Sunday, February 26, 2012

Hold your value...



No matter what clump of dung the world hurls at you, no matter how you are seen or not seen or think you are judged or forgotten by others, do this: hold your value. The you that makes you you is yours to uphold. And so we're clear, it's as much of an illusion as would be letting the outside world have its way with your you. It's a good trick to know - no one can make you disappear.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

A limited window of opportunity...



Why do ideas act like they're all into reality, then leave you hanging? Was the idea leading you on? Why did it put actualization on the table, then suddenly take it away? It’s because with every idea, there is only a limited window of opportunity to take things and run with them. When the idea is still feeling you out, it'll be all tentative and experimental, hiding, teasing, seeing if you have standards that are up to snuff. Only those who take action then and there can make things happen with the idea. Want to get lucky with an idea? Move fast!

(slightly altered text from a men's magazine article)

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Old what's his face...



(Nico the oldest silverback in captivity)

It only happens once in your life and today was that day. A wonderfully uninhibited fellow called me "old" today. I was riding my bike on the safe side of a temporary construction barricade on a busy street, when said agitated pedestrian started screaming at me, "This is a walkway not a bike path man!" Then the clincher (as I slowly glided by him with plenty of room to spare): "Shit, are all you old people crazy?" I laughed. I guess the gray hair is eclipsing the baby face. Or maybe the baby face has turned into a toddler face. With wrinkles. And bags under its eyes. And a faraway stare that says, "I've tasted the absolute chill of deep outer space motherfucker." Or maybe it was the flacon of Geritol on a tether of giraffe intestine.

On the subject of faces, I've got nothing to complain about. I am, however, still reeling from the piece on face transplants in this week's New Yorker. Sure the philosophical implications of wearing a stranger's face are mind boggling, but what really seared my neurons were the horrific tales leading up to the actual transplants... Assume that the reason you need a new face is because your old one is gone. Assume that because you can't live as an exposed skull for too long, that old exposed skull of yours will be essentially shrink wrapped in pig skin that your body will reject. Assume that most of the people who have undergone this thoroughly modern experience are remarkable individuals with lots of fascinating things to say about the experience. At least when they're being interviewed for a New Yorker piece. Wouldn't you be at your most fascinating then? So it's hard to say what these people are really like. But I like them.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Are you drawing on all your horsepower?

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Vainglorious Universe...



1. There is an underlying principle that constrains the universe to evolve towards life and mind.
2. Only universes whose properties are such as to allow observers to exist are observed.
3. Our universe likes to be looked at.

Conclusion: Our universe is a pretty beast who likes attention and so she invented us as living mirrors scattered here and there striving to catch a glimpse of her reflection, which is, of course, impossible by her design. We seek her vanity in vain.