Safe Travels

A man thought, “The mind is like a time bomb, but surprisingly to me, it turns out that the worst part about it is not the potential explosion, but simply the fact that I can’t stop it from ticking.”

One nice thing about being an ordinary human attempting an extraordinary, personal intellectual feat, is that no other ordinary person can help you with it, nor can anyone hurt you either.  (Unless, of course, you were dumb enough to ever let them know what it is that you’re up to.)

A Caution for Word Warriors:

If you call something, “extraordinary,” it no longer is!  So don’t call it anything, and let it go on with its wondrous business.

As he sat, a man thought, “Anyone fortunate enough to have friends should also be wise enough not to ever mentally ‘man-handle’ them – that is, not verbally talk about them in his own mind.”   Now as you sit, why don’t you think on this one: what if you could take this approach to the apparently “friendly, natural thoughts” you seem to have been born with?  Alternately put, what if you discontinued your struggle with the genetic past and gave your attention over to an unactualized future?

After he traveled far and well for some length of time, a certain man stopped long enough to consider, “Between where I left, and where I head, is there no ‘middle-ground’?”  And upon further thought, mused, “But, ah – perhaps there is not even any ‘ground’!”  (Many, we might suspect, are stopped from attempting space travel based on their specious conception as to what actually constitutes space.) 

J.

Advice, Give or Take

Man was not constructed to take advice, but rather give it; which is precisely why he has more speech equipment than hearing.

Anyone who will tell you how man is constructed, either doesn’t know what they’re talking about, or else is a jokester. 

“Daddy, couldn’t they have given us more choices than those two!?”
“Yes son, they could, but a lot of good it would do.”

Your question for the day, Mr. Gulps, should you decide to accept it, is:

“Within a closed, healthy system, how can there be stupidity, or anything in conflict with the system’s own best-interest?”  If you cannot answer this, Mr. Gulping-Harder, within sixty five years, you will, of course, like everyone else, self-destruct.  (If, of course, you will forgive me, as always, for incorrectly adding “self” to the term “destruct”…but after all, I know what you’re accustomed to hearing.)

Author’s Inside “Aside”:

Those of you taking careful notes may observe how cleverly –  and by-god, humanely –  I will oftimes stick on a bit of foolishness at the end of an item that might otherwise prove too upsetting, if left standing as initially put.  Life, the Goddess of Tact, and my cousin Leo, make me do this.  Who makes you?”

J.

Man, The Myth

One man pretended that his life was his own…boy, what a pretender!

More Wile Lore:

The Mating Cry Of The Human Mind: “The hell you say!”

To make life more interesting at home, one man began calling his thoughts, his emotions, and his emotions, his thoughts.  “The hell you say!”

Man:  The myth that never dies.

Consciousness:  The myth that man never lets die.

J.

The Mind Will Discuss Anything

Physics Beyond the Mere Physical:

Heat is produced by the effort to be more human, alive and conscious. 

And thus be we led to that hum, not quite dead, that flows from a graveyard survey; (to wit and entitled): “Sun, Sun, Should Thou Still Shineth On Me…At This Late Date?”  (To wit and writ):  “Those laid in the shade, may have it made.” “Heaven was never like this,” said one man, then thought, “But neither again was this!”

Combination Notation Regarding The Marvelous Defensive Mechanisms Of The Mind Along With Observations Pertaining To The Extreme Difficulty In Attempting To Ever Effect Change Therein:  The mind will discuss anything with you…for as long as you like!  (Yes, that’s right, including, “you-know-what!”)

“Daddy, are we a lot like the caption to an informative piece regarding man?”

“Well, son, we’re certainly not totally dis-similar.”

“Gee, Dad, that’s close enough for me.”

“Same here son, in fact, ‘same here’ with everybody.”

Employment News:

The greater your dependence on the salary and sustenance of the city, the more likely you are to be anxious and antsy.  (Nothing amiss here, this is how life wants it, question being; “Are you gonna put up with it!? “But,” said a man named Flambet, “What, if I screw around and get fired?”  And right there, I submit to you, is a perfect example of sustainableness.)

J.

Serious Conversation

Serious Conversation:

That which, at times, can prove to be
an intellectual dance of life and death.

There was this one man who only took one person seriously, and that was himself, and he kept that a secret!

Video Game For A Mud Pie Age, (or Something Similar):

Okay, put your finger on the trigger and Let’s Play!  Which would be more fun?

       To start out dumb and then get smart,
Or start out smart and then get smarter?

Addendum:  When in doubt about it, skip the addendum!

A man said, “Seems to me that the more you think the more you have to think.”

And a friend said, “Doesn’t sound like you mean that in a positive sense.”

And the man replied, “You’re right, I don’t.”

And his friend said, “Perhaps you have the wrong concept of ‘thinking’!?”

And the man rubbed his chin and said, “Hmmm, maybe your right.”

Many will put their heart where their hiney is, but how many will their head!?

J.

A Mind to Hold

Everything’s an excuse for something else – except, “being alive.”
(But some folks have almost succeeded in that area also.)

Man was given a mind to hold,
and now it holds him.

Even the ordinary can sometimes appreciate creativity, unless it is originality in thought or feeling.

Just as men believe that laws hold civilization together, so too they believe in thinking, and in their mind.

“Daddy, why don’t men give credit to life for its part in their upkeep?”

“Because they don’t recognize it.”

“But why don’t they recognize it?”

“It’s too close to their everyday upkeep.”

“But what if they got a super telescope-microscope, Dad?!”

“Ah, but they already have the makings of one!”

J.

Sail On!

Myth In G Major:  Listing #222:

Initially, originally, in-the-beginning even, the mind asked man if he’s like to “go on a trip,” and ever since then…well, you know how it’s been – ever since then!

All serious warnings, except for those regarding health, are a joke! (And even those are suspect).

Spatial Reality Reconsidered:

Are “higher states of consciousness” actually “higher,” or, radically lateral!?

Nautical News You Shouldn’t Refuse:

A man holding an anchor doesn’t want anyone else to go anywhere.

So pondered one mind, “Is what we attempt, the actualization of man’s ‘noblest potentials’ or of his ‘modest’ ones?”  One with the Blessed Itch doesn’t care which – he couldn’t care or differentiate if he wanted to.  If you’re just gonna end up ordinary anyway, it’s probably better just to go ahead and start that way to begin with.

When men were given minds, it was as though they were set out to sail upon a sea of wondrous possibilities – in boats ablaze.  Though the mind is in charge of reason, you can’t reason with it.  Dancing with yourself is no sin – not realizing it is; and the church sang out, “Let the boats sail on, the burning boats – sail on!”

J.

Who's Who?

A certain man said, “Words make me sick, but not near as much as thinking about them!”

Some certain words said, “Men make us sick, but that’s another story.”

In the attempt to stay stable, in control, and to offer their owner some semblance of sanity, minds tell me that particulars of “what they think” is important!  And, in a way, I guess it is…sort of.

And So – When It Gets Down To It, The “Truth” Needs No Sobriquet:

Although not mentioned in “Who’s Who,” one man says he is now listed in, “What’s This!?”

Select One Of The Following:

1.       A mind’s gotta do something.

2.      A mind’s gotta do what a mind’s gotta do.

3.      A mind’s gotta do what a mind’s gotta do, and also tell you what it’s gotta tell you about what it’s gotta do.

 Contestant’s Secret Tip:

Only a chump will pick one of the above, and believe he actually “picked” one.
(And an audience member asks, “Well, if it’s so secret, then why’d you tell us about it?”)
Hey dig it – did it do you any good!?  And that answers that!

One man’s latest theory:

“Famous people are miserable people – that’s why they’re famous!”

J.

The Leaky Lifeboat

Now an entry christened “Query Cubed”:

What’s worse than a sailor, who finds himself in a leaking lifeboat?
One who doesn’t realize he was born therein – mentally!

And now, (if I may be permitted to question you, “off the books”), ask yourself:

“How can any living human being – with a running mind – believe that some ideas can actually be unrelated to other certain ideas?  How can they look at the normal operations of their own mind and think such a thing!?”  And oh, a reminder, Harold Cheapskate, that broker in “Ideas-Gone-Public” is still looking for investors.

A teacher told the class, “Your mind was born like a clean slate.”  And a kid in the rear, rubbed his nose and thought, “She must be speaking in an alien tongue.”

Wouldest thou seeketh lessons in the law from a thief?
Wouldest thou solicit healing advice from the terminally ill?
Art thou alive and human, then yes, you bet ‘chu would!

Hey, wait a minute – I can’t believe this – you mean you believed otherwise?
Jeeze, what do you people think the mind is all about anyway!?

More of The Substance Behind The Words Revealed for Your Edification and Late Night Driving Safety:  Reality is never, “ironic” – just its observers, “dense.”

 J.

Being Civilized

What is one of the grander definitions of being civilized?  Okay, I’ll tell you; it’s treating man as though he is other than he is.

Proper names – Improper people:

What is the difference between
a bullet and a label, between
a crutch and a self-reference?

How can an eagle fly – because
it doesn't know what its name is.

Proper names – Impaired people.

One guy tries to explain:

“It’s not my fault!  Life makes me take things seriously!”

There is no consciousness but “independent consciousness.”  All else is simply the mental variety, and of no particular significance, regarding certain matters…

A man thought, “I guess, just for my own mental satisfaction and well being, I should, once and for all, decide which is the dumbest: politics, religion, education, or me?!” A “contest-with-no-prizes” generally goes by the name of “man's-collective-curiosity.”

J.

If Consciousness Could Scoff

“The magic has gone out of our relationship,” said one man to his mind. 

And it replied, “You mean you’ve been calling this a ‘relationship’!?”

If consciousness could scoff – then all scoffers would be conscious – I guess.

A lad asked his dad, “Do the gods not have cars just so they won’t run the risk of ever having bumpers?”  Out of the mouths of babes oftimes come words that make tongues and lips say, “Hey-y-y…you’re older than you look!”

And So, An Out-Doorsy Way of Thinking About It:

In This, it’s like your present mind becomes a duck blind – to pave the way for the introduction of newly invented flying fowl who neither exist, nor not exist; and like a mythical God of Albatrosses, never lights, nor rests.

In an apparent, exasperated huff, one man’s mind turned on him and cried:

“Well, just what the hell is it that you want from me!?”

(And in conclusion, might I add, “Quack, quack!”)

The next item is captioned: “I.C. Squared:  Imaginary Conversation With A Two Stuck On It, Up At The End”: 

“Hey, if it weren’t for civilization, we wouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
“Hey, yourself, if it weren’t for civilization we couldn’t worry.”

J.

Shadows-of-Reality

“Just being alive is enough to make a lot of people wish they were dead.”

“Hey, why did you make me repeat that one?  Weren’t you here last week when we had it the first time?” 

“Well…yes I was, actually, but I was also partially deceased at the time.”

(And now, prodded by the natural curiosity of people along this line, we present a glimpse of the “behind-the-scenes-workings” of activity such as this:  There is none.)

A man’s super-consciousness one day attempted to whisper to him this:  “There is a name for every place, except where we want to go, and there are words for all human efforts, except the ones required to get us there.”  And since the man was afraid that his mind might be listening in on the conversation, to throw it off the track, he sarcastically replied to consciousness, “Hey, thanks heaps for the encouragement!”  And soon, the reassuring snoring, endemic to minds-ablaze and adrift, blanketed the once again, peaceful and fitful kingdom known as “man.”

Every few minutes, one man would say to his mind:

“Where have you been?”

If words are the shadows-of-reality, then what are the figures standing ‘twixt metaphors and the sun!?

Re-Vamped And Re-Submitted:

How can something that “represents” something else have within its own self, “symbolism”!?

The Number One Answer Is Simple:

It has four letters, and twenty-five perfect synonyms, beginning with each of the other letters in the alphabet.

J.

What Keeps Us In Line?

A man striving to be more conscious and mentally alive holds not just a season ticket to frustration, but by god – box seats!

 A man stops to wonder, “How comes it that you can enjoy hearing something that actually should sound pessimistic!?”  The difference between something that sounds like an obstacle, and understanding what it really is, is the distinction between ordinary thought and increased consciousness.

 And yet another man notes, “Are you sure that even the term, ‘Increased Consciousness’ sufficiently describes the aim of such effort as this!?”  (No sir, it does not – but we’ve been through this, now haven’t we!)

A civilized gent mused:

“The mind being linear is what keeps us in line.”
(If words don’t mean more than they say, then neither do men.)

 The “Official: Question of The Day”:

Do people, in truth, know where they’ve been or, in fact, know where they’re going!?

(Forget the prizes!  Forget the hostesses in low cut gowns!  The game will forever go on just as long as there are questions!)
A man mused, “What if people actually know more than they think they do? 
His house cat promptly assured him, “Naw-w-w!”

J.

How It Is - Redux

Hey!  Hold-Up – How About This – “Here’s How It Is” From Yet Another Angle:

When it comes to matters fancy and esoteric, here’s how it works:  everybody knows everything about everything they want to know everything about.  (Well, at least anger gives the mind something to do!  Have you ever seen a camel drumming his fingers in boredom!?)

Take A Number – Take A Seat:

Aches and pains,
Aches and pains,
I’ve got feelings and,
I’ve got brains.”

Take a Number – Take A Seat.

One man tried to make it a habit never to mentally fly on any plane that he couldn’t highjack.

Cheap men worry about the price; really cheap men worry about what cheap men will think.

“The mind has nothing to lose” – think about that:  “The mind has nothing to lose.”  If true, what should that tell you about what it originally possesses!?

J.

How It Is

Thus did one man reflect, “Based upon my many ornamentations; I consider myself a ‘baroque masterpiece.’”  And his mind spoke up, “Baroque – baroque, did you say – are you spelling that, ‘b-r-o-k-e’!?”

How It Is:

Mystics believe it’s more complicated than it is,

While ordinary people don’t know what it is.

And that’s how it is.

Honor:  A kind of post-survival approach to survival.

A man asked a thinker, a striver-for-greater-consciousness, this question:  “Is it pay-off of what you work for, a spiritual experience?” 
And the thinker nodded.

“Then,” continued the man; “Is it also a psychological one?” 
Again the striver nodded.

“Alright,” pressed the questioner, “Is the experience artistic?” 
Nod, nod, went the thinker.

“Then is it emotional?” 
Nod-on, nod-on, nodded the thinker.

“So then,” asked the man, “Is it also intellectual?”

And the one doing the nodding finally spoke, “Just how long do you have to keep this up?”

There is no honor among the unconscious.

J.

If We Knew The Truth

Life announced to some guys, “Those ‘moderately successful’ will be permitted to ‘moderately perish.’  Those who in fact know whether life ever speaks in slang or not, actually know a good deal.”  And a gentleman inquires, “Do you mean that such men, ‘know a good deal,’ or that they ‘know a good deal when they see it’?”

One man said, “A reality that neither whines nor roars is the reality for me.”  (Pause)

And reality replied, “When wilt thou open thine eyes and see things as they actually be – oh, ye two-legged, upright creature, ‘homo chumpo’!”  (Pause Number Two)

One man said, “Okay, a perception of reality that neither whines nor roars – there’s the perception for me!” 

And kindly reality sagely nodded its smiling head.  (No More Pauses at This Time.)

Everyone believes that they should be a different person, but what if the actual challenge is to just become a person!?

Proposed City Motto For One Imaginary Metropolis:

“If we knew the truth, we could tell the truth – if we knew the truth, we could shut up.”

The moon of one local liver was talking to several of the meteorites around a certain brain and noted, “Being cute is being crass, and life told me to kiss my ass.”  His conversational companion interrupted, “Don’t you mean to say that life told you to kiss its’ ass – it makes no sense the way you said it.”  And the hepatic satellite replied, “I know, that’s what I said, but life insisted that I had once again, ‘missed the point’, and I didn’t really wanna push the matter, lest it tell me something even worse – if you know what I mean!?”  And his buddy nodded, “Hey, tell me about it!”

J.

Criticism

Anything in an invented world that is not correct can be cured by criticism – in fact, even added to.

Three fingers are always required to poke reality in the eye.  And as you take your leave, ask yourself, “Given a choice – which would you choose?”

After having saved up his money, one man could not decide whether to invest in typing lessons, or to buy a correcting typewriter.

Around these parts, many of the living believe that the dead have it made.

Meanwhile:  A Megalithic Legend of Literary Mythology:

On one world, only the living were allowed to write non-fiction, the deceased, the alternative.

 J.

Your Mind is Your Friend - Not

No matter your expectations, and no matter how it seems that things, “ought to be,” there are no conditions possible under which the collective will ever mount a campaign against stagnation.

Item:  Believe It Or Breathe Into A Burlap Bag:

In lands where it’s lumpy, “It’s the status quo that makes things go.”

Notice To All Players:

So long as you continue to “sit at the table and take up space,” do not waste the dealer’s time by interrupting him to say; “But that’s not possible!”

A Man’s Mind Is Either His Friend or It’s Not; (That’s the title of this item):

A man’s mind is his friend – if you don’t believe it, just ask it – humph!
A man’s mind is not his friend – if you don’t believe it, just ask him.

A Question; (That’s the heading of this bit):

Why doesn’t sarcasm, cynicism, and irony work on children!?!

J.

The Real Deal

See – Here’s The Real Deal:  If life can keep you critical, it can keep you in line.

See – Here’s The Real Deal:  If life can keep you thinking, it can keep you in line.

Okay – The Real, Double Deal:  If life keeps you alive, you’ll stay in line.

Author’s “Truth-In-Advertising” Footnote:  Those determined to be more alive and human won’t accept any of this.  (Hmmm, so, “suddenly you’re there, and then you’re not,” eh?)

Good talk
 is good music.

Upon hearing that last item as man wanted to inquire:

“Would it not be more literarily kosher to have said that, ‘Good talk is like good music’?”

But you should know that oftimes all that stands between plain-thought and point-blank-talk is similes or metaphor, or some other “words.”

One man, long involved with trying to escape the gravity of the collective condition, finally came up and said, “The trouble with man is that he is too serious, and the trouble with people like us is that we’re even more ‘too serious’.”  (This gave him such a jolt that he began to countdown all over again.)

Okay, McNeil, grab the wheel, I’m gonna lay on ya, the final deal.  You can be happy or not as addicted to emotions, or you can struggle to bring consciousness under extraordinary, unnecessary control – what a chance, what an offer, your trade-in’s worth more than you thought!

J.

Dumb and Dumber

To be more alive, human and conscious, you’ve got to be able to dance only with yourself, and no one else be aware of it – and, oh yeah, do it with no audible music.  One man thought, “God, I’m happy whenever I’m not either happy or not!”

Here’s A Little Something You Might Can Use:
One way to be smarter than everyone else is to be dumber than everyone else, but – (and here’s the most important part) – you can’t tell anyone.

One guy’s secret cry:

“I am a radio station – out of control!”

Article From The “Real Warrior’s Handbook of Honorable Conduct”:

If you’re alive and ordinary, you’re collaborating with the enemy.

Even a hippo, sufficiently plagiarized, will finally fall.

This is the only kind of trip where you’re suddenly there, and then you’re suddenly not.

J.