“I can handle reality in small doses, but as a lifestyle it’s much too confining.”
~~ Lily Tomlin ~~
The bar at The Old Swan, London, England….
Hajime…. Though the process of creating Pearls of Virtual Wisdom has evolved over the years into its present state, and I have learned to trust its relevance and integral coherence, the simple process of finding worthwhile material, either my own, or from another source, with which to open the festivities has always been the most problematic part to complete. I can’t say exactly why that is, but, ’tis true, nonetheless. I only mention it at all because today’s effort is a perfect example of this conundrum; if you hadn’t noticed, I’ve blathered now for an entire paragraph, without making any sort of progress toward getting it completed. In short, I can’t think of much of anything particularly cogent, or even silly to say…. Ah, well, at least we’re started….
All that said, to our usual lack of purpose, I suppose ‘twould be best to forgo any further attempts to gain credence, & simply get on with the rest of this mess… and, mess it may seem. All the correct parts are in place, and there’s even a new poem, as promised, with which I am content, if not sure yet how it turned out…. Sometimes it has to grow on ya, kinda like mold. Anyway, there’s also a rather cute & obscure set of Naked Pearls, all of which point out some relatively lesser known points on Life @ Large…. At any rate, y’all will make your own decision, of course, as to how it all comes off, as always. Me, I’m going to get it posted, & be off for a walk in the rain….
Without any further ado, let’s do this….
Shall we Pearl?….
“And now there is merely silence, silence, silence, saying all we did not know.”
~~ William Rose Benet ~~
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Yep…. Even though I’ve had days to decide what to put in this section, we’re still going to end up with a default choice…. so, we may as well just sigh, and resign ourselves to hearing some of history’s finest music…. It’s a tough row to hoe, but, somebody’s got to do it, eh?…. Try to enjoy it anyway….
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Classical Guitar Music
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The Journey Becomes The Destination
We eat life, with every glance, every breath,
purposefully consumed to fill our amorphous need;
Every taste inebriates imagination, subtle as death,
waiting for us all, echoing life’s passionate greed.
Who wants to live forever?
Why do we think it matters?
We all live forever;
we always have.
Entropy becomes serendipity, grace made real;
intricately simple, infinitely complex instants are born,
passing review only until freed, fluid stainless steel
flowers, upon ancient crowns, never shorn.
All that is,
always was;
all that is,
shall always be.
Metaphor, and all its ilk, becomes lost in mystery’s lure,
until illumination consumes the capacity for truth.
Adversely, reaction sits in, replacing true rapture
with sad remnants of one old telephone booth.
Only in darkness
can we see the light.
Only in silence
can we hear the music.
An ancient muse seeks proper language, forever remote;
within the within, without entering without.
Improvising life works as if learned by rote,
the same as in dreams, no doubt.
~~ gigoid ~~
2/10/2018 to 4/9/2018
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Naked Pearls
Esoteric notes on Life @ Large….
*******
“Of all lies, art is the least untrue.”
~~ Gustave Flaubert ~~
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“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.”
~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~
*******
“We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves;
otherwise we harden.”
~~ Goethe ~~
*******
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;
the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
~~ Plato ~~
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“After the first death, there is no other.”
~~ — Dylan Thomas ~~
*******
“Which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep,
Still threat’ning to devour me, opens wide,
To which the hell I suffer seems a heaven.”
~~ John Milton, “Paradise Lost”, Book iv, Line 73 ~~
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“Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it,
you will live along some distant day into your answers.”
~~Rainer Maria Rilke ~~
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I did it, ffolkes. Damn good thing too, cuz, late as it is, this one would have bugged me if I hadn’t pushed ahead until it got posted. Which I will now proceed to do, as soon as I issue the standard caveats, to wit: Be well, be happy as you may be, and, of course, exercise your right to be strange…. See ya, ffolkes; as Arnie has said, to such good effect, I’ll be back….
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.
“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”
~~ Louisa May Alcott (1868) ~~
The road to SF via the Bay….
Hajime…. Good morning. Well, sort of. In any case, I have the elements of a complete Pearl, but, find myself with less than nothing about which to write here in the intro. Instead of fooling around, & trying to fill up space, I’ve decided to just say this…. Here it is. I hope you enjoy it, spare as it may be. That’s it. I’m still in a funk, mostly, so, this is what I’ve got. I’m pretty certain, in the long run, it won’t matter, but, even if it did, I don’t think I’d care. As has been my habit to say in the past, so be it….
Shall we Pearl?….
“The only people for me are the mad ones,
the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved,
desirous of everything at the same time,
the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing,
but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles
exploding like spiders across the stars…”
~~ Jack Kerouac, “On the Road” ~~
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It’s been awhile since I last used music from this organization, so, it’s time today, since I’m posting late. Here’s another link to some of the finest live music you’ll ever hear, from an organization that uses the power of music to teach humanity about being truly human…. Enjoy!….
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Playing For Change Redemption Song
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Ah Ain’t Sho, but Mebbe So….
Fried eggs got nuthin’ on me
Ah’m not even sure of mah name,
or how Ah come to be;
no idea from where Ah came.
Ah does like a mystery tho’,
puzzlin’ things out so’s Ah knows,
good from bad fo sho,
Ah sho don’t want no rock pillows.
If’n Ah cain’t figure out what’s best,
Ah just falls back on mah Daddy’s words,
seems he knowed just whut’d stand the test,
‘n how to gentle the scaredest birds.
‘Course, he’d lived a good long time,
‘n had lots of stuff go on by;
Went to a war, n’ lost a piece or two,
never once used it fer an alibi.
He tol’ me once Ah’d best learn to learn,
school’s only cool if ya ain’t already a fool.
Yer own good measure you can earn,
by startin’ yer learnin’ with the Golden Rule.
Always seemed to me as Ah growed up,
he mostly only spoke if it wuz true,
‘n by doin’ that clued me to what’s up,
kept me from stuff that’d a made me blue.
Without ever sayin’ the word itself,
Ah learned ’bout honor, ‘n helpin’ others
not some fake stuff from some shelf,
but, knowin’ whut’s right, ‘n that we’re all brothers.
Ah’ve been around long enough now, Ah think
to get around the block at least two times.
I s’pose long as my head don’t shrink
Ah’ll keep on doin’ right, ‘n makin’ these rhymes…..
~~ gigoid ~~
4/6/2013
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Naked Pearls
A blank map….
*******
“The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.”
~~ Lao-Tzu, “Tao Te Ching” ~~
*******
“Give me health and a day,
and I will make ridiculous the pomp of emperors.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
*******
“Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced,
not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious,
but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature.”
~~ Tom Robbins ~~
*******
“When you follow your bliss…
doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors;
and where there wouldn’t be a door for anyone else.”
~~ Joseph Campbell ~~
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“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.”
~~ Socrates (470?-399 B.C.), [quoting Plato] ~~
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“It is not length of life, but depth of life.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
*******
“It is good to have an end to journey toward,
but it is the journey
that matters in the end.”
~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~
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It’s probably clear by now, what you see is all you’re gonna get. If not, well, this should cinch it. I’ll be back, though I cannot say exactly when; life keeps intruding into cyberspace, & I can’t find any reason not to go with the flow. Until my return, be well, be happy, & be excellent to each other. 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.
“And, as in uffish thought he stood
The Jabberwork, with eyes of flame
Came wiffling through the tulgey wood
And burbled as it came”
~~ “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll ~~
Random suspicious white cat….
Hajime…. For good reason, which shall remain sub rosa, today’s Pearl is both late, and, odder than even I had hoped. Not that ‘odd’ is anything we try to avoid; generally, in fact, we court it. But, due to the afore(not)mentioned reason, the degree of oddity damn near went off the scale. But, it’s all good, for our purposes, anyway, so, rather than dwell on the past, let’s move on… Hey, who’s driving this bus? That’s right….
Okay, so, no worries. I took off the hat I was wearing, & put on a more conservative model, so, things might straighten out from this point. Hope springs eternal, right? Now, where was I? Oh, right. We’re in the intro section, frantically attempting to turn the bus into a driveway four feet too narrow to fit into, while simultaneously ignoring the growing noise from the frightened passengers. I guess if I could find the brakes, it would help, but, we couldn’t afford a bus with brakes, so, everyone will need to adjust their monitors accordingly. The tools for doing so are located under the seat, in case this is your first trip with us.
How’s that? Better? No? Hmm… I’m losing it, aren’t I? I’d hoped to find some rationality down this aisle, but, there doesn’t seem to be much here but more smarm & idiocy. Well, we’ll just go check out, then, & be done with it. Often, the act of abandoning ship is cathartic enough to shock me back into correct alignment, but, by the sounds of this one, it could take a good while to get anywhere near that state. I know, here’s what we’ll do, instead….
Shall we Pearl?
“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 ~~
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As is our standard habit on such days, we’ll be going with a default selection for our video. Go figure, eh? Try to enjoy it anyway, ‘kay?….
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Classical Music
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Confidentially Paranoid
Only when the bright sunlight of dreams draws nigh
can the dark glass of reality factor true value..
Destiny’s horses run in fear as time goes dry,
for grappling with fate in such traitorous venue.
In pallid costumes made of graven cast-off tales,
fallen angels and demons show the measure of faith.
No sad transactions should escape these well-marked trails,
no angry relatives cast insults to a sedentary wraith.
Meaning can always hide in literal cold intent,
yet show mere facets of honor to perishable youth.
Sincere contentions leave with sorrowful bent,
while bastardly arguments fill in poorly for the truth.
Gone are moments filled with florid blasts of rhyme
left to molder on the shoulders of unreasonable hope.
Only courage can save these measures of unspoken time
to gather new issues, powerfully broad, painful in scope.
~~ gigoid ~~
2/25/2015
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Naked Pearls
What? What?….
*******
“Few people have the imagination for reality.”
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~
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“Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”
“Is there something wrong with the one I have?”
“Nothing in human affairs is worth any great anxiety.”
~~ Plato ~~
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“People are strange.”
~~ The Doors ~~
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“It’s that moment of dawning comprehension I live for.”
~~ Hobbes ~~
*******
“It is good for a man to eat thistles and to remember that he is an ass.”
~~ E. S. Dallas ~~
*******
“If you don’t understand what I just said, don’t worry. Neither do I.”
~~ gigoid, the dubious, regularly ~~
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Tomorrow, for those who may notice, I may, or may not, be here. Today, I prep for the event scheduled for early afternoon tomorrow, a process not unlike that of descending into the depths of hell for 3 hours, after first starving oneself for the day. I am tasked to do it again in the morning, submit to a period of unconsciousness, & finally, make the return to relative normality, all in hope of improving my health. As is patently clear, I am neither sanguine, nor particularly happy about it; I’m afraid my confidence in the modern medical model is somewhat frayed.
However, the die is cast, & needs must, as always, Mr. & Mrs. Wyndigate. The upshot is, getting a Pearl done may take a while, as I am not as young as I was, & recovery takes longer…. Odds are running about even, but, fluctuating over time, so, hedge all your bets. Me, I’m going into my cocoon for a while, to protect what little sanity I possess…. See ya….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“He who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one.”
~~ Japanese Proverb ~~
Sunset over the Irish Sea….
Hajime…. In the world of my imagination, the veil of reality billows as if blown by the winds of time, sometimes revealing truth, sometimes illusion. Life then, becomes a series of deliciously ambiguous events, none of which may, in truth, deserve more relevance over another, even if the illusion is revealed as truth. Such ambiguity serves to act as counterpoint to the stability of the actual universe, displaying at once the duality of natural law, and the core of our nature as part of the whole….
Since I blew off all writing, or posting, or surfing, for that matter, for all of yesterday, this Pearl has suffered. Whether that suffering has tempered it to fine steel, or melted it down to mush, remains to be seen. It is also VERY late, in terms of my usual deadline for posting, which rushed by more than two hours past, unacknowledged and alone. So be it. I’m not in a mood to suffer foolishness, not even my own, so, rather than try to either explain, or excuse, I’ll just go on with what I’ve put together for today, & hope it works for y’all as it will for me, to wit: sufficient unto the day’s need.
That said, to both good purpose, and complete obscurity, if not outright deception, I’ll leave you without a clue as to what may have just occurred, opting, instead, to move on to the next phase oftoday’s perversion of reality. Well, perhaps perversion is a bit harsh; let’s just call it a rockin’ good time, & let it go at that….
Shall we Pearl?
“From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive:
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire;
They are the books, the arts, the academes,
That show, contain, and nourish all the world,
Else, none at all in aught proves excellent.”
~~ William Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost — Act iv, Sc. 3 ~~
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Today’s video selection isn’t musical; it’s a philosophical discussion I found to be excellent, sent to me by the most puissant, delightfully rational Lady P., with a powerful message for anyone ready to listen. I’ve shared it on FB, and would say, if you really wish to understand today’s world, and what you can, personally, do about any of it, this can only help in your journey…. Enjoy, & if not, well, that’s fine; the inner conflict will do you nothing but good….
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My Message to Millennials Professor Jordan B. Peterson
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“Between what I see and what I say
Between what I say and what I keep silent
Between what I keep silent and what I dream
Between what I dream and what I forget:
Poetry.”
~~ Octavio Paz (1914-1998) ~~
Cognitive Abstinence
Ever affable, serendipity calls on random days
bringing gifts, wrapped in flesh and bone.
Tempting fate, color springs from intricate stone;
singing, laughing, poised to amaze.
In metaphoric haste, clues gather to confer;
graceless, with absently casual frivolity;
fraught with severely limited civility,
lead yet into realms where hope may infer.
Allegory has faded, past all disrepute;
indelible, entropy holds the field today.
Honorable, the children stand, resolute,
justice is spent, the old-fashioned way.
Temporary measures no longer apply
to foster dreams; endless nightmares parade.
Forlorn, empty, the unwashed masses cry,
while time slips away, sleeping in the shade.
Wondrous moments continue to accumulate
odd gestures of indignant fortitude.
Destiny embraces no desire to illuminate,
with such a cavalier attitude.
Pale, afraid, the joker sits to compose
a final memorable ode, to reason.
Such grandiose dreams, a dying rose,
dragged along from season to season.
~~ gigoid ~~
12/1/2016
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Naked Pearls
Dancing in the dark….
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“The greatest homage we can pay to truth is to use it.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
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“Rule Number 1 is, don’t sweat the small stuff.
Rule Number 2 is, it’s all small stuff.
And if you can’t fight and you can’t flee, flow.”
~~ Dr. Robert S. Eliot ~~
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“Everything that deceives may be said to enchant.”
~~ Plato, “The Republic” ~~
*******
Art, science, philosophy, religion
–each offers at best only a crude simplification
of actual living experience.”
~~ Edward Abbey ~~
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“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy;
for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves;
we must die to one life before we can enter another.”
~~ Anatole France ~~
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“The Hidden stone ripens fast,
then laid bare like a turnip
can easily be cut out at last
but even then the danger isn’t past.
That man lives best who’s fain
to live half mad, half sane.”
~~ Flemish Poet Jan Van Stijevoort, 1524 ~~
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“A few hours grace before the madness begins again.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
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The last line says it all, I think. If I were y’all, I’d take that as literally as possible. Doing so may help digest what you just consumed. If not, well, you can try again next time, just as I shall do. Until then, stay strange; these days, it’s our best, if not our only, good defense…. See ya….
Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…
When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.
Which is Why….
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes,
I just sits.
“Do every act of your life as if it were your last.”
~~ Marcus Aurelius ~~
Solitary splendor….
Hajime….
“I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.”
~~ Charles Schulz, aka Charlie Brown ~~
It’s unusual around here (if anything I say or do can be said to be anything but….) to begin the introduction with a second pearl. Today, (or, yesterday, if you prefer, as I’m writing this then… Time Lord business, pay no mind….), besides going completely overboard with the parenthetical remarks, I’ll be coming as close to ranting as I have in some time… I suppose I should find another descriptive word to indicate the sort of discussion in which I plan to engage, sotto voce, as it were; ’tisn’t really a rant. Perhaps a word I already utilize each day will give the proper ‘look & feel’ character; that word is ‘Exploring’, as used in the official blog title, at the top of the page.
Yes, that will do quite well, I should say; I’m going exploring, in my mind and heart, for the words to express what I find there, and how Life at Large, which we can also call consensual reality, has affected me in the recent past, which, as I type, I realize means, also, the distant past. What we know is always aware of what we have been through before, if only for its lingering effects on our attitudes & habits. Modern pop psychology would call those our ‘tapes’, that which we received before we were even self-aware, picked up in our relatively long immediately-post-natal learning period. Part of why I explore is to identify these ‘tapes’, to examine them for current relevance, or, mark them for deletion.
So, ready or not, here we go. We’ll begin with some thoughts on a subject I find to be part of the core of what I wish to explore, from a man I respect highly, dead or not. George was a thinker; more, he was a man who loved humanity, which allowed him to see all their foibles & idiosyncracies with a ruthlessly honest eye, and the genius to make them listen & laugh with him at their own bozoid natures….
Without ever using the word, George identifies the single most critical element, to my mind; that word is ‘fear’. He alludes to how it is exploited as cruelty, and, it is, for it spreads the fear it fans to others, sans any purpose but self-interest. Humans, though one plays hell getting them to admit it, are not all that different than our ancient cousins, who lived huddled in temporary safe havens, such as caves, or convenient groves of trees, afraid of everything in their environment they did not understand, other to know its danger…. To believe what religion claims to be true brings comfort to those who cannot learn to face, & control their fears, promising to them what they already possess.
Learning to control fear is, then, a human’s most critical lesson to learn; without such control over our own emotional state, we are susceptible to manipulation by those who serve only themselves. People learn to ‘believe’ instead of learning to ‘learn’, thus developing the habit of NOT thinking, but, making decisions based on beliefs, which were motivated by their fear…. As can be observed throughout history, this results in a pretty miserable time for most humans, a life much harder than it needs to be.
Some days ago, when I began this exploration, I had a specific purpose in mind; that has since eroded into a number of possible arenas to explore, ultimately leading me to the conclusion I’ve again bitten off too big a bite to chew. To continue would be counter-productive at this point, with the most likely result nobody would finish reading, simply because it has become too complex to be a cogent lesson. As an attempt to regain control of our destination, I will abandon any hope of completing my treatise, & end it with some pearls which can give some direction to your thoughts, leaving it there with some reluctance, and some relief….
I’ll probably take up this gauntlet again, when I am able to focus again on the path to where I wish to go…. For now, here are three thoughts to provide some food for your own processing appetite….. Then, we’ll go finish the rest of today’s mess, so we may all get on with our day…. I think that’s the way to go, so, off we go….
The evidence of the emotions, save in cases where it has strong objective support, is really no evidence at all, for every recognizable emotion has its opposite, and if one points one way then another points the other way. Thus the familiar argument that there is an instinctive desire for immortality, and that this desire proves it to be a fact, becomes puerile when it is recalled that there is also a powerful and widespread fear of annihilation, and that this fear, on the same principle proves that there is nothing beyond the grave. Such childish proofs are typically theological, and they remain theological even when they are adduced by men who like to flatter themselves by believing that they are scientific gents…” — H. L. Mencken
“I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleges, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.” — Tolstoy
“The spirit is fascinated by the future, wants to know the meaning of everything, and would like to stretch, if not break altogether, the laws of nature through technology or prayer. It is full of ideals and ambition, and is a necessary, rewarding, and inspiring aspect of human life. The soul is… embedded in the details of ordinary,everyday experience. In the spirit we try to transcend our humanity; in the soul, we try to enter our humanity fully and realize it completely.” — Thomas Moore
Whew! Made it. Okay, ffolkes, that’s enough blather from me for one day, I should think. Let’s see what else we can find to mess with….
Shall we Pearl?
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;
the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
~~ Plato ~~
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Naturally, spouting off for so long in the intro has made me late. That means, as you know, we go with default music, which, in this case, means a collection of classical pieces to read by…. Three hours worth ought to do it, I think….. Enjoy!….
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Classical Music
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Intelligent Crimes
The value of wit is often said to cause harm,
for those who think, such is its greatest charm.
The new and the bold cannot be fulfilled
if innovation and change is left unwilled.
Society behaves at its base as a mob
conformity and submission its primary job.
Any sign of rebellion against the mob’s rule
is met with resentment, naming such rebel the fool.
Intellect and talent are looked at askance,
expressing artistry stands nary a chance.
To stand out from the rest of mankind
is fraught with danger, for body and mind.
Often I stand to watch in solemn dismay
as beauty and joy are left by the way,
ignored and reviled by the unwashed masses
who prefer darkness, and acting like asses.
With shouts of derision the normals make known
their fear of intelligence, greater than their own.
They hope to stop all semblance of progress;
for thoughts and ideas, they couldn’t care less.
The world struggles on in spite of all opposition,
managing to maintain its advanced position.
Pulling the foolish along in spite of reluctance,
helping each to learn the survival dance.
Hard though it may be to keep up with the future
genius manages its plans to develop and nurture.
In the final analysis, those who live by reason
enjoy life the most, season to season.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/7/2012
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Naked Pearls
It’s a puzzle, isn’t it?….
*******
“Birth is the beginning of death.”
~~ Realist Bee ~~
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“A fiery soul, which, working out its way,
Fretted the pygmy-body to decay,
And o’er-inform’d the tenement of clay.
A daring pilot in extremity;
Pleas’d with the danger, when the waves went high
He sought the storms.”
~~ John Dryden — Absalom and Achitophel, Part i, Line 156 ~~
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“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
~~ Sir Richard Steele (1672-1729) ~~
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“An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine,
but because people refuse to see it.”
~~ James Michener, “Space” ~~
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“He does not seem to me to be a free man
who does not sometimes do nothing.”
~~ Cicero ~~
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“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
~~ Philip K. Dick ~~
*******
“Around existence twine,
(Oh, bridge that hangs across the gorge!)
ropes of twisted vine.”
~~ Basho ~~
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Y’all may consider this Pearl somewhat overdone. It’s what happens when I get too focused, & try to pack too much into one place. But, it’s done, and, all things considered, it will do. If nothing else, anyone who finishes it all can give themselves a hearty heigh-ho, just for wading all the way through to the end. I’d award prizes, but, the budget just won’t stretch that far this month. I guess all that’s really left to do is to say fare thee well, & add in the usual caveat, to wit: I’ll be back, eventually, to post more (non)sense for your perusal. Until then, be well, be safe, and for goodness’ sake, keep those thinking caps on…. It’s your best defense, and, quite frankly, your only hope….
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.
“The one unforgivable sin,
the offense against one’s own integrity,
is to accept anything at all simply on authority.”
~~ Maureen Johnson Long ~~
Buskers in the Spanish Arch, Galway, Ireland…
Hajime…. My understanding of the human condition occasionally brings to light certain characteristics of being a member of this species which do not reflect well upon us. Such is the case today. I have arisen at a normal time (for me, 0300 is normal), & attempted to pursue the normal routine. The problem is, I just don’t feel like it is getting me anywhere I want to be. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s merely inconvenient, when one has stuff to get done, yet lacks the motivation to do any of it. This Pearl, sadly, falls into that category, a conundrum indeed, for it is nearly done, in spite of my lack of motivation….
Of course, it wouldn’t be anywhere near done if I hadn’t lucked out, finding a poem I had completely forgotten, hiding in a nearly-five-year-old Pearl. Default music, a new/old poem, and some odd but cogent pearls for the old-school section, & we’re all good to go. All that is required at this point is for me to come up with a compelling intro, and a closing section that both stimulates and soothes. I know, it’s all too ambitious, but, such is life, you know. As is apparent by this whiny opening, we do what we must, if only to keep from biting our own ass. Currently, my ass is bloody, but, who’s counting?
Alright. So be it. If I can’t do it, I can’t do it, & there’s no sense in complaining. Moreover, I believe continuing in this vein could conceivably lead to some relatively serious nausea, if only in my own mind. Hell, at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself moving past mere dithering, into sheer, unadulterated blather. Before we arrive at such an ignominious estate, let us adjourn to the latter portion of today’s program. I get the distinct feeling, if we don’t, we may cause a crack in Reality. Wouldn’t want that today; I’m low on duct tape…. Instead, I’ll do this, which seems to be my only hope for saving this from complete disaster. What? Nah, we couldn’t possibly already have reached such a…. Hmm…
Y’know? Maybe you’re right. Let’s be on our way, before an unexpected explosion occurs…. Around here, such blasts can be, shall we say, intrusive? Let’s avoid all that, like this….
Shall we Pearl?
“I am pleased to see that we have differences.
May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.”
~~ Surak of Vulcan, “The Savage Curtain,” stardate 5906.4. ~~
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I’m a bit lazy today; this isn’t new, or even infrequent, though it is inconvenient at times. Today, it just means we go default for our musical selection. As always in such cases, this collection was chosen by the picture that caught my eye….. Enjoy, if you will….
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Classical Music
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While searching through the archives, I found a poem I wrote almost five years ago; somehow, it got overlooked when I consolidated all my poems into the folder in which they now reside… It’s really not too shabby, so, here ’tis, in the light of day once again…. I hope you enjoy it….
Absently Gestalt
After the echoes of silence are faded away
Comes the cacophony which accompanies dismay.
Apocalyptic thoughts and emotions run free
Spreading fear enough to fill the holy see.
Speak softly to the beloved ruling class
Deathly darts sunk deep are painful, and crass
Sloth and ignorance are commonly shared
By those who would rule, alone or au paired.
Images and opinions are sullenly forlorn
Yet hope shines bright wherever ’tis borne.
Feeble strengths hide many objective flaws
For reality bites, with hard, vicious jaws.
Can you stand up and state your own name?
Will you hide in a handle, behind a great flame?
No hole and no mind is so deep and so wide
As to furnish safe haven in which to hide.
Bring out the weapons of your reluctant choice
Bring them to bear on the sound of their voice.
Silence the ignorant, and muzzle the fear
Make reason the only message you hear…..
~~ gigoid ~~
9/5/2012
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Naked Pearls
What? What? Oh….
*******
“The easy way is always the hardest way.”
~~ Murphy’s Paradox ~~
*******
“No human thing is of serious importance.”
~~ Plato ~~
*******
“It is impossible for a man to be cheated by anyone but himself.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
*******
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”
~~ Socrates ~~
“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.”
~~ Frank Herbert ~~
*******
“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?”
~~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau ~~
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“Truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is boring without it.”
~~ Pearl S. Buck ~~
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Today’s Pearl cost a lot, but, the price is right, as always. I’m not going to comment on quality, nor quantity, nor any other judgmental characteristic. What I WILL do is this…. See ya, ffolkes. I ain’t go no more to say….
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.
“How often I found where I should be going
only by setting out for somewhere else.”
~~ R. Buckminster Fuller ~~
Cork, Ireland, looking Northwest
Hajime…. Yes, let it begin…. There are some of those reading this today who may not understand much of the following; there are others who may. All of y’all will need to bear with me, as I attempt to impart my meaning without getting overly pedantic, and, without giving away any information I cannot afford, at this time, to part with at all. This will stretch even my prodigious writing skills to the maximum, (hah! for the irony…), as well as most likely sounding relatively obscure. So be it….
As you may have noted, I was entirely absent yesterday; not only did I not post at all, I made no visits elsewhere to comment, and, other than a couple responses to a Twitter feed, spent very little time online at all. I’m busy dealing with the real world, as many more of us really should be doing. Trust me on this; the common human ability to deny reality will, sooner than anyone knows, or realizes, soon become more than merely an annoying characteristic, as it assumes its actual importance, to wit: our own intransigence is going to kill a very great number of us, sooner than any of us think. That’s a sweeping statement, I know, one many will reject out of hand; but, that’s my point, ffolkes.
You, and me, and every one of humanity’s members, have all been ignoring what is important in reality for a long time, and, the price is about to come due…. You might think I’m being overly worried about stuff that can’t be helped, but, that isn’t the case at all. What I am is pissed off, and sad, and very NOT amused any more. A small percentage of mankind has been misusing their own control of the planet’s resources, which they’ve spent millennia hoarding to assuage their own fears of inadequacy, to the point where they’ve, unilaterally, decided most of the planet’s life forms must die, as they’re just too much bother. Sounds odd when stated out loud, but, no odder than the simple fact they’ve actually managed to do it, right in front of the rest of the idiots who refused to pay attention to what is going on around them….
All that said, without ever coming to enough of a point, I’ll just say, my own absence here is due to my own feeble efforts to come to terms with, not just this, but, my own reaction to the knowledge I have accepted as the current new paradigm, which, like any paradigm, will cause much strife and pain when first changing; change, remember, starts with destruction of the old ways…. The world, like it or not, is going to change, drastically, over the next very short period of time; anyone not able to see, or understand this, is simply not paying attention to the things happening right in your own block. For goodness sake, ffolkes; wherever you are, just look outside; you’ll see the changes happening, as the weather goes madder with each passing month.
That’s enough for now. I don’t know if the time I will need to spend away from doing this will be of any help for anyone, but, I must do so to keep my own head up enough to meet my own eyes in the mirror. I may or may not be posting every day, and the contents will be rather random. But, I’ll be around, if only to continue to use this time, and space, to keep my own level of sanity at a point where it is, at least, my own, & not under the aegis of any other soul or group…. I know, obscure, but, trust me, accurate.
All I have today is what you see below. I’ll be back, when I can pull it together enough to do so…. For now, we’ll do this….
Shall we Pearl?
“Better clean death than dirty life.”
~~ Frank Herbert ~~
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Pearls of Virtual Wisdom
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“Nature does not bestow virtue; to be good is an art.”
~~ Seneca ~~
*******
“The more we study the more we discover our ignorance.”
~~ Percy Bysshe Shelley ~~
*******
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play
than in a year of conversation.”
~~ Plato ~~
*******
“What we know is not as important as who we are.”
~~ Subtle Bee ~~
*******
“Courage is not the absence of fear,
but rather the judgment that something else
is more important than fear.”
~~ Ambrose Redmoon ~~
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“In a word, neither death, nor exile, nor pain,
nor anything of this kind is the real cause
of our doing or not doing any action,
but our inward opinions and principles.”
~~ Epictetus — Discourses, Book i, Chap xi ~~
*******
“No human thing is of serious importance.”
~~ Plato ~~
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I’m done for today. I have much to do out in the BBR, so, I’ll get to that. Y’all take care out there. My next post will, perhaps, explain a bit more than this obscure little ditty; we can hope for clarity, yes? Yes. Meantime, stay loose, stay alert, and keep your weapons close at hand…. You’re going to want them soon…..
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.
“It is never too early or too late to care for the well-being of the soul.”
~~ Epicurus ~~
Late summer bloom….
Hajime…. In human experience, it is clear that the subject of ‘delayed gratification’ is associated closely with a great many of our difficulties. Taking the short-term view, while gratifyingly immediate, can often lead to long-term consequences, very few of which are as beneficial as our intentions would have them. In short, we screw our own pooch, regularly. I would say this is not an arguable conclusion, as the evidence is overwhelming.
Now, one might assume, from the professorial tone of the previous paragraph, today’s post will be another long diatribe against the machine. And, you’d be right. However, my diatribe, which has, in segments, been ongoing for several years, won’t be our major feature. In fact, there’s no rant, at all, in any real sense. There is material in that section today, but, you won’t find it hard to get through, as it turned old-school. We have music, we have a new poem, and a damn fine group of excellently polished pearls for your edification. You could say, this one has it all, and be correct. Go ahead, say it….
Okay, so, the obligatory nonsense is in place, we’ve got some rational dialogue, and we’re three paragraphs in; couldn’t ask for better progress. I mean, after all, Dave Letterman coined the perfect phrase to describe us, when he said, “Hopelessly lost, but, making good time….”. That’s us, to a T. Or, if necessary, to a Z. Whatever either of those means. I don’t believe I ever really ‘got’ that one, but, hey, it’s embedded in the language, so, gotta use it now and again, or it goes bad. Words do that, you know….
I think that, right there, is a good indicator, showing us it’s definitely time to get on with this, before it all goes wonky. I’ll be rational, and executive-like, & make the decision to cut this off, ruthlessly. How’s this for ruthless?….
Shall we pearl?….
“As great scientists have said and as all children know,
it is above all by the imagination
that we achieve perception, and compassion, and hope.”
~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~
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I had no intention of ranting today, though the urge often occurs. I’m trying to keep from that sort of indulgence for the time being. Sometimes, when looking for pearls for the old-school, Naked Pearls section, I do come across pieces such as these, which I can only describe as perfect pearls, for they create an entire discussion in one’s own head, in order to ascertain the full import of the relatively few words used. In short, they compose a pearl of virtual wisdom, which can, in its essence, only be considered a rant, against all the elements of human nature that cause us so much misery, and keep the bulk of us from feeling or experiencing life as it CAN be lived. I hope you enjoy this trip into the minds of a number of rather smart people….
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Thoughts on the Human Condition….
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“For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered.
But for those of us who can’t readily accept the God formula,
the big answers don’t remain stone-written.
We adjust to new conditions and discoveries.
We are pliable.
Love need not be a command or faith a dictum.
I am my own God.
We are here to unlearn
the teachings of the church, state,
and our educational system.
We are here to drink beer.
We are here to kill war.
We are here to laugh at the odds
and live our lives so well
that Death will tremble to take us.”
~~ Charles Bukowski ~~
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“…there is no poison on earth more potent, nor half so deadly,
as a partial truth mixed with passion.”
~~ Michael Jay Tucker~~
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“The entire world is being driven insane by this single phrase:
‘My religion alone is true.'”
~~ Ramakrishna ~~
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“There is no nonsense so arrant
that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority
by adequate governmental action.”
~~ Bertrand Russell, “An outline of Intellectual Rubbish” ~~
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“And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon Gods they’d made.”
~~ Paul Simon ~~
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“The more laws and order are made prominent,
the more thieves and robbers there will be.”
~~ Lao Tzu ~~
*******
“… But when he [the people’s champion]
has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty,
and there is nothing to fear from them,
then he is always stirring up some war or other,
in order that the people may require a leader.”
~~ Plato, “The Republic” ~~
*******
“What happens to your fist when you open your hand?”
~~ Zen Buddhism ~~
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Image from lastfm.com via Google Images
I finished a poem last night; don’t know why, but the last three stanzas just bled out in about an hour. In honor of poetry, here’s a performance by one of the greatest musician/songwriter/poets of the modern era. I consider his “Sound of Silence” the definitive poem/song of the latter part of the previous century; I know it’s just my opinion, but, go listen, then tell me it doesn’t nail modern society with one swift bullet. In any case, this is a pretty decent collection of his work, in a good studio, with good sound, and, his usual collection of great musicians to play with him…. Enjoy!….
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Paul Simon BBC Sessions ~ 2006
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Illusory Time
Viewed from askance, the river is long;
deep, uncompromisingly intent, swift, strong.
In duality, perception creates our only reality;
such faux metaphoric paradox enforces mutability.
By two we perceive, both zero, and one;
digital, binary, on or off, such fun.
Separate, melded, we exist, knowing not what we know
ego, striving to be solitary, looks above, sees below.
Furiously asleep, cultural anomaly claims a victim of choice;
validly unconscious, nobody speaks, nary a voice.
Potential escapees stir in dreams, fighting to wake,
until taking the wheel, for their own bloody sake.
Pots boil in due time, when the fire’s hot,
time exists to our advantage; or, not.
The solitary warrior, head bent in pain,
fights on, with, or without gain.
Night fell, day after day it persisted;
of those who knew, none showed any care, or resisted
Angels, ministers, none had any defense, nor grace;
all that remains is a face.
~~ gigoid ~~
10/22/2016
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Naked Pearls
Serenity’s arcane art….
*********
I’m going to happydance among the stars and wear my stripes any way I want to.”
~~ Stripes the tiger ~~
*********
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare;
it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.”
~~ Lucius Anneaus Seneca ~~
*********
“To dare is to lose your foothold for a moment.
Not to dare is to lose your self.”
~~ Soren Kierkegaard~~
*********
“How could the drops of water know themselves to be a river?
Yet the river flows on.”
~~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~~
*********
“Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it,
you will live along some distant day into your answers.”
~~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~~
*********
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow,
you gotta put up with the rain.”
~~ Dolly Parton ~~
*********
“Take a breath of the new dawn and make it a part of you.
~~ Hopi proverb ~~
*********
“Change is inevitable, growth is intentional.”
~~ Glenda Cloud~~
*********
“The road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began
Now far ahead the road has gone
And I must follow if I can.
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way.
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.”
~~ J.R.R. Tolkien ~~
*********
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Boy! That’s a big one, isn’t it? So big, I’ll forgo further torment, and just say, see y’all tomorrow, ffolkes. I believe we can safely say it is now an obsession, without being inaccurate. So be it….
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.
“The mountain remains unmoved at seeming defeat by the mist.”
~~ Rabindranath Tagore ~~
Laocoön and His Sons
Image from Wikipedia via Google Images
Hajime…. Putting this Pearl together has taken me about two weeks, mostly waiting for parts of me to heal sufficiently to type. During much of this period, it seems my life was ‘farmed out’ by Murphy, to Eris, that ancient nemesis of the Greeks. Who is Eris? Ah, you know her, even if you don’t…. Allow me to elucidate….
“:Eris: /e’ris/ n. The Greek goddess of Chaos, Discord, Confusion, and Things You Know Not Of; her name was latinized to Discordia and she was worshiped by that name in Rome. Not a very friendly deity in the Classical original, she was reinvented as a more benign personification of creative anarchy starting in 1959 by the adherents of {Discordianism} and has since been a semi-serious subject of veneration in several `fringe’ cultures, including hackerdom. See {Discordianism}, {Church of the SubGenius}. — from The on-line Hacker Jargon File V423
As may be surmised, it’s been different around here. Enough so it’s given me some new epiphanies to assimilate into my personal files, some of which are quite penetrating in their effects. Of course, they’re only of value if I take them in, so, we’ll see how that goes, eh? In the meantime, I have for you today a complete five part Pearl, with old-school galore, some great music/entertainment, a relevant exploration of modern times, and, a pretty decent poem…. I’m happy with it, so, y’all, in spite of any possible trepidation, will be happy with it, too, should you make it all the way to the rather distant end. To save us all a bit ot time, we’ll get right to that, okay? Okay….
Shall we pearl?….
“A wise man,
recognizing that the world is but an illusion,
does not act as if it is real,
so he escapes the suffering.”
~~ Buddha ~~
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Pearl
We lost Pearl in 1970. Though with us for only a short while, her spirit shone bright. A friend’s blog acknowledged her passing, which showed some synchronicity, as I had already decided she was just right for this Pearl. Here is a live performance, one of only a few we have to see on You Tube. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do….
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As this Pearl evolved, it grew. Go figure. In the process, I decided to make it epic enough to be able to stop ranting altogether. It’s a manifesto, so to speak, of all I think is real, and true for today’s world. I don’t need to keep beating a horse that’s not coming back alive, so, this may be the very last one. It’s pretty complete, I think. You tell me….
“As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.”
~~ Josh Billings ~~
I suppose it is fortunate, for me, writing requires enough focus of attention to distract me from a lot of perceptive stimuli from external, or even internal sources. In short, I can concentrate sufficiently I don’t mind the 96º heat, as long as I’m perched within five feet of my only fan. I also can keep from thinking about pain, in my shoulders, hips, and back, or my hunger, from dieting, or any of the other silly little things we use to keep from actually thinking about stuff we don’t want to face, or deal with, or are painfully uncomfortable. That makes this act one of survival, as well as one requiring some rather merciless honesty, self- and, otherwise; without it, I don’t believe it will be worth it.
I am exceedingly weary of living in a culture/society which is based on deception, exemplifying what I believe to be the worst part of human nature, i.e. the ability to put our humanity aside to pursue our personal gain or agenda. To a small extent, we do it naturally, as a survival tool. However, in a larger sense, most of us don’t always base life on our own agenda; we feel connected to, and responsible to the rest of humanity. But, those who do choose self over species, as their primary focus of living, throughout history, have been allowed to order our society, based on false information and deception.
At this point, I feel I should explain my assertions, which are, in essence, three. My observations and study have led me to realize these three concepts, held to be true by the great majority of humanity, are all false in their basic assumptions of reality. This allows a distance between what is real, and what is seen to be real. This basic disconnection from true perception, in my mind, is what has caused most of the trouble and misery our species’ history has experienced for more than ten thousand years. The three concepts to which I refer are religion, money, and government.
Intermezzo:
At this point in this exploration, it becomes clear I have bitten off quite a bit more than can be adequately addressed in a single attempt, no matter how clear, or solid the connection between the three relevant elements. In truth, nobody will much care, anyway, but, that is irrelevant, as well. What remains relevant, to me, in essence, is to relate just how I think these three ideas/concepts/delusions have kept humanity from achieving our potential, and, in the process, the potential of our entire world. Together, given the nature of the human beast, the potential godhead, these three ideas have provided the means for our complete undoing, as a species, and, as a viable form of life.
I guess that’s a bit depressing, isn’t it? Okay, I’ll stop for now. I was going to stop ranting altogether, but, perhaps such an assertion would be premature. For now, let us go on, to this…..
During the research period while composing this, the following extensive collection of old-school pearls was amassed. Let this suffice for any further indictment of the three villains of human history. Besides, this just shows, I’m not the only one who has had second thoughts about all the bullshit we’ve been fed from the cradle. I’ve put them into three categories, for simple clarity…. Enjoy, ffolkes.
And, please. Think about it all, will you? Thanks….
*****
“In the beginning Man created God; and in the image of Man created he him.”
~~ Ian Anderson ~~
~~ Jethro Tull, Aqualung ~~
“The mistake began when God was created in a male image. Of course, women would see Him that way, but men should have been gentlemen enough, remembering their mothers, to make God a woman! But the God of Gods–the Boss–has always been a man. That makes life so perverted, and death so unnatural. We should have imagined life as created in the birth-pain of God the Mother. Then we would understand why we, Her children, have inherited pain, for we would know that our life’s rhythm beats from Her great heart, torn with the agony of love and birth. And we would feel that death meant reunion with Her, a passing back into Her substance, blood of Her blood again, peace of Her peace! Now wouldn’t that be more logical and satisfying than having God a male whose chest thunders with egotism and is too hard for tired heads and thoroughly comfortless?” — Eugene O’Neill, “Strange Interlude” [1928], Act II
“So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.” — Bertrand Russell
“Any system of religion which has anything in it which offends the mind of a child cannot be a true system.” — Thomas Paine
“Some foolish men declare that a Creator made the world. The doctrine that the world was created is ill-advised, and should be rejected. If God created the world, where was He before creation? How could God have made the world without any raw material? If you say He made this first, and then the world, you are faced with an endless regression … Know that the world is uncreated, as time itself is, without beginning and end.” — The Mahapurana, Jinasena
“God is an invention of Man.
So the nature of God is only a shallow mystery.
The deep mystery is the nature of Man.”
~~ Nanrei Kobori, — late Abbot of the Temple of the Shining Dragon, Kyoto, Japan ~~
*****
“All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.”
~~ Aristotle ~~
“The value of money has an objective regulator only when it is linked to a real commodity, like gold, itself requiring the cost of human labor to be produced. By comparison, the value of inconvertible paper money has no objective regulator, its marginal cost of production being nearly zero.” — Lewis E. Lehrman (See? Nothing real… Only what we agree to hold so….)
“As far as I’m concerned, if something is so complicated that you can’t explain it in 10 seconds, then it’s probably not worth knowing anyway.” — Calvin
“I refuse to believe that trading recipes is silly. Tuna-fish casserole is at least as real as corporate stock.” — Barbara Grizzuti Harrison
“What do they call a comedian who doesn’t get any laughs? A philosopher.” — Phil Proctor
*****
“Power, like a desolating pestilence,
Pollutes whate’er it touches…”
~~ Percy Bysshe Shelley ~~
“It’s said that ‘power corrupts’, but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power. When they do act, they think of it as service, which has limits. The tyrant, though, seeks mastery, for which he is insatiable, implacable.” — David Brin, The Postman
“Every nation ridicules other nations, and all are right.” — Arthur Schopenhauer
“It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.” — Giordano Bruno (1548- burned at the stake, 1600)
“As formerly we suffered from crimes, so now we suffer from laws.” — Tacitus
“He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and
ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.” — Albert Einstein
“In the part of this universe that we know there is great injustice, and often the good suffer, and often the wicked prosper, and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying.” — Bertrand Russell
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I am working on a poem, which seems to be leaking out in a chaotic fashion; it looks good, though, so we’ll let it play out as it pleases. Here’s one that fits, today, and often. Especially when it is followed by an old-school pearl that carries its title…. Keep reading….
Notes of process and program…
Poems, alas, don’t chase through my head,
bumping and pushing each other like brothers at dinner.
They’re more ripped out of my innards, instead.
Time and circumstance reveal no ultimate winner.
Simmering and bubbling near my unconscious mind
these maddening rhymes blind me sans glimmer.
Building until bursting as if to be dined and wined,
the remaining denizens appear much slimmer.
Fiery visions retain such glorious fatal dimension,
in retrospect, yet fail to leave a permanent scar,
until blessed, or cursed, with focused attention,
singing, crying, bleeding, fast as a movie star.
Pretty soon can’t be soon enough, she said
to a chameleon colored thief bathed in moonlight.
Fancy candles in stripes of blue, gold, and red
foster honest dreams in shades of white.
Passage to daylight is problematic, at best:
beastly ghosts of insomniacs cast no shadow.
Even judges with robes can pass the wrong test
while the rest of us go with what we know.
~~ gigoid ~~
1/3/2013
********************************
Naked Pearls
“Notes Of Process And Program…”
*********
“It seems like once people grow up, they have no idea what’s cool.”
~~ Calvin & Hobbes ~~
*********
“We must beware of whatever insights we have into ourselves.
Our self-knowledge annoys and paralyzes our daimon
– this is where we should look for the reason Socrates wrote nothing.”
~~ E.M. Cioran ~~
*********
“”Human beings are perhaps never more frightening
than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right.”
~~ Laurens Van der Post, The Lost World of the Kalahari (1958) ~~
*********
“Be prepared to go mad with fixed rule and method.”
~~ Horace (65-8 B.C.) ~~
*********
“Honor isn’t about making the right choices.
It’s about dealing with the consequences.”
~~ Midori Koto~~
*********
“Reality is in the eye of the beholder.”
~~ The Keeper, from Stargate ~~
*********
“When I was a lark, I sang;
when I was a worm, I devoured.”
~~ Theodore Roethke ~~
*********
“I’m pretty tired. Think I’ll go home now.”
~~ Forrest Gump ~~
*********
********************************
Well, ffolkes. There you have it. Not only do you have it, but, you’ve got ALL of it. I don’t believe I can do this any better, but, what the hell? I’ll be back again to try. Could take a bit of time, but, it seems the wait might be worth the effort. See y’all tomorrow, as long as the sun comes up….. Pretty good odds, I’d say….
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.
Hajime…. Since the deadline for posting just went flying past my head, I suppose I’d best get started on today’s Pearl. Considering the fact virtually none of it is done, we’ll be lucky to see one today. Hope does exist, as I’ve begun, & don’t intend to stop until done. But, that could change, of course, well before getting there. Once again, the Metaphorse has stepped in, to apply the duality of nature to our undertakings, as is the Universe’s wont.Why we should wish the Universe to even HAVE a wont, I haven’t a clue, but, I suppose it really doesn’t matter for our purposes here today.
To our complete surprise, we find we have written a relatively normal first paragraph, (‘normal’ in that it is of a certain length, says nothing particularly worthwhile, and, is properly punctuated), we look up, to find ourselves deep in the second paragraph, still without any direction, or hint of a direction, in which to make our effort. It probably doesn’t matter anyway; what with the lack of anything resembling rational thought currently inhabiting my brain, there is little chance of finding anything we can use, without serious alteration, or padding, neither of which we are equipped to handle today. Damn! Y’all know what this means, don’t you? No. Well, if you don’t know, I probably shouldn’t say…
Having thus created the proper frame of stultified indignation, we can get this slow on the toad. What, you may ask, the hell does that mean? Well, if I knew, or cared, I might consider relaying that information. Since I don’t, and, I don’t, we’ll just use it as another fine excuse to go on, before this gets any stranger, and we start losing our audience…. like we ever had one. For all I know, nobody’s out there, and nobody will ever see this but me, and a couple die hards who come every day. But, whether anyone is there, or ever reads this, it still has to get done, or I melt down worse than usual…. So be it. Let’s do it….
Shall we pearl?….
“No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature.
Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this;
the only right is what is after my own constitution;
the only wrong what is against it.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
********************************
I’m running late, as usual, so we’ll go with something easily available that fits my mood…. Since I feel like I should, or want to be, on the road to anywhere, we’ll take a little trip to the islands, imagining ourselves right onto some beach, where you’ll find us sipping margaritas, & dancing away…. Abondanza!….
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Jimmy Buffett Live at Jones Beach
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********************************
********************************
“How happy is he born or taught,
That serveth not another’s will;
Whose armour is his honest thought,
And simple truth his utmost skill!”
~~ Sir Henry Wotton — The Character of a Happy Life ~~
I’m very late today, in terms of getting done, and posted. To save the time needed, we’re going to the archives. Don’t worry, it’s a rather light piece, just taking some random shots at some of the world’s biggest fools…. I’m sure I had fun, and you will too… Enjoy!….
From 2/11/2015:
INFIDEL, n. In New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion; in Constantinople, one who does. (See GIAOUR.) A kind of scoundrel imperfectly reverent of, and niggardly contributory to, divines, ecclesiastics, popes, parsons, canons, monks, mollahs, voodoos, presbyters, hierophants, prelates, obeah-men, abbes, nuns, missionaries, exhorters, deacons, friars, hadjis, high-priests, muezzins, brahmins, medicine-men, confessors, eminences, elders, primates, prebendaries, pilgrims, prophets, imaums, beneficiaries, clerks, vicars-choral, archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, preachers, padres, abbotesses, caloyers, palmers, curates, patriarchs, bonezs, santons, beadsmen, canonesses, residentiaries, diocesans, deans, subdeans, rural deans, abdals, charm-sellers, archdeacons, hierarchs, class-leaders, incumbents, capitulars, sheiks, talapoins, postulants, scribes, gooroos, precentors, beadles, fakeers, sextons, reverences, revivalists, cenobites, perpetual curates, chaplains, mudjoes, readers, novices, vicars, pastors, rabbis, ulemas, lamas, sacristans, vergers, dervises, lectors, church wardens, cardinals, prioresses, suffragans, acolytes, rectors, cures, sophis, mutifs and pumpums. — Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”
This space left unused for anything.
This space used for gold.
This space folded over into a ring.
This space remained untold.
No, I have not a single clue where the hell that came from, nor will you ever catch me asking, myself, or anyone else. In fact, I am going to state here and now, I didn’t say that, and you can’t prove I did.
I actually did leave this space blank, but, that was because I sort of intended to write a fresh rant this morning; I’ve got plenty of angst built up, trust me, what with crossing blades with large soulless corporate entities, butting heads with power-hungry local yokels, and dealing with my own personal inner demons as a result, well… trust me., I have more than enough about which to rant. But I’m tired of it all, and want something a bit more light hearted…. Let’s see what happens if I do this…..
Soft, intimate notes of romantic violins fills the air, while cooling breezes lift curtains to swirl and wave against the cerulean sky, peeking brightly through the tall windows. Mellow voices murmur quietly, spilling through the balcony doors, standing open to allow the elegantly dressed crowd pass in and out, enjoying the night air. As a young couple strolled hand in hand through the open passageway, a sudden scream rang out, stilling the crowd, piercing through the music as a hot knife through butter. Silence fell over the room, until a loud voice rings out, “Don’t worry, folks. She saw one of the clowns….”
Hmm… No, I don’t think that’s going to do it…. How about we go for an old-school pearl? I think, maybe, it’s the only chance we have left…. Since this is the ranting section, let’s see if SB can find us some nice, funny pokes to take at some of our favorite targets, shall we? (That is a rhetorical question, as, obviously, it’s now our ONLY chance…)…. Come on, we’d best get to it…. Oooh, here’s a good one to start….
We can’t really be wrong if we’re just following Gods orders
You know,
He wrote this book here
And in this book
He says that He made us to be just like Him
So if we’re dumb, then God’s dumb
(and perhaps a little ugly on the side)
~~ Frank Zappa ~~
Not too shabby for a beginner…. let’s see if we can finish this off with some style, or, maybe even some humor….
“I have no problem with God. It’s his fan clubs I hate.” — Smart Bee
“Yow! And then we could sit on the hoods of cars at stop lights!” — Zippy the Pinhead
“Now playing: “Man of La Muncha”” — Hannibal Lecter Dinner Theatre
“It is only the superficial qualities that last. Man’s deeper nature is soon found out.” — Oscar Wilde
(Oops. Sorry, Oscar slipped that one by me…. It’s not too far out there, so, it stays…)
“Rush Limbaugh: The Pillsbury Doughboy on acid.” — Smart Bee
“Ooops.” — Captain of Titanic
“If God is so great, how come everything he makes dies?” — George Carlin
Well. That was…. something. Not exactly your average mind numbing, brain-blowing experience, was it? Oh well. I guess we should go do something else now…. Oh. I see the problem now. How could I have forgotten THIS?
“When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people.” — Mark Twain
Duh….
********************************
“Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get,
they’re things which get you.
And all you can do is go where they can find you.”
~~ Winnie-the-Pooh, ~~
~~ Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne ~~
Is It Alive?
Fighting into the light, words push hard to exist
each step closer to real brings another unique twist.
Shedding meaning for meaning, until bright, alone, and right
sculpting useless shapes, yet undefined, in pale morning’s light.
Never knowing the face is part of the lasting charm
bringing elegant focus, before sounding the alarm.
Advantageous time sends out messages, fears finding voice,
mulling options for flexibility, virtually without choice.
Fortunate man, who embraces the power of change;
’tis magical knowledge, bonding common to strange.
Weaving words of wonder, made strong by love and duty,
into a tapestry of life, and everlasting beauty.
~~ gigoid ~~
1/10/2013
********************************
Naked Pearls
It sucks, AND, it blows….
*******
“I can handle reality in small doses,
but as a lifestyle it’s much too confining.”
~~ Lily Tomlin ~~
*******
“It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.”
~~ ee cummings `~~
*******
“As for courage and will –
we cannot measure how much of each lies within us,
we can only trust there will be sufficient
to carry through trials which may lie ahead.”
~~ Andre Norton ~~
*******
“Entropy has us outnumbered.”
~~ Solomon Short ~~
*******
“Really, Crito, why should we care so much
about what ‘most people’ believe?”
~~ The character Socrates, in Plato’s “Crito”, 44d ~~
*******
“Remember: Silly is a state of Mind,
Stupid is a way of Life.”
~~ Dave Butler ~~
*******
“Pardon me, but do you know what it means
to be TRULY ONE with your BOOTH!”
~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~
*******
********************************
Color me amazed. It’s done, and, not too shabbily, either, if I do say so meself. Before I do something dumb, like try to be witty, we’ll bring this to a somewhat dilatory end. I can’t say it’s the worst ever, but, it certainly isn’t the best. Y’all can decide for yourselves just what you think about it, and, share if you must. Me, I’m gonna go back to bed; it’s supposed to be really hot today, & I’ll need my energy to keep fanning the cat…. Hah! See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; consider that all the warning you’ll get….
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 