Ffolkes,
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~~
Nooo! I don’t wanna wake up…
Hajime…. I can relate to Leelu’s picture caption today, especially considering all I am tasked to do today. Since I am up, and reasonably awake, all things considered, I guess I’ll write a Pearl, a process which, by now, almost completes itself, with minimal interference from me. Today, I am hoping it lives up to my trust in it, for, to be frank, I ain’t got much.
Rather than go into any unwarranted detail, let’s just move on to another point of departure, which we can usually find damn near anywhere. That’s the easy part, for we don’t care at all where we leave from, as long as we get somewhere. Naturally, this tends to complicate matters to a degree, as we often don’t know where we are going; life goes on, in spite of it, though, so, we just pretend we don’t care, and find some other reason to be where we ended up. For those who don’t do well with ambiguity, it’s a bit of a hassle, but, life’s lessons never run on a schedule, so, it works out. Besides, if we really wanted to be somewhere, wouldn’t we say so? Yes, yes, we would.
Okay, obligatory nonsense paragraph; check. Let’s see now, what can we do to distract them for another moment or two, while we try to sober up the pilot. Not that he can’t fly drunk; he’s done it often enough. No, he just got so blasted he can’t find the keyhole, and that’s just not right. Nonetheless, we don’t have a backup today, so, we’ll chance it, just to get it done. I’m afraid it may make things a bit, well, unpredictable, but, hey, what’s that to us? We’re immune to such, and glad of it.
That’s it. I can’t think of any more bullshit, or even any goose guano. So be it. If you’d kindly deposit your empties in the appropriate containers, we’ll be on our way. Luigi has been poured into the pilot’s seat, and we’re warmed up & ready to go. If we get there, I’ll let you know. In the meantime….
Shall we Pearl?
but in life there are many things to draw us aside.”
~~ Epictetus — Discourses, Book i, Chap. xxvi ~~
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Here is one of the very first videos created for Playing For Change, with some of the finest vocals you will ever hear. Enjoy, ffolkes; you’ll be seeing a lot of these from now on….
Stand Up
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~~ Aristotle ~~
~~ Nicomachean Ethics, Bl. I, Ch. 6, 10966, lines 29-30 ~~
It occurs to me there is yet another example of a part of human existence which, in its core, reflects both the nature of reality, and, that of humanity itself. This, of course, is the duality that exists in the real world, and in the manner in which we perceive that world. We feel, due to the absence or presence of kinetic energy applied to a nerve on our body, which has evolved to perceive that type of energy; in the case of touch, our skin, and the tissue below it, in conjunction with the nerves and brain, receive the energy (a caress, a blow, a breeze…), then, send the signal to the brain for interpretation and response.
This extends to all our senses, in one fashion or another; touch, taste, smell, hearing, vision, all are based on the presence or absence of a particular form of energy for us to perceive and interpret, and our various organs have evolved to do so, with the tools we have as part of our brain’s complexity. This, of course, does not enter into the realm of mind, or consciousness, as yet. That is yet another function, of which we shall speak shortly. For now, it is for us to know we are two in one, in everything we see, think, and do, and to lose awareness of this is to risk confusion, loss of self, and, more trouble than is necessary or pleasant.
For example, the universe exists in a state of change at all times; this is easily demonstrable by watching a river flow, or imagining the Earth turning on its axis as it moves around the sun, which moves along with the other stars in the Milky Way, as it moves through the Universe at large, fleeing the original point of whatever occurred to cause its motion, and set the laws of reality, but, only those WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO PERCEIVE. It is a good thing to remember, we may not be able to perceive ALL there is to our Universe, as we are in one place, and cannot experience all of it at once; there may be places where things are different than here.
But, on this planet, there are now, approximately seven-plus billion human beings, of which 99% not only have no notion of any of this, but, have never in their lives considered any of these simple facts, for that is what I have related. All I have said thus far is simple science, and philosophy, and has been known for millennia by a small portion of humanity. The rest never even consider themselves in this light, or stand outside their own existence to examine just what the hell is going on…. Instead, from birth, virtually all of mankind tends to listen to the versions of reality told to them by almost everyone they know, who has learned what they know from someone else, all without ever looking inside themselves, to compare what is there with what they see, and what they are told, or to examine any of it for its truth.
Why? Or, rather, why not? Why don’t most people look around, and inside, and think about it all, from a point of view other than what they’ve been told? Very few, in my experience, which also compels me to mention how evidence of this is clearly available every day in what we see in the news, on the streets, and in talking with people; the entire world is in such a state of constant turmoil, nobody can truly say they understand all of it, or are even completely aware of all of what is happening. Society has reached a point where its own sheer size has provided so much inertia, all forward motion seems to have stopped, while humanity tears each other apart, in war, after war, while we continue to despoil our own home environment to the point where the planet itself may become inimical to us.
~~ Frank Herbert ~~
To be continued…..
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I sit to open a vein, exposed in public places,
happy to be written, judging by the faces.
None can see the price so willingly paid,
at the feet of imagination is that cost weighed.
Still shadows of reality shine quite as well
to hide all the bleeding as if under a spell;
While visions and fantasies vie for attention,
hoping to win once-hoped-for final mention.
Technology may or may not rue its day
never knowing or caring its part to play.
All the precious moments of inspiration
Fall ever short of our own imagination.
~~ gigoid ~~
9/30/2012
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Perspective
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“Put three grains of sand inside a vast cathedral, and the cathedral will be more closely packed with sand than space is with stars.” — Sir James Jeans
“A lie can travel halfway round the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” — Mark Twain
“Fortune is like glass,–the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.” — Publius Syrus — Maxim 280
“Only a fool is astonished by the foolishness of mankind.” — Edward Abbey
“It is good for a man to eat thistles and to remember that he is an ass.” — E. S. Dallas
“Most of all, I’ve learned that a good time to laugh is anytime you can.” — Linda Ellerbee
“YOW!! I’m in a very clever and adorable INSANE ASYLUM!!” — Zippy the Pinhead
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As can be seen, it’s done, though with a rather new look. The interrupted rant is to be continued, simply because it is growing too large for one sitting. It’s a delicate point, so to speak, I’m working toward, and will require more thought; hence the pause for a cause. I doubt seriously if anyone objects, he said with a smirk for his own presumption…..
Okay, I believe that is quite enough for one day. I’m off to deal with pain and glory, so to speak, and will return tomorrow, come hell, or high water. In that you may place your belief, if not your complete trust. Me, I’m outta here….
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 