Tag Archives: T.S. Eliot

Searching for syllogistic integrity….

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Ffolkes,

“Brave men were living before Agamemnon.”

~~ Horace (65-8 BC) — Odes, iv, 9, 25 ~~

ignoring me

I’m ignoring you….

Hajime….

“I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers,
and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that ties them together.”

~~ Michael de Montaigne (1533-1592) — Essays, Book iii, Chap. xii ~~

Perfect! I couldn’t have said it any better, in answer to the question of what I do here each time I post. Funny how so many writers/philosophers from the past have expressed human nature, and its means of expression, so accurately it remains valid today, nearly five hundred years later. It almost makes one feel superfluous, if not for the personal value it provides me as a means of self-therapy. Of course, such therapy is most effective when it is applied consistently, but, consistency isn’t always either available, or advisable. Too much of it, & one becomes hidebound, thus invalidating the positive nature of the effect. Ah, well, one can only do one’s best, n’est pas?

My best, today, is probably closer to ‘okay’ than to ‘most excellent’, so, we’ll atone for any lack of brilliance by shortening the exposure time. One of the best ways to do that is to make a serious attempt to curtail any use of excessive nonsense. Of course, any such limits need to be applied quickly, before the volume grows beyond my means of control. There are days, (of which today is one….) when the volume to be released is simply too much to keep from bursting out of any artificially applied boundaries. I can feel it in there, tons & tons of sheer idiocy & fun, straining at the edge of control so laboriously gathered for the purpose…..

Hell…. this means there’s only one way to keep this from getting away from me, & that is to apply an emergency method of egress. Happily, I found one in the nearest drawer, only two steps away in the kitchen, so, there’s still a chance to salvage this. The only hard part of it is the abrupt nature of its operation, so, I suggest you put down any adult beverages, & grab the closest stanchion, while I try to keep us from complete disaster…. You see, it works like this….

Shall we Pearl?

“Ignorance is the soil in which belief in miracles grows.”

~~ Robert Green Ingersoll ~~

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betty-boop-1934

I doubt very much there is any need to introduce this young lady to the Gentle Reader, unless said G. R. has been living in a cave for the past century…. This collection of her cartoons comprises more than an hour of her adventurous episodes, but, if that isn’t enough, just follow the links embedded in the player to find all you could wish for, including those that were banned due to ‘culturally questionable’ morals…. Have fun!….

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Betty Boop

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Comedy_Tragedy

Elemental, dear Watson….

Don’t worry,
it’s not
me
you hear
screaming.

It is
only
my bones,
giving in,
to
cowardly,
pathologically,
repetitive,
fucking,’
complaints
of
past abuse,
and
all the fun
we had.
playing,
hard.

I don’t mind
too much;
I can spend my
TIME
in another space
in my head,
pretending
my bones
don’t
exist….

It
is,
indeed,
a shame
they
always
come
back….

Fuck.

It
hurts.

More proof,
I guess,
either
God isn’t,
or,
He is.

IF

He isn’t?
Oh,
Well….

Ante up.
Deal.

IF

He is?
Then,
I don’t fucking care
who
doesn’t like it,

I say,

He
is
a bully,
a coward,
a hypocrite,
and,
truly,
an enormous asshole.

I suppose,
God
is
what comes,
to,
and
from,
People,

because

they
feel
a need,
for
someone
to
blame,
for
a
Universe
they
cannot
understand
or
accept.

I
will
take the complaints.

After all,
they
are
my bones.

~~ gigoid ~~

9/14/2014

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Connecting some of the dots….

*******

“No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature.
Good and bad are but names
very readily transferable to that or this;
the only right is what is after my own constitution;
the only wrong what is against it.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

*******

“Enter freely and leave some of the happiness you bring behind.”

~~ The Insidious Wu Han ~~

*******

“I love those who yearn for the impossible.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust ~~

*******

“A person’s maturity consists in having found again
the seriousness one had as a child, at play.”

~~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche ~~

*******

“At some point your heart will tell itself what to do.”

~~ Achaan Chah ~~

*******

“Grain grows best in shit.”

~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~

*******

“You cannot face it steadily, but this thing’s for sure,
That time is no healer: the patient is no longer here.”

~~ T.S. Eliot ~~

*******

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

Well!…. That was….. interesting. Rather than try to analyze what just occurred here, I’m going to use up some of my curmudgeonly currency, & drop y’all here like a hot potato. If that causes any severe injury, or excessive loss of blood, so be it; you’ll find first aid supplies in the hampers under the seats. As for me, I’m off to lick my wounds in private, so as to delegitimize any pertinent or possible litigation. I will, however, try to be back tomorrow, so, y’all may file any charges then. Until then, stay weird, be cool, and try to remain alert…. See ya, ffolkes….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Alternative sublimation….

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Ffolkes,

“Only, as long as we’re going insane, we might as well go the whole way.
A mere shred of sanity is of no value.”

~~ S. S. Van Dine ~~

famine memorial

Memorial for the victims & heroes of the Great Famine Exodus

Galway, Ireland

Hajime…. Opening with such a picture, when taken in the context of the quote preceding it, could, very easily, lead me into a very long rant. However, I seem to have burned off some of the built-in angst, generally so common to my persona, over the past six years of railing against the machine that passes for human society. For example, the truth of the Great Famine is, for the most part, ignored by most of the world, that truth being more shameful than most of humanity cares to contemplate; this alone could prompt at least five thousand harsh words from me, especially given my personal ties to Ireland. I’ll forgo any such rant, however, simply because I am weary of shouting into the wind, & having only a few people listen….

Ranting is also complicated, these days, by my basic inability to sit long enough to marshal the words necessary to produce a viable discussion; hard to think when one’s ass is constantly signaling its desire to get up & move, rather than submitting to gravity’s less than tender embrace. This brings out, naturally, my human tendency to allow expediency to influence our decision making process; in short, I won’t rant, simply because its too much trouble for little return. I suppose, in and of itself, that, too, is human.

It doesn’t make it any more comfortable to know this; it merely makes it tawdry, and pedestrian. Fortunately, memory is volitional, making it easy to deny the reality of any situation that challenges our morality…. Go figure, eh? No ranting is necessary to demonstrate; the act of NOT ranting, in this case, becomes an act of sublimation, designed simply to make us easier in our skin. Thus, our humanity, shameful as it may be, is verified.

Gosh…. That’s pretty much of a bummer, eh? Oh, well. I’d hoped to come up with something a bit more uplifting, but, such is life for us humans; we lift our eyes to the stars, only to have to stop to wipe our feet, having stepped in something unpleasant, from having our attention focused away from what is real. I suppose this is a pretty clear indicator of how our culture has gone so far off the rails, but, to dwell on that would, once again, lead us into the realm where ranting would become necessary, if only to keep from exploding from excessive irony…..

Since it’s way to early for that, why don’t we get on with the rest of today’s mess, before I stumble into a real rant…. We’ll do it this way, which seems to work out as well as anything else I’ve attempted over the years…. Watch your step, please; the sidewalk is rather bumpy….

Shall we Pearl?

“We shall never cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”

~~ T. S. Eliot~~

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playing-for-change

I arose later than usual, meaning we go with one of our default choices. Here is a relatively new cut from the organization, with an old country tune most of us know…. Enjoy! Then, go send them some money…. They’re doing good work….

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Playing For Change
Take Me Home, Country Roads

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Comedy_Tragedy

Unheralded Sagacity…

To many, who will not see beyond their nose
the world becomes a dangerous place,
a bullet in every gun, a thorn with every rose,
no magic comes to save us, reality leaves no trace.

Minds closed, wrapped tight in manufactured fears,
men become clay, easily molded into complacent form.
No chains needed, held in thrall for years,
lies become gospel, when dishonesty is the norm.

Shed the chains you wear in durance, in kind;
Oh, ye of little faith, and much doubt
Strength is found in an unfettered mind,
Cry “freedom” with a great shout.

No help from any gods can hinder so much
as our own lack of confidence;
finding the light within, knowing it as such
confirms us, becoming consequence.

Illumination…..

~~ gigoid ~~

4/17/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

One path of many….

*******

“He should not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.”

~~ Elrond ~~

*******

“I have everything, yet have nothing;
and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.”

~~ Terence — Act ii, Sc. 2, 12, (243.) ~~

*******

“… denn da ist keine Stelle,
die dich nicht sieht. Du musst dein Leben andern.”
(“… for there is no place that does not see you.
You must change your life.”)

~~ Rainer Maria Rilke, “Archaic Torso of Apollo” ~~

*******

“My friend Data, you see things with the wonder of a child.
And that makes you more human than any of us.”

~~ Yar, “Skin of Evil”, stardate 41601.3 ~~

*******

“The problem with the future is that it keeps on becoming the present.”

~~ Calvin & Hobbes ~~

*******

“When in doubt, sing loud.”

~~ Robert Merrill ~~

*******

“For how much longer can I howl into this wind?”

~~ The Cure “A Thousand Hours” ~~

*******

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

Well, there you go…. I can’t say it’s the best Pearl ever, but, it ain’t bad, and will do for our purposes here today. I’ll be back, hopefully tomorrow, with more fresh, if strange, material. Ooh, there’s a cut, if I ever heard one. Ah, well, self-denigration is always a good technique; it makes people think you’re honest, if nothing else. Since I am honest, as humans go, I’ll just use this opportunity to say, thanks for dropping in, & I hope you’ve enjoyed our time together. We’ll do it again, soon…. Ta, for now….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Kowabunga!

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Applicable standards don’t exist….

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Ffolkes,

“He who has the courage to laugh
is almost as much a master of the world
as he who is ready to die.”

~~ Giacomo Leopardi ~~

smiley zoey

Mornings are fun!….

Hajime…. Just look at that face! Is that not the perfect picture of experiencing joy, simply to be alive? Such serendipitous gifts cannot be overvalued, in my estimation, providing us with a reason to look inside, to find the part of us that once felt that joy, unbidden. For those of us advanced in years, it’s a long way back in memory, but, just seeing such a smile, echoed by the glittering eyes, gives us good reason to spend the time & effort to take that journey into our own past, to share the joy she so obviously feels….

Thanks to a studious application of will, I was able to cobble together this Pearl for today. Two final tasks to complete, then I can post it, before reaching my current limit for sitting. To keep from going wonky, as is my wont, far too often, I’ll truncate this intro, as best I can, & we can all get on with the rest of the day, which, for me, is a busy one. In fact, I’ve so much to do, I actually am experiencing the dreaded deadline anxiety; time to administer the antidote, I think. How, you may ask, will he do it this time? Simple, really. Watch this….

Shall we Pearl?

“If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good.
But you can survive without it
if you have love, compassion, and tolerance.
The clear truth of a person’s love of God
is if that person genuinely shows love to fellow human beings.”

~~ Dalai Lama ~~

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

jimmy_buffett

Since we’re having so much fun this morning, I feel like some good time music. Here is one of my favorite concerts from a good time musician, with whom I’ve spent many a fine evening, both in concert, and on the stereo…. I’ve been a Coral Reefer since the mid-70’s, when I first heard two of his first albums, “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation”, and “Living and Dying in 3/4 Time”. I won’t suggest you enjoy this, as I am sure you will, no matter what I may say; it’s just plain good stuff….

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

Jimmy Buffett
Live in Anguilla

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Comedy_Tragedy

Dreaming of Calliope

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

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

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

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

~~ gigoid ~~

12/13/2012

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Poetic philosophy,
aka,
Philosophic Poetry….

*********

“A word is dead
When it is said
Some say.
I say it just
Begins to live
That day.”

~~ Emily Dickinson ~~

*********

“The hour is striking so close above me,
so clear and sharp,
that all my senses ring with it.
I feel it now: there’s a power in me
to grasp and give shape to my world.
I know that nothing has ever been real
without my beholding it.
All becoming has needed me.
My looking ripens things
and they come toward me, to meet and be met.”

~~ Rainer Maria Rilke, from Book of Hours~~

*********

“As for the future,
your task is not to foresee it,
but to enable it.”

~~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery, “Wisdom of the Sands” ~~

*********

“Do I dare disturb the universe?”

~~ T. S. Eliot ~~

*********

“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~~

*********

“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”

~~ Rush, “Freewill” ~~

*********

“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”

~~ Ralph Ellison ~~

*********

“All time in all time.
It does not change.
It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations.
It simply is.
Take it moment by moment,
and you will find that we are all bugs in amber.”

~~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr., “Slaughter-House 5” ~~

*********

“Come to the edge, life said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, life said.
They came.
It pushed them….
and they Flew.”

~~  Guillaume Apollinaire ~~

*********

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

Well, I did it. Okay, so, I cheated, a bit. Sue me, if you dare. For my own part, I am content, or, as content as possible in my current state of advanced ambiguity. So be it, he said, with a wicked grin and a snap of the fingers. We’re done, and, what’s more, we’re outta here. No telling, at this point, when this might happen again, but, you may rest assured, it will. Hell, I’ve even got a new poem in the process of leaking out, so, eventually, when it’s done, I’ll have to post it, if only to soothe my own fevered dreams of adequacy. For the nonce, I’ll bid thee adieu, until we meet again, somewhere in cyberspace…. See ya, ffolkes; be alert, because it will happen quickly, when it does….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 12330

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Implicit rules of engagement….

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3

Ffolkes,

“Life is cruel? Compared to what?”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

first bloom of spring

First bloom of spring….

Hajime…. As spring approaches this part of the planet, the day’s are a bit warmer, & longer by a bit each time we revolve, & move around our sun. I find myself wanting to spend more time out of doors, as made clear by today’s image of a downtown tree coming into its seasonal growth. My recovery from last weekend’s difficult journey continues apace, albeit a slow one; any wisdom we may accrue as we grow older comes with a higher price than at any previous time, to be sure. Even though I never mind paying whatever price is required, it does bring a bit of frustration along, as the price takes longer to pay. Ah, well, such is life, with all its beauty and pain, each of which, if accepted as part of the overall balance in reality, brings its own sort of appreciation and joy…. beauty at its perception, & pain at its absence….

It’s probably a bit early for such deep philosophy; one cuppa coffee isn’t quite enough to achieve that sort of equanimity…. which reminds me, it’s time to refill. Be right back…. Okay, good to go. The only question remaining, then, is to figure out where to go. I have put together the basic elements of a pretty decent Pearl, rantless though it may be, so, it shouldn’t be too much effort to finish it off. Of course, that makes the, perhaps, erroneous assumption we know where to go & what to do in order to complete that task; assumptions, while necessary at times to continue to function, are tricky bastards, often ill-advised. Today, since we aren’t going to make any, it shouldn’t prolong our agony for longer than we can endure….

That being said, I suppose it would be best to go on, without further delay; this might ensure at least a modicum of dignity, which is often completely missing from these pages. It’s not as if we care, (we don’t) (and, neither do I, in the normal, non-royal persona….), but, according to the general rules of blogging, we are supposed to make an effort to LOOK as if we do. I’m not sure, at this point, just how to do that, so, I’m going to ignore that rule, & just get on with the rest of this mess. That, in and of itself, is easy enough. All we have to do to accomplish that, is this….

Shall we Pearl?

“Don’t take life so seriously… it’s only a temporary situation.”

~~ Humanity’s Ancient Sage, Anonymous ~~

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playing-for-change

I’m up quite late, so, naturally, we’re going with one of our default choices for music. This cut of Gimme Shelter is by the P4C Band, a live cut from one of their concerts…. It’s hot, as it should be…. Enjoy!….

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Playing For Change
Gimme Shelter

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Comedy_Tragedy

I came across these lines, from one of T. S. Eliot’s most famous poems, & decided to include the entire poem/song as today’s choice for this section. I’ve included a link, to a reproduction of the full poem on Bartleby.com, rather than taking up that space here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, every time I read it…..

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

~~ T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ~~

http://www.bartleby.com/198/1.html

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

“The more I learn, the more I have to learn….”

*******

“Inquiry is fatal to certainty.”

~~ Will and Ariel Durant ~~

*******

“What is the hardest task in the world? To think.”

~~ Emerson ~~

*******

“He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.”

~~ Ben Jonson ~~

*******

“The belief that there is only one truth
and that oneself is in possession of it
seems to me the deepest root of all evil that is in the world.”

~~ Max Born, physicist ~~

*******

“I know but one freedom, and that is the freedom of the mind.”

~~ Antoine de Saint Exupery ~~

*******

“Work is not an end in itself;
there must always be time enough for love.”

~~ Robert Heinlein ~~

*******

“After all,
to the well-organized mind,
death is but the next great adventure.”

~~ Albus Dumbledore ~~

*******

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

Given the handicaps, (periodic outbursts of sanity, chronic pain, bozoid tendencies, cynicism, to name just a few….), under which I normally operate, I can’t consider this one as shabby. Fortunately for us all, I CAN consider it done, as it has a completed section in each space provided, it flows fairly well, and, most importantly, I can’t think of anything to add. To avoid any further embarrassment or build-up of unduly authorized angst among the participating denizens of this reality, I think I’ll just end it here, before it gets away from me. I’ll be back, tomorrow, hopefully, to try to get it right, one more time…. Please join me then, as we explore yet another dark corner of my mind, as it attempts to deal with Consensual Reality, as best we may…. See ya, ffolkes…. As yet, nobody has come up with a reliable way to prevent me from doing so….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Serendipity strikes….

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7

Ffolkes,

“True silence is the rest of the mind.
It is to the spirit what sleep is to the body
–nourishment and refreshment.”

~~ William Penn ~~

HaroldViolet

Harold & Violet, circa 1910

Hajime…. In summary of the past five plus days, let me just say, whew! What a ride! It has taken me nearly 48 hours of near catatonia, and about 20 hours sleeping, to approach the near-human state I have awakened to this morning. I managed to finish a Pearl over that time, by working at it in spurts, as more energy became available. I can’t say it’s the most compelling Pearl ever created, but, it’s pretty good, all things considered. Any summary of the time leading up to today should also include two comments, to wit: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”, (shout-out here to Chuck Dickens….), and “Regardless of our perceptions, the universe remains in balance.”

I realize those may be a bit obscure, in terms of details which might explain their relevance, but, any such relation of details will have to wait for tomorrow, and/or other Pearls yet to be composed. I will say this now: it was one of the most illuminating periods of time I’ve ever experienced. During the time I spent traveling, and during my stay in Oregon to fulfill death duty, I connected with more new, and old friends than in any previous comparable time in my entire life. Though I am a trifle sad at the passing of my friend, his change of path was accomplished with love, and dignity, and compassion, so, in that, I am content.

I am also more than merely content at the serendipity I found in traveling. On both legs of the train ride to my destination in Oregon, I met people with whom I became incredibly connected, about whom I shall speak in time. Suffice to say, I met one of our species’ Great Souls, one of the most influential men of the 20th and 21st centuries, whom I met when I helped him navigate his way through the coach section in which we found ourselves to the dining car for dinner.

He is 85 years of age, though he appears to be in his 60’s, and spent much of the latter half of the 20th century pursuing his interests on the highest level stages of world events/history, starting with his invitation to come to the US from his home in India to participate in the Manhattan Project. He was traveling in Coach, because he wished to meet new people, to help him achieve a sense of balance lost at his wife’s death the year before. We spent, literally, hours and hours exchanging ideas, and our histories, and our contact information, to ensure we would meet again.

I also met two very intelligent, passionately alive young men, one traveling for pleasure, the other on his way to a Zen Buddhist institute to study advanced Zen mysticism, with whom I debated the existence of God for most of the last night on the train…. Since it is almost impossible for me to sleep on the train, it helped pass the long night in both directions. I’m just now getting over the exhaustion I incurred over the four day trip, having slept very little, but, cannot regret a single moment of the time spent awake, for my mind feasted on joyful cogitation, and discovery, the entire time I was gone…

Now, I’m back, and note I have rambled & blathered quite enough for one intro…. I’m sure I’ll relate more of the trip, as I am still processing all that occurred… In the meantime, let’s get on with today’s mess, so we can all get on with the rest of the day…. See ya down the page, ffolkes… Hang on, we’re goin’ in fast & hard….

Shall we Pearl?

“A man can do something for peace without having to jump into politics.
Each man has inside him a basic decency and goodness.
If he listens to it and acts on it,
he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most.”

~~ Pablo Casals ~~

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pentatonix

Image from You Tube via Google Images

I first became aware of this group last year when Leonard Cohen passed away, whereupon a number of artists covered his works in tribute. This A Capella singing group performed Lenny’s “Hallelujah” in a video, with excellent innovative passion. I found this via a link from a friend on FB, & thought it was perfect for today, to honor the passage of my friend, Dennis, and, offer some hope for the future of humanity…. If naught else, it’s grand craic, and, if you can’t appreciate its genius, you are in need of some cultivation of your basic humanity…. Enjoy!….

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Pentatonix

“Imagine”

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Comedy_Tragedy

A Dubiously Soft Morning

Idiosyncratic images, clamoring for regard,
fill up the white, white screen on which I view
my life, never seeing, nor invited to sup
ambrosial remnants of anything new.

Still, yet almost in motion, allegory sails away
bobbing gently, quick and easy to find,
signs of one happy child, seriously at play,
blissfully immersed, focused joy in mind.

Formidable cries of outraged simple justice
echo plaintive relevance, in half the time.
Maladaptive infants, destined for hospice
salvage an only child, daring to sing in rhyme.

Creativity equals unquestioning farce,
often reaching for absurdity, brazenly afire.
Instead, a blow is felt no joy will ever soften,
accepting the price, added to the cost of desire.

~~ gigoid ~~

7/26/2013

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life at Large….

*********

“All beginnings are hard.”

~~ Chaim Potok, “In The Beginning”, 1975 ~~

*********

“Big, undreamed-of things.
The people on the edge see them first.”

~~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr ~~

*********

“Only through time time is conquered.”

~~ T.S. Eliot, “Burnt Norton” ~~

*********

“Think of everyone as a idiot.”

~~ MSgt. R. H. Moore, Driving Rule #1 ~~

*********

“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants.
The question is: what are we busy about?:”

~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

*********

“To a rational being it is the same thing
to act according to nature and according to reason.”

~~ Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations, vii, 11 ~~

*********

“You think your pain and your heartbreak
are unprecedented in the history of the world,
but then you read.
It was books that taught me
that the things that tormented me most
were the very things that connected me
with all the people who were alive,
or who had ever been alive.”

~~ James Baldwin ~~

*********

“If you are stopping now, then stop.
If you are seeking a time when you finish,
there will never be a time when you finish.”

~~ Zen Koan ~~

*********

“If you get confused, listen to the music play.”

~~ Robert Hunter ~~

*********

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

It’s been a number of years since my mornings were so infused with positive energy to any appreciable degree; to feel such again is nothing less than a joy, which I can only work to extend as far as I can. I guess by seeking the balance it brings with it, that can be made real. In point of fact, that’s the plan for the day, and the coming days. Let’s go get a start on it, shall we? I’ll do my best to return tomorrow, with another fine Pearl of Virtual Wisdom, and hope all of y’all have as fine a day as I am having, and intend to maintain…. Be well, be happy as you may, and, remember to stay mindful, and, alert. Things really do work out better that way, y’know….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

dozer3

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Oblique references at reality’s core….

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6

Ffolkes,

“A mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought, alone.”

~~ William Wordsworth ~~

georges house

George Orwell’s Home, London….

Hajime…. Nearly a week has passed since the last fresh Pearl of Virtual Wisdom was posted. In that week, I’ve seen this country, and the world, edge ever closer to either a civil war, or a world war, take your pick, as both scenarios are receiving some attention in the available news, whether fake, real, or just out there. Since there is little, at this point, I can do about any of that, beyond what I already have done to prepare myself, I find myself rather bored by it all, sort of Oscar Wilde-ish in my impatience with the tedious nature of most of my species. The very worst of human behaviors are on full public display, as the ignorance of the American people is played out on the world stage in the most appalling manner. SIGH… ah, well, bell curve, is all I can say….

I am working on a rant, but, even the degree of angst I’ve built up watching the nonsense going on all around me isn’t quite enough to have it ready, given the physical and emotional wars I’m waging on a daily basis. Suffice it to say, the rant may get outrageous, so, we’ll save it until it’s fully developed, to savor any potential impact it may produce. In the meantime, over the past four or five days, in the few moments per day allotted to me for sitting in a chair, I’ve managed to string together the basic elements of a fresh Pearl, which I now present for your viewing/reading pleasure. Of course, only you can decide whether it produces the desired effect, but, I’m sure you’ll let me know, if only by completely ignoring it. What the hell, I’ve blogged here on WP for more than six years now; I know better than to worry about how many will see what I produce; basically, it’s a crap shoot, & I never did figure out the odds on craps..

All that said, with the standard lack of purpose or justification, I’m going to be a trifle rude, & drop y’all right here, so I can get this finished & posted in a timely manner. Lots still to do out in the BBR today, laying in supplies for the coming month/times, & generally avoiding the rain as much as possible. Not that I mind the rain; I spent four years living in the state of Washington as a boy, & the rain is just a part of life, one you learn to enjoy, or suffer all the damn time. I like to control my suffering, so, I choose to enjoy the rain. It’s not hard, it’s just cold. So be it. And so be this intro, which I now declare done. Watch this….

Shall we Pearl?

“I am not an Athenian or a Greek, I am a citizen of the world.”

~~ Socrates ~~

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

camille-saint-saens-photo2

French composer Camille Saint-Saens

Camille Saint-Saëns

Today, I feel like some classical music; by my personal experience, one cannot choose better than this man’s work, no matter what particular type of orchestral arrangement wishes to hear. Here are two plus hours of violin concertos, to ease your way into the day…. Enjoy!….

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

Camille Saint-Saëns
Violin Concertos

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

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

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Stray Cats

The veils that billow and fold
between dreams and reality
may sometimes part,
showing the visions of one to the other,
blending, bleeding as one,
only to bring us up short,
closely jammed against immovable fate.

Still, we keep our watch,
seeking to find the vision
that brings with it the mark of reality’s regard,
a humble mind, and a compassionate heart.

Events of broad impact draw us away again,
distracting with shiny glitter and tinny music,
leaving our feelings raw and bruised,
the victim of universal disregard.

Now, in the twilight of years, the music is fading,
and the glitter has all gone….
yet the memory of visions remains sharp and clear,
melancholy reminders of reality’s promises,
unkept…..

~~gigoid~~

4/12/2013

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Notes on Life at Large

*******

“Death tugs at my ear and says: “Live, I am coming.”

~~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. ~~

*******

“We should consider every day lost
on which we have not danced at least once.”
And we should call every truth false
which was not accompanied by at least one laugh.”

~~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~~

*******

“Perfect valor is to do unwitnessed
what we should be capable of doing before all the world.”

~~ Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld ~~

*******

“Sure, understanding today’s complex world of the future
is a little like having bees live in your head.
But there they are . . .”

~~The Firesign Theater ~~

*******

“If you understand, or if you don’t.
If you believe, or if you doubt.
There is a universal justice
and the eyes of truth are always watching.”

~~ Enigma ~~

*******

“My life is light, waiting for the death wind,
Like a feather on the back of my hand.”

~~ T.S. Eliot ~~

*******

“What I tell you three times is true.”

~~ Lewis Carroll, “The Hunting of the Snark” ~~

*******

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

Well, there you go. I can’t think of anything else this needs, so, I’ll forgo any tricks, traps, or distractions, & merely say, see y’all soon. Not sure when a fresh Pearl will next appear, but, I can guarantee it will, as long as I survive long enough. Until then, be well, and happy as you may… In the infamous words of the Terminator, I’ll be back….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 11727

À bientôt, mon cherí….

The 11th of whatever….

Posted on by
7

Ffolkes,

“The measure of a man’s life is the well spending of it, and not the length.”

~~ Plutarch — Consolation to Apollonius ~~

blanket-fun

Fun with blankets….

Hajime…. Were I in any way normal, I’d still be in bed. Since I’m neither of those, I’m up, again, staring at the blank screen, wondering what the hell I’m going to write about to bring some joy into the lives of my Gentle Readers. I’m pretty sure such joy isn’t why most of my readers come here; it is, after all, in generally short supply anywhere in the world, and, here is not the exception. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t make it at least a temporary goal, right? Right. Doesn’t mean we’ll be successful, either, but, since any failure is just another way to find out how to succeed, we’ll give it a shot, & see what happens….

Okay, so, this isn’t happening, is it? I’ve just spent five full minutes, trying to figure out how to do what I wrote above, and, for the life of me, drew a bigger blank than I started with today. Go figure, eh? More proof of Murphy’s presence in my life, I suspect, but, rather than give him the satisfaction of knowing he’s done it to me again, I’ll cheat a little, by completely ignoring him altogether. I can do it, if I make an extreme effort, which, given the current stat of this intro (to wit: completely lost…), is pretty much mandatory, if we wish to get through this, at all. Here goes….

Well, that didn’t work, either. Still no ideas bursting through the fog to supply us with the means to finish this. Rather than continue to batter myself about the head and shoulders, I think I’ll resort to this old literary trick a friend showed me the other day. It works like this…..

Shall we Pearl?….

“To see what is right and not to do it, is want of courage.”

~~ Confucius Analects ~~

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

Eric_Clapton_Unplugged

I know I’ve used this video previously, but, oh, well… It just happens to be one of my favorite sessions, period, which I turn to whenever I want to hear some great guitar work. Since that’s what I want, that’s what you get…. I think we can all live with it….

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

Eric Clapton
Unplugged

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

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

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Random Exposure

If I only knew what I was doing here,
I could give others a clue.
Reality gets stranger every year,
and I’m not sure what I should do.

Singing happy old tunes, in an old, gravely voice,
gives me a lot of pleasure.
I’m only glad I can still make a choice,
to look at life, to take its measure.

Memorable moments keep passing by
gilded, framed in precious emotion.
I never have to ask anyone why,
no need for a stronger potion.

Everything in life is clear, to me
there is no doubt, no misunderstanding.
We’re all good, as you can see,
members of Life, in good standing.

Life can be hard, or it can be great fun;
the right path is there for each of us to take.
That choice is often a difficult one;
pay close attention to the choice you make.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/22/2013

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Walking the walk….

*******

“Everything that has a beginning has an ending.
Make your peace with that and all will be well.”

~~ Buddha ~~

*******

“But my dear man, reality is only a Rorschach ink-blot, you know.”

~~ Alan Watts ~~

*******

“And through the spaces of the dark
Midnight shakes the memory
As a madman shakes a dead geranium”

~~ T.S. Eliot ~~

*******

“As long as anyone believes that his ideal and purpose is outside him,
that it is above the clouds, in the past or in the future,
he will go outside himself and seek fulfillment where it cannot be found.
He will look for solutions and answers at every point
except where they can be found
–in himself.”

~~ Erich Frohm ~~

*******

“Some people never find it
Some only pretend, but me
I just want to live happily ever after
Every now and then”

~~ Jimmy Buffet ~~

*******

“Become what you are.”

~~ Buddha ~~

*******

“You’re at the end of the road again.”

~~ Subtle Bee ~~

*******

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

Sorry about the abrupt exit from the intro; if I hadn’t done it when I did, we probably would never have made it to this point. Since we have, I’ll again take advantage of circumstance, to take my leave, letting y’all get on with your day. Hopefully, our efforts here today have enhanced your ability to address reality for the day; if not, well, we’ll refund every penny you paid. Hah! On that note, I’ll bid thee adieu, with the standard caveat, to wit: I’ll be back… It’s probably best if you note that in your calendar….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Endless reserves of sincere affability….

Posted on by
10

Ffolkes,

“Forbid a man to think for himself or to act for himself
and you may add the joy of piracy and the zest of smuggling to his life.”

~~ Elbert Hubbard ~~

sf-port

Gateway to adventure….

Hajime…. I write to stay sane. That isn’t to say I am, necessarily, but, I can honestly say I make a consistent effort to be so, even when there doesn’t really seem to be much point, since the world’s getting pretty fucking insane, anyway. But, to please my mother, who would have hated to see me a cold-blooded killer, I try each day to maintain a modicum of sanity. It doesn’t always work, but, since the primary goal is to avoid acting in a homicidal manner, I guess it works well enough…. Can’t rightly say that makes me particularly happy, as it would feel a damn sight better to just ace a couple of mundanes, and be done with it. But, I also like living without bars on my windows, and doors to which I don’t have a key….

Now that I’ve again established the basic parameters, I’ll confess to some rather nasty recent periods, in which I have successfully defeated a number of vicious demons, all of whom come to me gratis, simply because they can. I’ve been dealing with them for some years now, ever since realizing they were mine; for a long time, they seemed a gift from the gods, (yes, that’s sarcasm…), one over which I had no control. But, they’re all a product of my own inner turmoil, generated, like the Greek gods, right out of my own head. I guess 11.5 years of working in a virtual combat zone took its toll, without giving any receipt to track….

Most of the time, they lie dormant, biding their time, until they can spring forth, fully armed, to attack in a frenzy, at a moment when I am least prepared for dealing with them; I’m pretty sure they get leaked intel from Murphy, who monitors my activities, waiting with honed patience for just the right moment, when I am least mindful, and poorly prepared to deal with such issues. Go figure, eh?

Yes, I know, I know. They’re MY demons, and they’re, ultimately, under my control. And, yes, I also know they only come out when I tell them to, even if the telling is unconscious. Me & my unconscious have a long history of such arguments, but, then, I suppose that just makes me human, doesn’t it? Yes, it does. Since any further self-examination will turn maudlin, having first opened the doors with too much honesty, I’ll stop here, while I can still lay claim to a portion of the humanity I possess, by showing the compassion to cease and desist from further introspection. Besides, this intro is rapidly growing to a point of bloating, which could lead to gas. Can’t have that in these closed quarters, can we? No….

Right. We’re done, simply because I’m now out of standard BS, and would be forced to break into our reserves. Naturally, we keep plenty of THAT around, but, why waste it, when it will do more harm at another time? Hmm… I see I’m starting to go a bit wonky, so, let’s try an old trick. It’s pretty cool, and, more than that, will get us where we need to go. It looks just like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“May you live all the days of your life.”

~~ Jonathan Swift — Polite Conversation, Dialogue ii ~~

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

alanis-m

Image from MTV.com via Google Images

I’ve enjoyed the music this woman writes ever since hearing her for the first time, though I’ve never taken the time to really explore her work. I have a feeling, after listening to this, I’ll want to hear more… Enjoy!….

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

Alanis Morrisette Live

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

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

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Premises, premises….

Tricked, I stumble, and I fall
dreaming, through an abandoned palace.
Frightened and wary, unheard my call
fading into memory, no cup, no argent chalice.

The people, crushed, cry out to be freed
asking only to take part, or travel.
Nascent oaths spotlight such bursting need
fed by treachery, deep from our well.

Only the wicked shall find their way blocked
justice seeks them, snug in their hole.
Faint praises never touched, but naked, stalked
singing no gospel, no soul, no rock and roll.

Only the promised will remember the way
from unforgiven trails of sorrow.
To live life, and give death no sway,
saving grace for our only tomorrow.

~~ gigoid ~~

12/19/2014

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Metaphoric Idyll….

*******

“For wheresoe’er I turn my ravish’d eyes,
Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise,
Poetic fields encompass me around,
And still I seem to tread on classic ground.”

~~ Joseph Addison — A Letter from Italy ~~

*******

“I see my life go drifting like a river
From change to change; I have been many things –
A green drop in the surge, a gleam of light
Upon a sword, a fir tree on a hill,
An old slave grinding at a heavy quern,
A king sitting upon a chair of gold –
And all these things were wonderful and great;
But now I have grown nothing, knowing all.
Ah! Druid, Druid, how great webs of sorrow
Lay hidden in that small slate-coloured thing!”

~~ William Butler Yeats, “Fergus and the Druid” ~~

*******

“And, pray tell, whose imagination are you a figment of?”

~~ Solipsist Bee ~~

*******

“It is the little rift within the lute
That by and by will make the music mute,
And ever widening slowly silence all.”

~~ Alfred Tennyson — Idylls of the King, Merlin and Vivien ~~

*******

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

~~ Sir Francis Bacon, Of Beauty ~~

*******

Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question…
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”

~~ T. S. Eliot, “Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock” ~~

*******

“Draw the curtain, the fraud is over.”

~~ François  Rabelais, last words ~~

*******

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

I can’t say why, but, I like it. To save myself, and y’all, any further embarrassment, which can build up angst as quickly as anger, we’ll take the money and run. Not that we made anything like a profit, but, I’d say we broke even. Can’t ask for better; not in this universe. I will take this moment to warn y’all…. I’ll be back. Take heed…. See ya…..

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

Brave Ulysses told no tales….

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7

Ffolkes,

“Very often, meaning lies in the spaces between the words, not in the words themselves.”

~~ Callan Williams ~~

bay-sunset

Nearing sunset over Mt. Tamalpais….

Hajime…. So, the first beginning was a wash. So was the second, and the third, both becoming subsumed in temporary configurations into cat hammock mode. Leelu has finally gotten peckish, adjourning to nom at her food station, & I’m finally free to finish today’s effort. She often figures, if I’m up early, & not yelling at her for waking me up, I must want to hold her for a while. Cats….

Good morrow, ffolkes. It’s another fine day in Paradox, er, Paradise, and all is well with the world. Well, okay, it’s not, but, right here in this little corner of it, we’re pretending it is. Otherwise, I’d have to rant, which would detract from the one I’m working on for later. To keep us from falling directly into some sort of obligatory condescension, let’s try some nonsense….

Never mind. I couldn’t come up with any, which is generally a sign of some sort of internal problem with the gyros; balance is key when spewing nonsense, lest one fall into sheer obtuseness, ignoring the dictates of humorous self-denigration, often becoming more than merely bozoid, zooming straight to idiocy. We wouldn’t care for that, would we? No, we wouldn’t. Not that we care much for this, but, hey, it’s better than that, right? No? Well, then, I don’t know what we’ll do, if all our options are unacceptable. I guess that’s life in the blogosphere…. Tawdry, with a side of persimmons…..

Okay, you’re probably right. I’ve gone far enough off the rails we’re losing track of basic courtesy. Not to mention basic relevance, or the minimalist approach to literary elegance, which has served us so well in the past. As none of it seems to be working for me today, I’m going on, even if I have to do it without y’all in tow. This intro has been such a pain to produce, I’m not sure I care…. but, the contract calls for caring, and we don’t renege on contracts. Not even if written on toilet paper, like this one.

Now I’ve done it. That last line, without a doubt, will cost me someday, I’m sure. But, to keep with our basic theme today, we’ll pretend it was never a part of this, at all. In fact, I’m now finished attempting to find any sort of coherence; don’t like beating my head against walls. Now, if I could only think of some method of getting us out of here…. Oh, right. Okay….

Shall we Pearl?….

“A friend is one who knows the song in your heart
and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

~~ Donna Twitchell Roberts ~~

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

fiddler celtic woman mairead nezbitt

Image from ‘Celtic Woman’ via Google Images

Yesterday, a friend commented on the Celtic music I included, noting it became tedious after a time. I mentioned the same reaction in myself, but, also related my tolerance for such music was made more amenable by being able to watch this woman’s sheer joy in playing it…. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do… I’ve included a playlist, with a number of pieces featuring her, but, also including a number of other fine cuts from different shows by the River Dance group…. Abondanza!….

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

Máiréad Nesbitt

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

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

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

“Universe: All-purpose poem.”

~~ Ray Hand ~~

Comedy_Tragedy

Fine and Good, Good and Fine

A pig in a poke’s got nothing on me,
cuz I’m as confused as a man can be.
This ol’ world’s got me spinnin’ around
cussin’ and spittin’, a penny for a pound.

Forty ‘leven times since I was a kid, well,
I’ve fallen in love, ‘least too close to tell.
Every damn time, it all went to crap,
Forty ‘leven times I’ve felt like a sap.

‘Course, each time it happens, I forget the last;
why not? I’m havin’ such a blast….
Livin’ in each moment, filled with joie de vivre,
’til it’s all gone away again, nothin’ left up my sleeve.

Don’t want y’all to think I’m sad or blue,
life’s full of sorrow, lots for me, and/or you..
T’other side of that coin, we can be glad,
is joyful love, and that ain’t at all bad.

My road’s been littered with parts o’my heart,
each one colored with trust, which ain’t always smart.
Yet, long as I don’t lose my connection to joy,
I’ll find my own true love, and be a happy boy.

It’s been some kinda fun, even when I’d take a fall,
and doin’ it over makes no sense at all, at all
Day after day, I keep on keepin’ on, as it’s said;
Guess I’ll keep on doin’ that ’til I’m dead.

‘Nuff said….

~~ gigoid, tongue firmly in cheek on 3/13/2013 ~~

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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Esoterica….

*******

“Enough is as good as a feast.”

~~ John Heywood — Proverbes, Part i, Chap. xi ~~

*******

“Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines,
but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.”

~~ Buddha~~

*******

“Dear friend, all theory is gray,
And green the golden tree of life.”

~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust~~

*******

“It is impossible to design a system so perfect that no one needs to be good.”

~~ T. S. Eliot~~

“To stay young requires unceasing cultivation of the ability to unlearn old falsehoods.”

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

*******

“Love not what you are, but what you may become.”

~~ Miguel de Cervantes ~~

*******

“Always go to the bathroom when you have a chance.”

~~ King George V ~~

*******

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

Once more, it’s done. I won’t trouble you with any declarations as to quality; my daddy didn’t raise no fools. He did, however, teach us to cut our losses when necessary; it’s necessary now. To fulfill his teaching, I declare this Pearl complete, as is, no ups, no extras. I’ll also warn y’all…. I intend to try again tomorrow. So far, nothing seems to keep me from doing just that, regardless of the consequences. So be it. See y’all then, given a fair wind and a rising tide….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….

It’s all in the wrist….

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5

Ffolkes,

“Humankind cannot stand very much reality.”

~~ T.S. Eliot ~~

london-bridge

London Bridge from the Thames….

Hajime…. While gazing once again at the massive field of blank white screen before me this morning, several fantasies, mostly science-fiction based, passed through my head as potential material for exploration. None of it was particularly original, so, I decided to let it all go the way of most ideas, passing it into disposable memory without any significant delay. Since that left me with nothing to write about, you see before you all the remaining thoughts currently inhabiting my frontal lobes. Not much there, is there?…. Or, rather, not much here, I should say….

I am certain there are a couple directions to which I could hare off, where I could comfort myself with sheer nonsense, or batter y’all with prevarication, or even throw out a bit of ranting; none of it strikes my fancy, though. I suppose, in the best interests of all concerned parties, the most relevant, compassionate decision is to cease and desist all efforts to make this excellent, or, for that matter, average. Best all around, I think, to employ some rather ruthless, but, effective techniques developed for our use by some fly-by-night literary chop-house for a bargain price. It’s actually not too unattractive, if somewhat outdated. How does it work? Oh, easy…. like this….

Shall we Pearl?….

“A reverence for life does not require one to respect nature’s obvious mistakes.”

~~ Robert A. Heinlein ~~

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clapton

Last night, I went cruising on You Tube, to find some music to which to listen while reading a book. I found this video, just short of an hour long, with Eric at his absolute best, playing the blues as only he can. The third and fourth cuts, particularly, are outstanding examples of the improvisational genius he has displayed his entire career. This one is for blues, and guitar aficionados, who enjoy listening to the best…. Enjoy!

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Eric Clapton
Blues Favorites
1994,1995

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Comedy_Tragedy

Off the proverbial cuff….

I never meant to kill that period of time,
it didn’t give me any choice.
It tried to hem me in without reason, or rhyme,
refused me any vote, or any voice.

You have to admit, I buried it deep and fast,
just as if I cared.
I knew, though, it would never last,
or ever be fully repaired.

No news, no pictures can bring it back,
once is all we get.
No pleas of public good, or even public lack;
in stone the past is set.

Futuristic visions now occupy my dreams,
I’m ready to go on.
Look! It fills up the screen, and it gleams!
Where’s the moment I’m sitting on?

Now, I remembered, at long, long last,
is all we really can hold.
Every moment goes by so bloody fast,
we’d best fill them all with beauty, warm and bold.

~~ gigoid ~~

4/30/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

More notes on process and program….

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“I have everything, yet have nothing;
and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.”

~~ Terence — Act ii, Sc. 2, 12, (243.) ~~

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“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight,
and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”

~~ Oscar Wilde ~~

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“There are some things that are so serious that you have to laugh at them.”

~~ Niels Bohr ~~

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“Resist much, obey little.”

~~ Walt Whitman ~~

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“All life is an experiment.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

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“For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
It is never too late to start doing what is right.
Never.”

~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~~

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“Fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke.”

~~ J. R. “Bob” Dobbs ~~

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Once again, I have completed my chosen duty, though, not without some rather severe contortions, which y’all never see, thank the stars. Rather than allow this to turn either dilatory, or maudlin, we’ll acknowledge its completion, without any unwarranted fanfare. Instead, I’ll note our penultimate position, and, supply the final words needed to make it all good. See y’all tomorrow, ffolkes; believe me, it’s for the best if I do….

Y’all take care out there,
and May the Metaphorse be with you;
Blessed Be, dearest Carole, Mark,Theresa, & Richy
and everyone else, too…

When I works, I works hard.
When I sits, I sits loose.
When I thinks, I falls asleep.

Which is Why….

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

gigoid, the dubious

The *only* duly authorized Computer Curmudgeon.

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

“SCRAM!!!!!!!!!!”- Oscar the Grouch

Featured Image -- 2780

À bientôt, mon cherí….