Tag Archives: Shakespeare

Abrubtly, he mentioned his investments….

Posted on by
9

Update: 0945, 3/13/2012…. This Pearl of Virtual Wisdom was completed and ready to post at 0720 this morning. Sadly, my ISP is experiencing network problems, conveniently caused by the recent extremely large solar flare from out star, Sol, the munificent, that reached Earth day before yesterday, and continues to excite the Northern and Southern Lights… at this hour, there is still no word as to when they will overcome the problem, and restore service… SIGH….. if no change, I will update in two hours, just so I can keep from screaming aloud…..

1145, 3/13/2012…. Well….it’s a bit early, only 1138, but I’m getting that blood pressure spike that tells me that either I go for a walk and look for an innocent victim for my displaced anger, scream loud enough to hurt my throat and have the neighbors calling 911 for an ambulance, or begin my written rant… so here I am. With no news forthcoming regarding a time frame for restoring service, a time to be henceforth referred to as the Much Desired and Greatly Anticipated Moment of Deliverance From A Conveniently Disguised Plot to Censor My Blog by The Combined Forces of Evil Incarnate, I can do nothing but speculate as to the next form this devious attempt to silence me, and stay vigilant….. more later on that…. Okay then, 1145, Network still down, I’m off to make lunch and ponder the plan for how to fill up my time, and try to not think about the close to a hundred emails I expect to flood my inbox once I’m back online…. SIGH….

1300 Back online….the MDAGDTCMBBTCFOEI has arrived, and evil is once more on the run…. Blessed Be!….

Ffolkes,
Some days, such as this one thus far, the universe seems to be making a determined effort to be rude and contrary. So far, my ISP informs me that the network degradation problems they were having last night (8 hours ago) are still happening, but they are “working diligently” to overcome the problem, which affects ONLY my type of modem on the network! Then I go to answer a comment in WordPress with the new drop down menu function, and it refuses to scroll down past the bottom of the page, so I have no idea if what I’m typing is being reproduced, or where I am in my sentence. Then the absolutely rudest piece of unwelcome news… the coffee isn’t ready….because it is the one clock I neglected to turn forward on Sunday….so I have to wait for my coffee. Which is why I am whining and bemoaning my fate, just as if it mattered at all…… I guess I should go Pearl, and forget the rest…..tough without coffee….grumble, grumble, hmph…..

Oh, BTW…..my ISP problem is making it hard to get to other folk’s sites, so here is a comment, directed to Cracked and Snaap…. Oh, you have kids? I love kids! But I don’t think I could eat a whole one….. so don’t go to any trouble for my sake…..  🙂
___________________________________

Folly, thou conquerest, and I must yield!
Against stupidity the very gods
Themselves contend in vain. Exalted reason,
Resplendent daughter of the head divine,
Wise foundress of the system of the world,
Guide of the stars, who are thou then, if thou,
Bound to the tail of folly’s uncurb’d steed,
Must, vainly shrieking, with the drunken crowd,
Eyes open, plunge down headlong in the abyss.
— Johann Christian Friedrich von Schiller, The Maid of Orleans

This is one of my favorite verses, and the original source (I believe) for the sentiment “Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.” A paean to the power of reason, defiant in its resistance to ubiquitous Folly, it describes perfectly the anguish felt by all men of reason in the face of the unlimited power of human stupidity, to which I would add the unwholesome adjunct carried by most of the deliberately stupid, cupidity….. a word I use to describe how these unfortunates make a deliberate choice to be ignorant, rather than attempting the, to them, hellishly difficult task of trying to learn.

“There are two infinite things in the universe: hydrogen atoms and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the hydrogen atoms.” — Albert Einstein

These misguided and stubborn throwbacks to cave days will typically expend more effort fighting to preserve their lack of understanding than they will to change it, no matter how convincing the argument may be, and even if they are made to see that they would benefit from even the smallest lessons Life has to give them. They prefer their cocoon of soft cotton, covered by thick steel, that covers and protects their insistence on wearing blinders and sunshades to keep out any extraneous knowledge; ignorance must indeed be blissful, for those who have not the courage or the honor to seek growth instead of stagnancy will cling to it like an addict to his heroin…..

“Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.” — Lazarus Long
___________________________________

Shakespeare is not our poet, but the world’s,–
Therefore on him no speech! And brief for thee,
Browning! Since Chaucer was alive and hale,
No man hath walk’d along our roads with steps
So active, so inquiring eye, or tongue
So varied in discourse.
— Walter Savage Landor (1775-1864) — To Robert Browning

Hmph! Poets, speaking to poets, about poets, in a poem… what were they thinking? Was it a literary challenge? A contest for prizes? Or just a temporary insanity, shared by more than one afflicted young sensitive dilettante? Maybe a virus, passed around by the English mail system, affecting only gullible poets of a certain age…. I don’t know, but it just seems a bit, well, cocky and indicative of an overweening pride, to my mind. Not the best poem, even for free verse; I expect more rhyming from a poet in the Romantic tradition, especially a contemporary of Browning, who couldn’t order breakfast without breaking into rhyme! Ah well, I suppose even Romantics have their bad days….. but I’m disappointed, to say the least……

Here ‘s to the maiden of bashful fifteen;
Here ‘s to the widow of fifty;
Here ‘s to the flaunting, extravagant queen,
And here ‘s to the housewife that ‘s thrifty!
Let the toast pass;
Drink to the lass;
I ‘ll warrant she ‘ll prove an excuse for the glass.
— Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816)  — School for Scandal, Act iii, Sc. 3

Now, that’s more like it! Rhymes that rhyme, structure, and a clever twist…. what more could a thirsty man ask for?…..
___________________________________

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.  True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.” — George Washington

I like this….it fits in well with how I’ve always perceived Washington to be; a slow, but deep and steady type of mind, that because of it’s deliberative nature, sees deeply into any question, and draws out the most pertinent and useful information as a response. I have a lifelong friend whose mind works like that; Chuck, if you read this today, I’m speaking of you. I’ve always admired the way your mind works; you took your own sweet time, but you always got to the correct destination, no matter what subject was under discussion. Sometimes it surprises folks who don’t know you, and think that because you speak and think deliberately, you aren’t very bright; it’s good camouflage, isn’t it? And, in addition, I would include you in those few people I call Friend; our relationship, though old and well-worn, is as strong and fresh as when we last saw each other; less than a year ago it was when we met and reconnected at dinner with George and Rick, after close to 45 years since we graduated….. and it was the same as if we had seen each other the week before….. I cherish these memories, as I cherish those few who I regard as my friends….. a very small list, all things considered…..
___________________________________

“Courage can’t see around corners, but goes around them anyway.” — Mignon McLaughlin (The Neurotic’s Notebook)

When people think of those characteristics that are important for personal growth and living life honorably, courage is often overlooked, yet it is of primary importance, to each and every person who seeks to better their life and stature, or to help others do the same. All other virtues are of no use, if one has not the courage to act upon them; there is no honor, and no gain, in keeping silence in the face of oppression, nor will any of the less fortunate be helped, if we have not the courage to reach out to them.

There are innumerable instances every day when a lack of courage causes pain and hardship for those who have no power or resources to reject evil influences; rank cowardice it is, on the part of those who oppress, on the part of those who are oppressed, and most disappointing, on the part of any who witness such events. Everyone may give lip service to their disapproval of oppression, and tout their rejection of the forces of evil, but when confronted by the reality, the most common reaction is “am I, then, my brother’s keeper?”, and to look away, thus giving their consent by their silence….. One must find courage first, before any of their integrity or honorable intentions will have any relevance; evil is only fought with acts of honor, but one must act, and courage is essential to that process; just thinking about it won’t help anyone but the aggressor….
___________________________________

“Human language is like a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance to, when all the time we are longing to move the stars to pity.” — Gustave Flaubert

Gus must have been a bit down in the mouth the day he wrote this, but he still managed to create a beautiful image, one that echoes the depths of the human condition, exposing the caverns of our collective soul. Sometimes I think that poetry manages to change the cracked kettle to a snare drum and brushes, rhythmic enough to have the bears dance a tango, or perhaps a waltz. Even prose, when well conceived, can make us howl at the moon and caper under the stars. And sometimes, we break the kettle, and get eaten by the bears….. I wish the last image was not so familiar as it feels….. but then, I’m no Flaubert, by any stretch of the imagination…… I’m closer to the level of say, the Marx Brothers…… Harpo was always my favorite, probably because he was a mime….. he had a natural understanding of what Harry Truman said, to wit: “I never have regretted anything I didn’t say….”   A pair of wise men…..
___________________________________

We come sadly to the end of another day’s musings; endings are always a bit sad, aren’t they? But our sadness can be soothed by the knowledge that tomorrow will come, same as it does every day; that small assurance remains as one of our most reliable anchors to reality, for it has been found to be true for every day we have lived, and shows no inclination toward changing anytime soon. Comforting, don’t you think? I find it so….. but, I’m pretty easy to please, when it comes to reality…. it changes so often on me, I try not to anticipate events too far ahead; it seems to work out better for everybody that way….. Y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Hidden behind a glass partition….

Posted on by
16

Ffolkes,
Bastard rhymes are jostling for precedence in order in my head, just to make me mad. They do this periodically, and I think it’s just because they are jealous of free verse, and all it implies. Normally I just offer them some cold cereal, and they’ll slink away, but they look a bit more committed this morning. I suppose I will have to break down and give them cheese. I hate to do that, mostly because they’ll want it next time. But also because I hate to share my cheese, with anything, much less a bastard rhyme….

Maybe I’ll try a new method….ignoring them works well with standard problems; it’s like King Ralph I said back in 1990, “There’s no problem so big or complicated it can’t be ignored. Now all we need are all-new globes.” Yeah, that sounds right…..we’ll go with that, and if they complain, so much the better. Nothing I like more than pissing off bastard rhymes in the morning….. shall we dance?…..
___________________________________

“If you can set the rules, you can win the game.” — John McCormack

Finding this pearl brought me a small sense of relief; I wasn’t sure if this was common knowledge or not, and didn’t want to spoil a good survival tool. But since it’s commonly available, I can use it without guilt, because it won’t make the playing field any less even if I do, as others have the same option.

This is a tool? you may ask….yes, I would answer, it is. How often in life have you found yourself somehow involved in a game or system not of your own choosing, and floundering around ineffectively because of it? If you’re anything like me, and I’m not THAT weird, it happens regularly, if not frequently. Somebody is always trying to set us up somehow, and gain some kind of arbitrary advantage, by making us conform to rules we don’t even know.

But now that you know this, you should be able to see how powerful a tool this really is. No longer do you have to put up with someone else’s idea of what is fair; if you find yourself in a position of losing out, then just change the rules of the game to suit your own purposes. This has the immediate effect of placing the controls of the situation back in your hands.

Using this tool, you will never have to face disappointed loved ones, or friends, just because you failed at a task they felt you should succeed at; instead you emerge victorious, with reputation intact, all by using a simple, easy-to-use skill. It’s how James T. Kirk became the first cadet to solve the supposedly unsolvable Kobeashi Maru scenario, and it is how you can regain control of a lot of situations in life that previously gave you fits….. Not a bad find for a Thursday, eh?…..
___________________________________

Books are burning
In the main square, and I saw there
The fire eating the text.
Books are burning
In the still air
And you know where they burn books
People are next.
— “Books Are Burning”, XTC

When I first read this, an image immediately came to mind, a picture of some backwoods preacher in a tent somewhere, haranguing the local populace his own brand of ignorance, a pile of library books burning merrily in front of the stage where he preaches.  (Have you noticed? All these zealots are men. You never see women doing this sort of thing…)  I then realized that behind that image was a real-life danger of seeing this happen here in this country, if people like this Rick Santorum idiot have their way.

For weeks now, this bozo, who has no idea his nose is big, red, and bulbous, has been spouting nonsense that he thinks will appeal to a large number of conservatives, getting more and more outrageous each time he opens up his mouth. I saw yesterday that now he claims that as President, he would “unmarry” all the gay folks who have already been wed. What a ridiculous concept! And what business of the federal government’s is it who marries whom? And who asked him, anyway?

This clown, er, wait, that’s an insult to clowns. This fucking idiot (there, now I feel better…) has also made it clear that if he were elected (fat chance of that, fortunately) he would send all illegal immigrants back to where they came from, and he would make it a criminal offense to either get an abortion, or, get this, to become pregnant without being married! I only have one rational response to such idiocy and that is, “Sod off, you buggering idiot. Who the fuck told you that you have any right at all to tell a woman what to do with her own body? Oh, God told you? Well, now at least we can get you some medication for your condition….”

But, what I find scariest in all this man’s demagoguery is that he actually has supporters, people who feel the same way, even some women. I despair for these people, for they are in danger as well. Their danger stems from the fact that this man will lead them right into the fiery depths of their own version of hell, since most of what he spouts is directly opposed what is in the Bible. At least none of this was mentioned in any of the several different versions I’ve delved into over my lifetime. I suppose, in order to be fair, and to live up to my belief in free speech, we have to let him speak…. but we certainly don’t have to listen…..

Silence is the only acceptable substitute for brilliance.– our old friend, Anonymous
___________________________________

She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life ‘s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
— William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Macbeth
— Act v, Sc. 5

I’ve mentioned before that Will isn’t one of my favorites in historical literature; but I also acknowledged that he is indeed one of the greatest wordsmiths of all time. This is an example of what I mean by that. A lot of his poetry, to me, seems overblown, more convoluted than it needs to be; this passage belies that belief. It’s beautifully put together, and a worthy expression of the concept it portrays. I’m going to leave it at that; some things just don’t need my help to be interesting…….

And here is an example of Will speaking from the other side of the coin…..just not very good, I’m afraid….

If I do prove her haggard,
Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,
I ‘d whistle her off and let her down the wind,
To prey at fortune.
— William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Othello
— Act iii, Sc. 3
___________________________________

All things dull and ugly, All creatures short and squat,
All things rude and nasty, The Lord God made the lot;
Each little snake that poisons, Each little wasp that stings,
He made their brutish venom, He made their horrid wings.
All things sick and cancerous, All evil great and small,
All things foul and dangerous, The Lord God made them all.
Each nasty little hornet, Each beastly little squid.
Who made the spikey urchin? Who made the sharks? He did.
All things scabbed and ulcerous, All pox both great and small.
Putrid, foul and gangrenous, The Lord God made them all.
— Monty Python’s Flying Circus

An unusual sentiment, but perfectly true, if one takes the concept of God at face value. It’s a perfect example of how a good idea taken to its logical extreme becomes ridiculous, and thus exposes its very real flaws. A lot of folks may take this the wrong way, and cry “Blasphemer!”, but hey, I didn’t write it; I just found it and shared it. Let’s not go back to the distant past when the messenger got shot for delivering bad news.

I have showed these folks above how to deal with what they believe to be a rigged game; just change the rules. But, sadly for most of them, they have adhered so long to the same old set of outmoded rules of conduct that they have lost the flexibility needed to enhance one’s chances of survival, rather than reducing them. As for me, well, I figure it’s a personal problem, and of little interest to me, other than to mark that spot on the map as not worth visiting……
___________________________________

“If any man can convince me and bring home to me that I do not think or act aright, gladly will I change; for I search after truth, by which man never yet was harmed. But he is harmed who abideth on still in his deception and ignorance.” — Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 AD)
— Meditations, vi, 21

I like this for a number of reasons, but the foremost is for its relevance to my own life. I have long considered myself to be a seeker of truth, and have known all that time that flexibility in thinking is the most important attribute of the true seeker. In simpler terms, in order to learn the truth, one must first admit to not knowing it; therefore, it is essential to the process to be able to accept from others their own version of truth. Only thus can those differing values be compared to what we hold to be true, thereby providing us with solid evidence for whichever truth we are seeking.

We are not born knowing what is true and what is not; only experience can teach us, and one can only be certain of reaching those truths if all of the available evidence has been reviewed. This is the only insurance we have against making ignorant decisions about important issues; the only other option is to remain ignorant, a state of anathema for a true seeker……
___________________________________

Well, I finally made it. It’s been a long winding road to get here, not too much uphill, but lengthy. I think maybe I write so much each morning in order to keep from jumping into the day too far without preparation; if nothing else, this process does clear out my head to a degree not possible over the course of the day without having used it. It’s kind of like that nasty phlegm one gets with a bad cold, you know? Better out than in….. in any case, y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Acres and acres of obsolete dreams….

Posted on by
4

Ffolkes,
Patterns of light, both bright and fearful chase each other madly ’round and ’round, mad peals of laughter shrieking through the cool night air. Ghostly figures of unheralded regrets vie for position closer to the oddly shaped harpsichord in the foyer, while the thief of lost hope and his cohorts silently steal away. As the outer walls grow nearer, madness fades, and the silent myrmidons forge ahead, further into the day, further from the night’s insanity, until reality assumes a more familiar form and face, and faded regrets hold no more power over the hearts of the unmindful……

As is often obvious, reality can be pretty fluid in my world. I don’t insist that it stay in familiar patterns just to make me more comfortable; that never works in any case. Also, I find that reality becomes more palatable, more amenable the less one tries to have any influence over it; it seems to resent, and resist, any such foolery, and has been known to revolt altogether when attempts are made to make it conform to any preconceived notions. And to be honest, I don’t blame it at all….. let’s see what’s in the hopper for us today, shall we?…..

“Some people write to please, to soothe, to console. Others to provoke, to challenge, to exasperate and infuriate. I’ve always found the second approach the more pleasing.” — Edward Abbey   (Me too! Obviously….)
___________________________________

Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;
He who would search for pearls must dive below.
— John Dryden (1631-1700)
— All for Love, Prologue

When I first thought about what to call the results of this process that I put myself through to create the email Pearls, and now the blog posts, I had a hard time finding an appropriately accurate yet whimsically irreverent name. Letting my subconscious mind loose on the problem finally produced the title I have kept now for over 12 years, to wit: Pearls of Virtual Wisdom, considered as a subset of the ongoing experience of Exploring Consensual Reality in which I engage. Now I can see where the inspiration for that had at least part of its roots; it is entirely possible I must have come across this sometime in my wanderings through the Unending Forest of Books. No matter, really, I just got a charge out of finding it again, as it’s one of those wonderful little nuggets of truth that make such an addictive snack for the ever-voracious mind I call home. Short, sweet, and deep as the deep blue sea…

Since I’m in the mood for whimsy, here is some, attached to a nugget of truth…..

“A person is not given integrity. It results from the relentless pursuit of honesty at all times.” — Anonymous, aka Unknown

Anonymous was a Greek philosopher extraordinaire, often confused with Aristotle, who lived during the same period of history. This was written, according to the crumbling document upon which it was transcribed, in the year 89 B.C., Thursday about supper time, in the early spring… or so it says. Honest…. that’s what it says. What do you mean? Why would I make it up?….. Trust me…..

Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem.  (Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.) — William of Occam, Occam’s Razor

Just in case you ever wondered where it came from…… okay, end of this segment of silliness in the guise of wit. Back to the serious stuff….
___________________________________

“Agnosticism simply means that a man shall not say he knows or believes that for which he has no grounds for professing to believe.” — Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895)

I wish fundamentalists and proselytizing sects could, or would, understand this point, and not take it so damn personally when their faith based platforms are not accorded privileged status in someone else’s world view. I mean, it’s not as if hordes of agnostics are going door to door, trying to destroy anyone’s faith, or convert anyone to their own beliefs. Nor are they taking out ads espousing agnosticism, or actively recruiting anyone to join them in their interpretation of reality.

But for some reason (not unknown, merely not pertinent here), they cannot do that; it is beyond their capability to entertain two separate concepts at the same time, without making a judgment on both; yer either fer us, or yer agin us….. there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground between their reality and that of anyone else. I’ll confess, I’ve never been able to understand, or get on board with, this particular brand of denial. I’ve found that reality is much more predictable and pleasant when taken as is, and not as we would like it to be. Fewer headaches, and no ulcers, ever…..
___________________________________

Good-nature and good sense are usually companions.

I like that. It makes perfect sense, on the planet I inhabit. (Sorry, couldn’t resist…)  If one takes a moment to think about what makes this statement true, and how it applies to reality, one comes to the illuminating notion that “balance is everything”. Knowing where one’s center is, and allowing that knowledge to direct one’s responses to the unpredictable nature of reality, is a valuable tool, one that is essential to a healthy approach to life.

By healthy, I mean it is a natural and sustainable condition, which fosters a continuous state of growth in one’s strength, integrity, and compassion, improves the chances of survival, and teaches eloquently the importance of choice, of not letting fate have everything its own way.  In other words, our world is what we make of it, and that kind of freedom allows good sense and good nature to co-exist in harmony, makes food taste better, can sometimes get you free tickets to Disneyland, and is guaranteed to turn you into a chick magnet…. well, maybe not the last two…… Sure would be cool, though, huh?…..
___________________________________

If thou are rich, thou art poor;
For, like an ass whose back with ingots bows,
Thou bear’st thy heavy riches but a journey,
And death unloads thee.
— Shakespeare (1564-1616) — Measure for Measure, Act III

As I’ve said before, Shakespeare isn’t one of my favorites; though I acknowledge without shame that he was a sheer genius at what he did. As such, he occasionally comes up with something that meets all my standards, and compels me to include it in a post. This is one of those that jumps out and administers a ringing blow to the side of one’s head, as reality is wont to do. It’s a simple concept, but one not designed to create any feelings of empathy for the trials of the rich, or sympathy for the suffering of the poor; it merely reminds us of how our own mortality makes all our stature and posturing irrelevant.

I’m reminded of an aphorism related by Alan Watts in one of his books, which says: “If you wish to have a lifetime of trouble, fill your house with treasure.” Young as I was when I first read it, the clarity and truth in the saying was obvious, and it has stayed with me through all my life, allowing me to enrich my life with love, compassion, and good memories, rather than gold, silver, or precious gems….
___________________________________

God’s   Problem Now:


His wife’s graveside service was just barely finished, when there was a massive clap of thunder, followed by a tremendous bolt of lightning,  accompanied by even more thunder rumbling in the distance.  The little old man  looked at the pastor and calmly said, “Well, she’s there.”

Priceless….. any man who has been married for more than say, 10 years or so, can relate perfectly, on at least one level…..as can many wives married the same amount of time….. at least, the ones with a sense of humor can; humor is a characteristic of wives that is not consistently present; a significant number of them end up without one, or lose it in the hustle and bustle of modern existence.  According to a friend, and fellow WordPress blogger, Linda Vernon, those women all tend to work at Pottery Barn.

That might be true, I don’t do either gardening (completely black thumb), or knick-knacks, so I can’t hold an opinion about that; I do know that I can always spot the ones who didn’t get one, or have lost the one they were issued, by the unique expression they wear in public, sort of a demonic, red-eyed, clenched jaw sort of look. Dead giveaway, if you know what to look for…. and trust me, 23 years of marriage to a woman with a powerful personality left me with a very keen eye for the signs of developing trouble in the female face.

And they all share that face; I’ve seen it elsewhere as well, on the faces of other women in a relationship. It’s hard when people lose their sense of humor; they tend to lose connection with the positives, and concentrate on the negatives that are part and parcel of any human interaction, ultimately driving away the very person they formerly wanted to stay…..
___________________________________

So much for that….took a lot of effort today, but, hey, I had nothing else to do this morning. Funny, I’m in a semi-fugue state, mere millimeters from complete unconsciousness, yet the visual world is bright and clear in my eyes, the refrigerator noise is as loud as ever, and the chair hurts my butt as usual. Odd feeling, to be sure….. I’ll go feel my way into the day now….. y’all take care out there….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Don’t tease the aardvark, Barnaby. It might moult….

Posted on by
2

Ffolkes,
Hard times require hard measures…. not sure what that means, but that’s what came out when I started to type, even though I intended to type something else. I wonder who’s hijacking my fingers now…..oh well, that one little incident seems to have been it. I guess I have a poltergeist with a problem finishing what they start; a few neuroses in a ghost are to be expected. It’s got to be a hard existence, what with all the moaning, and manifesting to scare children. It can’t be easy for a delicate sort, as some seem to be. I mean, look at what happened to Carrie!…..maybe we won’t go there….. let’s just get on with it, shall we?…..
___________________________________

“There are hidden contradictions in the minds of people who “love Nature” while deploring the “artificialities” with which “Man has spoiled ‘Nature.'” The obvious contradiction lies in their choice of words, which imply that Man and his artifacts are _not_ part of “Nature”– but beavers and their dams _are_.” — Robert A. Heinlein — Time Enough For Love

True, but some of Man’s artifacts are somewhat destructive to the rest of Nature; this was not as apparent when Heinlein wrote this as it is today. In the 40 or more years since this book was first published, a lot more evidence has been gathered that shows just how destructive we humans can be. When the book first came out, there was a strong belief in society that science would be able to overcome the problematic toxicity of our machines and their fuels; this has not proved to be true.

Oh, it could be true; there are scientific solutions available for the problems we have engendered. Unfortunately, no one has figured out how to make it profitable, so the beloved ruling class, who are unwilling to share any of their income, or lessen their profits, have blocked and/or buried any research that showed any promise of being able to replace the internal combustion engine, and its dependence on a limited supply of fuel.

Ensign Heinlein had a strong belief in Science, educated as he was at Annapolis, the US Naval Academy, where he attended at the same time as L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. During his lifetime, mankind had gone from the first tentative flights through the air to the development of nuclear power, and culminating in the first lunar landing, the first time a man had walked on another world. This panorama of scientific endeavor gave him a very strong confidence in the power of science; no problem cannot be solved using the scientific method of inquiry, in his mind.

What he failed to account for in his calculations was that mankind would come to ignore science, and the warnings of planetary pollution that scientists have been giving out for years. The avaricious powers-that-be cannot bestir themselves to care what happens after they are gone, or what may happen to anyone else at all. As long as they have their creature comforts, and the power to keep the rest of humanity in thrall, then there will be no scientific effort to solve any problems. All there will be, in the final analysis, is a world empty of life, cold and barren…..

“As for courage and will – we cannot measure how much of each lies within us, we can only trust there will be sufficient to carry through trials which may lie ahead.” — Andre Norton
___________________________________

My guard stood hard when abstract threats too noble to neglect
deceived me into thinking I had something to protect.
Good and bad I defined these terms, quite clear, no doubt, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now.
— Bob Dylan

I was happy to come across this little poem from the song of the same name; I had forgotten just how powerful Bob’s poetry can be. The poetry he wrote at times got overlooked by the music that he composed to display it; it made a good song, but that detracted somewhat from the message of the verses. It must have been hard for Dylan, to become so popular, but for what to him was the wrong reason, as people gushed over his songwriting, but not his message.

I remember an anecdote from an article I read on Dylan…. Perry Como was taping a special for television, but had a little problem with the studio piano player assigned to the taping. The musician kept adding arpeggios and other esoteric musical techniques to the sheet music, making it fuller and more interesting, jazzing it up, so to speak. But, it was driving Como crazy, as he tended to be rather straightforward and bland in his music. He said to the player, “You’d better quit adding all that stuff to the music. You’re never going to amount to anything in this business!” The player, of course, was a young Robert Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan, destined to become one of the seminal forces for change in modern music, a man who is considered responsible for much of the originality of rock and roll, R&B, and jazz, by leading the way into the future with the power of his poetry, and his music……
___________________________________

“In comparison with heaven and earth, man is like a mayfly. But compared to the great Way, heaven and earth, too, are like a bubble and a shadow. Only the primal spirit and the true nature overcome time and space.” — Lu Yen (fl. 800 A.D.)

I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: there were a lot of folks back in the days before the world got distracted by the alleged Christian messiah; folks who thought with great clarity, who were in touch with, and sought answers to the deepest mysteries of the universe. This statement is very close to the idea of the conservation of energy, which is commonly accepted to be a fact of natural law; this merely approaches the concept through the back door, instead of the front.

It makes me wonder sometimes just how accurate the pictures we have come to accept about cultures that existed long ago; the philosophers of the time seem to have had ample leisure time to formulate the ornate, complex philosophies that we have as legacy from those days. I had always thought that people who lived then needed to spend a lot of time securing the basics, such as food, clothing, and shelter. I can see now, though, that my impression was erroneous, at least for those who lived in the urban centers of the time. I’m glad I was wrong; the legacy left us from those days is deep and precious; we would not have the level of culture we have without the wisdom of the ancients…..
___________________________________

Roses are red,
Violets are blue
Some poems rhyme
But this one doesn’t.

A perfect example of the kind of poetry that I write. Short but stupid, yet with a certain charm for all that. Actually, I can write poetry okay, especially haiku, but it never comes up to scratch, not in my mind. I don’t always know good art, but I know what I like, and my poems mostly don’t cut it. C’est la vie! One can’t excel at everything; I just wish poetry was one area of expertise that I could master, at least better than I do. But, I’m okay with it; I’d much rather try to emulate Hemingway than Shakespeare. Just more my type of guy…..whatever that means…..
___________________________________

After enlightenment, do the laundry. — Zen proverb

Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! Sheer genius! Sheer poetry! Four words, a mountain of meaning. This is the kind of koan that is almost guaranteed to take one down into the deepest part of the mind, and keep you there until you reach enlightenment. Layer after layer of meaning; my kind of Pearl! Today, I’m feeling a bit lazy, so I will leave the actual proof of this proposition as an exercise for the Gentle Reader…. treat it with respect; true wisdom can bite if angered…. we all know this, because it’s one of those experiences that everyone has to go through in life; how we react to that can determine the direction of one’s entire future, so it becomes a matter of survival to honor truth…. and don’t forget to take the soap with you to the laundromat…..
___________________________________

Thus we come to the end of another day’s work. Of course, the day is yet to really start; it’s only around 0730. But, with the messed up schedule my brain has settled on, I’m up at 5, ready to rock, so that has become the part of the day when I write the most. It seems to work out fairly well, it’s just a little strange to be ready for a nap at 10:00 am. Ah well, so be it; it’s not like I have to be anywhere important. I can truthfully say, as a now experienced retiree, that retirement certainly has its advantages, as well as disadvantages. But the power over my schedule rests solely in my hands, and that is indeed a dizzying power. And hey, if you’re sleepy, go to sleep, I always say. Really, I do; ask anybody…… y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Arbitrary signs of healing, again…..

Posted on by
Reply

Ffolkes,
“Fall back! Quickly! Don’t think, just go!”…rushing through the dark, breathless and bone-deep in fear. Whispers followed, hissing “run! run!. The swollen moon above gives only shadows in the dark underworld beneath the trees, and each step is driven by the flickers of fear still running along his nerves. Branches whipping the face, panting with the sheer force of adrenaline, he bursts into a clearing. Ahead, outlined in stark, bright light from lamps hung among them trees, he sees what he most fears, the obstacle to his most cherished dreams….. his editor had arrived, and the shit would now hit the fan……
So, what? You expected bagels and lox, maybe?….read on, you’ll get over it…..
___________________________________

When I ‘m not thank’d at all, I ‘m thank’d enough;
I ‘ve done my duty, and I ‘ve done no more.
— Henry Fielding (1707-1754) — Tom Thumb the Great, Act i, Sc. 3

Well said, Tom! Too often in today’s society do we see men who don’t understand this about duty. Hell, these days one can barely find a man who knows what duty is, much less how to fulfill it honorably. Duty is not something that anyone else can tell you, or give you, or make you see or do. Duty is a choice.

It is a man’s most honorable choice, and once assumed, may not be put down until finished. It is, in the final analysis, what determines the character of a man. There is no reward for doing one’s duty, other than self-respect, and none should be expected. Thanks are also not necessary, for the honor in the act lies not in how other people see it, but in how the man himself regards it.


Many confuse duty with the responsibilities given to them by others; they are not the same. A man may have other responsibilities, but those were not of choice, and thus are not duty. Duty is ONLY chosen, never assigned, and it can’t be given away. The only honorable path is to fulfill it oneself, as is expected when it is assumed. It is the true path to leading a life with honor, and for a “real man”, honor is everything. Death is preferable to loss of honor…..and that is what is missing today in a lot of men……
___________________________________

“The major problem–ONE of the major problems, for there are several–one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them.” To summarize: it is a well known fact that those people who must WANT to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.  To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.” — Douglas Adams, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”

Couldn’t have said it better myself….. but, having many times covered the same theme, with perhaps less humorous expression, I can recognize when it is well spoken….People are definitely a problem. And the people who want power over others are the biggest problem we have as humans. It is this single characteristic of a particular segment of humanity that has kept us from progressing to a fully civilized existence. As long as there are people who insist on everything being done “their way”, humanity will never reach its true potential.

In spite of the assurances from the beloved ruling class that what they do is for our benefit, this intransigence is keeping us from progressing beyond the larval stage. In a truly enlightened society, no man is greater or lesser than any other; tell me if you can think of one society, either now, or in the past, in which this was true. I’ll tell you right off, though, you won’t be able to think of any, because it has yet to happen on this planet. And it never will, unless we humans rein in those bozos, and send them off to rehabilitation….
___________________________________

“You who’ve lost the concept of a right, you who swing in impotent evasiveness between the claim that rights are a gift of God, a supernatural gift to be taken on faith, or the claim that rights are a gift of society, to be broken at its arbitrary whim — the source of man’s rights is not divine law or congressional law, but the law of identity.  A is A — and Man is Man.  Rights are conditions of existence required by man’s nature for his proper survival.If man is to live on earth, it is right for him to use his mind, it is right to act on his own free judgment, it is right to work for his values and to keep the product of his work.  If life on earth is his purpose, he has a right to live as a rational being:  nature forbids him the irrational.  Any group, any gang, any nation that attempts to negate man’s rights, is wrong, which means: is evil, which means: is anti-life.” — John Galt

A very well-thought out and scripted statement from Mr. Galt; on first examination, it would be difficult to find any flaws in his logic. A second examination upholds that judgment, as well. Which leads me to conclude that every politician alive today is evil. If any of them aren’t, well, they never speak up, and silence is the strongest tool of those who prey upon the rest of society. What’s that old saw, “there is no need for evil to act, as long as men are silent in the face of oppression”? Something like that….or, “all that is required for evil to win is for good men to be silent”. That’s a little better said, though I forget who said it.

The point is, we are, as a society, moving rapidly toward self-extinction (and if you disagree, please, please offer me some evidence that what I’m saying isn’t so! Just one little piece of verifiable fact would suffice to create a discussion). If we don’t stop these fools, they’re going to drag the rest of us down with them into the abyss……
___________________________________

A monk sat with his three students. He took out his  fan and placed it in front of him, saying, “Without calling it a fan, tell me what this is.”

The first said, “You couldn’t call it a slop-bucket.” The master poked him with his stick.

The second picked up the fan and fanned himself. He too was rewarded with the stick.

The third opened the fan, laid a piece of cake on it, and served it to his teacher. The teacher said, “Eat your cake.”

The question to consider here is, what did the student tell the teacher about the fan?  How would you describe his answer in words? My answer to both questions would be: The fan is, first of all, an opportunity to be of use. It is, as we are, best used in service to others. If you can think of another way to say it, feel free to submit your thoughts, and we can discuss them in a future Pearl……
___________________________________

“Speak, thou vast and venerable head,” muttered Ahab, “which, though ungarnished with a beard, yet here and there lookest hoary with mosses; speak, mighty head, and tell us the secret thing that is in thee.  Of all divers, thou has dived the deepest.  That head upon which the upper sun now gleams has moved amid the world’s foundations.   Where unrecorded names and navies rust, and untold hopes and anchors rot; where in her murderous hold this frigate earth is ballasted with bones of millions of the drowned; there, in that awful water-land, there was thy most familiar home.  Thou hast been where bell or diver never went; has slept by many a sailer’s side, where sleepless mothers would give their lives to lay them down.  Thou saw’st the locked lovers when leaping from their flaming ship; heart to heart they sank beneath the exulting wave; true to each other, when heaven seemed false to them. Thou saw’st the murdered mate when tossed by pirates from the midnight deck; for hours he fell into the deeper midnight of the insatiate maw; and his murderers still sailed on unharmed–while swift lightnings shivered the neighboring ship that would have borne a righteous husband to outstretched, longing arms. O head! thou has seen enough to split the planets and make an infidel of Abraham, and not one syllable is thine!” — Herman Melville (1819-1891), “Moby Dick”

Now I’m glad I never read this book…..I gave up on reading this paragraph about half-way through, and have no desire whatsoever to subject myself any further to such drivel. It reminds me of The Rhyme of The Ancient Mariner, which, as we all know, was written under the influence of opiates….. I suppose people thought this was good because they couldn’t understand it, and were too embarrassed to say so, thinking they would appear foolish and illiterate. Naw…..it’s just crap, and I don’t care who thinks otherwise…..

Iago. She was a wight, if ever such wight were,–
Des. To do what?
Iago. To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion!
— William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Othello — Act ii, Sc. 1

Sorry folks. Ditto….. not everything Shakespeare wrote was good….and this is particularly bad….
___________________________________

Another day, another 42 cents…..this treatise won’t be available on my site until after 8 PM tonight. I am participating in the internet-wide protest against SOPA, the internet piracy bill now before Congress. Please use one of the available methods to add your voice to others in protest. If this bill passes, virtually half or more of all websites would be taken down, just because someone else didn’t approve of it. Censorship at its worst. And after you’ve registered your disapproval, please come on back and enjoy today’s Pearl….. y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Salsa requires rhythm, and tight shoes……

Posted on by
Reply

Ffolkes,
Gather ye round, children, and I will tell you a tale. We speak here today of days gone by, with love for memory, and hope for tomorrow. This tale is one of loss, and hope, and love, and fear. It is a tale of two humans, strong and brave, and the day they met……in the shadow of the future… Listen now, as the tale begins……
___________________________________

“Life is full of surprises when you’re up th’ stream of consciousness without a paddle…” — Zippy the Pinhead

Having been in this position a number of times over the years, I can attest that Zippy hit this nail squarely on the head, driving it home with one swift blow. What I particularly like about this is that Zippy has shown us how to assimilate and accept our position when we find ourselves this far out of touch with our GPS, and how to best react to having fallen prey to our own foolishness. Long story short; this is the way it is, so either learn to keep the paddle in the canoe, learn how to make paddles from almost anything, or learn to enjoy new scenery.

All of us, or at least all of us who can admit to having made a mistake without going through all sort of contortions, have found ourselves in this body of water at one time or another. How long we stay there is entirely up to us. Many folks spend a day or two whining about it before they’ll condescend to admit they need help, then wait to be rescued. Others enter the state of Denial, where nothing is anybody’s fault, and I’m not lost anyway. These folks will spend an inordinate amount of time justifying why they aren’t looking for a new paddle, then borrow one from their neighbor, and never return it. Still others will maintain that this was where they intended to go in the first place, and insist that they are to be put ashore and left alone, so they can walk back to civilization without being seen. And a very few will look around, chuckle at their own ineptitude, and proceed to fashion a paddle out of nearby vegetation.

The difference between all of these folks is one of attitude. One can accept reality and deal, or one can fear it, and spend all their time finding ways to avoid dealing. So, when people tell me they think my attitude stinks, I just say to them, “I don’t have an attitude problem–it’s supposed to be like this.”, smile gently, and go merrily on my way……
___________________________________

“There appears to be irrefutable evidence that the mere fact of overcrowding induces violence.” — Harvey Wheeler

Several days ago, I wrote a couple of paragraphs about overpopulation, wherein I made reference to experiments on rats that had been conducted that, in summary, concluded this exact point, to wit: overcrowding induces violence. Those experiments have also been performed with humans, and other animals, as the subjects, and all of them show the same characteristic when under the stress of overpopulation. Normal species behavioral patterns become disrupted, and unpredictability becomes the norm. Unfortunately, the word “irrefutable” continues to be called into question by fundamentalist religious mavens, political pundits on the extreme Right, and the usual complement of fat cats who believe they are immune to the problems afflicting the rest of society.

It’s not clear to me just why these folks prefer to bury their heads in the sand over this issue; it’s not as if the proponents of the concept are not willing to listen to argument, or adjust the theory in light of evidence. But those who would deny these “facts” will not listen, or even discuss, any alternative viewpoints, convinced as they are of their own infallibility. At least the rest of us can always say that we tried to share the Truth with them; we just can’t make them believe it…….
___________________________________

Eat less and chew well.
Ride less and walk often.
Have fewer clothes and launder often.
Worry less and work harder.
Waste less time, and continue to learn.
Talk less and listen more.
Frown less and laugh often.
Speak less and act more.
Blame less and praise others.
Take less and give a hundred times over.
— Kenzo Futagi, describing the secrets of life.
— He lived well over a hundred years.

I like this for its simplicity. And for the valuable information shared by this gentleman, to which his age lends an air of credibility, proving its pertinence by evidence of his longevity. One could do worse than to take this and try to make it part of their own outlook on life. It’s pretty obvious that it can’t hurt…….
___________________________________

I’m not sure, but he seems to be inordinately fond of beetles.
— J.B.S. Haldane, — when asked what has the study of biology had taught him about the Creator

— WHY GOD WILL NEVER GET TENURE AT ANY UNIVERSITY

1. Only published one book.
2. It was in Hebrew.
3. It had no references.
4. He did not publish it in referenced journals.
5. Some doubt He even wrote it Himself.
6. He is not known for His cooperative work.
7. Sure, He created the world, but what has He done lately?
8. He did not get permission from any review board to work with human subjects.
9. When one experiment went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning all the subjects.
10. When sample subjects do not behave as predicted, He deletes the whole sample.
11. He rarely comes to class-just tells His students to read the Book.
12. It is rumored that He sometimes lets His Son teach the class.
13. Although He only has 10 requirements, His students often fail His tests.
14. He expelled His first two students for learning.
15. His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top.
— faculty members at Kansas State University — instructors at Allen County Community College

Not being one to gild a lily……onward….
___________________________________

Happiness is a state of mind.  Not happy?  Change your mind.

I’ve studied a lot of different religions and philosophies during my lifetime, and have naturally come to some conclusions about what I’ve learned. One of them is this: almost all religions and philosophies have points of similarity, where the beliefs of one are echoed in the other. This is one of those ideas that all espouse, and can be recognized by the very simplicity that lends it infinite depth. This is such a basic concept that its subtlety makes it difficult to comprehend. “Not happy? Change your mind.” How brilliantly simple this is! So simple it’s hard to assimilate.

Like all of the most profound truths, this concept is so simple that it appears complex. But it is one of the most powerful of all the tools we humans possess, a strong ally in our struggle to achieve contentment and inner peace in life; utterly simple, and utterly powerful. The ability to change ourselves is in reality the only real power we have in this world; the ability to do so allows us the freedom of choice, in a universe that is completely indifferent to our comfort, or to any of our needs. With this power, we can avoid a lot of pain and anguish in life, the kind of pain that comes with being forced into a certain pattern of behavior by the demands of reality. Instead, we can assume control of how we feel, and how we react to difficulties in our lives. It’s good to have some kind of feeling of control over our own fate; it’s not something that is included in the package we are issued at birth……
___________________________________

“… not picked from the leaves of any author, but bred amongst the weeds and tares of mine own brain.”– Thomas Browne

“An ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own.”  — William Shakespeare (1564-1616), As You Like It — Act v, Sc. 4

Today’s Pearls of Virtual Wisdom were inspected by the quality control committee in my brain, and found to be acceptable for publication. The two quotes above these lines are your guarantee that all of the comments herein were created in my own feverish little collection of grey matter; the universe at large takes no responsibility for any consequences resulting from the consumption of these concepts, and urges you to read with caution. Ideas can be dangerous in the hands of the wicked or the ignorant among us…..always consult a professional before ingesting any information with which you are unfamiliar.

“Well, it just seemed wrong to cheat on an ethics test.” — Calvin

Enough tom-foolery for one morning. I’m gonna go see what kind of trouble I can get into today. Y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Dashes, dots, and the spaces between….

Posted on by
Reply

Ffolkes,
Once more I sit, keyboard at hand, preparing to wage war against the demons of day with words of power. When the magic won’t flow, and creativity is hiding somewhere in the kitchen, I commonly turn to nonsense. But even that, though a powerful ally, is absent, leaving nothing but the 1000 monkey technique to carry the field. I wouldn’t mind so much, if they made less noise about it, and if they would occasionally come up with something other than Shakespeare. That’s the problem with last-minute solutions; they’re typically messy, and tend to provide one with solutions that fall apart under the merest scrutiny. Plus, you wouldn’t believe the absolutely appalling condition of the typewriters when they’re done; most are only good for the scrap pile. And that banana smell! Gag me with a spoon…..have no fear, Gentle Readers, I have not slipped past the boundaries of sanity. I’m cruising near the edge, but remain in full control of my faculties, such as they are. My primary concern at this point is how to bring this to a close; it seems to just keep growing and growing. Funny how things can get away from you when least expected; I suppose that’s why they call it a surprise…..today’s Pearls are an eclectic group, bound to give the impression that they were gathered during the dark of the moon, rather than in the full light of day. And you would be right in that……

What happens to the wide-eyed observer when the window between reality and unreality breaks and the glass begins to fly?

There came to the beach a poor exile of Erin,
The dew on his thin robe was heavy and chill;
For his country he sigh’d, when at twilight repairing
To wander alone by the wind-beaten hill.
— Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) — The Exile of Erin

“Since everything in life is but an experience perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter.” — Long Chen Pa

“I don’t like to commit myself about heaven and hell – you see, I have friends in both places.” — Mark Twain

“A great many people mistake opinions for thoughts.”- Herbert Prochnow

“Are you sure it isn’t time for another colorful metaphor?” — Spock, “The Voyage Home,”  stardate 8390.

Personally, I believe it IS time for another colorful metaphor. Unfortunately, none come to mind that can be printed for this audience, not if I want to keep my PG rating……. Y’all take care out there….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!