BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
"Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it's a letdown, they won't buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book."
Mickey Spillane (quoted in Jon Winokur, W.O.W.: Writers on Writing)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
He was one of those not born for death--unlike the rest of us born between the poles.
"What are a hundred years, a thousand years, when a single instant effaces all of them."
Alan Badiou
When the cage opens after thirty years you can't fly anywhere.
He who follows another will never overtake him.
When I die I'll discover that I really hadn't lived or as Thoreau put it, "that one has lived what was not life."
Enslaved to work and to the attempt to make money my soul has been crushed--we all create our own jails, (Gary Watson, Salmagundi, nos 164-165)
And of course, my favorite, Cavafy, "the Walls"
Walls
Without regard, compassion or shame,
they built around me great high walls.
And I sit here now, and despair.
No other thought: My fate eats me.
Because I had so many things to do outside.
Alas, when they were building the walls
How could I not pay attention?
But I never heard noise from the builders, not a
sound.
Without my notice the closed me in from the world
outside.
C. P. Cavafy, 1896 - '97
translator: Alan A. Boegehold
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Walls
Without pity, without shame, without consideration
They've built around me enormous, towering walls.
And I sit here now in growing desperation.
This fate consumes my mind, I think of nothing else:
Because I had so many things to do out there.
O while they built the walls, why did I not look out?
But no noise, no sound from the builders did I hear.
Imperceptively they shut me off from the world without.
C.P. Cavafy, 1896-'97
Translator, Daniel Mendelson.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here's a weaker translation:
Walls
With no consideration, no pity, no shame,
they have built walls around me, thick and high.
And now I sit here feeling hopeless.
I can't think of anything else: this fate gnaws my mind -
because I had so much to do outside.
When they were building the walls, how could I not have noticed!
But I never heard the builders, not a sound.
Imperceptibly they have closed me off from the outside world.
Constantine P. Cavafy
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"who built these walls? -- me," for starters.
He was one of those not born for death--unlike the rest of us born between the poles.
"What are a hundred years, a thousand years, when a single instant effaces all of them."
Alan Badiou
When the cage opens after thirty years you can't fly anywhere.
He who follows another will never overtake him.
When I die I'll discover that I really hadn't lived or as Thoreau put it, "that one has lived what was not life."
Enslaved to work and to the attempt to make money my soul has been crushed--we all create our own jails, (Gary Watson, Salmagundi, nos 164-165)
And of course, my favorite, Cavafy, "the Walls"
Walls
Without regard, compassion or shame,
they built around me great high walls.
And I sit here now, and despair.
No other thought: My fate eats me.
Because I had so many things to do outside.
Alas, when they were building the walls
How could I not pay attention?
But I never heard noise from the builders, not a
sound.
Without my notice the closed me in from the world
outside.
C. P. Cavafy, 1896 - '97
translator: Alan A. Boegehold
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Walls
Without pity, without shame, without consideration
They've built around me enormous, towering walls.
And I sit here now in growing desperation.
This fate consumes my mind, I think of nothing else:
Because I had so many things to do out there.
O while they built the walls, why did I not look out?
But no noise, no sound from the builders did I hear.
Imperceptively they shut me off from the world without.
C.P. Cavafy, 1896-'97
Translator, Daniel Mendelson.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here's a weaker translation:
Walls
With no consideration, no pity, no shame,
they have built walls around me, thick and high.
And now I sit here feeling hopeless.
I can't think of anything else: this fate gnaws my mind -
because I had so much to do outside.
When they were building the walls, how could I not have noticed!
But I never heard the builders, not a sound.
Imperceptibly they have closed me off from the outside world.
Constantine P. Cavafy
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"who built these walls? -- me," for starters.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
...................Important aporia, aporetic.
a·po·ri·a (-pôr-, -pr-)
n.
1. A figure of speech in which the speaker expresses or purports to be in doubt about a question.
2. An insoluble contradiction or paradox in a text's meanings.
[Greek, difficulty of passing, from aporos, impassable : a-, without; see a-1 + poros, passage; see per-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
aporia [əˈpɔːrɪə]
n
1. (Literature / Rhetoric) Rhetoric a doubt, real or professed, about what to do or say
2. (Philosophy) Philosophy puzzlement occasioned by the raising of philosophical objections without any proffered solutions, esp in the works of Socrates
[from Greek, literally: a state of being at a loss]
aporetic [ˌæpəˈrɛtɪk] adj
...................Important aporia, aporetic.
a·po·ri·a (-pôr-, -pr-)
n.
1. A figure of speech in which the speaker expresses or purports to be in doubt about a question.
2. An insoluble contradiction or paradox in a text's meanings.
[Greek, difficulty of passing, from aporos, impassable : a-, without; see a-1 + poros, passage; see per-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
aporia [əˈpɔːrɪə]
n
1. (Literature / Rhetoric) Rhetoric a doubt, real or professed, about what to do or say
2. (Philosophy) Philosophy puzzlement occasioned by the raising of philosophical objections without any proffered solutions, esp in the works of Socrates
[from Greek, literally: a state of being at a loss]
aporetic [ˌæpəˈrɛtɪk] adj
Thursday, December 10, 2009
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
..................Truth, Beauty, Goodness
Dear Jason,
When your Dad and I were at Horace Mann we had a wonderful art teacher named Ion Theodore. He lived in the dormitory and was a sculptor. He chipped away at wood and granite through the night and taught in the daytime. As my room was next to his room(s) I was kept awake by his steady, rhythmic chipping.
He liked to expound his ideas to us, when he wasn’t pounding his mallet.
Ion was a wonderful man, soft, compassionate, and patient. He made time to speak to each of us individually. He liked to emphasize that he believed that we should lead our lives seeking “Truth, Beauty, and Goodness."
I am not absolutely sure that these were the three icons that he urged on us. I googled “truth and beauty” hoping to find the three correct words. Google took me to the Steiner book, “Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.” Do you know whether there is a different set of ideals that Mr. Theodore may have said to me?
If Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, are the correct ideals, do you know where originated? It sounds Greek, but I would like to know.
mike
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mike,
The Good was the highest archetype for Plato and the neo-platonists. From the Good, Truth and Beauty emanated (I think in this order). From this trinity of archetypes, lesser archetypes emanated until finally the material world - a shadowy reflection of the world of archetypes - distilled out.
Try Plato or Plotinus as sources.
Steiner felt that all education should kindle the natural feelings for Truth, Beauty and Goodness that all young people have inherently. The natural idealism of teenagers in particular must be cultivated. This idealism is in danger from the dark sides of modern life and human history. He felt students must have outlet to exercise activity to counter these dark "forces."
Your teacher was a natural pedagogue. How wonderful to have a student who remembers and ponders these ideas long after hearing them.
I hope this was helpful and that all is well with you and your family,
Jason
________________________________________
..................Truth, Beauty, Goodness
Dear Jason,
When your Dad and I were at Horace Mann we had a wonderful art teacher named Ion Theodore. He lived in the dormitory and was a sculptor. He chipped away at wood and granite through the night and taught in the daytime. As my room was next to his room(s) I was kept awake by his steady, rhythmic chipping.
He liked to expound his ideas to us, when he wasn’t pounding his mallet.
Ion was a wonderful man, soft, compassionate, and patient. He made time to speak to each of us individually. He liked to emphasize that he believed that we should lead our lives seeking “Truth, Beauty, and Goodness."
I am not absolutely sure that these were the three icons that he urged on us. I googled “truth and beauty” hoping to find the three correct words. Google took me to the Steiner book, “Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.” Do you know whether there is a different set of ideals that Mr. Theodore may have said to me?
If Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, are the correct ideals, do you know where originated? It sounds Greek, but I would like to know.
mike
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mike,
The Good was the highest archetype for Plato and the neo-platonists. From the Good, Truth and Beauty emanated (I think in this order). From this trinity of archetypes, lesser archetypes emanated until finally the material world - a shadowy reflection of the world of archetypes - distilled out.
Try Plato or Plotinus as sources.
Steiner felt that all education should kindle the natural feelings for Truth, Beauty and Goodness that all young people have inherently. The natural idealism of teenagers in particular must be cultivated. This idealism is in danger from the dark sides of modern life and human history. He felt students must have outlet to exercise activity to counter these dark "forces."
Your teacher was a natural pedagogue. How wonderful to have a student who remembers and ponders these ideas long after hearing them.
I hope this was helpful and that all is well with you and your family,
Jason
________________________________________
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
“Los elefantes son contagiosos.”
Paul Eluard.
“Él estaba poseído del más sagrado berretín cósmico: El hombre quería vivir todas las vidas y estaba condenado a transitar solamente por una. Aprendan a soñar los que se contentan con sacar la lotería.”
Alejandro Dolina.
Crónicas del Ángel Gris.
“Casi nunca nos damos cuenta de que podemos suprimir cualquier cosa de nuestras vidas en cualquier momento y en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.”
Don Juan / Castaneda.
“Los elefantes son contagiosos.”
Paul Eluard.
“Él estaba poseído del más sagrado berretín cósmico: El hombre quería vivir todas las vidas y estaba condenado a transitar solamente por una. Aprendan a soñar los que se contentan con sacar la lotería.”
Alejandro Dolina.
Crónicas del Ángel Gris.
“Casi nunca nos damos cuenta de que podemos suprimir cualquier cosa de nuestras vidas en cualquier momento y en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.”
Don Juan / Castaneda.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
Katatonia: Lyrics from Black Session
Katatonia Black Session Lyrics:
I sense infliction in the air
it's only me
I'm fucking up old times
it's a remembrance
O this
black session in my mind
O the black
I was too weak to fight the black
once more I let go
it is a black session
an invitation of sorts
I keep on living in
this my only wish
that life will be good someday
I keep on losing my
sleep because of this
seems so hard just to stay
so if you come by just
this last time
I'll be here
and I will talk to you like
if this had never been
O this
black session in my mind
O the black
Katatonia: Lyrics from Black Session
Katatonia Black Session Lyrics:
I sense infliction in the air
it's only me
I'm fucking up old times
it's a remembrance
O this
black session in my mind
O the black
I was too weak to fight the black
once more I let go
it is a black session
an invitation of sorts
I keep on living in
this my only wish
that life will be good someday
I keep on losing my
sleep because of this
seems so hard just to stay
so if you come by just
this last time
I'll be here
and I will talk to you like
if this had never been
O this
black session in my mind
O the black
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
This is strange:
CNC says that "the Very Very Rich could do a bit more." What about the very rich? No? Or the Rich? Or the rest of us, who are living the middle class life?
-
You mean that there isn't anything that we could/should do for others? Did you know that the poorest are percentage-wise the most generous with their money?
I spent $120 for dinner for two the other night. Shouldn't I have helped the poor with that money? Or a part of it? According to the World Health Organization there are one billion undernourished people in the world. There are millions who are worse than undernourished--they are starving to death.
-
Are you saying that: "I work for my money, and I don't think that I should have to pay taxes that help someone else.?"
This is strange:
CNC says that "the Very Very Rich could do a bit more." What about the very rich? No? Or the Rich? Or the rest of us, who are living the middle class life?
-
You mean that there isn't anything that we could/should do for others? Did you know that the poorest are percentage-wise the most generous with their money?
I spent $120 for dinner for two the other night. Shouldn't I have helped the poor with that money? Or a part of it? According to the World Health Organization there are one billion undernourished people in the world. There are millions who are worse than undernourished--they are starving to death.
-
Are you saying that: "I work for my money, and I don't think that I should have to pay taxes that help someone else.?"
Friday, December 04, 2009
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
What difference is it whether we spend our days reading the newspaper, playing cards with the boys, creating art works, writing books, reading poetry or William James, or Paul Auster, having dinner with friends, studying, going to schul or church, golfing, doing Law, Business, or Medicine, reading philosophy, handicapping the horses, going to the theater, or watching television?
Is there any difference?
mek
What difference is it whether we spend our days reading the newspaper, playing cards with the boys, creating art works, writing books, reading poetry or William James, or Paul Auster, having dinner with friends, studying, going to schul or church, golfing, doing Law, Business, or Medicine, reading philosophy, handicapping the horses, going to the theater, or watching television?
Is there any difference?
mek
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