Ffolkes,
~~ Brave Bee ~~
Leelu, putting the ‘lax’ in relaxation….
Hajime…. Today, even the presence and use of a Tardis may not help to save this Pearl. Not that it won’t happen, but, I’m afraid the quality of material may not be up to our usual standards. Of course, those standards are rather nebulous to begin with, but, hey, they DO exist, and we DO try to meet them, if only half-way. That’s today’s worry; half-way isn’t very far, and certainly not far enough to suit me.
Well, as those who live on, on even near the streets, are wont to say in such instances, “fuck it. Let ‘er rip!”, or sometimes, “what’s for dinner?” I suppose they do have some different priorities, but, we’ll go with the former, anyway. Since the reason FOR the condition in which we find ourselves is our fault as much as not, taking responsibility is de rigeur, not to mention the right thing to do. And, my dad is still back there, watching what I do, so, I need to do it right.
Since doing it wrong is no longer an option, it does allow me to focus on the available resources, any of which can, if naught else, provide us with sufficient distraction to get us where we need to go, before we’re even aware we’ve gone. Or, I could break out an emergency method, but, it’s still early to go that route; too many chances for injury. Perhaps it would be best to just go the straight route, without any frills or bells. Whistles would be, as always, optional, so, given our status, no whistles for us….
What this means in a practical sense is this. I’ve managed to wander around blathering for going on four paragraphs now, without ever actually getting any closer to action. This means it’s time for old # 4, that harsh but effective emergency escape unit, which has saved our ass innumerable times in the past…. and, before the Tardis, at that…. By now, y’all now how it works, so you’ll know enough to securely store your beverages, and tighten up those belts, because it’s pretty fast-acting…. Okay, hold on, I’m throwing the switch….
Shall we Pearl?….
“Simplicity is always a virtue. One kid on a riverbank working out a Stephen Foster tune on his new harmonica heard from the correct aesthetic distance projects more magic and power than the entire Vienna Philharmonic and Chorus laboring (once again) through the Mozart Requiem or Bach’s B Minor Mass.” — Edward Abbey
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Image from examiner.com viq Google Images
Since we’ve covered the Airplane, and the Starship, I decided to finish off the third band of that iconic group of musicians/artists, a spinoff by the instrumentalists…. Jorma Kaukonen on guitar, Jack Cassidy on bass, Papa John Creach on fiddle, and Paul Katner on rhythm guitar were the core members, with a number of others who came and went to play drums, mandolin, and other instruments…. Having seen them a number of times back in the day, I can attest they were one of the best instrumental-based rock bands to ever play; their music never stopped getting better as the years went by…. Enjoy,ffolkes, these guys were special….
Hot Tuna April 5, 1975
Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
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It’s been quite a while since I talked about Pearls, so, today’s rant will be replaced with an older discussion of said Pearls, from the archives….
From 3/28/2012:
“All art is autobiographical. The pearl is the oyster’s autobiography.” — Federico Fellini
It has been a while since I talked about Pearls, so when I stumbled upon the above quote, I knew it was time…. Pearls of Virtual Wisdom come with a caveat and disclaimer, to wit: These Pearls consist of ideas and concepts, and even procedures, that are Virtual Wisdom. They should never be confused with, or used as, Real Wisdom; the results can be somewhat unpredictable, have been known to cause injury, and in one case, (my own), have resulted in months of severe depression. (Of course, that depression may not be due strictly to the intrinsic differences in the Pearls themselves, but rather a direct result of inattention to which variety I was using at the moment) Regardless of how real Pearls of Virtual Wisdom may appear, or how shiny they look to the untrained eye, the author assumes no liability for failure to heed this caveat.
That being said, let us for a moment consider pearls as incarnations of jewels, as the precious gems of rare beauty and great value they become when freed from the oyster, the shelter which created each layer of the pearl’s beauty out of its own pain…. The soft sheen of a fine pearl, luminescent in the dimness, glowing in the light, has captivated the eyes and imaginations of men and women since the first oyster was plucked from the sea bed to become someone’s supper, and has inspired those who fall under its spell to acts of great sacrifice, and acts of great cruelty, in the quest to possess these timeless treasures from the sea.
Thus the metaphorical nature of the Pearls of Virtual Wisdom becomes apparent, as we see that although virtual wisdom looks just like real wisdom, the difference may be likened to the difference between naturally produced pearls, and those that are cultivated in laboratories. One is shiny, and of great value for its rarity and beauty, naturally endowed; the other is shiny, but of lesser value, due to lesser rarity, and a somehow lesser beauty, as made by the hand of man. The subtle differences are of little note, except to Reality, which always knows which wisdom is which, as it knows which pearl is which; hence the caveat and disclaimer, to avoid any conflicts with Reality due to negligence on my part…. so, please use these Pearls with appropriate caution, and they will bring you joy for years to come….
“Did an Italian CRANE OPERATOR just experience uninhibited sensations in a MALIBU HOT TUB?” — Zippy the Pinhead
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Today’s poem is from Mari Sanchez Cayuso, one of my favorite poets. This one is full of her, and, thus, wild and beautiful and human…. Enjoy! I’ve included a link to her site, which is well worth exploring, if you enjoy poetry that will make you feel. You’ll cry, you’ll laugh, you will never forget….
Left upper quadrant
Above my spleen
Feel abandoned
Orphaned – delved
But in that nerve of space
Myself dreams of you
Mostly when awake
It is your silhouette
That corners my sight
Climbs out and into
My naked veins
Trying to glisten
Just as these flames
Strong enough to wait
With nowhere left to sit
For now; a vacancy
The myth of our love
Fuck – I am writing outloud
Time – difference and indifference
Inscribed on two memories
Between the things you taught me
And the anarchy of a grieving heart
– home
~~ Mari Sanchez Cayuso ~~
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You needn’t bother asking, because I just don’t know. It’s just the way it came out; if I knew, I’d have picked a different icon for today. But, whatever this one is saying, it’s powerful, and it’s strange. Hence, Kokopelli…. Enjoy, but, remember the old Arab saying, “Trust God, but row towards the shore.”…..
Those who see.
Those who see when they are shown.
Those who do not see.
~~ Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) ~~
“Intelligence is a function of imagination.” — Ontological Bee
“Each of us bears his own Hell.” — Publius Maro
“Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth. When perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth, any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.” — Tacitus
“When you plant a flower of kindness, you will start a garden of friends.” — Zen Bee
“It is difficult to live in the present, ridiculous to live in the future, and impossible to live in the past. Nothing is as far away as one minute ago.” — Jim Bishop
“The smallest of good deeds exceeds the greatest of good intentions.” — Moral Bee
“Somewhere in Tenafly, New Jersey, a chiropractor is viewing “Leave it to Beaver”!” — Zippy the Pinhead
In man they join to some mysterious use.
~~ Alexander Pope ~~
~~ Essay on Man, Epistle ii, Line 205 ~~
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I often have trouble deciding whether or not a Pearl is adequately constructed to warrant posting. This is a direct result of the rather capricious nature of what occurs each day when I go through the process; some days it just works better than others. This one is so, well, unpredictable, I can’t even make that distinction. Hence, I’m going with my gut, which is gutless, and posting anyway, no matter how it turned out (I’m a coward, and don’t really want to go back and look, in case it becomes obvious it needs doing over…. that ain’t gonna happen). Since I am, I’d best get to it.
See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes. I have to, or the other Time Lords will withhold my medication, and everybody suffers. So, see ya then, by autocratic decree….
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….