Tidbits of savory eloquence….

Ffolkes

“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”

~~ Seneca (BC 3-65 AD) ~~

Second shots 003

Unexpected beauty….

The last time I posted here was 15 days ago; since that time I passed my 68th birthday, dealt with some rather emotionally wearing events, (a friend who had a stroke, family issues, etc….), and spent a lot of time seeking the conviviality of human interaction, with mixed results. None of what occurred acted to stimulate my need to write about any of it, other than this short summarization. This tells me my former consistency in writing is no longer a compelling factor in determining my choice of whether to spend time in the virtual world, or to spend it dealing with Consensual Reality. Moreover, it has become clear to me that the interaction fits in more closely with my current state of mind, such as that may be….

In short, I don’t feel any particular guilt, or loss, at having neglected the online community in favor of actual human interaction on a face-to-face basis. As I have previously noted, so be it. My only excuse, which isn’t one, is to quote Popeye, to wit: I am what I am, and that’s all what I am. At this point, all I can say for sure is I WILL write; it just won’t be as often as it once was, as it no longer plays such a critical part of my campaign to remain relatively sane. Not to say being so isn’t handy; it just isn’t as important as I once held it to be. In fact, I’m rather enjoying the delicious ambiguity of facing Life while standing on the edge…. and, for the nonce, that’s good enough.

For today, I’ve cobbled together three parts of a Virtual Pearl of Wisdom, which will suffice to deliver this update, and to move things onward to an acceptable degree…. I’m still available via email, and will check back to answer any comments; otherwise, I’ll be out in the BBR, facing Reality with the rest of the poor creatures here on Earth who must do the same, sans my own particular take on its relative importance…. which kinda describes what we all are going through in our own perceptive miasma. It may not have the clarity of Plato’s take, or the elegance of Sartre, or Voltaire, but, it’s way better than Machiavelli’s cynicism, as well as being much more palatable than any religion’s views on reality. I’ll take Peruaosophy any day over any of them. (To see Peruaosophy, check the About page listed on my home page…..)

That’s all I’ve got today for this; I’ll be finishing up the piece I’m working on for my friend, but, will otherwise emulate a lump of laziness for the rest of today, & see what tomorrow brings, just as we all shall do in the end…. For now,….

Shall we Pearl?

“One who is plenteously provided for from within needs but little from without.”

~~ Goethe ~~

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mozart2

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This is what I mostly listen to these days. If I need to tell you why, you weren’t paying attention…. S’okay, no worries… just listen, & enjoy….

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Comedy_Tragedy

After the odyssey….

Portraits of iconic symbols, crashing, singing, forgotten;
evolving into mature innovation, as yet pale, and rotten.
Still water justly breeds, impenetrable primal verses resound;
unholy moments tarry, emotion swirls in passion unbound

Spiritual ovulation precedes each pregnant pause;
gravid, time moves on, following destiny’s cause.
Cast adrift on waves of confusion, to a final, damp landing;
salvation beckons sweetly, fed well on understanding.

Dreams directly fall, in night’s grey bower, unbidden;
lingering flavors in simple taste, lovingly, cleverly hidden.
Childish laughter sounds, joyful, bright, and clear;
no need ever to hide, no more monsters to fear.

Temper most foul arrives under unregistered mail;
forgotten taunts live on, lashed by an ancient flail.
Plain dealing delivers such lasting specks of honest hate;
savage in retrospect, never hasty, always running late.

Forever, cries an ambient lover of the pending night;
his pale, weak issue forms its own failing light.
Still, fortune favors such as those who apprehend;
Sweet love of Gaia, let it never end.

~~ gigoid ~~

3/10/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Experience teaches us….

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“Trails got to be here somewhere.”

~~ D. Boone ~~

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“When you aim for perfection, you discover it’s a moving target.”

~~ George Fisher ~~

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“Pray to God, but keep rowing to the shore.”

~~ Russian proverb ~~

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“A little experience often upsets a lot of theory.”

~~ Cadman ~~

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“The thinking man’s approach to most problems is a good nap.”

~~ Sagacious Bee ~~

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“Everything in excess!
To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
Moderation is for monks.”

~~ Lazarus Long, from Robert A. Heinlein’s “Time Enough For Love” ~~

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“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

~~ Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” ~~

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Rather than belabor any points at all, I’ll end this here, and now, with the usual caveat, to wit: I will be back, though ‘when’ remains uncertain. In the meantime, y’all be well, and happy as you may be. As should be eminently clear by now, I’ll be working on being as strange as reality will allow, a habit I thoroughly recommend be adopted by all…. 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

dozer3

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Sprinkle, sprinkle little jar….

Ffolkes,

“Thou hast commanded that an ill-regulated mind should be its own punishment.”

~~ Saint Augustine ~~

Dunphys

Dunphy’s Tavern…

One day, perhaps, I’ll find & resume the routine which allows me to produce these posts on a consistent basis; my deliberate absence, and the resultant lack of practice, along with the lifestyle alterations I’ve made, don’t seem to lend themselves particularly well to the single-minded focus I once displayed in that respect. All I can say about that is, oh, well; too bad, so sad. For the current time & place, that will have to suffice, for I feel no guilt, nor any particular shame. All I feel is a vague, unfocused feeling, much like thinking we’ve forgotten something important.

But, like any human of my age, I have numerous techniques to put all that sort of crap aside, & just go on as if it didn’t matter. Which, if you note, it doesn’t, at all. Not only doesn’t it matter, it’s probably only me who either cares, or even thinks about stuff like that. I mean, what’s the point? Well, I’ll tell ya…. When your mind is as empty of ideas on how to get going, or keep going, you (or, rather I….) will put damn near anything down, just to get a little further down the page….

SIGH…. However, even such shameless blather as I’ve employed thus far can only take us so far, & never quite far enough. In fact, it;s so pitifully bad, I’m giving up. If you listen closely, you can hear me muttering to myself as I do the only thing I have left to do….

Shall we Pearl?

“I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom.”

~~ Anatole France ~~

(So do I. Doesn’t mean I can muster up much of either some days…. )

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lena horne

Lena Horne

Image from Pinterest.com via Google Images…

I suppose it might be said I’m feeling rather nostalgic of late…. In keeping with that observation, here is a You Tube Mix of this artist’s works, which I have listened to all my life…. A strong soul, and a pure, smooth voice…. True beauty lasts forever; I hope you enjoy it….

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Comedy_Tragedy

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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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

“Be obscure clearly.”

~~ E.B. White ~~

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“The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition.”

~~ Carl Sagan ~~

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“Believe me!
The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness
and the greatest enjoyment from life
is to live dangerously”

~~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) ~~

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“Apollo, the God of light, of reason, of proportion, harmony, number —
Apollo blinds those who press too close in worship.
Don’t look straight at the sun.
Go into a dark bar and have a beer with Dionysos, every now and then.”

~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~

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“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

~~ Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” ~~

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“If you never assume importance you never lose it.”

~~ Lao-tzu ~~

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“It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

~~ Aeschylus (525-456 BC), Frag. 385 ~~

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“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.”

~~ Buddha ~~

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Since I’ve already ‘made do’ with what came before, we’ll continue in that vein, & make do with it for today. Hopefully, there was a nugget or two for your pouch, or a pearl for your collection. In any case, I’ll try again, perhaps even tomorrow. Until then, be well, be happy as you may be, & remember: whatever you do, it’s all your choice. Make good ones….

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

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Mundane or extraordinary; you choose….

Ffolkes,

“Anyone with an active mind lives on tentatives  rather than tenets.”

~~ Robert Frost ~~

irish cheese factory

Irish cheese factory workers….

Hajime…. All the necessary elements of a fresh Pearl have been completed, but for the introduction and closing sections. At this point in the process, it falls to me to figure out what sort of introduction to make, a task complicated by the usual vast blank space with which I begin the day in my mind. The absence of sufficient caffeine seems to preclude any functional imagination, making the choice of how to begin rather problematic. I am compelled to choose from a fictional opening to a story that will never be written, an outburst of nonsense and/or blather from my silly side, or, as I have opted to use today, a short, honest, and mostly boring discussion of the inherent difficulty of writing something fresh & interesting on a consistent basis….

No matter which way it went, it always seems to be a matter of Hobsen’s Choice, i.e., the most expedient method will get chosen, due to impatience, and/or, a lack of will power, however one chooses to view it. In any case, it’s all moot now, as we’ve made our foray out of the darkness, into the light of day, & for better or worse, it’s gonna go the way it goes. I think, given the severe lack of functioning neurons with which I have to work this morning, we’ll opt for the old ruthless efficiency technique to get us where we need to go, to wit: further down the page. It’s not our most popular method, but, it certainly is efficient. You see, it works like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

Asked what he gained from philosophy, he answered,
“To do without being commanded what others do from fear of the laws.”

~~ Diogenes Laertius (c. 200 AD) — Aristotle, xi ~~

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leonard cohen

Leonard Cohen

Image from Rolling Stone via Google Images

I am, of course, known far & wide as ‘the dubious one’, (well, wide, anyway, if not far), but, I have little doubt at all that this man needs introduction. He passed away a few months ago, but, fortunately for us all, left a good body of work to remember him by…. Enjoy!….

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Leonard Cohen
Greatest Hits

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Comedy_Tragedy

Meander….

Inimitable, grieving, garnering mere bargains, to taste;
naked apes, priapic by nature and choice,
filled up the only valid chalice, laid it to waste,
nobody asked, nor ever raised a single voice.

Formidable, dreams becoming so real;
clearly extraordinary, in a tawdry sense.
Deals to make, illusions to steal,
busy, busy, building fence after fence.

True nature’s existence, so to speak,
rests interiorly, as well as in your face.
Duality’s persistent insistence ain’t weak;
ignorance of reality leaves not a single trace.

Herds of commonality congregate before portals
shaking each other by the collar as they dance.
Chasing their illusionary dreams, as if they weren’t mortals,
born believing they ever had a chance.

Irony lives deep in the human soul, part, parcel, post;
holding four aces, betting a pair of jacks, or queens.
Expedience beckons toward mendacity, at most,
fox mocking grapes, while it dances and preens.

The wheel turns, inevitable, ponderously mundane,
grinding grain, chaff, and dust.
Bolstering connections aids those who may abstain
from the paltry tale of the bold, and just.

~~ gigoid ~~

10/5/2016

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

“Will change the pebbles of our puddly thought
To orient pearls.”

~~ Du Bartas (1544-1590) ~~

~~ Divine Weekes and Workes, Second Week, Third Day, Part i ~~

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“The great question of life
is not the question of death but the question of life.
Fear of death shames us all.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

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“And can you teach me to how to dance real slow?”

~~ Don McLean, “American Pie” ~~

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“For fast acting relief, try slowing down.”

~~ Lily Tomlin ~~

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“One must never lose time
in vainly regretting the past or in complaining
against the changes which cause us discomfort,
for change is the essence of life.”

~~ Anatole France ~~

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“You take your life in your own hands,
and what happens?
A terrible thing: no one to blame.”

~~ Erica Jong ~~

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“Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart.”

~~ Steven Stills ~~

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“Listen hard.  Choose with no regret.  Continue to learn.”

~~ Sagacious Bee ~~

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Not too shabby, given the essential nature of what it is…. In fact, this one could be considered a fine example of a Pearl, if it weren’t destined to be surrounded by re-blogs, thus hiding it’s freshness behind a wall of relative rot. SIGH… Ah, well, so be it. Life goes on, & gigoid’s goin’ walkabout again…. Cold or no, it’s just too nice out of doors to remain inside. (Ref: see anything written by John Muir….) I hope all remains well with y’all; be happy as you may, and I’ll see y’all in a couple days…. Oh, and, don’t forget to be strange….

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

dozer3

À bientôt, mon cherí….


					

Trudging through real-time….

Ffolkes,

“If you are out to describe the truth,
leave elegance to the tailor.”

~~ Albert Einstein ~~

old friends

Friends of long standing….

Hajime…. Though this Pearl is being posted very late, it’s all relatively fresh, as I hadn’t done anything more than pick the opening picture when I arose today, also late. I can, therefore, consider it a moral victory, which as we know, humans are liable to do at the drop of a cliché. I also have the option of telling myself, better late than never, but, that would be a value judgment, probably not appropriate in this instance. In fact, I’d hesitate to make any sort of value assessment of this one, at all; I’m not terribly fond of assuming great risks for little reward. In fact, we’re ALL a bit cowardly about that sort of thing, probably a left-over impulse from our past; stepping outside the cave posed some rather compelling dangers to out well-being, & I guess we still remember that….

Regardless, it’s done, such as it may be, & I’m not going back & doing it over. In fact, I’m going to get myself out of here, & on down the page, before I lose my nerve, or, regain my senses. I’ll just use this old method I found laying here, which works pretty well, if I remember correctly. It’s pretty much a gimme, since it drops us all like a hot, well, you know. Watch closely, or you’ll miss it, & then where would you be? Right…. Careful, the next step’s a bit steep….

Shall we Pearl?….

“Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body,
although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism.”

~~ Albert Einstein ~~

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sam bailey

Sam Bailey

Image from pinterest.com via Google Images

In 2013, this singer walked onto the audition stage of the X Factor UK, appearing to be exactly what she was, a 35 year old mother of 3, working as a prison officer, married to a laborer. She proceeded to blow away the room, singing a cover of a very difficult song by a major star. She went on to win the talent contest that year, delivering performances that brought standing ovations from the crowds, and the judges, time after time…. I’ve embedded a collection of all her performances, each of which will blow you away with the power of her voice. She reminds me a lot of Kate Smith, the most powerful voice I ever heard, rivaling many operatic singers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do; she has the kind of voice that can bring chills, or tears, or any other emotion as strongly as anyone I’ve heard…. Abondanza!

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Sam Bailey

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“Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

Comedy_Tragedy

Platitudes for Attitudes

Platitudes shake us, attitudes break us.
Life can be a real pain, y’know?
Still, if we don’t fight where it takes us,
it’s a pretty straight row to hoe..

A lot of what we see and hear
isn’t always in the best of taste.
Life at large can be one long frisson of fear.
Making an effort often seems a huge waste.

Pundits, dogma dogs, myrmidons, oligarchs & pimps;
assholes and predators every one.
Twisted, sick, anti-humans; anomalous, ignorant wimps.
Logic says, every time, lobotomize ’em, & be done.

Illusions, delusions, confusions, a dedicated data dump,
bilious, divisive, spicy with hatred and fears.
Inflation, immigration, promises from the clownish Trump
Leaving even our basest survival heavy with tears.

Ancient sages left signs on the path to peace,
for those with wit to see.
No need for undue effort, no quest for golden fleece.
All we ever need to do, is be.

~~ gigoid ~~

8/29/2015

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Hmm… That’s funny….

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“A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity
to the point of doubtful sanity.”

~~ Robert Frost ~~

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“Should I get locked in the PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE today
— or have a VASECTOMY??”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

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“To err is human, to forgive is unusual!”

~~ Sardonic Bee ~~

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“I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace…
The rest is only hearsay.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

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“Impropriety is the soul of wit.”

~~ W. Somerset Maugham ~~

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“Live for those private moments of wild abandon!”

~~ Opus ~~

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“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

~~ Abraham Lincoln ~~

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Well, there you have it. I’ll be nice, simply because I must; there’s no other options at this point. I’ll even forgo the usual caveats, or trite euphemisms, in favor of a rapid exit, stage left. How do I know it’s left? Because, obviously, it isn’t right. See y’all next time, when I take another shot at whatever it is I’m shooting for…. Don’t ask because I’m sure I don’t know…..

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

Dozer

À bientôt, mon cherí….


					

Bung ho, lads! Got truffles?….

Ffolkes,

“If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

leaving galway

Leaving Galway by the Dublin train….

Hajime…. I had a great time yesterday with my granddaughter, but, doing so didn’t leave a lot of time to finish the Pearl for today. Thankfully, Smart Bee cooperated this morning, if one may count the odd bunch of pearls with which I was presented as cooperation. The group that materialized is a bit, shall we say, different? But, it all works, as well as can be expected on a Monday morning; I think we’ve all learned to show a bit of patience & tolerance to what happens on that particular day of the week. Though that isn’t as strong in me as it once was, it’s still relevant, as the rest of the world still has to get up & go back to work….

Since I did manage to get it done, or, as close to done as it needs to be, I’ll just go with the flow, & get it posted. To do so with the least amount of fuss is, I think, the most courteous thing I can do, to help the rest of humanity get the week going on a good foot. (What does that mean?…. Ah, well, that’s best left alone for now, I think….) I’ll also show some rather unusual benevolence, by bringing this intro to a rapid conclusion, sans the standard degree of smarm and/or nonsense one usually finds here in the A.M. It isn’t that I’m any more benevolent; I’m just tired, & will help myself, as well as y’all, by doing so with some dispatch. In fact, I’ve already called dispatch, & the cab is on the way, so, let’s get started, so we won’t be running to catch up the rest of the day…. As we have previously demonstrated, that looks like this….

Shall we Pearl?

“History has the relation to truth that theology has to religion
— i.e., none to speak of.”

~~ Lazarus Long ~~

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mozart2

Today, I feel like some Mozart, so, here is a playlist from You Tube with what I believe to be all of them for your listening pleasure…. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do….

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Mozart Piano Concertos

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Comedy_Tragedy

I know I’m in the now, if only…..

Oh, there it is again, fiddle faddle;
Begone, I said, vamoose, skedaddle!
It looked at me as if I were insane:
Scoffed, it did, filled me with pain.

Where does it come from?
Where does it live?
I’d stick out my thumb,
if I had more to give.

If only, should, would, could it be?
It went away again, this time free.
It will be back again, this I know;
or I’m wrong, and it won’t show.

Who cares?
Who hears?
Such goings on wobble the sphere,
I wish it wouldn’t do that here.

I’ve been wrong before…..

~~ gigoid ~~

4/19/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Oddly enough….

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“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect
but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.
The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.”

~~ Carl Jung ~~

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“YOU PICKED KARL MALDEN’S NOSE!!”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~

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“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

~~ HAL 9000 ~~

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“A man who can fool chiefs, and even gods,
must still face the monsters he himself created.”

~~ Old Maori saying ~~

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” A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity
to the point of doubtful sanity.”

~~ Robert Frost ~~

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“If there are twelve clowns in a ring,
you can jump in the middle and start reciting Shakespeare,
but to the audience, you’ll just be the thirteenth clown.”

~~ Adam Walinsky ~~

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“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane
by those who could not hear the music.”

~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~

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Okay, I did it. The mere fact it is done is, at the very least, an astounding piece of luck, or, stubbornness; take your pick. Rather than dwell on any such denigrative conceptual conundrums, we’ll just pretend it’s supposed to be this way, & be done with it, always a good policy when one feels the presence of inimical iconic forces of entropy hovering near, just waiting for one to make a mistake in mindfulness. Given my predilection for just that sort of failing, or, as we call it, idiosyncrasy, I’ll leave you now, to dress any wounds in private. Me, I’m gonna go for a walk in the morning dark & cold, to see what there may be to see out there…. I’ll do my best to return tomorrow, with the caveat I change my mind alla damn time, so, take that with a dose of salt. Meantime, be well, be happy, & be strange. For a lot of us, it’s our only reliable defense against the insanity…. 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

Featured Image -- 12589

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Draped in retrospective affability….

Ffolkes,

:Under all speech that is good for anything there lies a silence that is better.
Silence is deep as Eternity; speech is shallow as time.”

~~ Thomas Carlyle — Memoirs of the Life of Scott ~~

~~ London and Westminister Review — Nos. XII and LV (1838) ~~

WOPC and a seal

Pine Cone Whimsey at Pier 39….

Hajime…. All will be well, and, all will be, well, as well as can be. Hmm… That is, no doubt, a little obscure, but, accurate enough. Leelu will be fine; she was reacting to the stress of my three day absence; it turns out this reaction affects her digestion, severely enough to make her ill. A return to routine, a couple days of bland diet, & she’ll be fine. The bond between us is strong, so, some mild, slow behavioral shaping, to get her used to me being gone, will need to be performed, to help her adjust better to my periodic need to be elsewhere for a time. Such is life, so, we’ll do what we can to keep her content, as we are each other’s whole world, in a sense, & I wouldn’t have it any other way…..

I managed to create a Pearl, cobbled together in pieces throughout the day, & on into this morning. I am still processing a lot of my weekend, which included a great deal of heavy lifting, mentally, but, none of it has evolved into anything to write as yet. We have music, a decent, recent poetic effort, and a pretty good pearl for the last section today, all as right & tight as I can make it on short notice/tight deadline. As such, it will have to do, ‘cuz I ain’t doin’ it over. In fact, I’m still pretty tired from all the hours I spent awake, so, I’ll forgo trying to impress here & now, opting, instead, for brevity, in spirit, and in sooth, by ending this before it becomes unwieldy, which often offers no opportunity to come to a dignified close. In point of fact, I intend to do that, here, and now, merely by doing this….

Shall we Pearl?

“Once conform, once do what others do because they do it,
and a kind of lethargy steals over all the finer senses of the soul.”

~~ Michael de Montaigne ~~

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

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

I got a bit of a late start this morning, so, we’re going with our default musical selection, chosen, as always, by the one whose accompanying picture caught my eye…. Today, that happens to be Mozart Symphonies…. Enjoy!….

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Classical Music
Mozart Symphonies 40 & 41

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Comedy_Tragedy

Further Proof

No evidence exists, no rumored promise
of a guide on the path we seek.
Salient information lies hidden, seeking solace;
each possibility lost, no longer unique.

The past cascades through today, resolute;
finished and gone, by all reputable report.
Common failings decry any fever in the root,
as pillars of salt offer up little retort.

Longitude has latitude, one dimension to the next;
truth and lies, mirrored, transform on first exposure.
Born in chaos, living in change, by guile and pretext;
artful insanity, with no rational cure.

‘Tis no wonder, some do say now and then,
such creatures are doomed, by their own hand.
Cursed by the force of their very own ken,
until only the leaving seems very grand.

Perhaps, but, then, say those who doubt,
it’s all part of how it works, in fact.
We can’t know, really, what it’s all about
without completing the final act.

Is there any hurry?

~~ gigoid ~~

6/23/2016

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Learning to Learn….

*******

“If the thraskin puts his fingers in his ears, it is polite to shout.”

~~ Doctor, The Time Monster ~~

*******

“Schooling is what happens inside the wall of the school,
some of which is educational.
Education happens everywhere,
and it happens from the moment a child is born
–some say before–
until it dies.”

~~ Sara Lawrence Lightfoot, A World of Ideas, 1989 ~~

*******

“Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her.
But once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide
how to play the cards in order to win the game.”

~~ Voltaire ~~

*******

“Nothing in the entire universe ever perishes, believe me,
but things vary, and adopt a new form.
The phrase “being born” is used for
beginning to be something different
from what one was before,
while “dying” means
ceasing to be the same.
Though this thing may pass into that,
and that into this,
yet the sums of things remains unchanged.”

~~ Ovid — “Metamorphoses” ~~

*******

“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

~~ Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” ~~

*******

“Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life.”

~~ Bertold Brecht ~~

*******

“By letting go, it all gets done.”

~~ Tao Te Ching ~~

*******

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

Not too shabby, at all, for what it is; I am reasonably content. I shan’t make the error of commenting on its quality; instead, I shall continue the spirit of brevity as so aptly applied in the intro, by using the old “dump ’em where they are” method, which has worked so well for us in the past. Sometimes, ya just gotta do what you gotta do. Since, in truth, it’s already done, I’ll merely say, see ya for now, ffolkes. I’ll be back, probably sooner than I think. What y’all think is, for the most part, not irrelevant, but, unprintable. Well, maybe not, but, what the hell? It got us outta here, didn’t it?…. I know, strange, yet, normal, right?…. Be well, & happy as you may….

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

Featured Image -- 12254

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Is that an igloo?….

Ffolkes,

“Where there is much light there is also much shadow.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~

posing-leelu

A moment of peaceful contemplation…

Hajime…. Below, y’all will find a Pearl. It’s a good Pearl. It’s been created in the past couple days, bit by bit, as the opportunity to sit arose, or was noted as necessary, if not exactly condoned. Suffice it to say, it’s done, and will do for the nonce. I don’t have anything else to say, really, so, I’ll forgo the usual amount of nonsense, & limit myself to this lone paragraph. Y’all can tell me sometime later whether you think it works, or, not. Of course, that makes the assumption, perhaps without warrant, that I’ll actually pay attention. But, life is full of uncertainty, isn’t it? Why, yes. Yes, it is. For now, what is certain is, I am done with this, and we can now get this slow on the toad…. Watch closely, or, it will shoot right past, without anyone noticing….

Shall we Pearl?

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart.
Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens.”

~~ Carl Jung ~~

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pinterest-edie-b

Edie Brickell

Image from Pinterest via Google Images

Though I’ve heard this lady’s music on the radio, I never pursued any of it beyond that; I see now that was a mistake, for she’s done some rather fine work. In addition, she seems to find a lot of rather excellent musicians to play with her, as well as being married to Paul Simon, not a bad performer himself…. Ah, well, we can’t listen to it all, but, I’ll be listening to her more, for sure…. Enjoy!….

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

Edie Brickell & Friends

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

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

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Comedy_Tragedy

Dreaming of Calliope

La belle dame sans merci speaks aloud through endless night,
torturing dreams, with powerful words and stentorian phrases.
Manifest visions bathed in unbearable grace and light,
destroying all direction, standing lost, in unfathomable mazes.

Fate plays a part, one that will never face denial,
as fear and courage eternally vie for ascendancy.
Conflict becomes valid, gifting strength in open trial,
but honest emotion wears no costume so fancy.

Blood, sweat, and tears stroll on avenues of gold,
unlikely heroines heralding as in ancient lore;
Sharp, competent knives cut through tales untold,
eternally shifting reality past the naked shore.

Drifting toward origin, bereft of mandate or cause,
finished, nay, abandoned, tied with a figurative bow.
No simple gift from muses to give comfort or pause,
save that all we need to know, we already know…..

~~ gigoid ~~

12/13/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Subtle notes on process & program….

*******

“First things first, but not necessarily in that order.”

~~ Doctor Who, MEGLOS ~~

*******

“Any fool can know.
The point is to understand.”

~~ Albert Einstein

*******

“We dance round in a ring and suppose,
But the Secret sits in the middle and knows.”

~~ Robert Frost “The Secret Sits” 1936 ~~

*******

“Always store beer in a dark place.”

~~ Lazarus Long

*******

“Are all your stars shining?”

~~ JD Salinger ~~

*******

“I think it’s good that everyone becomes food.”

~~ Hobbes, the Tiger ~~

*******

“It’s a fool’s life,
a rogue’s life,
and a good life
if you keep laughing all the way to the grave.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

*******

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

Today’s Pearl is, in at least one respect, a most efficient, and iconic example of the genre. Moreover, I’ll not detract from that pristine nature by waxing overly philosophic, or extensively, here at the end. Instead, I’ll merely say, I hope you enjoyed it, and I’ll do it again, soon as I can. Meantime, y’all be alert, stay as happy as you may, & all will be well. How else can it be, but what it is?…..

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

dozer3

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Observational evidence of previous habitation….

Ffolkes,

“What I am is what I am.
Are you what you are, or what?”

~~ Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians ~~

iconic-pepper-tree

Black Pepper Tree….

Hajime…. I have managed to put together a Pearl for today; what I didn’t manage is to find any particularly creative energy within myself to write anything more complicated than a short intro paragraph for the music. The rest is, as they say so often in Silicon Valley, what you get. Suffused, as I am, with the angst so carefully built up over the past few days of watching the US government shake itself to pieces, I find it difficult to find the words to express the degree of horror implied by the massive display of duplicity, ignorance, bigotry, and, well, stupidity we have witnessed, as the Trumpette goes about his business, feeding into the ignorance of his ‘fans’, and rewarding all the assholes who helped him get into this mess….

Any further comments on that would easily fall into ranting mode; I’ll cease and desist now, rather than try to regain control later. The few words I’ve already written today came close enough to cover that, and will sit more comfortably in the psyche of the Gentle Reader if not augmented by further displays of angst. Besides, I’m really NOT in the mood to rant; I feel too good to let it wreck what’s left of the day. Instead, I’m going to go all executive, and cut this off while still in its prime, in favor of just getting on with what I’ve got. For y’all, that’s probably a bonus; it certainly makes my job easier, so, we’ll go with it, and let the chips fall where they may…. That, by the way, looks like this….

Shall we Pearl?

“Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.”

~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~

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

playing-for-change

I’ve decided to use the music from various artists in this organization as our default, at least for the time being. Since I’m not spending a lot of time at the computer, it will save some of it for actually creating Pearls, which is already hard enough without the extra time. Here is one that I feel is, or should be, the single most important piece of music I know, for it shows humanity where our true salvation lies, to wit: within our own nature, and not in chasing after an illusory supernatural being who loves us, which has no evidence to support it. “It is in the shelter of each other people live.” Here’s one of the building blocks of that shelter….

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

Imagine
Playing For Change

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

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

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Comedy_Tragedy

Bulletin

Patterns exist to bring sanity, if illusory, at best;
follicular, reality seems to slip and slide.
Still, formal insanity consistently fails the ultimate test,
why place faith in answers. from which truth can hide?

Following the music brings us back in good time;
forever seemingly retreats from relevance.
Crazy, time stands still with yet another innovative rhyme,
no burgeoning intentions for sale, to shimmy. or dance.

Folly sits easily upon this brow;
fateful and afraid, entropy bows in shame.
Into the river of time, slowly, forgetful of how
courage gives strength, no matter the game.

Capricious, the muse demands obedient attention
at risk of exhibiting true durance vile.
Bereft, single copies sit unused, despite all intention;
while singular examples of fate pass at the stile.

Seminal events bring their own weight;
no scale necessary, no guessing by eye, or hand.
Only one lesson to learn, just pay the freight;
the music is playing, and you’re part of the band.

~~ gigoid ~~

8/6/2016

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Listen, and learn….

*******

“The map is not the territory.”

~~ Alfred Korzbyski ~~

*******

“Be careless in your dress if you will, but keep a tidy soul.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

*******

“Something we were withholding made us weak
Until we found it was ourselves.”

~~ Robert Frost ~~

*******

“Immortality lies not in the things you leave behind,
but in the people your life has touched.”

~~ Sagacious Bee ~~

“All I know of love is that Love is all there is.”

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

*******

“You thought, as a boy, that a mage is one who can do anything.
So I thought, once. So did we all.
And the truth is that as a man’s real power grows and his knowledge widens,
ever the way he can follow grows narrower:
until at last he chooses nothing,
but does only and wholly what he ‘must’ do.”

~~ Ursula K. LeGuin, “A Wizard of Earthsea” ~~

*******

“If you do not understand my silence, then you will not understand my words.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

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

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got; besides, my butt’s done with the chair for now. I think I’ll go for a walk in the early morning cold and dark, & see what sort of mischief there is to find…. I don’t know when I’ll be back with a fresh Pearl, but, you may rest assured, I shall. Until then, y’all be strange, and stay alert. It’s getting pretty weird out there in the BBR…. 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.

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

dozer3

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Polishing nouns is honest work….

Ffolkes,

“The problem with troubleshooting is that real trouble shoots back.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

cobh

Cobh, Ireland ~ Seaport for County Cork

Hajime…. If I were so inclined, I could start today with a feeling of pride, for having completed a Pearl under stiff opposition. But, since the major portion of said opposition came from my own head, it might be a trifle hypocritical, or, at minimum, shamelessly obtuse. I will, however, note my sense of gratification for having it done, no matter how it came about. Such is the life of a curmudgeon in the early morning….

This isn’t to say life isn’t good; it isn’t. Hah! Fooled ya, didn’t I? No? Okay, well, I fooled me, so that counts. It’s beginning to look as if nothing I write is going to count, doesn’t it? Perhaps we’d be better off to forgo any further attempts at levity, or even sobriety, in favor of getting on with this. Yes, I believe that’s the way to go; it may be our only chance to do this at all; day’s like this can turn ugly in a heartbeat, should my mindful control of unreality begin to unravel…. the symptoms of which are rapidly mounting. We’re going on now, because, otherwise, this is going to go south in a hurry…. Hang on, ffolkes; no time for niceties….

Shall we Pearl?….

“What is required is sight and insight — then you might add one more: excite.”

~~ Robert Frost~~

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

Lenny Cohen

On the 7th of November, Leonard Cohen passed away, at the age of 82. I’ve listened to him all my life, and will miss his gravelly, emotional bass tones immensely. Here’s a video of a live performance, with links to much more of his work. Enjoy, ffolkes; we won’t hear anything new from him again….

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Leonard Cohen
1934 – 2016

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Comedy_Tragedy

I’d hoped to have a new poem, but, apparently, it isn’t ready to leak out. Here’s another old one to carry the day….

Relative Cynicism, with Caramel Sauce

Absolute stillness follows violent movement,
it can happen during a downhill race,
as an immovable piece of asphalt pavement
meets the once handsome racer’s face.

Yuk, yuk, yuk said that asshole Moe,
after poking both of Larry’s eyes,
bashing face, head, & crotch of Curly Joe
and only ever got hit with pies.

Lonely moments never really come along
when Murphy’s got us in his sights.
Not for money, love, or siren’s song
will he abrogate his natural rights.

All we can do is sigh, or laugh in pain,
as Life portions out our ration of shit.
Silver linings melt in the slightest rain,
so we may as well learn to live with it.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/7/2013

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

pearls_3

Smart Bee decided, sans notice, to take the day off. But, it’s okay; I was reading one of the older posts recommended by the WP bots at the bottom of a page, & found this nice little discussion to fill in…. It’s just a little foray into gigoidism, and quite fun…. Enjoy!….

*********

From 4/17/2013:

“A thing is not proved because no one has ever questioned it…Skepticism is the first step towards truth.” — Smart Bee

As I was cruising through Smart Bee this morning, looking for inspiration for section 3, I came across this little gem, unattributed. It sounds like it could have come from a number of different philosophers, all of whom are noted for their wisdom and perspicacity (another great word….). It is also a part of the human flaw that has contributed to many of the problems we face as a society, and as a species.

Actually, it might be more accurate to say that the lack of this in humans is part of the flaw; most people one talks to would not agree with this idea, as stated. In fact, it is directly opposed to the educational premises of many cultures, especially those heavily influenced by religions, such as those in Mexico, Central and South America, where Catholicism is a powerful factor in society, and in the governing of that society. India, and much of the Eastern Hemisphere, too, have societies that are heavily influenced by religion, though with more participant sects than is true in the Western Hemisphere; Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, to name a few, are always a contributing factor in the political events that have shaped history.

“The common dogma [of fundamentalists] is fear of modern knowledge, inability to cope with the fast change in a scientific-technological society, and the real breakdown in apparent moral order in recent years That is why hate is the major fuel, fear is the cement of the movement, and superstitious ignorance is the best defence against the dangerous new knowledge. When you bring up arguments that cast serious doubts on their cherished beliefs you are not simply making a rhetorical point, you are threatening their whole Universe and their immortality. That provokes anger and quite frequently violence.” — G Gaia

As a result of this influence, many people tend to reject skepticism, as it doesn’t fit in with what they have been taught, which is to never question anything told to them by persons in positions of authority. Churches tend to encourage this sort of attitude, as their outrageous claims of divinity, and supernatural events performed by their deities, do not stand up well to scrutiny by an objective eye. The leaders of the churches thus play right into the hands of the Beloved Ruling Class, as they counsel their flocks to obey worldly, temporal authority as readily as they are conditioned to obey the secular variety…..

“I just stepped on a factoid!” – Zippy the Pinhead

Thankfully, not all of humanity is defenseless against this sort of conditioning. There are many ffolkes out there who don’t buy into the sort of psychological blackmail being promulgated by the preachers, priests, imams, and shamans of all shapes and sizes around the world, and a large number of them seem to end up blogging, right here on WordPress…. So, I end up preaching to the choir pretty often. But, that’s okay, too, because I know that occasionally, one of those folks who do believe in what they are told, without any questions or doubts, will read this, and, if nothing else, will think about what I’ve said…. Who knows, maybe I’ll go viral, and the whole world will remember that WE ALL ARE GODS?”…… (Remember? Axiom # 3…. “Thou art God, you know…. Let’s do lunch….)

“Youth of today! Join me in a mass rally for traditional mental attitudes!” — Zippy the Pinhead

I suppose that’s a note from my subconscious, to let me know I’ve gone far enough off the rails for now, and should let these good people get on with their lives, rather than wandering around in mine…. Goodness knows where we’ll end up…. So, anyway, just remember to cultivate your sense of doubt, your “crap detector”, as it were, and never, ever take anything “on authority”, without tangible proof…. You’ll find Life to be less confusing that way; certainly, it makes it a lot easier to look yourself in the mirror in the morning…..

“This is patently absurd; but whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities.” — Bertrand Russell

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

All in all, not a bad effort, given the implicit difficulties we encounter on a regular basis. Having successfully navigated those turbulent waters, I can safely, and with some relief, bid thee adieu for another day. Yes, that means this will all happen again tomorrow; go figure…. Oh, and, stay strange; it’s pretty cool out there….

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

Dozer

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Bales and bales of balderdash….

Ffolkes,

“We live only to discover beauty. All else is a form of waiting.”

~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

beauty-weed

Even weeds hold beauty….

Hajime…. In the interests of public benefit, today’s Pearl is abbreviated, to a degree, simply to be nice. Nice to whom? Well, I suppose that is what we’d call a personal judgment, or preference, and not our problem. We’re nice, and that’s that. Now we’ve settled that portion of today’s intro, we can go on to more lucrative, and, hopefully, more rational discourse.

Of course, finding rationality can be an issue, as well, but, that’s an issue we don’t discuss in mixed company. Boy, if there is phrase that accurately describes my readership, that would be it. Mixed company. I won’t even consider any discussion as to what it may mean, for that would again fall into the personal judgment arena, where we don’t go. In fact, we don’t go much of anywhere, not if it’s got any real connection to reality. How else can we expect to survive this process? We can’t. Nor should we….

Okay, I’m done. Our Pearl today is short, sweet, and, it’s done, so let’s get the slow on the toad, and get on down the page. I can’t think of anything else to put here, so, this is all you get. So be it….

Shall we pearl?….

“The man who believes he can do it is probably right.”

~~ Helvetius ~~

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on How to Live….

*******

“The wise man will always reflect concerning the quality, not the quantity of life.”

~~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~~

*******

“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then
to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”

~~ Bertrand Russell (1872-1967) ~~

*******

“People might not get all they work for in this world,
but they must certainly work for all they get.”

~~ Frederick Douglas ~~

*******

“To develop a complete mind:
Study the science of art;
study the art of science.
Learn how to see.
Realize that everything connects to everything else.”

~~ Leonardo da Vinci ~~

*******

“The only way round is through.”

~~ Robert Frost ~~

*******

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

See? Told ya it was short. It’s also, as we like to say around here, done to a turn. That’s a cooking phrase, meaning, we’re outta here. Go figure, eh? I’ll be back tomorrow, ffolkes; consider this your only warning…. 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.

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

dozer3

À bientôt, mon cherí….