Frivolous avocados wearing spats….

Posted on January 25, 2018 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“It is never too late to give up your prejudices.”

~~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden ~~

deigning to pose

Condescending to pose….

Hajime…. As a general rule, I would say the vast majority of humankind does not spend a lot of time in introspection; for the most part, when they do, they find it so uncomfortable, they find excuses to avoid such self-examination. This reaction to the need to understand ‘self’ is, in my opinion, part of the root cause of all the issues we find in today’s society that cause human suffering, for, ignorance, whether of self, or of the rest of creation, always leads us into difficulty with reality; the universe cares not a whit whether we make the attempt to grow, or choose to follow a shorter, less serene path to the inevitable death which awaits us all.

In recent days, as I walk about in the world, I find myself also walking the inner path to self-examination, for, when you walk in the world, not only does the world get bigger, but, our entry to the inner world expands, beckoning us to follow to a better understanding of ourselves; even time slows down, along with the speed of our steps, the more we learn to be ‘in the moment’, wherever we are.

One of the ideas which passed into my awareness was this: our Ego forms preferences in life according to our emotional reaction to what occurs. Those experiences which make us feel ‘good’, in my opinion, seem to be those which bring us closer to the connection we always have to the Source, to the knowledge of reality which is our heritage, and our legacy as a form of Life. ‘Bad’ experiences are those which cause us to lose the connection, and, along with it, the feeling of being in the place we belong, of being safe. The events of the real world, of having to deal with others whose ‘preferences’ are different than our own, distracts us from any time for self-examination, so, we react according to our own preferences, without any understanding of why our positions are different, or how we even came to have them. This ignorance puts us at a disadvantage, for we are reacting to the world, rather than interacting with it.

Hmm…. I see I’ve gotten rather deep into a discussion which ultimately leads us into areas of thought which can be, not just uncomfortable, but, actively disturbing. In my experience, such discussions often lead to strong reactions, for everyone has their own ideas about what is real, and what is important; seldom do humans come to an agreement over reality without first encountering conflict, all the result of our Ego-driven emotional response to Life, and our own lack of understanding of our own nature. Since we are still in the intro section, I am hesitant to take this any further; it is a subject which lends itself to long dissertation, to be sure. As well, since I really didn’t plan to begin with such an esoteric subject, I am not sure where I need to go with it. So, we’ll do the most human thing, and just quit.

Not to say we’re quitters, or that I make a habit of such cowardly mien; I just don’t think I’m awake enough to take it where it should go. Moreover, at this juncture, I don’t even KNOW where it should go, so, we’ll just go with getting today’s mess posted, and try not to think about the loss of potential understanding. I mean, it’s not like history is full of grand examples of mankind’s rationality; history is more a list of mankind’s failings of virtue than a list of ethical victories. But, in any case, I do have a Pearl, which I promised to get posted this morning, & if I don’t get started on that, it could get put off again, which would give me guilty fits for days. Wouldn’t want that, so, let’s go on, & continue this train of thought another time. In short….

Shall we Pearl?….

“I think too much or not at all.”

~~ Isaac Asimov ~~

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muddy-waters

Muddy Waters

For anyone who likes the blues, no introduction is necessary for this man. For anyone else, I will merely say, listen, and enjoy….

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Muddy Waters
Live in Dortmund, Germany
10/29/1976

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Comedy_Tragedy

A dream, weeping….

“Never a dull moment to spare”, he said
with a crooked grin, and a broad wink.
“Can’t keep Reality hanging by a thread….
what would Chaos, or Entropy think?”

So, we plucked up our dreams of old,
to carry us on, in dutiful, strong arms,
stuffed a candle in the remaining fold,
for luck, and perfect proof against charms.

Storms follow the sun, but, never stay;
lessons round every corner, all free.
Past fleeting doubts, in a sad disarray,
the journey becomes the reason to be.

Simple kindness manifests untold riches,
in defiance of common cause’s demise.
Bold courage, hanging in stitches,
mends wounds that come as no surprise.

Still, waters run deep, ’tis said by many.
Too much pain cannot apprehend
the salient, sharp points of epiphany,
nor, plainly, to wisdom aspire to pretend.

Folly dogs even the simplest truth,
fumes of toxic ignorance and bile,
alienated as a loose rotten tooth;
it often hides itself, for a long while.

Sought after eons ago, we cried out,
to believe, to suffer no more doubt.
But found instead good reason,
for love, and truth, from season, to season.

~~ gigoid ~~

— 8/30/2014 —

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Randomly Subtle….

*******

“There are those among us
who live in rooms of experience
that you and I can never enter.”

~~ John Steinbeck

*******

“If there is a sin against life,
it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life
as in hoping for another life and in
eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.”

~~ Albert Camus ~~

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“And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.”

~~ Erica Jong ~~

*******

“Counting time is not so important as making time count.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

“Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow but a vision.
But Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore to this Day.”

~~ Sanskrit proverb ~~

*******

“Things ain’t what they used to be and never were.”

~~ Will Rogers ~~

*******

“Is that funny? Is that a joke?”

~~ Data ~~

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

In the eternally appropriate words of Hassan the Moor, from the movie “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, I have fulfilled my vow. In some ways, it’s an iconic Pearl, with something for everyone, I would say. But, then, I’ve been known to say some pretty outrageous stuff over the years, and this could be merely another example of that. Who am I to say? For the nonce, it will suffice. I’ll be back in a day or two; not long, for reality is keeping me home more for a few days, under compulsion not worth explanation. Simply stated, I’ll be back, probably sooner than later. Y’all be well, remember to be happy as you may be, and, for goodness’ sake, be strange…. See ya, ffolkes….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 15397

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Such a happy eggplant!….

Posted on September 10, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.”

~~ Isaac Asimov ~~

sonoma spring

Spring in the Valley of the Moon….

Hajime…. We are all living in time, unconsecrated; most of us never know we live, at all, much less with any understanding of what any of it all means. Hence, unconsecrated. But, we go on, regardless, because, hey…. no choice. As long as our lungs pump air in and out, as long as we continue to exist on a planet filled with wonder and pain, we will continue to walk in beauty with eyes closed, oblivious to our own godhood….

I have no idea what prompted that. Nor do I care, for it broke the ice which had formed around my heart & mind. I still don’t know if the drama from next door is resolved, but, it’s been quiet for 24 hours, so, I’ll take it. The vet was here, & found Leelu to have picked up a flea, or three, from somewhere, along with a tapeworm infestation, both exacerbated by the recent heat wave & her apparent allergy to the flea. She’s been treated for both, & prophylactics have been applied to prevent further problems; she’s feeling better, though not yet her fully active self. She’s resumed her habit of wanting attention just as I begin this process, turning me into a cat hammock for a half-hour before she’ll allow me to finish, which is why this is a bit late this morning.

Things calmed down enough to allow me to finish this Pearl, so, I’m going to forgo any further discussion of the possible ramifications of recent events, & just get on with re-establishing the routines so rudely interrupted by real-time issues; first stop is to get this posted before any more interruptions can fuss with me. To enhance the possibility of success, I’ll go do that now, dumping y’all (and myself) back into consensual reality with a bit of a thump, which can happen when I apply such extreme measures. In fact, I’d suggest you hold on to your hat (if you’re wearing one) because the next step is rather steep, and there’s a high wind….

Shall we Pearl?….

“In handling a stinging insect, move very slowly.”

~~ Lazarus Long ~~

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blue moon soup bandcamp

Image from Album Cover via Google Images

I discovered this group in 2014, during the year’s Dead Covers Project, which takes place each year. Amateur, and some professional, artists make videos of their own version of iconic Grateful Dead songs, posting them on You Tube for the millions of Deadhead’s out there to enjoy. This group is comprised of four young men who play bluegrass music; they were obviously raised by Deadheads, as they play, & obviously love playing, old Dead songs in bluegrass style, with great four-part harmony, and excellent musical competence. Guitar, fiddle, bass, & mandolin, along with exuberant & beautifully blended voices make their versions irresistible. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do; I’ve included a link to their own band website, where you can also listen to the albums they’ve made streamed on various online platforms….

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Blue Moon Soup

https://www.youtube.com/user/BlueMoonSoupMusic

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Comedy_Tragedy

Relative Cynicism, with Caramel Sauce

Absolute stillness follows violent movement,
it can happen during a downhill race,
as an immovable piece of asphalt pavement
meets the once handsome racer’s face.

Yuk, yuk, yuk said that asshole Moe,
after poking both of Larry’s eyes,
bashing face, head, & crotch of Curly Joe
and only ever got hit with pies.

Lonely moments never really come along
when Murphy’s got us in his sights.
Not for money, love, or siren’s song
will he abrogate his natural rights.

All we can do is sigh, or laugh in pain,
as Life portions out our ration of shit.
Silver linings melt in the slightest rain,
so we may as well learn to live with it.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/7/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life at Large….

*******

“Every moment is precious. And precarious.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

*******

“Nothing is more useful to mankind than those arts which have no utility.

~~ Ovid ~~

*******

“A man of genius makes no mistakes.
His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery.”

~~ James Joyce, “Ulysses” ~~

*******

“Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.”

~~ Edwin Hubbell Chapin ~~

*******

“If the only prayer you say in your whole life is ‘thank you,’
that would suffice.”

~~ Meister Eckhart ~~

*******

“Perhaps the most valuable result of all education
is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do
when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not;
it is the first lesson that ought to be learned;
and however early a man’s training begins,
it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly.”

~~ Thomas H. Huxley ~~

*******

“Many journeys end here,
But the secret’s told the same.
Life is just a candle
And a dream must give it flame.”

~~- Neil Peart, Rush ~~

*******

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

Since I’m already late getting this posted, thanks to hammock duty, we’ll skip the usual tricks or treats you find in this final section, & merely say, see y’all tomorrow, as long as reality keeps itself on an even keel. In case I’ve forgotten to say so lately, thanks for stopping by…. See ya, sooner than you think, expect, or, probably, wish for…. Hah!…..

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 -- 14566

À bientôt, mon cherí….

The low-down on the high notes….

Posted on February 27, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“The Golden Rule is of no use to you whatever
unless you realize it is your move.”

~~ Frank Crane ~~

Looking south from La Bufadora, Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Hajime…. Between the events which took place out in the Big Blue Room over the last few days, and the contortions and incidences of discomfort my healing body provided for my consideration over the same period, I’ve been mostly unable to write, or even to read much, especially on the Net. Yesterday, I spent about 12 hours with my abdominal organs wiggling, gurgling, & generally having a high old time giving me fits, while cleansing itself, purging a lot of unwanted material, and, apparently, repairing decades of ill-function, in one swell foop. After the discomfort passed, I felt, relatively, great, just long enough to get some sleep. A long, difficult day, but, encouraging in the results….

I hope that was delicately enough put to spare anyone any distasteful imagery; it’s harder than it looks to impart the sense and feel of such matters, without going into basic descriptions which can get a bit graphic in nature. Rather than dwell on such things, I suggest we just take what there is so far, and go on to other matters, more relevant to our avowed purpose here, which is to sublimate my own inner urges, and to provide y’all with a few moments of entertainment, or, at minimum, distraction. Since I never worry about whether or not we actually achieve that purpose, (why torture myself?…), this means we can go on to the meat of today’s post without any residual guilt. Well, I can; y’all, as ever, are on your own.

Not that I don’t care; I just don’t care. But, that’s another story, & this intro is already wandering further from its intended path than planned. This, of course, is the usual result when I start blathering about current events, while attempting to maintain a bit of tact. Not an easy task, I admit, but, if I don’t do it, who will? I’m the only one here, aside from a periodically intrusive feline familiar; since she refuses to even consider using the keyboard to communicate, it falls to me. Go figure, eh?

It’s been too long, I think, since the last fresh Pearl; I don’t feel as if I’m quite getting the tone, or the incisive feel I want for a solid intro. Ah, well, chalk it up to lack of practice, & we’ll go on, just as if it was acceptable. Otherwise, there’s no telling when this will get posted. To save us any further embarrassment, I’m going to employ one of our usual methods of forcing the issue, to wit: the drop back five yards & punt technique, which happens to look like this….

Shall we Pearl?

“If I repent of any thing, it is very likely to be my good behavior.”

~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

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

I have been working on a long rant, which keeps growing with time, but, has never, yet, reached a point where it can be finished. SIGH…. To sublimate the urge, I’m posting this photo, which contains what I consider the guiding philosophy of my life, as taught to me, and my brothers, without any words used, by my own father…. How, you may ask, did he manage that? Easy. He lived by these rules, and let us watch…. You cannot do any better than this to help a young boy become a Man….

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

Though I am in somewhat better shape than any time in the recent past, I’m still not at top form. Today, this means we go with one of our two default choices for music, with some soothing classical tunes, chosen, as always, for the picture which caught my eyes while perusing the choices…. Enjoy!…

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Classical Music

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As an explanation/excuse for seeing my own poetry so often of late, I offer the simple fact of my condition, which prevents a great deal of research and/or reading I might otherwise do to find something new or different; using my own past efforts saves me that time. Today, this one merely gives a notion of how the last few days have passed for me, so, I’m going with it, for the reasons cited…. I do hope you enjoy it, nonetheless….

Dead Hands,Typing…

Puzzled anew by anomalous blocks of pain
caught, bemused, chained to routine, insane.
Stilled within breathless beauty
Engaging epiphany, insistent, called to duty.

Knees bent in lieu of a faithful rendition
suffuses, confuses, locked into stale perdition.
Clearing corrosion with hands encased in stone
Singular frozen follicles, masked by bone.

Partial focus brings unfiltered flavors to light
coloring each particle in simple delight.
Forlorn, novel conceptual artists singing in tune
nine notes in harmony, soft as the moon.

Honed blades of carbon steel flash in rhyme,
filling sensual receptors well past closing time.
Borrowed from neighbors in a week-old game
still bloody, without a proper name.

No flooded memories can justify such cost
no simple stationery, bilious, afraid, lost.
Ten times ten will never be enough
To fill so empty a stolen trough.

Bartering simplicity takes well into the night
solidly temporary pillars turned bright.
Unknown to all the pretty children who came
none were called, none had any remaining flame.

~~ gigoid ~~

2/25/2016

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Naked Pearls

Stuff worth remembering….

*******

“Bring all you got.”

~~ Bob Gibson ~~

*******

“The chain that can be yanked is not the cosmic chain.”

~~ Cal Keegan ~~

*******

“Life is pleasant.
Death is peaceful.
It’s the transition that’s troublesome.”

~~ Isaac Asimov ~~

*******

“Deeds, not words shall speak me.”

~~ John Fletcher ~~

*******

“If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.”

~~ Kindly Bee ~~

*******

“One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels.
The thing to do is to supply light and not heat.”

~~ Woodrow Wilson ~~

*******

“Have a great morning, and remember: if you don’t like the news,
go out and make some of your own.”

~~ “Scoop” Nisker, KFOG radio reporter, Preposterous Words ~~

*******

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

I have to say, this is one of the odder Pearls I’ve ever put together. Not surprising, to be frank, given it was created in pieces, at a number of various times over the past four days. In fact, it’s a small wonder it came together, at all. As it did, I’m going to take the money & run, far and fast. Well, as far, and as fast as I am currently able; I can’t honestly say that’s very far, or very fast. But, you get the idea. On that rather abrupt note, I shall take my leave, with the usual caveat, to wit; I will be back to do this again. Given the changing state of reality at all times, and the particularly uncertain state in which it currently exists, I’ll forgo predicting how long it will be; I’ll shoot for tomorrow, but, without promising to make it happen by then. In any case, we’re done today, and we’ll be back. That’s about as firm as I can be; so be it. Be strange, ffolkes; the alternative is unthinkable….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

The possibilities are endless, y’know….

Posted on December 19, 2016 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“If a little knowledge is dangerous,
where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger?”

~~ Thomas Henry Huxley ~~

Battling for sunlight….

Hajime…. Bah! Humbug!

I would guess, given my opening statement, the season has finally gotten past my defensive shields. It may also be a clue to note, my first coherent thought today upon awakening had to do with homicide, which leads me to some understanding of the need to parrot Scrooge. I feel dangerous, and, not to myself; I’d say the world of mundanes should probably be alerted, but, they wouldn’t listen, & might very well send me some sacrificial lambs in a futile attempt to assert some sort of fictional control over me. That’s okay by me; I haven’t killed anyone in years, & the practice might be useful. Hmm…. I guess I should make sure the abbatoir is ready, and the disposal pit has been prepared….

Now, most of the times I wake up in this state, (still more frequently than I’d prefer…), the act of voicing my inner wish to maim and destroy will generally take the greater part of the pressure off; in this way, it acts much like a steaming pot, where lifting the lid will allow a lot of heat to escape. So far, today, that’s not happening. In fact, I’m feeling more homicidal, and less in control, the longer I’m up. It’s probably just a delayed reaction to all the Christmas muzak we are all subjected to this season, which means there are only six more days to get through until it’s done for another year…. I’ve gotta say, the commercial crap we must endure is just wrong, and I don’t understand how people can so thoroughly deny reality….. but, then, I guess I’ve always felt that particular puzzlement.

At this point in my narrative, I feel I must assume some sort of control, if only to the extent needed to move us along where we’re supposed to be going. If I continue in this vein, we’ll end up ranting, which, at this point, and, given the seasonal fog of smarm so prevalent amongst the unwashed masses, could easily turn on me, & become an agenda for action; that wouldn’t be a good thing, mostly. Oh, sure, I’d feel better, but, what about the families of those idiots I’d have wasted? No, best to just join the rest of humanity, in the world of make-believe, just as if I didn’t want to ace the first fool to display their idiocy in front of me….. In short, I’ll be staying home today, seeking to find reasons to keep myself from rationalizing, a sure road to perdition.

Well, since it isn’t working the way it’s designed, I guess I’ll wing it from here. Don’t fret; I’m accustomed to wrestling with my demons, & haven’t actually killed anyone in recent memory…. and, my memory’s pretty good. So, I’ll just sit here, twiddling my mental thumbs, and stay out of jail. As for the rest of y’all, I’d suggest finishing the Pearl we’ve begun, then getting on with whatever you had planned for today. To dwell upon the issues we’ve explored thus far would be detrimental to all our future endeavors, so, best to simply file this one under, “Oh, well…”, and be done with it. The Pearl, I can say, isn’t too shabby, & should distract y’all sufficiently to help; if naught else, it’s good music, and fun for all in the final section…. Now, lets’ do this….

Shall we Pearl?

“There are two things on earth that are universal, hydrogen and stupidity.”

~~ Zappa’s Law ~~

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

I haven’t posted any of this organization’s music in a while, but, they have a new release, so I’m including it below. Every release they create does good for people, and I’m proud to be a contributing member. Enjoy some lighthearted music to lighten the day’s burdens…. Can’t hurt, right?….

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Take Me Home, Country Roads
Playing For Change

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

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

For a reason all-too-well-known to me, I’m not in a good mood this morning. For some other reason, this poem seems to fit my mood, so, here ’tis…. Can’t say I hope you enjoy it; such finer sentiments aren’t currently accessible just now. Try to do so anyway….

Augmentation: Inner Aye

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

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

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

3/2/2016

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

Naked Pearls

And now, for something a little different….

*******

“A thing derided is a thing dead;
a laughing man is stronger than a suffering man.”

~~ Gustave Flaubert~~

*******

Penguin Trivia #46:

“Animals who are not penguins can only wish they were.”

~~ Chicago Reader 10/15/82 ~~

*******

“The road to truth is long, and lined the entire way with annoying bastards.”

~~ Alexander Jablokov, “The Place of No Shadows” ~~

*******

” … for these truths hold good for everything that is,
and not for some special genus apart from others.
And all men use them, because they are true of being qua being …
For a principle which everyone must have
to understand anything that is, is not a hypothesis …
Evidently then, such a principle is the most certain of all;
which principle this is, let us proceed to say.

It is, that the same attribute
cannot at the same time
belong and not belong to the subject
in the same respect.”

~~ Aristotle ~~

*******

“Insufficient data for a meaningful answer at this time.”

~~ Isaac Asimov ~~

*******

“If they mention penguins, be afraid. Be very afraid!”

~~ Cheeky Bee ~~

*******

“I prefer to remain anomalous.”

~~ gigoid, the dubious ~~

*******

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

In a very real sense, this one is a victory. It’s done, which means I did it, and, nobody died. All good, so far. To keep us on that path, I’ll set us all free…. until next time, of course. At that time, we’ll again set our critical sights on trying to make some sense out of a world gone bonkers. Until then, do like I intend to do, & try to refrain from giving in to your/our homicidal urges; trust me, it’s for the best. Provided I have some minor success at that, which will mean I’m not yet incarcerated, or dead, I will be back to do this again. Since about 80% of this is hyperbole, and/or, just plain BS, the odds are good…. 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

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Madras pants in seasonal colors….

Posted on May 24, 2016 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“A fire eater must eat fire even if he has to kindle it himself.”

~~ Salvor Hardin ~~

~~ from Foundation, by Isaac Asimov ~~

Alaskan Taxicab

Hajime…. As I begin today’s post, several, no, many things are running through my head, most of which are unprintable, thanks to the reappearance of Murphy in this process. I’m trying to ignore his usual tricks, including the bloody mess in the water closet, so, that’s the last we’ll speak of it. It’s just depressing, anyway. Instead, I’ll jump right into some light housekeeping, in a manner of speaking, so we can get on with the rest of today’s mess, such as it may be.

I’ve been home from Texas for three full days now, but, still haven’t fully recovered from either the jet lag, or the near-complete exhaustion into which I drove myself, in order to do what I had promised to do. I completed my vow, but, with a slightly reduced degree of my usual excellence, due to a number of factors, led by the difficulties presented by my own reduced physical abilities, which tended to complicate all the rest. That, of course, is an obscure reference to getting old, a wall against which I am still banging my head too often. But, it got done, and done to a turn, so, all is well, with a good time had by all.

I have managed to put together a Pearl, complete with a fresh rant-like discussion. A new poem is leaking out, but, hasn’t quite gelled enough to finish, so, we’ll outsource there today. In some ways, I’d call what we have today a standard Pearl, not too shabby, but, not blindingly bright. So be it. It’s going to take some time, I think, to get back to our normal (hah!) routine, but, with Leelu’s help, we can do it. Perhaps my decision to return to Facebook will complicate matters, but, it’s good, I think, to take ourselves out of our comfort zone now and again, and, it certainly won’t hurt me to socialize a bit more….

All that said, to our usual lack of purpose, and, the obligatory lack of clarity, I’ll get this slow on the toad, so we can all get on to something more productive, if less fun. I suppose I should issue one or more of our usual warning/disclaimers, but, I’ve decided, from now on, y’all are on your own in that respect. If y’all don’t have a clue by now how it goes around here, well, you’ll just have to deal with it as it is, for, we have done all we can do to prepare you sufficiently to protect yourselves…. In short, welcome to reality…..

Shall we Pearl?….

“The stupid are deaf to the truth;
they hear, but think that the wisdom applies to someone else.”

~~ Heraclitus ~~

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

It’s been a while since posting at all, so, naturally, Murphy has stepped in with his usual precise timing, to throw a spanner in the works. First day back, & I find myself late, and rushed to get it done…. Hence, our default musical choice, again chosen for the picture which drew my eye…. Enjoy, ffolkes….

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

Classical Music

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

https://youtu.be/v83uhOqSHu8

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

“In the arena of human life
the honors and rewards
fall to those who show their good qualities in action.”

~~ Aristotle, Nicomachen Ethics (4th c. BC) ~~

Though he lived more than 2500 years ago, Aristotle is still regarded as one of humanity’s greatest minds. There are points in his writings which indicate certain fallacies, but, most, if not all, may be attributed to the time in which he lived, for no man, or woman is free from the prejudices or assumed facts with which he is raised, and lives his life. Given that caveat, his thoughts on ethics, morality, and philosophy remain one of the standards by which excellence in thinking is judged.

If we can assume the validity of this aphorism, it clearly indicates how our modern world, so full of conflict and strife, has reached such a dangerous point in our journey toward developing a mature culture, able to survive into the unknown future. If we may define ‘human life’ as those parts of culture which best describe humanity’s hope for that future, then the culture we have been manipulated into accepting has nothing to do with being truly human, for all the honors and rewards go to those who display our most destructive characteristics, such as lack of compassion for others, the ability to deny their own responsibility to the species at large in favor of personal gain, and the use of their imagination for self-service, rather than for humanity at large.

Thus it is clear to me, because we have denied the ethical, human side of our nature, we have become a culture which is slowly, but, inevitably, heading for self-destruction. Moreover, thanks to the part of our modern culture which encourages dependency and mental laziness, almost all of those who will die in the imminent chaos are completely unaware of the danger, or their own part in bringing it to their own lives. As long as those who control the media, especially television, most of the world will go to their deaths without ever knowing of their peril at all…..

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

~~ Arthur C. Clarke ~~

I’ve written on this subject previously, as you know; some might say I’ve beaten this poor horse to death. But, given the absolute cluelessness of the general public on this planet, I would think some repetition might be necessary. In fact, given that same reluctance to use their minimal powers of reasoning, some serious pounding with a two-by-four piece of pine might also help it sink in, thought that remains a question. The need for the masses of humanity to WAKE THE FUCK UP is greater now than ever, I think; it’s also completely unlikely to happen….

When I returned to my online haunts, I checked in at chuq’s blog, where a lot of the discussion revolves around politics, and foreign policy, with a bunch of our current election news thrown in for discussion. I’m going to let y’all off easy today, by ending today’s rantish piece with my comment from the first post I saw…. It’s a good summary of how I’m feeling, politically, these days, so, we’ll go with it, and leave it at that for now…. As y’all know, I’ll probably come back to this again, because it’s all I can do….

“SIGH…. After seven days of completely ignoring politics, I can only say how ‘odd’ it all seems with a bit of perspective. I am reminded of the old joke about, “but, if you do, it only encourages them!”

The only way left to defeat the corporations, who are the real enemy (governments are merely the tool with which they distract us), is a complete boycott of their systems, returning to barter as our form of economics, which places value on human effort, not on illusions, ideas which do not exist in the physical world. If we didn’t pay our taxes, they wouldn’t have anything with which to threaten us, would they? How would they pay their myrmidons to arrest us all?

Capitalism must go, so must governments, and religion. Together, they have been used, as tools of manipulation, to direct the entire world for the benefit of just a few, disregarding any moral considerations in favor of their narcissist, sociopathic selfishness. It’s time for them to go away, and leave the rest of us be…. That includes all the Democrats, all the Republicans, all the Popes, and Imams, and Prophets, and ALL the bankers…. along with all the other assholes who sell their souls to the corporations, so they can be part of the elite….

…. may they rot in their own version of hell, instead of giving it to everyone else…. & you can tell ’em I said so.”

So be it.

gigoid has spoken….

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

A Book

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

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

Naked Pearls

Instructions for Life

*******

“Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.”

~~ James Shirley — Contention of Ajax and Ulysses, Sc. 3 ~~

*******

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
Learn as if you were to live forever.”

~~ Gandhi ~~

*******

“The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort
— the opening, terror.
Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing —
the opening a wonderfully joyous moment.”

~~ Andy Rooney ~~

*******

“As threshing separates the wheat from the chaff,
so does affliction purify virtue.”

~~ Richard E. Burton ~~

*******

True wealth is measured not by what you accumulate,
but by what you pass on to others.

~~ Larry Wall ~~

*******

“I leapt headlong into the sea,
and thereby have become better acquainted with
the soundings, the quicksands, and the rocks,
than if I had stayed upon the green shore,
and piped a silly song, and took tea and comfortable advice.”

~~ John Keats ~~

*******

“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth,
so virtue appears from good deeds,
and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind.
To walk safely through the maze of human life,
one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”

~~ Buddha ~~

*******

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

It’s late, but, it’s done, as well as I can do it, given the current status of reality. So be it. As noted, peripherally, above, all we can do is all we can do. Since it is patently clear we’ve done all we can do, I’ll quit pounding on the poor wee beastie, & allow it to expire of its own accord. As is my habit, I’ll try again tomorrow, with, presumably, fewer issues with which to deal. Hope springs eternal, as they say. See y’ll tomorrow, ffolkes; that’s the only warning you’ll receive…..

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.

“Do unto your data that which you can undo.”

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Unbaked pies as currency….

Posted on May 9, 2016 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“The wisest mind has something yet to learn.”

~~ George Santayana ~~

Entrance to Portobello Road, London

Hajime…. A week from tomorrow, I’ll be taking a trip, which is the activity I most enjoy in life. This may be a result of being raised as an Army brat, moving from base to place to base for much of my first ten years. We lived in Fort Ord, Fort Lewis, Japan, and Southern California in those times we visited relatives, all by my tenth birthday, when my father retired from the Army. Since leaving home, I’ve traveled as often as possible, for I feel I am fulfilling all my own dreams when I do. I enjoy having a base from which to go, but, for me, the journey is the thing, not the destination, or the beginning point.

In this case, I’ll be traveling for only about six days, to go see a friend get married. I have volunteered my services as a caterer for the reception, which is my usual gift to the bride and groom, as it takes a large burden from them during the time leading to the ceremony. It should be an interesting challenge, as it will be my first event since reaching an age where I cannot count on being able to do much of the actual work myself. Instead, I’ll be coordinating everyone else’s efforts, to make sure the event come off without a hitch. I’m looking forward to all of it, with great anticipation, and a small degree of fear, which will serve to keep me sharp, focused on working smart, instead of hard.

All that said, I’ll add there seems to be some lingering effect on my creativity, or, my angst, which drives it. In any case, these Pearls, for the first time in ages, will be a secondary concern; this means I’m going to fake it, a lot. We’ll begin that today, with a rant from the archives, instead of anything fresh in that section, as it takes the most focus and time to create a worthwhile rant. So be it. I’ll try to keep the rest fresh, but, no promises, as my head is already in Texas, organizing a work crew and space. In twelve days, I’ll be back home, probably ready to collapse for a few days, but, also, ready to write….. I hope.

At any rate, speaking of it gave us a grand opening for today, if naught else, so, we’ll take it, and run. In fact, we’ll break into a sprint, by using one of our standard tricks, to keep y’all fooled , er, occupied while I push this hidden button over here…. See how that works?…..

Shall we Pearl?….

“Even a fool knows that you can’t touch the stars,
but it doesn’t stop a wise man from trying.

~~ Judge Harry T. Stone ~~

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

Image from redmp3.su via Google Images

I feel like the blues today, so, here is the King of the Electric Blues, himself…. Live in Dortmund, Germany in 1976, he does his thing, and does it in style…. Abondanza!….

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

Muddy Waters

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

https://youtu.be/ltLHsD_A9I4

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

As promised, here is one from the archives…. Not to worry, it’s short, and not at all serious-minded…. Enjoy!

From 10/21/2012:

Okay, so there I was, cruising through Smart Bee, and these little gems popped up. Each one tempted me to begin a rant, or a discussion, but, none of them completely grabbed my attention enough to do the trick. They are all much too valuable to throw out, so I had this idea to include them as a “new-school” pearl….. Y’all can take the ideas herein described, and formulate them into your own pearl of virtual wisdom…. there is plenty here to work with; I’ve used many similar pearls myself to create unforgettable rants, or brilliantly funny forays into nonsense. (Sure I have….. trust me….)

“The correct way to punctuate a sentence that starts: “Of course it is none of my business, but –” is to place a period after the word “but.” Don’t use excessive force in supplying such a moron with a period. Cutting his throat is only a momentary pleasure and is bound to get you talked about.” — Lazarus Long, from Robert A. Heinlein’s “Time Enough For Love”

“In certain trying circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity furnishes a relief denied even to prayer.” — Mark Twain

“In regard to disagreeable and formidable things, prudence does not consist in evasion, or in flight, but in courage. He who wishes to walk in the most peaceful parts of life with any serenity must screw himself up to resolution. Let him front the object of his worst apprehension, and his stoutness will commonly make his fear groundless” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, _Essays_, Prudence

“I figure that if God actually does exist, He’s big enough to understand an honest difference of opinion.” – Isaac Asimov

“There’s more than one way to skin a cat, but there ain’t no way to make the cat enjoy it.” — Jed Clampett

“Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens.” — Michael de Montaigne (1533-1592) — Essays, Book ii, Chap. xii, Apology for Raimond Sebond

“Once you can accept the universe as being something expanding into an infinite nothing which is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy.” — Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

So, you should find it reasonably simple to do the same yourselves (creating a pearl, that is, not wearing plaid…) …. and if not, well, they are all fairly strong stand-alone dribbles of good advice/good observations, so you aren’t completely without recourse…. No refunds, though, we’re not completely without shame…. Remember, you get what you pay for in this world, right? TANSTAAFL….. (for the uninitiated, that is, There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch….)
********************************

Vague Glimpses of a Rainbow

All the sad notions of propriety had fled,
Screaming their anger for pausing in song,
Until late came the rabid fog, colored in red,
As serenity cried, unafraid to live so strong.

Fallow fields in faithful patience set free,
Dragged from birth, by their own nature cast
Saving each moment against fear yet to be,
Carved into silence, by ignorance held fast.

Historical forces plod slowly ’tis often said
Anxieties streaming stiffly, one epoch to the next.
Cultural mania stands nonchalant in its stead
No sadder epitaph has such bittersweet context.

Patterned bags of forgotten virtue lie in wait
Blessed by reminders whose souls value affinity
Frozen webs surround the fields in gravid state
Grasping passionately within obvious opportunity.

Passage to future realities isn’t guaranteed
Small favors for deities was left off the menu
No roses, nor manna, nor gallant aerial steed
Left traces of fatal, yet originally gracious venue.

~~ gigoid ~~

9/6/2012

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

Naked Pearls

Rare Thoughts

*********

“God, to me, it seems
is a verb
not a noun
proper or improper.”

~~ R. Buckminster Fuller ~~

*********

“One should always be a little improbable.”

~~ Oscar Wilde ~~

*********

“We do not walk on our legs, but on our Will.”

~~ Sufi proverb ~~

*********

“Time is but the stream I go a-fishin in.
I drink at it, but while I drink
I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is.
It’s thin current slides away, but eternity remains.”

~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

*********

“We have art that we do not die of the truth.”

~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~

*********

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

~~ Anais Nin ~~

*********

“To teach is to learn.”

~~ Japanese Proverb ~~

*********

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

~~ Epictetus ~~

*********

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

Well, it’s done. Again. Today, I can only thank my sense of duty; without it, this doesn’t get done. Since it is, I’ll forgo any further torture, or, for that matter, possible entertainment value, and merely say, see y’all tomorrow, ffolkes. There doesn’t seem to be any way to get out of 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

À bientôt, mon cherí….

A facility for gasping at flaws….

Posted on January 3, 2016 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Just by choosing where you stand,
You alter your destiny.”

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

Home

Image from a Tweet by @LimaChely

Hajime…. Finding our natural rhythm, once lost under the sands of time and circumstance, can take time, even if one is treading the proper path. The damage done by neglect over time is just as deep as that incurred quickly, adding to the frustrations that come with any such effortful task. But, small steps get one to the same place as long strides, thus taking the time needed to make sure one remains on the correct path. Or, as is commonly stated by those wise ones on the streets, “Keep on truckin’!….

All that said, it merely means I’m late again; different reason, but, the rhythm remains the same. The result is, I’m again sitting here, with nothing really done for this Pearl, beyond picking a picture for the top, and a couple quotes to go with it. Such is the life of a blogger, I suppose, meaning I’d best get to it….

Some will be fresh, but, some will be either archived, or, someone else’s work that fits in with today’s theme, whatever it is…. I’m not the person to ask, because I couldn’t tell you until it’s nearly done; I never know until then, as the process demands a certain degree of unconsciously directed thought and choices…. Trust me; I’ve been doing this a while now; it’s best not to fuck with the process, lest it fall apart at the seam…. Only the one, so, we try to be careful….

Sure we do….. Regardless of any near-untruths we may use here in the intro, we/I do try to avoid it altogether; if seen here, one may regard it as a necessary nod to expediency, and forgive us our trespass…. Or, not; we/I care not…. Just trying to be like the universe….. Innovative, unpredictable Change, often more rapid than we can believe, or handle, is the Norm, so, we/I do try to keep up in that respect. To do so today, and, in the interests of maintaining the small degree of efficiency so far displayed this year, I’ll get us over to the oyster beds the most efficient way, with my mind, and the power of the Metaphorse…. Watch closely….

Shall we Pearl?….

“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.
When mindfulness embraces those we love
they will bloom like flowers.”

~~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~~

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

Eric Clapton

Image from http://www.last.fm via Google Images

I feel like some of the Best this morning; for me, as a guitar playing singing fool, there’s only one guitarist who can claim that title today…. There may be someone better than Eric, but, I’ve never heard them, or seen them, so….. he’ll do for today…. Enjoy, ffolkes; this is as good as it gets…. Oh, turn it up….. All the way…..

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

Eric Clapton Unplugged

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

https://youtu.be/xGavzOvTMjY

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

Lao Tzu, Laughing

I didn’t have time to rant, so, here is an old-school pearl of nine gems, beginning and ending with some appropriate comments from Shakespeare, on the subject of the Decline and Fall of the American Dream….

***********

The devil hath power
To assume a pleasing shape.

~~ William Shakespeare — Hamlet, Act ii, Sc. 2 ~~

“There are those who claim that magic is like the tide; that it swells and fades over the surface of the earth, collecting in concentrated pools here and there, almost disappearing from other spots, leaving them parched for wonder. There are also those who believe that if you stick your fingers up your nose and blow, it will increase your intelligence.” — “The Teachings of Ebenezum, Volume VII”

“Blood is a cleansing and sanctifying thing, and the nation that regards it as the final horror has lost its manhood … there are many things more horrible than bloodshed, and slavery is one of them.” — Padraic Pearse

“Courses of action which run only to be justified in terms of practicality ultimately prove destructive and impractical.” — Mark B. Cohen

“Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few. In democracy, what you get generally is bad government by a bully, tempered by the pen of several newspaper editors.” — George Bernard Shaw — Man and Superman (1903) Maxims for Revolutionists: Democracy

“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.” — Isaac Asimov

“A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.” — Robert Frost

“Bill Clinton’s tax-and-spend policies will create a recession in America.” — Vice President Dan Quayle in New Jersey, 10/19/92. — He did not go on to distinguish between the predicted Clinton recession and the current Bush recession. — (reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/20/92)

“He must needs go that the devil drives.”

~~William Shakespeare, All ‘s Well that Ends Well, Act i, Sc. 3 ~~

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

INCOMPOSSIBLE, adj. Unable to exist if something else exists. Two things are incompossible when the world of being has scope enough for one of them, but not enough for both — as Walt Whitman’s poetry and God’s mercy to man. Incompossibility, it will be seen, is only incompatibility let loose. Instead of such low language as “Go heel yourself — I mean to kill you on sight,” the words, “Sir, we are incompossible,” would convey an equally significant intimation and in stately courtesy are altogether superior.” — Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”

So, after the quote, you expected someone else?…. Enjoy, ffolkes; definitely one of the treasures of humanity, right here on the page you see….

Election Day, November, 1884

If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and show,
‘Twould not be you, Niagara—nor you, ye limitless prairies—nor your huge rifts of canyons, Colorado,
Nor you, Yosemite—nor Yellowstone, with all its spasmic geyser-loops ascending to the skies, appearing
and disappearing,
Nor Oregon’s white cones—nor Huron’s belt of mighty lakes—nor Mississippi’s stream:
—This seething hemisphere’s humanity, as now, I’d name—the still small voice vibrating—America’s
choosing day,
(The heart of it not in the chosen—the act itself the main, the quadriennial choosing,)
The stretch of North and South arous’d—sea-board and inland—Texas to Maine—the Prairie States—Vermont,
Virginia, California,
The final ballot-shower from East to West—the paradox and conflict,
The countless snow-flakes falling—(a swordless conflict,
Yet more than all Rome’s wars of old, or modern Napoleon’s:) the peaceful choice of all,
Or good or ill humanity—welcoming the darker odds, the dross:
—Foams and ferments the wine? it serves to purify—while the heart pants, life glows:
These stormy gusts and winds waft precious ships,
Swell’d Washington’s, Jefferson’s, Lincoln’s sails.

~~Walt Whitman~~

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

Naked Pearls

Short Shots on Life at Large

**********

“O, well,
you win some, you lose some,
but you gotta get dressed for ’em all.”

~~ Susan Kenney ~~

**********

“A Lie is still a Lie, even if you believe it.”

~~ Honest Bee ~~

**********

“Never let yesterday use up today.”

~~ Wise Bee ~~

**********

“What is defeat?
Nothing but education,
nothing but the first step toward something better.”

~~ Wendell Phillips ~~

**********

“When you are content to be simply yourself
and don’t compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.”
–
~~ Lao-Tzu ~~

**********

“But where shall I start?
The world is so fast, I shall start with the country I know best, my own.
But my country is so very large,
I had better start with my town.
But my town, too, is large.
I had best start with my street.
No, my home.
No, my family.
Never mind, I shall start with myself.”

~~ Elie Wiesel ~~

**********

“Give more than take.”

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

**********

When all is done, human life is,
at the greatest and the best,
but like a froward child,
that must be played with and humoured a little
to keep it quiet till it falls asleep,
and then the care is over.

~~ Sir William Temple — Miscellanea, Part ii, Of Poetry ~~

**********

“Where does it go when you flush?”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

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

Whew! I wasn’t sure I could do it, but, as usual, trusting the process, and, maintaining an unconscious direction, saved the day. So to speak.

What the hell? It’s done; in the final analysis, who gives a crap what else happened? We cannot afford such weakness; hence, this offering. I do hope you enjoy it, or, if nothing else, it pisses you off; any reaction will do…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, as long as the world keeps spinning along….

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….

Pollinated twisty bread, nicely packaged….

Posted on December 9, 2015 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“In this world there is always danger for those who are afraid of it.”

~~ George Bernard Shaw ~~

Laser-eye Leelu

Hajime…. ‘Tis indeed unusual for me to feel energetic, or, for that matter, less than homicidal, at this time of day. That’s a simple, obvious direct result of the severe insomnia I experienced for about 3-4 months. Now, after a night of 10 solid hours, again, I find myself feeling almost normal in the mornings, if with a bit more pain than in previous times in life. Hey, I accept, now, I’m 65, not 25; for a long time, like, I think, all of us, we try to deny the passage of time; that feeling of immortality we maintain for much of our youth carries over into middle and elder stages, unfortunately…. Then, something brings us up short, realizing, hey, that hurts! And, it’s something that never hurt before…. and, we realize, our life will never be quite the same….

THAT is, I believe, a moment which must come to us all, like it or not. Oh, we can continue to deny the effects of the passage of time on our bodies and minds; in my opinion, there’s a word for folks who try that…. corpses. Yep, that’s one of those really STUPID things we humans tend to do, and, every time, it will kill us, because, hey, the Universe just doesn’t give a shit about how we feel, about anything, much less a force of nature like aging, and dying…. After all, the process IS merely another example of how our lives are so connected to reality, for all of reality experiences the same aging process…. The Universe, however, doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, as we seem to do….

Ah well, maybe if we’d try, as a species, to understand a bit more about death, perhaps we would handle living with a bit more style and elegance. As it is, much of humanity dies hard, and afraid; it’s considered a lucky man or woman who dies at an old age, in bed, with friends and family at their side. The major portion of life is spent trying to arrange a comfortable death, with the greater part of us failing miserably at that…. Or, at least, that’s the way I see it. I guess maybe I’m getting cynical in my old age, for I see the ever-present battle in Reality being won by Chaos and Entropy, while the Order and Reason attempted by Man, falls into disuse and ill repute.

At this point in this narrative, I see it has already fallen into ranting mode, which is always dangerous here….. Y’know what else. I’m tired of all the doom and gloom I see all over the fucking world, including right here where I live, where every day I see falsely-entitled police forces hassling homeless and poor people, just because they can. I’m tired of the assholes who run this world thinking they can lie, cheat, and steal from everyone else, and get away with it. And, I’m tired of being lied to…. especially that. The so-called leaders of this country, and of every country in the world I read about, in their own words, suffers the same issue; the world is being raped, and pillaged, by just a small percentage, while the rest of us try to get by in a world gone mad….

Fuck it, let’s go find some pearls, to help get rid of some of this angst, and, maybe, in the process, find a bit of humor, and maybe even some hope….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Life is the childhood of our immortality.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~

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

The Grateful Dead

Images from an email from Dead.net

Last night I was listening to some of the music I’ve downloaded from You Tube. Specifically, I was checking out some of the bands who played covers of Dead music for the Dead Covers Project in 2014. The Project started in 2013, I believe, and has produced some of the finest home-grown, home-made music one can find anywhere. I listened to the one I’ve included, and can tell you, you HAVE to see, and hear the lead guitar solo in this song. About three or four minutes in, the band breaks into some solo breaks. The lead guitar player, like most of the band, is an obvious O.O.F., apparently about 70-75 years old….

I swear, the old fart NAILS the solo; not only does he nail it, he kills it! Fast, clean, and rockin’, he, and the other old farts in this particular band, rocked the house where they played, back East sometime in 2014…. It’s well worth seeing, as are any number of the other covers that amateurs sent in each year…. Check them out; there are a lot of surprises. Some are really bad, but, some, like this one, will amaze you at the musicianship of the players…. Enjoy, ffolkes…. It’s a blast from the past, right here in the future….

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

BEGGARS TOMB
New Minglewood Blues
Dead Covers Project 2014

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

https://youtu.be/KoALTQNFL7Y

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

“The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.” — Joseph Conrad, “Under Western Eyes”

What a wonderful beginning for a rant! Too bad I’m not up to writing one… Plus, I’m in too good a mood to go there, so, instead, we’ll go with this discussion from a very good early Pearl, about a year after coming to WP. I hope you enjoy it; I did…. and, hell, I wrote it, and I’m a harsh self-critic….

From 10/21/2012:

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.~~ Rudyard Kipling ~~

~~ Just So Stories (1902) “The Elephant’s Child” ~~

I first read the phrase “feeding the Elephant’s Child” in a Robert Heinlein novel, many years ago, and enjoyed it as a metaphor for reading/learning, before I knew from whence it originally came. Once I did know (a moment of illumination whose exact placement in time is hazy….), I liked it even more, from an aesthetic standpoint. The above little ditty is brilliant doggerel, astute observation, and deep insight, all presented in a simple, straightforward style, with a powerful, basic lesson for any would-be philosopher, or any one who wishes to encompass reason as their modus operandi, so to speak. Besides which, I find that another piece of Bob’s advice fits well with this one, to wit: “Life tastes better in big bites….”

“Never wear anything that panics the cat.” — P. J. O’Rourke

I like this, a lot. It summarizes perhaps one of the most elemental rules of getting along in the Universe, in essence saying, “You can learn a lot by watching what happens around you…” It is the perfect companion to the concept of learning as presented above, as it contrives to speak to both sides of Reality, i.e., how you approach reality (the clothing you choose to show to the cat….) and how reality will change to react to your approach (the cat’s opinion of your clothing….) It also gives one a subtle warning about how the wrong clothing can produce unwanted consequences, and we all know how an offended cat is likely to respond…. as Mark Twain once remarked…. “A man who carries a cat by the tail is learning valuable things. He will never again be dim or doubtful. Chances are he’ll not carry the cat that way again, but, I say, if he wants to, let him!” You can’t say fairer than that….

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” — Buddha

One can always trust the Buddha to state the most profound thoughts in the simplest way…. I often wonder how he came to such a complete understanding of Murphy, whose presence is acknowledged in all of what the Buddha stated, but whose ministrations seem to have passed by the Buddha’s existence…. either that, or Murphy shows him a lot more respect than he does anyone else alive. At times, it seems that what the Buddha states, such as in this statement, is, in at least one respect, an answer to a question that is raised when Murphy intervenes in our lives…. in simpler words, he explains why Murphy is able to affect us as he does, by cutting through the bullshite we perceive to the truth of what is real….. SIGH…. one of these days, enlightenment will slap me upside the head, and I’ll be able to see Murphy coming…. I hope…

There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke.” — Bob Dylan

Often I feel as if not only is life a joke, but it is our duty and purpose on this plane of existence to codify that joke, to put it down on paper, or on screen/disc, to free ourselves from the prison of sobriety, achieving an understanding that everything in this silly universe is here for our amusement, and we have been taking it, and ourselves, seriously for entirely too long….. So seriously, we have begun to offend those parts of the universe that just want us to relax and enjoy ourselves, and the time is growing nearer when we will have to admit that the joke is on us, for not being able to change our inner selves enough to be able to handle the humor of our situation…. See, the universe thinks death is funny…. not because it is cruel, but because death is just another part of life, and it doesn’t care about one more than the other…. See, now, isn’t it funny how you never noticed that?…..

I once read a science fiction novel, whose title and author escape me completely; in all it was very poorly written, with prose that did not live up to the good ideas contained in the plot line. However, it was a great plot line, in all….Specifically, there was one chapter I liked, which had a super-genius taking on the task of finding the solution to a mathematical treatise, an equation so complex and advanced that no civilization in the galaxy had ever been able to completely solve it.

The genius/hero of the book shut himself up in his room for three weeks, working on the problem. At the end, he was thinking so hard he entered a trance-like state, computing while nearly dead…. after a week of this, he suddenly opened his eyes, gave a look of astonishment, and burst into uncontrollable laughter for approximately 25 minutes. When he could finally control himself, he simply said, “It’s a joke….” and would never discuss it again….

In a pearl such as this one has grown to be, there comes a time when I have to decide whether to continue on, to try to reach the conclusion that was nebulously hovering somewhere in my mind as I began, or to admit that I have once again wandered into uncharted territory, and might find it a bit tricky to find my way back to clarity. This is that time…. and I’m leaving it up to Smart Bee, as always…. If I don’t find a proper pearl to carry on the tenuous chain of thought I’ve created, then we’ll take the first one that will appropriately wrap it up as a lost cause….. all within a specified number of attempts…. so, here we go… You’ll know in a moment what will happen….

“In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain, nor anything of this kind is the real cause of our doing or not doing any action, but our inward opinions and principles.” — Epictetus (c. 60 AD) — Discourses, Book i, Chap xi

There, see?…. That didn’t take long at all…. and I managed to find the perfect pearl to cover both bases…. In this case, we will use it as an ending quote, since it sort of summarizes a lot of the discussion, after a fashion. It could conceivably also be used as a springboard for further discussion, but this has gone on long enough, and I wouldn’t want to lose anybody due to an injudicious application of excess verbiage, culminating in tedium…. Of course, we may have reached that point some time ago, but, hey, who’s counting?…. At any rate, I hope you enjoyed this little foray into not very much….

🙂

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

Today’s poetry choice is here simply for the final line; it fits perfectly with my mood, and, tells us everything we need to know to have life just the way we want it, if we are smart enough to take it….

Dreaming of Calliope

La belle dame sans merci speaks aloud through endless night,
torturing dreams, with powerful words and stentorian phrases.
Manifest visions bathed in unbearable grace and light,
destroying all direction, standing lost, in unfathomable mazes.

Fate plays a part, one that will never face denial,
as fear and courage eternally vie for ascendancy.
Conflict becomes valid, gifting strength in open trial,
but honest emotion wears no costume so fancy.

Blood, sweat, and tears stroll on avenues of gold,
unlikely heroines heralding as in ancient lore;
Sharp, competent knives cut through tales untold,
eternally shifting reality past the naked shore.

Drifting toward origin, bereft of mandate or cause,
finished, nay, abandoned, tied with a figurative bow.
No simple gift from muses to give comfort or pause,
save that all we need to know, we already know…..

~~ gigoid ~~

12/13/2012

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

Naked Pearls III

“To know and to act are one and the same.”

~~ Samurai Proverb ~~

~~~~~~~~~

“Happiness follows sorrow,
sorrow follows happiness,
but when one no longer discriminates
between happiness and sorrow,
a good deal and a bad deed,
one is able to realize freedom.”

~~ Buddha ~~

~~~~~~~~~

“Do not eat your heart.”

~~ Pythagoras ~~

~~~~~~~~~

“Truth is the summit of being,
justice is the application of it to affairs.”

~~ Emerson ~~

~~~~~~~~~

“Learn or die.”

~~ Reality ~~

~~~~~~~~~

“Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right.”

~~ Salvor Hardin, in Foundation by Isaac Asimov ~~

~~~~~~~~~

“Adversity is the first path to truth.”

~~ Lord Byron ~~

~~~~~~~~~

“Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.”

~~ Josh Billings ~~

~~~~~~~~~

‘Tis written: ‘In the beginning was the word.’
Already I stick, and who shall help afford?
The ‘word’ at such high rate I may not tender;
The passage I must elsewhere render,
If rightly by the Spirit I am taught,
‘Tis written: ‘In the beginning was the Thought.’ By the first line a moment tarry,
Let not thine eager pen itself o’er-hurry!
Does ‘thought’ work all and fashion outright?
It should stand: ‘In the beginning was the Might.’
Yet even as my pen the sentence traces,
A warning hint the half-writ word effaces.

The Spirit helps me – from all doubting freed,
Thus write I: ‘In the beginning was the Deed.’

~~ Dr. Faustus, Wolfgang Goethe, “Faust” ~~

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

Well, gosh. It’s done, and I’m NOT exhausted. What a nice way to start the day! Without my usual mistrust of such good feelings, I’m going to take the money and run. Should be easy, as the money doesn’t exist. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes. I’m afraid there’s just no way to avoid it; it seems to be written in stone…..

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….

Affable to the last, he concurred….

Posted on September 29, 2015 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

The picture placed the busts between
Adds to the thought much strength;
Wisdom and Wit are little seen,
But Folly ‘s at full length.

~~ Jane Brereton (1685-1740) ~~

~~ On Beau Nash’s Picture at full length between the Busts of Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Pope ~~

The Last Manchu ~~ Last Emperor of China, Pu Yi

Image from You Tube via Google Images

Good morning…. Head down, breathing. Enduring. Another hour until the next chance at peace; two, if you count in real time. Time goes twice as slowly, from a personal perspective, when in a trance, the only possible method to get through the minor taste of major hell in which I’m caught, like a fly in amber….. By the time any real sort of peace can possibly be achieved, it will be light, hopefully in my soul, as well as in the Big Blue Room…

Ah well, so much for the best laid plans, eh? Little did I think, during all those years I worked and struggled to make my way in life, I would, at this point, be alone, but for my familiar. I had hoped to have found a partner, a helpmeet, my own true love…. Alas, she is nowhere to be found, it seems, so, I carry on by myself, trying to find some purpose for this existence I find myself inhabiting…. As one of those men hardwired for family and home, it’s a bit of a disappointment, to say the least….

Oh, not that I have any regrets; that sort of mental aberration isn’t one to which I’ve ever been prey. To regret means one made the wrong choices, which is silly, as they are already made, and cannot be changed. Wrong and right are only human judgments; the universe doesn’t work that way, so it’s a waste of time and energy to fall into that trap. But, I can say it would be much more comfortable, and fulfilling, to be able to share what I am doing with a like-minded partner….

I suppose that’s the problem, right there…. “Like-minded” seems to be the issue, I’d guess. My own mind is a bit, shall we say, different? Finding someone who can both appreciate it, and tolerate it, seems to be more than any woman seems willing to undertake, or experience. Which is okay; everyone has their own standards and preferences…. But, I sure could wish there was ONE woman willing to take the risk; it would also be helpful if she were to be somewhere in my immediate vicinity, and be, at least, amenable to the idea….

It has been said, many times, all things come to he who knows how to wait; I can only hope it is true. Until my waiting is done, I’ll be here, maintaining, and hopefully, building what remains of my life into a structure worth living in…. Now, if I can only shake this bullshit physical weakness crap, all will be well, and all will be well, in the end…. For now, we’ll do this…..

Shall we Pearl?….

“Don’t try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough.” — Arthur Freed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Artist’s rendition of the New Horizons Spacecraft near Pluto

Image from Space.com

Today’s video is a compilation of the photos taken by the New Horizons spacecraft as it flew past Pluto in 2015, strung together to give a view of the entire trip’s purpose, to gather data on our Solar System’s most distant planetary body. It’s pretty cool, and the page where it resides will furnish a number of other interesting videos on the mission…. Enjoy!…..

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

Pluto Flyby ~ 2015

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

https://youtu.be/Ks9LnFV5skE

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Money is the root of all evil”

How many times in your life have you heard this statement? Most of us have heard it repeated since we were children; I believe it is one of those statements that has been present in our language and culture since the beginning of recorded history, which, oddly enough, coincides with the invention of the concept of money…. Yes, invention, that’s what I said. Money, you see, doesn’t exist in the real world; there is no physical equivalent anywhere in the Universe one may point to which represents the idea; yet, this idea is the basis for almost every act of evil perpetrated by one person upon another….

This means, of course, we are all slaves to an idea, one which really has no actual meaning in Reality. How stupid is that? Well, I’ll tell ya, ffolkes…. that’s pretty fucking stupid, in my less than humble opinion…. In fact, it is awfully close to being DELIBERATELY FUCKING INSANE, rather than merely dumb. I can’t think of anything less intelligent than allowing a mere concept to control our existence, yet, this is what almost every member of this species falls for, right from the cradle….

It’s hard for me to believe we’ve been to the moon, when we can’t seem to find our way out of a simple illusion…. especially since it is all just a lie, told to us by manipulative predators, who have no interest in anything other than the fulfillment of their own desire, which generally involves the acquisition of power, and more resources than is their fair share, and has nothing to do at all with helping others. Insane, sociopathic, as well as psychopathic predators, with no more humanity than an amoeba….

What we see then, is this; money doesn’t exist. The only reason it has any meaning at all is because we give it such; no other reason is needed, and, for the purposes of those who wish to control, forms the essential first step to enslavement. Once a person believes money exists, and has importance, they become vulnerable to their own desire for it, which allows the predators to manipulate those desires for their own benefit, through the use of more lies, based upon the belief in the first, most basic lie…. Once enslaved, the slave has no idea they are even in chains, for they are only focused on the money, which doesn’t exist….

Also, even if they are made aware of the anomaly, the refuse to change, because of a lack of courage, to admit they have been wrong. As well, they would have to assume responsibility for their own beliefs, and the Universe can be a scary place. Most have never used their minds to look beyond their own needs and desires; it takes courage to face up to Reality. Only those with the courage to face it, and learn, are able to survive without the collar, for they meet the universe on even terms…..

There is a basic flaw in the plan of the predatory class of humans, though; since money doesn’t really exist, it cannot possibly be used to maintain the status quo forever. There will always come a time, when the very weight of the lies used to build the structure of society, will cause the entire house of cards to simply fall down, a victim of gravity, killed by the weight of the illusions it professed to believe. For, when the lies no longer serve as a means to describe what they see before their eyes, the illusions will always become obvious to those in thrall…. When they realize how they’ve been fooled, there will be nowhere on the planet the so-called masters will be able to hide, from the more than seven billion ANGRY people they tried to kill with their selfish desire to be ‘special’….

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.

~~ Cree Indian Prophecy ~~

“Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.” — P.J. O’Rourke

So be it.

gigoid has spoken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Given the mini-politireligirant in the above section, this poem of mine, written last summer, seems to be perfectly appropriate, to take up some of the time until the next one leaks out of the vein I’ll be opening soon… Enjoy!. Funky as it may be, it’s one of my faves…..

A Few Words of Note

In place of ranting and raving about assholes every day
maybe I’ll try something more fun.
Rather than throwing words at all the assholes on public pay
I’ll switch to shooting at them, with a gun….

Should I actually hit one, purely by mistake,
maybe it would wake them up.
Maybe, if they had to think, or actually cut us a break,
we’d see a chance to win at life, to take a step up.

Our nation, such as it is today, was founded by men who told the truth;
that morality disappeared long ago.
Simple ethical strength so bright, so prevalent in our country’s youth
was soon corrupted; corporate interests now run the show.

Nothing would please me more than to fire off some rounds,
if only to gain their attention.
But, I can no longer run, I’ve gained too many pounds;
so, my keyboard and intellect must serve to fulfill my intention.

I won’t stop, of that you may be sure
I love my freedoms, and the philosophy from which it springs.
Tom, and Ben, and John, and Pat, those patriots pure
gave me their example, and the inner peace it brings.

If bullets won’t persuade our elected liars to toe the ethical line,
I’ll throw my most powerful words…..
If nothing else, it will make them wriggle to escape, or voice their pitiful whine,
thus exposing themselves for what they are…. plain and simple turds.

~~ gigoid ~~

Written 7/19/2014.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today’s final pearl, as indicated by the icon, speaks to some of the lesser known facets of Life at Large, as related by quite a variety of contributing authors, some of note, some of antiquity, some modern and kinky, some staid…. All of them are spot on, when it comes to being good advice for living that Life with the greatest possible degree of virtue, and joy…. while still appreciating their opposites…. Well, sort of….. Ah, hell, you tell me what it says, then….

But we, who name ourselves its sovereigns, we,
Half dust, half deity, alike unfit
To sink or soar.

~~ Lord Byron — Manfred, Act i, Sc. 2 ~~

“Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.” — Albert Schweitzer

“Sanity is a cozy lie.” — Susan Sontag

“Do I look like someone who cares about what God thinks?” — Zippy the Pinhead

“There’s always a bigger fish.” — Qui-Gon Jinn, Star Wars Episode I

“When asked what learning was the most necessary, he said, “Not to unlearn what you have learned.” — Diogenes Laertius — Antisthenes, iv

“Is it pain that makes you real?” — The Goo Goo Dolls

“The mountain remains unmoved at seeming defeat by the mist.” — Rabindranath Tagore

“[T]he earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” — Chief Seattle, 1854 (c.1786-1866)

It’s funny how, sometimes, the proper ending pearl makes the whole thing make sense, even though during its construction, I hadn’t a clue where it would end up…. Subconscious direction, I suppose; that, or incredibly lucky whimsy…. Who cares which? I don’t; it works for me…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t care what anybody says; it’s a Pearl. Also, it’s done. That makes it time to post, and get the hell out of Dodge. See y’all down the road, ffolkes. Can’t say when it will be fresh again; this one took four or five days. But, I’ll be back, trust me. I ain’t no Senator’s son….

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….

Planting truth in fallow fields….

Posted on September 19, 2015 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

Within the oyster’s shell uncouth
The purest pearl may hide,
Trust me you’ll find a heart of truth
Within that rough inside.

~~ Mrs. Osgood ~~

Pluto as seen from the Dawn Horizons Spacecraft Mission Flyby

Image from the UK Guardian 9/17/2015

Good morning, ffolkes. I’m tired, even after having slept a solid 8 hours for the first time in ages. I am also way, way off center, due to a concatenation of circumstances, many of which were not in my control, though in my possible sphere of prediction (had I been, naturally, more centered to begin). As a result, I find myself in the position of needing to make some alterations in lifestyle and routine in order to return to, and stay at my center of being, such as it is….

All that said, (with some difficulty I might add…. LeeLoo’s newest trick is to lick my hand, then drape herself comfortably across my wrist, leaving my fingers free to type, literally, as I am typing this while she lays there, purring contentedly, as if she had nothing more important or valuable to do but lie on my hands watching me type….. SIGH….) I am going to make a few changes here on ECR, as well. For some days after today, you may see some re-blogs, complete Pearls, from the archives…. Those will be the days I am avoiding any outside contact, as I intend to hunker down again, drawing myself into myself, until I find my center, and nail it to my forehead…. Other days, you’ll see nothing at all; those days I’m hiding, probably from myself, as well as the world…

So, these posts may not be as fresh as usual for a while…. Who knows? Maybe it won’t take long, and I’ll be back on track by tomorrow….. More likely, based on experience, we’re looking at a few weeks, while I go through my internal contortions, those necessary to realign my self to the universe, as I understand it…. At least this time I won’t be carrying around a beach ball on my belly…. It’s all gone ffolkes…. I weighed 179.8 lbs today, for the third day running. That is a weight I haven’t seen in over 25 years, and I’m not stopping there; I’ll quit worrying about it at all when I get back to 160 lbs., which is my natural weight for this age and height…. I’ll be buff again!….

Or, a reasonable facsimile of buff; much healthier, anyway…. For now, let’s get today’s Pearl done, since the cat seems to have fallen asleep on my wrist…. Take it away, Luigi!….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.” — Isaac Asimov

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not only am I far from center, I can’t even figure out what direction to start searching for it. So, here’s the deal…. I’ll put together one old-school pearl, with as many good aphorisms as SB will give me, and be done with this for a while…. Obviously, (to me), I need a break, to recharge my batteries, or some such odd analogy…. which just goes to show how much I need this…. Here’s what I could find, ffolkes…. The first one probably gives away where I am heading; the rest are for show, though not insignificant in their own right/light…..

“Nothing is more useful than silence.” — Menander

“Experience is the only prophecy of wise men.” — Alphonse de Lamartine

“Life without music would be an intolerable insult.” — Edward Abbey

“After I’m dead I’d rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.” — Cato the Elder

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” — H.H. the Dalai Lama

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Essays: First Series (1841) “Self-Reliance”

“If you can see a thing whole… it seems that it’s always beautiful. Planets, lives…But close up, a world’s all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life’s a hard job, you get tired, you lose the pattern. You need distance, interval. The way to see how beautiful the earth is, is to see it as the moon. The way to see how beautiful a life is, is to see it from the vantage point of death.” — Ursula K. Le Guin, Dispossessed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m done. Literally, and, figuratively. I may, or may not, post tomorrow; don’t be at all surprised if I don’t post for several days…. I need…. a lot. I want more…. Both are not good, and, thus, must be dealt with…. Not to worry, I’m tough, and I’ll be fine. I just need to NOT for a time. I’ll be back when I AM….

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….

gigoid

Ned Moore, aka gigoid, is a 70 year-old, (!!!… When did that happen?….), retired dilettante, who would rather read than eat, most days. His first blog, "gigoid’s folly", has been emailed out to folks he knows for about 18 years now. He still considers it his best defense against angst, and the ever-present specter of sheer insanity..... Due to rigorous curmudgeon training requirements, he has discontinued his Facebook presence, but still indulges in the occasional Twitter session... In essence, he's socialized, but, not overly sociable; all labels and stereotypes are forbidden in his presence... and he doesn't care what anyone thinks about that..... In fact, he doesn't want to talk anymore.... If you feel you MUST contact gigoid, his email address is: alphagigoid@gmail.com You can go read now.... Go on, beat it.... gigoid, the dubious

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gigoid

Exploring Consensual Reality

Tag Archives: Isaac Asimov

Frivolous avocados wearing spats….

Such a happy eggplant!….

The possibilities are endless, y’know….

Planting truth in fallow fields….

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