Tag Archives: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A crimp in time saves pi….

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Ffolkes,

I stood
Among them, but not of them; in a shroud
Of thoughts which were not their thoughts.

~~ Lord Byron ~~

~~ Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Canto iii, Stanza 113 ~~

Wind Spinner

Wind Spinner, Spinning


Good morning…. How can it be otherwise, when I’m going on the road in just about exactly three hours? Yes, today’s the day; the journey calls, and I must answer…. or lose out on the round-trip airfare. No way I’m doing that, so, whatever there may be in the Universe with any objections to my going had best get swallowed, because it sure isn’t going to keep me from leaving. So there….

Okay, all flippancy gone, we may now proceed to put together a final Pearl from home, with the warning it could be up to a week before another Pearl appears; no telling how things will work out where I’m going in re: available Wi-Fi spots, not to mention my own willingness to take the time to create them. My focus will NOT be on Pearling; I’ll be busy learning, and seeing, and listening, and walking, and talking with people I’ve never met before, all of which are some of my favorite things in life to do…. So, you will see me when you see me, and not before….

That all said, with the reminder full Pearls should begin again around September 18th, or 19th, depending on how quickly I can recover from the trip…. I’m not as young as I once was, but, this kind of activity tends to energize rather than tire me out…. Well, it used to; we’ll see how it goes. If nothing else, one is always glad to see one’s own bed….

For now, let’s throw together a Pearl, for luck, and for good measure…..

Shall we Pearl?….

“If the obstacles of bigotry and priestcraft can be surmounted, we may hope that common sense will suffice to do everything else.” — Thomas Jefferson

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    Anyone at all familiar with how things go around here will know what they’ll see in this section today…. It’s amazing what these search engines can find, if you’re precise in telling them what you want….A little traveling music, maestro, if you please….


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Classical Music for Travel

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Dont keep calm

    Oddly enough, SB presented me with some nice little stimulants for a rant while putting together the old-school pearl yesterday afternoon, so, I started a rant; I don’t feel enough angst to take it further, so, I’ll find a few pearls to say the same stuff, and let it go at that for now… In short, what you see is what you get….

“The Greeks by their laws, and the Romans by the spirit of their people, took care to put into the hands of their rulers no such engine of oppression as a standing army. Their system was to make every man a soldier, and oblige him to repair to the standard of his country when ever that was reared. This made them invincible; and the same remedy will make us so.” — Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Cooper(1814)

Well, for the most part, we blew that one, didn’t we? Tom would be ashamed of us, and, rightly so. He also believed in each citizen educating themselves as to what the government was up to, as well as warning us to keep a close eye on the bankers; he pointed out their attempts to corrupt government practically before the ink on the Constitution was dry. Did the American people listen? No, they didn’t. They listened instead to the preachers, who told them to trust their leaders, never cluing them into the simple fact those leaders were, as they themselves were, lying through their teeth to the people who trusteed them, almost every time they open their mouths.

Beset on all sides by ruthless liars, is it any wonder the common man hasn’t a clue as to his own slavery, thinking he has rights, and the opportunity to improve his life by living by the rules… In fact, the common man has no rights, and the system is designed to reward only those who lie, cheat, and steal in order to get ahead. Simple truths are hard to accept, but, trust me, this one is truth.

“Nature is not cruel, but, pitilessly, indifferent. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to learn. We cannot admit that things might be neither good nor evil, neither cruel nor kind, but simply callous — indifferent to all suffering,lacking all purpose.” — Richard Dawkins

What people don’t really get, even if they feel the rightness of this idea, is that cruelty DOES exist, but, only as a human characteristic, due to our need to make our own lives have meaning to us, according to our standards. This is, in the eyes of the universe, a handicap rather than an asset, for it leads those who cannot let go of such ideas into failures of logic, and understanding of the real world…. Being able to accept the idea makes it possible to act without fear, or emotion of any kind, interfering with our decision making process… For example…

“Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate — and quickly “– Lazarus Long

Lazarus was a smart guy; he also gave us the most efficient, and logical method for dealing with such people, when there are options available short of killing… to wit:

“Never appeal to a man’s “better nature.” He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.” — Lazarus Long

Ah well, we do the best we can, with what others have to offer; other than that, it’s every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost…. What does that mean?…. Any who, as noted above, angst is in short supply, so here is a nine-star pearl to finish this mini-rant in a more palatable fashion, that won’t dull the edge of my excitement and joy…. Not much could right now, but, here…. take this….

Isn’t it strange that the same people that laugh at gypsy fortune tellers take economists seriously?” — Cincinnati Enquirer

“In a decision sure to cause major controversy for several minutes, the US Supreme Court struck down the First Law of Nature, judging it to be unlawfully discriminatory. Though never actually written down, the First Law of Nature is generally accepted by the American Bar Association to be, “If an individual or collection of individuals puts into practice or causes to be put into practice an action which, measured against the judgment of a reasonable person, is unwise or lacking in basic common sense, then the aforementioned individual or collection of individuals shall suffer all consequences resulting from that action, up to and including loss of life.” Translation:  “You do something stupid, you die.” — Snarky Bee

“Jesus loves you.  Everyone else thinks you’re a jerk.” — Humble Bee

“He is running for Congress … Do you know why he will be elected? Because  all the gun owners will vote for him. Why will they vote for him? Because he is against any new law which will require registration of firearms. He claims that if there is a war, we might be invaded by Communists. And we will all need guns. With nuts like that in Congress, it could happen.” — Larry Siegel

“God must love assholes — She made so many of them.”– Druidic Bee

“Do you really believe that fear of the damage that you could inflict with your .22 Squirrel Blaster is the only thing keeping the government in check?” — Mark Oehlert

“The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom.  The function of the law is to keep those who hold power, in power.” — Gerry Spence ‘From Freedom to Slavery,’ 1993

“Chaotic Evil means never having to say you’re sorry.” — Shrub Senior (Okay, I lied. Sue me…)

“Congress’ idea of “safe” sex: no reporters.” — Smart Bee

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Comedy_Tragedy

Random Exposure


If I only knew what I was doing here,
I could give others a clue.
Reality gets stranger every year,
and I’m not sure what I should do.

Singing happy old tunes, in an old, gravely voice,
gives me a lot of pleasure.
I’m only glad I can still make a choice,
to look at life, to take its measure.

Memorable moments keep passing by
gilded, framed in precious emotion.
I never have to ask anyone why,
no need for a stronger potion.

Everything in life is clear, to me
there is no doubt, no misunderstanding.
We’re all good, as you can see,
members of Life, in good standing.

Life can be hard, or it can be great fun;
the right path is there for each of us to take.
That choice is often a difficult one;
pay close attention to the choice you make.


~~ gigoid ~~


Written 4/22/2013.

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pearls_3

    With a bit over two hours to lift off, things are moving along quite smoothly, if slower than I’d like…. Funny how the clock slows down when we wish it to run fast…. Ah well, here’s a pretty standard pearl, with the usual tips one living with some dignity, and how to make our lives a bit more comfortable, if not less ‘interesting’…. Enjoy!….

“Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.” — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” — Confucius (551-479 BC)

“Individuality seems to be Nature’s whole aim — and she cares nothing for individuals.” — Goethe

“Always watch where you are going.  Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.” — Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne

“A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.” — Japanese proverb

“Fear is the parent of cruelty.” — James Anthony Froude

“Dolendi modus, timendi non item.” [To suffering there is a limit; to fearing, none.] — Bacon, Of Seditions and Troubles

“There is never anything to feel sorry about with love. Never.” — Robert Heinlein

“Very late in life, when he was studying geometry, some one said to Lacydes, “Is it then a time for you to be learning now?” “If it is not,” he replied, “when will it be?” — Diogenes Laertius — Lacydes, v

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Done…. Most excellent! Now, I can pack the computer, and, at the whistle, walk out the door…. Rather than prattle on in my usual mindless way, I’ll merely say ‘adieu’, and, with perfect sincerity, wish you a peaceful and happy existence until we meet again, here at ECR, where Reality is what we make of it…. Ta, then, ffolkes…. Eventually, like the Terminator, I’ll be back, with the usual caveat re: incarceration, or death…. neither of which looks particularly imminent…. See ya….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

dozer3


À bientôt, mon cherí….


					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Approaching mundane bogosity, captain….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;

I woke, and found that life was Duty.

Was thy dream then a shadowy lie?

Toil on, poor heart, unceasingly;

And thou shalt find thy dream to be

A truth and noonday light to thee.

 

~~ Ellen Sturgis Hooper (1816-1841) ~~


~~ Life a Duty ~~


Madrid supermoon


Supermoon, July 2015, Madrid



Image from an article on Space.com




Good morning…. I’ve decided to throw out the last two days; there doesn’t seem to be much point in remembering such an extended period of misery. Oh, not that it’s been exactly Hell; Hell’s probably hotter than 94º, the average for the last 48 hrs. But, the roller coaster ride of pain, from extreme highs to complete absence, and back again, over the course of an hour or two, every couple hours like a damn clock, sure makes telling the difference a distinct challenge. Faugh! Basta! Begone from my mind!


Please?


Ah, me. Such is Life in the Big City, I suppose. If I didn’t like it, I’d probably move. Hey, wait! Is that….? No, sorry, it’s not her; it’s just the arrival of our delivery of indigestible parables. Not to worry, Luigi will sign for them. Okay, where were we? Ah, yes, about to consider emigration to the wilds of Northern Cali, due to the massive influx of insanity here in the Bay Area. The level of bogosity present out in the BBR is becoming more than merely annoying; it’s getting downright dangerous for us curmudgeons; the act of obtaining one’s bagel in the morning has become a challenge of major proportion…..


Not that there’s anything up with the bagels; it’s the mundanes one must wend one’s way through to get it. They’re everywhere, spreading their ignorance and cluelessness wherever they walk, confusing themselves and others, as they try to understand a world in which they cannot comprehend the rules of engagement. It makes the effort to remain non-homicidal VERY hard to repress; they’re EVERYWHERE, asking dumb questions, making dumb mistakes, honking their horns, walking into light poles as they walk down the street obsessively gazing into their phone…. It’s enough to make an old fart regret not carrying his gun… or, a nice, big, sharp knife….


Oh, gosh. I guess it IS a little early for homicidal impulses, isn’t it? Okay, I’ll quit now. It’s just being indulgent, anyway. I’ve sworn off killing mundanes for at least another month. If I hadn’t decided on a hiatus, I would have reached my legal limit before October. It’s too expensive to get an extension; maybe next year they’ll up the limit….


I reckon that’s enough. I can’t expect y’all to take it forever, can I? Nope. Let’s go see what kind of trouble we can get into down below…. If Luigi ever gets those parables stowed away, we can…. Oh, good, we’re ready. Let’s get on with it, before it’s too late, again….


Shall we Pearl?….




“If the average man is made in God’s image, 


then such a man as Beethoven or Aristotle 


is plainly superior to God.” 


— H. L. Mencken


Ipse dixit!


Q.E.D.


So be it.


gigoid has spoken.




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    I’m lazy; big surprise, eh? In this case, that’s a good thing. This collection of music touts itself as the “Best” relaxing classical music on the Beach. You tell me if that’s so, okay?…. Enjoy, please….






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The Best Relaxing Classical Music on the Beach

















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The cartoon was reproduced, without permission, but with full attribution, from the UK Guardian news site…..


I decided to give y’all a break from a down-to-earth, makes-you-think sort of rant, opting instead for a bit of educational entertainment, first, with the chosen graphic from the UK Guardian’s own First Dog on the Moon, followed by a rather smarmy old-school pearl, with parameters set to make us laugh at, or jeer at. the Asininnies, of whatever variety we can find, or, you may choose your own to fill in the blanks…. Enjoy! Where else can you find such interactive fun, eh?…. Okay, so, not all of it is funny, or fun. Some of it’s just Truth…. I think you’ll recognize those without any help….


“Believe 1% of what you see, and none of what you hear.” — Dubious Bee


“I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.” — Thomas Jefferson to A. Stuart, 1791


“I’m all in favor of the democratic principle that one idiot is as good as one genius, but I draw the line when someone takes the next step and concludes that two idiots are better than one genius.” — Leo Szilard


“Crime does not pay. Unless, of course, you get to make, enforce, or interpret the laws.” — gigoid, the dubious


“I call Christianity the *one* great curse, the *one* great intrinsic depravity, the *one* great instinct for revenge for which no expedient is sufficiently poisonous, secret, subterranean, *petty* — I call it the *one* mortal blemish of mankind.” — Friedrich Nietzsche


“Who is secure in all his basic needs? Who has work, spiritual care, medical care, housing, food, occasional entertainment, free clothing, free burial, free everything? The answer might be nuns and monks, but the standard reply is ‘prisoners’; i.e., citizens of a provider state.” — Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn


“The apathy of the born freeman is worse than the docility of the born slave.” — Grant Singleton (1890-?)


“A special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.” — real standing law in Pennsylvania, United States of America


“A kitchen in every pot.  I mean, a pot in every — I mean, a chicken in every…” — George Bush, 1988


“The law is a sort of hocus-pocus science, that smiles in yer face while it picks yer pocket; and the glorious uncertainty of it is of mair use to the professors than the justice of it.” — Charles Macklin (1690-1797) — Love a la Mode, Act ii, Sc. 1


“Practical politics consists in ignoring facts.” — Henry Adams


“Keep a very firm grasp on reality, so you can strangle it at any time.” — Realistic Bee


“The higher you climb, the more you show your ass.” — Alexander Pope, “The Dunciad”


I must stop here… my fingers are hoarse. In addition, thirteen pearls of this nature is probably enough; we all know what can happen to the Space/Time Continuum if we go to fifteen…. It isn’t pretty….


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Comedy_Tragedy




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 ~~




Written 10/23/2012.


☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬





Yin-Yang-symbol-sun-and-moon




    This one is about being human; the good, the weird, the ugly, the wondrous…. but, mostly,  it’s about the duality of nature, and, our own inner nature, with which we constantly battle, inside AND outside ourselves… It’s not easy when the only way to win, ultimately, is to keep battling; if either side becomes dominant, imbalance disallows longevity; eventually, whatever is created destroys itself, whether overbearingly good, or obsessively evil…. Sounds a bit confusing, doesn’t it? Yeah, to me, as well, but, it DOES go a long way toward explaining a lot about most people’s reaction to much of what happens to them in life….


SIGH…. Ah well, if they would only learn to listen to the pearls that live inside them…. If not, well, they could always come read some of these; I don’t see how it couldn’t help things. Nothing much else seems to have done so….


“Be not as one that hath ten thousand years to live; death is night hand: while thou livest, while thou hast time, be good.” — Marcus Aurelius Antoninus — Meditations, iv, 17


“The measure of man is what he does with power.” — Pittacus


“Nothing shows a man’s character more than what he laughs at.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


“You know what they say about paradigms – shift happens!” — Witty Bee


“To him that waits all things reveal themselves, provided that he has the courage not to deny, in the darkness,what he has seen in the light.” — Coventry Patmore


“His red right hand.” — John Milton — Paradise Lost, Book ii, Line 174


“Arms are instruments of ill omen… . When one is compelled to use them, it is best to do so without relish. There is no glory in victory, and to glorify it despite this is to exult in the killing of men…. When great numbers of people are killed, one should weep over them with sorrow. When victorious in war, one should observe mourning rites.” — Lao-Tzu


“Mongo only pawn… in game of life.’ — Alex Karras in “Blazing Saddles”




“Sometimes I think. And sometimes I am.”


~~ Smart Bee, using Peruaosophy as a koan ~~


☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬☬






What the…? How did we get here? Oh, wait; okay, I get it. Sorry, the Tardis was set to put me here at a certain time, & I forgot. Okay, we’re done, right? Right. I suppose I’d better go see what happened up there, before I let this loose on the world….. Hang on….


Hmm…. I think it’s best if I don’t comment on any of that. I’ll just say this; it’s done. That fulfills all the legal requirements, so, I’m going to use some common sense & get us the hell out of here, before Reality is stressed any further…. I’ll be back tomorrow, ffolkes….. Hey! Oh for goodness sake, stop with the wailing and lamentations! It’s not a threat, calm down. I don’t THINK we’ve even made any of the do-not-fly lists yet, so, it’s just another walk in the park. Sheesh…. Besides, what’s your beef? Did you pay for this? No…. Well, not in anything other than a karmic sense….


See ya, ffolkes; that’s a promise…. I don’t make them lightly….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….







		
	
					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
The King’s horses are fond of egg salad….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




You only live twice:

 Once when you’re born,

 Once when you look death in the face.


~~ Ian Fleming ~~


7-31-2015 040


Quiet Day on the Delta




Good morning…. I had originally intended to compose a witty, scathingly funny opening this morning, but, then I thought to myself, “Nah! Fuck that!”, with my usual erudition. This, of course, is quite impossible, given the tools at hand. (Not to mention the rather disgusting images it generates…) Thus frustrated in my first thought, I decided, instead, to compose a silly, nonsensical paragraph or two, to lighten the weight of the day; too bad I don’t feel at all funny. Then I thought, “No, I’ll go with the most efficient, most honest opening, which reflects the general state of coherence available here in the morning, to wit:




[dignified silence]




But, that seemed too cheap, and we do like to give our readers a bit of a bang for their buck, even if they’re not spending any. I had also thought of a fictional opening, a fantasy piece, with fairies, and leprechauns, and happy cows. That went by the wayside when I realized my brain isn’t up to creativity, and probably won’t be for at least an hour, and three cups of coffee. So much for any of the normal (hah!) openings….


That does it, then. We’ll have to forgo any sort of opening at all. I don’t know how that will affect the overall quality of the process, or the resulting mess, but, it’s all we’ve got now. Oh, well, I suppose they can’t ALL be exciting and wonderful. It might be nice to come close to it just once, though. You’d think the universe would at least respect the effort we expend to get it done, but, NOOOO….


Okay, we’d best get on with this, before it turns ugly. I’m resorting to an old technique; it’s rather ruthless, so, please, don’t hold it against me. I’m only thinking of you…. Well, saving my own ass enters into it, but, hey, that’s what multi-tasking is all about, init?


Shall we Pearl?….




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


~~ Emily Dickinson ~~




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Ella and Louis


Image from indianapublicmedia.com via Google Images




I feel like something a little different today, so, here is one of my favorite albums, with two of the finest musical artists to ever play together. It may pull my covers a bit, but, I don’t care. Anyone who can’t appreciate music like this needs to find a new soul…. If you don’t like this, the one you now have is broken…. Enjoy!….




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    Since I’m so late getting up today, I’m going to cheat, and, yes, I know the mere fact of admitting my vice does not turn it into a virtue. I don’t care…. The day before this piece was posted, I’d written a religirant; this is, apparently, a follow up pearl on that piece. It’s good enough for our purpose here today…. Hell, I think it’s a good one, but, at this point, it matters little if it fills in the space…. Enjoy!….


From 9/8/2012:


It is popularly supposed that between those who use the word “God” and those who do not there is some great gulf.  But the gulf lies elsewhere. It lies between those who dogmatize, either positively or negatively, and those who recognize in great humility that something within them bears witness to realities which may be momentous in our lives, but which lie beyond the grasping net of our categories of thought. — Smart Bee


Yet more proof of Murphy’s presence in Life…. or, in my life, anyway….. Yesterday I wrote about this subject, expounding as I am wont to do with no little enthusiasm, trying to bring some clarity to a naturally murky subject (it’s hard to pin down anything solidly when the subject under discussion is a matter of conjecture, not physically present to be examined….). Then, later in the day, I come across this one short paragraph, that summarizes my 3-400 words succinctly in three lines, and very clearly, for all its brevity. SIGH….. So much for originality, eh? Though I don’t know who said it, I salute them….


“In answer to the question of why it happened, I offer the modest proposal that our Universe is simply one of those things which happen from time to time.” — Edward P. Tryon


Once more, I have to agree with the author, especially as it gives a sort of pat on the shoulder to the paragraph above, as if sharing an obvious point. Serendipity, I say, and well met….


“When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it.” — Bernard Bailey


This one, when viewed in light of the previous two quotes, made me smile, big….. now, why is that? Because when he says a lot, he means, A LOT OF PEOPLE!…..


“And don’t tell me God works in mysterious ways, Yossarian continued There’s nothing mysterious about it, He’s not working at all. He’s playing. Or else He’s forgotten all about us. That’s the kind of God you people talk about, a country bumpkin, a clumsy, bungling, brainless, conceited, uncouth hayseed. Good God, how much reverence can you have for a Supreme Being who finds it necessary to include such phenomena as phlegm and tooth decay in His divine system of Creation? What in the world was running through that warped, evil, scatological mind of His when He robbed old people of the power to control their bowel movements? Why in the world did He ever create pain?” — Joseph Heller, Catch 22


Funny how people under stress always get so close to the truth; it makes the one who hears it more nervous and upset than he who said it…. or it that just me? Of course it is…. Why shouldn’t it be me? What’s the matter with me? Don’t you like me?….. Sorry…. any who, let’s see what else the magic can find….


“Every sensible man, every honest man, must hold the Christian sect in horror. But what shall we substitute in its place? you say. What? A ferocious animal has sucked the blood of my relatives. I tell you to rid yourselves of this beast and you ask me what you shall put in its place?” — Voltaire




Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets

And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes

Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?…


I should have been a pair of ragged claws

Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.


~~ T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” ~~




I’m not sure why, but this excerpt from T.S. Eliot seems to be the perfect finishing line for the above meandering treatise…. and it is as close to a verifiable point as we’re going to get today, I can tell…. so, best leave it be for now, and go on to something else…. Or, in this case, to something the same….


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Comedy_Tragedy




    I’m up late. Y’all know what that means…. Enjoy!….




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 ~~




Written 9/6/2012.


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About Hopi Indian Symbols




    This is a tricky pearl; it sort of constructed itself. I began with a clear set of parameters, just collecting what sounded complete (don’t worry, it’s a gigoid thing; you wouldn’t get it…). After the first five, it began to look coherent, if a bit clumpy. (Again, don’t fret; it’s how it feels to me…) But, by the time the ninth pearl was in hand, it became clear we had something special. What it might be has yet to be determined, but, it’s definitely special…. Enjoy, but, don’t hurt yourself; there are some sharp turns, and, the ending is rather abrupt.


“Everything is simpler than you think and at the same time more complex than you imagine.” — Goethe


“It is hard to let old beliefs go.  They are familiar.  We are comfortable with them and have spent years building systems and developing habits that depend on them.  Like a man who has worn eyeglasses so long that he forgets he has them on, we forget that the world looks to us the way it does because we have become used to seeing it that way through a particular set of lenses.  Today, however, we need new lenses.  And we need to throw the old ones away.” — Kenich Ohmae, The Borderless World


“If you’re ridin’ ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it’s still there.” — The Cowboy’s Guide to Life


“Hurting yourself is not sinful — just stupid.” — Robert Heinlein


“Hope cannot be said to exist, nor can it be said not to exist. It is just like the roads across the earth. For actually there were no roads to begin with, but when many people pass one way a road is made.” — Lu Hsun


“Depend not on fortune, but on conduct.” — Publius Syrus


“A bone to the dog is not charity.  Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.” — Jack London


“It is good for a man to eat thistles and to remember that he is an ass.” — E. S. Dallas


“If you can’t say something nice, say something surrealistic.” — Zippy the Pinhead


There you go; what did I tell you? Someday, I’ll write a manual for people to create their own pearls, but, I don’t know if it will sell. You see, the entire process hinges on learning one simple thing; if you get that, it’s easy…. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it now, it’s all in the wrist….


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


I can’t explain why I slept for almost eight hours, unless it was the past few weeks catching up to me. Whatever. It’s done, and, for a throw-together-quickly piece, it ain’t bad. Hopefully, y’all will feel the same; if not, well, there’s always tomorrow. See y’all then, if I’m still capable of coherent thought…. (No snickering….)….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Paleontological exhibits of ancient rigatoni….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				4			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,




“Ah said, pay attention, boy!”


~~ Foghorn Leghorn ~~


same


Curiosity on Mars



Image from http://gizmodo.com/a-fan-stitched-together-the-best-selfie-of-curiosity-ye-1723085310






Good morning…. Or, so it says here on the label. Personally, I’d hesitate to wager on that, as the hour does tend to take away some of the shine; that’s going to happen at 1 AM, especially when arising at such an ungodly hour was NOT on the agenda for the night…. Ah, well, rather than piss & moan about it, I’ll just start today’s mess…. It’s always a cleaner mess when I have this much time to spend on it…. Let us hope the gods of Entropy will cooperate to some degree…. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll be nice enough to keep the Murph off my back ’til I can get it done….


More likely it’ll just piss him off, and tomorrow morning will, no doubt, manifest as one we will all regret having experienced…. unless I can figure out a way to buy him off…. Yeah, that’s the ticket! Now, all I have to do is figure out what the hell I can give an iconic force of nature to make it go away…. Piece o’cake…


Now we’ve indulged in a morning descent into fantasy, why don’t we stop fussing around, and be off to the oyster beds, to gather enough pearls to complete today’s effort? I think that would be SWELL!…. But, then, it’s 1:13 AM and I’m about half-way to insane, with a one-way ticket clutched in my hot little hand…. what the hell do I know?….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets and then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again.” — TV listing for the movie, The Wizard of Oz, in the Marin Paper


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






beatles


Image from allexpress.com via Google Images




It’s been a long time since I listened to ‘The Boys’, and I thought I’d try to find some live cuts for us to enjoy. What I found is over an hour of live music, all Beatles music…. but, it’s a bit strange. It was supposedly a concert in Russia, in 2014! There are a number of different songs, each with its own costumes. The players LOOK very much like them, and the music is very close, but, I can’t tell yet if it’s real, or computer magic…. You tell me, if you figure it out, okay? Otherwise, there are a lot of other REAL Beatles live cuts on the page the link will take you to…. Enjoy!….







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Bootleg Beatles ~ Live

















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Dont keep calm




    I’m working on an epic rant, that isn’t quite ready for posting. To sublimate the (quite strong) urge to rant which so often occurs at this hour, (must have something to do with the resentment at my doctors for causing the conditions which cause me to be up… thank you very much, you assholes…), here is a discussion of human nature from early in 2013…. Enjoy!….


“Custom does often reason overrule and only serves for reason to the fool.” — John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester


This aphorism is one that I think most people would accept as true, at least part of the time. It also points up what I see as a basic flaw in human nature, a characteristic that everyone possesses, and few overmaster. It has to do with our core beliefs, and the attitude we assume as our method of perception, the orientation of our world-view, as it were. We all perceive what is out there in the universe, but we are not capable, at this time, of understanding, or even noting, all that is there to be perceived, as we are limited to what we can see, hear, feel, touch, taste, or deduce, in our immediate vicinity…. We don’t yet know how to include the input of anything not in our physical presence, other than vicariously (via TV, radio, books, etc…..).


We do, however perceive what we are near, and what we do with those perceptions is what determines how the events of our lives will proceed. What is more, each one of us perceives all of this IN A DIFFERENT WAY…..  Two people can look at the same article, or event, and see two entirely different things; just ask them….. We use the same senses, the same KIND of brains to process the data, at the same time to observe the same event, yet the interpretation of those events will vary, by as many degrees as there are people perceiving them. This unique ability, to process data in a completely new and different way from anyone else’s method, is, as might be guessed, both a blessing, and a curse….. It is the latter that concerns me today…..


In order to coexist in the same place and time, people have learned to accept certain perceptions as being identical, for the purposes of communication, e.g., everyone knows what “fire” is, and knows not to touch it barehanded…. (Note: in a way, this blog is all about the process of such communications…. we explore the reality that is consensual, that we all agree to deal with as being the same for all of us…..) This is the blessing it gives, the opportunity to increase understanding, to allow people to work in tandem, making both much more capable, making two more than just one plus one….. This is a very useful tool in the real world, and has helped our species achieve the degree of civilization we now enjoy….


But, the other side of this characteristic has an equal part in our destiny, and may in fact be the more important of the two, in the ultimate sense….. You see, we are all herd animals, and desire the approval and company of our peers; without it, we suffer, much more than we even know. It is not “human” to remain alone too long…. Oh, there is nothing wrong with solitude, and much great thought is achieved when one is not distracted by others….. On the other hand, a human who is alone for too long becomes a pale imitation of his/her true self, without the presence of other minds to test his/her theories, to discuss and share their feelings and accomplishments, to vent their frustrations, to experience love….. Without these things, our spirits become small, and lose their moral compass, leaving us adrift in a reality that seems dark, and dangerous….


This dependence on custom (which I define as the total construct of human society, the set of rules and regulations, all unwritten, by which all of us shape our behavior in respect to each other…..) is so strong that, as the aphorism states, one becomes willing to set reason aside, in order to keep and maintain our feeling of having a place in society. We will assume whatever mask that society demands, at times, in order to not have to wear a mask of our own devising, one that we do not find comfortable…. This is the curse of which I spoke….


You see, there are a number of people who have no compunctions whatsoever in using this human characteristic to their own ends….. They don’t believe in any of the crap they spew, but will say or do anything to make sure that others do, because this is how they control the general populace… They spread their lies, fast and often, until they are believed…. these lies promulgate fear amongst the uneducated and timid, who then demand that “something be done!” by those in charge…. which is exactly what those people wanted, for they can now proceed to further fan the flames of fear, while surreptitiously looting the public treasury to make it seem as if they are doing something constructive…. “Hey, they’re stealing our oil! Let’s spend a few billion to bomb the crap out of them so we can keep driving SUV’s, with great cup holders!”


Oh well, I guess that’s all the rant I’ve got in me today…. It’s kind of mild I know, but I was trying to be scholarly, rather than controversial and accusatory…. I think I’ve succeeded in that, but, it doesn’t quite give the same thrill and/or release as a good, nasty rant, with some great name-calling… Well, I can always call them assholes, because, hey, it fits, and it’s easy to type…. Any who, I’ll stop now, right on the edge of illumination, and allow the Gentle Reader to follow the train of my thought to its obvious conclusion…. For those too busy, or too lazy to do so, I’ll summarize….


Don’t listen to what anyone else says, not about YOUR perceptions. And, for sure, kick the asses of anyone who tries to convince you of their integrity in an elected capacity, or any position of authority…. A lot of people, on every level of society, are just trying to control you for their own purposes, and deserve any ass-kicking that comes their way….


Be like a cat…. cats don’t give a SHIT what anybody thinks, they just are….. No apologies, no fuss, just leave me alone, because I’m busy being a cat….. This is good advice, so, listen up, I’m trying to do you a favor…..         😆


“We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him.” — Michel Eyquem de Montaigne _Essays_, bk. III, ch. 11 [1595]


Written 4/13/2013.


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






Comedy_Tragedy


Honorable Request



Days, filled to a brim with fluff and time, pass

dimly into memory, bit by combative bit,

ever mournful, yet loud with life and sass,

only in dream do we meet, and dance, and flit.


Souls, spinning ’round in gleeful wonder, comply

as they must, nev

er given a reason,

somberly proper, yet limber and quite spry,

dancing on to greet each bright new season.


Storms, angered by apathetic care, rage

proceeding into ministerial glare, unknown,

clothed in colors, purified solely with sage,

past an infinite future, already flown.


Life, plumbed to its depths and secrets, keeps

flowing with currents, strong and fairly found,

love stands, asking release, as it slowly weeps,

seeking refuge unasked, to stay honor bound.


~~ gigoid ~~




Written 10/13/2012.


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






lao


He only earns his freedom and his life


Who takes them every day by storm.

 

~~ Goethe, from Faust ~~




“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh”, said Piglet at last, what’s the first thing you say to yourself?” “What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?” “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing, he said.” — A. A. Milne, “Winnie the Pooh”


“Don’t forget that compared to a grownup person every baby is a genius. Think of the capacity to learn! The freshness, the temperament, the will of a baby a few months old!” — May Sarton


“A man who carries a cat by the tail is getting experience that will always be helpful.  He isn’t likely to grow dim or doubtful. Chances are, he isn’t likely to carry the cat that way again, either.  But if he wants to, I say let him!” — Mark Twain


“Do not confuse ‘duty’ with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily. Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect.” — Lazarus Long


“The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another.” — George Eliot


“The moment in which you confront your own death is the moment in which you are most totally alive.” — Solomon Short


“Let honor be as strong to us an obligation as necessity is to others.” — Pliny the Elder




My guard stood hard when abstract threats too noble to neglect

 deceived me into thinking I had something to protect.

 Good and bad I defined these terms, quite clear, no doubt, somehow

 Ah, but I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.


~~ Bob Dylan ~~




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


“I must go seek some dew-drops here, And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.” — William Shakespeare


So goes another late-night/early morning Pearl…. I’m thinking of making a new category, for Insomnia Pearls. Probably won’t, though; that’s just giving in to the assholes, the way I see it. Fuck ’em. I’m tired. I want to sleep, for more than two hours in a row. Now I’ll quit the whining, and take us out of here, as is my last duty…. It’s been real, ffolkes, that’s for sure. See y’all tomorrow…. I won’t bother with anything like , ‘same place, same time’ as that would just tempt Murphy AND the gods of chance. As long as no charges get filed beforehand, I’ll see y’all in the mornin’…..




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Trapped again in durance vile….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				14			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,




“Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality.” 


~~ Jules de Gaultier ~~


blue-moon-july31-washington-dc-nasa-2


Blue Moon July 2015



Image from Space.com




Good morning…. For those ffolkes new to ECR, I should explain the titles of these Pearls of Virtual Wisdom. You see, the title is random, whereas the posts are not, hopefully. They mean nothing, and certainly have nothing to do with what is in the post. Each morning, before beginning to write anything in here, I make up the title out of my head, with no intent to connect it to the material I’m using. In fact, I try hard to make each one new, and completely odd, or as much so as my feeble brain can come up with upon first attempting to function… So, don’t worry if today’s title sounds a bit dark, or depressive; it has nothing to do with us; in fact, it has nothing to do with anything at all…. Sort of like this whole process, eh?….


All that being said, I’m making an executive decision to get on with the rest of today’s mess with no further nonsense, or sense, for that matter. In point of fact, we’re going to use the old #4 we found yesterday, which worked so well for us then, we’re employing it again today…. It works like this….


Shall we Pearl?….


“How ridiculous and unrealistic is the man who is astonished at anything that happens in life.” — Marcus Aurelius


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









OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA




Don’t mess with my kids….




Today’s video selection will push unmercifully upon your “Aww” buttons…. There is an old saw about how cats are suspicious of babies, but, I don’t think that old tale is true; it was made up by a jealous dog lover, I think, because all the cats I’ve known in my life were VERY good with babies and small children. They can be a bit grumpy, when older, but, will always be careful not to hurt a child, even when striking out in anger at tail- or ear-pulling. Here as proof is a video that will have you saying “Aww” every few seconds….. Enjoy!…. Oh, and, if it isn’t quite enough, there are LOTS more like it on the page where the link below will take you….




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Cats protecting babies

















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We the People...


    


“TAPPING?  You POLITICIANS!  Don’t you realize that the END of the “Wash Cycle” is a TREASURED MOMENT for most people?!” — Zippy the Pinhead


It took me a few days, but, I finally found the perfect quote from Zippy to cover any comments I might make regarding the recent fiasco on Fox, wherein the gazillion wannabe candidates for the Republican presidential nomination were gathered together into two groups to answer a bunch of soft-ball questions from the most corrupt, biased news source in the entire world. Sometimes I don’t know why they don’t just include their news broadcasts in their lineup of Reality TV shows; the so-called debate had about as much to do with actual Consensual Reality as does the life-cycle of aquatic diatoms…. Come to think of it, that might be more entertaining….


“Politicians are interested in people. Not that this is always a virtue. Fleas are interested in dogs.” — P. J. O’Rourke


Here’s another accurate observation that serves to point up my point. What’s my point? Ah, okay…. forgot that part, didn’t I? Well, most simply put, it’s this; what a load of horse shit!….. None of these men, or, rather I should be accurate, and say, all of these rich, ignorant, misogynist, racist white males, none of whom fit MY definition of a Man, have any real idea of, or any real connection to, the lives of the common citizens of this country.


Each and every one of them is, and has always been, completely insulated from any of the actual stresses and pressures felt by those average citizens; they’ve never been hungry a day in their lives. They’ve never NOT had a job, or a roof over their heads, or wondered where they were going to find the rent money for next month…. They simply have no idea, other than, possibly, as a remote concept someone once told them about at a party, of what the reality of life is for the majority of the people they are clamoring to ‘represent’ in Washington….


When I began this rant, I intended to spend more time taking some personal shots at the Asininnies who piss me off on such a regular basis….. However, I’m getting a bit tired of always preaching to the choir, so, I’ll finish this indictment with some old-school pearls from some of history’s most coherent philosophers and books…. well, and some not so coherent, but, nonetheless pertinent…. Some of the entries may prompt a comment from yours truly….


“Wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” — New Testament — Matthew xxiv, 28


(Many people are not aware, or are in denial of the fact that eagles, even the iconic Bald American Eagle so commonly associated with America, are scavenger birds, who prefer their meat well-aged. They are NOT efficient predators, though some are good fishers….. Any who, the quote does show how our political class resembles the species of, well, vultures. whose nature they display so readily….)


“Who is worse: Lawyer, Politician, Reporter?” — Smart Bee


“The tendencies of democracies are, in all things, to mediocrity, since the tastes, knowledge and principles of the majority form the tribunal of appeal.”

— James Fenimore Cooper


“Any priest or shaman must be presumed guilty until proved innocent.” — Lazarus Long, from Robert A. Heinlein’s “Time Enough For Love”


“Why are we surprised when politicians play politics?  It’s not like they are supposed to be real adults… they are, after all, politicians and don’t have real jobs and aren’t playing around with their money.” — Max


“Politics has reached the level where we’re goin’ some if we can even get good, efficient people to vote, to say nothin’ of runnin’ for office.” — Kin Hubbard


“I know one committee I don’t want — Judiciary.  They are going to be dealing with all those issues like abortion, bussing, voting rights, prayers.  I’m not interested in those issues and I want to stay as far away from them as I can.” — Senator Dan Quayle (from “What a Waste it Is to Lose One’s Mind” — the Unauthorized Autobiography)


“It really doesn’t matter who is President. They all end up sitting in the Oval Office, sticking pins in a Dan Rather doll.” — Smart Bee


“Capitalism did not arise because capitalists stole the land, but because it was more efficient than feudalism. It will perish because it is not merely less efficient than socialism, but actually self-destructive.” — J. B. S. Haldane


“I’ve heard enough of your twaddle, Ringleader. We’ll settle this the American way — with our fists!” — Mighty Mouse, “The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse”


“Ignorance plays the chief part among men, and the multitude of words;” — Diogenes Laertius — Cleobulus, iv


There you go…. I can’t make it much clearer than that….


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





Comedy_Tragedy




    I said earlier the titles have nothing to do with any of this material, and that remains true…. This poem, though, may test that contention a bit, as it is as dark as the title…. Not intentional I assure you; the title is fresh today, while the poem was first written on 8/18/2013….




Future Shocked:


Weeping, I wake; 

waking, I weep, I weep. 

I weep for the ages to be lost, 

for the children never to be born. 


Time comes calling, strident and spare, 

nudging us toward the future with bony hands. 

No pausing, no waiting, always away,

Frantic hearts unseen, unheard.


Spirits are dark, afraid. 

And the Beast hunts, hungry and cruel, 

seeking out the weak, and the foolish. 


We all weep now…..


~~ gigoid ~~




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





Yin-Yang-symbol-sun-and-moon




    I have nothing to add to this pearl; it’s damn near perfect…. This one will most certainly be on the Quiz, ffolkes; I’d suggest taking notes today….


“Love is shown in your deeds, not in your words.” — Fr. Jerome Cummings


“A good friend  who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.” — Buddha


“Morality is truth in full bloom.’ — Victor Hugo


“There is a road from the eye to the heart that does not go through the intellect.” — G.K. Chesterton


“None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


“To extend your limits, you must push them… and it often hurts.” — Smart Bee


“Appearances often are deceiving.” — Aesop


“Time will explain it all. He is a talker, and needs no questioning before he speaks.” — Euripides


“If birth is a miracle, is not death also a miracle?” — Philosopher Bee


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


All things considered, not too shabby. I’ll take it, warts and all. Gosh, it must be ‘lerve’…. Now I’ve cleared most of the dross and drivel out of my head, I think I’ll go back to bed. Better yet, maybe I’ll go find some bureaucrats, myrmidons, or some other category of mundane to torment for a while…. I’m feeling particularly curmudgeonly today…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; I figure that’s fair warning….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Anecdotal  scenes from the Ugly Bug Ball….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				3			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,




“The secret of man’s being is not only to live but to have something to live for.”


~~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky ~~


7-31-2015 063


Rorschach Rock



What do YOU see?




Some of y’all may note today’s opening looks slightly different than it has been lately. Good eye….. Not that it means much, there’s no prize or anything, but, hey, credit where credit’s due, I always say. What may not be as apparent is the reason for the change, but, I doubt you’re going to want to spend a long time trying to figure it out, as I’m not going to say, and, we have to go on almost immediately, so, no time for questions…. How ’bout that? Funny how that works, eh?….


S’okay, we’re all used to being ignored, or abused, & expected to just swallow it; our society finds a way to do that to each and every one of us each and every day…. But, I digress…. Ranting in the intro is no longer allowed, as we know, yet, somehow, the rage I’m feeling right now has grown past my ability to sublimate, or repress, or even understand…. I’m very close, emotionally, at least, to my limit. I’m a tough old coot, but, even I must have a limit to how long I can keep myself from firing back at the assholes who make our lives so difficult, in a way that gets their attention….


“I am grim… and harsh… and ripe with fury!  I fight and kill and howl and get *all bloody*!  I go bowling whenever I want!” — The Carrot’s statements on life…


I promised myself (during the FIRST time I was up last night…) I wouldn’t whine, no matter what. So, instead I’ll be aggressively vituperative, in a figurative sense, toward all things asinine, a word which, as we know, forms the basis of our name for our Beloved Ruling Class, and their Masters, those premier assholes of humanity, those servants of evil….. Yes, it’s the Asininnies, those small-spirited, egotistic, misogynistic, buttheads we know and love so little…. I suppose merely verbal, or, in this case, written vitriol won’t really kill the urge, (or, them, sadly…), but, it will help by not spilling it on anything or anyone undeserving of such honors, and help me keep my word to myself, thus abusing y’all less…. It can’t lose, as long as I can keep myself under control….


To assist myself in that task, it would be best to get on with the rest of today’s mess….


This introduction has been brought to you by the makers of tardive dyskinesia, medical science’s most annoying side effect, and, by Insomniacs International…. They’re ALWAYS up, for something or other…. All insults, accusations, indictments, assertions, founded, or unfounded, and, of course, all ridicule, is intentional, and, patently, well-deserved.


No spitting allowed without a permit; limit of three victims, all must be of different category…. snakehead, pundit, dogma dog, or myrmidon, which regulations require be clearly marked on the identification-toe-tags included in your kit. Please provide the caliber of your weapon to the stewardess, and ammunition will be provided….


Let’s do this….


Shall we Pearl?….




“Laugh, and the world ignores you. Crying doesn’t help either.”


~~ Smart Bee, the Realist ~~




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





Sandclock .jpg




    At the risk of being accused of living in the past, I’m going there anyway, for a specific reason…. I’m in the mood, as mentioned, for some serious ass-kicking. This is the kind of music one should have playing, at full volume, (the level should threaten eardrums for a quarter-mile….), while laying about with one’s weapon of choice…. Mine is a katana, or, perhaps, a staff…. Hell, a bag of rocks will do in a pinch….


As the old mountain-man hard-ass, (Brian Keith, in a BRILLIANT cameo appearance), in “Young Guns”, who rode slowly, sleepily up to the group of gunslingers on his donkey, stepped down, grinned, and, said, as he opened fire with both guns,




“Let’s dance!”….


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Boston Live 7/29/2014

















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“If any man have an ear, let him hear.”


~~ Revelations 13:9 ~~




We the People...




Today’s rant will be of a slightly different format, simply because it’s all I could handle at 0330, (the SECOND time I got up last night…). I’ve got a lot of angst (translation: RAGE) built up in me, thanks to insomnia, dramatically increased pain level, and the living hell of tardive dyskinesia q4h like fucking clockwork, all thanks to the kind ministrations and completely asshole nature of my doctors, thank you very much. Assholes.


That said, my need to blame is assuaged, but, the rage is not. I’m not sure I could produce a coherent rant in this state; too many conflicting images of a homicidal nature keep intruding whenever I think about any of the issues I normally choose as the outlet for my dreaded outbursts (dreaded by me, for the adrenalin rush…. I don’t mind the energy, or the anger so much; it’s the hours of coming down that is an ordeal…. almost as bad as the TD….). So, we’ll go with a method I developed a couple years ago, but, never used much. It will work today; the comments I make are shorter….


Here then is the result of my attempt to get all the dross and drivel out of my head, and onto the screen, where it doesn’t cause so much trouble for me….


“Whenever, therefore, the profession of arms becomes a distinct order in the state….the end of the social compact is defeated… No free government was ever founded, or ever preserved its liberty without uniting the characters of the citizen and soldier in those destined for the defense of the state…Such are a well regulated militia, composed of the freeholders, citizen and husbandman, who take up arms to preserve their property, as individuals, and their rights as freemen.” — Richard Henry Lee


Can there be any doubt, in any reasonable mind, our social contract has been dissolved?…. Not only have our armed forces become organizations of professionals, run by hereditary families of warriors, and career students of War, loyal only to their sworn superior officers, not to the people of this country…. Even the National Guard has become a tool of government against the people; remember Kent State, back in the 60’s?


In addition, this professional militarism has spread to the no-longer-civilian police forces in every state, county, and town in this country, even going so far as having the government armed forces share equipment of war with those police forces, spreading their older, unused weaponry and accessories around to those departments, which now view the public as their enemies, not their neighbors…. The people now fear the government, rather than the other way around, as our system was designed to work….


“Deceit in the conduct of war outweighs valor and is worthy of merit.” — Niccolo Machiavelli


Can you think of a better example of how the political mind works differently than that of the public? This, to me, demonstrates perfectly how little the needs of the common man concern those who seek power; it doesn’t even enter into their calculations at all. Why would it, when their ethical/moral model of reality is the exact opposite of that espoused by our most revered scholars and sages, who regard Truth as an inviolable habit for the honorable man….


“Unfortunately, the people of Louisiana are not racists.” — Vice President Dan Quayle, regarding David Duke’s candidacy, 10/12/90, (reported in Esquire, 8/92)


No need for much comment here; Dan speaks for himself. This is included primarily for a bit of comic relief, much needed, I assure you…. Gad! He was/is SO stupid! It makes me cringe, every time I think of how close he was at times to being the President of this country…. I mean, what if the Junior Shrub had choked on some broccoli, or something? Wouldn’t THAT have been perfect irony?…


“Those who voluntarily put power into the hands of a tyrant or an enemy, must not wonder if it be at last turned against themselves.” — Aesop


Another way of reminding ourselves we only have ourselves to blame for all of this…. Sad, hard to swallow, but, true….


“The truest wild beasts live in the most populous places.” — Baltasar Gracian, “The Art of Worldly Wisdom” 1647


I would suppose it’s becoming more than clear I’m feeling a bit snarky today…. All I can say is, so fucking what? Whenever I think of all of the SHIT that flows out of Washington D.C., the truer the above statement becomes to me. I regard all politicians at the national level to be psychopaths, clinically insane, as proven by the mere act of running for an office at that level. Only insane persons WANT that sort of power over others, so, I regard their ambition as concrete proof of their lack of morality, ethics, or standard levels or intelligence, for that matter, all of which goes along perfectly with their incredibly delusional view of Reality….


Damn! I got so hyped up typing that last paragraph, my left hand fell asleep, from typing too fast for too long, as all that vitriol poured out without pause. I’d hoped to carry on for a bit longer, to at least seven pearls, but, it looks like five will have to do….


I’m pissed, ffolkes, if it wasn’t made clear. Just thought you should know…. I guess I’m done for now. I know I didn’t accomplish much, but, I think I got enough crap cleared out to at least get something done today along more constructive lines…. If nothing else, having thus completed this ugly, but, necessary self-imposed duty, it gives me the wherewithal, and the authority, to finish this pearl in the approved manner, with a short statement in summary….




“I came, I saw, I went back into the house.”


~~ gigoid ~~


~~ Wednesday 2015  ~~




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Comedy_Tragedy




    Here is one of the first poems I wrote back in 2012, during the period of time my 35 year hiatus at writing in verse came to an end…. Even now, I still think it’s one of my best…. It’s certainly one of the most personal….




Raging at Aging


As old as you feel, we are told, is old as you are,

custom assures such vision will carry us far.

Reality begs to differ, may it be so bold

it is really quite painful, and very, very cold.


The power and strength felt in our halcyon youth

desert us with age, yet another unwelcome truth.

Irony rules our time here on this bountiful earth

as we reflect the changes over time since our birth.


As physical powers fade from this fragile shell, 

we learn our mind can serve us quite as well.

The strength that once filled our bones and hearts

is now applied by our will, to more arcane arts.


Life’s greatest gift is our freedom of choice

no matter how often we forget, we still get a voice.

Energy, or apathy, by our will we may choose,

failing to do so, our only way to lose.


Each of us lives in the grip of time and space,

always seeking our balance, our own chosen place.

One must accept reality, for it is true at the core,

all we can do, is all we can do, and nothing more.


~~ gigoid ~~




Written 10/17/2012.


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Yin-Yang-symbol-sun-and-moon


Relatively Consensual Reality



Image from 123rf.com via Google Images




This pearl came together in a rather odd fashion; in the end, it’s a pretty good range of concepts, all of which have to do with some of the more important parts of Life as we know it…. Well, I guess a qualifier is called for…. That would be Life as we dubioids know it; don’t worry, if you are one, you’d know (the big, round, honking nose is a dead giveaway). If you don’t, (know, that is…), that’s fine, too, because, hey, you’re a dubioid, and, thus, protected from the worst vicissitudes of Life by your very nature….


See how that works? No? Ah, well….


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


“The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.” — George Bernard Shaw


“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom, in the pursuit of truth as in the endeavour after a worthy manner of life.” — Bertrand Russell, “An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish”


“The laugh of a child will make the holiest day more sacred still.” — Robert G. Ingersoll


“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” — Albert Einstein


“Courage conquers all things.” — Ovid


“To teach is to learn.” — Japanese Proverb


“The deed is everything, the glory is naught.” — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe


“Surely every human being ought to attain to the dignity of the unit.  Surely it is worth while to be one, and to feel that the census of the universe would be incomplete without counting you.  Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought you are without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and all depths; that there are no walls or fences, or prohibited places, or sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought; that your intellect owes no allegiance to any being, human or divine; that you hold all in fee, and upon no condition, and by no tenure, whatsoever; that in the world of mind you are relieved from all personal dictation, and from the ignorant tyranny of majorities.  Surely it is worth something to feel that there are no priests, no popes, no parties, no governments, no kings, no gods, to whom your intellect can be compelled to pay a reluctant homage.  Surely it is a joy to know that all the cruel ingenuity of bigotry can devise no prison, no dungeon, no cell in which for one instant to confine a thought; that ideas cannot be dislocated by racks, nor crushed in iron boots, nor burned with fire.  Surely it is sublime to think that the brain is a castle, and that within its curious bastions and winding halls the soul, in spite of all worlds and all beings, is the supreme sovereign of itself.” — Robert Green Ingersoll, “The Free Soul”


There you go…. I’m pretty sure I can’t make it any clearer than that, which is too bad, because that’s pretty obscure, isn’t it? Oh, well, c’est la vie, as they say in Paris…. That’s in France, which is why…. oh, never mind…..


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Difficult as it may be to believe, I’m done. For a bit there, it looked as if I might never get enough out to save my ass from another f’d up day in paradise; fortunately for all of us, I did. Y’know what? I’m gonna go buy some champagne, bring it home, pour it in a glass, and toss it down the sink… I HATE champagne! Hmm, maybe I won’t. Maybe, instead, I’ll just go on with the day, and see what happens…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; I don’t seem to be able to find a way to keep it from happening….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Oh, swell. Oatmeal fritters again….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




How he lies in his rights of a man!

Death has done all death can.

And absorbed in the new life he leads,

He recks not, he heeds

Nor his wrong nor my vengeance; both strike

On his senses alike,

And are lost in the solemn and strange

Surprise of the change.


~~ Robert Browning ~~


~~ After ~~


Space_Station_Crosses_Moons_Face-Dylan ODonnell


International Space Station crossing the Moon’s face


Image by amateur astronomer Dylan O’Donnell




Good morning, I suppose…. could have fooled me. But, then, 3 AM isn’t my favorite time of day, even if being awake is more comfortable than being asleep just now….


In thinking that over, it’s just sad. Having to claim a preference for being up, twitchy and sleepy, with aggravated pain in several spots, rather than being in bed, twitching, WISHING to be able to fall back asleep…. well, it’s just sad, because neither one is anything I can claim to enjoy, or even want to tolerate….


Yesterday was a wash, mostly, as has most of the past two weeks, in some ways. Others, not so bad. Not enough to bring balance, but, not as bad as it might have been, had I still been carrying around that extra 60 lbs. I’ve lost. And, now I’ve bored y’all to the brink of madness, detailing my own sad issues with the aging process, I think we can call this an intro, and get on with the rest of this mess…. It’s bound to be a bit of a cheat, but, it can’t be helped…..


Besides, at this point, I really don’t give a shit….


Shall we Pearl?….


“From the errors of others a wise man corrects his own.” — Publius Syrus


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15112676-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-1756-1791-on-engraving-from-1908-one-of-the-most-significant-and-influential




    To bring balance to my world, nothing works like the music of this man. In fact, his music is not only proven to lift spirits, it has been scientifically proven that listening to his music can increase one’s intelligence, at least for the time it is being enjoyed. People who hear his music score better on tests, consistently, than those who have no music, or listen to any other type… I believe it, especially considering how it can make one feel when one is in the dumps…. Enjoy, ffolkes….




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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart















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Dont keep calm




    I had originally intended to rant today, using a rather fine entry from the Devil’s Dictionary as a base. However, due to circumstances completely within my control, I decided to use one from the archives, simply because I’m feeling particularly lazy today. Go figure, right?…. Ah well, soon, I’ll have enough angst built up to bleed out some fresh rants; until then, the archives are full of stuff, all of which is still relevant, sadly….


From 4/4/2014:


When I read the following articles in yesterday’s news, about the government’s abortive attempt to destabilize Cuba using a social networking platform they built, I fully intended to rant about it, as it clearly indicates the administration’s continued demonstration of their contempt and disregard for the American citizen’s right to privacy, as well as the complete debunking of our civil rights as outlined in the Bill of Rights…. It pisses me off royally, especially now that the White House is trying to defend its clandestine activities with more lies, even when confronted about them…. How can anyone think they can explain a lie with another lie?….


I am SO angry about this one, I can’t rant right now…. I’m going to have to let this percolate for a while, to organize my thoughts on the matter; right now it would come out as a threat of violence, which I won’t be ready to carry out for another little while…. Instead, I’ll again use an old-school pearl to vent what I’m feeling, and take some shots at the pundits who are making me crazy with their asinine contortions in the public arena over this spying issue….


It all makes me want to buy a gun; moreover, it makes me want to use it….. Instead, following the links, are a group of pearls, with the specific purpose of making me feel better, by striking out at the fucking assholes who keep showing how much they hate Americans…. even though we keep electing them…. I suppose it’s natural for bullies to disrespect their victims, isn’t it?….


“The reasons which any man offers to you for his own conduct betray his opinion of your character.” — Sir Arthur Helps


http://www.sfgate.com/business/technology/article/US-secretly-built-Cuban-Twitter-to-stir-unrest-5372422.php


http://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/White-House-defends-Cuban-Twitter-to-stir-unrest-5374712.php?cmpid=hp-hc-nationworld




How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds


Make deeds ill done!


 ~~ William Shakespeare, King John — Act iv, Sc. 2 ~~




“An hour’s perusal of our national charter makes it hard to understand what the argle-bargle is about. The First Amendment forbids infringements of the freedom of speech “except for commercials on children’s television” or “unless somebody says ‘****’ in a rap song or ‘chick’ on a college campus.” The Second Amendment states that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” period. There is no mention of magazine size, rate of fire, or to what extent those arms may resemble assault rifles.” — P. J. O’Rourke


“The fact that Hitler was a political genius unmasks the nature of politics in general as no other can.” — Wilhelm Reich


“All lawyers should be shot.” — William Shakespeare


(Policy note: Did you ever wonder why so many politicians were lawyers first? I did, but, then, I went, “Oh, right…. Follow the money.”)


BOUNDARY, n.  In political geography, an imaginary line between two nations, separating the imaginary rights of one from the imaginary rights of the other. — Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”


“If it weren’t for lawyers, I think we could have invented a universal symbolic representation of reality.” — Smart Bee


“It’s the RINSE CYCLE!!  They’ve ALL IGNORED the RINSE CYCLE!!” — Zippy the Pinhead


Okay, I feel better….. Now, if only we can get them to rinse!….


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Comedy_Tragedy




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 ~~




Written 10/23/2012.


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ankh




    Smart Bee continues to give me fits when I ask it to provide some appropriate pearls for this section; today’s group took six distinct episodes to gather a sufficient number to make the point….. which wasn’t all that deep a hole to dig. But, it’s done, so, we’ll take it, and run…. Enjoy ffolkes, this one has some good advice on how to approach life with some style….




Do not stop to ask what is it;


let us go and make our visit.


~~ T. S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ~~




“Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.” — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe


“Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses or avoids.” — Aristotle


25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. — Instructions for life


“Let him that would move the world, first move himself.” — Socrates (B.C. 469-399)


“If you get confused, listen to the music play.” — Robert Hunter


“Do not confuse ‘duty’ with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily. Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect.” — Lazarus Long


“Don’t take anything seriously except happiness.” — Albert Camus




Because right is right, to follow right


Were wisdom in the scorn of consequence.


~~ Alfred Tennyson, “Oenone” ~~




See? Easy money….


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Well…. I can’t say we got down to the bone, but, I do think that bled out very nicely, don’t you? Such a pretty pattern develops as the bright, red blood seeps into the pale grey carpet (nobody ever accused my landlord of good taste….), as the now oxygenated blood mixes with the dirt and tiny livestock inhabiting the depths of the rug…. Lovely!


Okay, sorry…. You’ll find barf-bags in the seat back in front of you…. Oh, wait, we’re out of barf bags…. Ah, well, maybe next trip…. Feel free to use the showers on the way out today…. For sure, though, I’ll see y’all tomorrow, with a full complement of brand new barf bags….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Honorable thieves of Time….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“I respect your right to make an idiot of yourself.


 Please respect mine.”


~~ Smart Bee, speaking for gigoid ~~


Alaska Grand Adventure 005


Main Street, Skagway, Alaska




Good morning…. That’s what it says on the label, anyway, though, from my viewpoint, I think I’d want a second opinion before committing myself too far. We’ll go with the odds, though, and just get on with today’s mess, for lack of a better idea….


Shall we Pearl?….


“Well, I’ve wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it.” — Elwood P. Dowd, “Harvey”


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hubble-anniversary-image 1


NASA Hubble Deep Space Telescope Anniversary Image




Rather than a video today, I’m including some artwork which demonstrates the extent of humanity’s exploration of our own Solar System. NASA, with some newer entries into the space exploration circle, has a number of projects taking place around the system, of which we will look at three…. The first is an article on the subject of asteroid mining, which I personally believe to be the next goal our species should take on…. Also included are videos, at the Space.com web site, showing some details of the mission to photograph Pluto and its companion bodies, Charon, Nix, etc., and a video compilation showing the journey of the Mars Rover Curiosity, in a time lapse video made of pictures from each day’s journey…. Those two are in reverse order from how the appear here…


Space is Mankind’s destiny; there is no other answer to the question of why our species exists…. It is our fate to either explore to the ends of the Universe, or kill ourselves trying….




So be it…..


gigoid has spoken.


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Archimedes concept


Moving a mineral rich asteroid to Mars.


http://www.space.com/29864-asteroid-mining-space-exploration-podcast.html?cmpid=NL_SP_weekly_2015-07-08


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Mars sunset by Curiosity


NASA Rover Curiosity photo of a sunset on Mars


http://www.space.com/29868-11+-years-of-mars-roving-in-8-minutes-time-lapse-video.html


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new-horizons-pluto-flyby-illustration


Artist’s rendition of the New Horizons spacecraft


http://www.space.com/29856-pluto-grows-in-new-horizon-s-color-lens-time-lapse-video.html


july-8-2015-pluto-heart-new-horizons


Pluto’s Heart


pluto-new-horizons


Pluto, Charon, & New Horizons


pluto-nix-moon-chaotic-spin


Pluto’s Irregular Moon, Nix, as it tumbles around its orbit


20110318_lg


New Horizons Path to Pluto, 2011-2015


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Dont keep calm




    I’d planned a fresh rant for today, but, circumstances have prevented it from getting written just now…. This, of course, means a trip to the archives…. Today, we’ll discuss our world’s Plague of Evil, a term I use to describe the most viciously evil practice our species exhibits, to wit: the trafficking of humans, women, children, and men, for the purposes of sexual exploitation…. If I ever do reach a point where I no longer care about society’s rules, pimps, snakeheads, and other participants in this evil trade would be my very first targets…. And, I wouldn’t/won’t stop until I run out of targets, for nothing, to me, is more dishonorable, or more disgusting, than to take part in such abuse….


From 9/6/2012:


Miss, n.: A title with which we brand unmarried women to indicate that they are in the market. — Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”


While this quote is intended to be funny, it actually perpetuates the discriminatory,  proprietary labeling of women in our society, exactly the way this says it does. By using such terms, we “brand” women according to their eligibility to be possessed by a man, to serve as his property, and think nothing of it. Indeed, a person is considered polite and well-mannered when he or she uses these societal forms of address, never even considering the implications of what they are saying.


Men are either Mister, or, as boys, Master. That’s pretty indicative of the mind-set that using these terms puts the speaker in; men are assumed superior, merely for being male. Women are either Miss, Mistress, or Missus (Mrs., probably a shortened form of Master’s Mistress… or some such….. ), automatically placing them in the subordinate position to the males.


In the last part of the 20th century, society began to use the term Ms., pronounce mizz, to indicate a woman not married, and not to be automatically considered as a candidate for marriage, in an attempt to mitigate somewhat the restrictive mental attitudes that accompany such terminology, and it has had a fairly positive effect, though in no way complete or enough.


This small change is merely one step in the direction society needs to go, and the journey is not a short one; these attitudes have been part of society for thousands of years. It will take a concerted, sustained effort to change the way people think, even partially. But none of us, men or women, can consider ourselves truly free , free to be, and free to become who we CAN be…. which makes the effort the only rational choice…..


All of this does not even touch upon how these attitudes open the way for the trafficking in human beings that continues to take place all over the world. Because of the assumed male superiority, it becomes a very short step to assuming that men may do whatever they please with women. This includes the rape and abduction of young girls and women, taking them to far away cities where they are forced to work as sex slaves by unprincipled men, who hide behind the laws that protect them; laws also written by men.


This has been going on for centuries, and continues right here in this supposedly advanced country. The public does not pay any attention to the sex trade, as long as it isn’t right in their faces; the unscrupulous, misogynistic men, and women, who run these businesses talk of “victimless crimes” as if the women involved were willing participants, while in reality, most of the women are trapped there by abusive, terrorist men who rape them repeatedly until their will to live is gone, thus making them pliable and docile.


These men, and the women who sometimes join them in their depredations, are sick, disgusting scum, and society needs to excise them from the tree of life. To my way of thinking, a long, drawn out period of torture and pain before death is what they deserve, but I am willing to settle just for death. This trade in sex and the slavery that supports it are a scourge upon society, and should be dealt with just as if it were any other type of threat against the species, with swift and complete justice, and no mercy…..




Free our sisters, free ourselves….




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Comedy_Tragedy




Momentary Terror


Absently casual, memories pester endlessly 

   leaving only bleeding remnants, amiable and loving. 

Coming awake, I cry to still the pain, shamelessly.


Elsewhen, time gives surcease, if only to live,

   shoring broken pilings, worn and gray.

Passing on, I laugh at the pain, accept all it will give.


Time will build a shelter, warm and ever safe

   save for Fate’s busy hands.

Enduring, I follow the pain, knowing it will chafe.


Fixed against a darkened sky of starry black

   such beauty brings us to our knees.

Entranced, I welcome the pain, ’tis all I lack…..


~~ gigoid ~~




Written 2/4/2013.


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dalai lama




The Dalai Lama


 Image from boingboing.com via Google Images




Today’s final old school pearl sees us taking a look at some of the ways we can all improve our lives, if only to make ourselves more comfortable about all that happens around us, by showing us how to change ourselves from within, the only true change we can make in this Reality…. If that wasn’t clear, perhaps the words of some of history’s most beloved sages will help, as they have done for thousands of years…. Enjoy!….


“My teachings are very easy to understand and very easy to practice. But no one can understand them and no one can practice them. In my words there is a principle. In the affairs of men there is a system.” — Lao-Tzu


“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


“Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.” — Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.


“Even if you don’t follow a formal meditation program, it is good to sit quietly for a little while every day.” — Deng Ming-Dao


“Glimpses do ye seem to see of that mortally intolerable truth; that all deep, earnest thinking is but the intrepid effort of the soul to keep the open independence of her sea; while the wildest winds of heaven and earth conspire to cast her on the treacherous, slavish shore?” — Herman Melville, Moby Dick


“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.” — Robert Louis Stevenson


“Ours is a strange world, in which the vast majority do not know what it is they want, but are willing to go through hell to get it, and once they’ve got it, they don’t know what to do with it because it was supposed to make them happy and didn’t.” — Don Marquis


“Dope will get you through times of no money better that money will get you through times of no dope.” — Freewheelin’ Franklin, “The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers”




If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.


If you want to be happy, practice compassion.


~~ The Dalai Lama ~~




(Note:  If the most modern example of common wisdom seems out of place, stop a minute to consider what it actually means, by replacing the offensive, yet perfectly apt word, with almost any other object of human need/desire, to obtain an example of the universal quality of the concept… Try the word, “love”, or, “air”, or, “food”, for example, to see the meaning remains valid…. )


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It’s done. Thank goodness, too. Rather than fuss with it, I’m gonna post it, and be done with it. Jeez, one would think I was organized, if one didn’t know better. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, attitude adjusted, or not….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Drop the waffle, Bob, or we’ll shoot….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.”


~~ Pliny the Elder ~~


10-8-2014 017 (2)


Morning Glory, Indeed.






Good morning…. For the record: Later today, I’ll be hitting the trail, off to see a friend in another state. I’m hoping to be able to post as usual, but, the details and demands of life away from one’s base can alter our intentions to fulfill necessities of the trip…. In any case, if you don’t see a post at the usual time, check back later to see if I was able to get it done; if nothing else, I’ll try to post a few words to fill the empty spaces left by my absence…. Other than that, I doubt the Space/Time Continuum will see much effect from that absence…. And, for the nonce, it means we can get on with this show, forthwith….


Shall we Pearl?




“One man with courage is a majority.”


~~ Thomas Jefferson ~~




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buffalo S


Image from Amazon.com via Google Images




Some of the most familiar names in the history of Rock & Roll were members of this band; when it broke up in the late 60’/early 70’s, the members went on to form several other extremely famous iconic groups, including Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, Emerson-Lake-Palmer, Loggins & Messina, and others of equal fame. Almost all of them went on to brilliant solo careers as musician/songwriters…. In the beginning, before all the glitter and fame, there was Buffalo Springfield….







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Buffalo Springfield















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Dont keep calm


“War is Capitalism with the gloves off.” — Tom Stoppard




Careful, Mister.  Old Zeke is liable to fire that sucker up! Uh, oh! Now you’ve done it!….


Just what, you may ask, is that all about? And, well you may ask, as it turns out…. To be honest, I had some notion of passing myself off as the proverbial Zeke, but, it sort of felt weird even as I put it up there…. However, it still fits the issue at hand, which is, the quote by Mr. Stoppard, a phrase which, like it or not, I intend to discuss, as it perfectly fits the rant I have in mind…. Yes, that’s right, we’re going to indict the Asininnies again, into a bloody pulp, if possible…. Why? Well, why the hell not? They fuck with us…. no, make that, they fuck us, on a regular, consistent, daily basis; it’s our duty to give it back to them whenever the opportunity arises… Remember, ffolkes….






Albert E & true sin

    


    “War is capitalism with the gloves off.” How adroitly accurate! I’m in awe, for, Mr. Stoppard has, in a mere seven words, laid out an entirely rational, evocative argument for revolution, wherein the root cause of the problem, and implied correct solution, becomes as plain as the nose on a Bozo’s face. I can’t think of a better way to call a spade a spade….


The entire history of this country since WWII has been one of war after police action after war after terrorist hunt after humanitarian intervention after invasion after war after police actions…. well, you get the picture…. All of it, in one respect at least, has only one purpose in mind, to spread the “benefits” of freedom and capitalism to the rest of the “undeveloped” world, as well as to our ideological adversaries, who wish to do the same thing in the name of socialism, or communism, etc…. In my opinion, it’s all a case of mewantitall-ism…. Basically, our human governments consist of a bunch of men, mostly, who never grew up, so never learned they can’t have all they want. Their entire existence is centered around obtaining power over others, in order to be free to ignore their own responsibility, giving up honor for avarice…


In truth, the entire stated purpose of the imperialistic advances of Western civilization is all a sham, a two-sided excuse to apply the principles of economic slavery to yet another unsuspecting culture, to fill their minds with TV, and all the illusory “good” things that come with a slave society, where the many work for, and at the behest of, a very few elite narcissists, who believe in their own entitlements, and nothing else….


“Conservative Definition of Compassion: I got mine, Jack.” — Smart Bee


One one hand, these predators justify their depredations by the time honored catch phrase of bringing freedom, and justice, the American way, to those countries whose economic dependency isn’t tied to the business of business, also the American way…. We’ll bring them good old American know-how, and flood their markets and bodies with American poison, er, the boon of fast food (with enhanced nutritional value, and a tiny bit of actual food included), and advanced medicines, which will cause autism, obesity, and a lifetime of dependency on pills which keep you sick (Can’t sell pills to well people, now, can you?). We’ll sell them cars they don’t need every year, and a new phone every 3 months, and convince them they’re happy as pigs-in-mud, striding swiftly down the road to an early grave, while wading ineffectually, blindly, through their own hell…


“Where there is much light there is also much shadow.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)


Which, by the way, is the second gift we bring to those other lands we visit all over the world, invited or not…. We’ll use the promise of immortality as reward for obedience, balanced by a threat of a fiery hell for ignoring dogma, allowing our missionaries to bring the gift of Christianity to the natives…. Yes, Christianity, that insane, vicious, gruesome, wonderful, old-time religion, as described so vividly by hundreds of passages in the Bible, with battles where they killed not just warriors, but, the women, children, old people, and animals of their enemies, just because they could….


The religion of LOVE, so it is said, though you couldn’t tell by the way the countries they visit all end up, as yet more slaves to the corporate snakeheads, with the full cooperation and support of the religious teachers, who all preach obedience to worldly authority, in exchange for the promise of eternal life, AFTER you’re dead, (and, thus, can no longer contribute to the church, you’ll note….)


“It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged.” — G. K. Chesterton, The Cleveland Press, 3/1/21


Boy, howdy; now THAT is priceless! Yes, yes, yessiree! I can say, without a qualm, I resemble that remark!


I also can say, unequivocally, I strongly agree with G.K.; how else, when I wish I’d said it!…. Of course, I’m sure he would have included the preachers in there with the politicians, had he thought of it, or, had he been able to figure out a short, pithy way to do so…. Otherwise, it’s perfect!…. Every damn one of them is clinically insane; on the political side we have your predatory, narcissistic, pathological liars, who live for rape (which is the ultimate power over others…), who have absolutely no compassion, or honor…. Their sense of unbridled entitlement comes out of their delusional belief in their own divine right to rule others…


On the religious side, we have your delusional, pathological, emotionally abusive, passive-aggressive manipulators, who sycophantically brainwash children with their own delusions, so they can enjoy the sense of entitlement of being close to God, thus, immune from the laws of Man…. These are even worse, in some ways, than the politicians, for they actually believe they are doing good, when, in truth, every time they “save another soul”, they save it into slavery, thinking, wrongly, they’ve done well…. By their very example, they teach how to embrace ignorance over reason, to value shadow over substance, and to deny reality in the face of desire…. Not to mention the whole thing about never having to be responsible for doing wrong, as long as you believe, and confess….


“A long and wicked life followed by five minutes of perfect grace gets you into Heaven. An equally long life of decent living and good works followed by one outburst of taking the name of the Lord in vain, then have a heart attack at that moment and be damned for eternity. Is that the system?” — Robert A. Heinlein


No wonder the world is a mess!…. We’ve come to a point in this narrative where we can continue to indict our BRC, or take a rest for today, to come back to this subject later…. Since I’m feeling compassionate, and want to get on the road, we’ll call it a day…. Just remember, ffolkes, the people who run the governments of this world are NOT doing so for YOUR benefit…. They’re in it for all they can get for themselves, and nothing else. Anything else they tell is a LIE…. Believe it, or, be a slave; it’s up to you…. And, believe this, for sure…. In this Universe, being good at being stupid doesn’t count.




“Ignorance is a voluntary misfortune” 


~~ Nicholas Ling ~~


So be it.


gigoid has spoken….




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Comedy_Tragedy




    I always get lazy before going on the road…. Well, about stuff like this, anyway. To demonstrate this concept perfectly, here is another poem of mine from the archives, to follow up (sort of….) on today’s rant…. Enjoy!….




Rejection


“Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so…”

I’d be crying a river, I thought

if ever such crap I bought.


Sorry if it hurts your sense of style,

but, hypocrisy always gives me bile.

Being lied to accidentally is okay,

but, deliberate lies make me angry, and fey.


Oh, God, hear what I pray!

Keep me from your followers today.

Having to listen to so much that is wrong

makes me puke, before it makes me strong.


I don’t know why it isn’t clear to other folks,

which is alright, you know, different strokes.

But, why should that mean that they must

force me to believe, or fail in trust?


Spare me the lies, and the make-believe,

fairy tales are easier to hear, and to weave.

They give us a lesson which we can feel

but don’t pretend at all to be real.


Reality can scare us, that’s a given fact,

still, met with care it will leave us mostly intact.

Met without fear, standing tall and alone

Life will allow us to make it our own.


Folly beckons, and so many follow

mass delusions seem to me most hollow.

I’ll have to stick to my own chosen way

while so many go so sadly astray.


It’s lonely at times, it may seem sad,

but really isn’t, and I’m quite glad,

that knowledge is always stronger than fear,

year after year, tear after tear…..


~~ gigoid ~~




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buddah-out-to-lunch_s




    Today’s final old-school pearl is another of the classic type, filled with good ideas on how to enjoy the good parts of this Universe in which we live…. In short, tips and tools for living life large….


“Touch is the most fundamental sense. A baby experiences it, all over, before he is born and long before he learns to use sight, hearing, or taste, and no human being ever ceases to need it. Keep your children short on pocket money — but long on hugs. ” — Lazarus Long


“Who wills can. Who tries does. Who loves lives.” — Smart Bee


“We desire nothing so much as what we ought not to have.” — Publius Syrus — Maxim 559


“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” — George Santayana


“Although the world is very full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller


“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” — Dale Carnegie


“Truth exists for the wise, beauty for the feeling heart.” — Johann von Schiller


“The strongest tyrant cannot crush freedom of thought.” — Smart Bee


“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about little puppies.” — Gene Hill


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I have to confess, this one came together without ALL my attention; I can’t say if that will affect the outcome, or not…. which is, obviously, a perfectly good metaphor upon which to take our leave, having thus described LIFE in one short phrase (“I can’t say, etc…”). Not bad for a (formerly) fat (still) old fart, with flatulence, fatally obsessive flippancy, and a plethora of personal issues… Besides, it’s done. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, should Mother Nature grant me one more try at this….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Off with their Keds!….

			
						

				Posted on   by  			

			
						

				3			

					


				

			
Ffolkes,




“Cat philosophy: When in doubt, cop an attitude.” 


~~ Smart Bee ~~


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


Your will is my will….




Good morning…. For someone such as myself, deeply connected to the power of the Metaphorse, the feeling with which I awoke today is terrifying…. I can’t seem to find any understanding of metaphor anywhere; my mind sits and stares blankly, just trying to make some sense of the simple, uncomplicated expressions with which I am presented, such as the fine statement of confusion, below, from our old pal Zippy…. Anyone with the most simple understanding of such matters would realize Zippy was just looking for condiments; he was probably holding a Polish Dog, so he was temporarily overcome by the olfactory stimuli…. He has such a sensitive proboscis, after all…


Nonetheless, we have a job to do…. It’s a tough job, cleaning out a mind like gigoid’s every day, but, it has to be done, or the Space/Time Continuum would take a severe beating, and nobody wants that…. So, rather than whine any more, let’s just get on with it, hoping against all hope that Smart Bee isn’t in the mood for bullshit…. I’m afraid, if that’s the case, it could get a little messy before we’re done…. Oh, well, no choice, so, let’s get on with it….


Shall we Pearl?


“Is a tattoo real, like a curb or a battleship? Or are we suffering in Safeway?” — Zippy the Pinhead


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groucho and carmen


Groucho & Carmen



 Image from Pinterest.com via Google Images




Since we began the day with silly, it behooves us to continue in the vein…. What could be sillier than Groucho?….




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Copacabana















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le penseur-rodin




    In February of this year, I created a pearl of good quality, which I ended up giving a title, an extremely unusual event, to be sure. It seems to be the right choice for today’s ranting section, simply to avoid any conflict with the tone of the rest of today’s effort…. In short, it seemed like the right thing to do, so, deal with it…. Really, it’ll be fine….


From 2/12/2014:


I’ve never gone for titling Pearls of Virtual Wisdom, or pearls, either, for that matter. For this one, though, if I were asked to give it a title, it would have to be:




The Rise and Fall of Homo Erectus


We shall never cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.


~~ T. S. Eliot ~~




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


“Everything is simpler than you think and at the same time more complex than you imagine.” — Goethe


“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.” — Demosthenes


“Expedients are for the hour; principles for the ages.” — Henry Ward Beecher


“If a man could pass through Paradise in a dream, and have a flower presented to him as a pledge that his soul had been there, and if he found that flower in his hand when he awoke – Aye, and what then?” — Coleridge, “Anima Poetae”




Like leaves on trees the race of man is found,–

Now green in youth, now withering on the ground;

Another race the following spring supplies:

They fall successive, and successive rise.


~~ Alexander Pope ~~


~~ The Iliad of Homer, Book vi, Line 181 ~~




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Comedy_Tragedy




Unbidden, treasure unfolded…


Taken by surprise, Psyche sits numb

   Amidst tall phrases worn of elder time

Seeking a not-new place from which to come

   No shiny new horizon, nor altered paradigm.


Sudden regrets shape dreams as times maintain

   Shades of memories bring poignant clear sight

Visions of duty, each chosen wild campaign

   Shouts echoing clamors to enfold the night.


Arisen from less than eternal havens of sleep

   Facing moments created in torment and pain

Destiny weighs upon those chosen to keep

   As the sparrow flies now to sever the twain.


Faded pathways lead away, hazy and long

   Burned out verges, so long unknown

Images of yesterday, clear and strong

   Bleed into today, though t’is but my own……


~~ gigoid ~~




“Poetry–even bad poetry–may be our final hope.” — Edward Abbey


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A-laughing-girl-and-her-camel




    Okay, that does it…. This is the last time I give SB, or anyone, for that matter, free rein to pick out their own pearls…. The following nine-star group of gems (for lack of a better word) has to be the strangest damn pearl I’ve ever seen…. But, it all hangs together, and, damn it all if it doesn’t make a weird kind of sense…. You tell me….


“You can lead a yak to water but you can’t teach an old dog to make a silk purse out of a pig in a poke.” — Opus


“Happiness is inward, and not outward; and so, it does not depend on what we have, but on what we are.” — Henry Van Dyke


“To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows. It’s easy to say no, even if it means dying.” — Jean Anouilh


“While all things have their opposites, it is also true that in each the spirit of the opposite exists. — Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sufi writer


“I reject that philosophy. The impossible often has a kind of integrity which the merely improbable lacks.” — Douglas Adams through Dirk Gently


“Clay is moulded to make a vessel, but the utility of the vessel lies in the space where there is nothing. … Thus, taking advantage of what is, we recognize the utility of what is not.” — Lao Tzu


“If a camel flies, no one laughs if it doesn’t get very far.” — Paul White


“So, this doesn’t mean anything, but at least it’s not obvious nonsense.” — Hugh Young


“‘Scuze me while I kiss the sky…” — Jimi Hendrix, Purple Haze


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I think, maybe, tomorrow, I will take a bit more interest in what takes place here…. Today’s effort, such as it is, was brought to you by the number 13, and through the kind auspices of that fine old philanthropic institution, Bones For Bozos; fortunately, for them AND us, they didn’t know anything about it. I’ll be back tomorrow, to see if some sort of amends can be made to all who were offended by today’s nonsense…. We’ve got a slush fund that may be able to help any who suffered DNA damage…. As long as I’m not incarcerated at some undisclosed location, I’ll see y’all tomorrow, ffolkes….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….