62, (which is up next for me, this coming week….) is the foresight one is now accustomed to using. In this case, I’ll be using it to do my self-examination ahead of time, to get it out of the way, so to speak, so I can concentrate on enjoying that day without the angst thinking about it is sure to develop, given the current state of affairs around here. In fact, I’ll plan to do that introspective self-test tonight, just before bed, and it will be done, out of the way, and out of my mind….. Who knows? My mind might even buy it, and let it go that way…. if not, well, there’s nobody around anyway, to notice the difference, except for me, and I’m not going to tell…. hell, maybe I’ll get lucky, and won’t end up having to do it at all…. I could use the emotional break, for sure….

Of course, I’m saving up all that angst anyway, to dump on the poor psychiatrist who was unlucky enough to be assigned to examine me on November 8th; I intend that he/she will see EXACTLY how much my PTSD is affecting my life every day, complete with tears, rage, fear, regret, and thoroughly general malaise…. I only hope I can refrain from physical expression; I don’t wish to hurt them, just give them a good fright, which they deserve for involving themselves in the SS process….

I see that sort of service by doctors as sort of “copping in” to the establishment, sacrificing independence and insecurity for the security of consultations for the federal government…. It’s sort of the same impulse that those who seek public office have, to raid the public treasury with impunity…. and thus, I don’t have a lot of respect for them, as a rule. Besides, thanks to my lifelong habit of reading a book a day, I find I’m usually better educated than most of the doctors I meet, and they don’t much like that, as it tends to undermine the slavish obedience from their patients to which they are accustomed…. and will NEVER see from me, as I tend to question EVERYTHING they say….

I see that I am wandering, and threatening to fall into a rant, without ever picking a subject…. which means this intro section has gone on long enough…. If I don’t try to assume some control at this point, it can get away from me in a heartbeat…. so, Shall we Pearl?…..
__________________________________

“The incestuous relationship between government and big business thrives in the dark.” — Jack Anderson

“Have you noticed that many people who laugh at kids who believe in Santa Claus are the same people who believe in campaign promises?” — Smart Bee

My mind is in a very abstruse state this morning; I am seeing all kinds of tenuous meaning in different quotes, meaning that is certainly not obvious, and may even be illusion. Nonetheless, the meaning it implies is quite illuminating, so I’ll put these two quotes together, and see what happens…..

It may help in understanding to what I’m referring to know that the meaning I’m glimpsing has to do with the current election for POTUS here in this land we call, occasionally, home sweet home…. Each quote, of course, addresses a separate entity involved in the election process, and I will be scrupulously fair by not delineating my own guess as to who those entities might be…. hopefully, it is obvious, and I won’t have to beat around TOO many bushes to illustrate my points.

One of those points has to do with the first quote, and the quite obvious melding of the two entities in question, government and big business, that is so apparent in one of the candidates. This man is the perfect example of one who believes that he is entitled to be the POTUS because he is rich, and wants to have that power to solidify his status, along with the rest of his cronies. His disdain for the common man is written plainly in every one of his statements, even the lies, which are at least 50% of what comes out of his mouth. The opposition candidate isn’t completely innocent of such catering to the 1%, but he is at least attempting to equalize the playing field to some degree….

The most astounding thing I find in this election is the number of women who have, for whatever insane reasons they find, come out in support of the candidate who is on the right, merely because he is not the incumbent, whom they fear because of their own bigotry. Here is a man who has made it clear that he is a misogynist and a coward when it comes to women, and women’s rights, with almost every public statement he has made on the subject…..

He and his running mate, a mad dog if I’ve ever seen one, have both publicly stated they would support laws to make it illegal to have an abortion, even in cases of rape; moreover, they believe the rapist should have the rights of any father…. Yet these women won’t set aside their racism and brain-washing long enough to acknowledge these men’s campaign to have women’s rights totally controlled by men…. It is just plain incomprehensible to me, that any woman in her right mind would be able to stomach such a man, at all, much less allowing them to control their rights…. I’m not a woman, and it makes me want to slap them, repeatedly….

“The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.” — H.L. Mencken

This election campaign will, I believe, go down in the history books as one that provides absolutely incontrovertible evidence that Mr. Mencken had this idea nailed perfectly. That it would be so, is no end a frustration to me, as I believe the average American to be more ethical than that, and much more self-aware. But, I suppose that is merely the part of me that subscribes to groundless hope, because I also know that one can never afford to underestimate the power of human stupidity….. especially when it comes to politics…..

“Politics…. is poopadoodle….” ~~ Fred, the Bird, from “Odds Bodkins”, an iconic comic strip from the 60’s and early 70’s
__________________________________

“Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” — D.H. Lawrence

Alone And Drinking Under The Moon

Amongst the flowers I
am alone with my pot of wine
drinking by myself; then lifting
my cup I asked the moon
to drink with me, its reflection
and mine in the wine cup, just
the three of us; then I sigh
for the moon cannot drink,
and my shadow goes emptily along
with me never saying a word;
with no other friends here, I can
but use these two for company;
in the time of happiness, I
too must be happy with all
around me; I sit and sing
and it is as if the moon
accompanies me; then if I
dance, it is my shadow that
dances along with me; while
still not drunk, I am glad
to make the moon and my shadow
into friends, but then when
I have drunk too much, we
all part; yet these are
friends I can always count on
these who have no emotion
whatsoever; I hope that one day
we three will meet again,
deep in the Milky Way.

Li Po

“No poems can please nor live long which are written by water-drinkers.” — Horace (65-8 B.C.)
__________________________________

“I often have long conversations all by myself, and I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word I am saying.” — Oscar Wilde

AOL!….. LOL…. “AOL!” is hacker slang for “me, too!”, patterned after the typical AOL user’s response to a witty statement in a chat room…. In this case, I can honestly say that Oscar and I have this in common, especially the part about not understanding a word I’m saying….. I would say that puts me in some pretty good company, what?….

“The trouble with using experience as a guide is that the final exam often comes first and then the lesson.” — Smart Bee

Oscar once made a statement that ran parallel to this one, as well. It is a hard lesson for all of us to learn, but, it is one of those common pieces of natural law that affect all of us at one time or another in our lives. Life, like the physical universe, just doesn’t care whether or not we are ready for an experience, it just happens. It is our own reaction to that which determines whether or not we are able to cope with the experience, and learn from it, or whether it buries us…. an all-too-common fate. It’s a tough room, as the comedian said….

“If you’re smoking after sex then you’re going *WAY* too fast!” — Smart Bee

This is not a perfect segue into the next item for discussion, since I’m a) not sure what that was, and b) this wasn’t it, but it does exemplify what I like to call the “silly factor”, an offshoot effect of the natural bozoid tendencies that all of us humans possess as members of this silly species…. Murphy’s Law is merely an observation, but is one that could only be made by our species (even though I’ve noted that other species, that associate with us, can sometimes be pulled into Murphy’s influence, to do his bidding, and occasionally, to act as co-victims….), because he takes full advantage of our tendencies toward bozoid behavior, to set traps for us; traps that cannot, and never do, fail to catch us unawares.

“I sometimes think that God in creating Man somewhat overestimated his ability.” — Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Even if one considers that God did not exceed his capabilities when making Man, he certainly made a rush job of it, and left certain design characteristics out of the final production, facets that would have gone a long way toward making this world a lot more pleasant a place than it has turned out to be, with Man in his current foolish state. Ah well, it just goes to show that one shouldn’t depend on a notion like creationism to provide us with excuses for our behavior….. accepting that kind of indulgence, or even assuming it, has obviously led us to the state of affairs we now face in the world, as the great majority of people continue to behave just as if they had the right to use the universe as they choose, rather than as they should do as moral creatures….

“Instead of being born again, why not just grow up?” — Smart Bee

That about says it all, don’t you think? Mankind would be far better off if we all decided to act as grown-ups, rather than clinging to the ages-old fantasies that have put us in this position. Only a child acts without regard to consequences; our species has been refusing to grow beyond that avaricious stage for millennia now, and the world is showing the deleterious effects of that sense of entitlement. We cannot continue to treat this planet as our toy, to be used and discarded like it was some piece of manufactured plastic, or we will most certainly suffer the very real consequences of that foolish attitude.

“Morals today are corrupted by our worship of riches.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)

In spite of all the massive quantities of evidence that it is harmful, we continue to pump millions of tons of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere every minute of every day…. the effect of that on the balanced ecology of the planet is reaching a critical flash point, and may already be at a point from which there is no turning back…. This is FACT, not supposition….. but, the world carries on, certain that we may depend on the same old idea, that we are invulnerable, and not subject to the laws of nature…. a sincerely stupid idea at best…. It is almost enough to make one want to tear hair out and start shooting…. but, unfortunately, there isn’t enough ammunition to shoot all the folks who need to be shot, and it’s probably too late now, anyway….. Besides, who wants to be the one who has to decide who to shoot first? (I do! I do!…. which just proves that we humans can’t handle that sort of godly decisiveness….)

“All the secrets we may be able to keep from any and every god and human being do not in the least absolve us from the obligation to refrain from whatever actions are greedy, unjust, sensual, or otherwise immoderate.” — Cicero, On Duties

It’s really too bad that this idea never caught on…. Oh, many folks learned to use it, to lie to the rest of us, but, in reality, nobody ever really does this, they just say they do….. It kind of makes one wonder whether we deserve to keep living, doesn’t it?  Well, it makes ME wonder…. with not a little bit of sadness, for our species holds such promise…. a promise we have never learned to keep….

“It is only the superficial qualities that last. Man’s deeper nature is soon found out.” — Oscar Wilde
__________________________________

Well, it took me about three hours, but it all came together eventually. Once again, it has reached that all-important stage…. it’s done. See, now I can use that as an excuse to stop, which can often be a problem here…. As you may have noted, I suffer from massive inertia when I write… once I’ve started the whole process of getting it to move, it becomes hard to bring it to a halt, due to the tendency of objects in motion to remain in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force…. (thank you Isaac Newton, and your Second Law of Motion….)  I herewith activate said outside force…. Y’all take care out there, and May the Metaphorse be with you…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Secrets to becoming an Adept….

Posted on by
2

Ffolkes,
Caution–I was not hired for my disposition…. I’ve always known, it seems, that anger is what we use to cover up our fear, so it is really no surprise to me to feel the depths of anger I am currently feeling. I know exactly why I’m angry, and of what I am afraid; they (the ubiquitous ‘they’…) never tell us whether or not it is ever justified to feel this way, though, so I do have some slight guilt, for feeling anger at any who may not deserve it…. That guilt, however, is very small, and won’t affect my letting that anger out on somebody, should the right circumstances arise; I’m feeling very justified in my anger, and I don’t much care if it spills onto someone…. folks will just have to take the risk today, if they wish to deal with me…. because I am one pissed off puppy…. thanks to the power of bureaucracy….

“Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible.” — Javier Pascual Salcedo

My anger is so strong right now, it is almost a palpable thing, and it is probably fortunate that I don’t plan on actually seeing anyone face to face today. I have no money, so it will be off the library later to post and check email, where I don’t have to talk to anyone unless I choose. I’m also so out of money that I’m still out of cigarettes to smoke, and the 96 plus  hours of doing without is doing wonders for the anger…. fanning it nicely into a very respectable rage… I kind of hope a creditor calls this morning, so I could let some of this out on someone who deserves it….. Plus, since I haven’t smoked a cigarette in that long, my cough is actively trying to turn my lungs inside out, to get rid of the crap in there, so I can, if I’m lucky, cough right in some asshole’s ear….

You know, one of the things I’ve noticed about creditor companies, you know the ones who call up to harass you about a bill you never made, or one you’ve paid off, or one you are late on by a day or two…. it is always a male who calls…. Apparently they can’t get women to do that sort of dunning on the phone, because I’ve never had a woman’s voice call me about any of those kinds of things…. Interesting, eh? Sorry, little side-track…. but, it really doesn’t surprise me that men are the only people with enough asshole in their system to do the job….

Well, that certainly covers enough ground to be considered an introduction, though it doesn’t introduce much of anything….. I suppose one might say it fits right into the uncategorizeable  nature of most of what goes into these sections of the Pearls. “Typical” is a word that seldom applies around here, by design…. so, we’ll just pass over that like it isn’t there, and get on with the standard activities for which we are gathered…. Shall we Pearl?….

“And sometimes the bear eats you.” — Smart Bee
__________________________________

So, I’m cruising, looking for a pearl, and this picture pops up on my desktop…. it is one I found on Facebook months ago, and may have used previously, once, as part of another pearl…. I’m not sure. But, since it has been almost an hour since anything interesting either came up on the dB screen, or in my head ( writing poetry does that to my head for a while…. just a dial-tone sounding buzz in there….), I figure this will do. It is one of those pictures that stimulate inner dialogue in the viewer…. Well, it does in me, anyway…. My first thought when I saw it was, “Oh, poor baby!”, in reaction to her terrified expression and posture, and the second was, “What a perfect caption!”, because, if I were caught in this position, those would be my exact words….

    Onward….
__________________________________

Penance, Made Simple

After all the dross is sent away
a celebration can begin,
time will face up to space, to stay
willing, to shine from within.

Anger and confusion come in to share
brushing reason aside,
eager to welcome all that is fair,
alert to danger, eyes wide.

Re-gift the wicked with their own pain
stand with the just;
fail to partake of the ill-gotten gain,
living in honor, the only must.

Standing fast in the face of wrong
is its own prize and reward.
Holding on to truth makes us strong,
well worth working toward.

Little is left to chance by fate
our lessons are never free of cost.
Seldom does reality make us wait
only when alone, are we lost.

~~ gigoid
__________________________________

I am too angry to rant…. I know, that sounds silly, but it really isn’t….. I am so incensed at the disregard for human needs that is shown by our federal government, I am too distracted to focus down and use my mind to write about it. I know, I hear, or read, about it, and write about it frequently, in one or another of my political or religious (I reckon that should more accurately be, anti-political and anti-religious….) rants, but this is different. It is too close to home, and affects me too directly; I start to write about it, and get all tensed up, and then the uncontrollable weeping to which I am subject under stress starts, my head fills up with fluids, and it’s a big mess….

So, rather than get into that whole ball of wax, I’m going to gather together some appropriate pearls to take my shots at the talking heads today…. If you don’t know at whom these are directed, just pick a government agency, or a candidate for election, or a local/national religious pundit, and apply it to them. It will probably fit just fine…. Any who, here are a bunch of comments on the asininity of government, and those who engage in it…..

“…I am opposed to all attempts to license or restrict the arming of individuals…I consider such laws a violation of civil liberty, subversive of democratic political institutions, and self-defeating in their purpose.” — Robert A. Heinlein, in a 1949 letter concerning “Red Planet”

“Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.” — Lazarus Long

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” — Smart Bee
(See Italian Proverb, below, for further wisdom on this subject….)

Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. — United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
— adopted Dec.10, 1948. — This article is frequently violated in both spirit and letter — by most UN member governments, including that of the United States.

“Many politicians … are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition, that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim.” — Thomas Babington Macaulay

“He who knows nothing, doubts nothing.” — Italian Proverb
(Rather a precise definition of the members of the Westwood Baptist Church, wouldn’t you say?…. It is also pretty scary-correct if applied to just about any Congressional committee, or even Congressional member…. Hmm… come to think of it, it DOES apply, to virtually ANY Congressional member, House or Senate….)

It took a while, but I found a fitting final pearl for this spot. The above paints a complex picture of life, even though focused only on one or two aspects of public behavior, to wit: politics and religion, as affected by and related to, human stupidity, or cupidity, take your choice…. Hmph, sorry, I get wound up…. any who, this is so elemental, I’m leaving it alone, to stand alone….

“Grain grows best in shit.” — Ursula K. LeGuin
__________________________________

“Don’t hold to anger, hurt or pain.  They steal your energy and keep you from love.” — Leo F. Buscaglia

“Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans; it’s lovely to be silly at the right moment.” — Horace (65-8 B.C.)

In looking back over today’s effort, I see that once again, fate intervened to direct my hand (or, my unconscious mind knows me better than my conscious mind does….). These two pearls were collected during my search this morning, even though they didn’t fit right in with what I was seeking, and I didn’t know why I kept them, for sure. But, now I see, they were needed…. by me. Well, and maybe by you, as well, after getting through my drivel this morning…. In any case, they are quite acceptable as final thoughts, so, they stay…. and we can now get on with the rest of our day, such as it may turn out to be….  Y’all take care out there, and May the Metaphorse be with you…..

So much for formatting….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Talcum powder and pink Champagne..

Posted on by
Reply

Ffolkes,
When I first sat down to write this morning, I had intended to discuss the subjects of the Pearls I found yesterday. However, as I look at them now, I can see they are far too grim for such a beautiful morning. The first was to be an exploration of the anti-intellectualism prevalent today in this country, a subject near and dear to my heart. However, as such, I can tell without having to start that it would turn almost immediately into a rant. Not that there is anything wrong with ranting, but I’m too centered this morning to want to upset my applecart so early, so we will turn to other subjects that won’t cause me to go temporarily batty……

“The Irish Leprechaun is the Faeries’ shoemaker and is known under various names in different parts of Ireland: Cluricaune in Cork, Lurican in Kerry, Lurikeen in Kildare and Lurigadaun in Tipperary. Although he works for the Faeries, the Leprechaun is not of the same species. He is small, has dark skin and wears strange clothes. His nature has something of the manic-depressive about it: first he is quite happy, whistling merrily as he nails a sole on to a shoe; a few minutes later, he is sullen and morose, drunk on his home-made heather ale. The Leprechaun’s two great loves are tobacco and whiskey, and he is a first-rate con-man, impossible to out-fox. No one, no matter how clever, has ever managed to cheat him out of his hidden pot of gold or his magic shilling. At the last minute he always thinks of some way to divert his captor’s attention and vanishes in the twinkling of an eye.”  — From: A Field Guide to the Little People — by Nancy Arrowsmith & George Morse.

My cultural background is fairly mixed, at least in terms of cultures made up primarily of Europeans. I know for a fact I have at least two relatives within three generations who came to the US from Ireland, others coming here from England, Scotland, and either Germany or Spain (I could never get a clear answer, and anyone who would have known is no longer available for comment, having passed on to that big library in the sky) (hey, you have your picture of what heaven is like, and so do I….).


For some unknown reason, Ireland has always called to my spirit; their history resonates with that part of me that lived before, and stories and fables such as the above are familiar, even when I know I haven’t heard or read them previously. The feeling of deja vu is so strong sometimes, I find myself breaking out in a brogue, which can be disconcerting when it happens in the midst of a conversation. I get a lot of funny looks when it happens, but being adjudged as strange is a common effect of my interactions with others, so it doesn’t bother me. In fact, it merely reaffirms my own world-view, which begins with the assumption that my approach to reality must remain flexible, and ready to deal….I prefer to not repeat myself in that respect, thus making me a more difficult target…….

“Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.” — Horace (65-8 B.C.)

I don’t think very many folks would disagree with this statement from one of the scholars alive during the period just before and after the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, still used as the focal point of the Gregorian calendar much of the world uses. This insight can likely be shown to form one of the pillars upon which our culture is supported. It is part of being human to save a child in danger, or to commit acts of extreme bravery and compassion not commonly exhibited. These acts are brought out only in moments of ultimate danger and urgency, and in many cases are acts completely foreign to the person committing them. It is part of being human, instinctual, and is seen by humanity as being the ultimate example of virtue. And in a very real sense is one of basic components of a good story, one so basic it remains to this day one of the most commonly used plot elements in novels, movies, and any other form of story-telling. This deceptively simple insight, related over two thousand years ago, continues to be a driving factor in humanity’s need to communicate with others, and remains to this day a valuable tool in educating our children, teaching them how to tap into that well of human spirit and empathy, present in all of us as one more resource in the daily battle with Reality……

Cogito, ergo tango. I think, therefore I dance.

As axiomatic statements of philosophy go, this one is better than most. It reaffirms the belief common to everyone in my age group, that Rock & Roll will never die. Being human (I guess you could call the human spirit our discussion thread for the day), there is a part of us that responds, willingly or not, to the rhythmic strains and poetic lyrics of the best of the genre. I defy anyone to resist the urge to at least sway in place and hum upon hearing their favorite pieces; a great many folks like to have it one as background noise when they are working or occupied in activities felt to be tedious, and a great many of those folks will dance as they listen, even if only in their chair. It is an urge we all feel at times, and I think it is one that is beneficial to the spirit, and should be encouraged at every turn.

     Listening to good music, whether it is R&R, or R&B, blues, classical, jazz, modern, or Gregorian chant forms a connection with our spirit, and creates the urge to dance. I look at dance in relation to music as I do poetry to writing. It is an integral component of the human to seek to stimulate positive value experiences, and dancing is a sure path to such experiences. To shut one’s self off from these experiences causes us to age faster, whereas it is a known fact that experiencing positive events causes aging to stop, and even can reverse the process to some degree. If I can dance to improve my health, then all I have to say is, “where did I put my dancing shoes!?……

Here ‘s a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate;
And whatever sky ‘s above me,
Here ‘s a heart for every fate.
— Lord Byron (1788-1824)
— To Thomas Moore

No comment on this little snippet from Lord Byron, other than to say turning it over in your mind can be another of those aforementioned value experiences. Good stuff, dirt cheap…. y’all take care out there……

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

gigoid

Dozer at play..

Kowabunga!

Gnome, gnome on the strange….

Posted on by
Reply

Ffolkes,
Today’s blog is late for a good reason. About an hour ago, I had 3 teeth pulled out of my head. I didn’t get up early enough for this process, so it has been postponed. For that reason, we have gone back to the former format, with a relatively short introduction, and some damned fine quotes. I don’t have it in me right now for much creativity so, what you see is what you get…..

Brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio.
It is when I struggle to be brief ithat I become obscure.) — Horace, from Ars Poetica

It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.  It is by the Coca-Cola that the thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning.  It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.

On a day in which you give someone chocolate you do nothing of greater significance.

And as we stand on the edge of darkness
Let our chant fill the void
That others may know
In the land of the night
The ship of the sun
Is drawn by
The grateful dead.
— Tibetan “Book of the Dead” ca. 4000 BC.

“One who is plenteously provided for from within needs but little from without.” — Goethe

“Intemperate speech is a distinctive characteristic of man. Hotheads blow off and release destructive energy in the process. They shout and rave, exaggerating weaknesses, magnifying error, viewing with alarm. So it has been from the beginning; and so it will be throughout time.
The framers of the constitution knew human nature as well as we do. They too had lived in dangerous days; they too knew the suffocating influence  of orthodoxy and standardized thought. They weighed the compulsions for the restrained speech and thought against the abuses of liberty. They chose liberty.” — Justice William O. Douglas

That’s all for today….I’m going to go lie down and stop bleeding now. Y’all take care out there…..

—
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes
I just sits.
gigoid
Dozer

Kowabunga!