(who are Creatures of Yes)
we are Creatures of No.
Friday, 16 August 2019
Thursday, 15 August 2019
Sitting out on the balcony,
with delicious scents coming from below,
watching the swifts zoom about and listening to Billy the Blackbird's
familiar snatches of melody, I am induced to think that,
despite our escalating destructive enterprise,
large areas of our planet are still
lovely in their slow demise.
watching the swifts zoom about and listening to Billy the Blackbird's
familiar snatches of melody, I am induced to think that,
despite our escalating destructive enterprise,
large areas of our planet are still
lovely in their slow demise.
Wednesday, 14 August 2019
"Why can't you be normal ?"
my aunt would say to me.
-as if I had chosen to be 'abnormal'.
Now I would say to her that
in many places at many times
it was normal to be nasty
and in certain places at a certain time
it was normal to be nazi.
-as if I had chosen to be 'abnormal'.
Now I would say to her that
in many places at many times
it was normal to be nasty
and in certain places at a certain time
it was normal to be nazi.
Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Of the Universe of Feeling
the shrewdest
among us know
that we know very little:
we have only the crudest
most superficial
awareness
compared with
any dog, any tree.
Buddhists say: All is suffering.
Jesus said: Humans (only) may be redeemed through me.
I say: there is no possibility of redemption;
it is best to assume
that every plant and animal is suffering
unless, through our thin compassion
or our holy absence
we can confer exemption.
among us know
that we know very little:
we have only the crudest
most superficial
awareness
compared with
any dog, any tree.
Buddhists say: All is suffering.
Jesus said: Humans (only) may be redeemed through me.
I say: there is no possibility of redemption;
it is best to assume
that every plant and animal is suffering
unless, through our thin compassion
or our holy absence
we can confer exemption.
Monday, 12 August 2019
We comfortable complainers/whingers about climate-change
should remember that
many, many thousands of years ago,
(when North America was nearly twice its present size)
what is now the North (formerly German) Sea was rich and fertile land
inhabited by hyænas...and humans
who did not deign to move westward
into what was then inhospitable land,
now the not-too-hospitable British Isles,
until the inundation.
Then came glaciation...
And, eventually, our little planet-warming civilisation.
But let us remember: 99% of all species
that have ever lived upon the earth
are long extinct.
many, many thousands of years ago,
(when North America was nearly twice its present size)
what is now the North (formerly German) Sea was rich and fertile land
inhabited by hyænas...and humans
who did not deign to move westward
into what was then inhospitable land,
now the not-too-hospitable British Isles,
until the inundation.
Then came glaciation...
And, eventually, our little planet-warming civilisation.
But let us remember: 99% of all species
that have ever lived upon the earth
are long extinct.
Sunday, 11 August 2019
Jesus is said to have said:
"He that loveth son or daughter more than me
is not worthy of me."
This also must have been a reason why
heterodox early Christians had themselves castrated.
I had myself vasectomised so that I might feel
more worthy to exist than more worthy to serve
a jealous and drama-loving son of a jealous and drama-loving god.
Sterilisation cancels out many alleged sins.
is not worthy of me."
This also must have been a reason why
heterodox early Christians had themselves castrated.
I had myself vasectomised so that I might feel
more worthy to exist than more worthy to serve
a jealous and drama-loving son of a jealous and drama-loving god.
Sterilisation cancels out many alleged sins.
Saturday, 10 August 2019
Friday, 9 August 2019
Many members of our species gone agley
regard others, and every living thing, as prey.
Of course, they're right -
merely because they think that way.
Which is why, for most of my life,
I've hidden in plain sight,
hoping that One Glorious Day
they'll simply evaporate
or, at any rate,
poison or explode themselves away.
Of course, they're right -
merely because they think that way.
Which is why, for most of my life,
I've hidden in plain sight,
hoping that One Glorious Day
they'll simply evaporate
or, at any rate,
poison or explode themselves away.
Thursday, 8 August 2019
I am not colour-blind.
On the contrary, I think I see
colours more differentiatedly and brightly
than most other people,
especially the fifty shades of green
and the fewer than fifteen tones of black,
my favourite shade of human flesh.
I cannot understand why - at least in the British Isles -
'black' designates pale coffee-coloured skin.
colours more differentiatedly and brightly
than most other people,
especially the fifty shades of green
and the fewer than fifteen tones of black,
my favourite shade of human flesh.
I cannot understand why - at least in the British Isles -
'black' designates pale coffee-coloured skin.
Wednesday, 7 August 2019
Words and The Word.
Adam and Eve
mean Clay and Life
respectively in Hebrew.
Life emerges from mud
like Eve from Adam's side -
hence Jewish Patriarchy!
mean Clay and Life
respectively in Hebrew.
Life emerges from mud
like Eve from Adam's side -
hence Jewish Patriarchy!
Tuesday, 6 August 2019
Monday, 5 August 2019
Sunday, 4 August 2019
It is hard not to giggle at and to love crusty old Punic & poetical Tertullian.
...ab haeretico quam ab ethnico,
et non protenus et non ubique convicium carnis,
in originem in materiam in casum,
in omnem exitum eius, immundae a primordio ex faecibus terrae,
immundioris deinceps ex seminis sui limo,
frivolae infirmae criminosae molestae onerosae,
et post totum ignobilitatis elogium caducae in originem terrae et cadaveris nomen,
et de isto quoque nomine periturae in nullum inde iam nomen,
in omnis iam vocabuli mortem ?
Like Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullian.
I have never been aware of a "mind/body" Problem,
there never having been a black hole between my body and my mind
(and much less than 'normal' between my legs)
because both were simultaneously attacked by,
and hence united in, their resistance to Education.
et non protenus et non ubique convicium carnis,
in originem in materiam in casum,
in omnem exitum eius, immundae a primordio ex faecibus terrae,
immundioris deinceps ex seminis sui limo,
frivolae infirmae criminosae molestae onerosae,
et post totum ignobilitatis elogium caducae in originem terrae et cadaveris nomen,
et de isto quoque nomine periturae in nullum inde iam nomen,
in omnis iam vocabuli mortem ?
Like Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullian.
I have never been aware of a "mind/body" Problem,
there never having been a black hole between my body and my mind
(and much less than 'normal' between my legs)
because both were simultaneously attacked by,
and hence united in, their resistance to Education.
Saturday, 3 August 2019
Not many people know
that the word heathen
comes from Latin ethnicus (and ethnica for a female).
Thank you John Updike!
comes from Latin ethnicus (and ethnica for a female).
Thank you John Updike!
Friday, 2 August 2019
Thursday, 1 August 2019
When we are told how wonderful our brains are
we tend to smile contentedly and then go on to more serious topics
like the rate of income tax, the price of petrol/gasoline,
or the American-Iranian World War To Come.
But this evening I listened to an old broadcast performance
of Grigoriy Sokolov playing Schubert's last sonata (D.960)
and was able to compare it (unfavourably)
with my surprisingly accurate memory
of the orgasmic performance by Mitsuko Uchida
(whose name I always have to check on Wikipedia)
which I earlier deemed better than those by Alfred Brendel and Alfred Cortot -
though the latter has divine rubato.
like the rate of income tax, the price of petrol/gasoline,
or the American-Iranian World War To Come.
But this evening I listened to an old broadcast performance
of Grigoriy Sokolov playing Schubert's last sonata (D.960)
and was able to compare it (unfavourably)
with my surprisingly accurate memory
of the orgasmic performance by Mitsuko Uchida
(whose name I always have to check on Wikipedia)
which I earlier deemed better than those by Alfred Brendel and Alfred Cortot -
though the latter has divine rubato.
Wednesday, 31 July 2019
Mulling over Paul Celan.
The only things worth talking about
with other human hackers of the tree of life
are the things that cannot be mentioned:
overpopulation, ecocide, suicide,
the godness of water, plants and animals
and how each delicious bite we take
has destroyed so many living things...
and so it's not so much that
one doesn't know how not to begin a conversation,
but that (having been sterilised)
one doesn't know how to make any kind of communication.
with other human hackers of the tree of life
are the things that cannot be mentioned:
overpopulation, ecocide, suicide,
the godness of water, plants and animals
and how each delicious bite we take
has destroyed so many living things...
and so it's not so much that
one doesn't know how not to begin a conversation,
but that (having been sterilised)
one doesn't know how to make any kind of communication.
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Monday, 29 July 2019
Sunday, 28 July 2019
It is so sad
that Jesus' anti-institutional
exhortations to kindness and good nature
and simple fairness and justice
were transformed into unbrotherly,
desiccated morality and moralism
by his immediate followers
and two millennia
of his rapacious traducers.
exhortations to kindness and good nature
and simple fairness and justice
were transformed into unbrotherly,
desiccated morality and moralism
by his immediate followers
and two millennia
of his rapacious traducers.
Saturday, 27 July 2019
Friday, 26 July 2019
In 19th century Russian towns
welcome-lamps were lit when there was food to spare
or someone needed to be comforted
or company was wanted.
The lights now outside houses
have been installed to threaten
and expose intruders.
or someone needed to be comforted
or company was wanted.
The lights now outside houses
have been installed to threaten
and expose intruders.
Thursday, 25 July 2019
Wednesday, 24 July 2019
Our sadly-malfunctioning brains
have evolved either because of an unfortunate mutation,
or simply because God went mad (as Nietzsche didn't dare to contemplate
or didn't dare to tell),
and our Universe (amongst many)
is his padded cell.
or simply because God went mad (as Nietzsche didn't dare to contemplate
or didn't dare to tell),
and our Universe (amongst many)
is his padded cell.
Tuesday, 23 July 2019
Monday, 22 July 2019
Two things I'd like to remind you of.
Inca gold and silver
together with the Catholic Church
and men on benches in Bologna
were crucial in the development
of capitalism.
Serfs were freed in Russia
without a civil war
before slavery was (technically)
abolished in the USA.
together with the Catholic Church
and men on benches in Bologna
were crucial in the development
of capitalism.
Serfs were freed in Russia
without a civil war
before slavery was (technically)
abolished in the USA.
Sunday, 21 July 2019
When 'western culture'
largely consists of shopping, work and sex
all mixed up with 'human rights' hypocrisy;
if its popular music reflects the thoughts,
ideas and concerns of most, democracy
is doomed.
As I write I hear that there are more refugees than ever
in the history of the world,
that there is less trust in politicians and in vaccines.
Welcome to the Dark Age
of demagoguery, apocalypse.
all mixed up with 'human rights' hypocrisy;
if its popular music reflects the thoughts,
ideas and concerns of most, democracy
is doomed.
As I write I hear that there are more refugees than ever
in the history of the world,
that there is less trust in politicians and in vaccines.
Welcome to the Dark Age
of demagoguery, apocalypse.
Saturday, 20 July 2019
Like breaking horses.
Education is an exercise
in bridling children's spirit -
if their parents
or other children haven't already done so -
or if they had any to begin with.
in bridling children's spirit -
if their parents
or other children haven't already done so -
or if they had any to begin with.
Friday, 19 July 2019
I am trying to figure
why everyone, even in a little French village,
is wearing incredibly drab and badly-cut clothes
in shades of brown, black and grey. Obviously
it's The Style of 2019, but why ?
The only brightness is the occasional lurid
early adolescent. There is no beauty
of apparel to contrast with the dour faces of the
modern bourgeois army.
It's quite scary,
especially as I, in my Indian cotton pants
and home-designed t-shirt, get strange or hostile looks
from the ugly uniformities who pass me by.
is wearing incredibly drab and badly-cut clothes
in shades of brown, black and grey. Obviously
it's The Style of 2019, but why ?
The only brightness is the occasional lurid
early adolescent. There is no beauty
of apparel to contrast with the dour faces of the
modern bourgeois army.
It's quite scary,
especially as I, in my Indian cotton pants
and home-designed t-shirt, get strange or hostile looks
from the ugly uniformities who pass me by.
Kissing
Missing
Pissing
Reminiscing
Breeding
Needing
Bleeding
They tell us to praise
the darkest of days.
They tell us
that the all-powerful animal
with the ever-expanding, ever-tightening mind
as big as a galaxy, small as a turd,
is utterly exceptional, phenomenal,
and that you and I
should 'borrow' light from the blind
to give to the other unredeemables
who go unheard.
Each one of us
each day
destroys a world.
Masturbation
should be enjoyed
not resorted to.
Remember: almost anything
is holier, more reverential
than human procreation.
Pissing
Reminiscing
Breeding
Needing
Bleeding
They tell us to praise
the darkest of days.
They tell us
that the all-powerful animal
with the ever-expanding, ever-tightening mind
as big as a galaxy, small as a turd,
is utterly exceptional, phenomenal,
and that you and I
should 'borrow' light from the blind
to give to the other unredeemables
who go unheard.
Each one of us
each day
destroys a world.
Masturbation
should be enjoyed
not resorted to.
Remember: almost anything
is holier, more reverential
than human procreation.
Thursday, 18 July 2019
The reason why
most Christians have no interest
in the unstoppable result of climate change
is that it's not their kind of apocalypse.
in the unstoppable result of climate change
is that it's not their kind of apocalypse.
Wednesday, 17 July 2019
Maybe never-to-be-lived-in.
One of Ahmadinejad's crazy, totalitarian New (ghost) Towns.
This one in the desert outside Tehran,with almost no infrastructure to support it - not even drains !
https://www.messynessychic.com/2019/06/13/
This one in the desert outside Tehran,with almost no infrastructure to support it - not even drains !
New Words to an Old Lyric*
Putting on the agony
putting on the guile;
that's what all the dumb folks
are doin' all the while.
When I look around me
I sometimes have to smile,
seein' all the dumb folks putting on the guile.
*as recorded in my youth by Lonnie Donegan (1957)
Original lyrics by Norman Cazden. But Lonnie's best one is probably Rock Island Line which opened up for me the world of "folk music" from the USA to India, Iraq and Japan. From Leadbelly to the Trio Joubran via Fairport Convention, of course!
putting on the guile;
that's what all the dumb folks
are doin' all the while.
When I look around me
I sometimes have to smile,
seein' all the dumb folks putting on the guile.
*as recorded in my youth by Lonnie Donegan (1957)
Original lyrics by Norman Cazden. But Lonnie's best one is probably Rock Island Line which opened up for me the world of "folk music" from the USA to India, Iraq and Japan. From Leadbelly to the Trio Joubran via Fairport Convention, of course!
Tuesday, 16 July 2019
IS - the new global mind-game racket.
I am holding the first International
Intelligent Scepticism © ® Week
here at Caylus in August.
Only $700 for the week
including under-the-hedge accommodation.
payment via PayPal
Intelligent Scepticism © ® Week
here at Caylus in August.
Only $700 for the week
including under-the-hedge accommodation.
payment via PayPal
Monday, 15 July 2019
Never trust anyone
with clean fingernails
who wears a suit
or a beard
who keeps mentioning your name
who smiles a lot...
who has white skin
who has black skin
who has coffee-coloured skin
who has slanting eyes
who is circumcised
who has not been genitally mutilated...
who uses language.
who wears a suit
or a beard
who keeps mentioning your name
who smiles a lot...
who has white skin
who has black skin
who has coffee-coloured skin
who has slanting eyes
who is circumcised
who has not been genitally mutilated...
who uses language.
Sunday, 14 July 2019
The capitalist doctrine of Free Choice
does not extend to deities.
Partly because capitalism owes so much to
the Catholic Church, Inca gold and silver,
the Protestant churches...
and (of course) actually favours monopoly.
I think gods should be marketed properly:
Worship one - get one free.
Worship several - get several more free...
Partly because capitalism owes so much to
the Catholic Church, Inca gold and silver,
the Protestant churches...
and (of course) actually favours monopoly.
I think gods should be marketed properly:
Worship one - get one free.
Worship several - get several more free...
Saturday, 13 July 2019
Friday, 12 July 2019
You can see Jupiter and some of its moons this month with binoculars...
Thursday, 11 July 2019
Education
is the best way
to keep people quiet.
The second-best
is Employment.
In his Dictionary Dr Johnson thus defined
Job: a low, mean, lucrative busy affair.
to keep people quiet.
The second-best
is Employment.
In his Dictionary Dr Johnson thus defined
Job: a low, mean, lucrative busy affair.
Wednesday, 10 July 2019
Cellphones
Coltan
Massacres
Ebola
Cellphones
Coltan
Massacres
Ebola
Cellphones
Coltan
Massacres
Ebola
But that is not the only reason why I do not have a smartphone.
Massacres
Ebola
Cellphones
Coltan
Massacres
Ebola
Cellphones
Coltan
Massacres
Ebola
But that is not the only reason why I do not have a smartphone.
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
My briefly-former 'friend'
said that my skepticism
was mere cruelty,
evidence of
lack of 'empathy'.
(I have yet to discover the difference
between empathy and sympathy or old-fashioned
compassion.)
Can skeptics ever have friends ?
was mere cruelty,
evidence of
lack of 'empathy'.
(I have yet to discover the difference
between empathy and sympathy or old-fashioned
compassion.)
Can skeptics ever have friends ?
Monday, 8 July 2019
"As the ex-Liberal Dostoyevsky understood,
Liberalism [like Capitalism] is nothing if not a religion.
In the past, this may have been a strength.
Today it is a weakness, and possibly fatal.
Shigalyov [in Demons]was right.
Trashing old freedoms
in order to bring about a new state of unbounded freedom
can only lead to despotism.
Liberals cannot stem the on-going retreat of liberal values
because it is they that are driving it."
- John Gray [here]
In the past, this may have been a strength.
Today it is a weakness, and possibly fatal.
Shigalyov [in Demons]was right.
Trashing old freedoms
in order to bring about a new state of unbounded freedom
can only lead to despotism.
Liberals cannot stem the on-going retreat of liberal values
because it is they that are driving it."
- John Gray [here]
Sunday, 7 July 2019
Friday, 5 July 2019
I used to think
that people with pleasant faces
and who engaged with me were
'nice'.
I was in my seventies before
I discovered that people had false faces
and false brains.
and who engaged with me were
'nice'.
I was in my seventies before
I discovered that people had false faces
and false brains.
Thursday, 4 July 2019
Having no hope
for mankind or the planet
should be personally liberating,
but in a world of killer optimists
it is merely paralysing.
should be personally liberating,
but in a world of killer optimists
it is merely paralysing.
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
Tuesday, 2 July 2019
Nations are male
and need to be fucked.
Nations are posters
crawling with lies.
Nations are attitudes
stupidly struck.
Nations make war
and make peace
and make war
and everything dies.
Nations are posters
crawling with lies.
Nations are attitudes
stupidly struck.
Nations make war
and make peace
and make war
and everything dies.
Monday, 1 July 2019
In rural France today
even the town by-pass
is lined with three shades of blue:
salvia, chicory and viper's bugloss
(not to mention marjoram,
marguerites and greater mullein).
is lined with three shades of blue:
salvia, chicory and viper's bugloss
(not to mention marjoram,
marguerites and greater mullein).
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