Tag Archives: Robert Heinlein

Arbitrary moments of sublime nostalgia……

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Ffolkes,
I’ve hit the wall. It hurts. The longer I sit here and try to find something, anything in my head, the more solid the wall becomes. I’m already bleeding on the forehead, and it’s threatening to run down my arms onto the keyboard (which, by the way, is covered with tiny little thorns on the touch pads). Oh well, such is life; I’ll just keep on typing until I bleed out……
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“We have a presidential election coming up. And I think the big problem, of course, is someone will win.” — Barry Crimmins

Of course this is funny. It’s funny because it hurts; we laugh most often to ease the pain of living. And the fact that this is funny, is for me the saddest part of the whole deal. It’s funny because it’s true; someone is going to win the election, and no matter who it is, we will once again be at the mercy of a sociopath. Not just any sociopath, mind you, but one who has received from us a mandate, to go forth amongst the people and steal, steal, steal. We constantly are forced to deal with the felonious activities of those we elect, because by electing them we tell them, “It’s okay; I’ll just bend over right here while you unbuckle your belt.”

Recently, one of our readers opted out of receiving this via email, giving “your politics” (ie., my politics) as the underlying reason. I want to make something clear, if it isn’t already. I don’t have any politics. I firmly believe that those in our society who want public office are sick people, who have their own personal agendas for seeking office; public spirit, altruism, and a desire to help others are not listed on those agendas. So let’s just say it straight out….. I don’t like ANY politicians. Not Democrats, not Republicans, not Libertarians, not Socialists, Communists, or Green Party-ists. A central government is unfortunately a necessary evil, but whenever it becomes merely a popularity contest to decide which group of thieves to live with, then I start poking at it, and buying into it as little as possible. It’s the only way I can keep from getting nauseous every time I read the latest outrage in the news…….
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He who knows nothing, loves nothing.
He who can do nothing understands nothing.
He who understands nothing is worthless.
— Paracelsus

That may be a bit harsh; they’re not entirely useless…..a person fitting this description obviously has the qualifications to be a candidate for the U.S. Republican Party’s bid for the Presidency. This fits all six of the current crop like a tailored glove……
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Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can sleep.

Dogs do this consistently. So do cats. Who are we to go against tradition? Besides, maybe they know something we don’t…… Well, at least some of us don’t know. What this really says is simpler than it seems, but is still some of the best advice one can receive. In essence, what this says is that “worry has killed more folks than bleeding to death ever did” (thanks to R. A. H. again).

The stress and unrelenting pressure that life in modern society puts on each of us, merely to fulfill those tasks essential to normal life, is so great that most folks are very seldom able to step back far enough to gain any perspective on their lives. Not only do they neglect to stop and smell the roses, they forget to even see them as they hurry by.

Learning to make one’s own pace, a pace designed to nurture and thrive rather than merely survive, is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn. It may not keep one from dying, but it makes living a lot more fun….. “The best way to get rid of worries is to let them die of neglect.”– Unknown Smart Person

Why lose we life in anxious cares,
To lay in hoards for future years?
Can these, when tortur’d by disease,
Cheer our sick hearts, or purchase ease?
Can these prolong one gasp of breath,
Or calm the troubled hour of death?
— Gay (1688-1732), Fables
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Dawn

Melting ice in a pool, waiting,
convex and patient.
Sunlight seeking.

gigoid

Long live Haiku! Poetry for the masses, indeed. Almost anyone, I think, who first reads a haiku, is often compelled to try to compose one themselves. The very brevity of its structure, displaying the absolute maximum of meaning in the minimum of expression seems to act as a challenge to even the least literate among us.

I enjoy the process; it reminds me at times of the state of mind I use when diving for Pearls of Virtual Wisdom, a modified state of limbo, where impressions and feelings guide my direction more than reason or facts. It’s an easy way, I’ve found, to touch the very center of reality within ourselves; sort of an alternate form of conscious meditation. Sounds a bit like New Age psychosocial babble-speak, I know, but, hey, it works for me….
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“No matter where you are, there you are.” — Oliver’s Law of Location

Here you are. Caught implacably in time between the past on one hand, and the future on the other. You cannot go back, only forward, though you hold the past in your heart. The future holds your hope, but only by being where you are now can you get to the future you desire. The seed of hope is planted today, and will be reaped in the future, as long as it is nourished and nurtured on each successive now. Wishing it were otherwise won’t make it so, nor will whining, complaining, or denying. Only by accepting can we be in the moment, where we belong……

“Yes! Living in today’s complex world of the Future IS much like having a hive of bees living in your head. But, there they are!”– Firesign Theater, “I Think We’re All Bozos on This Bus”
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Opening to the inner eye, sinuous and subtle
floating truth, no fat, no rebuttal.
Fling away, share the innocent trouble,
as wells of laughter begin to bubble.

Okay, that’s another good start. I can feel more of this one in there somewhere, but it’s not ready to come out into the light just yet. Have patience, it’s all new to me, this poetry stuff. I gave up spending a lot of time in the pertinent state of mind needed to compose; too many interruptions from Reality for a lot of years. I’ll get it yet…..meantime, y’all take care out there….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Simmering elegantly, he polished the spittoon…

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Ffolkes,
I can see it’s going to be one of THOSE mornings already; been up awhile now, and inspiration is avoiding me. Since this will probably turn out to be a challenge to complete, we’ll just get started……
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“Those who cling to the untrue doctrine that violence never settles anything would be advised to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and of the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it.  The ghost of Hitler could referee, and the jury might well be the Dodo, the Great Auk, and the Passenger Pigeon.  Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst.  Nations and peoples who forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms.” — R.A. Heinlein

This is an unfortunate truth. None of us likes to believe we are violent by nature, but the fact remains that we are. One of the biggest obstacles to our progress toward a more civilized society is our reluctance to admit this truth. Denial of this aspect of reality has indeed caused much agony and despair to those who won’t believe it, because there are others among us who have no difficulty using this part of their nature to terrorize and enslave their fellows. History is full of examples of the futility of passivity in response to aggression, and our own country’s past is no exception.

We didn’t achieve our freedom from England so many years ago by politely asking King George to play nice; they didn’t get the picture until their asses had been thoroughly kicked, all the way back across the Atlantic Ocean. But, to hear people talk, you would think that nobody ever gets killed in drive-by shootings, crime statistics are a sham, and police are always respectful and peace-loving. It amazes me sometimes at how much the human mind is capable of blocking out of its perception, just by refusing to accept a simple truth that makes them uncomfortable….. makes one wonder about all this “lords of creation” nonsense, eh what?…..
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When the bird and the bird book disagree, believe the bird.

Here is a simple piece of advice, which, of course, makes it damn near impossible for most folks to take in. In fact, most of the folks described in the previous section are those who would not understand this. For many folks today, their primary source of information from the outside world comes to them via the television, and over the years since its inception, these people have come to trust what they see on TV as gospel truth.

Thus we see why we have the problems in society that we do, as TV can be considered to be the bird book, and reality is the bird. Even though they see the obvious difference between what the book says the bird will do and what the bird actually does, they choose to accept the book over the reality. To be honest, it’s really discouraging for those of us who prefer the spice of reality to the bland dullness of the book. But, what is there to do, other than keep plugging away at trying to educate those unfortunates enough to allow them to see at least one alternative to burying their heads in the sand? If you know of a way, please share that with me; I am in dire need of some good news……
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The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” — The Constitution of the United States of America Amendment 4, 1791

As far as I can tell, this is pretty clear language. There doesn’t seem to be any room in it for much discussion; it describes the reality that our Constitution is supposed to guarantee to us. As of January 1, six days ago, this law was consigned to the ranks of historical myth, nullified in the name of (I just sat here for five minutes, and could not find a word that in any way justifies the action. So we’ll just go with what the real reason is…..)  Fear.

The American people have been made so afraid of the possibility of danger from outside, that they forgot to watch for the danger from within. Those among us who would have dominion over the rest have lied, distracted, and bamboozled the American public into allowing the abrogation of most of the freedoms guaranteed to us by the Constitution, including the above. Only time will tell how long the public will remain in thrall to the fear-mongers and sociopaths who would send us all merrily to hell, as long as they get theirs……
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“A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” — Paul Simon

Possibly one of the best lines of poetry of the 20th century, this is from also one of the best songs of the era. As it is the only Paul Simon song I play (on guitar), I know it well, and I say it’s outstanding. The poetry alone is incredibly powerful, but when one adds the creativity of the melody, and the brilliance of using gunfire as a percussive element, it is just plain jaw-dropping. Besides, it’s really fun to play and sing…..just feels good.


But the real brilliance is the insight this line shows about human nature. We all have selective hearing, and even the best of us will ignore a truth we don’t want to hear. It’s one of the little indicators that shows why mankind still has the problems we do; this kind of denial is a form of childishness, a throwback to the days when a loud “NO” was our defense against the unknown, the only one we knew at the time.

I’m often reminded of this when I listen to political speeches. What a man fears is apparent in what he criticizes, and much of a political speech is concerned with pointing out the fallacies in whatever it is they have picked to attack, whether it is the policies of an opponent, or some other issue that is of (invented) public concern. They believe that what they are saying is righteous indignation at immorality, but it is clear that they are merely striking out at something they fear, because it is unknown to them. They hear what they want to hear, and disregard the rest……as do we all…..perhaps one day we’ll decide to grow up, and deal with the universe on its terms……
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“Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.” — Noah Webster

I think this speaks for itself, and will only make sense to those who see reality without filtering out the unpleasant parts….if you’re one of those, I commend you. And I recommend that you stay alert to what is happening in society at large. Huge changes are in the air, and the human world is nearing a crossroads, where choosing the wrong path will lead us into situations best left to the imagination. It makes sense to me to stay ready to jump, in whatever direction is called for…..and be ready for a rough landing…..
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I was right. It has been an exhausting struggle to get this done. But, my unblemished record of posting daily is now safe for another day, and I can get on to the ‘remains of the day’. I hope yours goes better than mine has begun. All will be well, though; it’s a good sign when I don’t give up on the whole thing, and just go back to bed…..y’all take care out there……. and be thankful…  I could be your neighbor…….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Alternate methods of removing recalcitrant pianists….

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Ffolkes,
Many years ago, even before I got married & raised kids, I had already made it a habit to never go out on New Year’s Eve. It always seemed a sucker’s bet to me, and I never had all that great a time at any parties I attended. I took the attitude of “I don’t go our when all the amateurs are out” and would stay home & celebrate the new year fairly quietly. It’s kind of like when Harry Truman said  “I never got in trouble over what I never said.” For me, New Year’s Eve  was when I never had a problem I didn’t cause myself, by over-consumption of alcohol. I have no regrets about that, intending as I do to continue the policy tonight, and every other New Year’s I have left in me. I don’t believe I’m missing much, as I also don’t get terribly wrapped up in the holiday frenzy anyway, and everybody out on the streets is either drunk, partially drunk, or insanely cheery about the passing of another day. Far as I can tell, on every January 1 in my life, the sun came up just like it did yesterday, and as it will tomorrow. The times between hold the only differences, and we are the ones who determine how that boat floats…….let’s get on with the fun…..
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A few random thoughts on the meaning of insanity, and by implication, sanity…….all came from one dive. Pearl after pearl on the same subject kept presenting itself for my perusal, so after a few, I just gave up & collected them. So here they are, all with a bit to say about those among us who perceive reality from a whole different place than you or me…..

‘What garlic is to salad, insanity is to art.’ — Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907), Reminiscences

If sanity were dollars I’d be bankrupt.

“I come from a long line of Southern psychotics and an environment where madness is currency and conversation is blood sport.” — Elizabeth Ashley

According to figures from the Justice Department, the average rapist serves only 5.2 years on jail, and the average murderer serves only 8.6 years. By contrast, the average time served for possession of LSD is 10.1 years, and many Americans are serving mandatory minimum sentences of 20 to 25 years for possession or sale of marijuana.
(Insanity comes in many guises…. your choice as to which is real, and which is delusion….)

Avoid reality at all costs!

And who (in time) knows whither we may vent
The treasure of our tongue? To what strange shores
This gain of our best glory shall be sent
T’ enrich unknowing nations with our stores?
What worlds in the yet unformed Occident
May come refin’d with th’ accents that are ours?
— Samuel Daniel (1562-1619) — Musophilus, Stanza 163
(Psychosis is rooted in fear, and fear also assumes many masks…..)

I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed.
— Thomas Moore (1779-1852) — Oft in the Stilly Night
(An accurate description of the onset of depression…..)

Why ask me? I’m just visiting reality.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled program…..
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To get people to think they are thinking begets friendship, whereas actually to make people think begets resentment. There is no level so low to which people will not stoop, even honorable people, to avoid the difficulty of thinking.

So true, so true…..it fascinates me at times, this reluctance on the part of most folks to using the one and only evolutionary advantage they possess over other creatures. Compared to other animals, we’re not particularly fast, nor very strong, and our teeth and nails are not very good weapons compared to those of a domestic cat, for just one example. We need to wear clothing to protect ourselves from our own planet’s weather extremes. We rely on other species for our sustenance, being unable to create it ourselves.

In the final analysis, we’re pretty fragile, physically speaking; even a soft blow administered to the correct point can cause death. Hell, our bodies have more than one design flaw; how about how our food and air processing facilities? They cross each other at a critical junction, at the throat, and frequently cause problems that can have mortal consequences. Our elimination process and sexual organs also cross paths, in a manner of speaking; the outlet for the former is right next to the points of ingress and egress of the latter, depending on gender. From a strictly engineering viewpoint, it’s not a very good design.

It’s clear that there is little chance of humans ever dominating on the basis of physical characteristics; most animals are much better equipped for that. Our mind, our imagination, our perception of more than merely physical energy in the universe, these are our advantages over other creatures. We have the ability to remember the past in the present, and use those memories to extrapolate the future.

This is an incredible evolutionary leap, one that allows humans to readily turn their perceptions of how things work into tools that enable us to alter reality to suit our wishes. We can’t really fight our way out of a paper bag, and our defenses against predators is weak in comparison to other animals. But the power of our minds is sufficient to neutralize all physical and environmental advantages of the other inhabitants, and gives mankind the means to not merely survive, but to thrive and dominate.

So, the question remains: why are so many people so averse to using their minds? Well, I don’t know, for sure. I could make some guesses, and they might even be accurate. But it really doesn’t matter, because the only creature who can cause us to change ourselves, is ourselves. Nobody can make us do anything we don’t want to do. Most folks learn the power of the word “No” at a young age (age 2 is customary for most folks), and become so enamored with it, it becomes their default position for anything that is, or even appears to be, ‘difficult’. Sad, but true…..and wishing won’t make it go away. I can only wish I were smart enough to figure out how to get folks to see the light, before its too late, and the bulb burns out for good…..
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When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,
The post of honor is a private station.
— Joseph Addison (1672-1719) — Cato, Act iv, Sc. 4

Aye, ’tis a lonely station as well. I  find it very rare to meet anyone today who places any credence in the concept of honorable behavior. If acting honorably is considered at all, it is well after avarice, pride, bigotry, ignorance, or self-interest is used as a first attempt. I find very few people I meet who live honorably; too many shortcuts used to obtain their desires, too many times ignoring evil, thereby encouraging it. Too may times people make their decisions on how to act toward others by first considering their own self-interests, never considering whether or not the other person has, or is even entitled to the same. Most interactions between people have become a contest to see who can manipulate the other into giving them their desires, regardless of consequence, or the ripple effect.

People just don’t seem to care anymore about other people. They wander through their lives in controversy, never knowing that they are their own worst enemy. Sometimes, it’s enough to make me pull my hair out, and for me at this stage, that’s not a good thing; what I have is long, but there is less and less of it every day.

Ah well, maybe I’ll completely retire, and stop paying attention to anything. No phone, no TV, maybe a little music. The radio news is probably not too toxic in small doses, and there’s always the option of making use of the On/Off switch…… SIGH……I’ve been an optimist for most of my life. It’s getting really tough to maintain a positive outlook, in the face of the mounting evidence that we are in a cultural stage best described by Robert Heinlein when he called these the “Crazy Years”, a time when the news resembles a self-edited periodical produced by the mentally ill…..Entropy is rising, and chaos is near, I’m afraid…..stay alert out there…….

“Better contraceptives will control population only if people will use them. A nuclear holocaust can be prevented only if the conditions under which nations make war can be changed. The environment will continue to deteriorate until pollution practices are abandoned. We need to make vast changes in human behavior.” — B. F. Skinner, Beyond Freedom and Dignity
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I’ve had this dialogue more than once; how ’bout you?

It: Can I ask you a question?
Me: You just did.
It: Ok, can I ask you two questions?
Me: You just did.
It: Ok, can I ask you another question after this one?
Me: You’ve already asked three questions without permission, why bother asking for the fourth?
— Michael Constant

Funny, isn’t it? How some folks believe they are entitled to “just a moment of your time.” I’ve had the above conversation, or one like it, on several occasions in my life, and each time my astonishment grows. If a person, in trying to be friendly and/or helpful, gives up their moments on every occasion asked, they are willingly enslaving themselves. Once one has the reputation of being the “go to guy” or “the ask her, she’ll know, or she’ll do it girl” they may as well forge and wear their own collar. Duty, which is the only valid reason for which a man acts, can a burden, yes. But it is a burden that is willingly shouldered, because the honorable man chooses his duty; no one may do it for him. Once chosen, duty will be fulfilled. But the choice is purely subjective.

However, this doesn’t stop other folks from trying to get us to do what they want, and they will use lies, innuendo, shame, defamation, guilt, or whatever manipulative tool they think they need, to get us to do their bidding. If one is not firm and self-reliant, they will find themselves never having enough time to meet their own needs, busy as they are with the needs of others. Best all-around to just stop them in the beginning, making it clear that one will make one’s own choices, and will not give up their time without good cause, as judged by themselves, and no other……
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If I don’t drive around the park,
I’m pretty sure to make my mark.
If I’m in bed each night by ten,
I may get back my looks again.
If I abstain from fun and such,
I’ll probably amount to much;
But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.   — Dorothy Parker

I don’t really have a lot to say here. Dorothy Parker is one of my favorite people from the early 20th century. She was a semi-militant feminist in a time when it was still unfashionable, a description that is perhaps due more to her unique personality than to any cause. She was herself, period. She refused to be anyone else, and was not afraid to say so in no uncertain terms, and with undeniable elegance and style. She had a rapier wit, and used it unsparingly on the rich, famous, and whomever else she felt needed a dose of it. I’m glad she lived, and glad to have knowledge of so great a spirit as inspiration…..
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I must say again I like this new format for the POVW (Pearls of Virtual Wisdom); it gives me more to write/rant about than the old way. I guess that’s a good thing. If nothing else, it’s caused an increased output, and that’s good. I’ve finally figured out the best way for me to make a little money at this, and hopefully can gain a little breathing space in the constant war with the economy. The only drawback I’ve noted so far is a tendency to ramble on and on……I’m writing about what I believe in, so the passion is coming out with it, increasing quantity at the minimum. I’m working hard to maintain the quality……hope I’m doing okay at it……any who, that’s enough for one morning. Y’all take care out there……

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Some days the dragon wins …

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Ffolkes,
Another day dawns, and I’m fairly certain that I left my mind in one of my dreams last night. Disconcerting, to say the least; I’m operating on extreme autopilot mode. This could make for some very interesting Pearls, as my mind is where I keep almost all of my restraint. In this condition, I could say damn near anything, and not give a whit for how it sounds to other folks. Oh well, we’ll just have to dive in, and take our chances…….
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“Violence accomplishes nothing.”  “What a contemptible lie!  Raw, naked violence has settled more issues throughout history than any other method ever employed. Perhaps the city fathers of Carthage could debate the issue, with Hitler and Alexander as judges?”–attribution not given, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this with Robert Heinlein’s name behind it.

Our planet is rife with violence of many sorts. It’s only to be expected when a goodly number of the creatures who live on this planet use other creatures as their source of food. Those other creatures are not always amenable to that, and will put up a pretty good argument for an animal that otherwise does not fight. This can lead to some rather spirited discussions over dietary preferences……. There is, however, another effect of using force to obtain food, one that can be problematic to use at best. The use of force can be easily applied to the process of obtaining other desired objects, such as a better cave, a prettier mate, more food, etc.  Humans very quickly adapted to this system, as violence is part of our nature. (Anyone who does not agree with this is not paying enough attention, or is in deep denial)  We tend to use the threat of force a lot as we go about our business; it is one of our most universally adaptable tools, able to be applied to almost any situation as a means of achieving one’s goals.

But there is a price for the use of this tool, and it is a heavy one. Each time a person uses violent means to achieve their ends, a little bit more Grace is carved out of their karma. They devolve, instead of evolving, and become more and more unable to use any other tools they may have, more bestial in their demeanor. The more violent a person becomes, the further they remove themselves from the rest of society, eventually coming into conflict with society at large, as being a danger to others.  As with just about anything, society as a whole is much more effective at violence than any single entity can be, just because of numbers, if naught else. Breaking the habit of assuming a violent stance in response to life’s vicissitudes is extremely difficult; people don’t give up their primary behaviors without a great deal of resistance. But society has little patience with rogue citizens, and will have its way, irrespective of our wishes. This is why we have prisons, and an entire system of law to protect each citizen from suffering violence at the hands of another citizen. If we were truly moral creatures, we wouldn’t need any of that….but we are not, and violence will be an issue for society to deal with as long as human nature remains resistant to change…..
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“Pessimism is only the name that men of weak nerve give to wisdom.” — Mark Twain

I always enjoy good advice in the form of an aphorism. Short, sweet, and sharp as a scalpel, a good aphorism cuts right through any preconceptions or perceptive fog, and arrows straight to the rational corner of the mind. This one from Mr. Clemens is a perfect example of the venue, and how it pulls the mind along with it, out of the darkness of ignorance, and into the light of knowledge. I consider aphorisms, or axioms, or anecdotes, or any other word that describes this form of communication to be peerless in their usefulness, especially as a teaching tool. Hell, they’re the backbone of this entire process; if I didn’t rely on them for subject matter, I’d have to sit down and think up what to write, instead of just commenting on what others have said, and that would bear far too much resemblance to actual work…….
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If money is the root of all evil, I’ve been uprooted.

True enough, but not accurate in its original sense. The quote actually reads “The love of money is the root of all evil”, and is misquoted a lot, probably because it makes the same kind of sense the original possessed, and people, in my experience, are pretty lazy. The sad part of this in my estimation is that everyone knows this, and just about everyone totally ignores it. People still spend most of their waking hours in employing various and sundry methods to increase how much money they possess. Everybody wants more, and more, and more, and will say and do almost anything to achieve that end.

I’ve never wanted any more of it than I need to get by, and to be able to do the things I like to do, with possibly some extra to give to folks who need some. That’s all. Perhaps my lack of ambition in this respect makes me seem strange, but I’ve never understood why folks would want to burden themselves with so much stuff that they have to worry about others trying to take it away. It’s much more fulfilling to use only what one needs, and be happy with that, and then use the rest for helping others to achieve the same…..and you don’t have to worry that it will be taken away, just like it was taken from someone else. I prefer to not become a target……
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“That which leads us to the performance of duty by offering pleasure as its reward, is not virtue, but a deceptive copy and imitation of virtue.” — Cicero (B.C. 106-43)

I’m always amazed at how accurate the statement “there’s nothing new under the sun” can be. According to this little gem, mankind has been struggling with the same philosophical questions for a long time, in this case about two thousand years. And from what I can see, we’re not making a lot of progress. This concept is as true today as it was in Greece two millenia ago; mankind continues to use whatever means they have at hand to manipulate others, even if those means are degrading to all who participate. The urge to control other folks, in order to set ourselves up as being superior, has never been comprehensible to me; I believe that the impulse to do so is indicative of a sickness in the soul, and that the folks who indulge in such actions are mentally ill. And I should know; I spent close to twenty years caring for the mentally ill, and have seen the outcome of every maladaptive behavior known to science.

In my humble opinion, anyone who actively wants to be President of this country is seriously mentally ill. The job is impossible for one man to do well, what with all the roadblocks to reform and/or progress that are thrown up in their path by the opposing political party. But, as absolute power corrupts absolutely, there is always some d__head out there ready to foist their own particular madness on the rest of us. I’m looking forward to the election next year, if only because the political arena has been so frigging insane this year. Next year promises to provide even more stuff to write about every day, as one pundit after another parades their personal brand of ignorance before the unwashed masses…..
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“Honor isn’t about making the right choices.  It’s about dealing with the consequences.” — Midori Koto

This is a good point to make, as I see a lot of folks in today’s world who really don’t have any idea of what honor really means. It is rare to even find someone these days who even thinks about their honor, and even more rare to find a truly honorable person. The whole concept has fallen out of favor in general society; expediency has become more acceptable, no matter how dishonorable it may be. To my way of thinking, society has reached a point where people’s sense of entitlement has grown completely out of control. A person’s personal desires are considered sacrosanct, no matter how badly achieving those desires may affect others. It doesn’t matter that acting in such a fashion places others in danger, or demeans them, or merely inconveniences them; people don’t care, because they’ve been led to believe that what they want is what they deserve, by corporate entities who feed into this, because it plays right into their hands. It’s easy to get someone to buy something, when they believe they have the right to it. What is hard is doing so in an honorable fashion, and we all know how most folks feel about doing hard stuff…..
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It’s probably a good thing to stop here. This was threatening to grow by another thousand words, so it’s just as well I cut it off here. You probably have other stuff to do, and I know I certainly have a plate full of problematic tasks. We’d all best be getting to it…..y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Sublime moments of perfect peace….

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Ffolkes,
I have, in past Pearls, frequently pulled my own covers, and admitted my tendency toward procrastination. I won’t go further down that road today, but I have several items of mail that need to be answered soon, and I’ve put them off long enough. Even we procrastinators must eventually buckle down and do the work; we just like to leave it until the deadline is looming, having come to know that our best work is done when crowded for time. I know it drives other folks nuts, but that is just a bonus; it’s not something I count on when I set out to wait. It’s just how folks who are slaves to the clock tend to react when someone has no investment in the same neurosis. I can’t help it that it bothers them; it’s their problem, not mine. As long as I get the work done in an acceptable fashion (i.e. completed), no one has the right to decide for me when I’m going to do it. So there!…..
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Why lose we life in anxious cares,
To lay in hoards for future years?
Can these, when tortur’d by disease,
Cheer our sick hearts, or purchase ease?
Can these prolong one gasp of breath,
Or calm the troubled hour of death?
— Gay (1688-1732), Fables

This is good advice. One of my favorite authors said it like this, “More people have worried themselves to death than ever died from being shot.” The power of human imagination allows us, to a certain extent, to predict future events, based on our perceptions, and our knowledge of past events. But this power is too strong for some people; the things they imagine happening frighten them, and they react to this fear as if it were real, already an accomplished fact. These people allow their fear to dictate how they respond to the outer world, with all its formidable complexity, often going in to full retreat from reality in order to avoid the situation. They fear not only the events which they believe MIGHT happen, but they also fear their own ability to deal with what they fear. And they are correct in that assumption, for as long as a person allows their fear to dictate what they will or will not do, then they are living in a prison of their own making……and will stay there until they face the final fear we all have to face in the end……
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“Give, expecting nothing thereof” — St. Thomas Aquinas

See, now this is the kind of thing that just sets me off……the sentiment herein defined is, to my way of thinking, the highest form of expression of one’s true humanity. When we are acting with our only motivation one of help and succor to a fellow being, it is acting in perfect harmony with the universe. When we help another, without expectation of reward, we are showing the finest state of being possible in this plane of existence.

If we can assume that this concept is true, THAT is what pisses me off. See, the first thing that comes to my mind in considering whether others think the same or not, is that every religion that mankind has created is based primarily on a concept that is diametrically opposed to the notion that man has the ability to act morally on his own. What do I mean by that? Well, all religions are based on the concept that in order to get to Heaven, or achieve Nirvana, or leave the Cycle of Reincarnation by achieving illumination, then one must give of themselves to the church, and accept the church’s version of reality.

If one examines that principle, what do we see? People are being lured into accepting whatever the church, or monk, or priest says, and following the precepts they provide, all for the sake of being included in the category of the saved. How is that not deceitful? The religious and political pundits would have us expect reward for right action, when the Truth is that our actions are purified by the choice, not by the act itself. When we act in service, we are being human, in the finest sense of the word; when we act in expectation of a reward, we drag our spirit down into the dirt…….which is where those that would have power over others would have us.  Whether they are of a political or religious bent, they want us confused, disoriented, and afraid; people in that state are much easier to manipulate…….
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“Don’t try to have the last word. You might get it.” — Lazarus Long

This is more good advice, of which you will find a lot attributed to this character.  Lazarus Long, for the uninitiated, is a character in a number of stories written by Robert A. Heinlein, the Grand Master of Science Fiction. The stories were part of a series he created to describe an “alternate future history” of the United States, one he formulated out of his own imagination. The stories cover a period of about 2200 years, from about 1912 onward. Lazarus Long was reputedly born in 1912, and he lived for the entire period of history covered in the books. This made him “The Senior”, the oldest surviving human in the year 4154, or thereabouts.

In that lifetime, he acquired a lot of knowledge, and a number of his aphorisms can be found in a compilation titled “The Notebooks of Lazarus Long”, which is included in its entirety in the book “Time Enough For Love”. The Notebook is filled with excellent advice for achieving a happy, joyful life filled with love, all codified and organized out of Heinlein’s amazing imagination. If you get the time, and the inclination, try to find a copy of the book, and read the Notebooks. It’s well worth the time and effort……

Oh, fear not in a world like this,
And thou shalt know erelong,–
Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong.
— Henry W. Longfellow (1807-1882) — The Light of Stars
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I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains
I looked to the children, I drank from the fountain
There’s more than one answer to these questions
pointing me in a crooked line.
The less I seek my source for some definitive
The closer I am to fine.
— the Indigo Girls, Closer to Fine

I really don’t feel like I need to say much about this. IMHO, it’s a very fine example how brilliantly strong poetry can be melded with excellent music to become even brighter and stronger. Beautiful metaphor, powerful structure, and compelling music make this song something special, and I’m just glad I was alive to hear it…….gotta love the Indigo Girls…..brains, talent, beauty, they’ve got it all……
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“The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creature that cannot.” — Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), What Is Man? (1906)

Intelligence and imagination are our most powerful tools in the survival game. The bottom line is that having these characteristics gives us a greater number of possible actions for any situation or query; we have more available options for potential behaviors than most of the other creatures with whom we share this planet. So, in essence, when faced with a need, question, or situation, our imagination gives us more choices from which to pick our response. In the above, Mr. Clemens points out our failure to use this ability to its full potential.

The CHOICE is the point; though we have more available choices, we often tend to pick the one that is helpful only to ourselves, and at the cost of someone else’s misfortune. Dogs, cats, etc. are all limited in their choices to what is programmed in their nature; they don’t have the ability to choose their response. The fact that we do, and still choose to pick the least ethical path, is a dark stain upon our nature……which s why I mostly like dogs and cats more than most humans……
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Well, it’s been an interesting morning. Let us hope that the interest remains palatable; too often ‘interesting’ ends up being ‘chaotic’, or even ‘depressive.’ Whatever happens, remember to make the right choices, and be happy that you have choices at all….. Y’all take care out there……

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Massive portions of pomegranate Jell-O….

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Ffolkes,
I realize it’s a dangerous habit, but I was thinking……but it wasn’t any fun, so I woke up, and decided to start early on today’s Pearl. Whether that was a good or bad decision will depend, I suppose, on what transpires from this moment on. Let’s see where today’s selections take us, shall we?……
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“A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” — Paul Simon

I have heard it said that Paul Simon is considered to be the greatest living American song writer; some of those reports claimed that he was the one to make that statement. I don’t know if that part of it is true, but I have to agree with whoever said it, as his poetry, and the  music he creates to surround it, is far superior to just about anyone else’s that I can think of just now. The line above is a perfect example of why his arrogance can be overlooked; it can be set aside because what is said is true. Doesn’t make him into a nice fella, but as far as I’m concerned, arrogance is only misplaced if it can’t be backed up with action. You don’t have to like a genius to recognize his talent; it just makes them more amenable to public consumption. In this case, the music he created with Art Garfunkel remains to this day the best material ever produced by a male duo. Hell, just the few albums they made together would have been enough to guarantee the immortality of fame, but the fact that he continues to write, and get better, is a big bonus for the rest of humanity.

One of the characteristics of Simon’s poetry is one shared by all the best poets, and that is how accurately it reflects reality. This one line makes such obvious sense, one wonders why they hadn’t thought of it before, just in that way. Every man (and woman) is guilty of censoring what they hear; anyone who claims that they do not is lying, plain and simple. It’s actually part of that set of skills we have left over from when we lived in caves and wore skins; it used to be very important to be able to focus concentration to hear only a certain set of sounds that indicated game (whether prey or predator) was in the vicinity.

    Such discrimination was an advantage in those circumstances, but in the modern world, it becomes a handicap, rather than an asset, because it limits ones perceptions, not always to our benefit. Taking in as much information as we can is now a more important skill than tuning out parts of what we hear; these days people can’t afford to ignore certain types of data, because it can come back later to bite. It’s more important now to take in all the information, and use it to decide how to act; we can no longer afford to reject any of it…..
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“Taking drugs in the 60s, I tried to reach Nirvana, But all I ever got were re-runs of The Mickey Mouse Club.” — Rev. Jim

I lived through the 60’s myself. Since I consider myself to be a pretty honest guy, I’ll admit to having done my share of experimentation with drugs, and cannot consider the experience with any regret, as it taught me many important lessons, about reality, self-control, and living life my own way. My own experiences with drugs were probably fairly typical for the time; I smoked a lot of pot, hash when available, drank beer and/or wine regularly, though more moderately than the typical college male, and tried out a couple of hallucinogenics, such as mescaline and LSD. Actually, I took acid because I wanted to see God, and one time, the last time, I did see God…….he told me to quit dropping acid and get on with life…..


That joke is older than I am, for sure…..and in reality was the entire purpose of this section. I was going to string it out even further, telling old hippie myths and superstitions, and generally creating a virtual image of the time. But I decided otherwise when I started to write, so this is all you get…..sort of…onward to the next dimension…..

“I refuse to be intimidated by reality anymore.  What is reality? Nothing but a collective hunch.” — Lily Tomlin
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“If one inquires why the American tradition is so strong against any connection of State and Church, why it dreads even the rudiments of religious teaching in state-maintained schools, the immediate and superficial answer is not far to seek…. The cause lay largely in the diversity and vitality of the various denominations, each fairly sure that, with a fair field and no favor, it could make its own way; and each animated by a jealous fear that, if any connection of State and Church were permitted, some rival denomination would get an unfair advantage.” — John Dewey (1859-1953), American philosopher, — from “Democracy in the Schools”, 1908

Funny how this particular interpretation of history is not the same as the one they taught us in school. The religious denominations mentioned above have had enough influence over government that they were able to get a different, less petty rationalization of why they were so adamant about the separation of the two parts of society that contend for authority, and for our support. According to what we were taught, the colonists fought for freedom partly because they had been oppressed by the government in the past; so the Puritans came to America to find religious freedom. At least that is what we are told……

The more complete truth, as expressed here by Mr. Dewey, somehow got left out of the classes I took in school; it is only in the more advanced regions of university-level study that differences in what is true and what is taught begin to come to light. The powers that be in the religious sectors of society don’t care if you know the truth by that time, because they are confident that they have indoctrinated enough of the populace that their influence in directing public opinion remains complete. And by the time one learns about all the lies we are brought up with, they are already educated enough to see how little chance there is of changing the way things are. As long as children are brought up with the lies that cement their position, there is little hope of change. You can’t fight against an enemy you’re never taught to fear, especially when the ones who are caring for you are as ignorant of truth as a babe in a manger……..
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Tho’ lost to sight, to mem’ry dear  / Thou ever wilt remain;
One only hope my heart can cheer,–   / The hope to meet again.
Oh fondly on the past I dwell,            / And oft recall those hours
When, wand’ring down the shady dell, / We gathered the wild-flowers.
Yes, life then seem’d one pure delight, / Tho’ now each spot looks drear;
Yet tho’ thy smile be lost to sight,      / To mem’ry thou art dear.
Oft in the tranquil hour of night,        / When stars illume the sky,
I gaze upon each orb of light,            / And wish that thou wert by.
I think upon that happy time,             / That time so fondly lov’d,
When last we heard the sweet bells chime, / As thro’ the fields we rov’d.
Yes, life then seem’d one pure delight, / Tho’ now each spot looks drear;
Yet tho’ thy smile be lost to sight,   / To mem’ry thou art dear.
— George Linley (1798-1865) — Song

I am in awe of this…..three poems in one. If you read down the left column, the poem is complete and beautiful. Read down the right column, and the same is true. Then, read each line with two phrases, and treat the whole as one poem; that poem too is complete and beautiful as ever could be. I don’t have any witty comments about this….all I can say is “WOW!”……..I am impressed…..
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“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” — Robert A. Heinlein

I have seen a poster that has on it about a hundred or so statements defining love. It is such a huge, all-encompassing emotion, that figures so heavily in almost all our actions, that attempting to accurately define it in a simple way is an extreme challenge. In my humble opinion (IMHO), this is the best of all of them. It covers all the bases as far as I can tell, and yet still implies the depth of such commitment with a deft turn of phrasing, and an excellent choice of words. “Essential to our own,” is the determining factor, and the one that shows us how our need to ensure the happiness and well-being of those whom we love is the strongest, most enduring of all human emotions…..and the best part of this particular statement? After he says what is needed, it’s done. No ups, no extras, just the facts ma’am…….perfect!
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Coming to the end of this kind of surprised me; I guess I really got into it……let’s see if we can translate that focus into something productive. It looks like it’s going to be a nice day outside, maybe I’ll try to get some sun today, though it will probably shock my system something fierce….I reckon my enthusiasm for physical exertion has been left behind me on the trail somewhere, and it’s too late to go back & look for it. Oh well….. y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Kowabunga!

What the pug dog saw in the night..

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Ffolkes,
I generally know how the day is going to go within a few moments of arising, based on some subtle but compelling clues. If I have to reboot the computer before typing, due to long-term mathematical computation haze, then I know Murphy is somewhere about, and my plans for the next little period of time are screwed. If, when I sit down to begin, the computer is fine, but coming up with a subject line/title causes actual pain in the brain, then I know I need to drink more coffee, read a little nonsense, and loosen up the neuronic pathways prior to beginning to write. But if all goes well, and the Pearls are ready, then it becomes a pretty productive morning, and I don’t have to flog myself continuously to get through the day. So, grab your most discriminating frame of mind and follow me, the tagline vault is this way. And remember, ffolkes, any offense taken is *only* in the mind of the offended.  😉
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“Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around us in awareness.” — James Thurber (1894-1961)

Thurber, the American playwright, generally confined his talents to writing for the stage, but I’ve noted several of his quotes in my database, and they indicate that he had a pretty good head, firmly attached to his shoulders, and used it for more than just writing plays. I like this one, because it points to a flawed outlook in a lot of folk’s habits of perception, one that many people have a problem getting past to find the real truth. The flaw is not in the thought process, but rather in what we use to drive it, the motivation, so to speak. I’m speaking of how many people allow their emotions to color their thinking processes, a habit which bleeds over into the process of perception, and has a negative effect on how we perceive what we see or hear.


As humans, we all have feelings, and those feelings can be under our conscious control, or not. It really is that simple, and is a matter of choice. We can experience whatever reaction we have to our perceptions and apply an emotional tag, a value judgment, by any other name, and let the emotion determine how we will react to the perception. This is what most folks do, and is a large part of why our society is in dire straits.  The great majority of people never even consider that they can choose to feel, that they have control over their feelings, and spend their lives putting out emotional fires. A smaller portion of folks have learned how to keep their feelings leashed to their will, and don’t allow the universe to control them by dint of circumstance; they make their own choices, and live a much fuller, more aware existence than the rest of their fellows…..
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Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on,–
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d,
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone.
— John Keats (1795-1821)
— Ode on a Grecian Urn

This poem by Keats may possibly be the most widely known piece of poetry in history; I know that he, and his work, are a part of just about every American school’s English curriculum, and have been for years. I don’t remember much about studying it in high school, but I do remember doing so. As I read it yesterday, when I found it in my dB, I could see why it has passed the test of time. Lyrical, rhythmic, and beautifully constructed, with a message near and dear to every libertarian alive, to wit: Be yourself!

Such simple yet elegant use of language, such a sensual flow of words, all used so deftly to point up the path to a more satisfying existence, are all good indicators of why Keats is considered one of history’s greatest poets, one by which all others are judged. In my mind, the only three people who come close to Keats’ competence are Alexander Pope, Longfellow, and Emily Dickinson. Not bad company, eh?…..
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“Termiter’s argument that God is His own grandmother generated a surprising amount of controversy among Church leaders, who on the one hand considered the argument unsupported by scripture but on the other hand were unwilling to risk offending God’s grandmother.” — Len Cool, American Pie

I would love to see this as a plot line for a movie. Can’t you just picture it? An ecumenical council of the world’s religious leaders, around a large table in a neutral site, all standing around, arguing furiously over who has the biggest imaginary friend, and whether that friend has a grandmother. I think, if nothing else, it would go viral on You Tube, even if it tanked in the theaters, and got panned by the critics.

You could have Sean Connery as the Pope, Sean Penn as a Billy Graham evangelical, and Bishop Desmond Tutu could be played by Eddie Murphy. Oh, and Robin Williams playing God, with Meryl Streep as God’s grandmother. The script possibilities are unlimited, and a million gag-writers in Hollywood and Bollywood would be panting to have their jokes chosen for the meeting room scene! There might be some static thrown out by the actual religious leadership, but they’re accustomed to being ignored, so that won’t matter. Hey, it’s got as much chance at creating peace as the stuff they’re doing now; probably even better…..
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“When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, “This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know,” the end result is tyranny and oppression no matter how holy the motives.”– Robert A Heinlein, “If this goes on”

This rather straightforward sentiment from Mr. Heinlein is one I happen to hold very dear. It makes very clear how to recognize those who would be tyrants; anyone who would try to control my perceptions, or limit my sources of information, becomes eligible for being labeled as an oppressor. I also like that it makes no bones about the motivation of the oppressors; it is clear that no excuses are valid, and no reason is good enough to allow me to make excuses for them. The motives for their oppression matter not at all to me, nor should they.

It is unfortunate, in my mind, that politicos and religious pundits are even given the opportunity to lay this kind of nonsense on me; usually a pest will go away if ignored hard enough. But the media gives all of them equal time, the fools, the would-be tyrants, the zealots, all get their exposure in the media, and are thus encouraged to continue to throw up all this crap for us to wade through. Makes me want to go out and buy two things: some high top boots, and a couple of guns…….I guess that’s four things, but hey, it’s my dime……
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Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
About the center of the silent Word.
— T.S. Eliot

What is there to say about T.S. Eliot that hasn’t already been said? Probably one of the most well-known, and popular poets of the Twentieth Century, his work is stark, pregnant with potential, and takes the reader to places never before seen or felt. The above resembles some of the Zen koans I’ve seen that are used by practitioners as a focus of meditation.

It’s always amazing to me how much he packed into small little packages; the depths of meaning keep revealing themselves the more one thinks about the words, and what they mean, like an onion being peeled one layer at at time. Here is a poem of two lines, that speaks volumes about the human experience, about perception, about Reality. Two lines. Millions of impressions created, each unique to the one who perceives. Incredible.  Astounding. Ya just gotta love it……
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If not fully pleased, I am content. This one came out pretty well, from my vantage point, which bodes well for the rest of the day. We can only hope….. y’all take care out there….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Banjo music and french toast….

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11/8/11
Ffolkes,
We begin anew, night into day; we are fresh, we are alive. We are…..

To whom the mornings are like nights,
What must the midnights be!
— Emily Dickinson

One of my favorite parts of life is experiencing serendipity. There is something very fulfilling, very soothing about getting more than expected from Reality; like a free sno-cone, or finding a forgotten dollar bill in your pocket. And every time I come across another poem by Emily D., I get that thrilling feeling, of having looked for dirt, and found diamonds instead. How fascinating it would be, to be able to hold a conversation with someone whose mind possessed such a unique vision of the world, and found within herself the language to describe those visions with clarity, and beauty. This one is typical of her ability to show a side of Reality that most folks never consider, and put that piece of Reality into a form that brings the reader to a deep understanding of what they heretofore had never known. And in two miserly, but meaningful verses, at that!


The appeal of Ms. D’s poetry is as strong today as it was during her life, and its timelessness is borne out by the fact that even today, her verses have lessons for us to learn that are as important as they were a hundred years ago. The program I use to generate a lot of my Pearls, and where I found this little nugget, suggests that this poem could easily be descriptive of the hackish culture, (from hackers, aka rogue, or independent computer programmers) members of which are frequently to be found working through the night, and whose world-view could be described as being as unique as hers. To my way of thinking, poetry that is timeless, and as deeply insightful as this, is the pinnacle, the ultimate, most important use of language, for it makes us more human for having read it…..

— How many
Zen masters
— does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Two: one to change the bulb and one not to change it.

The writings and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, or Enlightened One, were created during his life in India, in the time before Jesus of Nazareth was born. His words have inspired humankind for well over two millenia, bringing peace of mind and hope for the future to all who would follow its precepts. An integral part of Buddhist practice is meditation, using the clarity of mind  brought about by introspection to lead one along the path to pure enlightenment. A Zen Buddhist will sit and contemplate, for example, the duality of perception, examining Reality from both sides, and how the nature of being human is grounded in our method of perceiving the duality present in every object, and concept, in this universe. We see due to the presence or absence of light; we hear because each word is surrounded by silence. Coming to an understanding of how we relate to the events of our life as another expression of the dual nature of the universe is a valuable tool, useful in coming to terms with events that would otherwise be troubling. A deep-seated knowledge of how Reality works can only be helpful in a world that constantly challenges us to meet demanding standards, and won’t even tell us what those standards entail. In other words, it’s a good tool for slowing down Entropy, or at least painting it a nice lively color…….

“Animals can be driven crazy by putting too many in too small a pen. Homo sapiens is the only animal that voluntarily does this to himself.” — Lazarus Long, from Robert A. Heinlein’s — “Time Enough For Love”

Regular readers of this…..I never know just what this is, so we’ll call it an ongoing exploration of reality….will be aware that a common subject of discussion is the power of human stupidity, and how deliberate ignorance plays a big part in the sad state of affairs of society at large. The reason I end up writing about this so often is pretty obvious; the news every day is chock full of examples of how another bonehead move, deliberately aggressive behavior, or ignorant remark has caused some kind of problem, problems that may or may not involve death, destruction, injury, or even, heaven forbid, halitosis (gasp!!!). People are people, and they are constantly finding new ways to abuse this sorry old planet, believing in their own false immortality, and worst of all, believing they have the right to act any way they wish, regardless of how it affects others or the outside world.

     This sense of entitlement, encouraged shamefully by organized religions that tout Mankind as the inheritors of the Earth, chosen by their (G)od to “have dominion” over the rest of the life forms, is the underlying false premise behind most of society’s ills. When a premise is false, the conclusion can only be false, as well, and this idea of the superiority of our species, can be seen as the critical factor in human nature that allows us to make decisions that are only in OUR interests, and the rest of Reality matters not at all. As long as I’ve got my milkshake, who cares about the rest?……selfish creatures, are we not?…….

Hmmm….a little less positive than I like to be, but truth nonetheless….. y’all take care out there…..

—

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

gigoid

Dozer at play..

Kowabunga!

Like that, but different…..

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Ffolkes,
Due to circumstances that are completely within my control, I have  lot to do today, so I will be using the old format for this morning’s offering, with just a short intro, and then some mighty fine virtual food for thought. Between fighting off depression, scratching for change, and juggling creditors, I have neglected my homework, which only hurts me, so there ya go. I sleep a lot, probably because when I’m asleep, I feel more in control of my life. Pitiful, isn’t it? Ah well, life is Change, and this situation too shall pass in time. I’ve procrastinated almost as far as I can with the homework, though I’m sure I’ll come up with at least one or two ways to put it off before I actually get to it. I’m creative in that respect, if in no other…….anywho, here are today’s Pearls, all of which can be found in Category “Finest Kind Stuff”………

“To be “matter of fact” about the world is to blunder into fantasy…. and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful.” — Robert A. Heinlein

“All the knowledge in the world is not wisdom”. — Albert Einstein

“Invisible Pink Unicorns are beings of great spiritual power. We know this because they are capable of being invisible and pink at the same time. Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can’t see them.” — Steve Eley
(Sound familiar? Has a certain Tea Party ring to it, no?…..)

You ‘d scarce expect one of my age
To speak in public on the stage;
And if I chance to fall below
Demosthenes or Cicero,
Don’t view me with a critic’s eye,
But pass my imperfections by.
Large streams from little fountains flow,
Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
— David Everett (1769-1813)
— Lines written for a School Declamation

The wages of sin are high but you get your money’s worth.

“Please come home with me…  I have Tylenol!!” — Zippy the Pinhead

Well, there you go, Ollie, another fine mess…..and in Technicolor too!  Y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Trial by margarine….

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Ffolkes,
Not wobbling is harder than it seems it would be; it takes a lot of concentration. And Murphy is certainly no help. My primary regret is that Life doesn’t come with a handy User’s Manual. It seems to me that something important like this would come with a few instructions, but nooooo, you have to guess. How to tie a shoe? Figure it out. How to eat? If you’re hungry, you’ll eat; but be careful not to eat the wrong stuff. You have to already know the wrong stuff. Get married? Good luck, because you are on your own. Raise kids? Actually, there are a lot of books on this, but each one advises different techniques, and they’re all useless. Even if you choose the right one, there’s still no guarantee that your kids won’t end up with their picture on the post office wall.
We don’t get a manual, and we sure could use one. If we had one, everyone could be given their manual on the first day of school, and we could all learn something more useful than Dick’s inane conversations with Jane. Of course, even if we had a manual, many folks would just ignore it, or use it to gain some kind of advantage over others. That’s the part that even the manuals don’t understand or explain; human nature defies classification. No matter how good a system is, no matter how high the ideals striven for, no matter how noble are some people, there will always be someone who perverts and twists things to suit their own purposes. There is always some idiot who believes they are ‘mo bettah’ than other folks, and who will try to arrange matters so they have power. This is why we have global warming, and impending financial ruin, and constant wars. As long as there are people who desire power, we will continue to have these issues, and we will most certainly join the dodo, the brontosaurus, and every other species that has become extinct. The difference between all of them and us is that we will become extinct by our own hands. There, now don’t you feel better?….

“I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.” — Agatha Christie

“I am ignorant of absolute truth. But I am humble before my ignorance, and therein lies my honor and my reward.” — Kahlil Gibran

There is no ornament like virtue,
There is no misery like worry,
There is no protection like patience,
There is no friend equal to generosity.
— Nagarjuna (c. 100-200 A.D.)

“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”

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” — Dalai Lama

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

I don’t know about y’all, but I’m a little worried about the future….I sure hope there is one…….y’all take care out there….

Sometimes I sits and thinks,

and sometimes

I just sits.

gigoid

Dozer at play..

Kowabunga!