Tag Archives: Mark Twain

The Allure of Fuddy Duddy……

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Ffolkes,
As life passes,
dressed in illusions of grace,
we sit upon our thrones of offal,
ignoring the smell in favor of delusion,
twisted souls blighted by ignorance, laughing,
oblivious to impending doom, until the end………

Perhaps it isn’t great poetry, but it works for me…..up early today, a natural result of going to bed early, & thought I’d try my hand at a line or two….no rhyming going on, but not a bad data compression ratio. Who knows, maybe one day all I learned sophomore year of high school about iambic pentameter will come back to me, and I’ll become a famous poet. Stranger things have happened, for sure….meantime, lets discuss some heavy s__t…..

“Yes, evil comes in many forms, whether it be a man-eating cow or Joseph Stalin, but you can’t let the package hide the pudding! Evil is just plain bad! You don’t cotton to it. You gotta smack it in the nose with the rolled-up newspaper of goodness! Bad dog. Bad dog.” — The Tick

Throughout history, literature, and the people who create it, have been the gadflies of society. Teaching morals and customs through humorous stories and fables goes back to the time even before the Greeks began producing theater, bringing us stories and plays that were both humorous and dramatic, passing on to later generations the public mindset that was prevalent at the time. Prior to theaters and formalized acting out of plays, minstrels and bards, often nomadic, were responsible for the passing on of knowledge to the next generation, teaching nursery rhymes to children, and singing the news to the adults.

     In the 19th century, the advancement in technology for the writing down of history, law, culture, etc. had gotten to the point that books could be produced fairly cheaply. Newspapers were even cheaper, and were able to carry the news from far away even more efficiently. It was about this era when political cartoons made their way into the consciousness of society at large, and cartoons became one more very powerful method for transmitting vitally important information to large numbers of people all at once. This has had some good effects, and some not so good…..


The primary effect, of course, is the ability of cartoon media to spread information to large numbers of people. People have learned to use the information presented there since childhood, from reading comics in the newspaper to watching Saturday morning cartoons all their lives, and have become accustomed to processing the information given in that format with no difficulty. In fact, I have observed that people will often trust a cartoon figure more than a live one, having a greater degree of confidence that they will get a straight answer from the cartoon, while the live person may lie. But the trust that people feel for cartoons carries over as well, and a great deal of information is now given using a “talking head” format. This format is what you see almost everywhere on TV, where a person’s head and shoulders are shown as they deliver some piece of news, or concept, or documentary; it has been refined over the years until today, we very seldom even think about it.


And that is the bad effect…..people have come to trust the talking heads, to believe that what they tell us is the truth, when in fact, probably more than 50% of what you see presented is a lie, always presented in such a fashion as to have us believe it is true, when it is not. Everything you see on TV, especially commercials, is intended to make you think a certain way, to believe certain things are true. There is even a name for the process, called putting the ‘spin’ on truth, meaning to twist and turn the truth into such a shape that it looks true, but is not. This misplaced trust is one of Evil’s most powerful tools, for it gives those who would do us harm a clear path into the control center of public consciousness, where they can adjust belief at their whim. It allows the PTB (Powers That Be) to control what the public hears, and how they hear it. “True power is control of the routes of perception.” — gigoid.


What is the answer to fighting this usurpation of the truth by our beloved ruling class? It lies in the same information media in which it is secured, with a small twist to the other direction. Parody and caricature, when applied by an artist of wit and style, can prick the balloon of lies we are given, and watch them shrivel, their demise hastened by our laughter. The Tick, whose philosophy is summarized above, is a good example of how the literati in society may fight back against the forces of darkness. Sheathed in apparent idiocy, the Tick blunders through the universe righting wrongs, because his heart is pure, and his writers are genius. Fortunately, though the percentage of humanity that sees the truth and brings it to light is small indeed, it has the advantage of the use of the same tool used by those whose self-interest is of primary importance. Used properly, we can laugh those nasty suckers right out of power……

When I’m not thank’d at all, I’m thank’d enough;
I’ve done my duty, and I’ve done no more.
— Henry Fielding (1707-1754)
— Tom Thumb the Great, Act i, Sc. 3

Duty is a word whose meaning has been somewhat obscured in this last century. Before about 1950 or 60, people in this country understood the word, and it’s true meaning. That understanding is what drove the millions of men who volunteered to go to war in WWII and Korea. These men assumed their duty to protect their home and families, and had no expectation of any reward beyond staying alive (the possibility of death is trivial to any man whose life is based on honor). Those men CHOSE to go to war; no threat was needed to obtain recruits. An army of volunteers is much more powerful and dangerous than one comprised of conscripts, a point proven by the war’s outcome.


But somewhere along the line, the concept of duty got perverted, and people apparently came to accept that government had the right to determine what our duty is, without consultation or consent from us. Duty is defined in most dictionaries as “moral obligation”, and as such is an obligation we must decide for ourselves whether or not to assume. No government is either responsible for, nor entitled to dictate, my morals, or anyone else’s.

     Morals are based on our personal beliefs, and as such is not subject to governmental authority. Hell, I don’t even give a religion that power; my morals are mine, and are not the business of anyone else, unless I choose to share them. You can rest assured, I will never allow any government, or church, or any other person to determine my duty for me. Only I make that choice, and any who would try to take that decision away from me should beware…..I get testy…..

“Noise proves nothing.  Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she had laid an asteroid.” — Mark Twain

I included this one as a light-hearted attempt at describing the current political scene here in the good ol’ USA, After a few moments though, what I thought about it looked as if it would be good for a couple thousand words all by itself, and though I got an early start on the day, that may be a bit much. So, we’ll just let it speak for itself, and I will merely point out the tendency of Ms. Bachmann, Mr. Cain, Mr. Perry, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Romney, et al, to insist on giving us a daily report on how many asteroids they have laid in the past week…..

On that note, I will bid thee adieu. I hope my verbosity didn’t put anyone off, but hey, if you think it’s too much, just let me know, ‘kay? In the meantime, y’all take care out there……

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

A Disturbance in the Farce….

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Ffolkes,
“It is time,” said the Walrus, “to speak of many things”.  And so it is…..

“I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.” — Publius Syrus (42 BC) — Maxim 1070

Most of us have had the less than enviable experience of speaking out when we’d have been better off keeping whatever nonsense we’ve spouted to ourselves. It can be especially embarrassing if said nonsense is uttered while speaking to a large number of people. When it happens speaking one on one, it’s bad enough; nobody likes feeling the fool. But in public? You may as well just go home and start packing to move to a far away city, because you can be sure and certain everyone in town will know about your gaffe before you can toss the first pair of socks into a suitcase. Especially a small town, where everybody watches everyone else, and discusses what they see over coffee in the diner, or over a back yard fence. Your little misspeak will be the subject of everyone’s conversation for days and days, until somebody else does something worth talking about. It all becomes a rather compelling lesson, doesn’t it? Like Harry Truman (I think…) said, “I never got in trouble for something I didn’t say.” Mankind has a long history, most of it orally recorded, and we humans tend to pay attention to what someone says to us. It is therefore a wise man or woman who only speaks when there is something worthwhile to say; otherwise, it’s best to put a sock in it!……

“I stopped opening my mail and now my life is so much simpler.” — Albert Einstein

There is no limit to what I would give to be able to follow this policy. Most, if not all, of the problems I have in this sad, but beautiful old world are brought to my attention via Snail Mail, aka the USPS. It would be a delight to just take each envelope with a window, and just toss it directly into the recycling bin (hey, I’m green!…). It probably wouldn’t help resolve any of those problems, but I would feel a whole lot better for having done it. Feeling better is, you will recall, one of the primary goals we humans all have loaded when purchased, a default program as it were. Obtaining better software, that is, programs designed to help us feel better, is expensive and time-consuming, so most folks just fly with what comes in the basic package, wherein modest changes, such as tossing the mail, can reap huge rewards. In this case, tossing everything would also cause a firestorm of outrage and anger amongst my creditors, which to my mind is a good thing, but probably isn’t positive in a karmic sense. I guess in the final analysis it’s probably not a good idea at this point. But, oh!, is it tempting……

“What a lumbering poor vehicle prose is for the conveying of a great thought! … Prose wanders around with a lantern & laboriously schedules & verifies the details & particulars of a valley & its frame of crags & peaks, then Poetry comes, & lays bare the whole landscape with a single splendid flash.” — Mark Twain

This is why there are so few really good poets out there. It takes a very special kind of mind to be able to do what Mr. Clemens so beautifully stated, very special indeed. When I was younger, I myself tried my hand at it, as do we all, I think. I found it to be a fulfilling enterprise; when I was able to write something moderately readable, I was rewarded with a great feeling of accomplishment. But, it is deceptively hard; I was exhausted afterward. And actually, this is why I decided to stick mostly to prose. When I write something I like, or feel is a good read, with a good message, it isn’t tiring, but the complete opposite. I feel energized, and often dive right back into a new piece, and that is how it should be. Producing artful prose, or poetry, or any other kind of artistic expression (sculpture, painting, etc.) should be an uplifting experience. The only time it should produce fatigue is when the muse grabs me by the throat, and won’t let me stop typing until it’s all down on paper, a process that can take a very long time. All-nighters are not uncommon in such cases, but even the fatigue that comes with such effort is uplifting. I have to struggle a lot to create poetry, and often end up with good material for a bonfire. Prose is not the same for me, and what I create is well, better than the odd little rhymes I’ve written . So be glad I have the common courtesy to not subject you to any of my efforts in that arena; it’s all for the best…….

Speaking of honest efforts, I believe this one has achieved that status, so let us get on with the day. Y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Sixty-one, and counting….

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Ffolkes,
Today is my birthday. I’m sixty-one years old now, and one might think I’m all grown up. I suppose I am. If being such is defined as the state of finally accepting one’s own mortality, whether with fear and loathing, or with calm grace, then, yes, I am all grown up. I am still at the point where the thought of death is not easily applied to myself; I’ve been immortal since my early teens, and only of late have I come to realize that such a belief might be an erroneous assumption. I’ve always thought that the progress mankind has made in the field of medicine would reach a point where living much longer than we do would become common, and yes, I’ve been accused of unreasonable optimism previously. But, though there is improvement, the average age of death for males in our society continues to hover right around 72 years, and that for me is all too close for comfort. When the Grim Reaper comes for me, he’ll find me to be unwilling to cooperate; when they take me, it will be kicking, fighting, biting, screaming, and whatever else it takes to keep from having to leave this life before I am ready to do so. I’ve got a lot left to get done before I can consider myself to have done what I set out to do in life; I will need more time before I can feel ready for it to end.Unfortunately, we don’t always get the last word in that particular decision-making process; all too often it is taken out of our hands altogether. I can only hope to be given enough time to finish what I’ve begun.


I have a number of creditors to appease today, it being that time of the month when they all come out of the woodwork with their grasping hands greedily trying to take some of my money before I give it to someone else. None of them seem to care that if I give them all what they wish, then I won’t eat again this month. Ah well, c’est la vie, such as it is…..not exactly what I had in mind for birthday activity, but we gotta do what we gotta do. Since I do have all that to deal with, we’ve gone back to the old format again today. The Pearls were all chosen for their luster; they shine even in the dark…..enjoy!!!

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” — Mark Twain (1835-1910)

“For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” — Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) — First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801

Heavy, adj.: Seduced by the chocolate side of the force.

And if we do but watch the hour,
There never yet was human power
Which could evade, if unforgiven,
The patient search and vigil long
Of him who treasures up a wrong.
— Lord Byron (1788-1824) — Mazeppa, Stanza 10

“To lose a friend is the greatest of all losses.” — Syrus

There….I feel better, sort of….. y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Fun with feathers…..

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Ffolkes,
We’ll begin today with one of my all time favorite quotes…..

“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

The first time I read this, years ago, it brought a huge smile to my face, a huge laugh, and one more piece of evidence that Mr. Clemens was more than just an author of good books. There are numerous websites that feature quotations by Mark Twain, with varying formats for finding the one you want, but going to a different website for each quote isn’t an efficient use of time, so I generally use what I find in my own secret pools, where I know the oyster beds well, and I know I’ll find just the right Pearl.


Now, obviously, Mr. Twain wasn’t talking about actually holding a cat by the tail; anyone who knows cats is aware of a cat’s reaction to having its tail grabbed, i.e., instant attack with all teeth and claws. Knowing this, no normally intelligent person would use this method of cat transport, so the immediate thing that comes to mind is that he (Mr. Twain) is not really talking about carrying an actual cat, he is referring to crisis situations in general, and how to deal with them. “He isn’t likely to grow dim or doubtful”……what a wonderful, tongue-in-cheek turn of phrase, to describe how one should approach a crisis, and how to describe the mind-set that will assist in resolving the crisis. The humorous light in which Mr. Clemens viewed the world was on full when he wrote this little maxim, and I find it to be one of great value in developing an attitude that allows one to take any crisis in stride, thereby removing one particular kind of fear from our lives. It is indeed a valuable tool that provides protection against fear…..

“Viewed from the summit of reason, all life looks like a malignant disease and the world like a madhouse.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The day this was written, Johann definitely woke up with his crankypants on…..it may have the advantage of being true, but  I find it to be a flawed view to hold as a final belief. The flaw lies in the subjective, and somewhat snobbish nature of the quotation; superiority is claimed by the ascent to the summit of reason, and that reasoning is given as the evidence of the truth of the statement. But not everyone reasons using the same methods; there are many different ways to view something, all of which are subjective. Grandiose descriptive pronouns (‘malignant, madhouse’) don’t provide evidence of anything but the author’s own prejudices, and reason cannot be considered logical when based on prejudice.


Now, in some fashion, I have to agree with Goethe’s conclusion; I, too, have looked at the world and seen nothing but madness in every direction. And I, too, was filled with anguish at the state of the world’s affairs. But my experience in that world has taught me that negative prejudice is NOT the best way to approach living in the world in some sort of comfort. Assuming the negative stance actually can be easily shown to produce negative results, and I’ve found that a positive approach is much more effective in achieving the desired results. It’s too easy to find the bad; it is harder, but much more satisfying to concentrate on finding the good……

A friend is one who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

I wish this had come with attribution. It’s such a beautiful thought, I would like to have known the person who first said it. I suppose, since it exists, someone had to be the first one, and the people who knew, or know, them were lucky indeed. It takes a special kind of outlook to find the true nature of an idea, and express it in a way that not only gives the information contained, but provides beauty in the way the information is presented. I am of the opinion that this is the mark of a poet, and poets should be exalted in society. It is they who turn our eyes away from consensual reality, to show us another version, another view, another, better way to live.


To avoid confusion, (or maybe to increase it, who knows?), I tend to lump poets and authors of prose into one group, and use only one term, calling them all poets. This is to me, very simple; poetry doesn’t have to rhyme, it doesn’t have to be in cadence, and it doesn’t have to follow any particular form. All it must do is communicate ideas, and whether the ideas are simple or complex, their accuracy and efficiency  in communicating those ideas is the point. So whether one writes poems, or writes short stories, the only required characteristic is truth, in all its myriad of guises.


And as for friends, all I have to say is to treasure them. A true friend is truly the greatest gift we can receive from the universe, and should never be taken for granted. I give thanks every day; I don’t have a multitude of friends, but the ones I have are the best…..

Th…th..th…that’s all ffolkes! Y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Ubiquitous persnickety swans…..

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Ffolkes,
Life tends to run in spurts. I mean, not always, of course, but much of the time, we tend to alternate being  busy as a one-armed paperhanger with periods of feeling as if everything is moving through molasses. Cold molasses, at that. This is not always the case, obviously, but generally speaking we prefer to fill our lives with roller-coaster rides rather than idyllic barges floating down a slow, peaceful river. I think this is a good thing, as most people, if anything like me at all, would get bored quickly with Nirvana. This may be a clue into the true nature of human beings at large. What does one say about a creature who will deliberately sabotage a smoothly running series of events, just so they will be provided with something to occupy their tiny little minds? I’ve seen this a ‘sagan’ times (think, billions and billions), so much so that I, and probably you with some practice, can tell just when and how it will happen. This comes in handy in my own life, as it gives me the opportunity to protect my own affairs from the unknown and possibly deleterious effects of such sabotage, prior to its actual advent. It has the added bonus effect of keeping me alert, a condition I recommend to all.


The week prior to my monthly infusion of George Washingtons is usually spent in worry mode. Then for the next few days after George’s arrival, my brain goes into extreme juggling mode, calculating different scenarios with lightning speed, and doling out equal amounts of cash and soothing noises to those creditors slavering outside the door. After putting out as many fires as possible with inadequate water, it becomes a matter of maintaining basic existence until the next go-around, which is both easier and more difficult than it appears at first. At least this month I’m doing something more to improve my situation, so hope remains for a brighter, less stressful lifestyle in a foreseeable future. If naught else, I always have diving for Pearls to look forward to each day…..enjoy!…..

“We are all born mad. some remain so.” — Samuel Beckett

“The soul is indestructible and its activity will continue through eternity. It is like the sun, which, to our eyes, seems to set at night; but it has in reality only gone to diffuse its light elsewhere.” — Goethe (1749-1832)

The tree of deepest root is found
Least willing still to quit the ground:
‘T was therefore said by ancient sages,
That love of life increased with years
So much, that in our latter stages,
When pain grows sharp and sickness rages,
The greatest love of life appears.
— Mrs. Thrale (1739-1821)
— Three Warnings

Money isn’t everything: usually it isn’t even enough.

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s life.” — Mark Twain

Never tell a pawn the rules of chess.

Sometimes I surprise meself….the last line above is the shortest, but upon consideration, it could also be classed as the deepest….levels upon levels of meaning….. y’all take care out there……

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Cliches and platitudes and axioms, oh my!

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Ffolkes,
Having put in my time as a parent, I am accustomed to having no days off. I’m also accustomed to having Murphy practically living in my pocket, so that even with a day off, important stuff explodes in my face to take the off-day away. But, being retired, I have a new power; the power of the schedule. I am only responsible to myself, and can schedule whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it. This is no picayune power, as anyone who is retired can tell you. It is an amazing feeling, actually, being accountable only to one’s self for getting things done, and knowing that if I wish it, I can put things off pretty much as long as I want, as long as it doesn’t involve other folks. Or, conversely, I can do things right away, instead of waiting because something else needs done. It’s up to me, and that is a heady glass of wine…..So…..the purpose behind all this verbiage is to gently lead you into this announcement: I’m taking today off, sort of. I’m not writing anything here, nor after. This is all you get. Deal with it. Enjoy the Pearls…….

“It is necessary for the welfare of society that genius should be privileged to utter sedition, to blaspheme, to outrage good taste, to corrupt the youthful mind, and generally to scandalize one’s uncles.” — George Bernard Shaw

“Americans like to talk about (or be told about) Democracy but, when put to the test, usually find it to be an ‘inconvenience.’ We have opted instead for an authoritarian system *disguised* as a Democracy.  We pay through the nose for an enormous joke-of-a-government, let it push us around, and then wonder how all those assholes got in there.” —   Frank Zappa

A Headline in on a magazine at the supermarket read. “How to become an optimist in two weeks.  It was only after a moment that I realized that in response, I had muttered, “I don’t know.  That sounds pretty optimistic to me.”
(unknown, but it could have been me. Too bad I’m too honest to call it my own, but it just popped up without attribution.)

Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in!
— Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)
— In Memoriam, cv, Stanza 5

“There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.” — Mark Twain

“I would rather my ignorance be based on my understanding than for my understanding to be based on my ignorance. I would rather be a humorous fool than a serious jackass.” — Dan Millman “Way of the Peaceful Warrior”

I’m off to see the Lizard, the wonderful Lizard of Odd…..y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Ghostly music played well….

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Ffolkes,
For a good bit more than ten years I have composed these pearls each morning, and can say without a doubt that there is nothing easy about it. It is at once fulfilling and frustrating, and always leaves me feeling somewhat ambivalent, right along with the sense of satisfaction. As I’ve stated here and elsewhere, this process is for me, a defense against the buildup of mental plaque, and is as necessary as breathing. But there is also the struggle each day to come up with something fresh and original; I find myself all-too-often just sitting, staring at the screen, frantically searching my entire conscious mind for inspiration, without notable success. Today is one of those days, and as is obvious by now, I have resorted to an old trick by just talking about the process, trying to make some sense of the morning, filling in space with a close examination of the obvious. I won’t subject y’all to much more of this; I’ve managed to pump out a couple hundred words without really saying much. Fortunately for all of us, the pearls I’ve chosen for today are strong enough to make up for any lack in the prefacing remarks, as you will see for yourselves. I promise, tomorrow I will have something a bit more nutritious to offer….just enjoy your coffee, and all will be well…..

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell the truth.” — Oscar Wilde

“One who is to enjoy the purity of both body and mind walks the path to enlightenment, breaking the net of selfish, impure thoughts and evil desires. He who is calm in mind acquires peacefulness and thus is able to cultivate his mind day and night with more diligence.” — Buddha (B.C. 568-488)

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

I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
Was thy dream then a shadowy lie?
Toil on, poor heart, unceasingly;
And thou shalt find thy dream to be
A truth and noonday light to thee.
— Ellen Sturgis Hooper (1816-1841)
— Life a Duty

” Noise proves nothing.  Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she had laid an asteroid.” — Mark Twain (1835-1910)

“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the  experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” — Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See

There you go….another fine group, and well worth what you’re paying for them. In the interest of time-management, I will end this now, before any further damage can be done….y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Just Dozer

Kowabunga!

Truffles bordered in mink….

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Ffolkes,
Racing through the forest in the pelting rain, he paused a moment to try to catch up to the frantic pounding of his heart. His breath heaved, in and out, in and out, in a staccato rhythm that only served to increase his terror. Behind him, on the path he had forged through the undergrowth, he could hear savage growls and crashing trees as the creature which followed him barreled forward. It sounded as if he had gained a small distance, so he put aside his fear long enough to gaze around him, seeking a more passable route. Off to the north he saw through the trees a faint regularity, possible sign of a trail. He began to run toward it, hoping the relative ease of the path would allow him to completely outdistance the horror that followed. It was a path! He redoubled his efforts, pounding full speed on the packed earth, heading east, toward the river he knew was there. The river marked the edge of the forest, and effectively kept the wild creatures in the forest from exploring its far side, for there was no place to ford, and no bridges conveniently placed. The river also held his canoe, and he knew if he could reach it in time, he had a good chance of surviving. Spurred on now by hope, he fought to push his aching legs to further speed.
That’s far enough today; we will leave our hero just there, nearly out of the fire, and carry on into the new day. Another fine group this morning, with one of my all-time favorites by Mark Twain, and a very strong supporting cast. Today, being the first day of the new month, promises to be pretty busy, so I will leave you now to enjoy these delectable bites of truth, and virtual wisdom….

“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

“Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio…. Subsistence only increases in an arithmetical ratio.” — Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834)
(In case you didn’t recognize it, this little phrase, backed up as it is by pure, unassailable mathematics, was the first warning received by Mankind in respect to overpopulation. It was published in the 1850’s, so it’s not like we haven’t had the time to absorb it; nonetheless, most folks not only never heard this statement, but still have no idea that much of the trouble in today’s world is due to the effects of having simply too many folks on the planet….)

“He who knows best knows how little he knows.” — Thomas Jefferson

1. Avoid fried foods, which angry up the blood.
2. If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.
3. Keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move.
4. Go very light on the vices, such as carrying on in society. The social ramble ain’t restful.
5. Avoid running at all times.
6. Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.
— Satchel Paige

I give thee all,–I can no more,
Though poor the off’ring be;
My heart and lute are all the store
That I can bring to thee.
— Thomas Moore (1779-1852)
— My Heart and Lute

“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.” — Plato

And on that note, I will bid thee adieu, and fare thee well….  y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Dashes, dots, and the spaces between….

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Ffolkes,
Once more I sit, keyboard at hand, preparing to wage war against the demons of day with words of power. When the magic won’t flow, and creativity is hiding somewhere in the kitchen, I commonly turn to nonsense. But even that, though a powerful ally, is absent, leaving nothing but the 1000 monkey technique to carry the field. I wouldn’t mind so much, if they made less noise about it, and if they would occasionally come up with something other than Shakespeare. That’s the problem with last-minute solutions; they’re typically messy, and tend to provide one with solutions that fall apart under the merest scrutiny. Plus, you wouldn’t believe the absolutely appalling condition of the typewriters when they’re done; most are only good for the scrap pile. And that banana smell! Gag me with a spoon…..have no fear, Gentle Readers, I have not slipped past the boundaries of sanity. I’m cruising near the edge, but remain in full control of my faculties, such as they are. My primary concern at this point is how to bring this to a close; it seems to just keep growing and growing. Funny how things can get away from you when least expected; I suppose that’s why they call it a surprise…..today’s Pearls are an eclectic group, bound to give the impression that they were gathered during the dark of the moon, rather than in the full light of day. And you would be right in that……

What happens to the wide-eyed observer when the window between reality and unreality breaks and the glass begins to fly?

There came to the beach a poor exile of Erin,
The dew on his thin robe was heavy and chill;
For his country he sigh’d, when at twilight repairing
To wander alone by the wind-beaten hill.
— Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) — The Exile of Erin

“Since everything in life is but an experience perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter.” — Long Chen Pa

“I don’t like to commit myself about heaven and hell – you see, I have friends in both places.” — Mark Twain

“A great many people mistake opinions for thoughts.”- Herbert Prochnow

“Are you sure it isn’t time for another colorful metaphor?” — Spock, “The Voyage Home,”  stardate 8390.

Personally, I believe it IS time for another colorful metaphor. Unfortunately, none come to mind that can be printed for this audience, not if I want to keep my PG rating……. Y’all take care out there….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Allegory puts the baby to sleep….

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Ffolkes,
Since it’s Sunday, I slept in, and it felt good. It’s nice to be able to get up with a little energy instead of fighting to get my eyes open. Unfortunately, it seems that being bright and bushy-tailed doesn’t guarantee there will be something good to write popping up into the forefront of the old brain. Just getting three lines has been torturous…….well, I suppose that even I cannot expect compliance from the universe; it really doesn’t care. So I will just depend on the strength of today’s Pearls to carry the weight today; It’s a good group, with two by Tom Jefferson, whose views have always appealed to me; his writings always seem to express what has been in my mind, sometimes eerily so, as if we shared the same gestalt…….enjoy…..

Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she had laid an asteroid.” — Mark Twain (1835-1910)

“I may not understand what you say, but I’ll defend to your death my right to deny it.” — Albert Alligator, in Pogo, 26 September 1951

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.” — Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Abigail Adams, Paris, Feb. 22, 1787

“A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs -jolted by every pebble in the road.” — Henry Beecher

Wherever I go, there I am, Pooh mused.

“For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” — Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) — First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1801

There you go……gonna let these fly on their own…fly, little eagles, fly!…..a little whimsy there……y’all take care out there…..
—
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes
I just sits.

gigoid