Tag Archives: Society

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!

Grilled cracker crumbs with a pilsner….

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Ffolkes,
Fantasy plot lines and silly rhymes; aggravating whistles with serious, delirious moments of clarity at odd times. This is how my mind works when searching for a subject line each morning. It’s a strange little process, (which fits right in), but it seems to work fairly well; there is always a subject line, isn’t there?……
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“I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me any harm.” — Calvin Coolidge

This is a correction message…..awhile back, I was discussing a subject nearby, and happened use a paraphrase of this sentiment, and proceeded to attribute it to Harry Truman. I should have checked my memory, because it wasn’t Harry, but one of my other twentieth century favorite Presidents, Calvin C. It does sound like something Harry would have said, though……no comments needed, by the way. This is one of those that doesn’t require it. Just pay attention…..
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“Meet the new boss, just the same as the old boss.” — Pete Townshend

That’s one of the problems with bosses, you know. They tend to resemble one another after awhile; I guess having power over others just isn’t a good thing for people’s souls. Most bosses I’ve had in this category were unjustifiably convinced of their own infallibility, and tended to look upon their job site as their own little kingdom, subject only to their whim. I can’t explain why it happens, but it does; almost everyone who enters into a position of authority becomes dogmatic, and a defender of the status quo, instead of becoming a leader, always alert for change and willing to compromise with rationality. Bosses who know they are working for their underlings, not the other way around, are few and far between…..
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It’s like brother Nietzsche said–being human is a complicated gig, so give that dark night of the soul a hug and howl the eternal yes.

This sounds like it’s from Ken Kesey, or another of the Merry Pranksters, the iconic group of authors, poets, and musical artists in the early 1960’s who were the forerunners of the Hippie movement that grew out of the Beatnik culture in the fifties. Old hipsters like Shel Silverstein and Alan Ginsberg, Neal Cassidy, Jack Kerouac, Mountain Woman, and a host of transient companions wrote revolutionary music, revolutionary literature, and carried on a lifestyle deliberately crafted to annoy the ‘squares’, all intended to create an atmosphere of change in American society.

The spirit of challenge to authority, the spirit that brought our forefathers to the point of revolution, was revived in America’s youth, and continues today, in such events as the recent Occupy Wall Street protests. It may pull my covers to say so, but I’m glad the spirit of revolution is still alive in this country; we’re going to need all we can get of it in the next few years to bring to bear on the problems created by those in our society who would rather suffer abridgments to their personal liberty, maintaining an oppressive status quo, than take the more challenging, but less safe, path to the future……
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“I contemplate with sovereign reverence the act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and state.” — Thomas Jefferson, to the Danbury (Connecticut) Baptist Association in 1802

All I can add to this is…..(Big SIGH…) Me too!…….Amen, my brother! The protection this part of the Constitution affords to the individual is, and has been, invaluable in maintaining our personal liberties. This protection is under serious attack just now, as the rich and powerful in society continue to seek to erode those liberties in the name of security from our enemies. Stay alert ffolkes, because those who would have us all live under one set of rules (theirs) have tunnel vision, and cannot see any other possible outcome than the one that feeds into their deliberate ignorance.
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1.  Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. — Instructions for life

I love lists. They add so much order, and humor, to life. I wish I could find the entire list from which this was excerpted; it would be interesting, to say the least. I’ve found several of these Instruction, scattered about the tagline database I have, and they are always like this one; simply wonderful, and oh, so handy to use. Some, like this one, call for going beyond the effort that most folks make in their quest to ‘get by’ in life, but most are just good little snippets of wise advice.


I like two things about this particular Instruction. First, it is first. This idea is the basis for the concept of ‘paying it forward’, the realization that by doing good now, without expectation of reward, good will be with us in the future. Making this a habit has far-reaching effects, not limited to one’s self, but to all with whom they interact. People only reach their full potential as human beings when they are acting in service to others; no one seems to know why this is so, but the countless instances of proof  that can be seen all around us every day, and throughout history, completely corroborate the validity of the concept. And it is a powerful antidote to the evil we see each day, as the fearful and the ignorant wage the ageless battle between the dark and the light. It deserves to be put first…..


Secondly, I like the attitude it promotes. Cheerful, friendly service to others doesn’t just make them feel better, but is just as fulfilling for the perpetrator. The more one follows this practice, the more their whole life will improve. Relationships with relatives, friends, and strangers are stronger, and more enduring. Job performance improves, which improves one’s financial and social status, and sense of comfort. There’s just no downside to following this principle; it costs nothing, and the return on investment is astronomical…..
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I’m always a bit surprised these days when I come to the end of another Pearl; it seems like I could keep writing forever. But, got important stuff to take care of today, and I’d best be at it. Y’all take care out there……

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

gigoid

Kowabunga!

A particular quality of light….

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Ffolkes,
I’m feeling a bit curmudgeonly this morning; I’m down to instant coffee until I can get to a store, and having to drink this nasty stuff has me close to biting myself in irritation. Fortunately, one of my friends is coming by, and will be bringing coffee with him. One of the advantages of advanced years is the improvement in forethought skills; we knew he was coming over today, and arranged to have him pick some up on the way. Too bad it doesn’t improve the flavor of this instant crap…….
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Deal with others as thou wouldst thyself be dealt by. Do nothing to thy neighbor which thou wouldst not have him do to thee hereafter. —  _The Mahabharata_, c. 800 B. C. (Sounds suspiciously like the Golden Rule to me)

“To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” — Sun Tzu (fl. c. BC 500)

As the same fire assumes different shapes when it consumes objects differing in shape, so does the one Self take the shape of every creature in whom he is present. — Upanishads (c. B.C. 800) (Metaphysical logic, as sound as it gets….)

“Nothing endures but change.” — Heraclitus (540?-480? B.C.) (Obviously, Heraclitus was no stranger to Reality….)

All of the above statements were recorded (on paper or other form of tablet; t’was all they had then) prior to the birth of Christ, the seminal date upon which our calendar is based. It is fascinating to me to read these, which were all written about 2500-3000 years ago, and to reflect on how little apparent progress has been made in advancing human thought and behavior. The above remnants of the culture of the time clearly indicates an ability to reason that surpasses, or at minimum, equals the best of today’s philosophers. As an example of just how far we have come, or not come, to be more accurate, here is an example of how one of the most revered leaders in recent history, a man known as the Great Communicator, felt about ecological issues in general…..

“A tree is a tree.  How many more do you need to look at?” — Ronald W. Reagan, 1966

Kind of scary, isn’t it?………
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“Do not settle for less than the best your own excellence can command.” — Anne McCaffrey

I identify closely with this; it parallels Axiom #4 of my own philosophy, Peruaosophy, which reads “Excellence is its own reward.” This has been one of the guiding principles of my life, though I do occasionally encounter some resistance from the outside world in trying to achieve it. For some reason, it seems to make other folks feel nervous and threatened, and sometimes even antagonistic. I don’t worry too much over that; I figure its their problem, not mine, and paying too much attention to what other folks think or feel about what I do just encourages them to think its okay, when it is not. Its merely a distraction, and unfortunately, a potentially hazardous one, should my detractors turn from the relative confusion of a simple lack of understanding, to the dangerous rage of ignorant fear and loathing. But one of the more important skills that is learned by the process of seeking excellence is the ability to see a broader perspective, and plan for unexpected dangers during the process of sharing one’s excellence with the world. Forethought is a good thing…..(oooo, deja vu all over again….)
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JABBERWOCKY

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And thou hast slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.
— Lewis Carroll, “Through the Looking-Glass”

No comments here, I just like this a lot; reading it makes me happy…….it can work for you, too, if you like!…….
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Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering teach the rest to sneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.
— Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
— Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, Prologue to the Satires, Line 201

For some reason, probably buried somewhere deep in my unconscious mind, when I read this I was struck by a mental image of the last couple of Republican debates, which I must admit have provided us all with a wonderfully comic sideshow, complete with outrageous statements, vicious lying and in-fighting amongst the candidates, curiously obscure positions, and dubious economics. It’s been great, and provides tons of material to write about. But it also gets too easy to forget the seriousness that lurks behind the silly false fronts that they all throw up to keep people from knowing their true agendas; each of those people is serious about their desire to assume the mantle of power in this country, and each of them would be a greater disaster than the others. Take your pick; if any of them come even close to getting into office, I’ll be heading for the farthest place I can find to duck and cover…….any one of them would accelerate the already out of control rush toward extinction, and would create messes that may never be cleaned up…..
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He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life’s pleasures is like a blacksmith’s bellows – he breathes but does not live. — Sanskrit Proverb

I hereby pronounce this to be good. We hear the same message a lot of different ways, so it is good to see a new way of expressing such an essential point, one that fully embraces the meaning of, and behind, the words used. So much so, that it really doesn’t need any embellishment from me, so I will merely say……engage, examine, evaluate, and effect a change in your life. You’ll like it….trust me……
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Well it took a bit of effort, but it all came out well, I think. It’s certainly good enough for a retired dilettante, and I should know….. y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

This beginning is final…..

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Ffolkes,
The universe is being odd this morning. I’m not sure what effect this may have on the Pearls; they’ve never been exposed to this level of strangeness before. We’ll have to see, won’t we?……
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“If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you; but if you really make them think, they’ll hate you.” — Don Marquis

Boy, is this one True! And it describes perfectly one of the primary reasons that our species will most likely  go extinct in the next century or so.  Intelligence, and its most powerful asset, imagination, are the evolutionary advantages that our species possesses over others. Our ability to imagine future events, to see potential consequences of actions, to invent new ideas and processes, and to reason, have (unjustly) given us dominion over the rest of the creatures with whom we share the planet. I say unjustly, because it just isn’t working.


Instead of using our abilities to improve the lot of all life here, we have instead used them to destroy resources; to pollute the air, the water , and the land; to kill, each other and animals; and in general, have spent most of the last 200 years fouling our own nest to the point where it will no longer support life at all.  The way I see it, we are committing racial suicide, and all because no one is willing to break the pattern of evil that has led us to this point, because they would have to give up their comfortable, unrealistic unwillingness to use the gift that we were given.  Personally, I’m at the point myself where I don’t see much sense in trying to change things for the better any more; too many folks are too willing to go to hell in their handbasket, as long as it has cable TV, A/C, and a full cooler of beer…….
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“A lot of people will urge you to put some money in a bank, and in fact–within reason–this is very good advice. But don’t go overboard. Remember, what you are doing is giving your money to someone else to hold on to, and I think that it is worth keeping in mind that the businessmen who run banks are so worried about holding on to things that they put little chains on all their pens.” — “Miss Piggy”

This little statement, though it comes from an unlikely source, has a lot to be said for it; it definitely raises a pertinent question about the intentions of those who keep our money for us. I have personally experienced the way bankers treat us once they have our money in their grasp. Here’s a little example, minus proper names to protect the guilty…… my bank has no branches nearby, as they are located in Texas, but they accept deposits electronically for checks deposited at a local UPS store. However, the funds deposited are placed on hold for “up to” 5 business days, to ensure the check will clear. This means that I have to wait 7 days (there is a weekend in the way) in order to access my money. In the meantime, I guarantee that the bank will be earning an interest amount for the deposit while it is sitting there (earned negatively, eg, they didn’t pay it to me, so they get to keep it). Meanwhile, they have the use of my money to invest, or otherwise earn for them, while I’m waiting to get at it, and fending off creditors with my other hand. The game is rigged folks, and it is not rigged in our favor……
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“Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.” — T. S. Eliot

Two pieces of poetry here, that fit together well to make a point. I like the first, by Mr. Eliot, for its insight, and for the potential that abides within, the potential for expansion into almost any available segue……so I’m using it for this one. Read the following from Thomas Cowper, and see if you are not reminded of one of the Laws of Science, in fact the primary Law, that supersedes all the others…..I’ll clue you after ward, if it escapes your effort….

Fate steals along with silent tread,
Found oftenest in what least we dread;
Frowns in the storm with angry brow,
But in the sunshine strikes the blow.
— Cowper

I read this, and was puzzled at first, because it seemed so familiar, yet I knew I’d never seen it before. Then my thoughts coalesced, and I knew……this is merely another way to express that most powerful of universal laws, the one standing over all, and known to all and sundry as Murphy’s Law. Four quick lines, and it feels like an entire lecture class has explored the nuances of Murphy’s insight. It explains how we are unable to see or feel him before his arrival, and how the moment of truth is always at the most unexpected time. It shows also how we feel about it, all with the greatest of ease. I Love Poetry!……
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“Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.” — Isaac Asimov

Perhaps my greatest fear in life is rooted in my belief in what Isaac has stated here. I’ve always felt that Mankind’s destiny lay in the sky; why should our minds be free to travel the length and breadth of the universe, and not our bodies? There has to be a reason why the stars call to us; our curiosity has always led us in that direction. But I am afraid, that the beloved ruling class, whose purpose in life is not the same as the rest of humanity, has too powerful a grip on society;  I’m afraid that they will drag the rest of us down with them on their trip to hell. If, if, if,….. if things were different, all the money we spend on fighting each other, or trying to take over some resource or another, were put into space exploration, we would already have a colony on the moons of Saturn, and the leftover money would be enough to powerfully bolster the educational system to support the need for more scientists. But how will we be able to make the effort, when the powers that be are totally engrossed in their own aggrandizement, and will allow nothing to challenge their hold over the rest of us? I fear for us all…….
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“Happiness follows sorrow, sorrow follows happiness, but when one no longer discriminates between happiness and sorrow, a good deal and a bad deed, one is able to realize freedom.” — Buddha

The lesson here is a subtle one, and one that is difficult for Western minds to grasp. We are accustomed to viewing the universe through the filter of our prejudices, which allow us to judge events according to our own beliefs and preferences. Removing the filter to which we are accustomed tends to create anxiety; we are unused to facing the universe without our prejudices to shield us.

But the end result is worth the effort, for it removes all the causes for us to fear the universe. When we can see that the universe proceeds without our judgments, when we can accept that those judgments are superfluous, then we are free to experience life in its full, natural state, without fear, and without conflict. When there are no distinctions made, the roots of conflict disappear, and life becomes much more enjoyable, and much more fulfilling…….
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Well, that wasn’t too bad, now was it? Hopefully, these musings will assist you in kick-starting your brain today, and give you a jump on the day. That’s the target anyway…… y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer at play..

Kowabunga!

Splurging on essential items….

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Ffolkes,
It is humbling to realize when one’s own actions have been deleterious to the point of injury. My wrist is killing me, throbbing, aching, and screaming at me in pain whenever I use it; fortunately typing doesn’t require much wrist action. But meanwhile, I have to stop using the computer mouse, because that is what caused the pain in the first place. Repeated long periods of being held in the same unnatural position, with periodic finger movements to add fillip to the eventual price point of the pain. Do that for oh, 10 or 15000 minutes, and the tendons and cartilage in the wrist start to swell and create problems with circulation, and they hurt. Dumb, dumb, dumb…..well, regardless of the pain, I’ve gotta write, so we’ll just have at it….
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Mr. Piantieri: “There are many things in life which are important. The point of life is to find these things, and make them a part of you. This can only happen through an active search. You have to look, you have to search. The problem is, everybody is looking for different things. The things I seek may seem trivial to you, and beyond comprehension to you. It all comes down to one question: What are you looking for?”
John: “The bathroom.”
— John Sintilas answering Mr. Anthony Piantieri’s meaning of life speech.

A perfect little parable about Occam’s Razor, the principle of logic that, simply stated, says, “The best solution is usually the simplest”. This one even gives an audiovisual cue. Just listen to, and then look at the above sentences. It is clear that the initial lines, by the questioner, are overblown, with way too many unnecessary words for the ideas leading up to the question; it is far more complex than it needed to be. Yet the answer is just two words, a fitting simplicity to show the advantages of less over more, a principle that the world needs to apply almost everywhere…..
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Bob has listed “Reality” as a PREVIOUS address!!

I LOVE this! I can picture myself writing that on my next application, or form to fill out that calls for previous addresses. It will probably cause whoever reads it to transfer it directly to circular file 13, but I’d give almost anything to see the expression on their face as they do. Talk about literal-minded! This is so literal it blurs the edges of reality….which, I’m sure, is its entire intent…..gotta get folks’ brains to fire up over something! Even if it’s only nonsense, if it causes the old neural pathways to bear more traffic, I’m all for it…..
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“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Abraham Lincoln

This is one of Abe’s most lucid insights, and one that only a man of integrity would be able to see. In today’s society, political power has become a near-monopoly by men, and women, who fail this test. It has become the habit of the American public to elect only those men who will say and do anything to get into office; lying, cheating, ridiculing, childish playground tactics have been established as the standard by which they are chosen, and the results have been, and can only have been, as expected, that is to say, horrendous. We are, as a society, on the brink of the abyss, and most of our beloved ruling class wants us to believe it isn’t so. And if we end up going the way of the Dodo bird and the mastodon, we won’t be able to lay the blame anywhere but on our own shoulders…..
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“A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary.  Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.” — Albert Einstein

Regular readers will note that this is very similar to a quote I put in yesterday, also by Albert Einstein. As a matter of fact, I have no idea which version is the more accurate portrayal of what he said, though I tend to believe it was this one. It just sounds more like him than the other. Oh well, it doesn’t really matter I suppose, especially not to Albert. So we’ll just chalk it up to one more little lesson, about checking attribution, and take it from there. What he said, and what I said yesterday about it, remains valid…..
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“Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself, for he shall never cease to be entertained.” — John Powell

I must say, this one is too true to be blue….I’ve noticed there are still a lot of folks out there who take themselves, and Life, way too seriously. If there is a God, He must be a comedian, or otherwise nothing here on this plane of existence makes any sense at all. I think if I couldn’t laugh at myself, I would most likely have committed suicide by now. But I can, and that is truly a blessing. In a world filled with pain, sorrow, and the presence of evil, it gives me the finest kind of self-defense……
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I see that I have neglected to use any poetry today…..just couldn’t find the right piece. Ah well, tomorrow is another day……y’all take care out there……

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

gigoid

Kowabunga!

Fading signs of superficial interest

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Ffolkes,
Though I arise to meet the day with polite interest, it does not always return the favor. Makes me want to start the day with a rant, so have a care this morning; these Pearls may be a bit surly……
“What happens if a big asteroid hits Earth? Judging from realistic simulations involving a sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we can assume it will be pretty bad.” — Dave Barry

Global warming, along with dissolution of the ozone layer, has caused a dramatic increase in serious weather extremes all over the world, and the evidence that these events are being caused by pollution that mankind has created is overwhelming. There is no doubt whatsoever in the minds of 99.9% of the world’s leading scientists that this is the case; the only naysayers have direct ties to religious organizations, who care not about the evidence. And unfortunately, there are still politicians out there who are so tightly tied to the money they receive from big oil companies, car manufacturers, and industrialists, as well as being influenced by their religious fundamentalism, that they profess their doubts that the evidence is correct, or label it as unproven theory. They are so intent on hiding their heads in the sand, in order to continue lining their pockets, they will say anything to delay the imposition of any restrictions on their right to pollute. They have no thought for the future, beyond how they can turn it to their purposes. The concept of giving up their profit is so foreign to them, they cannot even put it aside to confront their own impending demise, preferring the ostrich’s patented method to altruism, or even realism. I can see much conflict in the coming years, as the folks who want to keep on living begin to fight it out with those who would merrily send us all to hell…….

“It’s the RINSE CYCLE!!  They’ve ALL IGNORED the RINSE CYCLE!!” — Zippy the Pinhead
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Poets go from bad to verse.

And punsters should all go straight to jail, without passing Go, and without collecting $200. Sorry, couldn’t help it……next time I put one this sad out there, feel free to throw rotten fruit……

[Clear the throat]
Oh freddled gruntbuggly
Thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee

Groop I implore thee
my foonting turlingdromes
And hooptiously drangle me
with crinkly thy blindlewurdles,

Or I will rend thee In the gobberwarts
With my blurglecruncheon, see if I don’t! — The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

I rest my case…..
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“If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” — Albert Einstein

If Albert were still with us, I’m afraid he would be shaking his head in wonder and disappointment at the sorry state to which mankind has brought itself. Like petty children, the powers that be in the world continue to run around chasing after the almighty dollar, completely ignoring how their actions are killing us all. They don’t care, about other people, or even themselves; it isn’t possible for any creature to act so much against their own interests unless they are in a state of complete denial regarding any input they receive that is not to their benefit. If it won’t sell, they won’t buy it, and the rest of us will pay the price. How much more are you willing to put up with? As for myself, I am done with their intransigence in the face of reality, and will be spending all my not inconsiderable talents to poking fun at their idiotic pronouncements, and calling them out for their perpetual lies…..
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“When an old person dies, a library is lost.” — Tommy Swann

My mom’s library closed about a month ago. Using that language to say it will hopefully keep me from breaking down as I type, as it is slightly less pointed than other expressions might be. But it’s hard to accept that I can’t call her any more when I forget a relative’s birthday, or to ask which of her great-great grandkids was the latest addition to the tribe. She passed away not too long after her 90th birthday this year, and the pain not only hasn’t passed, but comes up to grab me at odd times; it’s hard on the equilibrium to say the least. But I like this quote, because it is a reminder that we should value the lives and experiences of our elders; they have a lot of untapped knowledge and experience that anyone younger cannot possibly know of. It should always be treasured, for you never know when they will be gone……
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Happy who in his verse can gently steer
From grave to light, from pleasant to severe.
— Nicholas Boileau-Despreaux (1636-1711)
— The Art of Poetry, Canto i, Line 75

This is the goal. This is what I’m shooting for every time I sit down to write. I want to write so well that the reader forgets he/she is reading; the words become reality. With the proper care, and enough heart, what I write should bring the reader into my world, to feel what I feel; I want them to hurt as much as I, and to experience even more joy.

Having tried my hand at poetry many times in the past, I tend to stick to prose. It may not be much better, but it is much more suited to my writing skills. Fortunately, I find that there is no shortage of poets to be found on the internet, many of whom really impress me with their work. I can always sublimate my urge to create poetry into enjoyment of consuming it; it always lends some inspirational tones to what I may compose myself. That can only be a good thing……
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Some mornings I just want to keep going, and going, and…..and could easily spend half the day right here, finding and commenting on brilliant little snippets of literature. And since I have no other pressing commitments, I could conceivably do so. But then I’d have too many episodes finished ahead of time, and these morning gurgitations (they ARE original, for the most part, thus not re-gu….etc) would lose some of their freshness. It might also lead to increased proofing, the bane of all writers, so we’ll just call it a day, and go out into the Big Blue Room for awhile….y’all take care out there…..
—
Sometimes I sits and thinks,
and sometimes
I just sits.
gigoid
Dozer

Kowabunga!

Beleaguered by faceless minions….

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Ffolkes,
Morning brings such sweet sorrow……oh, wait. Sorry, just a little pre-coffee dsylexia….let us begin the dance….

ASS, n.  A public singer with a good voice but no ear.  In Virginia City, Nevada, he is called the Washoe Canary, in Dakota, the Senator, and everywhere the Donkey.  The animal is widely and variously celebrated in the literature, art and religion of every age and country; no other so engages and fires the human imagination as this noble vertebrate.  Indeed, it is doubted by some (Ramasilus, _lib. II., De Clem._, and C. Stantatus, _De Temperamente_) if it is not a god; and as such we know it was worshiped by the Etruscans, and, if we may believe Macrobious, by the Cupasians also.  Of the only two animals admitted into the Mahometan Paradise along with the souls of men, the ass that carried Balaam is one, the dog of the Seven Sleepers the other.  This is no small distinction.  From what has been written about this beast might be compiled a library of great splendor and magnitude, rivaling that of the Shakespearean cult, and that which clusters about the Bible.  It may be said, generally, that all literature is more or less Asinine.

“Hail, holy Ass!” the squiring angels sing;
“Priest of Unreason, and of Discords King!”
Great co-Creator, let Thy glory shine:
God made all else, the Mule, the Mule is thine!”
G.J.
— Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”

A few days ago, I came across an article reviewing this book, The Devil’s Dictionary, which is being reprinted and released for consumption. When I started creating these Pearls, over ten years ago, I would occasionally come across one of the definitions from the book, in some pretty odd places. But the quotes were always witty, fun, and beautifully satiric in the way they poked fun at society and mankind. I had no idea at first that it was first published in the mid-1800’s, because most of what I had seen was excruciatingly accurate in its critical observations on government and politics, as well as less prominent subjects as the Ass. Combining wit, poetry, and wonderfully tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, it remains as valid today as the day it was first released. I don’t use too many of the definitions I find, as they usually are of the sort that would outshine whatever I could write about them, so I usually save them for occasions such as this, when the quotes can stand alone, or provide a clear subject for my dissection. I’m going to go buy me a copy of the book myself once it hits the bookstores; it will be a valuable, and well-thumbed, addition to my library…..
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What Congress means by ethics is best explained by the tailor’s story: “Suppose I sell a suit to a young man for $200.  He tells me that his family is footing the bill and that if I give him a receipt for $400 to give to his parents, he will pay me $100 on the side. The question of ethics is: Do I keep the extra $100 myself, or do I tell my partner and split it with him?”

Even though there was no attribution with this, I had to include it, just because there is very little to add. As a parable it is priceless, producing just the right amount of derisive snicker. As a metaphor, it is even more perfect, as all that is needed to make it congruent with reality is to add about 5 or 6 zeros after the digits, and it would easily be taken as a factual statement as it applies to our current crop of Congressati. 

It continues to amaze, and depress me how willingly the public buys into the nonsensical garbage these politicians throw out there into the public arena. There are new stories every day that give proof of how much our beloved ruling class is stealing from us, but the public continues to ignore every instance of a new lie, and keeps falling for the same old lies. It isn’t necessary for me to list here just how many of our public officials are engaged in this constant pilfering; you can open up any newspaper for that. And it is doubtful that my cries for help will be acknowledged, just as if I were a tree falling in an unoccupied forest…….but just because nobody hears, doesn’t make it any less true…..
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EXCESS, n.  In morals, an indulgence that enforces by appropriate penalties the law of moderation.

Hail, high Excess — especially in wine,
To thee in worship do I bend the knee
Who preach abstemiousness unto me —
My skull thy pulpit, as my paunch thy shrine.
Precept on precept, aye, and line on line,
Could ne’er persuade so sweetly to agree
With reason as thy touch, exact and free,
Upon my forehead and along my spine.
At thy command eschewing pleasure’s cup,
With the hot grape I warm no more my wit;
When on thy stool of penitence I sit
I’m quite converted, for I can’t get up.
Ungrateful he who afterward would falter
To make new sacrifices at thine altar!

— Ambrose Bierce, “The Devil’s Dictionary”

It has been said that an important key to living well is to practice moderation in all things. There is a lot of evidence to support this notion, and the infamous SAGOPM (Self-appointed guardians of public morality) would have us believe that it is sinful to behave otherwise. But what these notorious busybodies forget in their zealous efforts to make everyone believe as they do, is that the concept also implies that even moderation should be practiced moderately.

There is a lot to be said in favor of every once in a while letting it all go, and spending some time at the outer limits of human experience, rather than always pulling back from the edge. There is a lot to be learned from pushing the envelope, and none of it can be learned by habitually avoiding the possibility of danger, or even just the possibility of embarrassment. It’s kind of like learning how to hit a curve ball from a major league pitcher; it can’t be done if you never step up to the plate. Sometimes, to learn the important stuff, you gotta let it all hang out……
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Art is long, and time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still like muffled drums are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
— Henry W. Longfellow (1807-1882)
— A Psalm of Life

Somewhat broody, with a heavy air, beautifully spare. This is my favorite type of poem, even though I believe it is merely one scansion from a larger piece. The structure of the lines and the consistency of the rhymes lends itself well to the progression of ideas being presented. Though I can’t completely agree with some of the intended point it espouses, I can also find no fault in the manner of expression. I am reminded by this of the reason I don’t spend a lot of time reading Woodie, i.e., too sober for my taste. Great, brilliant poetry, but often rather saddening, or otherwise depressive. I admire the technique a lot, even though the ideas are not what I would prefer…….just goes to show, one can learn from anything; even a negative is an answer of sorts…….
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That is probably enough for one day. I wouldn’t want to go overboard this early, water’s too cold…..Y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

The Forgotten Art of Juggling Cats…..

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Ffolkes,
But, he asked himself, what if…….?……

“Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise nor blame.” — Thomas a Kempis

One might think, if one were so inclined, that Mr. Kempis has delivered just another worn-out maxim to an uninterested, apathetic audience; the structure alone is pompous enough to turn off the most sober of readers. One could also say that it sounds like something I might say, were I so inclined; in this they would be correct. I am not currently so inclined, but I will admit that it does resemble my somewhat top-heavy, sturdy style of expression. And the message is certainly one I can get behind, as it mirrors my own mostly-serene existence, which I see as a direct result of not giving a s__t about what other folk’s think I should be, or do, or take, or give, or any other preposition not of my own choosing.

Sure, like everyone, I observe the laws of custom, but with a slight difference from most folks. I observe the laws of custom, as long as they do not in any way produce a conflict with my own moral/ethical position. If they do, well, tough. I don’t need to be praised for doing what I believe to be right; that just leads one to a swelled ego, which makes for difficult relations when it bumps into other egos. Nor do I need to be chastised or blamed because my actions don’t meet someone else’s notions of what is correct or appropriate. Mrs. Grundy, the little old busybody who lives next door and sits in judgment of everything she sees as she peers out her windows, is not welcome in my world……
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“And what is good, Phaedrus, and what is not good, Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?” — R. Pirsig

Another statement to put in the Obvious category….of course we don’t need anyone else to tell us what is good or bad. Those common but essential antonyms are entirely subjective judgments. One may accept and believe a proposition as being one or the other from what they are told, but the ultimate decision for each of us gets made inside our own head, not someone else’s. Lots of folks don’t like to think; but, like any other part of the human body, the brain requires exercise to achieve its full potential. So those who are too lazy, or too lacking in self-control (aka self-esteem) to regularly put their mind to work become accustomed to letting other folks do their thinking for them. It’s just easier, and most folks are so tired by the end of their day from struggling to survive in this complex, fast-paced world, they don’t want anything more than a cold-adult beverage and some mindless recreation.

Another time we’ll explore this concept in more depth, but for now let it suffice to say that this societal tendency, to allow others to decide what is right or wrong, has led us to the brink of societal collapse. The reins of the team pulling humanity’s wagon are in the hands of people who are, a) not going to allow anyone one else to have the reins, and b) going to make the decisions about right and wrong according to THEIR OWN self-interests, not anyone else’s. These choices are not going to help us; they will only guarantee that our species will pass into history sooner, rather than later…..
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Some people have a way about them that seems to say: If I have only one life to live, let me live it as a jerk.

We all have someone who we are convinced are assholes, (I thought and thought about what word to use here, and this one just says it too precisely to not be used, just because it is considered vulgar or ‘dirty’), people who spend their entire lives making other people uncomfortable because they hate themselves. We all have a list of folks who would be on this list……here’s my current top ten choices for inclusion on the list of people or organizations we would all be better off without having to be subjected to their drivel on a daily basis…..

Rush Limbaugh–Proud Misogynist. The champion of deliberate ignorance, lifetime sufferer of FIMD (Foot in Mouth Disease).

Ann Coulter– Rush’s female clone. Sounds smarter & has better make-up artist, but in reality just has more money and a better spell-checker….

Arnold Schwarzenegger– A clone of Ronald Reagan, but without a USC degree. (Though he did marry well…..and proceeded to cheat on her with the housekeeper….)

Madonna–An icon dedicated to the gods of ambition, makes a mockery of virtue and honesty.

Barney–Don’t get me started on this insidious little nightmare…..even kids find him creepy. If our species ever comes to resemble this creature, I’ll start the nuclear war myself…..

Okay, only five, but I’ll stop there, as the list kept growing the more I considered the parameters. Easier than I thought, and a list more populated than I had hoped, ‘cuz it’s probably not too good for my karma to focus on negativity……
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How dieth the wise man? As the fool.

Death is the great equalizer….all of us, of every creed or color, will die, and it won’t matter at all whether we die rich and miserable, or poor and happy. It won’t matter whether we are well-esteemed or reviled in the eyes of our fellows, or whether we want to or not, we are all going to eventually travel that road. It’s rather humbling when I stop to think about it; hell, not just humbling, but downright terrifying. The greatest unknown is our final destiny, and our fate afterward is the ultimate question. But it is not only humbling and scary, it is also a comfort, providing us with one more very strong reason to embrace living, for as the Scots are wont to say, you’ll be a long time dead….

You may be a king
Or a little street sweeper,
But sooner or later
You’ll dance with the reaper. — Reaper Rap
(Grim Reaper, “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey”)
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A thing of beauty is a joy forever;
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness.
— John Keats (1795-1821)
— Endymion, Book i

Seventeen words. One rhyme. And an expression of the joys of perception and memory that would take many hundreds of words to fully describe in prose. I’ve always wanted to be a poet; seeing the universe in such a way that it lends itself to poetic expression is, to me, one of humanities most precious gifts.  But, my attempts to produce poems generally fall well short of the level of quality or expertise that I would feel comfortable showing to the world at large, so I mostly stick to prose.

I do enjoy creating what I call ‘poetic prose’, a sort of free form style wherein the images created by the words are so powerful and elegant that it might be construed as poetry, and give the same feeling upon reading it…..I guess I can just be glad that since the world’s human population is now over 7 billion, even if the percentage is small, it still makes for a lot of poets. The more we have, the better chances we have to survive, I think….. straightforward prose doesn’t seem to be getting the pertinent information out into the public consciousness. The people need poets to lead the way to a new way of thinking, about life, the universe, and our place in it…..and they need them to do that soon…..
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There you have it. Another fine mess, but at least you don’t have to wipe anything up….y’all take care out there….

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

A slathering of the tribes….

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Ffolkes,


“Top of the morning to ya!” “…and the rest of the day to you!”  Cheerful buggers, those Irish…..but what can you expect of folks who drink tea in the morning instead of coffee? (which makes me wonder….do Irish hackers drink caffeinated tea?). Let’s be off into the realm of reason, or a reasonable facsimile thereof…..

“All cruelty springs from weakness.’ — Seneca

Little needs to be said regarding this quote; it is pretty well complete just as it is, and far be it from me to take away from that. I will remind y’all though, it IS a good thing to remember once in awhile, as it helps explain a lot of the stuff that we see on the campaign trail coming out of the mouths of the ‘candidates’…..
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“Although war is cruel and brutal, it is also dangerous and stupid.”  — Yakko Warner

Yakko, for the uninitiated, is a very odd creature. He resembles Felix the Cat physically, with some minor differences. They have the same wildly insane look about the eyes, though. His voice, when he troubles to use his own, sounds kind of like Ringo Starr pretending to be high on life.

With his sister Dot, and brother (blank mind space), he performs cartoon mayhem on Saturdays on the Warner Bros. Cartoon show. The writers, as with many new cartoons, write their dialog with adults in mind, often with broad caricature or obscure innuendo, and Yakko seems to get most of the Zinger lines, that poke fun at society, politics, or whatever. I really like the line above, as it typifies the kind of gentle propaganda that gets shoved in alongside the other cartoon nonsense, teaching them to question reality and authority. THAT is a good thing……
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“What is wrong with us?” “It is in the air we breathe. The things we do. The things we say. Our books.  Our papers. Our theater. Our movies. Our radio and television. The way we behave. The interests we have. The values we fix.” “We are, on the average, rich beyond the dreams of kings of old. Yet something is not there that should be — something we once had.” — Louis Seltzer, Cleveland Press editor, 1952.

There is a lot of this kind of attitude going around, both in newsprint and online. Someone with half a coherent thought begins or ends their treatise with a lament about “the good old days”. I always feel as if I should take them aside and chastise them thoroughly for such nonsensical talk, but they never listen, and I’m tired of hiring lawyers to keep from spending jail time for clocking some fool. What is it about regular people that makes it impossible for them to accept reality just the way it is, and not always wish for better times?

Okay, sure, maybe society was simpler, and easier to deal with back in the g.o.d.’s, but that is somewhat overbalanced by having to walk through the snow to another building to use the commode. And sure, we were better people then, right? Wrong…people throughout history have always pretty much been a__holes, but back then there wasn’t a world-wide network of news outlets reporting every evil deed they can find, because that’s what people want to read about (or so they tell us).


There were no ‘good old days’. They’ve always been exactly the same as they are today. But we humans think there has to be something missing, or something wrong with today, because we are not self-aware, or able to confront reality without the protection of their rose-colored glasses. This lack of courage regarding the nature of reality is one of several insidious little characteristics of the human species that eventually will take us to the end of the road we are on, to extinction. All because we are unwilling to accept what is, without wishing it was not…..well, that and a lot of avarice…..
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Here in my heart, I am Helen;
I’m Aspasia and Hero, at least.
I’m Judith, and Jael, and Madame de Stael;
I’m Salome, moon of the East.

Here in my soul I am Sappho;
Lady Hamilton am I, as well.
In me Recamier vies with Kitty O’Shea,
With Dido, and Eve, and poor Nell.

I’m all of the glamorous ladies
At whose beckoning history shook.
But you are a man, and see only my pan,
So I stay at home with a book.
— Dorothy Parker

Dear Dorothy….she had such a fine mind, but was never able to get past the mental chains wrapped upon her by a society that had no chance of understanding her. She spent a great portion of her life, it seems to me, using her mental skills to fight in the trenches of the War between the Sexes. Her wit, such as demonstrated above, was sharp, and she wielded it with great style and panache.

But I can’t help feeling that the world would have seen a much deeper, more productive output from her pen if she had been able to set aside her resentment at how women were treated during the early 20th century. As it is, her acerbic wit was most likely an instrumental factor in the suffrage movement, encouraging women to think for themselves, and to push back against the repressive mores of the time. Whether Ms. Parker would have been happier living today is too hard to tell…..we can just be thankful for what she did leave as her legacy.
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Facts are not truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premises.  The truth depends on, and is only arrived at by a legitimate deduction from all the facts which are truly material.

This little truism is more important than it seems, as it highlights a part of the reasoning process that is often left out by those whose agenda is not limited to scientific truth. It appears to me that every single politician alive uses the first half of this idea, and leaves out the second part, or using it only to puff up some otherwise irrelevant fact, making it seem more important than it is.

Here’s a tip: next speech you listen to from one of the candidates, check to see if their facts, when put together, actually supports or justifies the rest of their assertion. I’m betting, (and I’ll bet big…) that you will find that the facts don’t support their ideas, or their facts aren’t facts, but assumptions or erroneous interpretations of actual facts. But these pseudo-factual assertions they make sound so real! And guess what? They are….almost….real. But, almost doesn’t count in communication……nothing counts except the truth…..

Enough folderol for one morning. It’s a Monday, and my Judeo-Christian upbringing is pushing at me to be productive. You  know, the old “idle hands are the Devil’s workshop” and similar nonsense. My usual reaction to this ancient tape that runs through my head is to rebel, and spend the day doing absolutely nothing. Hmmm….. that actually sounds good. I think I’ll do that…..meanwhile, y’all take care out there….

 

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

gigoid

Dozer

Kowabunga!

Those bashful dancers are moulting!

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Ffolkes,
Manifold destiny is an oxymoron, and fate is just a bad joke. No sense in fightin’ ’bout it, or it’ll all go up in smoke…..

Full wise is he that can himselven knowe.
— Geoffrey Chaucer (1328-1400)
— The Monkes Tale, Line 1449

As my brain struggled to translate this passage from Chaucer’s tales, written in Middle English, I first had the impression that it meant that a wise man knew enough to be an elf-friend, that the elves respected his wisdom. Then, of course, the true meaning broke through, and though it is less entertaining a thought than having the privilege of consorting with elves, it remains quite wise, and a worthy goal…..
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“It is well to observe the force and virtue and consequence of discoveries, and these are to be seen nowhere more conspicuously than in those three which were unknown to the ancients, and of which the origin, though recent, is obscure and inglorious; namely, printing, gunpowder and the magnet [i.e. Mariner’s Needle].  For these three have changed the whole face and state of things throughout the world.”
— Francis Bacon

Sir Francis, by all available evidence, was a pretty smart guy, and this statement attributed to him clearly demonstrates that. To recognize the potential in those three discoveries, knowledge that only recently became part of mankind’s toolkit for survival, gives one the range of his intellect. I’m not sure if we have anyone in this century whose accomplishments rival those of Bacon, but if we did, I believe they would agree that computer technology could be added to the list (and take gunpowder off, if you please. Thank you….). It seems obvious to me that computers have increased the potential for further progress at unraveling the secrets of the universe by a factor of “billions and billions”. The concept of nano-technology, which has grown out of computer research, promises to astound us with each passing month, let alone year. Whether our increased ability to process information will help us before we foul our nest so much it kills us remains to be seen. It’s will be a close race, I’m betting…..but I’m not betting much…..just my life…..
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. — The Constitution of the United States of America Amendment 1, 1791

Watching the news of late has been depressing. When I came across this redux of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, I was struck by the fact that of the five listed freedoms, four of them, wait, no, make that all five of them have been abridged in our time, and can no longer be counted upon to protect us from the machinations of government myrmidons. Speech and Press: lots of stuff one can’t say these days, especially if the word ‘terror’ is used. People are getting arrested for making jokes before getting on an airplane; fact. And custom reins in the Press more powerfully than it does itself. Religion, and the free practice of? Hmmm, as long as it’s a Christian religion; otherwise be prepared to be reviled and discriminated against. The right of peaceful assembly? Just check the news on the latest Occupy Blank protest that got kicked to the curb, with people being beaten for observing their “right”. Redress of grievances? Give me a break…..get real folks, our rights are being taken away one by one, and nobody is paying any attention, because they’re so focused on being able to live indoors and eat regularly, and all they hear from the beloved ruling class is a litany of things they should be afraid of…..I’m getting pretty disgusted…..feel like chucking up a hairball…..
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“If rejection destroys your self-esteem, you’re letting others hold you as an emotional hostage.” — Brian Tracy

This is included merely because it is true, and is something everyone needs to be reminded of occasionally, as we all tend to fall into this particular emotional trap. Just ignore the bait, folks, it only looks like cheese…..
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“Have a strong mind and a soft heart.” — Anthony J. D’Angelo, The College Blue Book

Just more good advice here…..compassion is a hard one for those folks who confuse ruthlessness with strength of mind. T’is easy to show disdain, and tastes bad, as well. It is much harder to be compassionate, and tastes better…..

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But in vayne shee did conjure him
To depart her presence soe;
Having a thousand tongues to allure him,
And but one to bid him goe.
— Thomas Percy (1728-1811)
— Dulcina

I had planned to use this poem, or piece of one, to begin a discussion on the differences between the sexes. However, in secondary rumination I realized that this would be an invitation for controversy, and is the type of discussion sure to create enmity. I have no wish to further muddy the waters between the sexes, goodness, no. I catch enough crap as it is, without having to deal with accusations of misogyny, or be accused of spewing out macho bullshit. I happen to believe that men will never be free unless women are free as well. But we do think differently, and that is an indisputable fact. The key to good relations between men and women begins in respecting and embracing those differences, and realizing that our gender based characteristics are designed to complement the other’s, making our combined efforts much more powerful than any possible solitary attempt. Learn to enjoy the differences, life is much smoother that way…..

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Five miles meandering with lazy motion,
Through dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank the tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And ‘mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!
— Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Kubla Kahn

No great profundity here folks. I just like the poem; it has such an interesting rhyming cadence, very mathematic. 1, 2, 2, 1, 3, 3.
A thing of beauty, what? Reading it is akin to letting a cool waterfall pummel you as you float in a pastoral utopia, or listening to the laugh of a baby. We all need little pieces of joy like this to liven up the day; they’re out there, but you have to be open to seeing them, as they usually pass by quickly, gone forever……
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Okay, no more torture for today. Actually, I hope it wasn’t torturous, because that is exactly what I am NOT trying to do. But, now you can go out and use that brain, which was thoroughly awakened by these thought-provoking (hope, hope), energizing, and entertaining morning Pearls, If not, well, at least you’re awake, which you can’t blame on me…..y’all take care out there…..

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

gigoid

Kowabunga!