Puttin’ on some travelin’ shoes….

Posted on January 9, 2019 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep,
too grave to laugh, and too self-ful to seek other than itself.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

221 B Baker Street, London….

As may or may not have been noted, I disappeared again; the events in the Big Blue Room have assumed a greater significance for me than spending time at the computer. Not to say I have completely gone off the literary rails I’ve ridden for so long; it’s a matter of dealing with what is happening “in the moment”, a place in my mind I am trying to focus upon, for any number of good reasons, not the least of which have been words of advice uttered by many sages in history about the importance of staying there. In the moment, that is….

That said, in lieu of any excuses I might have otherwise been tempted to offer, I have had this Pearl pretty much ready for a couple days, & have just made the time this morning to try to get it posted before getting back to real-time events. Since I have also been practicing getting stuff done without ‘fussing’ around, this introductory passage will remain as short & sweet as I can make it. How short is that? Well, just this short….

Shall we Pearl?

“Better stop short than fill to the brim.
Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it.
Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow.
Retire when the work is done.
This is the way of heaven.”

~~ Tao Te Ching ~~

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

Jim Byrnes

Image from MySpace via Google Images

I first heard this artist play when he was a cast member of the Highlander TV series; he played a Watcher assigned to watch Duncan McCleod, the show’s primary character. I recently discovered he has a large body of songs on You Tube, which I have included as today’s musical selection. He is an excellent guitarist, with a perfect voice for singing the blues; I hope you enjoy his work as much as I have come to do…. Abondanza!….

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

Blue chameleon

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

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

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

5/28/2016

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

Naked Pearls

Random notes on Life & Death….

*******

“Grow old along with me!
the best is yet to be,
the last of life for which the first was made.”

~~ Robert Browning ~~

********

“After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”

~~ J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, ” ~~

~~ spoken by the character Albus Dumbledore ~~

********

“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence
is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.”

~~ C. G. Jung ~~

********

“The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.”

~~ Socrates (470?-399 B.C.) ~~

********

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees,
under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

~~ Nelson Henderson ~~

********

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

~~ The Beatles ~~

********

“And though mine arm should conquer twenty worlds,
There ‘s a lean fellow beats all conquerors.”

~~ Thomas Dekker (1572-1632), “Old Fortunatus” ~~

********

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

Once again, I can only say, such as it is, here ’tis. In the near future I will try to post something with a bit more cachet, or, at the very least, a bit more intelligent discourse. For now, I’m off into the day, where I’ll continue to practice staying present in the present, which is, after all, all we really have to be. “Being” is a good thing, I think…. Y’all stay well, be as happy as you may be, and, for everyone’s sake, be strange….. See ya soon, ffolkes…

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Navigating the slippery slopes of Reality….

Posted on December 21, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.”

~~ Rabindranath Tagore ~~

Path to Glory….

Hajime…. Okay, so, this is live…. I have found one of the reasons, or, partial reasons, as there are more than one, for my extended absences to be the simple fact of my improved health. For many years, thanks to pain, and opioid addiction, my sleep pattern was severely disturbed, such that I was often up much of the night, and I became accustomed to arising well before dawn, usually between 3 and 5 A.M.. I would also tend to fall out early, since I arose so early; this, in conjunction with not being able to sleep all night long, complicated the issue even more. My blog entries spoke of it often, and I now believe the lack of consistent sleep contributed to the issue of my constant display of stress related cognition, i.e. my depth of insanity…. Go figure, eh?

Now, however, my sleep pattern has resumed a degree of normality; I generally stay up longer, especially if I’ve napped during the day (I admit it; I’m old, and get tired more often….), and sleep fairly well for most of the night. My time for arising, to Leelu’s intense displeasure, now happens around six A.M, or later; today I got up at 7:15, & realized, as often happens, I was late in meeting my verbal commitment to post fresh material today. Again, go figure, eh? Ah, well, so be it. I happen to prefer my life now to any of the time I spent in Hell, otherwise known as the process of ridding myself of opioids. I’ll take the lesser degree of angst & stress, and the lack of the urge to post, over that time, without any complaint at all….

All that being said in my defense, I also realize I miss the interaction with other bloggers, which has, to some degree, been replaced by interaction with Reality, making it at once ironic, and a trifle sad, to realize I prefer the ambiguity of reality over the consistency of cyberspace. Reality, then, is shown to be preferable to any sort of non-reality based involvement. (By ‘non-reality’ I refer to the degree of separation between interaction in cyberspace and that of face-to-face interaction with people in real time….) For a very long time, that ‘non-real’ interaction was the ONLY kind in which I engaged. Now, just walking about in the BBR brings me more satisfaction than does sitting on my butt, reading from the computer… Again, all I can say is, so be it, for I will not be going back to full-time computer use; I enjoy the physical side of life too much to give up on it so young….

On that particularly ironic note, I’ll end this first-person diatribe, which is only intended to explain my absence, not to offer any excuses, which are not needed for exercising my own choice to be healthy, rather than filled with stress & angst. I know, I know, it makes for lousy ranting, but, hey, I do it better in person, anyway, believe me….. For now, let’s go post what I’ve thrown together for today, & be done with it for a time. I WILL return; there’s too much dross in my head to ever completely forgo this method of releasing it from durance vile. I just won’t be around as often. I’ll try to remember to offer some news and impressions of my time in the Real World, but, that, too, is, as yet, not set in stone…. At this point, I think I need to get us down the page, so, hang on, we’re going in hot….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Purity engenders Wisdom,
Passion avarice,
and Ignorance folly, infatuation and darkness”.

~~ Bhagavad Gita (c. B.C. 400) ~~

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

There is no introduction needed here, really; all you’ve got to know is, this was probably the best concert ever given, by three of the very best musicians alive. Here for your viewing pleasure is Cream, as reunited in 2005…. Enjoy, ffolkes; it really doesn’t get any better than this one….

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Cream
Reunion Concert 2005
Royal Albert Hall

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

Dreaming, I wait….

In the most patient moments of rationality
kindness flows smoothly in a special milieu,
fallow thoughts speed first from equality
to give no anxious fever, anger to eschew.

Indignant mothers and step-sons in-law
shall fade simply from brilliant to grey,
intoning ritual dogma, fresh, avid, and raw,
falling, falling, in massive pastoral disarray.

Safety lives not, save brightly in ignorant bliss,
it follows us all, silent and infinitely frail,
foremost too often, soft as a virgin kiss,
alive, always eager, willing, and pale.

Intimate knowledge finds only the bold few
with courage and virtue to gift, unbidden.
No solemn royal version may pass in review,
true love for man, never to remain unhidden.

Sweet feathers of Emily’s hope uplift,
calm, drowsy episodes bursting with light,
With final glad cries we set ourselves adrift,
swimming in the oceans of natural delight.

When sorrow is banished, in ages yet to come,
roots solidly anchored, cold and remote,
Ample supplies of kindness sit silent and dumb,
and the old stranger shrugs on his faded coat.

Dreaming, then, I wait with shadows in the night
aspiring to inspire, a message from the muse’s heart
Never forgotten images, framed in color bright,
tempt me only, grieving, steeped in serenity’s arcane art…..

~~ gigoid ~~

8/18/2013

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

Naked Pearls

Beginning to end….

*******

“Time goes, you say? Ah, no!
Alas, Time stays, we go.”

~~ Austin Dobson,” The Paradox of Time” ~~

*******

“To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts,
nor even to found a school
but so to love wisdom
as to live according to its dictates,
a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust.
It is to solve the problems of life
not only theoretically, but practically.”

~~ Henry David Thoreau, “Walden” ~~

*******

“Discontent is the want of self-reliance: it is infirmity of will.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

“I suppressed word after word from my vocabulary.
When the massacre was over,
only one had escaped: Solitude.
I awakened euphoric.”

~~ E.M. Cioran ~~

*******

“At ebb tide I wrote a line upon the sand,
and gave it all my heart and all my soul.
At flood tide I returned to read what I had inscribed
and found my ignorance upon the shore.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

*******

“Do not look for all the answers at once.
A path is formed by placing stones one in front of the other.”

~~ The Giant from Twin Peaks ~~

*******

“Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.”

~~ Amelia Burr ~~

*******

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

Don’t fret; the final pearl is NOT an omen, or statement of intent. It merely fits well at the end of that particular set of pearls. It also is a fitting finish to this Pearl, for it is, for me, as true as the day. I’ll be back, ffolkes, in a day or three. Y’all be cool, y’hear? Be good to each other….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Not dead yet….

Posted on November 15, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey.
We are spiritual beings on a human journey.”

~~ Stephen Covey ~~

Fall colors on display….

Hajime…. As today’s title proclaims, I’m not dead yet. However. death’s presence in life touches us all, if only in a peripheral sense, every day, & I have been exploring some of the implications of that rather extensively in recent days, which may be construed as the primary reason for blowing off this blog for five straight days. For over six years, posting daily has been my habit; to forgo doing so for so long would, in the past, have created in me a very strong sense of angst-filled tension, for having repressed all I’ve been in the habit of expressing in these outbursts….

I find myself blithely unconcerned with such frailties, as I find, when I do come back into cyberspace, nothing has changed, other than the outer appearances of each site I visit, as determined by whatever fresh material I find. In short, it’s still there, still evolving, and not having any particularly REAL effect on what I know to be reality outside in the Big Blue Room. Yep. It’s all same same, just a different day….. Go figure. eh? Little did I know just how little my techniques for sanity-maintenance had any real effect on things, though I suppose the failure of my ranting to have any effect whatsoever might just have been a rather pertinent clue. But, it remains true, and I’m finding that to be rather a facer. It’s hard to acknowledge our own foolishness, especially when we pursue it so long….

All that said, to little constructive purpose, I’ll merely say this; I’m back, but, not for long. The real world is still providing me with more interesting stuff to deal with than is cyberspace; probably has something to do with my own ability to access the BBR, a pursuit precluded for the past six or seven years by my own physical ailments. Those physical restrictions imposed on me by the aging process have been mitigated, to some extent, and continue to make it easier for me to do more, for longer periods, without having to spend an inordinate time recovering enough to continue doing so. In short, I’m getting stronger, and it’s more fun in real-time and real space. What’s more fun, you ask? Everything.

My only regret is having lost contact with so many of the fine people I’ve met here in cyberspace, because I haven’t been visiting sites or commenting much, at all, mostly because I’m just not here. In the past five days, 99% of the time I spend on the computer is just turning on more music, or looking up a query on Google. Even a new, more interesting Facebook page hasn’t tempted me out of reality very much. But. then FB is, for the most part, a wasteland when it comes to rational thinking. Of course, that’s a direct manifestation of the lack of rationality in our society, I’d say, & is not amenable to change. The bell curve defines our culture, as it always has, and that isn’t subject to alteration without altering the nature of humanity…. Good luck with that….

I guess that’s all for now; I can’t think of anything more to add, except to note I won’t be posting daily any more. For any Gentle Readers who might wish to contact me in between posts (probably every three to five days, depending on the ‘whether’….. that’s whether or not I feel like it, or have something to say), my email is in the profile on the right side of my home page; anyone with a query or comment is welcome to use it…. For now, let’s get this mess posted. so I can go walkabout in the rain…. As a former resident of the state of Washington, I do love walking in the rain….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me,
why should you not speak to me?
And why should I not speak to you?”

~~ Walt Whitman, “Leaves of Grass” ~~

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

Grace Vanderwaal

Image from Austin City Limits, via Google Images

In 2016, at the age of 12, this young artist burst onto the music scene in the USA, by winning the America’s Got Talent contest, playing original songs she wrote, singing them in a clear, distinctive voice, and connecting to every person who listened by the insight displayed in her lyrics. She played all original songs during the show, and, since winning, has pursued her musical dreams with single-minded sheer talent. She recently released her first album, which, by what I’ve heard, will be well worth a listen, with all new, original material.

I’ve included her performances on AGT, in the first video embedded. I’ve also included a more recent live concert, at the Austin City Limits stage, in October of this year. What you need to remember is, she is now still only 13 years old; to hear her songs, her voice, and her stage presence one would believe she is much older, for her talent has continued to blossom & grow…. One of the judges predicted she would become the next Taylor Swift, and he may just be correct in that assessment…. Enjoy, ffolkes; you’ll be hearing this artist for many years to come….

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

Grace Vanderwaal

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

Augmentation: Inner Aye

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

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

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

3/2/2016

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

Naked Pearls

Reference points….

*******

“I was gratified to be able to answer promptly.
I said, “I don’t know.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

*******

“If you would attain to what you are not yet,
you must always be displeased by what you are.
For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained.
Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing.”

~~ Saint Augustine ~~

*******

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran, “The Prophet” ~~

*******

“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 ~~

*******

“Must not all things at the last be swallowed up in death?”

~~ Plato ~~

*******

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

~~ Robert Hunter ~~

*******

“I exist as I am, that is enough.”

~~ Walt Whitman ~~

*******

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

Well, I made it to the closing section; fancy that! I’ll forgo any further blather, & just wish you all a wonderful day. I’ll be back; when that will be isn’t clear. but, will happen soon enough. Y’all be well, & be strange. Both are choices, & I can attest, both are better than the alternatives. See ya, ffolkes….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Soft landings not included….

Posted on October 18, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

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

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

Curtola Parkway in early fall….

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

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

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

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

Shall we Pearl?….

“Every moment is precious. And precarious.”

~~- Edward Abbey ~~

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

French composer Camille Saint-Saens

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

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Camille Saint-Saëns

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

Momentary Terror

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

2/4/2013

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

Naked Pearls

Esoterica….

*******

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

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

*******

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

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

*******

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

~~ G. Young ~~

*******

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

~~ Leo Tolstoy ~~

*******

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

~~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet ~~

*******

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

~~ Deng Ming-Dao ~~

*******

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

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

*******

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

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Trudging through real-time….

Posted on September 5, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“If you are out to describe the truth,
leave elegance to the tailor.”

~~ Albert Einstein ~~

Friends of long standing….

Hajime…. Though this Pearl is being posted very late, it’s all relatively fresh, as I hadn’t done anything more than pick the opening picture when I arose today, also late. I can, therefore, consider it a moral victory, which as we know, humans are liable to do at the drop of a cliché. I also have the option of telling myself, better late than never, but, that would be a value judgment, probably not appropriate in this instance. In fact, I’d hesitate to make any sort of value assessment of this one, at all; I’m not terribly fond of assuming great risks for little reward. In fact, we’re ALL a bit cowardly about that sort of thing, probably a left-over impulse from our past; stepping outside the cave posed some rather compelling dangers to out well-being, & I guess we still remember that….

Regardless, it’s done, such as it may be, & I’m not going back & doing it over. In fact, I’m going to get myself out of here, & on down the page, before I lose my nerve, or, regain my senses. I’ll just use this old method I found laying here, which works pretty well, if I remember correctly. It’s pretty much a gimme, since it drops us all like a hot, well, you know. Watch closely, or you’ll miss it, & then where would you be? Right…. Careful, the next step’s a bit steep….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body,
although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism.”

~~ Albert Einstein ~~

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

Sam Bailey

Image from pinterest.com via Google Images

In 2013, this singer walked onto the audition stage of the X Factor UK, appearing to be exactly what she was, a 35 year old mother of 3, working as a prison officer, married to a laborer. She proceeded to blow away the room, singing a cover of a very difficult song by a major star. She went on to win the talent contest that year, delivering performances that brought standing ovations from the crowds, and the judges, time after time…. I’ve embedded a collection of all her performances, each of which will blow you away with the power of her voice. She reminds me a lot of Kate Smith, the most powerful voice I ever heard, rivaling many operatic singers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do; she has the kind of voice that can bring chills, or tears, or any other emotion as strongly as anyone I’ve heard…. Abondanza!

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

Sam Bailey

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

“Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

Platitudes for Attitudes

Platitudes shake us, attitudes break us.
Life can be a real pain, y’know?
Still, if we don’t fight where it takes us,
it’s a pretty straight row to hoe..

A lot of what we see and hear
isn’t always in the best of taste.
Life at large can be one long frisson of fear.
Making an effort often seems a huge waste.

Pundits, dogma dogs, myrmidons, oligarchs & pimps;
assholes and predators every one.
Twisted, sick, anti-humans; anomalous, ignorant wimps.
Logic says, every time, lobotomize ’em, & be done.

Illusions, delusions, confusions, a dedicated data dump,
bilious, divisive, spicy with hatred and fears.
Inflation, immigration, promises from the clownish Trump
Leaving even our basest survival heavy with tears.

Ancient sages left signs on the path to peace,
for those with wit to see.
No need for undue effort, no quest for golden fleece.
All we ever need to do, is be.

~~ gigoid ~~

8/29/2015

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

Naked Pearls

Hmm… That’s funny….

*******

“A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity
to the point of doubtful sanity.”

~~ Robert Frost ~~

*******

“Should I get locked in the PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE today
— or have a VASECTOMY??”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

*******

“To err is human, to forgive is unusual!”

~~ Sardonic Bee ~~

*******

“I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace…
The rest is only hearsay.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

*******

“Impropriety is the soul of wit.”

~~ W. Somerset Maugham ~~

*******

“Live for those private moments of wild abandon!”

~~ Opus ~~

*******

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

~~ Abraham Lincoln ~~

*******

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

Well, there you have it. I’ll be nice, simply because I must; there’s no other options at this point. I’ll even forgo the usual caveats, or trite euphemisms, in favor of a rapid exit, stage left. How do I know it’s left? Because, obviously, it isn’t right. See y’all next time, when I take another shot at whatever it is I’m shooting for…. Don’t ask because I’m sure I don’t know…..

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Intrinsically relevant rumination….

Posted on August 13, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Never fight with a bear in his own cave.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

Fog eating the Golden Gate Bridge….

Hajime…. The picture I chose to adorn the top of today’s post is rather more relevant than usual. That is to say, generally, I don’t make any attempt to make it so, but, as I begin to type, it occurs to me that I am the bridge, and my fatigue is the fog; I’ve swept away the mists from the surface of the bay, and cleared my towers, but, the fog continues to hover close by, swirling about & trying to reclaim the waters of the Bay. I guess this means I’ll be taking yet another nap after getting this posted. Ah, well, ’tis just as well, for, I don’t think I have any desire to accomplish anything much beyond getting posted; doing so may shoot my wad, but, so be it.

Looking back over that opening paragraph has clued me into the risks of trying to compose anything strong in my current mental state; it’s a bit too fragile, I think, to support much powerful thought, or writing. Since I’ve, supposedly, reached an age where forethought is common, I guess I’ll use a bit of it to convince myself, and y’all, to move right along into the rest of today’s mess, so as to avoid fulfilling the risks, & ruining the rest of the day. In truth, to do otherwise would be tempting Fate, and Murphy, so, I’ll use some of that aged wisdom to keep anything untoward from moving past potentiality into reality.

Fortunately for me, doing so is fairly simple; in fact, it lends itself to our most efficacious method for closing an intro, to wit: old #4, which always seems to work best when applied without delay. Much like this, as you shall see, if you watch closely….

Shall we Pearl?….

“If what Proust says is true,
that happiness is the absence of fever,
then I will never know happiness.
For I am possessed by a fever
for knowledge, experience, and creation.

~~ Anais Nin ~~

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

Here for your listening pleasure is a fairly new collection, described as a collection of soothing, relaxing works by Ottorino Respighi. I listened to the opening bars to make sure it’s okay, & it sounded pretty good to me. I hope you enjoy it, as you peruse today’s mess. Abondanza!….

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

Classical Music

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

Beyond Agapé

Passion burns and shines like iridescent paint
yet solitude stands mocking such mundane complaint.
Schemes and dreams promise to tempt attraction
never ending effort spends wit in perverse reaction.

Hale and hearty reports of honor and love
draft recruits to collect manna from above,
while searching each soul for that which will serve
to bring pure sensation to each expectant nerve.

How simple to fall into complete helpless hope
of two hearts bound in tradition, with cultural rope,
living a simple life, shared, in joy and in grief
promises consummated, in consensual belief.

Reality dictates our degree of control over its state
insisting on changing whether or not we can wait.
Love will be present when we are completely at peace,
allowing ourselves, to give of ourselves, without cease.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/4/2012

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

Naked Pearls

Iconic pearls of virtual wisdom….

*******

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

~~ Mrs. Osgood ~~

*******

“Grain grows best in shit.”

~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~

*******

“Perhaps I know why it is man alone who laughs:
He alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter.”

~~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche ~~

*******

“How can I lose faith in the justice of life,
when the dreams of those who sleep upon feathers
are not more beautiful than the dreams
of those who sleep upon the earth?”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

*******

If we lose affection and kindness from our life,
we’ve lost all that gives it charm.”

~~ Marcus Tullius Cicero ~~

*******

“Every man is a divinity in disguise, a god playing the fool.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe,
a part limited in time and space.
He experiences himself,
his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest
–a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison,
restricting us to our personal desires
and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.
Our task must be to free from this prison
by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures
and the whole nature in its beauty.”

~~ Albert Einstein ~~

*******

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

As the Colonel was fond of saying, I love it when a plan comes together. It’s done, & seems to be a pretty strong offering, considering the operational handicaps we had to overcome. I’ll take it, & make my run for the border with no further delay. I may even be back tomorrow, though such confidence may be premature. I suppose, like most every day, we’ll just need to see how it goes. Until I do, y’all be well, be happy, & remain in the vicinity of strange…. Trust me, it’s for the best…. See y’all on the flip side….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Relative, but, not related….

Posted on June 7, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Look to the essence of a thing,

whether it be a point of doctrine, of practice,or of interpretation.”

~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 AD) — Meditations, viii, 22 ~~

sf goodbye

Typical foggy/hazy day in SF….

Hajime…. For two days now, I’ve been engaged in pursuing my lifelong quest for truth; unfortunately, my search often leads me to places where, not only have I previously been there, but, left for good reason, even if those places were deep in my own soul. In truth, it is becoming increasingly clear that the truth resides there, as it does for each of us, though our culture and its demands upon us tends to attempt to deny this simple truth. We all have a tendency to play fast and loose with our connection to what is real, believing, deep in our innermost ego, we can alter Reality itself by the power of our imagination.

Reality, of course, is not so inclined, which leaves us living, much of the time, in a state of conflict with the world around us, and, as a reflection of this tension, in conflict with ourselves. As might be surmised, this often leaves us in a confused state of mind, which is not the most efficacious method for dealing with what is real. In my own case, this has led me to a point in life where the motivation to continue to struggle becomes difficult to find, much less employ to any advantage. In short, I just can’t find it in me to give much of a crap about what is happening in the world; there just doesn’t seem to be any good reason to do so. As you might imagine, this is not a particularly comfortable, or comforting, state of mind in which to dwell….

Over the past two days, since falling into the well of depression, I’ve managed to cobble together the elements of a Pearl for today; if I can continue a bit longer, I’ll even manage to post it. I’ve done this, not for any logical or identifiable reason, but, simply because, for my own sanity, it’s what I do. This is how I organize & codify my thoughts, and carry out the process of evaluating my thoughts in the light of reality; the process helps me to stay in a relatively stable frame of mind. Without it, I get even more depressed; expression of what we feel is critical for us humans. We get blocked up, mentally, when we try to shut ourselves off from such expression. So, I write, not to share, but, to vent….

Now I’ve shared my inner conflict, to little advantage, I’m sure, I’m going to go post this, knowing full well it won’t mean anything much to anyone but me. I can’t seem to get on with any other business until I do, so, that’s what I’m gonna do. So be it. There will be no tricks, no ups, & no extras today; all there is are these pearls, and my own sense of angst, set free….. Let’s quit fooling around, then, shall we, & get on with it….

Shall we Pearl?

“What embitters the world is not excess of criticism,but an absence of self-criticism.”
~~ G. K. Chesterton, Sidelights on New London and Newer New York ~~

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

hot tuna

Yep. The original Hot Tuna…. Enjoy! In case you’d forgotten, or never knew, these guys can PLAY!…..

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

Hot Tuna Live, 3/4/88Fillmore Auditorium

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Banishing demons….

Endless nights lead inexorably into endless days
while the battle for peace rages.
Lost arts find new meaning used in new ways;
to burn, yearn, and turn all the new pages.

Darkness falls heavily on bowed shoulders, contrite;
fireworks travel fast in nervous tissue.
The pace is kept, clean, but, never erudite;
such a pale tale of ancient issue.

Peering in terror down long, long halls of night
brings only confusion, destitute in sorrow.
Cannot time become our enemy, eager to fight
on the side which may never see tomorrow?

The longing gaze of passion, for reason to live,
must fall ever more faithfully into sedition,
else the clinging visions we claim to give,
shall not prevent reaching inevitable perdition.

Rising up, clarity of purpose shines the light of day
upon such a desolate landscape of absent release.
There is no escape, no furthering of the way.
Time never knows how to grant peace.

~~ gigoid ~~

11/23/2015

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life at Large….

*******

“To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.”

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

*******

“It is important to do what you don’t know how to do.
It is important to see your skills
as keeping you from learning what is deepest and most mysterious.
If you know how to focus, unfocus.
If your tendency is to make sense out of chaos, start chaos.”

~~ Carlos Casteneda ~~

*******

“If you want to build a ship,
don’t drum up people together to collect wood
and don’t assign them tasks and work,
but rather teach them
to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”

~~ Antoine de Saint Exupery ~~

*******

“There’s no reality except the one contained within us.
That’s why so many people live an unreal life.
They take images outside them for reality
and never allow the world within them to assert itself.”

~~ Hermann Hesse ~~

*******

“Do not the spirits who dwell in the ether envy man his pain?”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

*******

“One does what one is;
one becomes what one does.”

~~ Robert Musil, c. 1930 ~~

*******

Let us endeavour to live that when we come to die
even the undertaker will be sorry.”

~~ Mark Twain, from Pudd’nhead Wilson’s Calendar (1894)~~

*******

***************************************
There you have it, such as it is. I’ve got nothing else to say, so, I won’t say it. I’ll see y’all in a day, or maybe two. Be well, be safe, & be real. That’s all you can really do, ultimately, & that is something we all have to live with. Ta, then, luvs….

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….

Bereft of all sensibility….

Posted on April 28, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Our life is an apprenticeship to the truth
that around every circle another can be drawn;
that there is no end in nature, but every end is a beginning,
and under every deep a lower deep opens.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

hybrid

Perfectly imperfect, or, imperfectly perfect?

Hajime…. Given the late start today, (hidden in the sands of time, to prevent any possibility of derailment), this came out rather well. Good music, a brand new poem, of sorts, & a damn fine set of pearls for the old-school section, for my purpose, made it shine brighter than I usually see this time of day. Since there’s nothing more to add to it, I think I’ll be really, really ruthless today. What does that mean? Well, it means, just this….

Shall we Pearl?

“You cannot face it steadily, but this thing’s for sure,
That time is no healer: the patient is no longer here.”

~~ T.S. Eliot ~~

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

super session

A friend posted this album yesterday, so, I’m stealing it for today’s Pearl, as it’s also two things: One, it’s one of the best albums, ever. Second, it’s always been a favorite of mine. Works for me. Y’all enjoy, now, y’hear?….

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

Bloomfield, Kooper, & Stills
Super Sessions

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Just The Way It Is….

The truth is, you know; it all exists,
just the way it is.
More , we are part of that.
Wow.

We humans mimic reality,
just the way it is.
A mirror of exquisite clarity,
we dance, laughing as we weep.

Born whole, knowing how,
just the way it is.
Distracted with trust, we learn,
to filter, to deny.

Opposites attract; why?
Just the way it is.
Nature comes in twos,
named zero, and, one.

Fate vies with choice;
just the way it is.
fate calls the game,
we cut the cards.

Belief cripples, doubt frees us;
just the way it is.
The first thing a principle does,
is kill someone.

It all falls apart, too;
just the way it is.
Entropy battles death
eternally moving, eternally still.

In reality, we always get a choice;
just the way it is.
Act, or not, as we perceive;
then pay the price.

Reality’s nature exists, in duality;
just the way it is.
Like it, or not,
pain and joy is just the way it is.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/28/2017

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Watch that last step….

*******

“Really to see the sun rise or go down every day…
would preserve us sane forever.”

~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

*******

“Do not the spirits who dwell in the ether envy man his pain?”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

*******

“A man can do what he wants, but not want what he wants.”

~~ Arthur Schopenhauer ~~

*******

“A grave, wherever found, preaches a short and pithy sermon to the soul.”

~~ Hawthorne ~~

*******

“What is left when honour is lost?”

~~ Publius Syrus (42 BC) — Maxim 265 ~~

*******

“…and remember you’re a Man, not just god,
and for you there aren’t and never will be any easy answers,
only questions, and no reasons,
only causes, and no meaning,
only intelligence, and no destination
and no kindly magic smiling down from above,
and no fires to goad you from below,
only Yourself and the Universe and what you make
out of the interface between the two equals.”

~~ Keith Laumer, “Night of Delusions” ~~

*******

“Roses are red,
Violets are blue
Some poems rhyme
But this one doesn’t.”

~~ Sassy Bee ~~

*******

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

Well, there you have it; I don’t think, on short notice such as this, I can do it any better than that. Rather than test that assertion against reality, I’ll drop y’all here, like the proverbial hot starch. I will, however, be back, hopefully by tomorrow, with yet another attempt to get it right as right can be. Y’all be mindful, y’hear?….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Kowabunga!

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Just when it seemed safe….

Posted on April 22, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“Let us treat men and women well;
Treat them as if they were real;
Perhaps they are.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

nap

Creativity is tiring….

Hajime…. Having had a great time yesterday with my two-year-old granddaughter, I awake today, very late, and, not at all stressed about being so. I decided to just mosey for a while, putting together all the elements for today’s post, without the usual attendant self-induced stress over the deadline, which exists only in my own head, anyway. This may not have contributed to the quality of this one, but, it sure made me easier in my own mind about when it got done. Which it is. Done, that is….

Since that is the case, I’m going to ruthlessly end this intro, right here, right now, to avoid any further delay, or possible build-up of unwanted angst as a result. How’s this for ruthless efficiency?…..

Shall we Pearl?

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

~~ Bhagavad Gita ~~

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

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

I’m late, & in a hurry; guess what that means? Yep…. Today’s selection is the collection of choices made by You Tube, itself…. Try to enjoy it, anyway….

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

Classical Music

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

Comedy_Tragedy

When life calls, ready or not….

Memories are all we have sometimes
to keep our sanity intact,
with learned phrases and subtle rhymes
lessening life’s vicious, vibrant impact.

Presently all seems composed and intent
in stark contrast to hollow day,
forlorn patchwork emotions of unheralded bent,
fill up night’s bower, leaving hell to pay.

Such vigorous and elevated temper
brings us rare moments to ponder,
filled with lessons all need to remember
lest base perception lose valued wonder.

Laugh loud when entropy sticks fast
leaving shameless anger in its wake.
Let bygones pass quietly into the past
reaping only what is left to take.

Final words of wise imagination
tell us living well’s the best revenge, it appears
ever eluding choirs and congregations
finally finding home, never buried in tears.

~~ gigoid ~~

9/10/2012

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Graphing the curve….

*******

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret;
it is only with the heart that one can see rightly,
what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

~~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~~

*******

“Forget the past and live the present hour.”

~~ Sarah Knowles Bolton ~~

*******

“With two hearts do people live;
a small one of deep softness, the other of steel.
And kindness is too often a shield, generosity too often a sword.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

*******

“The wise person questions the wisdom of others
because they question their own;
the foolish one, because it is different from their own.”

~~ Leo Stein ~~

*******

“What is done with joy is always better done.”

~~ H. L. Mencken ~~

*******

“I always have fun because I’m out of my mind!!!”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

*******

“Don’t ask me where I’m going,
Just listen when I’m gone
And far away you’ll hear me singing softly to the dawn”

~~ Pippin ~~

*******

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

There; that ought to do for now. Having displayed a completely unlikely efficiency in the intro, it behooves me to continue the policy here at the end. Plus, it balances it all quite nicely, for what it is, or, for what it could be. To do so means I have to be a little rude, but, hey, nothing new, right? Okay, now we’ve settled that, I’m outta here. I’ll try again, ffolkes, in the relatively near future. That’s both a promise, and a threat, in case you weren’t sure. For now, let it be, and, don’t ask. Then I won’t have to tell…. See ya, ffolkes….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 12787

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Oblique references to metaphoric events….

Posted on April 12, 2017 by gigoid

Ffolkes,

“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 ~~

Okay, so, we need to talk….

Hajime…. Yesterday, for unknown reasons, while productive, was a wash in terms of satisfaction, as each task completed bore its own particular individual issues making it more difficult than either anticipated, or desired. I got it all done, but, was exhausted by 10 AM, & ended up NOT making it to the blogs I wanted particularly to get caught up on. Ah, well, such is life in the big city; everything we do has its piece of dissatisfaction, as we struggle to make sense of an insane world….. I’m reminded, at times like this, of Charlie Chaplin’s movie, Modern Times; not necessarily of the actual events, but, the overall feeling of something being wrong with this picture….

As an elder member of a species whose primary survival skill is adaptability, I’ll utilize all I have learned through the years to throw off that feeling, so I can, if nothing else, complete this Pearl & get on with another day of dealing with reality as best I can. I still have tasks to complete out in the Big Blue Room, so, I’ll see if what I’ve managed thus far will work again for today. In the meantime, rather than explore personal idiosyncracies, such as the need to make sense of things that make no sense, I’ll use my recently-honed skills in time management, mainly comprised of the ability to be ruthless in the act of ‘throwing out the dross’, to move this along as swiftly as possible…. Not my favorite new skill, but, handy at such times as these….

I could choose from among a number of different methods to accomplish this, but, I think I’ll just use the one that works best, to wit: the Drop. It isn’t always the most comfortable, to use or to experience, but, it does the job better than all the others, combined. Which one is it? Easy; this one….

Shall we Pearl?

“The notion that faith in Christ
is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss,
while a dependence upon reason, observation, and experience
merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation,
and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture
of insanity and ignorance called “faith”.”

~~ Robert G. Ingersoll ~~

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

This morning, I feel like rocking, & one cannot find anyone who can do that better than this lady and her band. From 1989, introduced by Bill Graham at the Oakland Coliseum theater, here is my own choice for redhead of the century (twentieth, if it matters; there’s a different award-winner chosen for this century; if she reads this, she’ll know to whom I refer….)….. Enjoy!….

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

Bonnie Raitt Live

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

Manifesto, sotto voce

In retrospect, I’ve gotta say,
it’s all been rather a muddle.
Life is tough, so ‘they’all say,
Lots of misery, not much cuddle.

Me, I’ve found life a bit different
than ‘they’ seem to have done.
It’s all been rather excellent;
I’ve had loads & loads of fun.

Sure, there’s been some bad shit.
Who can’t say that?
All of that pales, all of it
when one hugs a dog, a child, or a cat.

I’ve seen, fought, and felt, more than my share,
the presence of evil in life.
The pain that remains often seems unfair;
I ask why I chose to deal with such strife.

I can always find the answer in the same place,
right where it has ever resided.
All we need to do is embrace
the joy we’ve given, and been provided.

Simple is good.
Balance is good.

Life can be both.

~~ gigoid ~~

12/19/2015

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

After composing this old-school pearl, comprised of nine most subtle thoughts from a wide variety of people who have long been considered to be among humanity’s most respected minds, I found myself breathless, from the massive illumination it induced. Each individual pearl, which points a particular way, is part of the idea which came to me as I pondered them, one by one, each leading me deeper into the idea, until it became a near epiphany…. To try to fully explain that idea here would require a long dissertation, so, I’ll leave its expression as an exercise for the Gentle Reader…. Allow your mind dwell upon it, as you read, & perhaps you can find it, too…. Enjoy!….

*******

“A man may love a paradox without either losing his wit or his honesty.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

“An ancient buddha said,
Mountains are mountains; waters are waters.
These words do not mean mountains are mountains;
they mean mountains are mountains.”

~~ Dogen ~~

*******

“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

~~ Chinese proverb ~~

*******

“In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don’t wobble.”

!! Yun-Men !!

*******

“Illusion is the first of all pleasures.”

~~ Voltaire ~~

*******

“Whence come I and whither go I?
That is the great unfathomable question,
the same for every one of us.
Science has no answer to it.”

~~ Max Planck ~~

*******

“Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called ‘Ego’.”

~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~

*******

“The farther you go, the less you know.”

~~ Lao Tzu, “Tao Te Ching”

*******

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran, “The Prophet” ~~

*******

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

Well, there you go. It’s done, & I have to say, it ain’t bad, all things considered…. I’m off now, though being ‘off’ is nothing new. I’m also going to take my leave, forthwith. Now, seeing that, you might think I have more to say before leaving you, but, you’d be wrong. Not only am I done saying stuff, I’m, as we say downtown, outta here. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, as long as reality doesn’t intrude again….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….

gigoid

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

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gigoid

Exploring Consensual Reality

Tag Archives: Kahlil Gibran

Puttin’ on some travelin’ shoes….

Navigating the slippery slopes of Reality….

Not dead yet….

Soft landings not included….

Trudging through real-time….

Intrinsically relevant rumination….

Relative, but, not related….

Bereft of all sensibility….

Just when it seemed safe….

Oblique references to metaphoric events….

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