Ffolkes,

“Every man is the architect of his own fortune.”
[Faber est suae quisquae fortunae.]

~~ Sallustius ~~

Leelu 10 days after assuming her duties….

Hajime…. Apparently, the physical changes my body’s going through have altered my routine. After more than a year of disturbed sleep, my typical time to arise was between 3 and 5 AM. For more than a week now, I’ve been sleeping a good six to eight hours, waking up between 5 and 6 AM, the latter being my most usual time to post, and, the deadline I gave myself to do so…. Since I’m now usually only starting to write at that time, it will obviously have to change…. Oh, goody. S’alright, though, change is good. Or, we like to act as if it were, though we often privately disagree….

Where was I? Oh, right. So, it means we’re late again, according to the way my brain is programmed, which causes little burps of astonishment, to go with the naturally generated confusion so common in the mornings for us humans. I’m quaffing coffee as fast as I can, to pump up the ol’ creative urges; so far, it ain’t happening. I’m afraid I may have to cheat a little bit, but, no worries, we’re covered there. All that really needs done is to finish an old-school pearl, and figure out what to put in for today’s rant. Easy money, right? One may hope….

Given the ubiquitous presence of panic at missing the programmed deadline, and the already described confusion, it’s probably best to end this section now, before it gets away from me altogether. I know, it’s unusual to see such forethought, but, hey, even a blind pig roots up an acorn now and again…. I’ll just let y’all make the mistaken assumption I’ve found some maturity, and get on with what needs done. Yeah, that’s the ticket…. To foster that illusion, let’s try this little trick I learned last week, while rooting through an old pile of junk…. Oh, crap, it’s gone! Oh, well…. I suppose I’ll just have to pretend it’s the day before tomorrow, when, really, it’s the day after yesterday…. if you see what I mean….

Shall we Pearl?….

“They copied all they could follow but they couldn’t copy my mind
so I left them sweating and stealing a year and a half behind.”

~~ Rudyard Kipling ~~

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Image from rollingstone.com via Google Images

Paul Simon has a new album out, called Stranger to Stranger; I listened to a cut on You Tube, deciding, from that, it lives up to his previous standards of excellence. I would recommend listening to it yourself, though I didn’t include it today, as I just felt like hearing some of his older pieces.

But, if you follow the link to You Tube, (thanks to new unannounced changes to the editor by WP, again, the link is hidden behind the arrow on the video screen) there is a channel of very high definition videos on the VEVO channel, including the new album. For today, here is one of the best of the best in today’s world, and one of the all around greatest musicians of all time, I should think…. a true genius in expressing human nature via our most innate human Art, music. In my world, existence without music would be intolerable….

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Paul Simon

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“Surely every human being ought to attain to the dignity of the unit. Surely it is worth while to be one, and to feel that the census of the universe would be incomplete without counting you. Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought you are without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and all depths; that there are no walls or fences, or prohibited places, or sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought; that your intellect owes no allegiance to any being, human or divine; that you hold all in fee, and upon no condition, and by no tenure, whatsoever; that in the world of mind you are relieved from all personal dictation, and from the ignorant tyranny of majorities. Surely it is worth something to feel that there are no priests, no popes, no parties, no governments, no kings, no gods, to whom your intellect can be compelled to pay a reluctant homage. Surely it is a joy to know that all the cruel ingenuity of bigotry can devise no prison, no dungeon, no cell in which for one instant to confine a thought; that ideas cannot be dislocated by racks, nor crushed in iron boots, nor burned with fire. Surely it is sublime to think that the brain is a castle, and that within its curious bastions and winding halls the soul, in spite of all worlds and all beings, is the supreme sovereign of itself.” — Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), “The Free Soul”

For several days, since finding the above quote from Mr. Ingersoll, I’ve been trying to compose a discussion of its principles. However, in the same manner as another aphorism a few days ago, there really isn’t a lot I can add to this. As far as I can see, it says what it means to say, says it well, and stops; who am I to improve on what is so perfect already? So, I’ll let it fly as it is, knowing it hasn’t been sullied, or demeaned by anything I could say. Moreover, those who take it to heart will find themselves to be in a frame of mind more conducive to the process of finding some inner peace. Can’t say fairer than that…. Enjoy!….

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Seeing is Conducive to Belief

Folly sits so comfortably upon my fevered brow
one would easily believe that I would know how
to look at Life with a jaded, weary eye
seeing enough, and more, to know Why.

Such seems the case, as I will it to be,
an open book of a face, it looks so like me;
what’s known to be so, needs no close attention
familiar sights require no minding, nor mention.

The eye is drawn at once to the stark and new,
and sent back to sleep by successful review.
Once we find evidence we feel we understand,
curiosity languishes, dismissed at command.

Ancient sages knew the insidious value of illusion,
preachers and pundits know the power of confusion.
Each pair of eyes contains its own point of reference,
each mind sets its own standards of preference.

Seeing is believing, for those who live in thrall,
accepting what is perceived is all they ever recall.
Unknown to them, reality follows another set of rules,
Deeper, more dangerous, and no place for fools.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/11/12

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Naked Pearls

More Thoughts on Life at Large

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“Become what you are.”

~~ Buddha ~~

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“A mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought, alone.”

~~ William Wordsworth ~~

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“Learning is the best of all wealth;
it is easy to carry,
thieves cannot steal it,
the tyrants cannot seize it;
neither water nor fire can destroy it;
and far from decreasing, it increases by giving.”

~~ Naladiyar (c.5th-6th century) Tamil ethical literature ~~

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“Let life happen to you.
Believe me: life is in the right, always.”

~~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~~

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“The caterpillar is secure in the womb of the cocoon.
And yet, to achieve its destiny,
it must cast off its earthbound burden…
to realize the ethereal of the butterfly.”

~~ Master Po ~~

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“If my decomposing carcass helps nourish the roots of a juniper tree
or the wings of a vulture – that is immortality enough for me.
And as much as anyone deserves.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

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“Are you sure it isn’t time for another colorful metaphor?”

~~ Spock, “The Voyage Home,” stardate 8390. ~~

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I promised a friend to post a couple pictures of my son, and the burger challenge he met, and destroyed…. He had 30 minutes to eat the massive burger(s) you see below…. He did in fifteen, and was still standing at the end, with a huge smile, as you see below…. Amazing appetite…. I guess, if you work in construction, and spend time after work practicing martial arts, you can afford to eat in such quantity…. Good looking burger, too…. I give you, Cory, doing what he enjoys….

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Not only am I done, but, with bonus material. I’m not going to quibble over how it got done; instead, I’ll take it and run. Not bad poetry for off-the-cuff, eh? On that odd note, I’ll bid thee adieu for another day, & wish y’all a peaceful, serene holiday weekend…. I tend to avoid celebrations where explosions are commonplace, but, no big; I know people like their illusions. I’ll be back tomorrow with another shot at this; take heed. That’s the only warning I give… See ya, ffolkes….

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

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

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

À bientôt, mon cherí….