Ffolkes,
~~ Hilarious Bee ~~
Urban Illusion
Is this thing on?…. Ah, okay, then…. Hello, there, again…. I thought I’d begin with a bit of a different tone today, reflecting reality more closely than is the customary case at this point. Having done so, I’ve saluted the conventions, so to speak, and, should now be free to indulge my whimsy to my heart’s content. If that isn’t possible, I want a refund…. Oh. Wait…. Right. Never mind….
Let’s try this…. I’ve got three or four days to get through until I have internet service at home, and , & the process of getting to a Wi-fi spot in the morning is becoming a pain (of which I already have quite enough, thank you very much….). This doesn’t even begin to factor in all the other crap going on, so, to say it’s a challenging time is both appropriate, and, sadly accurate. To avoid any chance at whining about it, we’ll just go on to the oyster beds, and let Fate do what it may…. Luigi, you know what to do; the rest of you, look intelligent, if you can….
Shall we pearl?
“Sick cultures show a complex of symptoms … but a *dying* culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Loss of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot.” — Friday’s boss (“Two Canes” Baldwin)
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Jack Bruce is one of Scotland’s shining lights in the musical world; his body of work extends fifty years back in to the dark ages of rock & roll. As a founding member of one of rocks legendary bands, Cream, he stamped his style of playing, and living, on every piece he ever played. I admire him for living his life with gusto, and honor, from all appearances, and, for his obvious love of Life at Large…. Here he is, with mates Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton, from 2005, in the Cream Reunion Concert in London…. Enjoy!….
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I have plenty of angst, but, no time to write, as I must go post…. Here’s one from the archives for the purpose of sublimation….
From 4/17/2013:
“A thing is not proved because no one has ever questioned it…Skepticism is the first step towards truth.” — Smart Bee
As I was cruising through Smart Bee this morning, looking for inspiration for section 3, I came across this little gem, unattributed. It sounds like it could have come from a number of different philosophers, all of whom are noted for their wisdom and perspicacity (another great word….). It is also a part of the human flaw that has contributed to many of the problems we face as a society, and as a species.
Actually, it might be more accurate to say that the lack of this in humans is part of the flaw; most people one talks to would not agree with this idea, as stated. In fact, it is directly opposed to the educational premises of many cultures, especially those heavily influenced by religions, such as those in Mexico, Central and South America, where Catholicism is a powerful factor in society, and in the governing of that society. India, and much of the Eastern Hemisphere, too, have societies that are heavily influenced by religion, though with more participant sects than is true in the Western Hemisphere; Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, to name a few, are always a contributing factor in the political events that have shaped history.
“The common dogma [of fundamentalists] is fear of modern knowledge, inability to cope with the fast change in a scientific-technological society, and the real breakdown in apparent moral order in recent years That is why hate is the major fuel, fear is the cement of the movement, and superstitious ignorance is the best defence against the dangerous new knowledge. When you bring up arguments that cast serious doubts on their cherished beliefs you are not simply making a rhetorical point, you are threatening their whole Universe and their immortality. That provokes anger and quite frequently violence.” — G Gaia
As a result of this influence, many people tend to reject skepticism, as it doesn’t fit in with what they have been taught, which is to never question anything told to them by persons in positions of authority. Churches tend to encourage this sort of attitude, as their outrageous claims of divinity, and supernatural events performed by their deities, do not stand up well to scrutiny by an objective eye. The leaders of the churches thus play right into the hands of the Beloved Ruling Class, as they counsel their flocks to obey worldly, temporal authority as readily as they are conditioned to obey the secular variety…..
“I just stepped on a factoid!” – Zippy the Pinhead
Thankfully, not all of humanity is defenseless against this sort of conditioning. There are many ffolkes out there who don’t buy into the sort of psychological blackmail being promulgated by the preachers, priests, imams, and shamans of all shapes and sizes around the world, and a large number of them seem to end up blogging, right here on WordPress…. So, I end up preaching to the choir pretty often. But, that’s okay, too, because I know that occasionally, one of those folks who do believe in what they are told, without any questions or doubts, will read this, and, if nothing else, will think about what I’ve said…. Who knows, maybe I’ll go viral, and the whole world will remember that WE ALL ARE GODS?”…… (Remember? Axiom # 3…. “Thou art God, you know…. Let’s do lunch….)
“Youth of today! Join me in a mass rally for traditional mental attitudes!” — Zippy the Pinhead
I suppose that’s a note from my subconscious, to let me know I’ve gone far enough off the rails for now, and should let these good people get on with their lives, rather than wandering around in mine…. Goodness knows where we’ll end up…. So, anyway, just remember to cultivate your sense of doubt, your “crap detector”, as it were, and never, ever take anything “on authority”, without tangible proof…. You’ll find Life to be less confusing that way; certainly, it makes it a lot easier to look yourself in the mirror in the morning…..
“This is patently absurd; but whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities.” — Bertrand Russell
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Poems, alas, don’t chase through my head,
bumping and pushing each other like brothers at dinner.
They’re more ripped out of my innards, instead.
Time and circumstance reveal no ultimate winner.
Simmering and bubbling near my unconscious mind
these maddening rhymes blind me sans glimmer.
Building until bursting as if to be dined and wined,
the remaining denizens appear much slimmer.
Fiery visions retain such glorious fatal dimension,
in retrospect, yet fail to leave a permanent scar,
until blessed, or cursed, with focused attention,
singing, crying, bleeding, fast as a movie star.
Pretty soon can’t be soon enough, she said
to a chameleon colored thief bathed in moonlight.
Fancy candles in stripes of blue, gold, and red
foster honest dreams in shades of white.
Passage to daylight is problematic, at best:
beastly ghosts of insomniacs cast no shadow.
Even judges with robes can pass the wrong test
while the rest of us go with what we know.
~~ gigoid ~~
Written 1/13/2013.
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Not much to say ’bout this one; it’s pretty damn perfect, and will explain itself….
~~ Aristotle ~~
“Go ahead and play the blues if it’ll make you happy.” — Homer in “Moaning Lisa”, from The Simpsons
“The secret of man’s being is not only to live but to have something to live for.’ — Fedor Dostoevsky
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” — Plato
“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.” — Albert Einstein
“A good word is an easy obligation, but not to speak ill, requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.” — Tillotson
“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
“Dying is a very dull, dreary affair. And my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it.” — W. Somerset Maugham
The mist in my face.
. . . . . . .
No! let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers,
The heroes of old;
Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad life’s arrears
Of pain, darkness, and cold.
~~ Robert Browning — Prospice ~~
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Coming up with worthwhile writing while in my current mental state is becoming even more of a challenge than usual; I find myself ranting far too often, as my mind works its way through all the CRAP with which the world is keeping me occupied. Gotta say, it’s not as much fun as I had hoped, when I recall my hopes for being retired. But, there are signs of hope, so, we’ll go with that for now. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of enduring…. See y’all sometime in the near future; a precise prediction isn’t feasible…. Deal with it, ffolkes; some days, that’s all you can hope to do….
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
À bientôt, mon cherí….
gigoid 