Tag Archives: Umberto Eco

Annoyingly slow ducks….

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Ffolkes,

“Courage is the complement of fear.
A man who is fearless cannot be courageous.
(He is also a fool.)”

~~ Lazarus Long ~~

neighbor

Curious neighbor….

Hajime…. I have, I think, discovered something about my own history here on Earth which may go a long way toward explaining “what the fuck just happened?” During the past weeks, as I have explored the writing and ideas of Joseph Campbell, I had occasion to review my own medical history, as it relates to the physical issues I deal with today on a regular basis. I found, in my past, at least five, or six, occasions, before my 20th birthday, during which I had taken a pretty severe ‘shot to the head’, mostly while engaging in one sport or another. Since then, there have been at least four other times when I was too slow, or, too unaware, & suffered a blow that produced those pesky stars in front of my eyes, followed by the little birdies tweeting & chirping around my head….

In addition, for at least twenty years, beginning at age six or so, I played baseball, spending my time on the field, mostly, sitting behind home plate, letting foul balls bounce off my face mask, sweating through the California summers in full gear. It would be impossible to count how many times I took another shot, but, it was probably a lot more than I remember. Go figure, eh? It kinda makes me suspect my memory has more gaps in it than I would like to guess, but, what the hell? Just because I can’t trust it any more is no reason to get worried, right? Right….

I am unsure why this all came out now; in fact, given the probable state of my mind, I am unsure of exactly how ANYTHING is happening. But, since such a state of indecision won’t get this Pearl done, I’ll put it all aside to do what I need to do to finish this. It’s all there, below, just waiting; the only anomaly is that I haven’t a clue as to whether or not any of it works. SIGH…. It’s tough, at this late age, to find oneself back at Square One, so to speak….

Oh, well. Fuck it. Let’s just do this, & be done with it for another day. Maybe, tomorrow, I’ll remember when it was my fairy godmother came & fixed all the issues with which I’d saddled myself. Or, not. At this point, I can’t seem to drum any enthusiasm for such hopes. But, I can do this….

Shall we Pearl?

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life.
A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”

~~ Edward Abbey ~~

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george-harrison-03

I know I use this frequently, but, I figure, if you gotta go with old stuff, it may as well be really, really good. This fits that bill quite precisely. Enjoy!….

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Concert For George 2003

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Comedy_Tragedy

Mad Dogs at Bay

Wicked, angry red scenes of imminent demise
haunt my dreams each night.
Fearful visions of destructive surprise
leave me sweating in terror, as well they might.

Small, mean, ugly, with beady little eyes,
pundits gather like maggots, bloated and vile,
grunting, snuffling, mumbling outlandish lies,
enslaving the ignorant with patience and guile.

Society’s denizens exist as volunteer slaves.
Living and dying by script, completely blind.
Never allowing any resentment, no making waves.
Never knowing joy, nor any peace of mind.

Free men will not be controlled, ’tis said;
No coercion, no illusion can cloud their sight.
No threats, no pain, no fear they dread;
their only duty to keep to the right.

Dreams are mere reflections of our inner fears,
whispering, close against doors shut fast.
Mocking our mostly irrelevant tears,
clearly marking the future as our sordid past.

~~ gigoid ~~

7/15/2015

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

What’s that noise?….

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“It has long been known
that one horse can run faster than another
– but which one?
Differences are crucial.”

~~ Lazarus Long ~~

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“As for what you’re calling hard luck
— well, we made New England out of it, that and codfish.”

~~ Stephen Vincent Benet ~~

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“This is the strangest life I have ever known.”

~~ Jim Morrison ~~

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“But since life is cruel, to you and to me, here I am.”

~~ Umberto Eco ~~

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“In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of hislaughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away
— for the Snark *was* a Boojum, you see.”

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

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“I have always thought in the back of my mind, cheese and onions.”

~~ The Rutles ~~

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“Are you sure it isn’t time for another colorful metaphor?

~~ Spock, “The Voyage Home,” stardate 8390 ~~

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I’ll be damned! It’s done. Given the nature & content of the introductory section today, I’m going to use my executive powers to bring this to a rapid close; after reviewing the pertinent issues, and the regulations governing them, I find that to be for the best. Don’t ask, & I won’t have to tell any fibs, okay? Okay…. Now we have that out of the way, I’ll bid thee adieu, with no apologies, but, the usual caveat, to wit: I’ll be back, unless I come up with a good reason to abstain. Fat chance of that, so, 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

À bientôt, mon cherí….

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Comforting delusions of adequacy….

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Ffolkes,

“The hands that help are better far than the lips that pray.”

~~ Robert Green Ingersoll ~~

spring tree 17

Spring in full bloom….

Hajime…. In the past six years, or so, I have spent many hours contemplating the state of Reality in which I find myself existing, along with more than seven billion other humans, each of whom possesses their own interpretation of that Reality. The degree of cognitive dissonance this existence engenders amongst us humans is, as it naturally must, increasing, at a rate that any good mathematician fears, to wit: it is exponential, rapidly approaching a parabolic curve leading to infinity. Now, that may not sound like it is something to fear, but, if one truly understands what ‘parabolic’ implies, such fear is the natural result….

Another way to describe this is in the less mathematical, but, more accessible concept of insanity, with which we humans also have extensive experience, both individually, and as a species. Perhaps the simplest way to express all I see can be summed up in the short, pithy phrase, the world has gone fucking crazy. I would suggest that anyone who doesn’t agree with that assessment can only be understood to be a large part of the problem; it’s hard to see the trees when one is in a forest fire…..

I suppose such a sobering line of thought isn’t altogether appropriate to begin today’s missive; some might say it’s a sure path to perdition, leading to loss of Gentle Readership, as well as being a real bummer. But, then, ‘appropriate’ has never really been an accepted part of my vocabulary, being, as it so clearly is, a concept rooted in giving a shit what others think, of which I have never been guilty. But, since I do happen to agree it’s a bummer, I’ll forgo any further exploration of so obvious a truism, or, set of truisms, in favor of some rather more uplifting lines of discussion.

This, patently, implies changing direction, a habit we encourage, as it fits in with Reality’s general directional flow, which is in a rather constant state of flux (great word, flux….). To further encourage such flexibility, I’ll proceed now to make the necessary directional alterations to get us where we need to be, to wit: further on down the road…. How does that look? Ah, well, to find out, simply follow me, as I make this slight adjustment to our modus operandi…. Watch closely, or, you’ll miss it….

Shall we Pearl?

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together!

~~ The Beatles, “I Am The Walrus” ~~

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We are going with a default selection today. This one advertises itself as a collection of the greatest classical composers; let’s see if they got that right, shall we? Enjoy!….

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Classical Music

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Comedy_Tragedy

Random Visions/Coloring Between the Lines of Grief

Everywhere is dark, and shining,
with points in dissonant pain.
Sharp, senses dull past divining,
tears burn, a torrential rain.

Escape! Flee within to cower,
find an unconscious cave.
Call on Morpheus’ power
deny reality’s beckoning wave.

Light breaks, drawing the inner eye,
leading to the slippery slope.
Risk is critical, we may only sigh,
yet welcome, for bringing hope.

Sanity seems far out of reach
Insanity’s a stronger friend.
Decisions made will merely teach
our way toward Death to wend.

Lost, while still on familiar ground,
the future yet undesigned.
Making way on paths unfound,
to Now, as yet undefined.

~~ gigoid ~~

2/22/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Points to ponder….

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“When one shuts one eye, one does not hear everything.”

~~ Swiss Proverb ~~

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“If you love the sacred and despise the ordinary,
you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion.”

~~ Lin-Chi ~~

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“Virtue knowing no base repulse, shines with untarnished honour;
nor does she assume or resign her emblems of honour
by the will of some popular breeze.”

~~ Horace ~~

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“Live the questions now.
Perhaps then, someday far in the future,
you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way in the answer.”

~~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~~

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“The education of the will is the object of our existence.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

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“Always make room for the unexpected in yourself.”

~~ Steve Martin ~~

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“But since life is cruel, to you and to me, here I am.”

~~ Umberto Eco ~~

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As I have noted previously, I do this to help keep my own sanity intact…. Well, as intact as it ever gets, anyway. If it helps decrease the overall level of insanity extant in the world, so be it. If not, well, entropy wins again. Either way, I’m done for today, which merely means I get to try again tomorrow, or, at the earliest convenient time, whichever seems clever. For the nonce, I shall bid thee adieu, with a hearty wave and my best wishes for your own retention of sanity. Hope, silly as it always seems, springs eternal, doesn’t it? Yes, yes, it does…. 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

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À bientôt, mon cherí….

Bold by nature, reluctant by choice….

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Ffolkes,

“When we try to pick out anything by itself,
we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”

~~ Muir’s Law ~~

~~ John Muir, “My First Summer in the Sierra”, 1911, page 110 ~~

small-beauty

Small Beauty, on city streets….

Hajime…. It is probably a bit early for introspection; like any area of thought, it’s a good thing to wait until one is fully awake, or, at least, invested in becoming so, before making any serious attempts at coherence, or, even more important, decision-making. To suppose I can figure out an inner demon’s moves well enough to defend myself from them is, perhaps, the height of arrogance. Oh, well; if I get hurt, so be it. Nobody else will lose any hit points, & will have nothing to worry about….

One may well ask one’s self at this point, “What’s the point?” To answer, naturally, would only encourage one, so, we’ll pass on that, preferring, instead, to address the aforementioned introspection, which, you may have noted, hasn’t materialized as yet. Damn good thing, too, since it is/was rather embarrassing. What was I thinking? Oh, right…. I wasn’t. In fact, at this point, I’ve managed to thoroughly confuse myself, to the point I no longer remember what I was going to say on that subject. Oh, goodie. I love when I get all introspective, then lose track of the whole thing in the press of the process. Just makes me tingly all over, to know my unconscious defense systems are working well….

The only part of that to worry over is what sort of direction to take from here; it’s clearly not in the direction we were heading, wherever that might have been. Hell, now I think of it, it’s even more confusing. In fact, I’m pretty well lost, ffolkes. I don’t know if I was actually going to be introspective, or just spent about 13 minutes creating a complete bubble of conflicting intentions, imbalanced by indecision and sheer fuzziness, until, now, I’m making up new ways to avoid talking about any of it, or, anything, at all. What a waste of electrons!

Fuck it. I’m done with the intro, which may just be the weirdest damn thing I’ve ever seen, much less created. If y’all have any further issues from having to read it, well, you’re on your own. I’m leaving now, before this becomes legally actionable….

Shall we Pearl?

“A wishbone ain’t no substitute for a backbone.”

~~ Old Western saying ~~

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As is my habit, when I can’t decide on any other type of music, we go to default…. I hope you enjoy today’s collection, put together by somebody else, & chosen simply for the picture that drew my eye on the page I found it…. *grin*…. Good luck!….

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Classical Music

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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

Anarcho-Paladin Training Guidelines….

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“If at first you doubt, doubt again, and again …”

~~ gigoid Bee ~~

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“How often we recall, with regret,
that Napoleon once shot at a magazine editor
and missed him and killed a publisher.
But we remember with charity,
that his intentions were good.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

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“Anger blows out the lamp of the mind.”

~~ Robert Green Ingersoll ~~

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“Books aren’t written to be believed in, but to be questioned.”

~~ Umberto Eco ~~

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“Man is condemned to be free.
Condemned, because he did not create himself,
yet is nevertheless at liberty,
and from the moment he is thrown into the world,
he is responsible for everything he does.”

~~ Jean Paul Sartre ~~

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“A hero is no braver than anyone else; he is only brave five minutes longer.”

~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~

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“Character is who you are in the dark.”

~~ Lord John Whorfin ~~

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To be perfectly honest, this one is a joke. Probably not too funny a joke, but, after looking at it, I can’t think of a better way to speak of it, if I have to speak of it, at all. Since I am in, perhaps, a fortunate place for such a decision, I think I’ll just do as I have all day, & avoid any mention of what just took place. Instead, I’ll say, see y’all tomorrow, and, be on my way out for a long walk… Gotta keep up the new training guidelines….

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….

Dabbling in obscurity….

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7

Ffolkes,

“It is fear that first brought gods into the world.”

~~ Petronius ~~

winery-drive

Oenophile Road #1 ~~ Sonoma Valley

Hajime…. In the semblance of Time described below, Circumstance plays its part. Though Fate had its say, only the most elemental of emotional responses could conceivably hold sway, before the throne of Reason. As the light of Illumination grew stronger, Fear retreated into the shadowed halls behind the stairs, while Serenity filled hearts and minds. Gladly, the people slept, unaware they would never wake….

Hmm… A bit strange, but, not bad for off the proverbial cuff, especially at 0434 on a Monday morning. I’m up, with nearly two full cups of coffee on board. The Pearl for today, begun from scratch at 0330, is complete, as much as it will be, or may. I’m in an odd mood, with elements of both rage and peace battling amiably for precedence. I suppose, depending on who wins, we’ll have an interesting day ahead of us, since we’re about, oh, 3 hours ahead of everyone else in this time zone. Now, if only I can subvert these homicidal urges until they’re awake, maybe things can turn into a different dark alley. Or, not.

See, odd. But, that’s nothing new, right? Given the hour, it would be possible, not to mention attractive, to use the extra time to rant. But, I’ve found my ranting stash to be rather limited of late; if I rant here, I don’t have much to say when I go comment on other blogs. So, rather than subject my own Gentle Readers to such diatribes, I’ve been leaving them in the comment section of other blogs. Works for me, and it keeps these Pearls cleaner, if no more compelling. So be it, as he says often. I’ve got no excuses, or justifications; it’s just the way it is.

I can see I’m becoming fatalistic, which will never do. We’d get stuck somewhere if I keep that up, so, rather than take any chances, I’m going to employ my most ruthless technique to get us down the page. It’s a bit sudden, so watch your step….

Shall we Pearl?….

“But since life is cruel, to you and to me, here I am.”

~~ Umberto Eco ~~

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celtic design

Today’s choice of music was chosen to supply the Gentle Reader with some quiet, soothing ambiance, in which today’s Pearl might be consumed at leisure. The genre selections included this one, which had a beautiful picture of the Irish highlands adorning the first screen. The picture made the choice easy…. Enjoy!….

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Celtic Music

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Comedy_Tragedy

Dreaming, I wait….

In the most patient moments of rationality
kindness flows smoothly in a special milieu,
fallow thoughts speed first from equality
to give no anxious fever, anger to eschew.

Indignant mothers and step-sons in-law
shall fade simply from brilliant to grey,
intoning ritual dogma, fresh, avid, and raw,
falling, falling, in massive pastoral disarray.

Safety lives not, save brightly in ignorant bliss,
it follows us all, silent and infinitely frail,
foremost too often, soft as a virgin kiss,
alive, always eager, willing, and pale.

Intimate knowledge finds only the bold few
with courage and virtue to gift, unbidden.
No solemn royal version may pass in review,
true love for man, never to remain unhidden.

Sweet feathers of Emily’s hope uplift,
calm, drowsy episodes bursting with light,
With final glad cries we set ourselves adrift,
swimming in the oceans of natural delight.

When sorrow is banished, in ages yet to come,
roots solidly anchored, cold and remote,
Ample supplies of kindness sit silent and dumb,
and the old stranger shrugs on his faded coat.

Dreaming, then, I wait with shadows in the night
aspiring to inspire, a message from the muse’s heart
Never forgotten images, framed in color bright,
tempt me only, grieving, steeped in serenity’s arcane art….

~~ gigoid ~~

8/18/2013

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pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Listen, children….

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“I shall explain this by waving my hands about in an appropriate manner.”

~~ gigoid, the dubious ~~

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“Nothing in the entire universe ever perishes, believe me,
but things vary, and adopt a new form.
The phrase “being born” is used
for beginning to be something different from what one was before,
while “dying” means
ceasing to be the same.
Though this thing may pass into that,
and that into this
yet the sums of things remains unchanged.”

~~ Ovid — Metamorphoses ~~

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“A fish never thinks about water until he’s out of it.”

~~ Robert Penn Warren ~~

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“You cannot teach a crab to walk straight.”

~~ Aristophanes~~

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“It takes a long time to understand nothing.”

~~ Edward Dahlberg~~

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“Do you imagine that the universe is agitated?
Go out into the desert at night and look up at the sky.
this practice should answer the question.”

~~ Lao Tzu ~~

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“There are things that are known, and things unknown,
and in between are the doors of perception.”

~~ Aldous Huxley, “The Doors of Perception” ~~

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I find myself unavailable for comment. However, since we’ve made it this far, there’s no giving up. Here’s a thought: Why don’t I try this again tomorrow? Hey, what a great idea! We’ll do that. In the meantime, stay alert, ffolkes; you’re on your own until I return, tomorrow morning, same Bat-time, same Bat-station….

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….

Fluffy pieces of hydrated carbon steel….

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13

Ffolkes,

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

~~ Antoine de Saint Exupery ~~

yellow rose

By any other name…


Hajime…. Well, I’m here. It’s been a tough week here at ECR, and in Northern Cali, as the rain continues to move in and out, bouncing the barometer around like a super-ball, keeping me in the throes of inflamed arthritic joints for hours & days on end…. Ah, well, such is life for us old farts, at times; it’s a good thing we’ve had lots of practice by now, or nothing would get done at all. But, I digress, as usual…. I’ve been working on a discussion for the rant section, but, it’s grown so epic it’ll need to wait, so, you’ll see an older pearl there today. Otherwise, it’s all as normal as we get around here, and pleasant as white bread toast.

Naturally, having begun today’s mess with a chatty, informative tone, we’ll need to find a different direction to take, to get us toward the oyster beds we prefer to inhabit during our time together. Y’all wouldn’t have any ideas, would you? No. Okay, well, let’s see. Oh, I suppose I could…. no, just did that. Hmm, how about this one? Nope, look, it’s broken. Well, I guess I’ll just have to use the Tardis, and have it washed tonight. Yeah, that’s the ticket….

Okay, if y’all will just file out of the cabin, and head over into the Tardis, we’ll get this slow on the toad for the day. I appreciate your flexibility, and your patience in waiting for me to get my act together enough to put one of these things together. C’est marvellieux! As a thank you, I have entered all your names in our contest, for a chance to win a chance to stay behind next time. Bonus! Okay, I’m done…. Well, I can’t think of any more nonsense, so, that’s the same thing…. Look, what’s that?…. Duck! No, goose!…. Ah, hell with it; Luigi, throw that switch….

Shall we Pearl?

“Thoughts are mightier than strength of hand.”

~~ Sophocles — Phaedra, Frag. 854 ~~


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Yield_Logo

Playing For Change


I discovered this organization a few months ago, and have been nearly obsessed with taking part in their quest, as it fits in perfectly with my own views of how we can possibly achieve some kind of harmony in the world at large. Laughter, music, and love are the answer to all our problems, if freely felt, and given without regard for any delusions that demean humanity, such as religion, politics, or the seriously negative concept of money. None of them are necessary for people to live, as long as we live, as we always need to, in the shelter of each other….

As I listened yesterday to the first couple videos, which I got when I joined the organization as one of their contributing Ambassadors, my resolve to follow this path was strengthened, especially when I chose to listen first to Imagine, John Lennon’s summary of human wisdom, and then One Love, Bob Marley’s matching manifesto, two of the PFC’s iconic statements of purpose, in song…. The film’s participants exhibit such joy, such freedom of spirit, I weep, every time I watch, as musicians from all around the world join to play the tunes, together… I suggest listening to as many as you can, then, join, begin to share the music, and the love it creates….. Enjoy!….

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Playing For Change

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Plato-Aristotle

    Here is a discussion of the principles of personal security, from 2014. It’s a bit long, but, pretty good in spots; I hope you enjoy it….

From 5/5/2014:

I found these two articles yesterday, after posting the Pearl…. As you’ll see, they provide the perfect jumping point for what follows…. I suppose that, as always, ‘perfect’ is a question-begging word to use, but, hey, I calls ’em as I sees ’em…. when I can find my glasses….

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/03/everyone-is-under-surveillance-now-says-whistleblower-edward-snowden

I had originally intended to have some words regarding this article, as it speaks to some rather important points…. but, then, I saw the following article, and my angst went right through the roof, stimulating the rest…. Now, read this one…. & just include it all together; it’s all of a piece, anyway….

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/18/cia-torture-architect-enhanced-interrogation

Here, then, is an excellent example of the definition of ‘gigo’, (garbage in-garbage out), from the psychologist responsible for the design and codification of many of the torture methods, including “water boarding”, used by the CIA at Guantanamo Bay, and elsewhere around the world….. His comments, which I will examine below, are so egregiously INSANE, I had to read the article in pieces, as I found myself shouting at him, every time he opened his mouth to make one of the reported statements…

I cannot BELIEVE this man was found to be an adequate psychologist, passing his tests and arguing his doctoral thesis, without having at least the basic innate ability to display even an ounce of compassion; I also don’t understand, at all, how he could be considered anything other than the US’s version of the Nazi scientist, the one at Auschwitz, who sent the Jews into the ovens….

Ah, yes, Josef Mengele…. the infamous, iconic mad doctor, the real version, the model for what all the comics use as the ultimate villain so often, whose insanity threatens the entire world, and everyone in it…. I tell you, ffolkes, those people  in Washington, D.C. are totally out of control….  I’m not kidding; the current crop of elected officials, as well as the appointees put in place by those (I stared at this point for a long time, and still  cannot, for the life of me, think of an expletive that it harsh enough…, so we’ll go with a classic….) assholes, all exhibit every single symptom of the violently insane, who believe their own twisted version of reality is the only real one, who hold on to their paranoid delusions so tightly, nothing, and nobody, can tell them differently….

Hell, I don’t even need, in this case, to resort to my special knowledge and experience, of working with the violently insane as a therapist for over 20 years…. These guys lay it out so clearly, right out in public, there’s no need for me to have to explain…. Their own words convict them whenever they condescend to open their mouths about what they truly believe….

Here, let me show you a couple of examples from the second article listed… The comments in quotes are by the protagonist in this drama, James Mitchell, (Piled High and Deep), Ph.D., formerly of the CIA, the psychologist regarded as the architect of the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” program…. a description taken straight from the article…. You’ll be able to recognize my comments by the anger and vulgarity the statements produce in me….

“The people on the ground did the best they could with the way they understood the law at the time,” he said. “You can’t ask someone to put their life on the line and think and make a decision without the benefit of hindsight and then eviscerate them in the press 10 years later.”

You  can’t? Why not? These people were in no danger; there is no danger, no life on the line, when someone tortures another; only the one being tortured is in danger. And if you do something so obviously WRONG, it doesn’t fucking matter a bit how long it is, you SHOULD be vilified in the press. There is no reason on this Earth why anyone shouldn’t KNOW torturing another human being, for ANY FUCKING REASON AT ALL, is NOT morally defensible.  This principle is true even in cases where the ultimate goal is considered good; you’ve no doubt heard the saying, “the end does not justify the means.”

If they didn’t know it was wrong, why didn’t they do it out in the open, where everyone could see what they were doing? Fucking assholes think that their own parafuckingnoia should excuse anything they do….

“Everything you know is wrong.” — The Firesign Theater

“I’m skeptical about the Senate report, because I do not believe that every analyst whose jobs and promotions depended upon it, who were professional intelligence experts, all them lied to protect a program? All of them were wrong? All of these [CIA] directors were wrong? All of the people who were using the intel to go get people were wrong? And 10 years later a Senate staffer was able to put it together and finally there’s clarity? I am just highly skeptical that that’s the truth.”

This one’s easy….and so obvious, I again shouted this at the screen, hoping the asshole would hear me, “Why, yes, you bloody idiot, they CAN, and WERE, all wrong…. and every damn one of them WOULD lie to protect a program, which, in their minds, equals money, or influence….” Then, of course, I realized I was shouting at my computer, so, I sat, tried to calm down, & began to type, to try to release some of the venom and bile that collected so quickly in the face of such evil insanity…. It started when the assbite used the phrase, “Senate staffer” as if that position was held only by persons of dubious character…

When you start from a premise that is wrong, there is no way to make it come out right, and every damn one of those directors started with the idea that whatever they did, right or wrong, shouldn’t be made public knowledge, and that such clandestine prevarication is justified by their goal (which they refuse to consider as anything other than right…. perfect “ipse dixit” logic….)

“If you get the first one in the wrong hole, you’ll never get all buttoned up right.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This, of course, is completely contrary to the values upon which our nation was supposedly founded; thus, any acts that indulge in that sort of paranoia, which were made on the basis of that idea, are, from the start, WRONG…. It really is that simple ffolkes, and I don’t understand quite WHY the public doesn’t get that, when listening to these lying, insane fools who pursue their delusional fantasies at the expense of the rest of us….

I reiterate….  “Everything you know is wrong.” — The Firesign Theater

Bloody fucking assholes, every damn one of them…..

“If I had a large amount of money I should found a hospital for those whose grip upon the world is so tenuous that they can be severely offended by words and phrases yet remain all unoffended by the injustice, violence and oppression that howls daily about our ears.” — Stephen Fry

I’d say the good doctor Mitchell would be one of the first admissions…. I’ll leave you to consider the following, which pretty much sums up what I see happening in the world today, just about everywhere I look…..

“It is okay to be ignorant in some areas, but some people abuse the privilege.” — Smart Bee

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

Comedy_Tragedy

Momentary Terror

Absently casual, memories pester endlessly
   leaving only bleeding remnants, amiable and loving.
Coming awake, I cry to still the pain, shamelessly.

Elsewhen, time gives surcease, if only to live,
   shoring broken pilings, worn and gray.
Passing on, I laugh at the pain, accept all it will give.

Time will build a shelter, warm and ever safe
   save for Fate’s busy hands.
Enduring, I follow the pain, knowing it will chafe.

Fixed against a darkened sky of starry black
   such beauty brings us to our knees.
Entranced, I welcome the pain, ’tis all I lack…..

~~ gigoid ~~

12/27/2013


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

pearls_3

Naked Pearls

Esoterica

*********

“Books aren’t written to be believed in, but to be questioned.”

~~ Umberto Eco ~~

*********

“If a man take no thought about what is distant,
he will find sorrow near at hand.”

~~ Confucius ~~

*********

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”

~~ Sir Edmund Hillary ~~

*********

“Never fear shadows.
They simply indicate there’s a light shining close by.”

~~ Fearless Bee ~~

*********

“I can handle reality in small doses,
but as a lifestyle it’s much too confining.”

~~ Lily Tomlin ~~

*********

“Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.”

~~ Mark Twain ~~

*********

“Where pain predominates, agony can be a valued teacher.”

~~ Frank Herbert ~~

*********

“Every man is guilty of all the good he didn’t do.”

~~ Voltaire ~~

*********

“OVER the underpass!
UNDER the overpass!
Around the FUTURE and BEYOND REPAIR!!”

~~ Zippy the Pinhead ~~


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

I did it. I had my doubts, as is my wont, but, it’s done, with some minor cheating. I hope y’all enjoyed today’s effort, which, believe me, was an effort. I shall make another attempt at this tomorrow, if all goes well. If not, well, you’ll hear from me….

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 -- 6975


À bientôt, mon cherí….

Oh, Jim, where’s your squeegee?….

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Reply

Ffolkes,

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

~~ Robert Heinlein ~~

test shotss 002

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Oh, right. Christmas…. which means most everyone in this country is on holiday mode, and most likely won’t be dropping in to spend a lot of time reading my nonsense, or even my somewhat better than nonsense prose. This is probably a good thing, as I’m feeling pretty lazy myself, though not for the same reasons, obviously. I’ve made no bones about how I feel about Christianity, and the people who go in for such delusional systems; in my mind, they are all living a lie, one they’ve chosen to believe in, rather than having the courage to face up to those parts of reality they don’t understand, and, thus, fear…. In short, they are living in fear, allowing fear to control their every decision in life….

What a waste! But, nobody wants to listen, especially to the kind of real wisdom that means they would have to actually think for themselves, such as the quote at the end of this section…. Such insight into human nature, sadly, presupposes the one using it will have the courage to become lost; in my experience, the greatest proportion of humanity does not wish to ever become lost in this way. They would rather buy into a set of beliefs someone else has told them is true, in spite on never once being able to present any physical, or even logical, reasons to do so…. But, that is the way of the world, the same way it has been wobbling along for over 5000 years….

Ah well, it doesn’t do me any good to rant here in the intro; it’s just so hard NOT to say what I see as real…. I spent most of my life keeping these thoughts to myself, as they always tended to cause difficulties with other folks; after a while in Life, I decided, if they WANT to live in a delusional state, who am I to stop them? So, I said nothing, and allowed people to wander through their lives, in the dark, never realizing there is an entire universe of beauty and grandeur out there, just waiting for them to see it, if only they would take off the blinders they put on at age 5…. I guess that silence was my own adjustment to compensate; in short, it’s my way of giving in to expediency, a very bad habit, and one I no longer cultivate.

This probably explains why there are only about 20 people who come by to read this on a regular basis…. and, since I have over 463 followers on WordPress, and another hundred or so on Twitter, that number is a good representation of the breakdown of humanity’s state of mind re: laziness, and wisdom…. I know that reading this blog take time, and effort, and I know it isn’t the easiest task to take on, not on a daily basis…. Hell, it’s hard enough writing it all; it CAN’T be much easier to read it all every day….. But, I don’t worry about it; I just appreciate the ffolkes who come by regularly, a lot….

That is no doubt enough rambling and complaining for one day…. I did manage to cut off the rant, but, this still grew beyond its original intended size, so, I’ll break out the ol’ ruthless bone, and hit myself over the head with it, so we can get on with the rest of this mess…. Hold on, while I smack the pilot on the head with this ruthless bone, so he’ll take this next exit point, okay? Here now, stay in your seats! We’re going in!….

Shall we Pearl?

“For a man needs only to be turned around not once with his eyes shut in this world to be lost….

Not ’till we are lost…. do we begin to find ourselves.”

~~ Thoreau, Walden ~~


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since we’ve started the day so soberly, let’s move to an entirely different domain, shall we? Here is some of the finest nonsense ever to come out of Hollywood, with four of the world’s greatest comedians filling the screen with their particular brand of sarcasm and wit…. Speaking of wit, we’re referring, naturally, to the one, the only, Marx Brothers, ffolkes…. Enjoy….


A Day at the Races (1937)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.” — Demosthenes

Boy, what a great opening for a rant! I sure wish I had the wherewithal to write this one; it could take me a long way…. But, I don’t have such, so, we’ll have to go with an archived piece…. Enjoy, ffolkes, I tried to find a good one; it’s definitely worth a read….

From January 20, 2013:

“Nothing unreal exists.” — Kiri-Kin-Tha’s Law of Metaphysics

For the uninitiated, this is from Star Trek, a line from the fourth movie, The Voyage Home. It is the answer, and question, posed to Spock by the computer, near the beginning of the movie, just before it asks him, “How do you feel?” Though the quote, and its author, are part of a fictional story, and do not, as far as I know, exist in real life, the idea is nonetheless a potent philosophical assertion, and deserving of some meditation upon its implications, and ramifications. I like it, as it creates a series of doorways, one after another opening for welcome, inviting me to come in and examine its furnishings for their value…. A bit fanciful, perhaps, but then, it IS from Star Trek….

“Trekkies” have always taken the concept behind the show and movies much more seriously than most of us, and have created an entire panorama of alternate universe stories, legends, and characters as an adjunct to the original tales. I am certain that some fan, somewhere in the world, has put together a book that lays out Kiri-Kin-Tha’s philosophy for study, complete with Laws, Axioms, and Arguments. They probably even included material from other fictional works from the ST venue, weaving them into a coherent treatise, all of which is completely fabricated…. People can be pretty amazing when they are obsessed, indeed….

“Nothing unreal exists.”….. fascinating, as Spock would say. It is reminiscent, in a backwards fashion, of the question posed by the door to Ravenclaw Tower, in the final Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows, when Professor McGonagall is queried, “Where do Vanished objects go?” by the door, in order to gain entrance to the Ravenclaw common room. “Into non being, which is to say, everything.”, she answers immediately. “Nicely phrased”, replied the door…. I say backwards only because the ST movie came first in real time, by about 25 years or so…. As can be seen, however, the concepts involved in the two similar episodes are more than mere ideological throw-aways, but have some valid basis for their existence….

This is the power of Imagination at its finest, in my mind. People will take a good idea, and run with it into landscapes where it has never before been conceived, turning it into passionate variations on the original theme whose quality rivals that of it progenitor. At the height of the frenzy over the Harry Potter movies, a few years ago, I visited a site called MuggleNet.com, curious as to what the fans of the movie and stories were doing.

I was completely astounded by the prolific writings by fans, who wrote entire novels, short stories, and alternative plots by the dozens, all populated by the characters from the books by J.K. Rowling. Romances between the various characters abounded in the imagination of the fans, as well as the creation of new characters, and inventive new kinds of magical spells, objects, and creatures. The variety and depth of talent displayed is incredible, and goes to show how powerful is the influence of obsession on our imagination.

And hence one master-passion in the breast,
Like Aaron’s serpent, swallows up the rest.

~~ Alexander Pope (1688-1744) — Essay on Man, Epistle ii, Line 131 ~~


Of course, obsession has the unfortunate tendency to go beyond the bounds of reasonable action in pursuit of its object of attention. It can easily consume all of the mind’s available store of common sense, submerging it in the raging river of passionate belief in whatever idea has emerged as the passion of choice. Pope was speaking no more than simple truth when he wrote these lines, which point again to the same fatal flaw that exists in other areas of human nature, the weakness of will that makes us choose paths that are self-destructive in their intensity, or in their ultimate logical end. Too many of us tend to make our choices in life without using even the most basic of mental tools we have, including imagination; the use of those tools can be hard, in the sense that it is harder to think than it is to allow others to think for you….

Thus, we come to another point where the subject under discussion can be expanded, and further explored. Or, we can leave it here, with the ideas already discussed as a springboard for private consideration. I have a feeling it could get a bit esoteric from this juncture, and I’d lose a lot of ffolkes to the fatigue factor. I am feeling that a bit meself, having now been sparring with this Pearl for a bit over three hours. I should have eaten some philosophical oatmeal, to increase the fiber content of my output, I guess….

Rather than go any further down that road, we’ll bring this pearl to a close…. Perhaps you can take a bit of what we discussed with you, and chew on it later…. it doesn’t seem to get any less crunchy over time, so it can’t hurt…. Fewer calories than jerky, and it won’t require flossing afterward….

“You can get anything you want, at Alice’s restaurant (‘ceptin’ Alice).” — Arlo Guthrie

Note from the future, i.e. 12/25/2014: Since it’s Christmas, I’ll be nice and only say this, in support of the above, and, as a final word on the subject for the day….

“A physician is not angry at the intemperance of a mad patient, nor does he take it ill to be railed at by a man in a fever. Just so should a wise man treat all mankind, as a physician treats a patient, and look upon them only as sick and extravagant.” — Seneca

That is EXACTLY how I feel when writing these rants….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As mentioned, laziness is the order of business today; hence, a bit of whimsy, as it were, from a poet OTHER than me…. Enjoy!…

The Loser

Mama said I’d lose my head
if it wasn’t fastened on.
Today I guess it wasn’t
’cause while playing with my cousin
it fell off and rolled away
and now it’s gone.

And I can’t look for it
’cause my eyes are in it,
and I can’t call to it
’cause my mouth is on it
(couldn’t hear me anyway
’cause my ears are on it),
can’t even think about it
’cause my brain is in it.
So I guess I’ll sit down
on this rock
and rest for just a minute…

~~ Shel Silverstein ~~


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, so, what we have here is a fresh pearl, with some strange parameters…. Looking in general for comments on Life at Large, SB gave me the following seven stars, which seem to hold together well, with some flexibility on your part…. Along with these it served up five or six other pearls which were perfect for other pieces, either planned, or completed… I guess it’s Smart Bee’s way of apologizing for the recalcitrance shown over the last week or so…. Whatever, it works for me, as it gets this done…. Yay!….

“One should always prefer the probable impossible to the improbable possible.” — Aristotles Dictum.

“Good generally conquers evil. Unless, of course, good is stupid.” — Smart Bee

“Books aren’t written to be believed in, but to be questioned.” — Umberto Eco

Narim: What your mind doesn’t know, your heart fills in.
Carter: I don’t know what that means, exactly, but it’s beautiful.
Narim: Which is exactly what it means.

— from Stargate

“The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make.” — Smart Bee

“A good reputation is more valuable than money.” — Publius Syrus (42 BC) — Maxim 108

“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” — H. L. Mencken

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, there you have it…. Time has become the enemy, for the moment, so, we’ll leave it as it is, and get on with the day…. See y’all after the holiday, ffolkes….. Hope you have a good one….

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

PLEASE STOP READING THIS MESSAGE NOW.

Kowabunga!


À bientôt, mon cherí….


					

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
Venal to sublime is ready in booth two….

			
						

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Ffolkes,

The process of getting up in the morning was somewhat delayed today, when I started to arise, and my brain SNARLED at me! It’s never done that before, and needless to say, I was a bit shocked! It didn’t bite, but it sure sounded serious; I was compelled to soothe it a bit by sitting on the edge of the bed, petting and talking to it softly; after just a moment or two, it stopped its grumbling and joined the rest of the group in getting on with routine. Before it got up to join the rest, it even gave me a big sloppy lick on the face, as if to say it was sorry for growling at me….. 


Whew! I don’t think I want to go through THAT every morning; I’d better check its feed, see if something out of the ordinary got in there by mistake. Generally I only feed it massive amounts of well written words in a line, with accompanying classical or blues for music, and the occasional humorous cat or cute animal video for variety. Sometimes the videos will give it gas; maybe that’s the problem. I hope so, I sure don’t need a trip to the psychiatrist, just so I can get up in the AM without a fight…. at$90 or more an hour, it’s not a win-win….


With that short, yet all-too-long little nod to yesterday’s uncommon whimsy, we brace ourselves, and dive in willy-nilly, fully prepared to enjoy our daily Pearl…..

___________________________________


“It’s said that ‘power corrupts’, but actually it’s  more true  that power attracts the corruptible.  The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.  When  they do  act,  they  think of it as service, which has limits. The tyrant, though, seeks mastery, for which he is  insatiable, implacable.” — David Brin, The Postman


I used this some months back, but it is so accurate, especially in today’s climate of political fooferah, (lovely word, so apropos! even if its made-up…), that I am compelled to use it again, without shame or remorse, for it is a piece of truth that we all need to be familiar with, for our own protection. You see, the current crop of folks vying for the top spot in the limelight that shifts around prior to the upcoming election frenzy in D.C. and all around this battered bastion of alleged freedom we call home, are all clearly members of the latter group, the potential tyrants. Hell, they are not merely clear examples of such, they are seemingly proud of it.


Each and every one of the pretenders to the throne (i.e., the “loyal opposition party”, or “candidates”, or, as they are known on the street, “the dog and pony show”) has made it clear that they are not seeking this position for the benefit of the American people; hell, they clearly don’t even like Americans much. They make statements every day that demonstrate that a) they are clueless as to what being the President actually entails; they continually make remarks that show they would be attempting to perform actions not within the purview, or the actual powers of, the Presidency, and b) they are more interested in promoting the ascendancy of their own particular religion than they are in taking part in a political process. And these guys are the BEST they think they can come up with to challenge the sitting party. Did I mention their apparently ingrained clueless state?….


That, I think, is the saving grace in the entire scenario…. these idiots are so out of touch with reality, and the American public they think they should represent, that no one with any sense at all is paying much attention to their writhing and contortions.  In spite of the nearly limitless presence of it in all sectors of society, there isn’t quite enough ignorance out there to quite be able to push us all down that road….. yet……. but don’t stop watching them! They’re sneaky, by nature……


“A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” —  Robert Heinlein, The Notebooks of Lazarus Long

___________________________________


“I felt like poisoning a monk.” — Umberto Eco on why he wrote the novel The Name of the Rose.


I like this…. I think Umberto and I would have some lovely conversations. I can see us, sitting at a table at the edge of a beautiful garden, with vineyards in the distance, laughing and trading whoppers late into the night, while happily consuming large glasses of excellent wine, and scaring the wildlife….. No, really, what a great way to find one’s inspiration, especially for a tight, well-told murder mystery set in the what, 13th century? You could murder anybody you wanted, and never have to worry about getting arrested; imagine the release of tension as you personally described how the poison caused this pious asshole, (or noisy neighbor, whatever….) to shrivel up and die in unspeakable agony, after personally slipping the poison into the sacrificial wine you knew the pervert would be hitting right after the communion services….. exquisite!


Some mornings you will find, at the beginning of these gurgitations (can’t come up with exactly the word to describe what these are….fill in your own guess, if that one doesn’t do it for you….)….  a short opening paragraph or two from an as-yet unwritten new story that pops into my head on a regular basis. Unfortunately, as I tried to explain to a friend last night when she asked me to finish one of them, those opening paragraphs are the entire content of what my brain is percolating; no further details of said story are ever found anywhere.


But, as I told her, I’m just waiting…. one of these times, an outline of an entire plot-line, complete with suggested side-plots and characters to include or make up, will grow in my inner eye as I type, until there is enough to fill in a complete short story, or novelette, or who knows, an epic poem! (Probably not the latter; I’m aware of my limitations….small as they are….)  And I like to think it will all come from a moment such as Umberto describes…. an instant of mad whimsy that points me toward an opportunity to express my store of unlimited possibility…..

___________________________________


A poem:                          to be read aloud:


<> !*”#                          Waka waka bang splat tick tick hash,

^`$$-                             Caret quote back-tick dollar dollar dash,

!*=@$_                         Bang splat equal at dollar under-score,

%*<> ~#4                     Percent splat waka waka tilde number 4,

&[]../                             Ampersand bracket bracket dot dot slash,

|{,,SYSTEM HALTED     Vertical-bar curly-bracket comma comma CRASH.


— Fred Bremmer and Steve Kroese — Calvin College & Seminary of Grand Rapids, MI.


The urge to poetry strikes even the humblest among us…..  🙂   Ain’t it Grand!…. and, for full understanding of this, to get the real feel, it MUST be read aloud….. enjoy!

___________________________________


“Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile!” — Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.


Yes…. sometimes I DO get tired of writing about heretical, oppositional, or even merely controversial things. But it’s not my fault! Every day, I read the news, I listen to the gossip (best source of REAL info on what folks are thinking about in their copious free time…), and I go online to find out what’s up out there in the world at large. What do I find?


Teens being murdered by bigots, or bullied and persecuted to the point of suicide for being ‘different’. People being starved or beaten, or killed by their own countrymen. People being starved, beaten, or killed by those from other countries (Our country in particular has a nasty habit of dropping bombs on places where we, well, wherever we feel like it….). Children being abused by priests, by educators, by corporations, by priests again, (sorry, but it’s pretty ubiquitous; more common than ever admitted, or guessed….), worst of all, by their own parents. Wars breaking out, over disputed territory, over paranoia, over false claims of insult to promote private agendas and ambitions, over whose imaginary friend dresses better.  Millions and millions of people oppressed economically and kept in ignorance, manipulated to chase after pipe dreams promoted by the elitist, sycophantic, racist churches and religious pundits of all faiths and formats, all of whom preach tolerance while practicing bigotry while supporting corruption. Women being kidnapped and forced to engage in prostitution, by sociopathic and sadistic misogynists (sometimes known as Conservative Republicans, or organized criminals) . OUR OWN FUCKING LEADERS SIGNING AWAY OUR DAMN RIGHTS, JUST AS IF THEY HAD ANY RIGHT TO DO SO, IN THE NAME OF “NATIONAL SECURITY” FOR FUCK’S SAKE!!!!!


Odd, I don’t recall anything in the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, that mentions “national security” as a legal, or even desirable, excuse to restrict the rights of American citizens…. but that may be because it’s not in there….. anywhere….. Tell them all to stop pulling all this stupid shit right in front of me, and I will stop writing about it…. deal?…..

___________________________________


“I’ve wrestled with reality for 35 years, and I’m happy, Doctor, I finally won out over it.” — Jimmy Stewart in Harvey, 1950.


I’ve never before realized that “Harvey” was released the year I was born…. a nice little fact that adds to my conviction that it was an auspicious year for the Universe. It also may explain why I’ve always felt a particular connection to, and appreciation for, both the movie, and the brilliance of its protagonist, Elwood P. Dowd, so magnificently portrayed by Jimmy Stewart. I’ve always considered it to be one of the five best movies ever made, and still do. Its relevance and appeal for every man, woman, and child, its warmth and humor, its very insightful, accurate, and forgiving  character portrayals, its breezy insouciance and irrepressible positivism, all combine to give it that indefinable quality by which one can always recognize classic truth, costumed here in the guise of a large, amiable six-foot tall rabbit named Harvey……

___________________________________


And so we come to the end of another day’s trip around my head…. if you’re having second thoughts as to the value of spending this much time on my ramblings, consider this…. it’s original, in a personal sense, if not always entirely new, fresh subject matter; it’s non-fattening, almost entirely protein-based; and the price is right, only a bit of your time and attention….. what a deal!  Come on back tomorrow, for another turn around my oyster beds…..  Y’all take care out there…..




—

Sometimes I sits and thinks,

and sometimes

I just sits.


gigoid


Kowabunga!