Tag Archives: Marcus Tullius Cicero

She won’t start for toffy…

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Ffolkes,

“Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.”

~~ Socrates ~~

UraMajorRoqueLosMuchahos-claro

Ursa Major ~~ The Big Dipper

Image from Space.com


Good morning. Today’s Pearl will be an extreme cheat…. There are reasons, but, to tell you would be narcissistic, and whiny, so, we’ll just say they’re compelling enough to keep me from creating anything particularly fresh, or cogent. Neither is within my grasp today, at least, not yet…. Whether I will be able to find ANYTHING within my grasp today is an unsettled question…. Let’s get on with it, while we can….

Shall we Pearl?

“Cicero called Aristotle a river of flowing gold, and said of Plato’s Dialogues, that if Jupiter were to speak, it would be in language like theirs.” — Plutarch (46-120 AD) — Life of Cicero

If that’s true, then, me and Cicero, we’re mates…. Probably why we see so many of his quotes around here….

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    Since I’ve got nothing in me worth sharing, we’ll go with classical music, which fills up the spirit….. Enjoy!


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Classical Music for Reading

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About Hopi Indian Symbols

    Today, given my brain’s status as a no-show, I thought Kokopelli would make a more appropriate opening thought than our usual Don’t Keep Calm logo; the content today is a bit more unpredictable than usual, and unpredictable is what Kokopelli is all about…. Here’s a piece from the archives, to fill in the necessary space today…. Enjoy!….

From 2/24/2014:

It seems the BRC has captured one of the world’s most dangerous drug cartel leaders, El Chapo, the Dude, of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico…. I have included below a link to the article announcing the capture, and included below that some “interesting” phrases and words used by the anonymous spokescops (who are never authorized to talk to journalists….. but, they do anyway….)…. The words italicized in bold are the ones I’d like to point out to y’all, with a comment or two about them as an addendum…. Read the story, then, we’ll talk…..

http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Mexico-captures-Sinaloa-cartel-boss-Chapo-Guzman-5258301.php

“He was caught with an unidentified woman, said one U.S. official, who added that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marshals Service were “heavily involved” in the capture…… A federal law enforcement official said intelligence from a Homeland Security Department investigation also helped lead U.S. and Mexican authorities to his whereabouts…… Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists. ….. Mexican authorities, based on a series of arrests in recent months, got wind….. ”

“didn’t say how authorities traced him to Mazatlan……” “A U.S. law enforcement official said members of Guzman’s security team helped Mexican and U.S. authorities find him after they were arrested earlier this month. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the case by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.”….. “His arrest followed the takedown of several top Sinaloa operatives in the last few months and at least 10 mid-level cartel members in the last week. The information leading to Guzman was gleaned from those arrested, said Michael S. Vigil, a former senior DEA official who was briefed on the operation.”

Allow me to point out a few little things in this article that give us a little clue as to how things are in the REAL world, where the government has the tools to find and capture ANYONE in the entire world, by the use of their “counter-terrorism” toys, and “executive orders” and the excuse of national security to employ any and all techniques to achieve their purpose, up to, and including torture, lying at will, and the legal clearance to perform their actions in complete darkness, without any public or judicial oversight…..

“an unidentified woman, said one U.S. official, who added that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marshals Service were “heavily involved”

To my suspicious mind, this tells me that the US DEA and Marshalls used an undercover female operative to lure Guzman into an isolated position, where they could take him without dealing with his security forces…. which they did, perfectly…. In several articles I’ve seen, in addition to this one, the same phrase, “an unidentified woman” was used…. Now, do you you REALLY believe she is ‘unidentified’?… I don’t….

“intelligence from a Homeland Security Department investigation also helped”

Gee, ya think? Homeland Security is authorized to do whatever they want…. why shouldn’t they share their technology, and some of that unlimited data they are picking up from around the world with anyone who wants it…. As long as they’re giving it to another group of their insane compatriots, they’ll share it, with pride, even glee, in their own ingenuity, never caring at all about how unethical it is….

“Mexican authorities, based on a series of arrests in recent months, got wind….. ” “didn’t say how authorities traced him to Mazatlan.”

“Got wind?” Got wind? What the hell does that mean? And, since when do the police go by information they “got wind” of…..  Ffolkes, somebody is hiding something here, ya think? It’s obvious they don’t want to let the public know where they are getting their information, although in this case, they give us another clue about that….

” members of Guzman’s security team helped Mexican and U.S. authorities”

Gosh! That was awfully nice of those fellows…. These hard-boiled, vicious drug cartel security individuals had a complete change of heart, and shared all they knew with Mexican and US authorities, out of the goodness of those hearts, I suppose…. I think it is probably more likely that the word, and technique, “waterboarding” was brought into play, as both a threat, and in actual use… I don’t believe for a minute these guys gave up their boss without a little bit of a struggle…. They come from a culture where “machismo” is paramount, and they would not consider it very macho to talk…. hence, they were “persuaded to help”, and I don’t think the persuasive techniques used were verbal, or anything other than torture….

How do I come to that conclusion from this article? Easy…. they told us, in so many words….

“gleaned from those arrested, said Michael S. Vigil, a former senior DEA official who was briefed on the operation.”

How does one “glean” information from drug cartel security forces? I don’t think it was the promise of some Kool-Aid, ffolkes, do you?…. And, since this mouthpiece was “briefed” on the “operation”, what do YOU think he meant by “gleaned”? I do try NOT to be too naive….

This whole “broken rant” was created for the single purpose of demonstrating how the BRC uses its new toys, provided by us, to wit: you, and me, the not-quite-charmingly naive public, when we allowed them to pass those silly ass Homeland Security bullshit Acts after the 9/11 attacks…. In truth, I don’t really care much that they used it to bring down such a predator…. He was, and is, no doubt, someone we can all do without in our midst, since he insists on preying on the weak and foolish….

But, it seems to me, it was all merely an exercise of domestic discipline, as one set of vicious, insane power-hungry individuals, in the official, authorized, guise of law enforcement myrmidons of the ruling elite, tracked down and captured one of their own type of people, who had the bad taste to try to force his will on others without having the mandate of the public voting apparatus…. When one doesn’t automatically accept the bilge water that is presented to us as the truth, it is easy to see how little difference there is between those who hunted him down, and he who was hunted….

Governments have the backing of the multi-national corporations that control society, whereas the big drug cartels, rich and powerful as they may grow, are merely small businesses compared to them… and, we all know what happens to small business when a mega-corp wants to step into their marketplace…. The pharmaceutical companies don’t like the competition from street drugs, so they keep society amped up in arms against them, so their bottom line profit is not reduced to any significant degree….

The whole War on Drugs, (Y,know? It’s funny how our society’s rulers always deal with a problem by declaring War on it….Then, they throw money at it, and tell people that will make it go away…. Hmm…. how’s that working for ya?….), that has been raging in this country since the mid-1930’s, when the drug companies noticed how popular marijuana was becoming in the mainstream, is merely another example of how the real rulers in society don’t want the people to make their own decision about ANYTHING, not if whatever it is can make money for them….

(It’s why they are making their play for control of the Internet…. It’s a very real, but, still only potential, money cow…. if they can wrest control away, and start charging for access, they’ll essentially control all the information flow…. which also give them the wherewithal to censor information, before it gets TO the information cloud…. If they keep control in their corporate hands, you can kiss 75% of the Internet’s effectiveness as a social communication tool, free of interference, goodbye….)

Instead, the governments, at the urging of their corporate masters, spread outright lies and mountains of false information through their own media outlets, attempting to convince people of the dangers of (whatever), followed by the passage of legislation making any who decide for themselves into criminals in the eyes of society….. Even though, as in the case with marijuana, what they are fighting against is actually better for people than anything they have in the list of drugs they manufacture, (at a 2000% profit-margin, don’t y’know….), they decided to enlist the government’s influence over the people to make it illegal, since they had no actual way to stop people from finding and using it…. It grows EVERYWHERE on this planet, without much effort…. That’s why they call it a weed, you know?….

Okay, I’ve rambled, and ranted enough for one morning…. Ffolkes, the governments, the BRC, the Asininnies, the shadowy corporate slave masters, or, whatever label you wish to place upon those who actually rule this planet, don’t give a shit about me, or you, and they’re going to continue to do whatever they choose, just as long as we let them…. They make my life, and yours, a hundred times more difficult than it needs to be, all for the sake of maintaining control over the power, and resources, with which they are obsessed. I, for one, am tired of playing their game…. What game?….

“If we let people see that kind of thing, there would never again be any war.” — Pentagon official, on why US military censored graphic footage from the Gulf War

As far as possible, for the remainder of my life, I will be taking every opportunity I find to expose their asininity, their chicanery, their just plain evil intentions, in as loud a voice as I can muster…. I’d appreciate any help I can get in spreading that exposition around to those who need to see it…. Maybe, just maybe, if I can get this idea into the heads of enough reasonably intelligent people, we all will figure out it is time to stop them…. Then, we can join forces, to create of a large enough repository of the power of human will to overcome the physical entrenchments that have already been put into place, for their protection against that very thing….

With enough people, of good loving heart and infinite compassion, all putting their force of will behind whatever we decide is necessary, I’m sure it would be more than enough to turn the tide, and, in the process, maybe, just maybe, we’ll save our own sorry asses from the depredations we have allowed them to perpetrate in our name…..

“For me, all I can do is spit in the eye of my fears by living each day with as much passion and commitment as possible to what truly counts, such as love and justice. To give the into the fear and hopelessness would be to declare defeat, something I am not ready to do while there is still the will to struggle.” — Lawrence Paradis

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Comedy_Tragedy

    I’ve read poetry all my life, more so at some times than others, but, it’s always been there, a part of the beauty I seek to include in my life…. When I find a poet I like, I am not shy about saying so; that’s why the ffolkes who frequent this blog, a hardy lot, to be sure, end up seeing a lot of Emily Dickinson, Keats, Pope. and other classic poets. I also, occasionally, include on from the poets I’ve discovered hidden here on WordPress. There are several excellent poets, and, “MaggieMaeijustsaythis” is one of the finest….

She recently began writing in a ‘sort of’ new style; it’s very similar to her previous work, but, it’s also different, with more scope, and more freedom, it seems… Here is another of her latest, posted just a day or two ago…. Y’all should go bookmark her site, and buy her book(s); someday, she will be known around the entire English-speaking world, should we humans survive the next fifty years or so…. Any who, forget that, just, enjoy…. Oh, be prepared for some reality, ffolkes….

Doctor, Tell Me

I am going to be. Here,
in a sticky womb,
a living room made for
madness; a sautéed fanciness.

The feast is being set,
just above the chandelier,
they call me by number,
my tattooed slumber calls.

White isn’t always padded
or strapped. Most likely
it only surrounds
the dark blue ring
around the sunburst I look at.

I think I am a painting.
Rembrandt is too gross, but
Picasso, he is enough mystery
to create me.
Half of me sprawls across the cold,
I wait for night-watch to
twist me back to form.

The other girl squats in the corner.
I smell feces and antifreeze.
Do I dream? Can I dissect the fumes of
the dead?
Her charred body crawls toward me,
she removes her teeth.
Everything glitters like a shadow.

Then, I am here. In the morning.
It isn’t the sun that tells me,
but the number, tattooed to
my skull.

Doctor, tell me, has Picasso gone home?

~~ Maggie Mae ~~

http://maggiemaeijustsaythis.com/2015/05/21/doctor-tell-me/


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A-laughing-girl-and-her-camel

    One of the reasons for cheating today is Smart Bee…. Yesterday, it decided to take a dump, figuratively; no matter how many times I uninstalled & reinstalled the program, it wouldn’t act right… I gave up, and am hoping it will work this morning when I install it yet again… If it does, fine, we’ll get a fresh pearl out of it, if I have to use whips and chains…. If not, well, we’ll dip into the archives, which you’ll know because I’ll tell you the date it was first posted…. Go figure…. Enjoy, ffolkes, whatever we end up with….. The first pearls you’ll see are the last I got out of SB before it crapped out….

Aww, wasn’t that cute? SB gave me a joke quote to start today’s search, perfect as the opener for this batch, even though it has nothing to do with the other parameters of the search…. It just…. fits…

Run out of taglines: (A)bort (R)eread (S)teal

~~Smart Bee ~~


Okay, SB. go ahead & steal them; we don’t care, as long as we get a pearl out of it….

He not busy being born

Is busy dying.

~~ Bob Dylan ~~


“In a full heart there is room for everything, and in an empty heart there is room for nothing.” — Antonio Porchia, Voces

“A candour affected is a dagger concealed.” — Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) — Meditations, book 9.

“The truth you speak has no past and no future. It is, and that’s all it needs to be.” — Smart Bee

“Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.” — Robert Frost

“Life is not an exact science, it is an art.” — Samuel Butler (1835-1902)

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

Not bad…. Not bad at all…. Plus, you will note, please, as predicted in the intro section, we once again see Cicero at the ending….

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Well, that worked out fairly well. Since I’m NOT going to do it over, y’all get it just as it is…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, hopefully with a bit more pizazz to offer…. At least I got Smart Bee back on deck…. 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

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Kowabunga!


À bientôt, mon cherí….


					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Slick Willie’s sick sailboat…

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“And it’s just a box of rain

I don’t know who put it there


Believe it if you need it

Or leave it if you dare


And it’s just a box of rain

Or a ribbon for your hair


Such a long, long time to be gone

And a short time to be there”


~~ Box of Rain by Lesh, Hunter ~~


mars-rover-curiosity-mro


Curiosity Rover trundling across Mars


Photo by NASA orbiter via Space.com




Aw, fuck.


Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say that out loud? My bad…. I guess I should either explain, or start over. Hmm…


Good morning, ffolkes! Yes, yes I did bail on the first beginning…. No explanations for you. “Too bad, so sad, try again next time,” he said, with a nasty smirk. That’s because he woke up in the weirdest fucking mood he’s ever experienced; in fact, ‘weird’ just doesn’t make the grade at all… He has no clue what person to write in, first, second, third, or weird; the latter seems the most achievable, at this point. In fact, we’re going to admit defeat, so we can get on with the rest of today’s mess, a process y’all realize just became even more volatile than usual…..


Why is that? Well, last time I had this issue, the stock market crashed. No, not really, but, I did feel a great disturbance in the Force, as if a million voices had all… wait, no, that’s Obi-wan’s line. Sorry, wrong page.


Okay, I’m busted, I guess. Since I didn’t, and won’t, have a clue as to how to find, or create, yet another exciting, passionate, obviously brilliant opening section, I figured this would serve to fill in. How’d I do? I know, it’s kinda sappy, but, hey, it’s better than most of them, I’d say. Of course, I’m pretty biased, as we all know, especially in THIS instance; I certainly have a vested interest in finding some way to make it work every day. It’s really too bad Reality is never going to cooperate in that goal, since it has absolutely no investment, or interest, in helping me out…. Asshole.


Oops. No swearing at Reality. It’s easily offended, and the payback is, quite simply, a…. you thought I was going to be vulgar, didn’t you? Hah!


Iconoclasm as a way of life… yeah, that’s the ticket!….


Okay, that’s plenty, I’d say. If we, or I, or y’all, or somebody doesn’t assume control here, we’ll be stuck here forever, listening to me try to achieve enough coherence to bring this to a conclusion (at this rate, that would be sometime in the next millennium….). I think it’s time for the application of another colorful metaphor, so to speak….


Fuck it. I’m through being nice…. Luigi, take us in!…..


Shall we Pearl?


“Insanity in individuals is something rare – but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” — Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), Beyond Good and Evil


I’m not sure how I should take that…. I AM an individual!…. I guess that makes me rare… or, perhaps, merely sane in an insane world….


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Google Free Images




This young lady needs no introduction; her fame is intact. The cartoons I’ve included below are a collection of those banned from TV and theaters for their adult/controversial content…. Certainly a cultural icon, she was the first fantasy girl for many a young American lad….







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Betty Boop



















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Dont keep calm




“The more laws, the less justice.”


~~ Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.) — De Officiis (44 B.C.) ~~




Here is an epic rant from the archives. It first appeared in 2012, and shows up about once a year, it seems, so, it must be okay…. Enjoy, such as you may….


Last posted 4/26/2014:


One of the hardest parts of blogging on a daily basis, I’ve found, is keeping the chosen material fresh, especially when I tend to rely on a small set of subjects upon which to rant on a regular schedule…. As you know, if you’ve been here previously, I do like to take my shots at the BRC, which consists primarily of the men who prey upon the rest of humanity for their own benefit; most especially, I like to take my best shots at those assholes who prey on women and children, enslaving them as sexual objects for their own profit and sick indulgence….


However, as I tried to explain in the last post in which I spoke of this, it is extremely hard for me to write about, as it tends to kick in my PTSD symptoms…. I get a large jolt of adrenalin when I start to think about this, and my mind turns immediately to buying weapons, ammunition, and starting the planning process to go hunting, for pimps, snakeheads, and any other assholes involved in the sex trafficking trade….


Bleeding hearts may proclaim all the sad stories they know, or speculate, stories that might explain why these assholes are the way they are, but, I don’t really give a shit how they got the way they are; to do what they do, a conscious choice must be made, and, to my mind, that is enough to warrant removing them from the society of decent people, permanently…. If that means I’m playing God, well, so be it…. I am liable to be as good at it as any of the delusional versions; I have the advantage of actually having a physical form that can be touched, so there’s no question of my involvement, or my reality….


Just writing those last two paragraphs has me so worked up, my breath is speeding, my heart rate has jumped over a hundred, & my musculature is loosening up, relaxing and stretching…. I’m starting to breathe more deeply, too, as the adrenalin widens all of my blood and air passages in preparation for fight, or flight…. Having spent eleven years living with random adrenalin attacks, while working at Atascadero and Napa State Hospitals, frequently wrestling with the violently insane to save their life, or my own, I am all-too-familiar with those symptoms…. which include the necessity for waiting for up to three or four HOURS for them to wear off completely…. It’s a pain, to be honest, and I don’t like it at all…


Which is why I am going to cheat…. I’m going to reprint a rant from the archives, one of several I wrote during the year it was first posted, when I first began to write about this issue regularly…. This is one of my better rants, so I hope you enjoy it…. I have added, here at the beginning, a perfect pearl that I found as an appetizer to what follows…. Here then, our rant for today…..


“Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.” — Frank Leahy


From 12/4/12:


“Free enterprise ended in the United States a good many years ago. Big oil, big steel, big agriculture avoid the open marketplace. Big corporations fix prices among themselves and drive out the small entrepreneur. In their conglomerate forms, the huge corporations have begun to challenge the legitimacy of the state.” — Gore Vidal


In his book, “Friday”, Robert Heinlein details a society of humanity’s possible future, one in which corporations have continued to grow beyond the boundaries of mere countries, until their interests become paramount even over that of the state, as observed by Mr. Vidal. We, of the society here on Earth in the early 21st century are witnessing that growth, as I write, and as you read…..


The small enterprise markets still exist, but only on the fringes of the economy, the major portion of which is busy manipulating the population into serving the economic trends that the corporations control, in the essential markets that cover everyone… In other words, the corporations monopolize most of the economy, allowing the fringe markets to exist to provide exotic, alternative toys and entertainments for the working classes.


Mr. Heinlein’s character, a young woman with designer genes, genius IQ, and Heinlein’s innate sardonicism, as part of an assignment, is required to perform a research and analysis of how the large multinational corporations affected the political and economic scenes of their society, obliquely referring, of course, to the one we have now. It is a very interesting part of a very good book, and well worth a read, not only for its perspicacity in explaining the piracy we are seeing today, but because Heinlein was a master storyteller, who created fascinating characters in  fantastic situations, making it all seem perfectly normal and real.


“The phenomenality of organic, conscious existence should, could have made impossible the sadism, the unending hurt of our ways. The impotent fury, the guilt that master and surpass my identity carry with them the working hypothesis, the ‘working metaphor’, if you will, of ‘original sin’. To this expression, I am unable to attach any reasoned, let alone historical substance. On the pragmatic-narratological plane, stories of some initial crime and inherited culpability are universal fables  — uncannily profound and lasting. Nothing more. Yet in the presence of the beaten, raped child, of the horse or mule flogged across its eyes, I am possessed, as by a midnight clarity, by the intuition of the Fall.” — Rudolf Steiner, Errata: An examined life, Phoenix — (a division of Orion Books), London, 1998), p. 169


At first, this quote may not seem to be related to the first. However, it is this “original sin” of which he speaks that is the root cause of the problems with corporations in society. Those humans who reject commonality with the rest of humanity are the villains, in this play that passes for modern culture, for they do not accept their debt to the rest of the species, and have determined that they will use whatever means they need to become ascendant over the rest of us. Greed is only the most obvious of the ills that this group has subjected our culture to, with cruelty, dishonesty, and lack of compassion as side attractions. Through the actions of their corporate entities, they work to maintain their power and control of others, all for the sake of their own aggrandizement….


These are the men who run the trade in human trafficking, abducting and abusing children and women, for sex and slavery. These are the men who run the brothels, and the underground casinos, and the money-lending, and the protection rackets, and the drug dealing rings. What many folks don’t realize is that they are also the men who run for political office, or become preachers/priests, and the bankers, and the CEO’s,  and other corporate officers, who make their decisions based on self-interest, never on altruism. They seem, and act like, they are the leaders of society, when, in fact, they are the very reason our society is headed for extinction….


Unfortunately, these men (and they are almost ALL men….) will not give up their power and control without a fight. They will not respond to reason, giving up all their wealth and perceived power, to benefit the rest of mankind. They will not suddenly see the light, and give it all back. They will have to be rooted out like weeds, tough, hardy weeds, and destroyed, if we are to have any chance of survival…. It is unfortunate, but no other method will work, and it brings with it the danger of falling into the same kind of behavior by which they operate. But, I can see no other way to solve the issue, since they will not cooperate with the rest of us for the benefit of all….


1. If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting.


2. What you settle for is what you end up with.


3. If you think that worrying about a problem is the same thing as solving it, then you must live in some other universe where different laws pertain.


–Smart Bee


Note from 2014: To finish this, here is one last pearl, with a perfect description of the assholes who prey on their fellow men, or worse, women and children…. Pearls like this are good channel markers, for helping to identify the dickheads….


“Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.” — Epicurus


Note from 2015: Thank goodness for the Tardis! I’ll leave you with another appropriate closing for THIS year….


“Sometimes I think the world has gone completely mad.  And then I think, “Aw,  who cares?”  And then I think, “Hey, what’s for supper?” — Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey


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Comedy_Tragedy




Written December, 2012, last posted October, 2014:




A Failure to Germinate


Marking the days in elements of sad disarray

only holds me thrall, as I laugh while I may.

With cold, hard hands so impatient and cruel

pulling me to this vale of tears, a pathetic old fool.


Feelings sit silent, cast in shadows and light

breaking forth to implicate such vengeful might.

Just below the surface they patiently hide

to sally forth bravely, colors bright as they ride.


Tears and pain transform valued assets in hand

while comfort and serenity retreat to a far land.

Bold, bright patterns of hope garnish my ruinous state

until reality enters, full of disdainful portions of hate.


I sort out the illustrious measures of vision gone mild

only to find them transformed, now vicious and wild.

In my deepest desires I find myself calloused and cold

with faithless advocates whose souls have been sold.


My search finds little to support any hope of relief

far too much time has passed to bolster such belief.

The sad becomes real, and real becomes unfounded

until flights of such fancy are all dead, and grounded.


Nature has informed me of the newly hatched crime

of which reality boasted proudly, time after time.

The last answer we think of is always the best

as we come to terms with fate, our hope at rest.


~~ gigoid ~~




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lao




    Today’s old-school is bifunctional. It’s no surprise Spell Checker doesn’t like that word; I did just make it up, as far as I know. But, that’s true of the pearl, as well, so, hey, symmetry, right? Works for me…. Ask me sometime, & maybe I’ll remember what I meant by that….




“Grasp the whole world of reason, life and sense

In one close system of benevolence.”


~~ Alexander Pope ~~




“He said that there was one only good, namely, knowledge; and one only evil, namely, ignorance.” — Diogenes Laertius (c. 200 AD) — Socrates, xiv


“In the midst of winder I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” — Albert Camus


“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” — Carl Sagan


“I have found power in the mysteries of thought.” Euripides


“Depend on no man, on no friend, but him who can depend on himself. He only who acts conscientiously towards himself will act so towards others, and vice versa.” — Lavater


Euripides says,– Who knows but that this life is really death, and whether death is not what men call life?” — Diogenes Laertius (c. 200 AD) — Pyrrho, viii




Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction, ice

Is also great

And would suffice


~~ Robert Frost ~~


~~ Fire and Ice ~~




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“Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself, for he shall never cease to be entertained.” — John Powell


Bwahahahahahaha!….


However, let me assure you, I mean that only in the best of ways….. And, yes. I am endlessly entertained by my own antics, in making my way through this beautiful, ugly, puzzling, simple, wonderful journey called life…. But, that’s probably just me; what do I know?…. With a bit of luck, 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


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….





		
	
					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Three portions of the marinated calamari tubes, please….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“A man reveals his character even in the simplest things he does.”


~~ Jean de La Bruyere ~~


Day 5 023


The Shelbourne Public House


Cork, Ireland




A close look at today’s picture, (click to enlarge), will reveal a perfect pint of Guinness, sitting under the tap on the the right of the bar; it was built, at my request, in the traditional manner, filling the glass straight down from the tap, until foam reaches the top. At that point, the glass is allowed to rest, until the foam retreats down a sufficient amount, at which time the glass is again filled. If necessary, this will go on until it is just right, with about 1/2″ to 3/4″ of foam at the rim…. I asked the bartender to demonstrate the procedure, then gave them the pint to drink, as it was only 11 AM, and I just wanted the technique, and pictures of the process…. She, (the blond at the back of the bar), thought the grey old American hippie was a bit strange, but, took the money, and kept the pint….


Good  morrow, y’all…. Thanks to Kaiser, I spent about 3 hours last night with tardive dyskinesia, which gave me the gift of insomnia from midnight to 3 am; such a joy. Needless to say, this made me late to arise, and, consequently late starting today’s mess…. I’ve attempted above to mitigate any angst, with a bit nostalgia from my trip to Europe, in the hopes of eradicating any excess. It seems to have worked, sufficiently well to be able to remember our main goal, to introduce today’s Pearl…. I’m thinking two paragraphs is probably enough, especially since I have nothing more to say on any of this….


Let’s do this…. I’ll tell Luigi to take us in gently, and y’all can actually finish your drinks. We’ll unload at the oyster beds, and immediately break for lunch, okay? Then, we’ll be back on schedule, even if it’s a recycled program from last year…. At this point, obviously, it isn’t going to matter at all; we seem to have lost our way without even moving…. Funny how that works sometimes, eh? Watch your heads as you disembark, ffolkes, it appears our landing disturbed the local fauna, which is making a concerted effort to push the vehicle into the water…. No worries, we’ll just use the electric zapper, and….. There! All fried…. Now we won’t even have to order breakfast…. C’mon, time’s a’wastin’….


Shall we Pearl?




“Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.” 


~~ Plutarch ~~




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







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




    Jerry Jeff & I go way back; we spent many a moon-lit night partying back in the 70’s…. I guess I’m getting sentimental in my old age, returning to my roots to spend time visiting old memories of good times…. Well, that, or I’m just getting obsessed…. Hmm…. I suppose I could obsess over worse stuff, eh?…. It’ll do for now, so, enjoy!….




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Jerry Jeff Walker & Loudon Wainwright III ~ Live concert



















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





Dont keep calm




    Today, I intended to try to create a fresh “meander”, of a rantish nature, but, that plan went down the tubes with my late arrival…. Here, then, to sublimate, an old-school meander, aimed at the pundits who engage in the nasty habit of politics…. (Definition: Politics: from the Greek, “poly”, meaning “many”, and “ticks”, meaning “blood-sucking vermin”…. — Jay Leno)


“…when all government… in little as in great things, shall be drawn to Washington as the centre of all power, it will render powerless the checks provided of one government on another and will become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated.” — Thomas Jefferson, 1821


“If you love the sacred and despise the ordinary, you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion.” — Lin-Chi


“It is said that God is always on the side of the heaviest battalions.” — Voltaire (1694-1778) — Letter to M. le Riche, Feb. 6, 1770


“Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men are wiser than one  man. How’s that again?  I missed something.” — Robert A. Heinlein


“Liberty don’t work as good in practice as it does in speeches.” — Will Rogers


“Deep in the nature of all these noble races there lurks unmistakably the beast of prey, the blond beast, lustfully roving in search of booty and victory.” — Nietzsche


“A violent man will die a violent death.” — Lao Tzu


“It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.” — Voltaire


— Bother! said Pooh, as the Borg assimilated him.


To bring this old-school meander to a proper close, a metaphor is, patently, essential…. Here is a perfect closing thought from our old pal, Bill Watterson….


“Today for show and tell I’ve brought a tiny marvel of nature: a single snowflake. I think we might all learn a lesson from how this utterly unique and exquisite crystal turns into an ordinary, boring molecule of water, just like every other one, when you bring it in the classroom. And now, while the

analogy sinks in, I’ll be leaving you drips and going outside.” — Calvin, “Calvin and Hobbes”


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






Comedy_Tragedy




Sharing the Wealth


Lucky are we who live with some adversity,

Such strife to bear leaves us strong and free.

Time is no better spent at a fine university

Teaching us the kind of person we wish to be.


We humans are such contrary creatures

Life lived in ease is our fondest intent.

New perceptions are our strongest features

Learning to cope with troubles we cannot prevent.


Lessons we learn at Trouble’s bent knee

Stay on top in the bag of tools we carry.

Knowledge so earned can keep us free

On our long, strange trip to Charon’s ferry.


Pain is the least favorite of our teachers

Yet such powerful lessons stay forever and a day.

No matter how life presents its features

Strength of will equals what life sends our way.


T’is well to consider such time-tested tools,

To carry them with us as we travel through Life.

Events are less likely to show us as fools,

as we deal with Reality, where peril is rife.


~~ gigoid ~~




Written 9/6/2012.


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





lao




“By an epiphany he meant a sudden spiritual manifestation, whether in the vulgarity of speech or of gesture or memorable phrase of the mind itself. He believed it was for the man of letters to record these epiphanies with extreme care (saving them for later use, that is), seeing that they themselves are the most delicate and evanescent of moments.” — James Joyce


In at least one real sense, this statement by James Joyce expresses a large part of why I “Pearl”…. The aphorisms, quotes, taglines, and/or statements you see here, by ancient sages, modern philosophers, comedians, warriors, scholars, hell, the entire pantheon of humanity’s most cogent, powerfully worded wisdom, has served me well, my entire life, helping me to figure out how to live with dignity, with compassion, and, with some degree of competence, if not excellence… learning to live with honor, with happiness, and, most importantly, with trouble… I am always searching for new ways to express what I’ve learned, for what good is wisdom unshared?


I’m not perfect, or wise, for that matter; I am, however, pretty damn happy, and content, though my life is often filled with what many would call severe trouble…. So, I share…. THAT is what Pearling is all about…. our common search for answers to the demands, and questions, with which Reality presents us each moment of each day…. What do you say we go look for some pearls, eh? Maybe one of them will give somebody an epiphany… If not, well, there’s always tomorrow….




“Are you out of my mind?”


— Smart Bee, being a wise acre…. 


We’ll start again; this one, patently, doesn’t count….


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


“Virtuous and vicious every man must be — Few in the extreme, but all in the degree.”


~~ Alexander Pope ~~


“Justice consists in doing no injury to men; decency in giving them no offense.” 


~~ Marcus Tullius Cicero ~~


“Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.” 


~~ Napoleon Bonaparte ~~


“I distrust all systematizers, and avoid them.

The will to a system shows a lack of honesty.” 


~~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche ~~


“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing it’s best, 

night and day to make you everybody else, 

means to fight the hardest battle which any human can fight 

and never stop fighting.” 


~~ e.e. cummings  ~~


“Blot out vain pomp; check impulse; quench appetite; 

keep reason under its own control.” 


~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ~~


“Courage without conscience is a wild beast.” 


~~ Robert G. Ingersoll  ~~


“Who can remain still until the moment of action?” 


~~ Lao Tzu ~~


“And unextinguish’d laughter shakes the skies.”


~~ Alexander Pope ~~




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


I won’t bore you with the old saw about, “Better late… etc.”, as it would merely serve to annoy y’all, and might be construed as pandering…. Far be it from me to ever commit such an antisocial act…. Instead, I’ll merely say, “See y’all tomorrow”, and let it go at that….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

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

and everyone else, too…


When I works, I works hard.

When I sits, I sits loose.

When I thinks, I falls asleep.


Which is Why….


Sometimes I sits and thinks,

   and sometimes,

I just sits.


gigoid, the dubious


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch








dozer3




À bientôt, mon cherí….





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Dodge those taxes with dignity and aplomb….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“Nature abhors a vacuum, but not as much as cats do.”


~~ Lee Entrekin ~~


russian-blue91

Turn it off. Now. 


 Photo stolen from Wolfie, at:



 https://europasicewolf.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/mewling-the-blues-to-the-ancient-mythological-cat-goddesses/


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




Anyone who has lived with a cat knows the opening quote to be an exact statement of truth. I have never met, or observed any cat, in my entire life, who did not absolutely resent the mere presence of a vacuum, even if not operating, with every fiber of their being. If even one of them ever acquired a set of tools to suit their paws, I suspect, one morning, we would all find our loud, offensive-to-the-nature-of-CAT cleaning appliances in a small neat pile of metal pieces, covered over lightly with dirt, somewhere outside the house…. That one cat would destroy all he found in his neighborhood, then pass the tools and skills on to the first cat he met, until every vacuum in the world was useless…. If they could use computers, it would happen all that much faster…. probably in a matter of hours after booting up….


Yet, still, in the quiet moments between heartbeats, the soft, lyrical sound of simple peace may steal through the rear window of each person’s mind, to fill the air with the almost-painfully somber melody of broken dreams. Nighttime brings panic and fear, not slumber; terror rules the hours until light. Light brings its own baggage, weighting down each one it touches, bearing them down, down, to the pitted earth, never again to rise with any degree of hope….


Boy, that turned a little dark corner there, didn’t it. I have no idea how what I started as a lyrical fantasy, grounded in peace and beauty, to the nightmare of the fight with inner demons…. I suppose I need to watch the road signs more closely; the turn I took was NOT into the street I thought I was headed for, by a long shot….. Of course, by logical concatenation, since the street signs are put up by the government, they could conceivably be a lie….


Okay, sorry…. I know it’s too early for such a drastically rude shot to the head of a pundit, but, I’ve never been one to pass up a good opportunity like that one. I promise, no more ranting in this section, for today, at least. Naturally, this leaves us once more in the clutches of the dreaded “What the fuck do we do now?” beast, with its slavering jaws of death, smellier than the filthiest asshole in creation. Whew! Powerful stuff! I think I’m going to make an executive decision; this intro has gone completely off the wire, and out of the dimension. There’s no hope now of ever getting back on any reasonable track down the page without some sort of drastic intervention…. Hang on, ffolkes, I’m pulling the switch on #4…..


Shall we Pearl?




“It’s a bit hard to bullshit the ocean.  


It’s not listening, you know what I mean?”


~~ David Crosby ~~




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


One can never watch too many cartoons, I say. We all need regular doses of fantasy to balance out the extreme levels of bullshit that permeates almost every level of our lives in this sad old world…. Besides, it’s always good to spend time with old friends….




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Heckle and Jeckle










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




Truths would you teach, or save a sinking land?


All fear, none aid you, and few understand.


~~ Alexander Pope ~~ 


~~ Essay on Man, Epistle iv, Line 261~~


Dont keep calm


     Pearls of Virtual Wisdom, as a blog, continues to evolve, along with me, as I become more competent at formatting the text and pictures, learning to take advantage of how they can work together to strengthen whatever points I’m trying to get through to people. Today, rather than a rant, I’m going to use the principle of “a picture is worth a thousand words”, to deliver my usual indictment of the Asininnies, those who have perverted human culture for their own aggrandizement. You’ve seen all of these before on this site; I seem to have collected enough of them to form a pictorial old-school pearl, filled with my entire pantheon of issues about which to rant….. I don’t think I’ll need to say anything more; from this point on, it’s pretty self-explanatory…


Enjoy, ffolkes; it will be a nice break from the 2-3000 words I could have used to speak to all these pictures, each of which highlights part of the problems we face today, threatened with extinction as a species by the ignorant, cruel, selfishly self-centered actions of a precious few extreme assholes, disguised as human beings….. I might add, all of these pictures are taken from REALITY; there’s no speculation involved in any of these issues…. Remember that, next time you hear one of the Asininnies speak about “conspiracy theories”, or, try to deny culpability for all of their chicanery…. It isn’t a fantasy if it comes straight from reality, to slap you in your very real face….. or, shoot you in your very real heart…..




Albert E & true sin600801_388558564581781_493680709_nFlulaval-vaccine-insert-no-controlled-trials-640Isaac AsimovFlulaval-Influenza-Vaccine-Insert-600Ginsburg on CU 8-20-2014Pope Leo X220px-Pogo_-_Earth_Day_1971_posterjimmy sez

Orwell on footballtrickle down theory

nsadogWe the People...


     There you go, ffolkes. The first ever fully-pictorial pearl. Not too shabby, and, it certainly saved y’all a shit load of reading, didn’t it? I kind of like it, but, it’s going to take a while now to collect enough pointed bamboo sticks to create another punji pit, placing some nice atropine on the points of the sticks, to provide that extra touch of agony to their deaths… Then, we’ll need to find a good spot to put it, where it can catch any stray Asininnies passing by, concealed well enough to ensure they take their final fall, about 12 feet down, to meet their chosen fate.


I  find it to be only justice to consider such a cruel method of eliminating these human vermin, justice provided by most efficient bamboo stakes, tipped with a poison to paralyze the diaphragm, adding a touch of terror to their agony, hopefully for a good long while, until the numerous holes in their body bleed sufficiently to allow them to die the death they so richly deserve…. This has the added advantage of reducing the number of targets left to destroy in future revolutionary outbreaks, which I consider a pretty sure thing, given today’s state of world affairs…. It’s always a good policy to get a running start on unpleasant tasks, such as vermin control….


Gee! Do ya think I’m a little pissed off? Well…. you may be right…


gigoid, not speaking much, but, enough….


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


After such a compelling graphic rant, only one poem of mine will do….




Geezer to Congress, with Love


Politicos don’t care much ’bout seniors and their ilk,

except for their money, I thinks;

Though they talk as if they’d cozen them in silk,

what they actually do, it stinks.


“The banks are failing, we can’t allow that!”,

steal from the aged, that’s their plan.

“Their life’s ending, that’s plainly where they’re at,”

lie shamelessly, because they can.


Maybe just once, if we all act together,

it couldn’t miss.

Right on their shoes, no matter the weather,

take careful aim, and piss.


Why the hell not?

It’s worth a shot!


~~ gigoid ~~




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


I suppose the only proper way to describe what follows would be to call it a tongue-in-cheek pearl. Each one, which SB gave up in its inimitable style, isn’t actually as shallow as it may seem at first, once one gets past the flippancy, or in some cases, the simplicity…. No matter, they’re fun, and there are plenty of them, so, enjoy…. or not. I like to give everyone a choice, as you know….


“Sinners can repent, but stupid is forever.” — Smart Bee


“Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do.” — Bertrand Russell (1872-1967)


“What is becoming is honest, and whatever is honest must always be becoming.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)


“Anything may be divided into as many parts as you please.” Commentary: In this case, ‘everything’ may be viewed as a subset of ‘anything.'” — Law of Arbitrary Distinction


“A closed mouth gathers no feet.” — Finster’s Law


“Ah say, son, you’re about as sharp as a bowlin’ ball.” — Foghorn Leghorn


“Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing can ever be made.” — Immanuel Kant


“Immanuel doesn’t pun, he Kant.” — Smart Bee


Doh! Sorry, ffolkes, I couldn’t help myself. SB threw them out there, & I fell right into the trap…. Okay, here is the correct final pearl for this particular group…


“Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances.” — Mark Twain


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


Thankfully, most of this got done yesterday; getting it all done this morning would have been impossible, given the state of affairs in my body. Though my refusal to submit to any further med reduction has finally reached a point where I am able to get some sleep, I still awake in more pain than I’ve had to deal with for over seven years. Any thanks I may feel for this gift can be delivered directly to the door of a large soulless corporation, care of two doctors/slaves who are carrying out their draconian policy of punishing anyone who may not wish to submit to wearing a collar.


However, rather than continue to rant here in the closing section, I’ll make a 90 degree turn, and merely say, “See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes, when we’ll fire off another round of shots, at those insane fools who would kill us all in their cowardly, insane quest for power….”




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


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


dozer3




 À bientôt, mon cherí….





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
But…. but…. what about the little bunnies?

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“History… a distillation of rumor.” 


~~ Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) ~~


snow in IrelandSnow in Ireland, January 2015 


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




I won’t do it! You can’t make me! I don’t wanna write any more! No…..! Well, okay, maybe this once.


Morning, ffolkes. I just thought I’d give y’all a quick picture of the kind of stuff I go through each morning to get started. Depending on how much sleep I haven’t gotten (I’ve begun to keep track that way, rather than trying to keep track of all those fractions, of hours of broken sleep I’ve managed to steal….), this is a fine example of the usual degree of reluctance and angst I suffer before getting started….


. For the record, and to take another dig at Kaiser P, the corporate ghosts,  and the doctors who are enslaved by them, I’ll note that I am STILL feeling the effects of withdrawal; about an hour before the next dose of medicine is due, the jumpy nerves and twitchy muscles begin to hum, and I find myself keeping time with my legs to a fast, salsa-like rhythm…. If I have music on, it can take a while to notice, as I think I’m just keeping time with Jesse Colin, or Bob Marley’s songs…. It’s not quite as severe, because I’m cheating on them, and using the meds at the higher rate I used to take, in order to try to get a bit of sleep, and space from the withdrawal symptoms….


Fuck ’em. I’m done submitting to this society’s constant attempts to fix me with a slave collar. I’ve fought against having one for 60 some years now, at every turn. I’m becoming more and more angry at those who will not see how they are serving the forces of evil, having been brainwashed for their entire lives to believe anything told to them by a talking head. I intend to spend the rest of my life shouting at them, picking at them, hurting them as often as I can, however I can. I will hold them up for public ridicule, or, if necessary, find a way to remove them from this plane of existence, But, I will no longer sit quietly, going my own way, & keeping my head down.


I’ll be just as aggressive to them as they try to be to me; I didn’t spend my life learning martial arts so I could let bullies have their way; from now on, I intend to take the battle back to their doors, to hold them up into the light of exposure, for their lies, for their bully attitudes, and for their constant lies. On Tuesday, I’ll be taking on a local city council, led by a bully of a mayor, a man of color determined to get back at the man by becoming a caricature of a politician, resembling nothing more than a rich, old, white cracker, spreading lies and acting like a bully toward the public. It doesn’t surprise me at all to find he is a lawyer by trade….


Okay…. That worked well…. Nothing like a good mini-rant to get the juices flowing, is there? The only problem with it is finding a good place to stop, as it’s so easy to just go on, and on, and on, when one begins railing against the lies…. there are just so MANY of them!…. Ah well, enough for one day. I’m going to grab this box, marked with a big #4, & get us out of here, so we can get on with the rest of this mess…. You’ll probably recognize the number, which works like this….


Shall we Pearl?


“Bushido does not mean what it sounds like.” — Smart Bee


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


Currently, though it’s Sunday, & the world is turned off, so to speak, my mind won’t seem to settle, wanting to pick at the two issues confronting me. So, we’ll go with some silly, to break the pattern in our customary fashion. Here are some cartoons, which, naturally, should be watched with a cookie or three and a nice glass of milk…. Enjoy!….




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Goofy Cartoons










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Dont keep calm


“Tell someone the sun is millions of miles away and they’ll believe you. Tell them the fence has just been painted and they’ll feel it to check it out.” — Smart Bee


Why do you think this is true? (Even if it isn’t, (which it isn’t, er, is… it’s true, by my reckoning…), it must be a behavior so frequently observed as to be considered worthy of note, as if it is a truism, a piece of common wisdom….No matter the source.) Any who, for the purpose of our discussion, we’ll assume it to be true (sigh… okay. Look. If you DON’T agree, can you wait to discuss it until we get further down? I’ll leave room…). If we can assume it to be so, I think I can guess the reason it is such a commonly held belief….


That’s because you’re human, and, they’re human. Consciously, or not, both are aware of this. Most people, if told the first, since they have no way of knowing for sure if you are right or wrong, will opt to trust, as the truth of it has no direct effect on them. The paint, however, is a part of their immediate environment, so, with another human present, the state of the paint becomes of more direct interest. There is an old saying in the Arab world, that says, “Trust in Allah, but row for the rocks.”…. if you get my drift. The Western world would more likely be familiar with a statement such as “Always cut the cards.” In the case of wet paint, any human over the age of two will check to see if paint is wet, when told, as a knee-jerk reaction….


How does this relate to the ranting section? Oh gosh, if you’ve been here before, you’d already know…. We’ve already used the word true, which is rooted in Truth, so, obviously we’re going to talk about those humans who seek elected office, at what I now know from PERSONAL experience, to be ALL levels, from international, to national, to state, to county, to local. Hell, I’ll bet the perversion of human spirit that pervades our culture seems to be not merely ubiquitous, but, cancerous in its aggressive intention of consuming all members of our society, regardless of their wishes in the matter.


I’m speaking, of course, of the complete loss of integrity in public office, where every person seems to be convinced their own personal beliefs should be used to determine the course of events in their immediate sphere of influence. From President, all the way down to mayor, and often, Grand Poobah level of government, ignorance, bigotry, and the use of power for personal gain is not merely rampant, but, glorified…..


In my personal observation of public life, as I have seen, heard, or read about, the events and information about the march of history since 1950, when I was born, (available for anyone of my age to still view, via a number of different media), the world has become more and more a mirror image of  the nightmarish society depicted in George Orwell’s novel, 1984, than I ever believed was possible…. If you really want to be scared silly, read, or, re–read the book, then compare what you have just read to modern society. The congruency is close to 100%; it seems Mr. Orwell was more accurate than even he knew in his vision of the future, a time at which WE have, seemingly, arrived….


In truth, it would be easy to list all the ways our supposed leaders display their total disregard for anyone’s agenda but their own, which is centered on their own avarice for power and control…. too easy. It would also take a VERY long time, which, as is apparent, I’ve already taken to get to this point, where we could get down to brass tacks, so to speak… (Why brass? Do they hurt more when you step on one?…. I wonder about these things….)


Any who, I’ll be nice today, sparing you the extra work and depressive mood swings. Instead, we’ll fill the rest of the time allotted for this with some very fine pearls of virtual wisdom, which highlight the very qualities of which I have been speaking…. Please remember, ffolkes….. VIRTUAL wisdom, not real. Don’t try to use them as if they were. They’re good for a snack, but not for a main dish, speaking, of course, metaphorically…. Enjoy!…




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Democracy, n.: A government of the masses.  Authority derived through mass meeting or any other form of direct expression.  Results in mobocracy. Attitude toward property is communistic… negating property rights. Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether it is based upon deliberation or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences. Result is demagogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy.” — U. S. Army Training Manual No. 2000-25 (1928-1932), since withdrawn.


All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” — Thomas Paine


“The land of the free!  This is the land of the free!  Why, if I say anything that displeases them, the free mob will lynch me, and that’s my freedom.  Free?  Why I have never been in any country where the individual has such an abject fear of his fellow countrymen.  Because, as I say, they are free to lynch him the moment he shows he is not one of them.” — D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930)


” To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to be ever a child.  For what is man’s lifetime unless the memory of past events is woven with those of earlier times?” — Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC), Orator


“Asking a Republican Senate and Democratic House to make a law is like trying to fry a single egg in two pans.” — New York Times, Jan. 20, 1981


“Now we have a Republican House AND Senate, with a Democrat in the White House. The problem here is obvious; no Republican in either body ever held so menial a job as cook. This means we’re likely to end up with is two eggs, burnt to a crisp, resembling nothing so much as a rubber replica of themselves, but, chewier, and not as tasty. A lame duck of either party makes poor fare for any table….” — gigoid, the dubious  Saturday, 2015


“Well, here it is, 1983, so it won’t be long before you start reading a lot of boring stories about people like Vance Hartke.  Hartke is a governor or mayor or something from one of the flatter states, and the reason you’ll be reading about him is that he’s one of the 50 top contenders for the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination.  These men will spend the next 18 months going around the country engaging in the most degrading activities imaginable, such as wearing idiot hats and appearing on Meet the Press. Meet the Press is one of those Sunday morning public interest shows that the public is not the least bit interested in. It features a panel of reporters who ask questions of a guest politician, who wins an Amana home freezer if he can get through the entire show without answering a single question …” — Dave Barry, On Presidential Politics


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


Knowing my mood to be in a rather fragile state, I won’t even bother trying to find a poem from someone else; it’s best to not involve anyone else today…. It could affect their reputation negatively; wouldn’t want that…. Here’s one from 2013….




Pure Truth: Elsewhen


Everything I say and do, I’m sure,

only comes from what I know.

If what I’ve said or done is good, and pure,

I can say it’s not just for show.


Sometimes people don’t quite get me.

It can be a pain, for sure.

I try not allow it to keep me from being free,

especially when my thoughts may be impure.


In fact, I try quite hard most of the time,

to keep from hurting folks.

If any culture more often approached sublime,

I wouldn’t have to take so many pokes.


Now I’ll make another sacrifice, for y’all,

not for karmic advantage, not merely so….

But, to save me from yet another downfall,

I’ll stop here; ensign, make it so….


~~ gigoid ~~




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


I’m not sure what’s up with Smart Bee; the process of finding pearls has been smooth as silk lately, compared to what has been the case for quite some time. Since I’m not one to look in ANY mouths, we’ll accept this metaphoric gift as if it were of an equine persuasion, and just hop on for a ride…. I’d suggest you climb on behind, or you could get run down…. No worries, mates, it’s all in good, virtual fun, real as these pearls may be….


“Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.” — Roy Goodman


“That humanity at large will ever be able to dispense with Artificial Paradises seems very unlikely. Most men and women lead lives at the worst so painful, at the best so monotonous, poor and limited that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves if only for a few moments, is and has always been one of the principal appetites of the soul.” — Aldous Huxley’s “The Doors of Perception”


“Difficulties are things that show what men are.” — Epictetus (c. 60 AD) — Discourses, Book i, Chap. xxiv


“I say that a man must be certain of his morality for the simple reason that he has to suffer for it.” — G. K. Chesterton, Illustrated London News, 8/4/06


“As long as anyone believes that his ideal and purpose is outside him, that it is above the clouds, in the past or in the future, he will go outside himself and seek fulfillment where it cannot be found. He will look for solutions and answers at every point except where they can be found–in himself.” — Erich Frohm


“Aren’t you glad that everything is going so smoothly?” –Smart Bee


“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.” — Antoine de Saint Exupery, The Little Prince


“Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.” — Lois Bujold


“The most important thing in a man is not what he knows, but what he is.” — Narciso Yepes


Yep…. That about says it…. all of it, I might add….


Well, trust Smart Bee to fall under Murphy’s spell, ffolkes. As soon as I finished this pearl, SB came up with the following, which, obviously, belongs here as a nearly perfect closing thought, to tie the group together with unbreakable twine…. Allow me to show y’all what I mean:




“The world is what it is, no less and no more, 


and therein lies its entire and sufficient meaning.” 


~~ Edward Abbey ~~




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


I’ve already expressed the problematic nature of the issues we’re facing today, though not in any great detail…. Suffice it to know, we’re done, and I’m outta here, taking my chance to escape while it’s fresh and hot. 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


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch


dozer3






À bientôt, mon cherí….



					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Patterns of immoderate concern….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“All cruelty springs from weakness.” — Seneca


Inverness and Invergordon 007





Having slept, I arise. Rising, I begin to think… or, a reasonable facsimile thereof. It doesn’t help, just as expected, but, with admirable perseverance, I booted up the computer anyway…. You may thank me, either now, or later, but, have no doubt, you will do so, either for what I’ve said, or for having stopped in the telling. It will be, as always, your choice, though, I’m guessing, it won’t make the decision any simpler, or cause any less fear in your heart…. though “fear” may not be the exact word to describe the depth of your feelings about what has transpired….


There, are y’all nervous now? If not, I’ve done this wrong…. Since the intro today isn’t normal, by any means, I suppose I should try to explain. But, I won’t, because I don’t understand what is happening any more than y’all do; my fingers seem to by doing just fine without my input. I would guess it has something to do with today’s rant, which is a subject of large importance in my world…. Whatever the reason for it, it’s playing hell with this morning’s routine, which was already a bit off kilter due to yesterday’s bout of shoulder and hand pain, which reached some new highs….


Today, though, is not as bad as that, so far, but, I’d hoped to begin differently…. So much for my obviously mistaken idea of being in control of this process; my subconscious has clearly decided to assume its own degree of control, without bothering to let me know here on the conscious level, where I had THOUGHT we were to spend the day…. But, NOOOOO, there has to be a new direction, chosen without any conscious input, which is guaranteed to piss me off…. I mean, it isn’t too smart to think it could put it past me like this, without at least making a token effort to give me a head’s up…. I AM in charge of this ship, even if there is some doubt in some quarters as to the veracity of that statement…. I’ve got it in writing, so there….


Yes, yes, I know it’s getting a bit thick in here; tell it to the monitors…. I’m just trying to wrest back the steering wheel from my subconscious, which has the erroneous idea it’s going to be in charge today…. In fact, it’s being so insistent, we’re going to have to take a moment here, so I can draw it aside, to let it know, in no uncertain terms, what will happen if it doesn’t straighten up and fly right…. In fact, I’m going to do that now, as it is the perfect moment to retake control…. Hang on a moment, please, while we go into the other room to discuss this….


Okay, I’m back, and everything is squared away…. We’ll get the message out as to the rant my subconscious has in mind, but, I will be the one directing the bus, not my subconscious, which, though it believes otherwise, has no talent at all for driving a bus of this size and complexity…. Driving a toy version isn’t sufficient training, not when there are others involved, whose presence on the bus my subconscious tends to discount, or resent…. It isn’t their fault; they just don’t spend enough time in Reality to have a good grip on what is needed to survive there…. which is why they call it the SUB conscious mind, after all…


Okay, now that we’re fairly well lost, I’ll take over, and get us off this path, and back on the correct one to lead us where we need to go today…. Hopefully, it didn’t take so long we lost our morning group of Gentle Readers…. In any case, I see our opening coming up, so, let’s get on with it, okay? I need to get this slow on the road…..


Shall we Pearl?


“We who revel in nature’s diversity and feel instructed by every animal tend to brand Homo sapiens as the greatest catastrophe since the Cretaceous extinction.” — Stephen Jay Gould


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


I’m in the mood for some classic rock, and there is no better example than this album, from the glory days of that genre….. This album is considered by aficianados to be one of the best examples of a live concert album ever created…. not to mention the tour, which was considered to be one of the best all-time performances by a live band…. On the page where this is found on You Tube, there are a number of fine albums from the period, which should provide y’all with some great music for your day…. Enjoy!…..






The Grateful Dead Europe ’72 /Disc One (November 5,1972)




































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


jimmy sez

In the last week, one of America’s most revered cultural icons, Bill Cosby, has been revealed as a serial rapist…. Now, there are many people out there, even some reading this, who might think it is premature to name him as such, given the lack of legal convictions, or even charges brought against him in the past…. However, I am of a mind with Abe Lincoln, one of of many who famously believed, “if it looks like a dog, it smells like a dog, barks like a dog, AND, as an added bonus, wags its tail, then it’s a pretty sure bet it IS a dog”…. Let’s be realistic, ffolkes….


Even if only one woman had come forward, or two, it would still be a charge worth investigating, since it DOES, in spite of long-term denial by most of society, comprise the single worst crime I can think of; when more than ten women all tell the same story, with little variation in spite of years between incidents, there seems to me to be little doubt they are telling the truth, given what I know to be true of human nature, and the unwillingness of society to acknowledge the depth of this problem…. (See the comment above, by Jimmy Carter….)


Having known a great many women who were raped, in my work as a psychiatric technician, I know it is all too common for those victims of rape to never report the crime, because American society, long run by men, with men’s rules, immediately begins a campaign to implicate the victim in their own crime, by implying, complete with snide accusations, the woman invited her attack…. I’ve read record after record after record, all with the same story, of a woman sexually abused, multiple times in their lives, yet never believed…. Whenever I hear a man saying a woman is responsible for being raped, in any fashion, I immediately suspect anything that man says…


If anyone out there can provide me with ANY evidence to refute the above allegations, feel free to say so in the comment section; I defy ANYONE to find proof my contention is erroneous. This society is sick, sick, sick, in the way women in general are treated…. Moreover, it is frightened, childish petulant MEN who have infested society with their ignorant, cowardly misogyny, writing their lies and rationalizations right into the fabric of the laws they claim protect the weak and innocent…. when, in fact, most laws are designed to protect ONLY the rights of men, largely regarding property, which includes, in most men’s eyes, women….


Fucking assholes…. Here are two articles, from a UK news outlet; I also perused another British organization, which also had complete coverage of the ongoing issue with Fat Albert’s alter ego, and his serial victimization of young/old/he wasn’t picky, seems like, women…. Almost every international news organization had coverage, while the American media, as you’ll see below, has, as far as they could, tried to ignore it, or play it down, for the most part…. The only article I found this morning was in the NY Times, written by a woman, and I’m thinking the only reason it made it past the editors of the Times was that it was about jokes, and the TV media coverage of the issue, which, so far, has been pretty mild, and careful not to offend Dr. Huxatable’s image….


I did see where some hack quoted one of the child stars of that show, who said he never bothered her…. but, then, predators usually don’t hunt in their own pack; they go elsewhere for their prey….


http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/21/bill-cosby-rape-accusers-women-stories


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/20/bill-cosby-acused-sexual-assault-seventh-woman


I checked the NY Times, Time Magazine, Yahoo, and Reuters News Services, where this was the ONLY article about the subject…. It makes me think the American media is avoiding the issue altogether, while most of the cultural outrage and shock is discussed openly outside the borders of Bill’s influence….







Oops…. I should have refreshed earlier…. though I don’t back away from what I’ve already said about media coverage, I did find one more reasonable discussion of the Cosby issue, from what seems to be a reasonably rational man…. Of course, we all should remember this IS the internet, so, someone’s actual existence is not proven until we can touch them ourselves…. But. this is well written, and well-thought out, so, it is worth a read, if only to add information relevant to the discussion….


http://time.com/3599400/cosby-rape-black-icons/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29


Later in the day, more updates, with the American media finally chiming in to add to the numbers (now there are *at least* 17 accusers identified in the press around the world, all of whom indicated a similar pattern of stories, and further implications of the serial nature of the offenses….)


http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/bill-cosby-rape-accusers-speak-out-the-publics-mind-will-be-blown-20141121?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=112114_16&utm_medium=email&ea=YWxwaGFnaWdvaWRAZ21haWwuY29t


Of course, Bill isn’t the only sexual predator, or the only one in society who assumes it is normal to abuse women; society itself allows a culture to be fostered which encourages sexual abuse, such as rape, by consistent denial of the problem, made worse by official tacit approval of acts of individual oppression, by refusing to punish offenders, as well as allowing victims to suffer further abuse for speaking out…. and I am not the only one who is tired of it….


http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/rape-at-uva-readers-say-jackie-wasnt-alone-20141121?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=112114_16&utm_medium=email&ea=YWxwaGFnaWdvaWRAZ21haWwuY29t


Our male-dominated society makes it difficult for anyone who feels differently to make themselves heard; the way it accomplishes this ties right into the same methods used to oppress women, or any other group of vulnerable individuals, with denial, ridicule, and derisive verbal attacks from the ignorant and cruel as the primary weapons used against anyone who dares to speak out against men, or politicians, or police, or any of the protected members of the Asininnies… The very laws we live by were written by men, for the benefit of men only…. women, children, animals, and the planet at large are of no concern to these selfish assholes….


The following final link is just ONE example of how they maintain the atmosphere of fear that keeps the general public in line….



http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/20/police-legal-action-snooping-journalists


“There’s a tendency today to absolve individuals from moral responsibility and treat them as victims of social circumstance.  You buy that, you pay with your soul.  It’s not men who limit women, it’s not straights who limit gays, it’s not whites who limit blacks.  What limits people is lack of character.  What limits people is that they don’t have the fucking nerve or imagination to star in their own movie, let alone direct it.” — Bernard Mickey Wrangle


I see this rant has become a bit disorganized; this is partially due to the ubiquitous nature of the problem, which infests every level of society. It is such an infuriating subject for me, I tend to devolve into verbal abuse myself, though aimed at the perpetrators of these offenses, rather than the usual targets, the victims…. I get so angry, the only response I can come up with to resolve my anger at men in general is to go out, buy a weapon, and start the process of removing the culprits from this plane of existence, one by one…. It probably wouldn’t work very well, for very long, but, I’d sure feel a lot better for having relieved some of my anger against those who deserve it the most….


For now, though, I’ll let y’all get on with your day…. But, I’ll ask that you at least think about this, and try to see how the tacit approval of the problem by those who will not speak out is the basis of how the problem might be solved…. which will NOT happen until all those who now remain silent begin to speak up in defense of the weak and vulnerable among us…. In short, YOU, and I will have to make the changes, for those in power will never change, until they are made to do so by the rest of us….


Albert E & true sin


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


Here is a poem of mine that goes perfectly with the above rant; it was written with the subject matter firmly in mind….




Rhyming is better than lying….


It’s all too, too much, he cried

   I can take no more!

It’s all crazy, my brain is fried,

   battered, bloody, and sore.


Talking heads shout out hatred and fear

   jam for my morning toast.

Pointing fingers far, middle, and near

   enemies everywhere, almost.


Women, gays, and seniors fall prey,

   easy targets, slow and weak.

Convenient fools, wanting only to play,

   used, and abused, even as we speak.


It enough to drive me floridly insane,

   or want to buy a gun.

I may end up in jail, or in massive pain,

   but, oh, it would be fun….


~~ gigoid ~~




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


I’ve been so involved this morning in completing the rant, I feel like I need to shower before continuing to write…. Instead, I’ll sublimate by asking SB to find some pearls that are somewhat more optimistic about Life, and show human nature in a somewhat more attractive light…. There has to be SOME kind of redeeming quality to our nature, else why would we have all this potential goodness within us?…. Let’s see what we can see….


“Food, sleep, fear, propagation; each is the common property of men with brutes. Virtue is really their additional distinction; devoid of virtue, they are equal with brutes.” — The Hitopadesa (600?-1100? A.D.)


“It is an unhappy lot which finds no enemies.” — Publius Syrus (42 BC) — Maxim 499


“If a man has talent and cannot use it, he has failed.” — Thomas Wolfe


“Remember what Simonides said,–that he never repented that he had held his tongue, but often that he had spoken.” — Plutarch (46-120 AD)

— Rules for the Preservation of Health, 7


“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” — Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)


“One man with courage is a majority.” — Thomas Jefferson


“[Freedom is] the power to live as you will.  Who then lives as he wills?” — Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)


“Have in readiness this saying of Solon, “But we will not give up our virtue in exchange for their wealth.”” — Plutarch (46-120 AD) — How to profit by our Enemies


“I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don’t I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.” — Sovereign


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


I’ve procrastinated to the limit allowed by law; being thus constrained, I shall yield to the demands of reality, to bring this to a close, ready or not…. I suppose, given what I’ve already done today, it is enough. 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, and Theresa…

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


PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.


Kowabunga!






À bientôt, mon cherí….





					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Oh, that’s just ducky, Penelope…..

			
						

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Ffolkes,




~~  A wonderful poem by Audrey Hepburn  ~~


Written when asked to share her “beauty tips.”

It was read at her funeral years later.


For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.  For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.  For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.  For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.  For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.  People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.  Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.  As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.




audrey h


     I’m hoping no one ever asks me where I got this, because I just don’t remember. I know when I found it, I made sure I had it saved in a way allowing me to eventually print it, but, that’s all. Just as well; I’m hard pressed at times to accept the ragging I get for being such a romantic. Being a romantic sort, though, doesn’t prevent me from recognizing truth, and beauty of spirit, and Ms. Hepburn, with this statement, proves she possessed both, in ample measure…. It’s also a good way to start today, with the subject matter in section one being somewhat appropriate to the sentiments expressed here, i.e. compassion, kindness, and love…..


On a personal note, I am in the throes of relieved joy; my vertigo has finally passed away, with no lingering background noise in the nerves, and no lingering dizziness. It has been said, “True relief is the release from pain.”, and I am here to testify, it also works on what may be called malaise, that pervasive sense of WRONGNESS that slithers along the nerves, like static on a phone line, keeping us a bit edgy & jumpy, without even knowing why we feel that way, a miserable condition most know from having a cold, or the flu, when that misery feels as if it has settled into our very bones….  That sort of nervous edge is exhausting, as we fight against it, muscles tensing & releasing in sympathetic fervor, until we are completely drained, without having exerted ourselves at all….


When it goes away, the relief is immense, seemingly leaving us joyful and elated, again with little obvious reason…. I have to say, it is quite a relief, which doesn’t make itself felt until the condition is no longer bothering us…. It also allowed me to get some actual, restful sleep, so, that’s something, right? Right…. I might even figure out a way to make this pearl better because of it…. NAH! Never happen, but, it’s nice to consider now and again…


Actually, I’m going to be a bit on the ruthless side this morning, as this will be the last of the intro paragraphs… not that I’m really concerned with making things better; I feel like I’ve hit my peak, at least writing-wise…. but, that doesn’t alter my mood, which is determined and resolute in its determination to make serious changes around here. I find myself, these last few days while my movements have been curtailed again by my physical condition, thinking a lot of what is going on with my body, with all the new and annoyingly repetitive breakdowns of my various bodily functions…. Pain, chronic fatigue, joint stiffness, vertigo complicated by old concussions (as I finally found out….), all are becoming far too familiar, and, essentially, are keeping me from doing what I WANT to be doing…. and, I say….. BASTA!


Enough! I’m done being a cripple, and an invalid. I’m tired of allowing my body to prevent me from doing what I want to do, and I’m not going to put up with it any longer…. I’ll be going into healing meditative trances, dieting (correctly), performing katas and forms,  and otherwise establishing a routine of physical maintenance the like of which I’ve avoided for about twenty years now, since learning of the first of the physical conditions that are plaguing me…. including, less time here at the computer, as sitting so much certainly is NOT helpful…. In the interests of encouraging the will power it will take to see myself through to the other side, I’ll end this intro now, so we can get on with the day…. as I mentioned, I believe, rather ruthlessly….


Shall we Pearl?…..


“A priest asked: What is Fate, Master?

And he answered: It is that which gives a beast of burden its reason for existence.  It is that which men in former times had to bear upon their backs.  It is that which has caused nations to build byways from City to City upon which carts and coaches pass, and alongside which inns have come to be built to stave off Hunger, Thirst and Weariness.

And that is Fate?  said the priest.

Fate … I thought you said Freight, responded the Master.

That’s all right, said the priest.  I wanted to know what Freight was too.”


— Kehlog Albran, The Profit


No, it means nothing…. or, possibly, even less than that….. I just thought it was funny…. which it is…. If y’all don’t think so, well…. Okay….. I do….


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


“To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to be ever a child.  For what is man’s lifetime unless the memory of past events is woven with those of earlier times?” — Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC), Orator


Our culture is sick. It has been so for millennia, though many would argue that point, being, as I’ve said before, asininnies at the core, and not able to admit they don’t know…. thus, they are perpetually unable to learn…. We live in a sick society, ffolkes, one that, in great part, is suicidally determined that we shall NOT survive as a species…. Only a species determined to die would allow one half of its members to continuously, and irrationally, abuse and oppress the other half of the two genders, as if the wildness of our nature holds complete sway over any ability to reason we may show…..


This pervasive abuse, of women, by men, is far too ubiquitous to ignore, or deny, yet, the largest portion of people alive today don’t even know they are fully trained and indoctrinated, minds controlled absolutely, by their acceptance, and belief in a set of delusions, that keep us from ever reaching the potential we may have as a species, as they forever keep the two sexes from understanding one another…. In the past, I’ve written a number of posts on this subject, which tends to get my juices flowing rather well…. Whenever I think of how some men treat women, it only strengthens my feelings of anger, and my desire to go buy a gun, to start eradicating at least a few of the problems…. or, rather, the physical manifestations of the problems, otherwise known as pimps, or snakeheads….


A couple of days ago, Emma Watson, the young woman who grew up playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, gave a speech at the UN, addressing the delegates to announce the formation of a new organization, called HeforShe, at http://HeforShe.org/, dedicated to stopping the historical pattern of misogyny and abuse by men, calling on all men, (in my mind, all REAL men….) to join the fight to save their sisters, mothers, and lovers from the habitual sexism and unconscious patterns of abusive behavior and attitudes that have held us ALL back for so long…. Only when men are as aware of the issue as are women, can there be any hope of making the needed changes in society….


Below, I’ve placed four items to note…. the first is a copy of the text of the speech made by Ms. Watson at the UN, the official UN released copy…. also included is a link to the YouTube video of the speech, as well as a YouTube player, so you can watch the speech yourself, right here, if you wish…. All I ask is that you either read it, or watch it; it isn’t long, but, it is VERY IMPORTANT that everyone alive be aware of this issue…. 


So, please share this link with others, and help spread the word to the snakeheads and pimps…. their day is done, and the good people of society are coming to get them gone, or get them dead, whichever they prefer….. Listen up ffolkes, and pay heed….. This one is for real…. The fourth item, of course, is a pearl to finish the points to be made…..













“It is easy for men to talk one thing and think another.” — Publius Syrus (42 BC) — Maxim 322


“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” — Albert Einstein (1879-1955)


“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


“So many jerks, so little ammunition.” — Smart Bee




Well may your hearts believe the truths I tell:

‘T is virtue makes the bliss, where’er we dwell.


~~ William Collins  ~~


— (1720-1756) — Oriental Eclogues, 1, Line 5 —




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


Today’s video is not musically oriented; instead, for your entertainment, a movie, in five parts, a BBC production of Dorothy L. Sayers’ novel, Clouds of Witness, with actor Ian Carmichael playing Lord Peter Wimsey, the Edwardian Age’s modernized version of Sherlock Holmes, the aristocrat detective, in a delightfully complex, dreadfully British, well-acted, authentic, drawing room comedy/murder mystery, worthy of its reputation as one of the detective novel genre’s most influential works, considered on a par with any of Agatha Christie’s stories….


In this case, we find Lord Peter and his man, Bunter, running about, feverishly, in the search to find evidence to clear his brother, the Duke of Denver, who has been  charged with murdering their sister’s fiancé, gathering the necessary facts from Paris, to New York, to Yorkshire, to London, all with a veneer of polished inanity covering a brilliant story…. Enjoy….


Oh, right, almost forgot….  you can find the next four installments by using the link, which takes you to the You Tube page of the first episode, where all of them are listed….




Lord Peter Wimsey, Clouds of witness, part 1 of 5: 















 




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In certain instances, my mood goes into some strange places…. when it does, I find one poet most often seems to have a poem that fits the mood I feel…. Emily Dickinson, of course…. Plus, this seems like one to go well with today’s message/theme, as it is one of Emily’s sadder pieces…. Well, it makes me sad, anyway…. but, it also makes me feel as her work always does….. human….




I cannot live with you,

It would be life,

And life is over there

Behind the shelf


The sexton keeps the key to,

Putting up

Our life, his porcelain,

Like a cup


Discarded of the housewife,

Quaint or broken;

A newer Sevres pleases,

Old ones crack.


I could not die with you,

For one must wait

To shut the other’s gaze down,–

You could not.


And I, could I stand by

And see you freeze,

Without my right of frost,

Death’s privilege?


Nor could I rise with you,

Because your face

Would put out Jesus’.

That new grace


Glow plain and foreign

On my homesick eye,

Except that you, than he

Shone closer by.


They’d judge us–how?

For you served Heaven, you know

Or sought to;

I could not,


Because you saturated sight,

And I had no more eyes

For sordid excellence

As Paradise.


And were you lost, I would be,

Though my name

Rang loudest

On the heavenly fame.


And were you saved,

And I condemned to be

Where you were not,

That self were hell to me.


So we must keep apart,

You there, I here,

With just the door ajar

That oceans are,

And prayer,

And that pale sustenance,

Despair!


~~ Emily Dickinson ~~




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Do not attempt to find any deeper meaning in this pearl than you may see on the surface; it is deliberately shallow, intended only as an example of mankind’s obvious tendency to engage in activities that range from the sublime to the ridiculous, not as a journey of one direction, either way, but, more like a bloody yo-yo, up and down, up and down, over and over again, just as if we had no memory at all…. Enjoy!….


“There is nothing that is meritorious but virtue and friendship; and indeed friendship itself is only a part of virtue.” — Pope (1688-1744)


“The purpose and function of government is not to preside over change but to prevent change. By political methods when unavoidable, by violence when

convenient.” — Edward Abbey


“I know the road, I know where it goes; that’s why I’m going so slow…” — Smart Bee


“Cogito, ergo sum. (I think, therefore I am)” — Rene Descartes


“Cogito sum. Circa de basta. (I think I am. That’s close enough.) — gigoid, Peruaosophy, axiom 1, 1986


“Now I’m concentrating on a specific tank battle toward  the end of World War II!” — Zippy the Pinhead


“Hmph! Seriousness.  Hmph! Sobriety.  A Jedi craves them not.” — Yoda, Jedi master, a long, long, time ago, in a galaxy far away….


See? Even in the state I’m in, I can do this with my eyes closed…. and, probably should do so more often…..


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In spite of myself, I seem to have finished this Pearl…. huh. When I began, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do so….. I suppose I’m in a bit of a flutter, as it is raining (a complete, though welcome, surprise….), and I feel (relatively) good, both of which aren’t usual around here of late… I’m going to do the sensible thing, and go enjoy that, so, I’d best bring this to a close…. With no further ado, I declare this Pearl of Virtual Wisdom to be complete, and give y’all leave, to, well, leave…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes…. for now….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest  Carole, Mark, and Theresa…

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.”


Kowabunga!




 À bientôt, mon cherí.




 

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Four plastic tug boats and a waffle iron….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“Thoughts are mightier than strength of hand.”


~~ Sophocles ~~


 (496-406 BC)


 — Phaedra, Frag. 854 —




Artist’s concept of supermassive black hole within M60-UCD1


     Okay…. the quote? It’s a good one, but, hey, duh! As for the picture, you may have seen it; I’ve seen it two places on the web, just in the three days since it was released; this copy came from Space.com… It is a picture of an artist’s rendering of a massive black hole, found by astronomers in a dwarf galaxy near another larger galaxy it orbits, or, more accurately, is part of in a eons long dance of exchanging materials….. Just a little reminder of how small we actually are, in relation to the Universe…. Of course, when one speaks of the Universe, and the stars, one must also think of the music of the spheres, so real, yet invisible to any as-yet-known instrument, our Home rings with music, pouring out of everything that exists, with most only as silent witness…


Music….. It’s a huge part of me, which, for too long, I haven’t allowed to be as much a part of my life as I’d prefer, for a number of reasons… or, if I have let it in, it hasn’t been to the degree I’ve recently come to realize is important to my health, in more than merely a physical sense. How much it CAN be has yet to be determined, but, I’m going to give it more of a chance to fulfill the need in me, to listen to it, to play, to sing, to dance, even if only in a chair. It has always been around, it seems, but, not always at the times I, perhaps, needed it most…. which is a bit mysterious, as music is pretty readily available anytime, anywhere…. Fortunately for all of us, it will have to remain a mystery, as I don’t have time to go into long, sad stories, especially to start the day….


Ever since I managed to stumble onto the method for posting music videos here on the blog, I’ve been listening to some of the stuff that first got me involved in playing my own music, through the simplest expedient at the time, learning to play a guitar, singing the lyrics, and, quite simply, freeing my spirit…. which had not even realized there was a sky, much less that it could fly in it…. Since that time, making it, along with listening to it, has almost always been a part of my life; always, but for the last few years, at least, not to a degree I would like it to have been…. But, my passion for it remains, dormant for now, until the urge to play hits…. “Then I’ll pick up my guitar & play…” et cetera, et cetera, et cetera to paraphrase Pete, and Yul….


In addition to its power to affect each of us individually, music can be a powerful teacher, to all those who hear it…. Ideas (freedom, liberty), attitudes (patriotism, loyalty, community spirit), language (slogans, songs, poems), all are susceptible to modification under the magic auspices of music, affecting people on a society-wide basis, merely by a popular song, or a series of articles, or movies starring heroic actors….


Witness the US government movies prior to, and during WWII, and the Korean ‘conflict’…. (Do fewer people die in a conflict than in a war?…. Just wondering….) Many Hollywood musicians, singers, dancers, actors, and all the supporting people in the studios worked diligently to pass on the government’s key ideas and attitudes that would support the war efforts…. Very strong stuff, some of it, hidden in most excellent swing band style, complete with singing sisters…


See how easily I can fall into a rant…. Ah well, I am in too good a mood to worry about all that right now…. besides, I’m sure there is plenty of THAT going on down below…. For now, just know that I love music, and, most likely, so do you…. so, I’ll give you a tip, that may help you, or not…. Most of the videos I’ll be adding in the new second section, inserted after the intro (where I’ve decided the video pearls will live here on ECR….), if you let them run to the end, no matter how long, will offer you choices of similar videos, by the same, and other artists…. So, merely by stopping by to read, you can, if you wish, have the entire day’s play list right at your fingertips…. as long as there are more music choices you enjoy…. after each of which, more choices show up…. Cool, eh, what?….


We’re all about public service here at ECR, as y’all well know…. so, I’ll also take this moment to mention the Walk the Walk for Climate Change that is happening right NOW in NYC, and in cities all over the world, to tell the leaders there at a summit on that subject, that the people want to see real changes made, and no BS….. I’d be there if I could, but, since I can’t, I’m sending all my curmudgeonly outrage into the airwaves to them, and letting y’all know you can do the same…. Give the asininnies and the BRC a loud THPPT!, and tell them to get off their duffs, and get to work saving our asses before it’s too late….


I for one am probably too old to make it to the first Mars or asteroid colony, or even the second, if it works…. but, if that looks like our only hope, well, I’ll be pounding on the air lock door before they take off; hell, I’ll ride on the outside, if I have to…. Just give me a space-suit, a rope, and a strong magnet or two, and I’ll get there if I have to tie myself to the radio disc….


Probably enough fantasy for one morning, wouldn’t you say?…. Well, too bad; I would. No, just joking, fantasy is always in order, almost anywhere but on a space ship, where mathematics works better…. It did get us this far, though, which will do for our purposes…. In fact, we can just turn right here, and….


Shall we Pearl?….


“It may be true that my desk here is really “nothing but” a transient eddy of electrons in the flux of universal process. Nevertheless, I find that it continues to support my feet, my revolver, and my cigars all day long. What happens when my back is turned I don’t know. Or much care. That’s no concern of mine.” — Edward Abbey


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“Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century:


Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; 

Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected;

  Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it;

  Refusing to set aside trivial preferences;

  Neglecting development and refinement of the mind;

  Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.


~~ Marcus Tullius Cicero ~~




http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Officials-demand-criminal-probe-of-PG-amp-E-s-5767564.php


I had originally thought to put an older rant here, and shall do so, forthwith…. The above link is to a current article, from a day or so ago, talking about the most recent corruption shown by PG&E and the Public Utilities Commission, which is, ostensibly, a public entity charged with overseeing the utility company…. As the article shows, the relationship they’ve developed has gone beyond that, into a symbiotic state, showing quite well how businesses work to corrupt government agencies….


But, rather than rant on that today, I’ll give you an older rant, that deals with the same issue, to wit, lies, lies, and more damn lies from the people who are allegedly working for us, the people, but, who, in fact, have been looting the treasury, giving most of our money to the bankers and shadowy corporate interests (most significantly, the arms dealers who make such a profit on all the wars the governing assholes engage in….), who give not the slightest shit for anyone but themselves, for almost the entire history of this country….


Below, you will find a small temporal anomaly, but, as long as you don’t try to keep up with where in time you may be at any particular point in the piece, you’ll be fine… In other words, suspend your normal hold on reality, and just go with the flow…. believe me, you DON’T want to actually try to know when you are; it could cause problems in the space-time continuum that might get out of hand, potentially resulting in an explosion to rival the FIRST Big Bang…. It would be better, all around, if you just didn’t even bother to try….


From 6/3/2013:


I have a lot to do today, and need to get started early to get it all done,,, so, I’m cheating here, but in a good way. This is a Pearl from November of 2011… Much of it is apparently written around the same subject as discussed in section one of today’s effort, so I’m including it here, to save myself some time, and give y’all a bit of contrasting text to compare…. You can check for me to see if what I wrote then is consistent with what was done today, or if it was better, or worse…. Whatever it was, it’s a bit long, so, here it is, so you can get started….


11/16/11

Ffolkes,


Good morrow to you…. let us begin as we mean to go on….


“Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” — Gene Fowler


This line is included today merely to give y’all an idea of what I go through every morning to produce this…. whatever it is. It is a pretty good description, actually, because when I’m done, I actually feel battered and bloody. Bloody well used up is what it is. Maybe it’s easier for other writers; I don’t know. But for me, to produce something that my standards will allow me to publish for others to read, is much like having a piece of my soul ripped out. The funny thing is, though it hurts a lot, I wouldn’t stop doing it, even if I could. The pain of creation, which after all requires destruction first, is a worthy payoff for the sense of accomplishment I get when I see one of my pieces online for all to see. Quite a rush, actually….


“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.” — Aldous Huxley


This observation, as far as I can tell, is 100% accurate, and because it is, many of the problems society is facing are easily explained, if not easily resolved. For example, when was the last time you gave a thought to what else besides oxygen is in the air that you take into your lungs on the average of 15-20 times per minute.? When you last got a glass of water from the tap, did you stop to think about what was in the water you use to drink, cook with, and bathe in? As Mr. Huxley pointed out, most folks, yourselves included, seldom think about or appreciate such simple necessities, or what might happen if they were no longer available.


What will we do when the air is so full of carbon dioxide that the amount of oxygen in it is decreased below the point where it will sustain life? Will we all have to wear breathing apparatus in order to brave the outside world? What will happen to all the other animals if there isn’t sufficient air? What will you do when the water you drink is no longer safe to consume? We need water as much as we need air; our chemical make-up is 90% water, and not having enough of it to replace what we lose is a sure path to the grave within a matter of days.


There are other issues connected to this subject; the consistent degradation of our planet’s ecosystem has a great many negative effects, small and unnoticeable at first, but growing larger over time until they are added to the list of processes that will eventually lead to extinction of all of this planet’s life forms.  Part of the problem is that it is a slow, insidious process, this degradation, and the deleterious outcomes are not evident until too late to reverse.


Remember, the Universe doesn’t care, one way or the other, whether we survive or not; the rules are the rules, and fighting against the natural laws of our space-time continuum is a fool’s bet. Like it or not, we, as a species, are going to need to make some serious changes to the way we do things, if we are to survive at all. And we will need to do it starting yesterday….


“A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary.  Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.” — Albert Einstein


I really admire Albert Einstein, and not because he was a great scientist, as well as one of history’s shining examples of men and women who greatly advance human knowledge, and do so out of their love of mankind. Albert’s wisdom was not restricted to the principles of physics and math; he had a unique way of looking at the world, and the ability to share their deep insights into life and the universe for the benefit of others. He was an eternal optimist, and as the above quote demonstrates, had a firm grip on the concept of living with honor and dignity.


He believed in the inherent goodness of every man, and lived his life in a way that it stands as an example for the rest of us. I cannot wholly agree with what he states above, because I have a much darker view of what human nature is capable of, and less faith in mankind’s willingness to submit to natural law. But what he said does show with clarity where our salvation lies, and in his own inimitable manner, he shares his deeper knowledge with the rest of us in the hope it will inspire others to act honorably….


“To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to give of oneself; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sing with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier: this is to have succeeded.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson


From what I gather in my study of 19th century American writers, a lot of the best were what I would call masters of advanced curmudgeonry. Emerson, Walden, Thoreau,  were all libertarians living in compromise with a democracy, and spent much of their time either complaining about society, or hiding from it in their forest retreats. This is not to say that what they wrote was bad or mistaken in premise, necessarily, but if you read their work with this in mind, it becomes apparent that they didn’t much like other folks, or put much trust in their rationality.


But, as the included quote indicates, being a curmudgeon doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t understand humanity, or what it takes to make life complete. This paragraph from Mr. Emerson demonstrates this perfectly. One cannot argue with conviction that all of these attributes listed, and experiences from a long life, are positively rooted, and make perfect sense. Whether or not we actually have all of these characteristics is unimportant; the list remains valid even if incomplete. And it provides anyone with a good map and directions that can be useful to us in our pursuit of happiness….


So much for another day…. Hopefully, you have consumed a fair portion of food for thought, and found it palatable enough. If not, feel free to let me know, and I’ll see if I can come up with something more savory…. in the meantime, y’all take care out there….


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Today’s music video will be classical, because I like it, and I’m feeling the need for something uplifting, to go with the change of pace….


Enjoy!…..




Classical Music for Spring : Vivaldi, Strauss, Schumann








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Today, I feel like one of the classical romanticists…. Ah, here’s a good one….




He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven


HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and the half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. 


~~ William Butler Yeats ~~




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This section normally holds an old-school pearl, and, it shall… but, first, a bit of artwork that will drench your eyes in beauty….. The web site at Space.com held an astronomical photography, posting the winning photos here:  http://www.space.com/27197-astronomy-photo-contest-winners.html?cmpid=558274   The photo you see is the overall winner; I’ve included the link so you can go see the rest of them…. some are incredible, like this one….





Aurora over a glacier lagoon


     Gorgeous, yes? Now, here is the pearl that was originally to go here….    This one is DEFINITELY random….


“The most important thing in acting is honesty. If you can fake that, you’ve  got it made.” — George Burns


“If a person offend you and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures.   Simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick.” — Mark Twain, Advice to Youth Speech, 1882


“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” — George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)


“Give me a place to sit, and I’ll watch.” — friend of Archimedes


“You say you want a revolution, well you know, we all want to change the world.” — (Beatles) Revolution


“Now is the time for all good men to come to.” — Walt Kelly


“Do not try to live forever. You will not succeed.” — George Bernard Shaw


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It’s a bit of an epic, but, it’s done, and I’m not going to second-guess myself at this point….. In fact, I’ll be unusually brief, and merely say, see y’all tomorrow, ffolkes….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest  Carole, Mark, and Theresa…

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.”


Kowabunga!




 À bientôt, mon cherí.




 

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Structures defined by obligatory strictures….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“Eurybiades lifting up his staff as if he were going to strike, Themistocles said, “Strike, if you will; but hear.”


~~ Plutarch ~~


(46-120 AD) — Life of Themistocles


tulips in Oregon


     I’d be willing to bang a few folks over the head, if only they would listen…. Sadly, ’tis not to be, and I am consigned to forever give my warnings, important to all as they are, to only a few diehard readers plucky enough to take my curmudgeonly style. It isn’t as if I’m saying much of anything that hasn’t been pointed out before; that is the whole problem, in a nutshell… The knowledge needed to save ourselves has been within the grasp of our hands all along, but, as the stupid, grasping, self-centered creatures most of us are, it mostly gets ignored, in favor of chasing after the latest fantasy held out by the corporate shills, which is guaranteed to make them happy….


It is as another blogger pointed out so accurately yesterday, people tend to put aside those things that aren’t palatable, or that don’t fit into their preconceived notion of how things must be, as not being real…. They believe completely in the foolishness they espouse, and will not usually even examine any evidence to the contrary; to do so they must first admit they were wrong in the first place, which is not going to happen…. ever. So, they continue to travel through their lives with blinders on, never realizing how little in their life they actually control, or that they are slaves, only living according to rules set up for them by others….


For some reason, I still love the idiots…. People are dumb, mostly, and blunder through life without much of a clue; it’s painful to watch, when I know they would have an easier time if only they would use their brain….. even just a little bit would help them make life better…. but, mostly, people ignore me, too, and go about the foolishness they’ve been accepting as truth all their lives, thus cementing further the hold the asininnies have over society, and ensuring we all will go down together, when our bill for services is presented, oh, day after tomorrow, or so….


Ah well, doing this helps a couple ways, if no others…. First, it makes me feel better… I stay saner, and that means fewer people per day are in danger…. always a good thing, right? Second, it does throw out there a lot of evidence, which, if they ever forgot, and looked at, well, it COULD do some good, if it happened to catch them in a weak moment, of which they have plenty…. I could get lucky, and one or more of them could have an epiphany, break the chains of mental bondage, and join the actual fight for survival going on out in the real world….


But, all that, no doubt, is a picture of me, fantasizing how it could, or should be, an occupation always fraught with danger, of believing any of it…. In truth, I’m fairly resigned to spouting off mostly to myself…. I have a couple of ffolkes with whom I can talk about this stuff…. Plus, there is a certain satisfaction, small though it may be, in preaching to the choir, who, at least, appreciate one’s thoughts, and for the most part, agrees…. It would be better, all around, for everyone, if the fools and idiots out there not paying attention to what is happening right in front of them would begin to pay some attention, and take some responsibility….. but, if I were you, I wouldn’t hold my breath….


Enough whining for one day; maybe there is a Gentle Reader out there waiting for today’s music, to which I can say, well, why wait? Today’s is a long concert, so, go turn it on, & listen while you read…. The rest of us can listen, as well, while I take us through some rather esoteric places today…. I also can say this….. LOOK! It’s a plane! It’s a bird! No, it’s just a pearl, waiting for us to pick it up….. It looks like a really good one, too, all about the depths of folly explored by Mankind….


Shall we Pearl?…..


IMPALE, v.t.  In popular usage to pierce with any weapon which remains fixed in the wound.  This, however, is inaccurate; to impale is, properly, to put to death by thrusting an upright sharp stake into the body, the victim being left in a sitting position.  This was a common mode of punishment among many of the nations of antiquity, and is still in high favor in China and other parts of Asia.  Down to the beginning of the fifteenth century it was widely employed in “churching” heretics and schismatics.  Wolecraft calls it the “stoole of repentynge,” and among the common people it was jocularly known as “riding the one legged horse.”  Ludwig Salzmann informs us that in Tibet impalement is considered the most appropriate punishment for crimes against religion; and although in China it is sometimes awarded for secular offences, it is most frequently adjudged in cases of sacrilege.  To the person in actual experience of impalement it must be a matter of minor importance by what kind of civil or religious dissent he was made acquainted with its discomforts; but doubtless he would feel a certain satisfaction if able to contemplate himself in the character of a weather-cock on the spire of the True Church. — Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”


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From 12/20/2013:


“One of the merits of democracy is quite obvious: it is perhaps the most charming form of government ever devised by man.  The reason is not far to seek.  It is based on propositions that are palpably not true — and what is not true, as everyone knows, is always immensely more fascinating and satisfying to the vast majority of men than what is true.” — H. L. Mencken


With this statement, Mr. Mencken has put his finger on the pulse of America, that is for certain. It goes a long way toward explaining why so many people in this country are so willing to believe the outright, egregious lies that are told to them every single day by the officials they elect every year at the polls that characterize our alleged republic…. They do lie, you know, with almost every statement that comes out of their mouths…. They begin with the most important lie they tell, from which all the others spring, and that is the lie they tell when they tell you that they want to be elected so they can work for YOU! Each and every politician learns early in their career, if they are at all to be successful, they MUST portray themselves as a public-spirited, honest, and tireless worker whose only purpose is to make life better for their constituents….


Of course, nothing could be further from the truth…. NONE of them are at all concerned with any of that nonsense; they are there to carry out their own agenda, which has very little to do with what is good for the general run of mankind…. No, they are there to serve the interests of the men and women who pay them, those lobbyists and special interest representatives who run the businesses of the corporate masters. The people on the street cannot provide them with the perks, or the cash, that the clandestine rulers are able to come up with, other than peripherally, by electing them in the first place…. Once elected, their true colors come out into the light of day, and it can be easily seen how their actions are never congruent with what they have promised to the people who elected them….


It’s all about power and money to these folks, not service. In my entire life of observing politics around the world, I have yet to see a single elected official who could be shown to be honest, not at the national level. The one who came the closest was Jimmy Carter, and his presidency was marked by how little got done, because he was so honest that the true politicians in Congress blocked every reform he tried to institute during his time in office. His actions during that time showed him to be the exception to the usual rule for politicians, which is why, I believe, he was so ineffective as a legislator….


“Invest in America — Buy Japan!”– Smart Bee


Other than Carter, I have seen concrete proof that EVERY President of this country has lied to the American people, not just once or twice, but continuously, about nearly everything. Time and time again, public outcries are heard or seen in the news about some new revelation regarding something some politician lied about, just like it is breaking news or something, when it is actually the normal state of affairs….


I don’t know why it is, but if a man on a TV set, wearing a suit and tie, makes a statement to the public, the general public will believe it, sometimes fanatically, without ever examining it for whether or not it is true…. Then, when it turns out they were lied to, they get all upset and vocalize their displeasure, never once admitting it was their own cupidity that allowed the lie to occur in the first place…. It makes me wonder what happened to people in this country, to make them go soft in the head….


“Doctors are the same as lawyers; the only difference is that lawyers merely rob you, whereas doctors rob you and kill you too.” — Anton Chekhov


Did you ever notice how many politicians were lawyers, first? Most of them, as it turns out, for the simple reason that learning to be a lawyer gives a politician two advantageous types of training…. One advantage is that law school teaches the student how to lie in every imaginable way, in order to ascertain which kinds of lies are legal…. The other advantage is their primary motivation….


If asked, a very large percentage of lawyers will tell you their reason for becoming a barrister in the first place is that it is a good way to get rich, (without mentioning, of course, that this is true only as long as one doesn’t give a shit about other people, and what that might do to them).  In other words, they make their money by taking advantage of people’s misery, holding them as hostages against their own destiny, in order to gain resources, i.e. money, and its sidekick, power….


Then the lawyers realize that their training is perfect for politics…. The ability to lie with facility comes in very handy to anyone who wants to be in the public eye, as that is how one gets elected in the first place…. Tell people what they want to hear, and they will vote for you, every time, coming back to the same trough to eat, even though they get screwed, time after time…. Having the facility to ignore what happens to others, due to their own actions, is the other skill so important to the political set, and the training one receives as a lawyer fits right into that category….


“Watching the democratic party in a presidential contest is like watching a washing machine with a defective bearing:  It starts up smoothly enough, but soon, it begins to wobble and shake, jumping violently from place to place, until it tears itself to pieces, spewing dirty laundry all over the room.” – Smart Bee


Some people will say that there ARE some good lawyers out there, and I won’t argue that…. but, they’re still lawyers, not politicians, aren’t they? They’re doing what they can to help ffolkes find their way through the morass of our legal system to get what they need, even occasionally finding some justice…. But, they aren’t going further, and going into public service, are they? They’re still in place, where they can help, but, they are so few and far between, they are hard to find, and so are very busy, seldom having the time or resources to work against their less honest colleagues. Plus, they really are very few in number, as altruists seldom become lawyers in the first place….


I can see that this has evolved into a full scale rant, and we’ve just begun the day, so I’ll call a halt here. I often feel as if I’m preaching to the choir, anyway, when I go through this stuff again…. It’s all familiar material around here, so it isn’t as if I’m presenting new ideas for your examination…. No, this is all old stuff, and, sadly, doesn’t seem to ever create the outrage that I feel in very many other ffolkes…. which is too bad….  I forget who said that “if you keep on doing things the same ways as you always have, things will always be the way they’ve always been….”, but, they were absolutely correct…. We are on a path to our own destruction, clearly, but, nobody seems to care.


Nobody, that is, who seems able to DO anything about it, and they are the ones who will need to make the changes…. The people in authority over the rest of us are wearing blinders in this respect…. The idea that what they are doing is wrong, and will eventually kill us all, doesn’t fit into their world-view, so they won’t believe it, and will continue to refuse to make any of the changes needed to re-direct our steps onto a path less dangerous.


It is up to the rest of us to get it done, and that may entail overthrowing the current crop of rulers, either by the vote, or by the less agreeable option of using the necessary force, while making sure the new crop will act in OUR best interests, rather than their own…. If it does happen, it will be the first time in history, which is fine with me…. just as long as it is not the LAST time in history….


“… democracy is not something you believe in, or a place you hang your hat, but it’s something you do.  You participate.  If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles and falls apart.” — Abby Hoffman


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Welcome to the second day of music on ECR…. Today’s video is an EXCELLENT recording of Cream, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, their first concert in 36 years, since the band broke up in 1968…. This video, over an hour long, comprises the first half of the concert…. the second half will be aired on tomorrow’s blog, right here at Exploring Consensual Reality….


I know, it’s a lot to ask of y’all… to have to listen to three of the best rock musicians to ever play, both individually, as solo instrumentalists, but, also, as a group acknowledged one of the best ever, able to blend their talents seamlessly…. In this video, they play for well over an hour of live, brilliant, improvisational music from our past…. but, somebody has to do it, so, you’ll just have to do the best you can with it, okay?….


Enjoy!…..




Cream Live at Albert Hall Part 1:






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It’s one of those days I should probably use my own poetry, so nobody else suffers by association…. Since, of late, I’ve been beset by misery for much of each day, here is one I wrote back in 2012, about that very subject…. It usually helps, if I can focus on the last lines….




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 ~~




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Here is a fresh, random pearl, plucked from the current bed of oysters in SB’s newest version…. Enjoy!…..


“But my dear man, reality is only a Rorschach ink-blot, you know.” — Alan Watts


“One of the most important parts of being smart is the ability to let go of what you thought you knew so you can understand the way things are in a new way.”

— Esther Dyson


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


“It’s wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope.” — Elrond


“By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered.” — Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 AD) — Meditations, iv, 3


“How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one’s culture but within oneself?  If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly adult, it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox. One must live in the middle of contradiction, because if all contradiction were eliminated at once life would collapse.There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.” — Barry Lopez, Arctic Dreams


“The Osmonds!  You are all Osmonds!!  Throwing up on a freeway at dawn!!!” — Zippy the Pinhead


Why Zippy seems to be our finishing pearl so often is a mystery to me, but, it probably shouldn’t be…. he is, after all, the work of one of the twentieth century’s finest social critics…. go figure…..


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Some mornings this process goes more smoothly than others… such is the case today. It’s long, but, it’s done, and I can get on with fighting my daily battle with my bones, and, now, my inner ear…. I’ll be back tomorrow, ffolkes…. this is the only thing keeping me going just now…..




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest  Carole, Mark, and Theresa…

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.”






Kowabunga!


 À bientôt, mon cherí.









 

					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Safe in the arms of Melvin….

			
						

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Ffolkes,




“… the real friend… is, as it were, another self.”


~~ Marcus Tullius Cicero ~~ 


— (106-43 B.C.) Roman Orator, poet, statesman– De Amicitia (44 B.C.) —






Purloined polar bear


    I envy, a bit, the luck this photographer had to catch these two in such a revealing posture; it almost appears as if they are actually relating in some way, or, if nothing else, the bear is giving a “stank eye” to the gutsy bird…. wondering if it’s worth the effort to try to snatch it up as a post-tea-pre-supper snack…. I don’t know, though, he/she looks pretty comfy. Plus, who knows, the two could be best buds….


The picture is one of a type I normally don’t like to keep in my comp, not because it’s a bad shot, or belongs to someone else, but, because I really don’t like the whole idea of zoos…. I enjoy the animals, but, seeing them in cages does something to my heart, every time, especially some of the more intelligent predators, who suffer greatly when caged, such as mountain lions, and, yes, bears…


The saddest creature I’ve ever seen in my life was a poor Crescent Bear at the L.A. Zoo, many years ago…. At the age of about 11, I stood & watched it, in horrified fascination, for hours, as it spent the entire day outside its cavern, pacing a 10-step line in front of the door, turning 180º on its two hind legs, then pacing back…. back and forth, back and forth, with a manic look in its eyes, occasionally giving a half-moan, half-crying voicing of its misery as it turned around…. The poor animal was, obviously, neurotic, more than half-insane with grief and pain, from being confined, and made to act against its every instinct, just so people, whom it fears and would not be near in the wild, unless forced, can stand where they are safe from the bear, to ogle it, until throwing garbage at it, to see it dance, giving it no respect, no dignity, and no quality of life….


People, believing in their self-given, egotistical, delusional mandate as the Lords of Creation, think nothing at all about how being caged feels to the animals… or, if they do, they manage to adopt one of the many, easily supported rationalizations for doing so, imprisoning them anyway…. Can you think of a more miserable existence on this planet, than to be a polar bear, living in a cage in Brazil, or India, during one of their summer heat waves? The old saw about the animals being pampered, are well-taken care of, and much safer and happier than in the wild,  is merely the human’s delusional system having its joke on reality…. at the expense of some of the most beautiful, free creatures on this world…


So, I try to keep and view animal pictures that aren’t from zoos; unfortunately, I too have rationalized at times, to keep pictures that are good portraits, that show the animal’s beauty, or spirit, while trying to avoid getting parts of the cages in the picture.. This one is from yesterday’s SFGATE Day In Pictures feature at sfgate.com…. a site that is getting so loaded down with ads and video crap, it will actually slow down your computer, by filling up the internet cache in no time at all…. so, if you go view it, be aware you may need to perform basic maintenance afterward….


Enough ranting in the intro…. though, to be honest, this isn’t so much a rant, as another indictment, of human nature…. about which I shall say no more, except to comment thus: I often wonder what will happen if there actually IS a God, and we are made to take responsibility for the way in which we have demonstrated only the baser side of our nature in our dealings with the creatures with whom we share the planet…. I have a feeling that there are a lot of people, expecting to be passed through the Pearly Gates, who will, instead, be trying to figure out why it is so damn HOT in heaven….


Mankind, for reasons having to do with his false sense of entitlement, has shown nothing but a form of species chauvinism for our entire history, without ever learning to question their own perverted outlook… without any possible, reasonable justification for such delusional thinking…. My suggestion? Send all the animals back to where they belong, and put the people in the cages….


So be it…. gigoid has spoken….


Shall we Pearl?…..


“Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.” — Albert Einstein


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Due to…. Oh, hell… I was going to try to be discrete, using formal language to disguise how SHITTY I currently feel, but, fuck it. I’m still experiencing vertigo whenever I move my head too fast; it’s not getting old, it IS old. Since I can barely sit up without effort, ranting, or even pearling is out of the question…. Fortunately, yesterday, in dealing with the same issue, I managed to sit down a number of times for a few minutes, & throw together most of today’s Pearl ahead of time…. Even so, ranting was out of the question, so, here is one from a couple years back, not really a rant, but, with the same general cause, and effect…. Enjoy!….


From May 15, 2012:


Here is a reverse pearl…. instead of a quote, or two, and my discussion of the subject, here are four excellent pearls, all of which I have previously discussed; there is really no need to write more about them, as my opinion is well-documented…. Instead, just read them all, in the order presented, and note how accurate a picture it paints of the current political scene in this country…. they clearly demonstrate, or at least highlight, how our own failure as citizens of a democracy has contributed to the position in which we now find ourselves….


“There is no such thing as security. There never has been.” — Germaine Greer


“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”

— C. S. Lewis


“It is not the fact of liberty but the way in which liberty is exercised that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives…  When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force.  When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered.” — Dorothy Thompson, American journalist, author (1894-1961)


“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” — H. L. Mencken


I was watching one of my favorite movies last night, “The American President” and one of the lines reminded me of just how far we have come from the dream our founding fathers had for us…. from the speech at the end of the movie, the President says, “I assure you, Bob Rumson (read: Mitt Romney) has no interest in solving your problems. He is interested in only two things; making you afraid of it, and telling you who to blame for it.”


If we elect a fool into the highest office in the land, we will have no one to blame but ourselves. And me? I insist on only being afraid of what I choose to be afraid of, and what the political pundits would have me be afraid of is just an illusion…. another of the lies, at the creation of which they are very facile and experienced…. stay alert folks….


“Liberty don’t work as good in practice as it does in speeches.” — Will Rogers


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With the above setting the tone, I believe we’ll go with something from this gentleman….






A Radio With Guts


it was on the 2nd floor on Coronado Street

I used to get drunk

and throw the radio through the window

while it was playing, and, of course,

it would break the glass in the window

and the radio would sit there on the roof

still playing

and I’d tell my woman,

“Ah, what a marvelous radio!”

the next morning I’d take the window

off the hinges

and carry it down the street

to the glass man

who would put in another pane.

I kept throwing that radio through the window

each time I got drunk

and it would sit there on the roof

still playing-

a magic radio

a radio with guts,

and each morning I’d take the window 

back to the glass man.

I don’t remember how it ended exactly

though I do remember

we finally moved out.

there was a woman downstairs who worked in

the garden in her bathing suit,

she really dug with that trowel

and she put her behind up in the air

and I used to sit in the window

and watch the sun shine all over that thing

while the music played.


~~ Charles Bukowski ~~




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“I don’t purr – I don’t beep – I ain’t cute!” — gigoid


Actually, someone else made this up; it does, however, describe me with disturbing accuracy, so, I’m laying claim to it, until I do find out who said it first, whereupon I’ll share that, then go eliminate them from this plane of existence, so I can keep it…. Yesterday, I spent a lot of time down, and while up, didn’t feel like surfing, or doing much of anything… but, I did manage a few minutes here and there, to collect pearls for today’s post, even if I didn’t know at the time how they’d be utilized…


It’s a trick I learned back in the early days of ECR, & even back to the original gigoid’s folly, that has helped before, when I run out of stuff to quote, and SB is being fractious, and/or I’m not up to much writing…. This one came out pretty well, as they are mostly just observations, and statements of reality from different viewpoints….. Enjoy, ffolkes, this one won’t really stretch the mind so much as soothe it… Watch your step though, it’s a nine-star pearl, so, there are extra thoughts required to get to any of the points that may be lurking within….


“Jehovah is an alien and still threatens this planet!” — Smart Bee, making gigoid chuckle


“Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.” — Epictetus


“Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.” — Plutarch (46-120 AD) — Life of Coriolanus


“…there can be no public or private virtue unless the foundation of action is the practice of truth.” — George Jacob Holyoake


“Men are even lazier than they are timorous, and what they fear most is the troubles with which any unconditional honesty and nudity would burden them.” — Friedrich Nietzsche


“A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.” — Knights of Pythagoras


“Don’t wait for someone to take you under their wing. Find a good wing and climb up underneath it.” — Frank C. Bucaro


“A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.” — Ingrid Bergman


“Oh, well, I guess this is just going to be one of those lifetimes.” — Smart Bee


Lovely…. I love when a plan comes together….


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


So be it…. Not only is that the best I can do, it’s all I can do…. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes….




Y’all take care out there, 

and May the Metaphorse be with you;

Blessed Be, dearest  Carole, Mark, and Theresa…

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


Kowabunga!