Leo T.

                                                           It's late and I must conclude this morning's Effort .   I remind my Gentle Readers that Leo Tolstoy [WAR AND PEACE] was a prodigious Author of MANY Children's Books .   Even after reading Dostoevsky, [THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV]. I am still wading through WAR AND PEACE --- thing is--- when we got to him in Kiddie Lit class he was INFINTIELY BEAUTIFUL .   He remains so .   

                            BRILLIANT Minds Taught THROUGH Kiddie Lit, such was the VALUE  they placed on direct communication to and with Children .   I want that.  I wanna be like Leo .

                                                                Tare Forward and Keep the Faith

The Well Spring

                                                           70's American Hippie-ism had some great gags, here's one now :   a long-haired 'Jesus freak' confessed this ;  "I useta-be all messed-up on drugs and alcohol, now I'm all messed-up on the Lord ."   

                                 BEFORE children are introduced {messed up with} to religion, they are introduced to Kiddie Lit .   Herein the POWER of Children's Literature .   Various CODES are supplied within the stories, Bravery, Virtues, and BEST-OF-ALL  >>>>>>COMMON SENSE<<<<<< the best of that BEST is the one where the Child calls out "THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES" .    The TRUTH of Visuality is irrefutable, making the sycophantic praises of bootlickers and ass-kissers unquestionably ABSURD .   Here it is where the TRUTH of EXPERIENCE CANNOT BE DENIED !    

                                The title of the Story, penned by Hans Christian Anderson, is "The Emperor's New Clothes" and reached the Public in 1837 via "Fairy Tales Told For Children" .   CLEARLY, that Story is as Relevant  NOW as it has ever been .   NO ONE can deny its VALUE, and it's weird that the CHILD-WHO-DARED-TO-TELL-THE-TRUTH is considered a HERO , who, unwittingly, helped to depose a fucking TYRANT .   

                                

Tenets

                                                           My Theory is simple and straight-forward, Because Dr. Carl Jung devised "The Collective Unconscious" I reasoned that there must be a Collective CONSCIOUS .   There are themes, motifs, and plots within Children's Literature that are UNIVERSAL, 'they' occur in Kiddie Lit all over the Planet .   I contend that these themes are part of the Human GLOBAL Conscious, and as such, once uncovered, they can become a Foundation for the  Planetary Psyche .   Sociologists refer to these as "Shared Commonalities", meaning, they are INHERENT in the Human Species .   The Unification of the Planet's Population can be achieved when we all agree that these Shared Commonalities represent the Totality of Human Awareness, and therefore Civilizational Cognition .   In the same way that Dr. Jung established that there are "Archetypes" in the Human Unconscious, I argue that there are are Principles, Values, and further POLITICAL Mental Constructs within the the Collective Conscious that are, check that, CAN-BE the Foundation of Political Altruism,  a tenet of Planetarianism* .   

Public Sanitation

                                                           As simply as I can state "IT", I want a Return to Truth, not just on an Individual Basis, but on a National, Continental and GLOBAL Level, where "IT" once occupied the APEX of Human Intellection and that of Civilization itself .    We, as in ALL-OF-US, have experienced the utterly PITIFUL Degradation of American Political and Social Values, once admired by many Nations .    When Folks in AA stipulate that "NO change can be initiated unless and until the drinker has reached 'ROCK BOTTOM' , so it is with the American Electorate, those that voted for a madman, vital and CLEAR indication that america has, indeed, hit ROCK BOTTOM  and there can be nowhere else to go except UP .   

                        Opinionists*, pundits, Brains and BIG Brains have cautioned us :   "It aint-gonna be over when all the ballots are counted, there will be a TREMENDOUS amount of WORK to salvage from the rubble and debris of a WAR-Weary Nation, what can be useful in a RECONSTRUCTION , and what must be summarily REJECTED and therefore DISCARDED" .    They insist that there CAN-BE and MUST-BE a Return to INALIENABLE RIGHTS, among them, LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS and a VIABLE Democracy that is TRUE to "IT" 's Principles, the Rule of the MAJORITY .

                       On my end, I caution the Cautioners*  ---  after a HUNDRED YEARS of British Rule, they still shit in the streets of New Delhi .  

"In the Beginning..."

                                                           We know that trump is "thin-skinned", meaning, he takes what is said about him personally .    My generation was taught to ignore worded insults, that is, we grew up with this "old adage" =  "Sticks and stones may break my bones but WORDS will NEVER hurt me " .   Obviously trump was NOT brought up with that, and we are living the consequences of that shortcoming .    

                         A kwik* Search recovers that this "old adage" has been around since 1862 and was first expressed in the "Christian Recorder" a publication out of "The African Methodist Episcopal Church" .  It was communicated to children to supply them with a Defense Mechanism that could be utilized to thwart verbal bullying .   I believe that "IT" WAS effective, but that in Modern Times "IT" has all but evaporated and nothing was put into Public Consciousness to replace it .  Look at what has resulted .

                        I cite this Instance to make my Case for the Study of Children's Literature, which I contend is a Study in the [Oral] Transmissions of Human Morality, Social Mores and Ethical Practices .  

The Best of the Best

                                                           Please indulge an old man .   Below are some of the Kiddie Lit Books I LOVE .

THE ANNOTATED MOTHER GOOSE  Introduction and Notes by William S. Baring-Gould & Ceil Baring-Gould --  Illustrated by CALDECOTE, CRANE, GREENWAY, RACKHAM. PARRISH AND HISTORICAL WOODCUTS .

THE COMPLETE MOTHER GOOSE  Illustrated by Ethyl Franklin Betts BEAUTIFUL Pen and Ink Drawings and Exquisite color Prints .

ANDERSON'S FAIRY TALES  Illustrated by Arthur Szyk .

ANDERSON'S FAIRY TALES   Translated y Valdemar Paulsen and Illustrated by Milo Winter .

ANDERSON'S FAIRY TALES   Illustrated by E.H. Wehnert & W. Thomas   followed by

GRIMM'S FOLKS TALES         Illustrated by E.H. Wehnert

GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES           Illustrated in Color by Noel Pocock  

THE VIOLET FAIRY BOOK      Edited by Andrew Lang   Illustrations by H.J. Ford  (Compendium from Around The World)

                                 I have multiple copies of Alice in Wonderland, and several different versions of AESOP'S FABLES .   

                         One word :   NEVER ENOUGH !!!  The ARTWOK alone is "The price of admission."

Miss Handled

                                                           I have advised my fellow Planetarians that "IT" would behoove them to procure, a Bible, I CHING, TAO TE CHING, QURAN, and perhaps, Bulfinch's Mythology, and even Chuang Tsu's INNER CHAPTERS .   

                           I warn my Gentle Readers that I intend to begin using Kiddie Lit to neutralize trumpian propaganda; here it is where "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."   I KNOW Readers in Foreign Lands and Far-Away Nations have their own Children's Literature and I am counting on them to avail themselves to their Study of such .   Kiddie Lit is something of a "First Transmission" of Morals, Mores, Ethics and even MORE IMPORTANTLY as a means to aid in identifying "GOOD" and "EVIL" and THE DIFFERENE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG .   Elsewhere I have vehemently argued that trump is devoid of ANY sort of HUMANISM, that, because of his upbringing, ONLY misfortune could result, in other words, trump was somehow Dys-Socialized, meaning there was  no way for him to identify Good from Evil, that he was tutored by his father's ATROCITIES which he now inflicts upon US .

                          If we are to Transform the glob I insist "IT" must begin with CHILDREN .

"Out Of The Mouths Of Babes"

                                                           For  weeks I have been miserable .   Everyday there is some new and gross BULLSHIT that bombards our Senses.   Trump's propaganda has been relentless --- in order to neutralize some of if I have offered nothing but pure negativity, in an Effort to rivet the Attention of my Readers to TRUMP'S Reality .   I realize the Suffering I have impose---I justified my actions as what Buddhists refer to as "Merited Karma" --that which is both generated and received .   I don' like it, never have but the Truth is always gonna-be the Truth and, technically, there IS no escape .

                          I KNOW there are better, more acceptable delivery systems, one of which is to use the I CHING and then add to it, 'purport' .   The problem with the 'Ching' is that it is esoteric in both Form and Substance, and I doubt many Folks have a copy .  "IT" is the same for almost all quotes from Ancient Chinese Philosophy, precious few of them have reached the Streets and Gutters of common Academics, let alone those of us who make our 'homes' in "Tombstone" Territory,  the cliche ridden wasteland of Modern Day Superficiality .   

                         I wanted to somehow link Children's Literature, my BELOVED "Kiddie Lit", to Everyday Propaganda Neutralization but feared my Readers would be insulted at such "low brow" expression .   I FEARED, "That's IT ???  That's all you got ???????" .   I stayed away from that which I loved because I thought it Inappropriate .   

                         Then THIS arrived :   "It is not a matter of whether you can learn by silence, by speech, by effort, by submission .   It is a matter of HOW this is done not 'THAT' it is done ."  [ Khamosh ] .   In this, Sufis utilize EVERYTHING , including children's stories, jokes, and the above listed .  "IT" has given me a Voucher to advance a Neutralization that doubles as Teaching .   

no go

                                                           I'm disappointed that so few of you are interested in this morning's topic .  I will suspend my activity on this topic for a later time .

Sensory Deprivation

                                                          So----------what is the Nature of the 'Truth' for which we Search ?    Zen Master Seung Sahn teaches that Meditation results in finding one's "True Self", a True Self that "transcends 'likes' and 'dislikes' " ,   a Self that is "Enlightened" .   Sufis describe a 'state of Mind' that is ONE with the ONE, another word for God .   

                          Recently, we have been supplied definitions, explanations and description of Reality.   This is the Common Reality of day-to-day Existence .  Now we must look at the Reality of Meditation, and there is no Greater Description than the Heart Sutra, where we find this Diamond Description of the BEST State of Meditative Reality :   "No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no Mind, --- no color, no sound, no taste, no touch, no object of Mind,, no realm of eyes and so forth until no realm of Mind consciousness" .   To properly conceive this State, simply close your eyes and put yourself in a silent sound-free room with the lights off .   THIS is Meditative Reality .   NOW thoughts arrive and depart of their own accord ---Nothingness exists --- Mind is Free to roam or be still --- here it is where "Stillness IS Bliss" .   Now GETTING THERE and STAYING THERE are different things, and STAYING in the "ULTIMATE REALITY" is NOT ---->  Practical .   We must work to Live .   

                       

"ATONEMENT" [AT-ONE-MENT]

                                                           I was delighted and RELIEVED that there are parallels between Zen-ism and Sufism, the most important of which is the Necessity to "look inside" one's Being to locate Truth .   Zen phrases "IT" this way :  "Seeing into one's Self and the Attainment of Buddhahood", while Sufis describe, "...a form of direct perception of the Truth which has nothing to do with mechanical Intellection".   Compare these to Gnosticism's  "Direct and Immediate {Personal} Experiential Knowledge of the Divine" .    Gnosticism is Ancient, the 1st and 2nd Centuries A.D.,,,  and the question may be asked if what may be considered Modern Christianity, specifically the Synoptic Gospels, contains such an articulation of these Mystical -----> Alternatives can be found .   Not exactly, but I argue and have argued that the Parables found in said Synoptic Gospels are certainly close enough to qualify as SOMEWHAT Mystical, in that trying to Understanding the Parables is the same as trying to Understand Koans {Kong-ans in Korean} .   In All of the above MEDIATATION is Required to first Penetrate and then GRASP the Spiritual Significance of the Stories, Kong-ans, Messages and Parables .   ALL Require INTENSE Focus and Concentration, a Focus of One's ENTIRE Being .   Remember the Goal :  Truth .   The Truth of BEING "Nearer to God" where God is Code for The Infinite Divine {my tag} .   Being at ONE with the One, God, GUARANTEES "Inner Peace" which means "EVERYTHING IS EASIER TO DEAL WITH" .

                          

Silver BELLS

                                                           I will inject >Self Absorbed< into this narrative as in "The man was so self-absorbed he did not see, feel, or hear the thief approach nor cut his tether ."   Further, his concern was directed toward >material gain< and he literally thought of nothing else .   Is this man, then, a true Innocent ?   I say NO .   The thief saw him as an easy 'mark' and took advantage of it straight-away .

                       The man arrives at a well and sees someone who he thinks is in distress .   We now know the thief is not only practiced but has KEEN vision and so seeks to "play" this man once more .   First he tells the man he has "dropped" FIVE HUNDRED SILVER COINS into the well and then offers him 100 should he manage to retrieve them .    The thief is believed by the man, trusted even, but upon what is this trust based ????   The man asks NO Questions, like, HOW THE FUCK DID YOU DROP A SACK OF COINS INTO THIS WELL ????  Even better WHY DIDN'T YOU try YOURSELF ???????   

                      The man's justifies this perilous effort with a common cliche "One door shuts while many are opened" and with this he strips and "plunges" into the well .   He made Effort to AVOID THE OBVIOUS, that is, WHO THE FUCK IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD BE CARELSESS ENOUGH TO DROP A SACK OF SIVER COINS INTO A WELL ???????????????????  Innocent ???   Hardly .

                      Trump voters refused to believe that THEIR OWN MINDS accounted for the first theft, and THEIR OWN MINDS resulted in the second .   

                      I mean, one word :   TOOO Good .

A Sheep Without Man's Clothing

                                                           Had Aesop written this story, it would have had a 'conclusion' of some sort of 'Street Wisdom' .   This Story was written by one of the most Famous Sufi Masters, RUMI .

                         In Sufi Tradition this Story does not have a 'conclusion' since THAT  IS  the Teaching .  Like the Biblical Parables and Zen Koans [Kong-ans in Korean] it is up to the Reader to gain Insight and Understanding by depth Meditation .   First, I follow Scholastic Tradition by practiced and rather mundane analysis, which is my 'Wheel-House', in order to secure at least an initial understanding that results in Appreciation .   I mean, FIRST there's this :   Dude---you are having a SUPER BAD DAY ===  first your sheep then your clothes .   Thing is, can you feel any REAL sympathy for the guy ?   I don't .

                       Analysis asserts this question, WHAT was this guy thinking about, WHY didn't he sense anything BEFORE the feeling of a slack rope ???  Here it is where "reading between the lines" demands IMAGINATION ,  and where the Author has satisfaction that his words have engaged and engrossed the Reader .   Now, I think that the Man-with-sheep was taking his animal to be sold, and was immersed in receiving a handsome profit, and with that profit what he would spend it on, and was SOOO distracted he couldn't see or feel ANYTHING until he did .   

                       I liken this man to TRUMP VOTERS .   Now just hold on to that for a minute or two .

THE SHEEP AND THE PURSE

                                                           What follows is a transcription of a story that's in Shah's chapter :  "Teaching Stories" .   My first thought was to modernize it to make it more palatable but further consideration rejected that notion.  I WILL, however, make comment in the Purport .  

                                                            THE SHEEP AND THE PURSE

    A man was walking along a road one day, followed by his sheep .   A thief went after him, cut the rope, and took it away .   When he realized what had happened, the man ran all over the place looking for his animal .  Presently he came to a well, where he saw a man apparently in despair .  Although the man did not know it, he was the very same thief .  He asked him what he was doing .   The thief said, "I have dropped a purse into the well .  It contains five hundred silver coins .   If you jump in and get it back for me, I will give you one hundred silver pieces ."

             The man thought :  'When one door shuts, a hundred may open .  This chance is worth ten times the sheep which I have lost .'   

             He stripped himself and plunged into the well .

             And the thief carried off his clothes .

BLIND FAITH

                                                           After I sent out the first blog I put my machine on "Sleep" and settled into "Chairy-Chair" to receive whatever Energy would be sent my way, also, I wanted to find a Modern Day example for Sufism, and Its 'Reliance on God' component ~~~  "IT" arrived almost instantly .   "PRESENCE OF THE LORD" performed by Blind Faith the Members being :   Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Rich Gretch .   Eric Clapton wrote the Lyrics and Music .   Eric used a Fender Telecaster, Rick a Fender Jazz Bass, Ginger his fav-Ludwig drum kit with Zildjian cymbals, and Steve's organ~~ a Hammond B 3 .

                              I have always regarded "Presence..." as a White Boy's > Spiritual< ,  mainly because Steve set his Hammond B 3 to CATHERDRAL in order to amPLIFY the Sense of HEAVEN and ITS proximity to GOD .   The song has deep background, as if it WAS being performed in a HUGH CATHEDRAL / CAVE .   

                              Steve records :"I have finally found a Way to live, /  Just  like I never could before /  I know that I don't have much to give  /   But I can open any door . "

                               The Way to Live is IN "The Presence of the Lord" and deeper "In the COLOR of the Lord" .

                             Eric was never gonna-get the Nobel Prize for Literature, the verses transcend Simplistic but EVERYBODY can hear and UNDERSTAND them a {Divine} Sufi NECESSITY .   Further his Solo is a SYMBOLIC Expression of his Journey that ended with his "Discovery" and ENTRY into the "Divine" . 

Crazy 8's

                                                            I finished reading THE WAY OF THE SUFI :   It is a TREASURE STORE of Teachings that have UNIVERSAL application .   Indries Shah, the present Head of the Sufi Tradition, has presented "an unparalleled cross section of material from Sufi Schools, Teachings, and Classical Writing as a basic course of Sufi Study" .    No matter one's position or station in Life, this Book is of inestimable  Value .   What I am about to write may be considered BLASPHEMIC, I do so any way :   in the same way that one does NOT need to Study Buddhism IF one's attention is drawn to Zen, so it is with Sufism ;   if you Study Sufism, it MAY not be necessary to immerse one's self in the Quran--- THAT'S how POWERFUL are the Teachings of Sufi Masters .

                             I suggest that it is IMPERATIVE for my Gentle Readers to 'get' familiar with the 8 Sufi Beliefs, but for now I will supply a 'short-cake' .  1.  Belief in God and that He is ONE .   2.  Awareness of the Self's Desires .    3.   One's Ego/Self must be annihilated {in order to advance/progress} .   4.  Subsistence in God .   5. Divine Love .   6. Return to Truth / God .   7.   Patience .   8. Trust as the Reliance on God's Will .     This must suffice for now .

                           Here, now, are the 8 Qualities of the Sufi Master :   

                                         Liberality, as that of Abraham

                                         Acceptance of his lot, as Ishmael accepted

                                         Patience, as possessed by Job

                                         Capacity to communicate by symbolism, as in the case of Zacharias

                                         Estrangement from his own people, which was the case of John

                                         Woolen garb like the shepherd's mantle of Moses

                                          Journeying, like the travelling Jesus

                                          Humility, as Mohammed had Humility of Spirit .

Beware

                                                            Democratic optimism is surging in the most vile way .    In the Olden Times of Yesteryear we would be cautioned :  "Don't count your chickens before they hatch".   There's GREAT ---> Wisdom in that  barnyard obvious .   What is being broadcast  these days is a sickening disassociation from that barnyard classic .    News folks are telling us that the House will become democratic and even the House of Senators is possible .   I wouldn't mind hearing this if the qualifications were submitted as well, meaning, the Public needs to be reminded that just securing the House is NOT ENOUGH TO STOP TRUMP .   If trump IS to be STOPPED it would require TWO THIRDS MAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSES thereby guaranteeing VETO-PROOF Legislation .    

                          Presently THERE IS NO EVIDENC THAT TRUMPISTS WILL VOTE BLUE, VOTE DEMOCRATIC, IN RESPONSE TO PRESENT DAY ECONOMIC CONDITIONS .    I've watched, mostly IN HORROR,,,  as DIE-HARD LOYALISTS refuse to find ANY Fault with trump and therefore are quite willing to keep republicanism* alive and even flourishing, as the Dow presents .   

                          Every day we are subjected not only to trumpist Propaganda but democratic Propaganda as well .    The potential victory of democrats to secure a House of Representatives  simple majority is lessened BECAUSE OF REALITY .    The TRUTH is trump has the supreme court, the doj, the mil in his POWER and they can NEUTRALIZE whatever the democrats project .    The supreme court has given trump INVULNERABILTY , he cannot be prosecuted, nor even sanctioned because of its 'blessing' .    

                         

Philosophies don't pay bills

                                                           I spent some of yesterday afternoon immersed in Indries Shah's  THE WAY OF THE SUFI and presently I am a scant 28 pages from its completion .   I had hoped to find the mystical qualities that enriches Zen Buddhism, and to my delight there is significant mystical Qualities in Sufism, as well as the same WTF inscrutability . I LOVE  that .   What I did not expect to find was any political 'isms' that characterize THE TAO TE CHING  and among them ANY that would prescribe a remedy for Modern Day democrats' affliction, their inability to directly communicate with what is commonly referred to as "the General Public" .    I mean it this way :   there's "Out There" and then there's "WAY THE FUCK OUT THERE .    Sufi's have spent what seems to be EONS in an effort to provide the Teaching to just us reg'lar Folk and when that Teaching has been less well received they insist that it is because the Instructor or Teacher has NOT taught at a the level of the student .  We hear this same accusation from democratic strategists who are near bitter because of mis-communication, Cynicism resulting .   Most Folks are not Philosophers, nor do they have a penchant for Political Science, and even most of their Religious Activities are devoid of direct contact  with National and World Concerns .    

                              Thing is this, Candidates MUST afford potential voters the Policies to which they attend, meaning, those Policies that will contribute to the general Health and Welfare of the voters they are 'courting' .   These 'policies' are correctly referred to as "Kitchen Table Economics" --- it's Kitchen Table because that's where bills are addressed and paid .   Here it is where the ISSUES aren't really issues so much as they are COMMON, EVERY-DAY >>>COSTS<<< .    Technically, it's all about ARITHMETIC and as such, the NUMBERS, in dollar amounts, that need to be balanced in order to maintain and secure one's and one's Family accounting .   

                                The Voters' Question is savagely blunt :   What are you gonna do to help ME  and my FAMILY ?    It don't get no plainer .

Napoleon

                                                           It is IMPERATIVE to read between the lines if we are to apprehend Moses' Story fully .    God PARDONED Cain rather than allow his execution, thereby conforming to what would ultimately be released as the First Commandment which would then have been an exercise in Contradiction,, Hypocrisy resulting .   Remember, Cain WAS EXILED into a tribe of lesser-thans--  proto humans -- NEVER TO RETURN TO HUMAN SOCIETY .   That BANISHMENT WAS his Punishment .

                              Remember Western Civ. History :  Napoleon was exiled to Elba as punishment for aspiring to be Emperor of the World .   His Hubris activated Nemesis as was meet and fit .  

                              At some point trump will be deposed, the kind of Suffering he has wantonly inflicted upon American Citizens and THE WORLD cannot be sustained.  One way or another he is going down, and if down means HELL  so be it .

                                                        

                                                       Tare Forward and Keep the Faith  

A vote for Cain is a vote for MURDER

                                                           In yesterday's Reality I voted straight 'democratic' meaning I voted for every democrat on the ballot which was an expression of Belief .  I BELIEVE that republicans are of a specific 'tribe', members of which are incapable of Humanism, at least that aspect of Humanism that demands Respect for and Compassion of fellow Citizens .   They should not be allowed NEAR any governmental authority, not even the DPW, THAT'S how bad they are and what I think of them .    My Belief is origined* in the Bible, where Moses gave us "The Story Of Cain And Abel" .   Here it is where we were exposed to Cain's now FAMOUS retort/question , "Am I my brother's Keeper?"   Clearly republicans are not 'of the mind' to be a Keeper, not even of their own brothers and so much less, their sisters .   Despite having MURDERED his own brother, God saw fit to PARDON Cain, and even give him access to another tribe, that we must assume were early hominids, where he married and had children .   God saw fit to MARK him with a Symbol of Godian Protection, which we must assume was received by those hominids as Special where Special is TERROR-FYING .   God thereby SANCTIONED an Horrific Atrocity ,  must WE, then, ALSO "Sanction"  Human Atrocity ???   Keep in mind Cain's VIOLATION of the First Commandment   THOU SHALL NOT KILL .  Folks will argue that the First Commandment was yet to be received by Humans, but what the fuck changed from God's SANCTION of Murder to HIS Commandment that FORBADE ---KILLING ????? 

"Conform or be cast out"

                                                           Sociologists, among others, insist that "We act according to the way we see things", but they sometimes fail to note that we are TAUGHT not only 'what' to see but HOW to see .  This, of course, is the result of first parenting, second Education, and third 'socialization', which includes exposure to television, film and most print magazine, and in  these our Modern Times, all the media platforms, facebook*, tic tok, instagram and the rest .   The rise of "influencers" is a calibration of the extent ordinary folks will 'go' to be kept informed of fads and fetishes, that they be accepted as part of whichever tribe they wish to define their existence .   No one wants to be labeled an outcast or 'different' because being labeled as such denies them the very thing they desire most 'Acceptance-as-normal' ; Acceptance-as-tribe-member .   Neil Peart, the RUSH drummer and lyricist writes this in the song "Subdivisions" :  

                                          "Subdivision /   In the high school halls /  In the shopping malls /   Conform or be cast out  /  Subdivisions  /   In the basement bars  /   In the backs of cars  /  Be cool or be cast out ..."

                            No one can deny that we maltreat one another, it's odious if not flat-out HIDEOUS but there it is in plain fucking SIGHT.   We "SEE" that a someone is "not like us" so they are REJECTED straightaway---out-of-hand .  No one wants that .  I believe it to be a BULLSHIT Reality, a Reality that DENIES our HUMANITY . It is this Reality that should be REJECTED because it does NOT CONFORM to Evolutionary Standards, the Standards of Human Decency and genuine Compassion .  

                           My "Fight" is to 'remove' this BULLSHIT Reality and replace it with HUMANISM .

                            What is Humanism ?      Good Question .

Reality Bites

                                                           The blogs of October 13th seem to be lifetimes distant .  Yesterday I returned from a very simple road-trip and all I could do was lie down to recover, which I did for almost 4 hours .  I had no gas, no juice to do anything but walk up the stairs and settle into the recliner and watch the news, slipping into snooze mode periodically .   2 words ; pathetic .   At 8:30 I cashed out and awoke at 3 with my T shirt and street shirt drenched from the so called 'night sweats' .   Old Age sucks.  And although I know you folks could care less,,,  I write this as a waring that my head is still 'not rite', that today's work may or may not be "on the level" .   Still I'd rather have diminished out-put than no out-put at all, since there MAY be at least a modicum of value in the blogs, something that MAY be useful .

                            The blogs of Oct. 13th are already stale .   The fire I had to express, has turned from welding hot to campfire flicker .   When you watch news all day there is so much that needs to be addressed that previous day's occupation renders it ALMOST invalid .  I mean, it ISN'T but that doesn't keep the occupation alive but puts it, rather, on 'life support', to be further addressed under different circumstances .   

                             I'm opting to continue the examination of Reality because I DON'T want to bring it up again .   So ......... .

Duty call

                                                            I still must explain why Reality is so important especially with the elections up and coming .    I must hold off for a couple of hours as I have a detail to perform that begins at 7:30 a.m.  and should last until around 8:30 .  Please bear with me .

Reality (4)

 From Robert Pirsig, ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE .

                                               "The past exists only in our memories, the future only in our plans .   The present is our only reality .   The tree that you are aware of intellectually, because of that small time lag, is always in the past and therefore is always unreal .   Any intellectually conceived object is always in the past and therefore unreal .  Reality is always the moment of vision BEFORE the intellectualization takes place .   THERE IS NO OTHER REALITY .   This preintellectual  reality is what Phaedrus felt he had properly identified as Quality .   Since all intellectually identifiable things MUST emerge FROM this preintellectual reality, Quality is the parent, the source of all subjects and objects . "   

                "Phenomena, themselves ARE the Absolute"  where Absolute is another word for Reality, this from "The 6 Insights of Mahayana Buddhism" .  

                  You can see it rite ?

                                                               Tare Forward and Keep the Faith

Reality (3) The Movie

 Ken Kesey / Tom Wolfe

                                           "A person as all sorts of lags built into him .   One, the most basic, is the sensory lag, the lag between the time your sense receive something and you are able to react .   ONE THIRTYETH 1/30 of a second is the time it takes, if you're the most alert person alive, and most people are a lot slower than that .   We are, all of us, doomed to spend our lives watching a movie of our lives---we are always acting on what has just finished happening .   It happened at least 1/30 of a second ago .   We think we are in the present but we're not .   The present we know is only a movie of the past, and we will really never be able to control the present through ordinary means .   That lag has to be overcome some other way, through some kind of total breakthrough .

                  "There are all sorts of lags that go along with it .   There are historical and social lags, where people are living by what their ancestors or somebody else perceived, and they may be 25 or 50 years (or centuries) behind, and nobody can be creative without overcoming those lags first of all .   A person can overcome that much through intellect or theory or study of history and so forth and get pretty much into the present that way but he's still going to be up against one of the worst lags of all, the psychological .   Your emotions remain behind because of training, education, the way you were brought up, blocks, hang-ups, and stuff likethat, and as a result your mind wants to go one way and your emotions don't."  

Reality (2)

 From THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION by Aldous Huxley .

       Huxley quotes Dr. C.D. Broad :

                              "...the function of the brain, nervous system and sense organs is in the main eliminative and not productive .   Each person is at each moment capable of remembering and perceiving everything that is happening everywhere in the universe .   The function of the brain and nervous system is to protect us from being overwhelmed and confused by this mass of largely useless and irrelevant knowledge by shutting out most of what we should otherwise perceive or remember at any moment, and leaving only that very small and special selection which is likely to be practical or useful ."

                              "To make biological survival possible, the Mind, has to be funneled through the reducing value of the brain and nervous system ."

                                   "...likely to be PRACTICAL..."   Remember this please .

Reality (1)

                                                           My own Study of Reality is ongoing .   The blogs that follow are passages that I found revealing and therefore worthy of our Consideration .  I will make no comment on these passages, at least, not yet,,, I will wait until my Gentle Readers have assimilated them .   

       Dr. C.G. Jung quotes Richard Wilhelm the Translator of the I CHING from Chinese to German .

                                   "Reality", says Richard Wilhelm, "is conceptually knowable because, according to the Chinese view, there is in all thing a latent rationality .   This is the basic idea underlying meaningful coincidence, [Synchronicity] ;  it is possible because both sides have the same meaning .  Where meaning prevails, order results . 

     Dr. Jung submits this :   For the Unconscious psyche space and time seem to be relative ; that is to say, knowledge finds itself in a space-time continuum in which space is no longer space, nor time time .  If, therefore, the Unconscious should develop or maintain a potential in the direction of CONSCIOUSNESS, it is then possible for parallel to be perceived of 'known' ."

                            I ask my Readers to hold on to "Continuum" because "IT" is one of the Things that Sword'sMen Protect, via the Teachings of the Tengu Masters .

                               

Harmony

                                                           Please forgive me .  I do not have the strength to continue .   Know this :   there are MILLIONS of Realities, each one of us actually creates a Reality that best suits our psychological 'Condition' :  Reality, then, is dependent on AGREED Conditions, where Truth is accepted as "The Majority Perception", something that Kant spells out in his CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON .  

                           Trump lives in HIS Reality, while the rest of us Suffer in Ours .   The DEAL is to bring everyone's individual Realities into Harmony ,  whereby a United Reality affords advance into Peace that benefits EVERYONE .

                     

                                                                       Tare Forward and Keep the Faith 

Magic and Mystery in Wakefield, Rhode Island

                                                           I'm getting a late start this morning due to Illness .   I awoke at midnight because I  could barely breathe with any comfort .   My head was a watermelon filled with watery junk and a 400 pound baby hippo had nestled on my chest .   I have just returned from the pharmacy with Coricidin HBP a capsule that will coax the baby Hippo off my chest and help drain my brain .   Weirdly, there's nothing rwong* with my Body ~~~~~~ .

                               I had planned a quiet delivery of something I've been working on for several weeks :  Spiritual Pragmatism, roughly defined as a Spirituality based on PRAGMATISM {{ duuuh }} and that Pragmatism is Buddhism and specifically ZEN Buddhism, because Zen is a Path that demands strict adherence to  >REALITY< .   Some of you may ask, "What's so damn SPIRITUAL about Reality ?" and it's a GREAT Question .   Those like me, those of my "ilk",,, can see "IT" straightaway :  Reality, some would argue,, is DEVOID of Spirituality, I contend the Opposite, that Reality is not only Spiritual but MYSTICAL as well .   

                                Look at this :   I press a key and a letter appears on this screen .  I mean, how is That NOT a fucking MIRACLE ?   I know we can use Science to explain "IT" but for most of us jus' reg'lar folk, that "IT" is nothing short of fucking MAGIC, since Magic can explain just about EVERYTHING in just ONE Word .    

                                Check "IT" out :   when we agree that >Birth< is a "Miracle" then EVERYTHING-ELSE is Miraculous as well .  Life is a MIRACLE !!!   The Logic is irrefutable .

                                 Reality, then, is a MIRACLE !

Offal-icians

 BUMMER ALERT

                                                          I always thought I would write a book on Manhood describing the Journey from Childhood to Manhood as a Reference Guide and Manual .   {{MANual}}} .  When the time came, when I had the time and LUXURY of workless Freedom, I no longer felt compelled nor Obligated  because what I thought I had appeared as irrelevant .   The World had changed, check that, my World had changed to such a degree that expression of yesteryear problems and how they were surmounted presented as ridiculous .   Who wants to know what happened in the Past (?), meaning, those Problems no longer even seemed to exist .

                              I am old now .   I have become aware of Young Male Problems that are the result of a Role Model Shortage, that is, young "men" do not have Role Models that reinforce TRUE Manhood .   Present Day Males have looked to >>>TRUMP<<< as a Role Model, even Joe Rogan, a kid I like despite his personal Politics .  Look  at what has transpired :   So-called "Men" who are Elected Officials {{offal-icians}}  have demonstrated time and again that they are, IN FACT,  NOT   True Men AT ALL, but rather BOYS whose FEARS have gone un-addressed and have resulted in the preference toward COWARD-SHIP* rather than BRAVERY .   They have validated each other's FEARS and defend their Cowardice as Protecting themselves and their families at the expense of those that voted for them with the Expectation that they would SERVE them with Valor, Virtue and Distinction .

Diesel-aid

                                                What do you say about all this shit ?   What CAN be said ?????

                             It seems like CENTURIES AGO when 'they' tried to impeach trump ~~~~then 'they' tried AGAIN !!!!   Nothin' .

                             Presently, nato could 'jump in' and SAVE Ukraine .  Presently, what use-to-be republicans could 'jump in' and SAVE what use-to-be America .   These use-to-be republicans MUST-BE regarded as nothing less than ENEMIES of what-use-to-be America .   But does this actually >help< ?

                             What-use-to-be-Americans Provide an entire NATION with Food--- we need THEM as much as they need US .   Indeed, the WORLD needs their Food .   

                              Yesterday I wanted to make today's topic >Sacrifice< ,,, I even had notes from like a fucking year ago that I thought would be useful .   I thought I would cliche my way into a modest from of optimism by stating "We are at a Crossroads of Opportunity .  The World's DEPENDANCY on Oil must be addressed with RADICAL, NON-LINEAR THINKING which is already in its nascent state ."   Enlightened Address by Wisdom-ful* countries like (get this) China and Japan have produced fucking EXOTIC Machines to harvest wind and ocean movements to generate Electricity --- thing is, if we're all starving to death, what the fuck good is electricity ????

                              Recall this bullshit ;  "If God gives you lemons, MAKE LEMON-AID"

                                                                 If god gives you diesel, fill your tanks !

                              You can see it rite ?

                                                             Tare Forward and Keep the Faith

Miss Guided

                                                            We don't really need "Ockhams [Occam's --Ocham's] Razor but it may be useful here .   Putin's WAR is financed by his oil .   He's now getting a HEALTHY  >> "DOUBLE-DIP"<<,  he sells oil to the E.U. and now trump which he then uses to WAGE WAR against the E.U. and trump .   Asking, "WHY THE FUCK WOULD TRUMP BUY OIL FROM WHAT USE TO BE AMERICA'S ENEMY ?"   is an assault on Common Sense Intelligence .   Look at this :   Q.  "Why'd the  moron buy gas from his enemy ?"   A.  Because he thought it was a good thing to do ."    

                             Once again we are trapped by the phrase FUCKED-UP, "IT" isn't adequate to express grotesque BEWILDERMENT .    Bewilderment is itself a 'trap'  since it partially blinds us from the TRUTH :   the Truth being, WE MUST NOW CONSIDER TRUMPISTAN THE FOURTH MEMBER OF THE EVIL AXIS --->  russia, china, trumpistan, and iran . 

                             Trump and his have CRIPPLED american > trumpistanian<  farmers with first his tariffs and second his WAR .   China went elsewhere to satisfy their demand for soy beans,,,  an almost TWO BILLION DOLLAR LOSS for trumpistanian farmers .   Same with the trumpistanian cattle men .   

                             Chinese oil tankers have 'free passage' through Hormuz, trump doesn't even DARE to confront china nor their oil tankers .   Plus, china provides Spy Satellite Intel in the exact same way as putin .   Two words :   bewildering --- let's make it three :   fucking bewildering .

GARGANTUAN

                                                           It's never a good thing when so-called EXPERTS are flummoxed.   I'm certainly no 'expert' but I pay attention enough to be considered "up-to-date" with events and occurrences that are the plight {plague} of Present Day Humankind .   

                             Today's original first sentence was suppose to be, >It just won't end<.   Yesterday we learned that trump had `struck a deal` with putin whereby putin would sell 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to trump in trump's effort to mollify stricken farmers and alleviate/mitigate, at least somewhat, the cost of diesel.   I CONFESS, although there MUST-BE at least a modicum of comprehension available, I can find no such access to it .  

                             When such a GARGANTUAN of Inscrutability arrives one can only try and get some distance from "IT" so that one's view can see "the whole picture" where picture is the Demon Gargantuan .    'Straight-up' trump is buying fuel from his own ENEMY .   Putin IS Iran's ALLY :  putin supplies armament and munitions as well as Spy Satellite Intel that Iran uses to attack and destroy trump's Forces .   

                             Trump is doing what the E.U. is doing :   buying fuel from its own ENEMY .

"...yeah----what he said..."

                                                                       7.  Shih  /  The Army

                                  "The justifying cause of war, and clear and intelligible war aims, ought to be explained to the people by an experienced leader .   Unless there is a quite definitive war aim to which the people can consciously pledge themselves, the unity and strength of conviction that lead to victory will not be forthcoming .  But the leader must also look to it that the passion of war and the delirium of victory do not give rise to unjust acts that will not meet with general approval ."

                                You can see "IT" rite ?

                                                                   Tare Forward and Keep the Faith

"Back-back-back onto the "WARNING Track"

                                                            JFK and then LBJ 'handed' the American EMPIRE its MOST EGREGIOIUS HUMILIATION  its RETREAT from Viet Nam [Vietnam] .  Here it was that AMERCAN SUPERIOR Forces COULD NOT DEFEAT a bunch of "paddy-boy" FARMERS .   It is fucking IMPOSSIBLE that Iran and the rest of the Arabic Speaking Nations did not "MARK" this DEFEAT as >>> "If a bunch of paddy boys can DEFEAT an EMPIRE , we SURELY would {will} have MORE-THAN a Chance should the American Devil, some day, try the same shit-skank on US" <<< .   Hello and WELCOME to 'Some Day' .   We are living >IN<  the 60's FUTURE .

                              

Things Go Better With Choke

                                                           Even modest observation will reveal what is transpiring in the WAR "Theater" .   Trump's "Supply Lines" have been SEVERELY Compromised due to Iranian Strategy and Tactics, specifically, Iran's missile and drone ASSAULT on America's UNPROTECTED Bases, AND Iran's ELIMINATION of America's NAVAL Capacity to re-supply its blockade vessels and Jet-Attack "Platforms", [Aircraft Carriers] .   This THIS aint-no BRILLIANT Strategy, it's FUNDAMENTAL and even RUDIMENTARY, a something that even 7th Graders can recognize .   "Choke the Choker" .  

                           In addition, Iran KNOWS the American Peoples, Iran and the Arab-Speaking Nations have long studied the "American Devil", Iran and they are in constant, unmitigated SURVEILLANCE of America's Culture, and Society(ies) .   Weirdly, they actually FEEL our Pain and Suffering and REVEL in its EFFECTS .   American Malcontent, is being broadcast ALL OVER THE WORLD .   Clearly, Iran has BROKEN American "Supply Lines" which has effectively BROKEN trump's WAR Will, and "SUPPLIED" Iran with GREATER Power, that extends far beyond Hormuz and the Arabian Peninsula .

                           2 words :  Iran is "Winning"  ---so much WINNING--- and Iran is forcing trump and his to EAT their own SHIT .

Leningrad

                                                           For awhile I've wanted to draw a parallel between the Nazi Siege of Leningrad [St. Petersburg] to trump's "Siege" of Tehran [Iran] .      My intent was to depict the steadfast Valor of Leningradians* as an example of what Tehranians must be experiencing .   The Siege of Leningrad is  considered by Historians as the STARVATION of Leningrad , a Military Tactic that was advanced in the Middle Ages where castle/fortresses were surrounded, its food supply cut off, as well as water .  Why engage in combat when you could starve your enemy to death without a single loss of even one soldier ?    The problem was Time, the generals had to feed their own troops for days, weeks and months, and locating one's army in just one site OBVIOUSLY prevented an advance elsewhere .   Still, Siege was assiduously effective, IF the Siege Operators had the Time, and Supply Line that could be defended easily to keep the Line unbroken, then Victory was grotesquely at hand .

                           A million-zillion years later, here's trump with HIS army laying Siege to Iran, while simultaneously blockading Hormuz . Clearly,  the Objective is to Close Hormuz, others have described as a "Choke-hold" which prevents the Iranian "Supply Line" from operating with any effectiveness whatsoever .  No money --No food .   Trump and his nit-wit military cavalcade have failed {what else is new} to account for the Black Market that is is actually supplying the IRGC with enough foodstuffs and wares, that they can withstand the Siege [some say] INDEFINITELY .

                          Meanwhile, "back at the raunch",  Americans are experiencing a "cost-of-living" NIGHTMARE as THEIR foodstuffs and wares are becoming increasingly costly, so much so that even trump's most MANICAL zombies are expressing, not just "dis"-content but "MAL"-Content, and derisive speech, directed to trump, is being Voiced with aggravated Scathe .          

Dire Straits

 BUMMER ALERT

                                                            Here's one for ya :   90% of Home Heating Fuel for the E.U. 'comes from' --->  RUSSIA .   I've stated this before :   The E.U.  DEPENDS on putin to keep warm and keep its Economy 'running' .    Ukraine is presently bombing the shit out of putin's oil refineries, as well as its tankers , while putin is targeting vessels that transport needed grains to both the E.U. and Middle Africa .   Putin has MASSIVE Leverage ...... .

                                  Recall, as did John Steinbeck, This Is The Winter Of Our Discontent .  The line is from Shakespeare, it couldn't be more fitting .  

                                   And then there's this one :   Dire Straits .   How fucking AWESOME is ---> THAT ?  Hormuz and Bab al Mandab  =   The Dire Straits .  Too good .

                                 We were fucking up so the Universe sent hitler .   We didn't get the message .  Stalin, pol pot, papa doc, that Philippines madman, what's-his-name, then putin and now trump AT THE EXACT SAME TIME .   Two words :   wow .

                                  The Third World War is upon us like a no visibility BLIZZARD .   We KNOW its Root and Source .   Putin must be STOPPED .   Netanyahu must be STOPPED .   Trump must be STOPPED .   

                                Aint no one comin' to rescue us kids, "IT" 's gonna be upto*  US .

                                                      Tare Forward and Keep the Faith    

The Atrocious Three

BUMMER ALERT

                                                            Does anyone still remember that WAR is RAGING in Ukraine ?   It began in 2024, February, and this year will be the  third Winter Ukraine will experience WITHOUT a steady Source of Electricity and Heat .    Many Americans believed Ukraine was UNIMPORTANT to their daily Lives, that there was NO need to be concerned, '"IT" was just too far away to MEAN anything .  Now America is in a WAR and HEAT and Electricity will be in URGENT  Demand .  Hello Ukraine, NOW we "UNDERSTAND" .   

                         Check this out :   "The enemy of my enemy is my ally."  When we extrapolate,  this arrives :   Trump is at WAR with Iran .   Trump is at WAR with American Citizens .  Iran opposes trump, Americans oppose trump .   Therefore ;   Iranians and Americans are BONDED because of a MUTUAL Enemy .      And Worse >>>>>  Iranians are {somehow} America's --->  Allies .   It's one thing to be an Ally of Ukrainians, but is it another to have Iranians as [fellow] Allies ?    What about Gazans and  West Bankers ?????   Have they not Suffered from INSANE Rulers as well ???????         

                         We see images of old Ukrainian Grandmothers, in rags and tatters, foraging about for firewood to cook whatever food is available and to heat their makeshift shelters ---  it is the same for Gazanz and Westbankers who Suffer because israel will NOT allow Humanitarian Aid to be distributed in Gaza .   

                          It's one HUMAN ATROCITY after ANOTHER .   

                         Three humanoids did this to US   putin netanyahu and trump .  

Winter

 BUMMER ALERT 

                                                           Winter approaches bringing with it the NECESSITY for 'home heating fuel' .  Projections in the State of Maine, America has the NEW cost of this fuel will be whatever was paid previously PLUS the trump WAR addition of some SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS  per 'fill-up'.  The residents of Maine are ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ...) .   Know this :

                                                HOME HEATING FUEL IS >>> DIESEL FUEL !!!!

                           TRUMP'S WAR AGAINST IRAN IS NOW A WAR AGAINST AMERICA.

Ill Lusions versus HEALTHY Lusions

                                                           When I settled on this morning's topic I was wary of its effect, since my global readership numbers are declining at what I consider to be an alarming rate .   "IT", the Decline, makes sense, no one wants to read the same depressing shit every fucking day .  Reality can be BRUTAL and I will offer no illusion {ill lusion} to mitigate its True substance .   I have decided to offer a "Bummer Alert" to notify those that can't take me [my words] of impending negative drama, where drama is used in its theatrical sense, that of Shakespeare and his, "All the World is a Stage" .  We say, "The Drama is unfolding" to obviate any good feeling that the reader may expect .   The so-called 'Hippie' lexicon is fraught with drug references, many of the words in it are derived from fantastical and "Alice-In-Wonderland" phrases, too numerous to cite here .  I mean, I could always note, "DON'T BOTHER" but I WANT to Bother, I'm botherful*, besides being irascible, cantankerous, acerbic, surly and dyspeptic .   Being an old man has linguistic and rhetorical advantages, be they odious and foul .   I have always admired old assholes who think they can 'get away' with being blunt, rude, callous, gross and disgusting .

                                                                    I have issues .

The "Sleeping GIANT"

                                                           By my reckoning, it will take TRILLIONS upon TRILLIONS to bribe Iran from continuing the WAR, and if america refuses to Surrender it will take even more,,,  and further, the Cost will NOT be borne by america alone, because the WAR has already expanded into Yemen where the Houthis now Control >Bab al Mandab< ,  and have attacked Saudi pipelines that were the hopes of Saudis to bypass Hormuz altogether .   In THAT 'vein' Saudi oil refineries have also been attacked, successfully, further decreasing the amount of oil that is sorely needed by the rest of the Planet .  

                                  The BOMBING of  Iran has parallel in the December 7th "Attack on Pearl Harbor" to which a prominent Japanese Admiral who MAY have embittered, "I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant ."  

                                  GIANT or not  Iran now (C)ontrols the Middle East and as such the World is its Hostage .

                                                                  

Seize Fire

                                                           Trump is "Fine" with the extermination of some TWENTY ONE MILLION AMERICAN CITIZENS, the populations of Los Angeles and San Diego ~~~   as long as "IT" suits his needs and satisfies his Derangement(s) .   There is NO one word adjective to describe this sort of INHUMAN CONTEMPT for LIVING BEINGS .   Can I leave this here ?   Two words :   Nope .

                            According to 'open' media outlets there is NO Communication between Tehran and D.C.. but other Sources have reported that, in FACT, there IS communication taking place through "Back Channels", which we can assume are linked to Pakistan and Qatar .   What is the NATURE of these Communications ?   We can assume more .   The General Question is obvious, What will it take to end the WAR ?   Perhaps more specifically, What will it take to FULLY OPEN Hormuz ?   Short Term :   HOW can a TRUE "Cease Fire" be actualized ????? .

                            I have offended everyone with my own "Hey Russia if you're listening", Hey Tehran, if you're listening, just ask trump to resign, forfeit his money and that of his children, turn himself over to International Authorities for "Crime Against Humanity" and leave America IMMEDIATELY .   Of course NONE-OF-THAT will take place, but the  LEVERAGE  for it exists .   When confronted by this THIS, perhaps trump offered to eliminate Los Angeles and San Diego, a SOMETHING SO PREPOSTEROUS that it MUST-BE included in ANY con-sideration of trump's mental health and lack thereof .   We KNOW TRUMP IS CAPABLE OF ANYTHING .   This THIS, ain't no s----t----r----e----t----c----h .   I mean, I'm jus' sayin' .       

Milo Minderbinder

                                                         "IT" is well known that trump HATES Governor Newsome .   Newsome has been a jagged 'spur bone' in trump's side, and one of the Few who can TROLL trump with SCATHING  Alacrity .  Recall that trump has already INVADED California when ICE took to the Streets to literally ATTACK its Citizens ---"IT" , therefore, is NO 'Surprise' that trump Targeted Los Angeles for Iran in the same way he 'told' putin to ATTACK Clinton during the 'Private Server' controversy, a one in which putin actually RESPONDED .   That 'field' had already been 'plowed' .

                                                                               *     *     *

                                 There was a Film that depicted the launch of American ICBM's that resulted in the utter destruction of Moscow .   The U.S., in an act of sincere apology, told Russia that it could, if it wanted, NUKE Washington D.C. as a measure of Reciprocity ~~~ the Film concludes with the Nuclear Destruction of D.C. 

                                Is the above scenario a Possibility ?  Sure .  I mean, it wouldn't be Iran to do it, it would have to be done by Americans .   Recall the Scene in "Catch-22" where Milo Minderbinder had made a "Deal" with the Germans, a Deal that included the bombing of Milo's OWN BASE using the AMERICAN B-17's and 25's that were there .   "IT" was all for what Milo considered to be a "HANDSOME PROFIT" .   Milo figured, what was GOOD for HIM was Good for everyone else . 

                               Can you see "IT" ???

"Questions 67 and 68"

                                                           Trump's wanton Depravity is unfathomable .   Yesterday he almost INVITED Iran to "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego where "take out" means Total Destruction, the EXTINCTION of MILLIONS of American Citizens .   I couldn't believe what I heard .  I was instantly Sickened .  

                           Thing is, his "people" CHEERED .   

                            On any other day I would have taken the time to recover, to allow that kind of HORROR to abate, and then evaporate leaving behind remnants upon which I would comment .   

                            There were OUTCRIES and OUTBURSTS BUT NONE FROM REPUBLICANS, further deepening the Depth of Depravity if that is even possible .   "IT" was the Same after trump bloated* that he would "Nuke Iran back into the Stone Age" .   Even W-T-F can't get us there .

                           Iran does NOT have ICBM [Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile] capability, nor Bombers capable of that kind of "Reach" {some 7,580 miles} .   Los Angeles and San Diego are safe, {{for now}}.

                           I HAD-TA ask, WHY did American Citizens CHEER for the Destruction of these California Cities, one of which houses a Military Base with some 100,000 +  Soldiers :  and WHY did trump use these cities as TARGET for Iran ???  

"Get Ready To RUMBLE "

                                                          A "Blue Wave" "aint-gonna cut it", not even  a Blue TSUNAMI, what we're gonna need is a BIBLICAL INUNDATION, in stronger more BARBARIC language, we need a WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER .   In addition, we MUST recognize that FACT that trump and his WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to maintain CONTROL of the Government including forestalling the Swearing In Ceremony .    Americans MUST BE PREPARED to conduct MAJOR PROTESTS in D.C. and throughout the Land at EVERY State Capital so that >>>

                                 THE WORLD SEES AMERICANS PROTESTING TRUMP AND CALLING FOR                                                  HIS DISMISSAL WHATEVER THE COST  !!!  

                                 Should trump be successful at DENYING ELECTION RESULTS we MUST-HAVE the WORLD  BEAR WITNESS to OUR --->  WILL .   If the World, then, imposes Strict Anti-trump Policies, we MUST be ready and WILLING to Sacrifice until trump SURRENDERS  or is "Run Out" .  

                                 There IS no other Choice .

                                                               Tare Forward and Keep the Faith  

Wednes' Day

                                                           Presently, "IT" can be seen that american democrats are expressing something just short of Elation that the 'polls' are intimating a MASSIVE {Potential} DEFEAT of trump and trumpism throughout the Land .   I have no such elation, rather, I'm SCARED FUCKING SHIT .   TV pundits are already claiming "Blue Wave" a symbol for COMPLETE VICTORY but there are OTHERS who are less convinced, indeed, there are a few "SUPER-BRAINS" that do NOT Question the Potential Results but DO Question what will happen AFTER the "Results are in" .   One such SUPER-BRAIN spoke thusly :   "I'm not concerned about the Outcome, I AM CONCERNED that the newly Elected WILL NOT GET SWORN IN , that the existing trumpian leadership WILL REFUSE TO OBEY THE LAW, and instead will seek to suborn the Election with abject CRIMINALITY, the DEFIANCE of Constitutional Guarantee ".  {MOSTLY his words, I added a few for dramatic effect} .  

                              We only needs LOOK at the Pattern   ALREADY ESTABLISHED,   i.e., JANUARY 6th !   Trump WASN'T facing "Prison Time THEN but he KNOWS his ass is grass IFF  the newly Elected get "seated", that is, "Sworn In" .   He can surely DELAY the Ceremony just by declaring NATION-WIDE FRAUD, and with the supreme court, his own SS, and the Mil ALREADY "in his pocket" he can do whatever the fuck he wants WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF >>>>>>>>>ANYTHING<<<<<<<< .   

                             There are PRECIOUS FEW Assurances being generated by the [Blue] State Governors who command their own "National" Guard--- and this Guard can be (get this) SWORN IN by trump to effectuate HIS Desires and Demands .  

                              "Wednesday"  said it best,   "Be afraid --  be VERY Afraid." 

Choice

                                                           There are candidates who steadfastly BELIEVE that a vote for them is a vote LITERALLY for them, as INDIVIDUALS, meaning, you vote for them because of WHO THEY ARE AS AN INDIVIDUAL .   For most of Us, a vote for a particular candidate, is a vote to make them a VOICE for US  !    The vote for an Individual  who Believes he is to be elected to serve HIS OR HER OWN CONSCIOUS 'goes' AGAINST the desire by Voters to be FULLY Represented WITH THEIR INTERESTS in Mind, NOT those of an individual, who is susceptible to "whim and fancy" OR the CORRUPTION resulting from bribes and political extortion .

                             There is a Logic that is both UNREMITTING and IRREFUTABLE , "IT" is this :  Premise ;   A Good Government is the Result of Good People .  In order to have a Good Government GOOD PEOPLE MUST BE ELECTED .   So simple "IT" appears as both OBVIOUS and STUPIT* at the same time .   The Proof is --->  "Self-Evident" :  two words, TRUMP .

Electing to Elect

                                                           I apologize to my Gentle Readers around the World, the American Mid-Term Elections are scant days away, and this particular Election is one of EXISTENTIAL Monument .     Americans that voted for trump have come to realize {Real Eyes} that he and his have committed Us to a WAR without the People's Consent nor that of congre$$ and because of this WAR the so-called "Cost Of Living" reduced to one word ---> Affordability, is beyond what Americans can withstand .   They have come to See, Recognize and Identify trump as a Psycho-CRIMINAL whose bloodlust and GREED has NO  Limits --- that he is quite willing and EAGER to STEAL all that he can from HIS OWN PEOPLES ; and that the only way to STOP him is by and through the Electoral Process .   So it is that I must maintain a large percentage of my Focus {Attention} on this upcoming Election .   As I have  stated elsewhere, my Devotion is to Truth and the Protection of Truth, trump is the OPPOSITE of Truth, save this one, his LIES are Truth, it's TRUE, that he LIES, which registers with Psyche as "What he says is True" .   Recall the Schwarzenegger Classic, "True Lies" .   Arnold HAD-TO tell his loving Wife LIES in order to remain in the Power of his Marriage .   Lying to be full of Truth is hideously UGLY, >>>>BUT<<<< we do it all the time .

"The Teaching Is All Around You"

                                                           I must call your Attention to what Shah has written :   

           "Another Sufi idea, producing a problem which may have found impossible to integrate in their minds, is the Sufi insistence that Sufism can be taught in many guises .   Sufis, in a word, do not stick to any one convention .   Some quite happily use a religious format, others romantic poetry, some deal in jokes, tales and legends, yet others rely on art-forms and the products of artisanship .   Now, a Sufi can tell from his experience that all these presentations are legitimate .   But the literalist outsider, however sincere he may be, will often testily demand to be told whether these Sufis are members of of guilds, religious maniacs, jokers, scientists--- or what .   This problem, while it may be special to Sufism, is by no means new .   Sufis have been judicially murdered, hounded out of their homes, or had their books burned, for using non-religious or locally unacceptable formulations .   Some of the greatest classical authors have been accused of heresy, even political crimes .   Even today [[1970]]  they come under fire from all kinds of committed circles, not just religious ones. "

                                                                              *    *    *    *

                                   Before he left for home, Zen-Master-To-Be, Jacob Perl, cautioned me, "Don't look for the Teaching, It is all around you [here, in the Temple] " .   

                         Zen Sword Master Chang Sik Kim Taught, "EVERYTHING IS YOUR TEACHER" .

                         "IT" isn't just 'Everything', "IT" is EVERY-BODY .

                          In the Anelects this Gem :   "Even Tsu Kung was not afraid to learn from his Inferiors" .

                                It's certainly hard to detect Humility in Tsu Kung, I assure you, "IT" 's There .

Some do some don't

                                                           This morning, when I viewed my numbers, I was delighted to find some 900 had read my blogs on Music .  Technically, they were NOT blogs at all, but transcriptions of quotes I thought relevant to my 'case' for Music Appreciation .  I KNOW there is dispute among Muslims, whether or not listening to Music is permissible or if is is "Haram", Arabic for ---> Forbidden [one of the Five Rulings], and many of the Countries that 'read' me have a large Muslim population, so THAT would definitely contribute to low numbers .   I suspect that 'Modern Times' have relaxed staunch Muslim Insistence that Music is NOT one of Allah's Fav's, but I am inclined to (b)elieve that Muslims do, indeed, 'Appreciate' Song , or at least TOLERATE it, since Music in all its Forms and Manifestations has Residence among the World's Every-Day Citizenry, and as such, CANNOT be truly Avoided .   

                              Some folks aren't 'into' Music, sad but True .  Does that disqualify them from entry into Planetarianism* ?  Most assuredly Not .  For MOST of Some-of-us, Music is "pleasing to the ear" and affords a 'comfort', where comfort is a Feeling of Connection, first with Time and Place, [Location] of Reality, and then with the general Human Condition that considers Loneliness a viable form of Suffering---Most folks do not want to be alone-- they NEED background Music because they Fear Silence, where Silence AMPLIFIES Alone-ness* .   

Music as Joy

                               "Here, then, Music terminates in Religion .    The two are intimately related, and Religion in a way elucidates the content of Music .  Logos descends from his heights, and sound---the Shriek--- is joined by Myth .  Myth unites men within the Symbol, it embraces men, and they are far more moved than they would have been by mere Sound, for Myth is the Music of Symbolism .   Therefore, it is clear that Myth is FULFILLMENT .  { > Whole-Ness < } ."

                                                                        *   *   *

                       "But even here, Harmony is the Core of the Spirit of Eastern Wisdom .    To be sure,, the deep origin of Western tragedy is not foreign to Eastern Wisdom either, but these depths are for it only partial, and not final in themselves .  Height and Depth are united in Logos, by TAO .  Joyousness, and surrender to joyousness as the final redemption of Myth, supply the energy necessary for Order among men .   Surrender to joyousness forms and shapes men :   force neither of arms nor of law, but joyousness alone makes it easy for men to follow .   Joyousness is garbed in beauty, showing itself pleasantly to men, so that from within they are compelled to submit easily and willingly to its regulations .   Ultimately, this is the greatest idea that came to life in China as the Sprit of Music and as the Spirit of Religion ."

---All quotes from LECTURES ON THE I CHING    CONSTANCY AND CHANGE by Richard Wilhelm Translated from the German by Irene Eber .

                          These two blogs must serve as my Introduction to Music .