My Personal Web Page deals with art, life drawing, art psychology and education, inventions and problem solving, establishing connection with artists, for exchange of information, discussion and mutual support. Other subjects in hot pursuits are 3-dimensional photography, sculpture, handwriting analysis, calligraphy, detonation wave pulse engine, unorthodox marine propulsion, examination of disputed documents , ethics, peace and social justice, world religions, poetry, speed sailing, paragliding, etc.
Effort was spent on making the page simple and fast loading. I would not dream of insulting intelligence of the readers with flashing lights and animations hinting at effects of hallucinogenic drugs. Find out you are in wrong place quickly, so there is no need to curse the author.
Contents updated January 2, 2010
Dogs Die Earlier ; They Love More
What your art teacher did not tell you....
Artists, art teachers, critics, curators, therapists and anyone coming into contact with works of art instinctively know that they are bridges between the physical and the other worlds, important part of life, the life itself.
Art students are instructed in art history, periods, lives of prominent artists, techniques, etc. Art dealers know precisely what sells for best profit and can predict appreciation of art objects.
There are many opinions about art, some strong and vigorously enforced, but very little information is given to art community and general public about the most important aspect of art - its powerful influence on human psyche, personality, and any methods to evaluate with some precision its effects. There have been no tools available to critically examine the self-serving theories of the art establishment, tools that would enable art students to charter their own artistic and personal development according to a scientific and impartial point of view.
Have you ever wondered why we are attracted to or dislike intensely certain works of art? It essentially is simple. When the emotions which were the driving force in conception and creation of the art object are similar to our own, when our personalities and our points of view match, we feel vindicated, comforted, and exclaim, "how wonderful" ! If, on the other hand, there is a disagreement between our life experiences and expectations and that of the artist, it produces an anxiety and revulsion. The medium of communication here is the Universal Symbolic Language understood on unconscious level to some degree by everyone.
At the beginning of psychology as a science some individuals studied facial expressions of people of different and distant cultures in certain emotional situations and they found that they were universal. Even some higher animals exhibited identical reactions. This is the basis of a branch of psychology dealing with "body language", unconscious gestures which give dependable indications of state of the individual's thoughts, emotions and body chemistry.
The Universal Symbolic Language of art belongs to the same category. Not only it can give us important and unbiased information about ourselves, it can serve as a technique of personal and artistic development. At the Imperial courts of the Orient calligraphy and painting were used in this way, cultivating precisely defined attitudes and personal skills. This art has been lost or ignored recently and what is given in the schools of North America has exactly the opposite effect, amounting to criminal negligence.
THE INVENTOR=S CONCISE BIOGRAPHY PERTAINING TO ART
Formal training and experience
Drawing with Oldrich Crhounek, CSAVU
Drawing, sculpture C. A. S. Brno, Prof's. Jiri Kotoucek, CSAVU, Frantisek Senk, CSAVU
Sculpture with Mrs. Mavis Ehlert at Delta, Hamilton
Stained Glass at Classical Glass Studio, Hamilton
Watercolour with Walter Hinkley at D.V.S.A., Dundas
Life Drawing at Mohawk College
Accepted member Sculptor's Society of Canada
Master Mould Maker at Canadian Porcelain
Works in private collections in Brno, Prague and Hamilton
Other activities related to art
McMaster University, courses in Psychology, Sociology, World Religions
Certificate and Master's certificate from International Grapho-Analysis Society for analysis of handwriting
Certificate from World Assn. of Document Examiners for forged or disputed writings, signatures
Taught Handwriting Analysis at Highland Secondary, Dundas
Taught 3-Dimensional Photography course at Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology, Oakville
Experience in most aspects of field, studio, darkroom, close-up, document, 3-dimensional, digital.
Exhibitions and competitions
One-man show at Tyl Theatre, Brno-Komin
One-man show at Main Gallery, Hamilton
One-man show at the New Studio Hamilton
Exhibition at Eaton's Gallery, Toronto
Furnished 5 sculptures to the newly opened Caesar's Restaurant
Competition, theme sculpture for the opening of Art Gallery of Hamilton
Competition for Injured Workers' Memorial, Hamilton City Hall
Credo
Art in many forms has been born from a need of humans to please deities; therefore, the artist shall persist in creating works suitable for consumption by gods. It will please and educate men as well. If, due to unfortunate circumstances in life or just plain lack of talent one is forced to create a work falling short of this standard, he should have enough self-restraint and conscience to confine his artwork to the deepest recesses of his closet.
On the oft-misspelled subject of pornography, I subscribe to a following rule of thumb: An art object that originates in or inspires beauty, auspicious thoughts and actions, cannot possibly be called pornography. As Beauty, pornography too, is in the eyes of the beholder.
Among the treasures in the private inventors= drawers may well be lifesavers, literarily. Never will they see the daylight, unless the method of administration of the Patent Law changes.
When an artist decides to go to a remote island to take pictures of a pile of excrement, his work is protected, automatically, for duration of his life and his heirs can still collect royalties for 50 years afterwards. If, on the other hand, an independent inventor finds a cure for cancer or makes similar urgently needed product, he is stuck.
Our forefathers established laws to compensate inventors, by giving them exclusive rights, who disclose a new device or product that will benefit the whole society. The law usually states that "Anyone who invents..." , not "anyone who can afford..."
The spirit of the Patent Law is fine, thank you. The large corporations who are in a fact sole beneficiaries of the current patent practices are not to be blamed for the inequities, they just follow the law not originally designed to cope with the developing industrial age.
In the newly emerging capitalist order with flourishing free enterprise morality and old customs where the businessman and the customer stood on same footing, where receiving good product for good money was taken for granted persisted for some time.
However, it became gradually clear that a company engaging in less-than-honest practice gained advantage against the rest. As for today, it has become firmly established that morality and equality on which the civil behaviour depends are incompatible with business and any organisation run in a business fashion which includes the governments.
Many people lament and proclaim that you cannot fight immorality by law. Hell, not. As it had been legislated in, as a consequence of political inexperience, inadequate foresight or cleverness of special interest groups it surely can be legislated out. Unfortunately, there is no leadership capable of restoring balance and common sense into human relations. Such a leader is not likely to rise up as a result of democratic process which favours weaklings and crooks who take advantage of the uneducated and politically innocent. As diplomacy is a war by another means democracy seems to become another name for dictatorship. The trouble is, we have bad memories of the dictators.
One of the methods of restoring equality, justice and peace may be generating new ideas and collecting the wealth of the already existing in minds of nation by a giant 'brainstorming session'.
Any takers?
Even a mass murderer is guaranteed protection, is presumed innocent and can sue the government if his prison lunch is not warm enough. Having been relegated to a status of third-class citizen, what incentive an inventor has to open his drawer and have any degree of respect for the lawmakers?
Artists and inventors rarely have a burning desire for profits or interest in business. Perhaps someone else with a sense of justice will undertake to organize inventors and the taxpayers to make changes to the practices of the Patent Law administration and to the ways people relate to each other before it reaches the point of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Invention on a Pedestal
Artists, professionals and people who prize their vision highly are very disappointed when they are forced to use glasses. They are not colour and other aberrations corrected, not much different than a coke bottle. Compare your spectacles to a lens from photographic camera which delivers razor sharp image with all possible corrections, 12 elements, zoom, lightweight, all for half the money of your prescription bifocals. Total disgrace. But it is not late, several systems exist that will substitute accommodation of the eye lost for example in a cataract surgery and make possible to use high quality glasses, converging automatically, of course, in the case of magnification. Just ask. Any comments from a vision professional wanting to take pride in achievements of his profession?
Computer Science?
Great number, maybe majority of computer users do word processing or graphics, image editing. Every time they compose a letter or write a story they must scroll up and down the page, they cannot see the whole page unless they zoom out, which makes the text hardly legible. If large graphics are included, it is even more painful. When one assembles a slide show the images must be resized to fit the screen. The problem is that portrait and landscape oriented pictures cannot be the same size because some inept industry leader decided that the screen will be landscape-oriented, completely ignoring the fact that there are many applications that need it the opposite way. I wonder how much trouble it may be to make screens square, with the applications having choice to change the orientation, automatically switching their interface to suit the individual graphics or text. Strips on edges would carry configurable menus and tool bars which should never ever enter the workspace. Why do we have to suffer, perhaps because the developers have never used the computer themselves?
Show & Tell, My Inventions Hiding in a Drawer
A select list of my unpatented inventions, in various stages of completion.
Machinery
AIR COMPRESSOR, noiseless, frictionless,
STATIC MIXER CYLINDER, stepless adjustment, easy to clean/disposable.
MANUAL HOIST, one hand operation.
AUTOMATIC BALANCING, for centrifuges, washing machines.
Tools, Instruments, Hardware
PUNCH MARKERS BOX, easy access to individual punches, better productivity
VIBRATION DAMPENING SYSTEM, for turntables, cameras, instruments.
TROWEL, for overhead work.
HOSE CLAMP, slim, adjustable from any angle, quick release.
RETAINING RING, easier installation, removal.
HELI-COIL THREAD INSERT, easier installation and change.
BORING HEAD, for conical bores.
Household, Baby, Health Products
ICE CUBE TRAY, self-releasing, dispenses cubes precisely one by one.
TOILET BOWL CLEANER, cleans better with less chemical and pollution.
TOILET FLUSHING DEVICE, independent, manual, using fraction of water.
TOILET PLUNGER, keeps contents positively in the bowl, no need to take shower.
MEASURING CUP, measures amounts poured out.
BABY HARNESS, baby free to turn in any direction, not entangled.
BABY WASHING IMPLEMENT, uses absolutely minimal water, leaves both hands free.
SAFE NURSING COT, MOBILE BED, baby next to mother, yet safe .
EYEGLASSES FRAME, accommodating and converging.
INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANT, focused from outside`
DUST PAN, collects dust and liquid on irregular surface, does not spill.
HAMMOCK, child-safe, with luxuries.
RUBBER CONDOM, increased protection, sterility, better packaging and application.
CONTRACEPTIVE VALVE, reversible, to replace vasectomy. (expired patent)
MANUAL WHEELCHAIR, ergonomic system of powering, adjusts to individual's disability.
RODENT EXTERMINATION SYSTEM, large scale, automatic.
FURNITURE, chair, table device for automatic elimination of wobbling.
BED MAKING AID, for quick changing of bedsheets.
QUICK CLOTHES DRYING, several devices.
WASHING MACHINE, without propeller, saves fabric, very effective.
MANUAL LAUNDRY IMPLEMENT, saves hands, fabric.
BABY TEETHER, with dual purpose.
TABLEWARE and PICNIC SET, keeps bugs, ants out.
CIRCULAR COLLAPSIBLE SEAT, flat package.
UNIVERSAL SAFETY PIN, for baby. Holds any size of diaper, fitting perfectly.
Textile Equipment, Fashions
SEWING MACHINE, hand-held, without base and counter-support. Very new technology.
GARTER BELT, improved looks and function.
TROUSERS FOR MEN, more comfort, fashionable.
ZIPPER KEEPER, keeps zipper positively locked.
WATCH DIAL, universal for travelers, no adjustment needed for zones, fashionable.
Automotive Design and Safety
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, more effective.
POWER TRAIN SYSTEM, one-lever operation, eliminates most parts, better traction.
NIGHT DRIVING DEVICE, eliminates blinding beams of incoming traffic.
ROTARY ENGINE, with continuous combustion, no reciprocal or planetary movement.
MOTORCYCLE TRAILER TAXICAB, longer life span, nimble, more convenient travel than in the traditional sidecar.
School, Office, Art, Advertising
CONTE STICK AND DRAWING PENCIL HOLDER, more expressive, cleaner.
FOUNTAIN PEN, retracts automatically to protect nib when falling.
PAN FLUTE, capable of playing chords.
FILING CABINET, access for disabled, larger capacity.
BALL POINT PEN, ergonomic grip, better writing angle.
PAINT CAN PROTECTOR, no more cleaning can rim and floor after paint job.
UNIVERSAL SUN DIAL, no moving parts to adjust.
Building, Construction
SIDING SECTIONS, individually replaceable.
CHIPBOARD, self-supporting, insulating, saves 4x2's.
SPACE STATION MODULES, store easily, assemble semi-automatically in the space.
ROAD MARKER, permanent, audible, reflective.
Personal, Environment Protection, Firefighting
OIL SPILL RECOVERY SYSTEM, separates oil on spot, adjusts to agitated water.
TSUNAMI SURVIVAL SHELTER. communal, personal.
BANK ROBBERY PROTECTION
LOCATING SYSTEM for missing persons and articles , non-electronic
PARACHUTE , for quick deployment, with increased aerodynamic efficiency.
FIRE ESCAPE AND EVACUATION OF TALL BUILDINGS, for large number of people.
OIL WELL FIRE EXTINGUISHING EQUIPMENT, stops fire, opens for business quickly.
EARTHQUAKE MITIGATING SYSTEM, protects buildings from large magnitude quakes.
Personal Safety, VIP and Property Protection
MASS EVACUATION SYSTEMS, for high rise buildings
LIFESAVER, picks up disabled swimmer on distance, automatically.
SURVIVAL SUIT, with ventilation and heating powered by ocean waves/human power.
BOAT STABILISER, prevents high speed boats from flipping over.
SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE, for climbers, construction workers, breaks fall.
FATIGUE FUSE, signals beginning of structural failure, e.g. attachment of jet engines.
STORE CLERK PROTECTION, in case of robbery.
Alternative Energy
SEA-WAVE EL. POWER GENERATOR, self-contained, based on WOC principle.
WIND POWER EL. POWER GENERATOR, mobile, without expensive tower, suitable in
combination with gas-powered generator, to be switched in no-wind condition.
SOLAR STOVE, powerful, lightweight for expeditions, cooks for whole group.
DWE (Pulse Jet) new valve system, no breakage and burning. (NASA spent $ 7.5 Million on R&D).
Automatically switches to valveless, RAM
Marine
OUTBOARD SAIL CONTROL SYSTEM, for water sports, revival of sail power for commerce.
OARS, new concept, much increased efficiency.
SEA-WAVE PROPULSION SYSTEM, uses energy of sea waves to power vessels.
SWIMMING FINS, lightweight, collapsible, especially suitable for lifeguards.
ASCENT / DESCENT SAFETY CONTROL, automatically brakes when buoyancy changes fast.
INCOMPRESSIBLE MATERIAL FOR WETSUITS, protects better at depth, stable buoyancy.
AUTOMATIC CO2 INFLATOR, floats automatically unconscious skin diver, signals for help.
POSITIVE HARNESS, keeps air tank in place, lets go in emergency.
NOSE CLIP FOR SWIMMERS, more comfortable, adjustable pressure.
Sports, Toys
FREE STYLE POGO STICK
POWER TRAIN, for scooters, monocycles, etc.
RUNNING SHOES SOLE, re-directs energy for better efficiency.
SOFT DRINK BOTTLE with construction capability, building playhouses, walls, towers.
BICYCLE SEAT, ergonomic for long rides, adjusts to the rider's movements.
TRAINING DEVICE FOR SWIMMERS, at home, no need to travel to a pool.
BOW, super-compact, mechanically released, new concept. Not a cross-bow.
OPEN SIGHTS FOR SPORT FIREARMS, for low light conditions, imperfect vision.
FLIGHT INSTRUMENT, indicates glide angle and wind direction for precision landing.
PARACHUTE, for fast and safe deployment in combat.
WALK ACCELERATOR
Photographic Equipment
EVACUATION BOTTLE, to prevent oxidation of chemicals.
UMBRELLA LIGHT, for narrow studios, lights more evenly.
DISPENSING ENVELOPE, releases papers one by one, right side up.
COMPOSING FLASH. compensates different luminosity and distance in parts of the scene.
VIBRATION-LESS SHUTTER, for cameras.
CAMCORDER CONSOLE, hand-held, one arm sufficient, smooth vertical range from 0.2 m to 2.2 m,
stable, same quality as in $ 200,000 setup.
3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGES AND MOVIES, make and view, home-made or commercial, for computer, TV, magazines.
A Reluctant Diary
Clothes are a mask
My dear
Useless
And comical
Don't hide your face
Girl
You are full of beauty
Aktaion poor Aktaion
Torn to death by his own hounds
On command of angry Artemis
For no mortal may see
A goddess bathing
Of thousand times worse death
I am condemned to perish
When your hand
Beckons the ancient times
Following trajectory of Expectation
Landed my spaceship
Forged from Desire
Into your Tranquility Sea
And with a surprise I saw
The Mount Revelation
And Certainty Valley
With Pleasure Falls
And all the features
I used to look at
Through the telescope
As a schoolboy
Inconsolable Moon
Drops his crystal tears
Into the empty space
Not knowing
That down on Earth
Someone is trying to catch them
In despair
Someone whose arm is too short
Whose hand is quivering like Cupid's bow
In the morning frost
Whose arithmetic is too poor to know
The probability of meeting
Of one blinding crystal tear
One small hand
On the far end of the Earth
From goddess of love
The fastest arrow
Brought in the message
That couldn't wait
In secret hour
Without a sword
Come to my fiery gate
To worship
And drink the wine of truth
Attend the ancient rite
Come and behold
Entire world
Lies at my feet
Tonight
To enter the gates of Nirvana
One Buddha-key shall I possess
In your arms
Thoughts of Eternity
Cannot tarnish the skies
In your arms
Wheel of Karma suspends its run
I'd like to learn the art of living
And not taking a breath
As the mysterious Female
Who advances without stirring
Yields without losing battle
I miss you, my love
Your sunny beaches at Montego Bay
Beaches at dusk
My secret hideaway
I miss the warmth of mahogany
Depth of black coral
Your girls finer than satin
Smelling of flowers and herbs
Your valleys and hills of unfathomable peace
With their children wise majestic serene
First breathless now aching
You left me
Jamaica
Three-whites and hot mahogany
What a beautiful rhyme
Struck and pitiful I'm
One in a crowd one of many
It's really true that love
Brings out the worst in men
Chaos 'n' pain in heart and then
Regrets 'n' memories 's all I have
Stealing by ancient silky path
Another man a bit more bold
Captures the emerald treasure untold
It's time to write my epitaph
To every shadow
There is a light
Yang - Yin
To every arrow
A willing heart
Virtue - Sin
To every siren's lure
A lone sailor nearby
To every hawk
A magnificent sky
On your mission of mercy
Don't pay attention to road signs
For all roads lead to enlightenment
All roads lead to despair
When you come to the sanctum
Step carefully and barefoot
On the ancient mosaic
Of my soul
November 2 1984
Don't turn the other way dear
You'll bring back my non-memories
You're spring in a desert
You're Fata Morgana
Let me carry the sky for you like umbrella
Let me have the birds sing for you
Let me be the lucky spot
Your foot touches first in the morning
Let me plant and harvest you field
Let me forgive all trespasses
Promises let me always keep
Let me be your pelican
Breeze playing with your hair
Your life eternal.
November 6 1984
As Earth in perpetual motion
I circle you
My Sun
My gravity
My cosmic law
I am the oak with roots of steel
In your mount'n
Stag guarding his does
In deep misty valley
Of dreams
The stars say
This is the last Winter
We must endure
The Spring to come
Promises warmth without end
On a bright mirror
Dust will not settle
Vessel of love
Cannot be emptied
If it is really full
The door-knocks are answered
And virtues sing their own songs
December
24 1984
I've been told that space within
Fulfils the destiny of Grail
Yet what is in and what is out
And what is wrong and what is right
Knowing not - bound am to fail?
January 16 2001
Kibbles and bits
And bits and bits
Virtues and sins
And sins and sins
Praise and the blame
The blame the blame
Moon and the sky
The same the same
January 21 2001
There are crude rhymes
A slap in the face
There are rhymes like mother's arms
There are no rhymes some may think
And other that burn for days
November 9 2001
For one of your smiles
All Emperor's jade and emeralds
For one beat of your heart
Kingdom of mine
How far is the Sun
From my prison cell
How pale are the orchids
Without your breath sublime
You're in my dreams again and again
Laying your gifts upon my parched palm
Though in the morn' your place seems warm
I know I'd call your name in vain
( Instrumental..)
How far is the Sun
From my prison cell
How pale are the orchids
Without your breath sublime
January 9 2002
My most trusted Guru I asked
Reverend Sir your teaching is clear
I must hold equally dear
A saint beggar or elephant tusk
But if some visitors from distant Cluster
In region of Maybe-love
Ask for a shelter I scarcely have
What about them my Master
What about them?
February 6,2002
With patience of Job I'm scouring the Ether
But no signs of life on bandwidth so cruel
Beam me up, Scotty, I've been a fool
Not on this planet I'm destined to meet her
July 22, 2002
HAIKU CORNER
Never the rain falls
On unjust and just alike
It's beautiful dream
(Weather of Spheres) July 31, 2002
Walking through the Gate
No Master his snow-flakes gone
Memento Mori
( Zen) August 1, 2002
Is it a fancy
Or lack of proper mane-ers
I am scared to ask
(Lion) August 2, 2002
Unruly hairdo
Is not a good reason for
Disturbing his pride
(Lion 2) August 2, 2002
You're treading softly
Oblivious of your kin
Who click-clang click-clang
(Caterpillar) August 3, 2002
Wonder if you are
Missing the swish of arrow
My buffalo friend
Only your deer friends
See you in midst of forest
I keep the secret
August 4, 2002
Crafty touch of men
Eternal hand of Mother
Which do you prefer?
(Seal) August 5, 2002
There's lots of glitter
Emeralds and pebbled gold
In mid-summer pond
August 5, 2002
TRANSITION SEARCH AND RESCUE PREQUEL
Once Upon A Time
There Was A Meeting Of Souls...
As Prophet is a mouthpiece for the Divine
Poet resounds the message of the Muse not his own
Eyes dark and deep
They oppress me so
When their fires meet
And scorch my trembling soul
Is it fear or love
Or your charming way
That took my defenceless
heart and mind away
What's awaiting me
In the arms of thee
Reveal your eyes clear
My crystal of seers
An ever faithful dove
I'll claim my birthright
Mirage of your love
My life's eternal light
Lyrics for "Ochi Chorniye" Russian Gypsy romance
December 14, 2002, March 10, 2003
Even wide ocean
Winds chilling the marrow
Can't stop the clever boy
His bow and arrow
Smile on his angel face
And without sympathy
Quickly released the darts
That wounded you and me
'Cause Galileo got it all wrong
I must keep singing this correction song
It's not the planets turning as due
It is my heart that spins
Because of you
Lyrics for Italian favourite "O Sole Mio"
Belle, be my only Valentine
January 23, 2003
Kalinka Kalinka Kalinka my love
Little strawberry raspberry in orchard
Ah under pine tree under the pine tree
You lay me down to my rest
Ay lyuli lyuli ay lyuli lyuli
You lay me down to my rest
Kalinka Kalinka Kalinka my love
Little strawberry raspberry in orchard
Ah gentle pine needles with your gentle needles
Play dirge above my forlorn head
Ay lyuli lyuli ay lyuli lyuli
Play dirge above my forlorn head
Kalinka Kalinka Kalinka my love
Little strawberry raspberry in orchard
Ah my charming beauty Kalinka don't tease me
Make love to me or I will die
Ay lyuli lyuli ay lyuli lyuli
Without your love I will die
Kalinka Kalinka Kalinka my love
Little strawberry raspberry in orchard
Lyrics for ''Kalinka'' Russian folk song
March 10, 2003
Drawn you have brow unfurrow'd
From your mother's horns of plenty
Peach 'n' cream to cream 'n' peach
Own pillows and delightful dreams
Stars and Moon stand you still
When my two darlings are resting
Precious gifts from above
Bringing heaven to Earth
Please dear Lord will you watch
My eyes are half-shut already
No-one else shall I trust
With such sweet treasure of mine
Stars and Moon ...
You are safe shielded from
The masters of destruction
In between the sacred mountains
Deep in Paradise of peace
Stars and Moon...
Lyrics for Johannes Brahms' "Lullaby"
March 29, 2003
May 9, 2009
Hello Philippines
Bye Bye Glorified Abyss of North America
Amazing thing happened to me
On landing with Northwest Air
Tired was I but now I'm fresh
'Cause darling Belle was there...
May 11, 2003
Lyrics for TV "Lavender" series
It is comforting to see there still are some programs left not dealing with murder, rape, opportunism and similar indignities.
What was the saying about endless repetition?
You play'd this song in big overtime
If tune or lyrics don't quickly change I'm
Going to go insane now
And it's your fault anyhow
Don't let me kiss my brains
My precious brains goodbye
August 12, 2003
Blessed thou a tiny droplet in the Universe
Genesis renewed
Spring forward ring as a fine-fitting verse
Beautiful sweet and good
Prayerful guardians of womb are we
Heavy with the grace
That undeserved is soon to be
Born in a humble place
How can we repay the gift of precious thee
With meager thanks of ours
To Him who brings the life of new eternity
To our open doors
August 25 2003
Come here brats and bring the dough
I have goodies from the land of snow
Pick your flavour don't be late
None is left if you hesitate
Listen to my tune my battle drum
Lick the fine ice cream freeze your bum
(Lyrics for the ubiquitous vendor tune)
August 27, 2003
It's impossible
To pass the rich through needle's eye
And for one who asks to give away
It's impossible
For the exalted to become humble
In a rain to light a fire
It's impossible
To foster fears and really love
To hold a grudge and be forgiven
It's impossible
To stop my heart from racing wild
When I see you coming near me
It's impossible
September 19 2003
In a kingdom not too far
Little bit off centre
Where mountains dream in a mist
Maidens clad in silk and jade
Just wrinkle their noses
'N' patiently wait to be kissed
Where Sages left their footprints in stone
And Panda bear in bamboo grove
Is making his cozy home
A shadow looms on horizon
Many a man apprentice
Clamor to be enlisted
In army of Elvis Presleys
(The same in prescribed 'haiku' form)
Strange gods won't bless yield
Better to wipe sweat profuse
On your father's field
September 26 2003
Relevant Nursery Rhymes
Little Ram little Ram
Have you soiled your bum
Many times many times
And then some
Six times in the morning
Twelve times afternoon
My bum is dry only
Once in a blue moon
April 15, 2004
Beatles: Michelle (Reborn)
Giselle - gazelle swift and lanky
Keeps on leaping to hearts conquest
Giselle - gazelle under which lucky skies
Will she come to her rest
With breath short and skipping my heartbeat
This' no more lovers' game
No wizard on the Earth
Can hope to find the magic that will this gazelle tame
With breath short and skipping my heartbeat
Senses in disarray
But she is indiff 'rent
And goes on dancing leaping prancing always having her way
Giselle - gazelle
With breath short and skipping my heartbeat
I pray the day soon come
That she would find the pasture
Perfect in the corral of my ever aching arms
In a wake and in a sleep
I drown in the gazelle's eyes deep
Gazelle Giselle
May 16 2005
Portrait of a "TRAPO"
(traditional politician)
Yakity yak very loud
Cinky cink in Swiss account
Having a ball on public expense
To the poor voter making no sense
September 13, 2006
Cruelty to an animal
Not owning a 'rusty bucket', I see greater variety of life than many. On my way down from a Consulate in a city I will not name there was a squirrel in a park spellbound, fascinated by "Three Disgraces", a sculpture of dancing women recognizable as such despite their unkind physiques. In an overcrowded city trees are scarce; the poor creature must put up with such an insult on her front porch and she won't travel to Greece or Italy any time soon.
A lesson? Do not dance while seriously misaligned.
The Gates of Salvation
It is always unpleasant watching the boys in black walk away, their backpacks stuffed with Bibles, presumably. I may congratulate myself, though, for getting rid of them without perplexing their minds already heavily taxed. How can one explain to the uninitiated the difficulties we humans face in situations of such intimate nature? As a woman cannot effectively relate to a man experience of pregnancy and childbirth, the ultimate truth in spiritual realm can not be transmitted by means of crude words, however fortified. It would serve no purpose to open the Pandoras box of obvious inconsistencies, troubling as they are, their stories are already n-times rehearsed, not taking into consideration moving of tides and songs of crickets.
Unpleasant it is, indeed, having to endure a loud conversation in the magnificent concert hall of life.
Definitions, Definitions.
As one suckled on ancient Greeks' ideals in arts, science, politics and ethics I am amused by appearance on TV of a revered politician claiming "Freedom is natural state of mankind".
The old man apparently never heard the Greek philosopher's advice that in order to have an intelligent communication, discussion or argument the parties must first agree on definitions of terms. Since he had not suggested any, the word "freedom" here is open to different interpretations.
Did he mean freedom of the rich in gold or political power to terrorize minorities under a thin guise of democracy, freedom of one state to impose its policies or ideology on those having no military arsenal, freedom of individuals gifted with entrepreneurship to shamelessly exploit the less aggressive?
He could possibly not mean freedom from oppression, freedom from kind of dictatorship we saw practiced by recent copycats who learned well from their predecessors the "special circumstances" and "national interest" tricks.
Another muddled example is the abortion issue. One side speaks about freedom from interference with their bodies, the other freedom of taking life of someone else. Why cannot they agree on arguing about the vastly different subjects separately?
July 4, 2002
Intelligence
When this thing some call intelligence gains upper hand and finally dismantles instincts, it will be the end of the human race. It may be interesting to realise that if a monkey administered I.Q. tests it would grade Einstein retarded - because he would not be able to climb trees fast enough.
July 7, 2002
The Price of Fashion
Suppose I am shipwrecked, blown by a wind towards an uninhabited island, hanging on a flotation device. Two co-travelers are drowning beside me, one a pig, the other a man. I can see only the pig's ears and the man's spiky hair and in a split second I have to decide whose life I am going to save. Instinctively, I grab the pig's ears.
You may accuse me of opportunism because pig is a valuable source of food on a desert island. You would be dead wrong. Pigs are known for their conservatism, not having changed their behaviour and appearance since the time immemorial. Some men on the other hand flip their hairstyle on daily basis, copying every new desperado on the TV. Not dependable companions in a life-threatening situation.
September 3, 2002
Long and Short
The longer one is exposed to life the shorter and wiser his words. An artist who is able to paint a bamboo stalk in one stroke of a brush, a stalk which is round, rigid yet flexible, shining and alive, can do it only after studying and practicing for a long time. A philosopher who can sum up experience and wisdom of mankind in a 500-character book is wise indeed.
This came to my mind after listening to a very long and tedious lecture on philosophy. It was not a complete waste of time, it confirmed my suspicion that useless and clever is a dangerous combination.
It seems that philosophy and arts are rehearsals of values. Where there is no value there is no need for a rehearsal.
November 3, 2002
How blessed are you?
As a child I wondered why the "poor in spirit" should be blessed. I think I understand it now. They are blessed because they lack knowledge, they are uncertain or more precisely, they accept their uncertainty, lack of knowledge. The kind of knowledge which cannot be gotten from an outside source.
Uncertainty leads to wisdom. Certainty leads to arrogance. The more certain one is the more likely he becomes a victim of delusions. Deferring judgment, accepting his being poor in spirit one eventually receives his spiritual rewards.
What about an agnostic? I think he is not blessed because he is too certain of absence of knowledge.
November 10, 2002
Progress?
Much as I want to avoid a controversy, some friends suggested I exaggerate saying that calligraphy and brush-painting belong among the greatest achievements of mankind, more significant than sending man to the Moon.
Rocket technology and whole host of advancements enabling us to consider colonisation of Space was inspired by desire to intimidate and conquer by military force in the first place. Hardly a contribution to civilisation.
Calligraphy works in exactly opposite way. Two strangers sitting at the same table in a cafe may start a conversation, share thoughts about weather and politics and eventually introduce themselves to each other's family and become fast friends. Their friendship was basically facilitated by their lack of fear, suspicion, and resulting ability to share personal feelings. In the arts more than any other kind of activity the soul of the artist is laid open. This cannot be done in an atmosphere of conquest, rather mutual trust. There is nothing mankind needs more, nothing better it should wish for.
November 25, 2002
A matter of progress
Simplicity is sophistication carried to its natural conclusion; analysis makes no sense if you intend to preserve it.
November 27, 2002
Experience
You do not understand love until a baby pees in your face.
December 14, 2002
The True Meaning
In the circles it is believed that speech, invention of printing and modern means of transportation are milestones in human development. Let us not jump to conclusions. In many words you will not avoid sin. It also is a common experience that by taking a shortcut the voyage usually takes longer and assigning a label, word, to a phenomenon will create an illusion, not its true understanding.
December 16, 2002
Good Poetry, Bad Poetry
Good poetry is like falling in love; one wants to leave no uncertainty that his intentions and feelings are genuine, exclusive and all-encompassing, use the most beautiful, freshest and most inventive vocabulary to express his idea, concentrating on a single theme. Such poetry should submit understandable clues to allow transcending mundane situations and to appeal to a wide audience.
Bad poetry substitutes small talk or politics clothed in fancy words for true impressionistic language; it feels like precious pearls falling out of a worn pocket of a drunken sailor. Confusion, poor coordination and lack of logic excused as free style often replaces discipline and soul-searching.
April 11, 2003
First Impressions
SURPRISE! Temperature 390 C in the bedroom.
THING TO FEAR - Bagyo (typhoon)
THING TO PONDER - EDSA (popular uprising) 1,2, etc. I am perplexed how the President can proclaim illegal and un-democratic events a "victory for democracy". Regardless how badly it was needed it creates a precedent by which any future government will be troubled.
Anyways, in North America they (notice I am using pronoun "they") do things differently. When an arrogant government treats you with contempt you must say, "Kick me once more sir, I love the way your boot bruises my derriere". The French are a bit slow in this, by tradition.
THINGS TO ANNOY - Too many expensive trips to the Immigration, too many EXPRESS fees. Since when "express" acquired the meaning of "slow"?
POP MUSIC - Among sensual experiences sound rates high, capable of stirring deep emotions. Too bad to see so many talented artists with golden voices having their efforts devalued by mediocre scores and lyrics. Now and then a few bars rise my heartbeat and expectations only to drown in a mire of fluff.
POP DANCE - Are you sure you want to hear this? It is about time to follow the Chinese example in "rectification of names", meaning,
" Emperor should behave like an Emperor
Son like a son, dancer as a dancer,
Not someone trying to imitate a retarded monkey".
Once I watched on TV a documentary about a school in Spain teaching young people Flamenco. There was an old couple dancing in an empty room, with accompaniment of piano. The incredible dignity of the performance indicated it was not intended for the dumb and unrepentant without artistic and spiritual aspiration. The gods on Olympus were well pleased, along with some mortals.
So, next time you do some cardiovascular exercise do it in private and above all, do not call it DANCE, please.
June 11, 2003
Re-discovering Life
"Why you haven't been successful in the technology transfer in the past", is a regular question I must repeatedly answer.
Would-be inventors, listen carefully and save yourself a lot of heartache and money!
It goes like this, a typical illustration .
An impressive brochure sent to me by a company in a response to my offer of innovative packaging design possibly worth millions of Dollars. A long list of conditions, one especially endearing. They would, if they choose, pay me up to $ 500. Such generosity moved me to tears. I will frame this in gold.
An offer addressed to Vice-president is received by his secretary. The buck often stops here. If the boss gets a chance to read it he realises he's only got a Master's in business administration, therefore passes it to his engineering team.
The guys just brewed their coffee and are annoyed. A bad omen. They take it personally when someone from outside wants to teach them how to develop new products, especially when the company already receives millions in R&D money from the fatherly government (from the taxpayers' pockets). The verdict is predictable, this is not suitable for the company at the present.
If, by a strange stroke of fortune they like it, it goes next to the legal department where a team of well-paid attorneys pore over it. It never ever passes this point, I promise.
To explain the latest phenomenon we must go back some 2,500 years when Lao-tse formulated the wisdom of his time,
"When the State is in disarray
Loyal ministers are born"
He should have added that they, intrepid, never come to solve the problem, rather create more. Plenty more. To translate this from Chinese to simple English, may I quote myself,
Where there is honesty
Lawyers die of starvation
Check your yellow pages for the state of art.
July 2, 2003
Still Around
The saying "Fool and his money quickly part" has been valid for long. It should be updated to " Fool and his home and e-mail address quickly part, heading for databases of promising gullibles".
July 29, 2003
Believers
It would appear that an atheist and a fervent believer are the ultimate antagonists, but they may well be just opposite sides of the same coin, both affirming the same values, both motivated by the same distress of facing the life's impermanence.
Atheism can be viewed as a Pre-emptive Sour Grape Syndrome. The atheist thinks: If I believe and after I die find there is no God I would look ridiculous, wouldn't I ?
August 1, 3003
General Knowledge Quiz
On a popular TV show contestants were asked a question, "They speak Italian in Italy, French in France; what do they speak in Argentina?"
"Cornbeef" was the answer. Wrong, correct is Cornbeefish !
It is amazing what clever devices the media people will come up with to mask the true nature of their show and to embellish, make more digestible a fundamentally immoral idea of receiving money one had not worked for and which was obtained by robbery, we may say.
August 14,2003
Advices
We must admit some fundamentally good advices fall on deaf ear. Many people don't see the folly of arguing with a drunkard using perfect logic; he prefers broken beer bottle. Or with a woman, by any means.
August 17, 2003
Rating he Raters
I take issue with effectiveness of the TV program rating. Don't the authorities realise that parents who watch the garbage themselves are hardly qualified to guide their children?
August 19, 2003
What Do You Mean
I remember a time ago news from Vietnam. When Americans bombed and burned flat whole village they reported it as "pacification of villages". Hitler killing countless Jews in gas chambers spoke of "the final solution".
Euphemisms always disturb me. I wonder what is meant by " Re-defining womanhood in GMA".
August 20, 2003
Beauty - Plato or Aristoteles
There are strong and scientifically supported indications that human emotions and basic reactions to emotional situations are universal. Art, which is a common carrier of emotions and beauty logically must have universal and inherent qualities regardless how and when it acquired them. Sorry, Aristoteles, you were right in many other important matters.
When an art feels good it is good? Not necessarily, it just may be that the artist and the viewer are the same kind of perverts. Subjective feelings, however strong and real, invariably are a product of classical conditioning; an identical stimulus can produce most varied reactions depending on the often accidental temporal connection in the past. It must be obvious it cannot be used as a dependable means of assessment. The universal rule is "You shall not steal"; it matters not how many thieves operate in the neighborhood and how good they feel about thievery.
Beauty which cannot stand on her own is not be the Universal Beauty, rather an opportunity for deception and discord. This creates a dilemma for the artist. Should he, provided he is able to, stick to the Universal and starve?
August 22, 2003
When you see Buddha on the road kill him
This famous riddle of koan quality is a wonderful infusion of Zen and Taoist philosophy. Since the Buddha on the road is not the real Buddha because he can be spoken of it makes us wonder if our God is in the church.
August 26 2003
Who wags the tail
There was a dog in the neighbourhood who had puppies. She ate all of them. I was told she could not take care of them. Perhaps she had her bitchhood "re-defined" by watching too many dog-wagging tales on certain channel.
August 29, 2003
Self-image
One who overestimates his value is bound to be disappointed and become a source of various misfortunes. However, the most dangerous are people who don't think too much of themselves; some turn vicious pathological manipulators.
The art establishment found a hiding place for such afflicted, a style or worse, a "movement" called 'Surrealism'. In movies they have 'special effects' equivalent.
September 2, 2003
Who protects whom?
When Pedro builds high walls with barbed wire and hires armed guards to protect him he is being ridiculous; the robbers have been in all the time.
September 4, 2003
Realism too much
Children should be taught to express themselves honestly and laconically. Of course, in some sensitive matters like LBM one should be oblique.
In the military service, one of my friends was from the town of Saratice where mineral water is bottled famous for relieving constipation; perhaps too much so.
September 6. 2003
Government Warning ! (uncensored)
Cigarette smoking
Is dangerous to your health
Don't worry about us
We do not inhale the taxes
( This we learned from an oh-so-clever politician
who also had sex, but not under the definition
and did smoke marijuana, but did not inhale ).
September 20, 2003
West is West
And East is East and the two shall never meet? The writer was right, almost. Even superbly knowledgeable Westerners call Lao-tse's words "Tao that can be spoken of is not the real Tao" mysterious, confusing.
No wonder, they use Western mental approach, their first reaction is, "But I MUST understand it". Understand in order to conquer, exploit, gain advantage.
Eastern method is different. They let the mystery be mysterious, henceforth are graciously allowed to enter its domain; guests who behave.
Western mind pays dearly for its addiction to definitions, words. It will come up with any nonsense, anything that can give it a hallucination of knowledge; once high on this dope it may shut itself completely off from a liberating experience.
November 9, 2003
The Clever and the Wise
Te clever praise the Lord incessantly and ask little favours thinking they bestow favours on Him. The wise make no demands for fear of infringing upon His allmightiness; they do not praise God as not to cast a shadow of expectation.
What the clever call worship the wise call interference in His affairs or transgression against the Second Commandment. The clever desire cleverness, the wise desire stupidity.
November 20, 2003
Leadership
Mediocre and crooked leaders born of democratic process which favours such are available dozed a Peso.
Powerful leaders appearing once in ages are always dictators whose leadership nobody dares to question regardless of the current social order or manner of their ascension to power.
The first will lead us to mediocrity or downslide, the second to excellence or disaster. A difficult choice, indeed.
Only once in an eon are we fortunate to meet a man of moral authority, but he stubbornly refuses to assume leadership.
November 28, 2003
The Substance
Professors repeatedly told me that my personality assessment reports extracted from the subjects' handwriting are too short. There were several reasons for that.
I would hate to be compared to politicians or equivalent human sub-species who speak the longer the less they have to say, much like a painting overcrowded with unessential decorations or unnatural phenomena assaulting our sense of propriety and exhibiting fears, confused mind and desire to deceive.
Secondly, one who respects his audience does not want to make an impression he underestimates their intelligence.
Thirdly, laconic answers naturally arise from superior understanding of the subject.
November 29 2003
New Year, one of a Series
The street is on fire. Dogs are trying to find a place to hide, we must let them inside the house. Not the puppies, they sleep through all the ordeal, bone as a pillow, sweet innocence.
As if the misfortunes of people getting burned or otherwise maimed by firecrackers were not enough, a neighbour installed his new 10,000 W karaoke in the middle of street and played THAT audio pain. Not wanting to be patronising I stuck candles in my ears instead of reminding him this thing can also play MUSIC.
Everywhere you go people enjoy singing karaoke. Good for them, but what about the innocent by-listeners? Not everyone was born with a perfect musical ear, this we must learn to tolerate and respect their right to enjoy themselves after a day of hard work. It is difficult to swallow, though, the idiotic lyrics and sound which feels like if a thousand devils washed their feet in it.
January 1, 2004
At appointed time my third asked, " I know I came from your tummy and Daddy gave you the seed, but exactly how..."
Mommy gave him the all-explaining stare, " Do you R-E-A-L-L-Y want to know?"
"No, no, no..."
That was the end of question period.
January 20, 2004
Crime Prevention
Time flies really fast. Our baby is going to vote soon, it is necessary to prepare him for the political minefields. He already knows that showing teeth and making obscene gestures with fingers are poor qualifications for the highest office but may suffice to open a shoe polishing business on a street corner.
March 22, 2004
Time of Decisions
Many voters will follow the example of Greek philosopher who, when asked why he married such tiny woman himself being tall and athletic, replied, " I have chosen lesser evil".
Why the department store escalators have such a wide gap between them? It is for the undecided, silly.
It was not a smart idea to call a new drug CLUSIVOL. Can you trust a pharmaceutical who can't decide between INCLUSIVOL and EXCLUSIVOL ?
March 26, 2004
The Service
There was a Canadian Judge who advised a rape victim, 'enjoy it if you cannot fight it'. This caused, of course, a public uproar. The simple hero of world famous Hasek's novel "Good Soldier Svejk" put it most succinctly, " There is no such a thing as to be fired from government job for stupidity".
Misery loves Company.
March 29, 2004
Not enough lessons in history?
We had an invasion of ants in the vicinity of kitchen sink. I thought about the wisdom of their leader who directed the colony to what first seemed like a sugar festival before my savage instinct took over and the ants were disposed of, quite inhumanely.
This happens to every invading force sooner or later. The quislings are hung for high treason and the "terrorists" renamed patriots.
I only pity the ants, for they do not have the capacity to read history books.
April 12, 2004
Raining Cats and Dogs
As you cannot add apples and oranges you cannot have cats and dogs raining in one rain, they are different species.
I hate cats because they remind me people who expect all kinds of privileges but fail to show the slightest appreciation. Cat lovers call it independence, I call it bad manners.
Dogs, on the other hand, are like people who go out of their way to please you, steadfastly loyal even when abused. Dogs are interested in the same things as humans and are excellent team workers. They can find lost items or people, identify bombs and drugs and will protect you with their lives. A friend of mine from the next town with whom I trained for international competitions had his first dog, German Shepherd female, untrained. When they went to a stadium for soccer match they left their baby in front in a centre of a large lawn. The female was watching the baby, pushing him back on a blanket whenever he was to roll off. In the house, she held him by his shirt and did not let him climb on a chair. All without any training. When I came first to Canada, I saw a woman in a car overtaking the bus I was on with a 3 year old baby standing on the front seat. Blood curdled in my veins.
Cats and dogs are as different species as the people who love them.
May 29, 2004
Trying Hard?
You cannot make a drum sing like a nightingale, regardless of your efforts and virtuosity. Furthermore, excessive virtue usually indicates a lack of virtue of another kind.
July 6, 2004
Watch your Language
Recently emerging preachers suggest that we should talk to infants correctly instead in the time-honoured Ga-ga Goo-goo.
I would like to see the scientific evidence supporting the view that a baby cares more about technical correctness than emotional security of belonging to a family speaking "the same language".
July 10, 2004
A Point of View Too Solid
Dogma is Idiocy with acquired status which it cannot extricate itself from. Dr. Albert Schweitzer found opposition from the Church to his "Reverence for Life" philosophy explained in more detail by his words, " We cannot respect life unless we respect all life".
July 15, 2004
A friend asked, "You seem much interested in Zen; what can you tell me about satori "?
" Master K'ung said, 'A gentleman does not discuss other people's business ' ". He may have also added that moving lower jaw does not a satori make.
August 18, 2004
Heavy Birthday Celebration
After a bottle of Spanish brandy the difference between chicken and duck became clear; chicken has a wishful bone, while duck says, "You better do it !" The duck's wishbone is much stronger.
September 7, 2004
Going to Art Show and Still Keeping Friends?
People whose artwork I like never ask me about my opinion. The trouble is the other kinds want to hear it. As a professional in the field of analysis I am perplexed; how to be polite and tell the truth at the same time? It would infuriate them, touching upon their most secret thoughts and most likely without any benefit. People who are forced to defend themselves are not perceptive to a well-meant advice.
September 11, 2004
Truth often is like a lightning from a blue sky, a flash of understanding which cannot be disputed. Stories endlessly repeated, hammered into the heads of masses by individuals or organisations with lofty ideals and seemingly spotless morality is nothing more than a propaganda suiting certain class, certain culture and self-installed judges. It must be questioned, tested and vigorously resisted if we are to survive this century. For the Satan is becoming increasingly aggressive and clever in convincing us that our questions are not really needed, that everything is perfectly thought out by his representatives.
September 15, 2004
Life is full of mysteries. Why there are three pedals on piano when we have only two legs?
September 20, 2004
Santiago committed a blunder calling Bush "a horse". She should apologise, this everyone will agree with. Horse is a noble animal.
October 4, 2004
Those who aspire to move in the direction of greatness, however distant the goal, need not go too far. One should not insist on truth while there is no proof of it and when it becomes available he should display it inconspicuously. It is a common experience that the louder the claims the feebler the substance, the more elaborate the worship, the less genuine the faith. An executive traveling to a convention with his secretary and working long hours on a presentation should not occupy the same suite, since he cannot supply any visible proof of his innocence. After they return, he should not protest it too vigorously. A drug company should not make a TV drama about wonders of their drug knowing well an ordinary consumer has no access to a lab to test their claims.
October 7, 2004
Booooo.. It is difficult to sense any difference between ordinary days and the Halloween in some TV media. Zombies in and out all year around.
October 31, 2004
I have heard that there are associations whose membership is based on achieving certain high scores on IQ test.
Winston Churchill could be their president.
I think constancy is far more important than intelligence. Master K'ung would agree. While Churchill could set the IQ scales on fire he vas low achiever in constancy, exceedingly respectful toward the less intelligent Royalty, but utterly disrespectful in dealing with Gandhi, although not reaching to his ankles in constancy, perhaps also in intelligence.
Usually, Conservatism is defined as a "fear of progress". In this, my professors may be wrong. The conservative's goal is to treat all people equally, friends and foes, which entails fearlessness. True Conservative is creative, progressive person; as such he is a harbinger of spring, new renaissance.
November 7, 2004
I may soon be called upon to share my experiences in arts with young audience. One subject I must mention is the difference between good poetry or lyrics and the not-so-great ones. A perfect example may be the Paul McCartney's and John Lennon's "Mull of Kintyre".
The requirement of universal appeal is met. It speaks of longing for one's place of birth and youth. The fist line, "Mull of Kintyre o missed only empire" is especially telling. You cannot overlook the author's love for his family, village where he was born, friends, how he misses them. He calls them "empire". The word "only" is the most significant. It distinguishes the empire of his heart, his respect and pride for his heritage and compares it, implicitly, to the other Empire which his parents fought in battles and were eventually defeated, although physically only. He may acknowledge his being a subject of the Empire at the crossing of the border, but unable to appreciate or resenting it any other time. As they say, blood is thicker than water.
The recording I have is very old and deteriorated, so I was looking for a new one on the web. I found that the lyrics everywhere have mutated; the line is now, "Oh, mist rolling in from the sea".
Following simple physical law of action and reaction, the pressure to change lyrics is directly proportional to uncertainty of the Empire's cohesion. Secure individuals are not anxious about their past; one who overreacts exhibits guilty conscience and inspires no confidence.
The strong cues, yet expressed subtly enough to for us to enjoy their discovery are dominantly present, placed in the Chorus. The idea is a heart-wrenching reminder for those of us who had lost their empires of love to the artificial and cold empires of the governments.
This song, perhaps the most beautiful in the Beatles' repertoire, is in sharp contrast to the many of contemporary songs or poetry of the "She left me, she left me, booo, booo, yeah, yeah, yeah" kind.
Such creations, usually written by wobbly teenagers encouraged by totally irresponsible publishers and the media conglomerates to the detriment of the songster's normal artistic and personal development are very easily recognisable. When you cut up the score and lyrics into individual notes and words and throw them on a paper in any random order you hardly notice any difference, sounding once more as a meandering drunkard, indicating no direction or purpose.
In a desirable music each note is chiseled in stone; inviolate, a destiny.
November 18, 2004
Drums and Company
A baby in mother's womb is beginning to develop basic instincts, one of which is a need for security in order to survive. Mother's heartbeat and rhythmical movements as she walks foster his feelings of well-being. Another weapon in the repertoire of living skills which follows is violence. Verbal and physical. Yet, through the millennia human species learned that certain habits and attitudes, traditionally necessary, may be counter-productive. They found that diplomacy, love and consideration for the co-habitants of their planet will take them farther without loss of life and comfort. They also learned that these skills which naturally supercede the primitive ones are more difficult to acquire because they travel in groups, they can only be had when accompanied by patience and a host of equally demanding ones. Some of them gave up, it was too much for them.
A competent surgeon does not use a sausage to make an incision. An accomplished human use all his learning ability to improve upon living conditions for himself and his neighbour.
In the arts, the primitive urges are represented and simultaneously reinforced by their harsh components. Excessive rhythm and decibels as in Rock, extremes in density and admixture of non-chroma, straight and heavy lines, dirty sounds, superimposed and multiple layers or decorative motifs, etc., all point to undeveloped personality which refuses to grow up, regressing to a state of infantile security with subsequent inability lo learn. A dreadful circumstance to encounter.
In an orchestra or band drums should be felt to help maintain precise rhythm, but not heard. Melodies should be simple; a story with logical tread, a beautiful conversation, not random violence. Remember the saying, " Children should be seen, but not heard" ? Some people still think it is because parents are not patient enough to put up with the chatter. It is in the silence that humans have the best opportunity to learn. The prophets sought silence and solitude of deserts and caves to obtain spiritual knowledge, enlightenment. In the multimedia scene the various squeaks, quick changing pages, unnecessary interludes and animations are all designed to prevent thinking and damage neural connections to render the hapless consumer stupid enough to have his ability to discriminate turned off.
Anyone wanting to learn results of scientific experiments how hard rock negatively effects intelligence and thinking ability in students may find them in psychological journals. There can be no doubt that at certain point the damage will become permanent. One must understand the art's Symbolic Language to fully realise the implications.
Another source and consequence of immaturity, harshness in arts and personal relations (as well as international), their comrade in arms, is Guilt. In small doses it may serve as a corrective measure, but persistent one is quite destructive.
November 24, 2004
Guilty!
Guilt is an exquisitely useful weapon in the arsenal of self-destruction, less conspicuous than a gun or dynamite and most importantly, it does not void life insurance. It serves as an excuse for not learning from one's mistakes and is deviously cherished by advertisers and leadership of secular and religious organisations.
McVeigh went to his eternal sleep with good conscience, I think. Revenge traditionally takes on an aura of religious duty in many cultures. The Government sleeps well, too. This should tell us about the mercenary, deluded or revisionist nature of our consciences and necessity to employ other means of assessment of our deeds.
One possible method is to examine our motivation.
McVeigh was very angry seeing a trigger-happy Government agency kill innocent civilians, women and children, for no valid reason. A mighty motivation for a revenge. On the opposing side, the Government was very angry because someone challenged their monopoly in killing.
November 25, 2004
After remitting all my savings to get shipped household items here I went to the nearby mall for a refreshment.
Refreshment I got beyond wildest expectations, in a form of 50,000 watt boom boom drum solo interspersed with something obviously not meant to be legible.
Never in history was so much guilt exorcised by so few audio gadgets.
Further down the road I saw a sign," L- R Clinic". It is commendable that they intend to treat both Leftists and Rightists, but who is going to take care of the Considerate people?
In some distance another thing I wanted to know since I am an extremely inquisitive person. Another sign, "KFC - 24 hours". After the allotted time, are they going to close the business and tear the house down?
What fires my curiosity most is the source of overwhelming generosity of some people from the African continent. Princesses, widows of deposed dictators and dying millionaires with sudden urge to give to the poor, they all find me a suitable beneficiary of amounts ranging from US $ 6 million up to 20, just for a little assistance. For good reasons I must decline; I am unworthy of such attention and there must be someone else who is better qualified to handle such affairs. Then, there is the impossible-to-ignore experience I have gathered while wearing my body and brains, that money and fame are the prime source of misfortune and slavery. This I am trying to strenuously avoid.
November 27, 2004
Nowadays everyone wants to be a leader. Let them check their qualifications; there are three. First, they should recite the Scriptures, " One who is to be leader, must follow". Since they do not intend to follow, discount 30% of qualifications. Secondly, they should ask the would-be-lead their opinion. Since they avoid asking them for fear of being shown the middle finger (they have learned this from the older politicians) here goes another 30%. The third criterion to consider is actual need for leadership. Historically, there were many instances when a good leadership made difference between life and death. Does it mean there is an automatic need, forever? Here opinions sharply contrast, especially in the detail. Suppose there is an agreement reached. Is the 30% enough to placate one's conscience?
I have heard one saying, "Anyone who wants to govern me is my enemy ". He probably did not mean it literarily, just the bad government.
Anyone seen a good one lately?
December 5, 2004
Everything is connected to the undeniable element of time. Our learning, conditioning experience. For example, first comes lending money to a friend, then him finding terrible faults with us. It is important to learn distinguish cause from consequence. I wonder if sardines got their name from the island of Sardinia or the island from the sardines. Unimportant? We know not the day and hour when the trivial becomes crucial; that's why we were given the instinct of inquisition.
December 21, 2004
Under the dictatorship of Dichotomies Man is universally accepted as being created in the image of God. However, we do not think of Him as a Father, next of kin, but an opposite, a perfection, and us a sinners, failures. When we speak of Him, it is not the actual Person, but His qualities. At the same time we speak of God's qualities we emphasize the difference and fantasize about our own. It cannot be certain what exactly goes on in our mind. It seems that the dichotomies are incompatible with a pure and simplified heart. It is conceivable that if one with heart pure comes to worship Satan the Satan becomes instantly worshipable.
One who plays with firecrackers and matches is courting disaster. He is very much different from someone who watches a New Year display from a distance, like an observer of Divine Comedy. The idea is most beautifully rendered in the Tibetan Buddhist "Dhammapada", speaking of a person who does not have a scratch on his hand being able to safely carry a poison, as one who has no evil in his heart cannot be hurt by evil.
December 29, 2004
Cult of Personality or What ?
In my Sociology One course I made a terrible mistake of choosing Freud, Gandhi, Schweitzer and Hitler as examples in my "Society Shapes Individual" essay. You can guess the Grade.
Similar situation exists in the teaching of Karl Marx, both despised and worshipped without being appreciated.
Imagine a boy from a starving family. He finds a worn shoe polishing brush and stations himself on the street corner. Passersby give him coins out of pity, not for quality of his service. In some time he is able to buy a new brush and learns the trade. The business is blooming and he can support his family. He rents a small room and becomes an employer of another unfortunate boy. As time goes by he forms a Corporation, eventually going multinational. Gone are his dreams of securing enough bread for his siblings; there is no limit to human greed.
When the time comes most people offered riches or political power decline, this is the time all problems of mankind are solved. Never mind class struggle, never mind ownership of means of production. Breaking thermometer will not cure the patient.
January 1, 2005
It appears Madness comes from Intelligence unnecessarily high, Intelligence is cleverly disguised Aggression and Aggression reveals a hidden desire to escape from confines of Humanity. These things float near the surface of Consciousness. It may not be possible to speak of the Tao; the best we can do is to accept that all there is results from the properties of the Elements.
January 10, 2005
"I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your ha-a-and". Beatles. I've heard a different version. John is writing a note to Mary: Mary, come to the park tonight, I must tell you something very important. P.S.: Do not wear pants...
January 14, 2005
Have you seen the billboard advertising famous water brand filtered five times? I can imagine how it is done. First time they filter out the larger debris, dead rats and toilet paper, second time mosquito larvae and similar impurities, and so forth, until the last filtration where the product may resemble a potable drink. Many come and get fooled; not myself.
Another talent search too many; Drama squared. How disheartening to see young people with promising future ahead to stumble across a bunch of pimps who make a good living conjuring dreams of stardom, letting the poor souls forget the concepts of human dignity and good mental health. But this is nothing comparing to stupidity of parents who deliver their little ones to what must be recognised as a child prostitution ring from a far-flung culture hiding behind a legitimate entertainment front.
January 16, 2005
The grapevines were red hot buzzing with the news of a man in town whose wife was cheating on him with a neighbour. My family asked me what I would do in his position. I do not like answering hypothetical questions, but it is a matter of being polite to reply.
I would send him a bottle of wine with a message on an expensive stationery: CONGRATULATIONS, you can keep her! I would include in the package a leash. No, a chain. This would be frown upon in some parts of the world with a questionable claim of enlightenment.
January 17, 2005
A thought for today...
It is not for the sake of argument that the conflict is frantically sought but for the sake of the suffering Self; to paraphrase the Upanishad's penetrating insight. Where there is no conflict within there is no conflict in the world.
The veil of ignorance obscuring the Self lifted, all relations, causes of the causes, are seen in their original perfect harmony.
January 24,2005
Is Figure Sculpting Dead ?
This was a question posted on a discussion board, complaining about difficulty finding a school of traditional direction. Since I do not intend to join groups not containing any particular theme I presently work on I will post some advice for the inquirer and all others finding themselves at the art crossroads here.
One who intends to be an artist of any denomination must make an important decision; the same decision as a person who wants to be a software designer or a cook, for example.
Do you want to have a career, make a living, be distinguished? In this case you have to satisfy your employer, talent promoters, critics and general public whose combined interest in you as a person, your artistic and spiritual progress, lies below the accidental. You may live comfortably, if this is all you expect to achieve.
If you feel your approach to art is going to be one of life or death, many obstacles and adversaries will pile up on your doorsteps. If you intend to do what is right nevertheless, even while starving, you must learn how to see correctly, meaning acquire the ability to dissociate yourself from opinions, your own as well as of others, regardless of their perceived authority. Then you will understand, and use it to your advantage, the traditionally accepted last words of the Buddha, " Do not put any head above your own; work on your salvation (career, philosophy, [italics mine]) with diligence".
I can also tell you, having been in the arts and analysis long before you were born, what is the reason the traditional skills and categories are disappearing. It is the same reason why there are wars, general decline in morality and loyalty. Nowadays, artists and any kind of business are ruled by the law of opportunism.
I saw a cup in a souvenir store with an advice written on it how to become the best archer:
1 Knock the arrow,
2 Draw,
3 Release the arrow;
4 Whatever you hit, call that THE TARGET
This illustrates perfectly the common practice in arts and elsewhere. The opportunities are endless. If you are too stupid to spell correctly, change the grammar. You will become rich and famous, with success accelerated if joining some mutual admiration societies.
Choose the narrow and difficult road only if you do not mind being cursed and ridiculed.
February 8, 2005
There may be, after all, differences between the sexes. For overwhelming majority of women a child is a destiny, not a toy. For many men a woman is a toy, not a destiny.
March 7, 2005
There is a lot of insensitive people walking around, but this time they went too far. How could they, knowing the proverbial pride of Spaniards, come up with a name like "Matt-at-a-door Brandy" ?
March 20, 2005
Recto versus Sinistro
I have seen recently a flock of left-handed people. Writing with left hand.
There is a school of psychologists advising us we should not tamper with such inborn habits. These professionals belong to the same class who changed the grammar instead of learning how to spell correctly.
As an expert in the field, and because it obviously is in public interest, I am picking an argument.
First, the technicalities. Various cultures have their own writing rules, instruments, direction and organisation of records. This profoundly reflects their culture. Before all the facts are known and after all the facts are known a reasonable man should let the individual cultures enjoy life on this planet, not trying to improve, substitute the time-proven with inferior.
About the wisdom of changing one's hand in writing there are uncountable cases and sufficient scientific studies made.
A right-handed person undertook the task and learned to write with his left hand. Then with his right foot, then with his left foot and finally holding the pen in his mouth. Another case, perfectly scientifically handled, seen in a documentary. A person was provided with a prism goggles which reversed his vision upside down. After some time his brain was able to correct the image and the subject could see normally. Of course, the same labour was involved in reverting to the previous state. This proves what some of us suspected, that the brain can and is being successfully re-programmed, perhaps to greater degree than we may be able to imagine today.
Slightly different angle. Julius Caesar is on the record not trusting one of his ministers because of his writing with "sinister" hand. The ancients are not studied enough because they are simply smarter and do not subscribe to the artificially created protectionist tariffs.
Every time I do banking and see the teller use her left hand there is an unavoidable question arising in my subconscious mind - and I must stress the "sub-conscious" , because I, as a professional and an artist, aspire to be in perfect control of my faculties.
This question, I assure you, is on everyone's mind, whether we want to admit or not.
It is a common experience that misfortunes, sickness and other unpleasant happenings arrive in groups. Even the Scriptures note that "Those who have will receive more until they grow rich while those who do not will lose even the little they have".
Therefore, the question is, "What else is wrong with this person ?"
We may have as many opinions as we want to, but there is no escape from the fact that such a person is liable to suffer from conscious or unconscious discrimination.
We humans select our mates, business partners and friends using certain criteria which seem rational and conscious. Big mistake, they are unconscious for the most part. Men like women with hourglass figure not because it is in fashion, but because they assess width of heir pelvis structure indicating suitability and survivability in childbearing. They like women with long hair not because it is in fashion but because it witnesses their undisturbed ancient acceptance of their role as a female all the way from the conscious to the tip of base instincts, without a wrinkle, not exhibiting any intention or readiness to oppose their mates, thus letting them take care of the business of survival.
In the WW II, Jews were murdered just for being Jews. They were not in a position to change it. If we, parents, health professionals or educators are not willing to consider things with potentially harmful consequences we do have the power to change we should ask for refund of our tuition fees.
March 22, 2005
Where did you get your Enlightenment?
Watching the equanimity of your baby dropping your 15,000 Peso crystal on a cement floor is worth years of instructions by a Zen Master.
April 2, 2005
Beware of Stain-Glass Windows !
Little knowledge is dangerous. However, since this subject is such an interesting one and clear-cut there is a little chance of misunderstanding.
In a church, we are awed by the brilliance and other-worldliness of the windows. Being born of spectrum, with minimal modification, the pure colours represent pure emotions. There is no element of deception or self-deception. One ho designs and makes such works of art is certain to be free from a custom of modifying facts, whether for profit or as a means of protection from imaginary enemies. A crook is very unlikely to work in this field unless he is planning to rob the church. Straightforwardness is an important element here to consider.
On the more negative side, the sharply divided sections of the artwork intensified by the contrast of lead speak of a need to categorise and divide. This is the basis of analytical process. Nothing wrong with the analysis itself, except the way it is often being used. Correct and advantageous analysis is a transitional thing, once the facts are examined, considered from different angles and the values compared the records should be discarded. One needlessly persisting in it could be compared to a surgeon who keeps on cutting the body apart long after the surgery is successfully concluded.
Wherever the stain-glass patterns appear, we should be on guard. Everyone of us have some wounds and the process of analysis may serve as an unconscious medium of keeping them form being healed, contrary to what we want to believe. This seems never being understood, unfortunately. Termination of analytical process is an important issue. In praxis, it is desirable that the mentioned patterns should become gradually less prevalent, the patches larger, fewer in number and transforming into more life-like objects of nature or human form. If we see the opposite tendency it perhaps is a time for an intervention. My recent experiences were a man abandoning his family to build an atomic shelter in remote mountains to survive the end of the world and another joining a cult moving to an obscure city to save the world from spiritual decay. An able portraitist, painter and friend of mine switched suddenly to abstract involving fragmented shapes after two heart strokes.
The troubling aspect of the stain-glass windows is their permanence. Their symbolic language, unfailingly, documents presence of dogma, an essential element in religion. The thing that disturbs me is that it is contrary to natural laws which teach us everything is in a state of flux, forever changing, developing. Mother nature may punish us severely for such transgression.
April 24, 2005
There is no Biz as a Show-biz.
They outdid themselves again, the Network. The funniest video I have ever seen. A bigger boy swinging a shovel and hitting a smaller boy in the face. The sound probably came from a broken cheekbone. It was so hilarious, especially the pain. I am still laughing now. The most admiring thing was the steadiness of hand of the recording parent. Not a frame was blurred or missing.
The Mothers' Day
Most of us believe life is sacred from the moment of conception. I venture to say it was sacred before Adam and Eve were born; nay, even before God willed to create life.
Unfortunately, we lack any scientific instrument to measure sacredness, so indirect method may be used.
Let us assemble millions of mothers who are told by their little ones, " Mommy, I know I came form your tummy where I lived for 9 months before I was born".
Could you find one among them who would say, "No, no, baby, it was just 7 months, before that it was just a blob" ?
May 8, 2005
Ceremonies
Of great interest to Anthropologists and the curious, rituals and dogmas are a never-dying source of information .
Since Adam and Eve ritualistic behaviour supplied men with a sense of security and empowerment, regardless how futile and ineffective it had been. To those who manipulated themselves into position of ownership of the dogma it has been and undoubtedly will remain an opportunity for easy life and exploitation of their fellow men, security of their position being directly proportional to multitude and intensity of the rituals which instill fears and security, simultaneously. The paraphernalia include orally transmitted or written instructions, objects of admiration, uniforms and ceremonial outfits, synchronised behaviour, unverifiable promises and threats with official support or collusion from accomplices. As if governed by immovable laws of physics, it exquisitely meshes with politics and gullibility of the masses.
Rituals with their dogmatic background are the more effective, from this point of view, the more mysterious, preferably originating in the other worlds, therefore inaccessible to ordinary folks.
May 9, 205
I think there is a widespread confusion in what is more and what is less important. Many are concerned about a few flakes on the top of their head but disregard accumulated dandruff inside their head.
In last couple of days I saw a multitude of places consistently using " peer review, democracy " and similar code words, all coming from individuals or institutions calling themselves "scientific" . How low mankind had sunk thinking that a view of majority or a large interest group must be correct.
Not even by a hair on my chiny-chin.
It cannot escape to any serious student's attention that the larger and better organised establishment the greater content of errors and efforts at their preservation.
May 21, 2005
A Sufi mystic who said, " Lovers of God have no Religion except God" just stopped short of saying, "Lovers of God have no God except Love".
We may think names and pastimes ascribed to Him are really not terribly important, they will come to the same Entity. In reality, names and definitions are vital. They do not, as is commonly believed, define ideas and objects, but ourselves, our very existence.
I wonder if those rejoicing in election of the new Pope and participating in the pageantry ever did come across the words, "Sell all your possessions, give to the poor and follow me....it will be easier for a camel to pass through the needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God", and if they did, what they think of the idea of one of the new outfits or paraphernalia being able to feed one starving family for whole year or one Michelangelo's statue in the Vatican collection saving a small nation from extinction.
May 27, 2005
We were invited to a birthday party in a Resort. Much food and drink. The only thing I missed was a Suggestion Box.
I would mention to the owners they should not advertise "overnight swimming", merely "overnight getting wet". I would advise them to tell the videoke manufacturers that people complain about their machines not having voice and music balance, volume and bass / treble controls and that they should include an axe to chop the dumb echo off. Regardless how hard it tries, it cannot mask the awful inadequacy of the recordings. If the manufacturers cannot respect the customers they should get out of the business or at least inform the recording guys that their products are not fit for human consumption.
May 31, 2005
There was a question on a TV, " What would you do if you had to entertain a man from the Moon?"
Very simple, I would tell him, "Get the hell out of here, we have enough weirdoes already; just look at the Channel.....ehm....certain Channel...".
Can I ask you a favour? Forget what you have seen, keep the rest of our Solar System clean !
June 5, 2005
According to Murphy's Law, a toast, when dropped, will land on its buttered side. With a foresight we may try a sesamied bun; in that case the seeds will take the impact.
The same goes for an election. There is an overwhelming chance we will choose a wrong government. This is somewhat uneven comparison, for the ratio of honest to crooked politicians is not 50 to 50 as in a toast.
There is a phrase "People Power" heard with increasing frequency. Master K'ung would say, "People do not need Power, they need Brains". Power is needed only to correct the mistake.
One of the easy preliminary methods of weeding out the undesirables is to watch their body language. If they smile often while the subject is not funny or use their fingers in a fashion of illusionists you can be sure they are habitual liars. When politicians show up at the site of a natural disaster where hundreds of people die and the community is in a shock smiling cheerfully, you know this is the time they present their real face.
June 29, 2005
We often see the do-not-speak, do-not-see, do-not-hear monkeys on the shelves of souvenir stores, but they somehow escape our attention. Perhaps it is because they are not animated. Born in the conservative era when the progressive brain-washing techniques were not yet discovered they assume our intelligence unimpaired.
Little they know about now firmly established rule "no movement - no life".
Many think hearing bad news cannot harm them and without fear delight in rumors. Of course, actually seeing the disasters or cleverly persuasive acting in that direction adds to the value. Embellishing and relaying the already improved stories is the next natural step.
July 28, 2005
People go to church where they repeat mindlessly - by necessity, for if they thought deeply about the Creed, they may become much troubled. They believe in forgiveness of sins, hoping it will deliver them from unbearable anguish. However, the inventor of the concept - a bandaid solution - an illusionist taking pity on the suffering fellow humans glossed over some important details. Forgiveness, yes, but it should not be forgotten that an evil thought or action, once initiated, will reverberate within this Universe to the end of the times; justice will ultimately be done, one way or another.
August 3, 2005
Artistic Freedom Hallucination
Many clamor after freedom. The oppressed, the criminal, the insane. Although there is one important thing to remember. Freedom may be admitted only after dues of discipline are paid; this many of the art establishment do not stress enough. Perhaps they have not experienced the difference or their business interests interfere.
August 20, 2005
In creating Worlds, seventh day Lord rested. Now, it was Satan's turn. Clever bastard, he used God-given spiritual instinct to motivate men to do things most ungodly.
September 20, 2005
Examples abound of individuals with sanity questionable who wanted to install "New World Order" against the wishes of the world's inhabitants.
American Senator Albert Beveridge thought of Filipinos 'barbarous race not capable of understanding principles of Anglo-Saxon self-government" and proclaimed that God has chosen Americans to the leading role of "re-generation" of the world. Also President McKinley was counseled by God to civilise and Christianise them.
Another one, Adolf Hitler, proclaimed, "The Providence has chosen me...".
A well-known New World Order organiser is still active today, no doubt temporarily.
Again, quite recently, someone mentioned "Lord put me there..."
History, history...
September 25, 2005
Between two forked elm trees she lay, our princess, four days old. The priest says she serves now as one of the Lord's angels; I believe him, for I have no choice.
September 28, 2005
Religion seems to be one of the most banal expressions of man's spirituality; thicker than water, thinner than blood.
September 29, 2005
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Naturism
Sounds somehow better than Nudism. The compulsion to take one's clothes off and go around naked is not new. Only few people do it to shock or offend. Some are oversensitive, they get upset by a sight of a mother breastfeeding her baby in a park, even completely covered by a scarf.
Naked body contains a powerful symbolism. It represents a yearning for the original purity and freedom unencumbered, free from impositions and abuse from the society; searching for truth, transparency, simplicity and predictability. It may also signal a deep resentment of restrictions which we did not asked for, considering them incorrect and immoral.
A time ago I read some Japanese company provided effigies of their executives for their employees to punch and vent their anger and stress on. A wise strategy applicable to nudity. It definitely would instill, deep in our souls, feeling of accountability and appreciation of honesty.
Nudist philosophy seems to closely approximate that of Anarchist, misunderstood and misinterpreted. Both, in philosophical sense, are not out to offend and to destroy, but offer an olive branch to their fellow men, telling them they believe in their fundamental goodness, their civilised nature. They believe everyone should adopt the simple I-let-you-you-let-me-live principle. Perhaps they are naive.
During my artistic career I have done many foolish things, tried multiple techniques and media and found it easy to imitate the old masters. Conte I stopped because it seemed to promote mannerism.
Most artists, when using oil on canvas, think themselves a bricklayers building a beautiful house. This is not how I feel about the medium; touching the same spot twice I would admit a failure which I try to cover up. I am willing to suffer for my sins instead of pretending nothing happened.
*
Drawing Nudes : A Look Behind the Scene
( previously published in ARTSbeat magazine )
Drawing on a continuous basis of the human body is accepted as a necessary and very essential part of the artist's education which helps him keep in shape in the same sense as training of an Olympic athlete enables him to compete with the best.
Not only general public who often lacks detailed information about this kind of discipline but sometimes the artists themselves do not appreciate the full significance and benefits of drawing. Many art teachers were not taught or are unable to draw satisfactorily, therefore are not much qualified in this respect. The pupils' development in their most important stage of learning then flows in the direction of least resistance and many artists continue to actually believe that the undistinguishable marks they make on paper are exactly what they wanted to draw, that it is their personal style deserving a recognition. It is most unfortunate that art students are frequently encouraged to skip drawing and hurried to "express themselves" without learning the alphabet first.
When the student is able to draw reasonably well he graduates to living figure, eventually nude.
Why a nude? Most objects a student draws are not particularly demanding on their shape and proportions. Looking at a painting of a chair, we are not able to appreciate its fidelity, one inch shorter will not make much difference.
In a living, particularly nude body, an infinitesimal deviation in angle, proportion, accent, tremor of hand and positioning of skeletal form is instantly recognisable as an error because we are conditioned to make such fine distinction in our species. In following the smooth curves enormous amount of information is processed by the brain in extremely short time period. Simply it is a difficult task, an exhausting mental work with constant disappointment, constant pressure to quit.
In an athlete, his training apart from medals have another benefits. Gaining professional skills and personal qualities, will power and purpose, healthy life style, etc. The same and much more comes to an artist who persists and bears the pain.
Anything beautiful and valuable has a price. Not just any drawing will do, as any kind of training will not produce a top notch Olympic competitor.
Beside building an increase in craftsmanship the nude's symbolism exerts a powerful influence on the psyche, in very specific ways. A child who grows up among thieves eventually accepts their lifestyle and becomes a full-fledged criminal; a person who surrounds himself with and practices auspicious symbols and activities will adopt their values.
A nude, particularly female, contains apart from the biological also graphically produced symbolism of creative power represented by convex lines and shapes. The smooth, gentle and difficult to reproduce curves are antagonists of straight heavy lines which are a result of insufficient skills, arrogance and aggression.
Violence we witness every day is not as much a learned habit as some social scientists would suggest, but qualities naturally filling a vacuum where a higher, more difficult skills and attitudes should have been learned. A growing child progressing from a trike to a bicycle will not want to use his tricycle any more. A person who once learned with a great effort and pride a desirable behaviour will not slide back to a sub-standard one. Guaranteed.
October 6, 2005
An artwork is a cross-examination at the Court of Life. The Judge hears the testimony and notices demeanor of the witness, how long it takes him to answer a question, he looks for shifty eyes and other telltales to determine if the witness is telling the truth, how reliable will be his next answer. The conduct of the witness may be more important that his testimony because the facts can be corroborated from other sources.
We appreciate, stand in awe before the old masters, their Testimony. Yet, we fail to notice the process, how they conducted themselves. We do not value the fact that however brilliant their work, it reflects the inadequacies of the era; over-concern with the results on expense of the philosophy. Theirs is a belaboured testimony, a testimony of troubled souls, of inner conflicts which are passed on us, unsuspected. Besides a fresh breath of Renaissance we absorb some of the persisting habits of self-deception and fears.
If the destiny of man is to become more advanced in moral and spiritual sense, we must keep the old masters' work as a historic reference, not as a model to follow. An artist whose ambition and inclination is towards enlightenment of the nation must choose a medium which reflects it. An ambitious and ethical artist can be compared to a mountaineer scaling the peak of Matterhorn, carrying minimal equipment and knowing well that one wrong step may end his life. He is both determined to live and resigned to death; no room for illusions.
October 20, 2005
As a teenager I remember a priest wanting to instill his views on impressionable kids telling us that sex is disgusting and that even animals are afterwards sad.
If I met him today I would tell him he was wrong, the animals are not sad, they are calm and dignified knowing they did the right thing taking care of uninterrupted food chain, as the Lord decreed.
Another not terribly successful pronouncement were his words about the government being sent by God and obedience to them a duty of a Christian.
Soon after the very same government abolished religion classes and relegated priests and nuns to manual labour or prisons.
I fondly remember this catechist always wearing a tiny spit on his lower lip because he taught me an invaluable lesson - one should carefully consider before making any assertion.
October 24, 2005
No sooner than man quits his ambition to live like a human he resorts to magic.
Magic there are many kinds:
Some pass as miracles for there are no simple explanations to them or the knowledge is deemed unprofitable.
Other kinds are imaginative stories by artists who are as afraid to live as they are afraid to die.
Extraordinary feats, real or imaginary, flying persons, transformations in time and space, telepathy, premonition, fast cars, explosions and other wonders of destruction, immortality in face of undefeatable enemy, mind reading, clairvoyance and many more.
They all spring from the wells of self-doubt, lack of discriminative thought and faith in the One who entrusted us with life and intelligence.
October 30, 2005
The sermon for today was about master returning from a journey and punishing a servant for burying an entrusted Tollar instead of multiplying it as some other servants did. This does not make an impression of an inspired piece of writing, rather one modified to suit unsavoury mentality of the culture. I believe it would be more proper to reward him for being careful with his master's money instead of gambling on uncertain ventures, especially when this particular servant was known to be not one of the smartest and his actions predictable. If the master was really interested in profits, as he has shown, he should have enough brains to give the funds to his more mercenary servants.
In this connection, a passage was also quoted about the ones who have getting more and the less fortunate losing even the little they have left. This seems very contradictory to another verse where the exalted are humbled and the humble exalted. It obviously refers to the laws of nature often in conflict, nevertheless functioning side by side. You may assign it religious value, if you wish.
Unfortunately, such an ambiguity appears to give men a licence to speak with forked tongue.
November 6, 2005
There are two reasons people keep silence:: Either there is nothing to be said or they are aware of their imperfection.
November 22, 2005
Follow the leader, leader, leader.., I hear more often than my sensitivities can bear. I have a question none of the followers seem to be able or willing to answer: What if the leader is retarded or suffers from other multiple illegitimacies?
December 18, 2205
Pacquiao received a hero's welcome. He deserves it. However, I am not sure such attention is proportional to the respect other heroes are getting who have done much more for the Country and humankind. I take it as another useful diversion from our leaders' inability to govern.
I had a glimpse, irresistible for a handwriting analyst, of his signature in an autograph session. I am afraid he will go Ali's way. Few individuals on this Earth are prepared for fame and riches. This especially is true in the case of the many child actors here in the Philippines. Except for rare few their chance to grow up mentally and spiritually balanced persons are slim. I wonder what the consciences of the media moguls say about it. Perhaps they do not have any. Are the law makers and enforcers, so-called spiritual teachers, child welfare agencies, parents and do-gooders sleeping?
January 22, 2006
Many media moguls are not aware of the destructive nature of their existence. The sixty or seventy dead is only a reminder of their intentions, their nature-predetermined modus operandi.
It is high time we follow the words of the great spiritual teacher, Mahatma Gandhi; "Non-cooperation with evil is as important as cooperation with good".
The Evil Ones are well on their way to destroy moral fibre of the Nation, they have already caused great miseries and enslavement of the noble Philippine people.
There will be a violent backlash; history is the witness.
It is most unfortunate that the ruthless exploiters find so many willing accomplices in the Church, government, lawmakers, schools, the various useless bums calling themselves artists and stars; in places one would expect at least a feeble resistance.
February 4, 2006
Even casual observer must notice that among the conflicts and suffering mankind imposes upon itself religious differences reign unopposed.
Suppose that God would take pity on us and, overnight, removed all discrepancies in dogma, all middlemen and dictators dressed up as wise men so there would be no points of tension.
It is conceivable that men would frantically search for and eventually find another excuse to kill each other.
It is possible, but could there exist another equally good substitute?
February 28, 2006
Am I ever thankful for being born with flexible neck and variable speed of locomotion; this enables me to pass by any operating TV set in speed nearing Mach 1, with face averted.
It is a duty often neglected of small nations to vigorously resist domination of the Big Bullies. They will not behave humanly by themselves and wait for their self-destruction may be long.
The same applies to an individual. He must avoid, remembering his frail constitution, their concerted effort to suppress morality and IQ of the population below the mark of 50. For domination is always preceded by corruption.
A built-in flap for occlusion of eardrums would also be advantageous, for the sounds are not less objectionable.
I suppose all this is by design; there must be certain balance of forces between the hunter and the game.
March 11, 2006
When one aspiring to leadership of any kind, a politician, is incompetent and immoral, he starts to advertise and smiles profusely. He becomes eloquent, persuasive and all-knowing, letting us believe that re-electing him is in the interest of the Universe.
There is nothing more despicable than a person who present as truth something disputable or what he has no personal knowledge of.
Protracted Graduation ceremonies, 17th commencement. Not many people know where the word comes from. Nowadays when a new important edifice is being erected the work begins when a potentate uses shovel, digs and turns ground.
This is not how they did it in the Middle Ages. Digging was done by cheap labour, no celebration. The real business started with pouring foundations. The Monarch cried out, impatiently, "Let the men with cement come !" The phrase gradually mutated to, "Com - men - cement". Now you know.
Aril 1, 2006
Strange dream. Somehow I met the Queen. Very tense moments which seemed to affect everyone around. The Queen took the initiative and, patiently, instructed me in the matters of etiquette, particularly how to make 90 degree bow followed by bow of head.
I would like to know whether I was treated this way because she is habitually gracious or as being potential value to the Empire.
She was better looking than on One Dollar bill. A question for the dream interpreters: Does this foreshadow equally good response on my income tax return?
April 16, 2006
I am wondering why people call a game 'football' when there is no foot used and no ball. Neither pine or apple in the pineapple.
April 17, 2006
To save the mankind from sin and subsequent disaster one does not have to die. It is quite sufficient not to make mistakes in sorting out the good from evil and recognise a spade.
The phrase "forgive and forget" we hear often reflects the state of art only too well. It is so obviously phoney, for true forgiving naturally includes forgetting ; there should be no need to emphasize it.
April 28, 2006
There are definitions missing or incorrect in my Oxford and other dictionaries; these I have to append.
cease-fire - a period in which preparations are made for following bloodshed.
democracy - form of government or method of installing next wave of aggressors against people, a misnomer.
In its birthplace, Greece, the concept of democracy - government by people - was still genuinely practiced. For example, if there was a question of war - and there were wars non-stop - all citizens assembled on the city square and cast votes. Today, in the so-called democracies, a half-crazy democratic dictator can plunge the world into a war wiping half of the earth's inhabitants. The differences between the original principles of democracy and its questionable replicas are so stark that language experts should find a new definition lest lies and confusion affecting mental health and intelligence of masses prevail.
In contemporary democracy government is chosen by secret ballot. This seemingly perfect act and its results are fundamentally tarnished by :
a) the method of pre-selection.
b) limitations, narrow-mindedness of the candidates.
Present method is exact copy, although efforts are made to appear otherwise, of any other unsuitable form of establishing government. The insane, the powerful, the dishonest and those propelled by special interest groups are submitted. It is no secret that the intelligent, morally upright and capable individuals avoid politics; they simply hate the company. If, by the virtue of overwhelming desire to serve, they get elected nevertheless, they are soon manipulated out of office, resign in disgust, are assassinated or on rare occasion corrupted.
When we approach the problem of selecting a government suitable for enlightened age and people, several crucial rules will be agreed upon, for example:
1. The Candidate must not belong or have ties to any political party or group. One cannot serve two masters.
Such conflict of interest must disqualify any candidate.
2. The candidate must have a proven track record, not one manufactured by mercenary media, of genuinely caring
about the citizens, seeing the world through the eyes of the disadvantaged.
Such leader should be able, being aware of his inadequacy, to assemble experts and solicit ideas from the public in an on-going brainstorm session about the improvements in organisation of society in near future.
Such leader may be best exemplified in the person of Mahatma Gandhi.
a) He had no desire to enter politics but was forced to organise the oppressed by sheer compassion for their plight.
b) He did not seek and have not received any official recognition, powers of office. His influence was exclusively
due to his moral authority.
c) He was able to convince anyone, by equal treatment of friends and foes, to cooperate.
d) He was the one perfectly fitting the definition of Lao-tse;
" He who is willing to carry the misfortunes of his people on his shoulders is fit to be their leader".
Gandhi: " When I am obliged to make a decision, I first contemplate how it will affect the poorest individual in a
remote village of India".
The proper leader should strenuously seek ways how to demonstrate the difference between manners of operation of the government and organised crime, jueteng lords, kidnappers for ransom, various revolutionary groups and common criminals. For it cannot escape any normal mind that the governments continuously and forcefully submit to us that if you have a goal, philosophy of justification and means of enforcement you can achieve any goal - and feel good about it.
The intelligent and legitimate leader must be able to convince everyone that his plans for just and prosperous society will benefit equally the rich and the poor, the poor gaining better living conditions and dignity, the rich security and gratitude of the future generations. They should be reminded examples in history, the fate of Czars, the French Revolution. as unavoidable patterns and at the end catastrophic wars where everyone is the loser.
Democracy is a word fraught with deception and magic; its definition and use should be corrected as quickly as possible.
April 29, 2006
Beauty Pageant. Pageant of WHAT ??
One who deals with beauty every moment of his waking hours, sometimes in sleep, ought to know the difference between beauty advertised and delivered.
In order beauty to be recognised and understood it must be defined first. A daunting task.
Superficially, in perception of majority, symmetrical form, smooth surface and glittery texture is all that is required. To highlight the superficiality of this, one must look at Japanese. The more knurled branch, the more crooked and rough surface of a cup, the better appreciation. Why such seemingly stark difference in definition of beauty? Make no mistake, there is no contradiction. In the imperfect shape and texture there is a reflection of time and desire for its continuance, where adherence to tradition was more important than life. The stability, loyalty and dignity of a gentleman and samurai, security of strictly organised society. This is viewed as object of admiration and worship. Natural, unaltered forms of life and earth as expression of revulsion to any modification of truth.
When we look carefully and analytically on events, products and relations in everyday life we cannot miss the concerted effort from some quarters to lower our understanding, appreciation, expectations and desire for beauty.
As in taking temperature of someone with fever the thermometer, the sick person and the value on the thermometer scale cannot be separated the beauty of the pageant's contestants cannot be separated from its setting, from its purpose. The cultural damage is not done single-handedly by this one event, therefore it is futile to protest it while consenting to other innumerable instances occurring on daily basis. The pageant's purpose and circumstance is dismal; the beauties cannot be judged by their beauty alone, but in conjunction with the supreme goal of profits for the conglomerate of organisers conspiring to extinguish any consideration of ethics, dignity and real beauty. It simply gives an impression of meat market.
There are some women's groups who bitterly oppose such events. It is doubtful they will be listened to; the profits are enormous and so are the wounds. In order for any progressive thought, any revolution to succeed it is not enough to criticise the old one, there must be an alternative worked out beforehand. It is not correct nor wise to tear down your house before securing a lot, plans and building material for a new one. This is the fundamental error all good-intended people make. Instead of fighting injustice, they should cultivate justice in their vicinity. Instead of despairing over ugliness, the ought to create beautiful things and relationships.
Some object to the pageants because invariably the ladies appear scantily clothed. Clothes or no clothes is not an obstacle to nor promoter of beauty.
I have worked as a photographer for the director of Miss Nude World the late Carl Alkerton. The ladies, usually within a naturist resort, were much dignified, for simple reason; there was no motive other than promotion of nudism.
The artist's job in defining and disseminating beauty is relatively simple provided he has the ability, personal and professional. In painting or sculpting one of the beauties he can eliminate all the nonsense which take away and in the end completely destroys, by association, the elements of beauty and go directly to the heart of it - to the universal values, their symbolic representations free from the encumbrances.
Some authors annoy me from distance of hundred miles. In touring seven architectural wonders of the world, they invariably show themselves in front, on left side, at the back and on right side of the chimney, then on the top; if they could, they would levitate high above the chimney.
In spite of much improved presentation methods results of my technology transfer attempts seem to get worse.
The executives' ability to attune their personal feelings to interests of the Company keeps deteriorating.
Quite recently, I contacted CEO of a company in the business of dirigibles offering simple engines and related technology which would save passengers' lives in the case if midair collision and propel the gondola, independently, to safe landing. The poor soul could not comprehend that the phrase "midair collision" could include any mishap or crash where people would die. "We have not heard about any case of midair collision". Luckily, it was correspondence, not a conversation in person, I may have exploded and say - with your little brain you are going to have one !
The next objection was that the engines are too noisy. Pardon me, if you fall from height of five thousand feet along with your family and know you are going to die, I am sure there would be no lengthy discussion whether the noisy engines should be turned on.
I related this to a person in the field and the answer was wrong, again. " I am a qualified engineer, I do not need your help".
If I were one of the thousands of qualified engineers who try unsuccessfully for decades to solve an urgent problem and learned there is one with grade nine who have the technology, I would not advertise that I am qualified engineer, rather keep it very secret.
May 2, 2006
I was King's Minister of Justice and had a delicate task of convincing the King to submit himself to Court, which he was not obliged to, where one of his subjects complained about damage to his property by the King's hunting expedition. My strategy was based on the opportunity of demonstrating that Law, Design, governs every human activity, even Divine. With assurances that citizens are being both protected and accountable, the Kingdom will be united and prosperous.
I was eloquent and successful, very happy with the job done.
Unfortunately, the dream was delivered to wrong address.
May 6, 2006
Those about to administer lie detector test should reconsider.
At the beginning of the procedure, calibrating questions are given in order to demonstrate that different physiological responses are elicited by neutral and anxiety-laden questions. There may be a beginner's luck operating. The clever guys ignore the fact that the response is not directly to the question but through the subject's mental approach to it.
The subjects' approaches may range from hard-practiced 'kiss-my-ass' attitude to overly anxious and irregular, all less than dependable. The data yielded are far remote from the fundamental principle of justice calling for proof. The examiner, the dumb machine and the accused himself exercise no real control over the three points - three reasons why such high-tech garbage should have no place at a court of law where there must not be confusion between innocence and guilt.
In analysis of handwriting, tremor produced by anxiety can be detected and evaluated by comparison to previous writing samples. Some may say it is too vague, not connected to any specific event. Vague yes, but very precise, never showing a quality not actually present.
May 7, 2006
I am watching my mother-in-law prepare shrimp for lunch. Some are still trying to escape. If I knew Shrimpese I would try to comfort them, explaining the facts of life to them, "If you are born as shrimp, you die as shrimp".
The same rule applies to humans. When man's life is good, his death is good also.
May 11, 2006
San Miguel Beer.... Any celebration has a supply of it. There is a statement on a label which, when removed, would increase the apparent I.Q. of the Company at least by 50 points, the famous "Only beer that promotes Filipino friendship". Give me a break. Although the quality is much better than the ordinary Canadian or U.S. brew.
First coming to Canada, I rushed to the liquor store, properly filled the requisition form with my address and signature to get my Pilsen. They did not ask for passport or police clearance.
Since it was an unknown brand that time it was in stock for years, tasting terribly, the same word describing. my disappointment. Later on it became popular and fresh, so I was happy to get four cans for a weekend.
Until the fateful day the label changed colour. My frantic search for the valuable phrase " Brewed in accordance with the German Purity Law of ...". yielded zero result.
I mourned for the City and brand which gave birth to and perpetuated fame of its benchmark beer, the only genuine Pilsener, originated and brewed in the City of Pilsen.
This was the end of love affair and the only instance I wished communists were back in power. The greedy stockholders and board of directors would be standing at a wall - receiving one bullet between eyes. Clear case of sabotage.
May 15, 2006
The various Scriptures in my possession offer ethical guidance and, separated by crystal wall of faith, promise of reward in Paradise.
They can be categorised into various groups, for example short, medium and long. One cannot overlook one's experience and words of wise men, "In many words you will not avoid sin". Indeed, it is in the most detailed advice we often can find the most troubling contradictions.
We can sort the books of wisdom by their appeal to universal man. For example, read some verses from the Tibetan Buddhist Dhammapada:
"If, on the journey of life, one cannot meet
a companion better or at least as good as oneself,
let him cheerfully travel alone ; for a fool cannot help him"
or, one of my favourites,
"Perfume of flowers cannot travel against the wind,
not even that of sandalwood or jasmine
but the perfume of virtue travels against the wind
and reaches unto the ends of the worlds".
One who desires perfection of any degree will naturally distrust advices of blind acceptance and ask some questions.
Does the particular Scripture apply to all humans or does it single some privileged group on the expense of others, does it denigrate or glosses over other races or cultures, does it promote franchise, hierarchy, superior and inferior relations, does it value profit, conspire with the powerful to enhance its own power?
Depending on the answers, the Scripture occupies corresponding shelf in my library.
May 16, 2006
Most people seeing a splash on TV screen, "The best hit at the box office" do not realise that it is just a pre-emptive strike, like accusing Sadam of having weapons of mass destruction.
It is advisable to use logical reasoning. The entertainers spend half a million in order to make one million. This entails increase in the price of a ticket. Secondly, if the show was good, they would not have to advertise, rather chase the fans off the gates.
If the show is no good and the ticket overpriced, why on earth would I like to see it?
June 1, 2006
Almost anything has more than one way of interpretation. While playing National Anthem , some place their right hand on their heart as a display of loyalty. Others merely make sure that their wallets are not stolen.
June 14, 2006
There are certain principles an intelligent person should adhere to, even as they often are violated. For example, if one is uncertain about existence of Heavens and Angels, one should not discuss colour of their gowns. If one knows little about the mechanism causing children write letters facing opposite direction one should be satisfied with postulating a hypothesis - that humans develop from recognition of shapes toward their organisation, movement in space and reconciliation with community standards, in this order.
June 21, 2006
When I hear scientific words like "bonding", "psychoanalysis" or "significant others" ,I think of my grandparents, thousand and millions years back loving their children, respecting their neighbours and understanding their problems - all without the benefit of the science. Then the real purpose of the sciences emerge in their monstrosity and their true goal of manipulating, conquering and exploiting their fellow human beings becomes apparent.
July 3, 2006
Some people pray often, go to church often and recite 10 Commandments often. I want to be reminded only once a year; this is my attention span.
It is most unfortunate that many people are able to claim wisdom and ignore at the same time physics, the basic law of action and reaction or, as Zen Master Suzuki often stressed, the principle of affirmation and negation.
It may not be generally understood that better than fighting sin and crime is forgetting sin and crime. We can not comprehend that the governments, law enforcers, churches and all kinds of dignified institutions insist on law and order, peace and security, prosperity and justice at the dawn and promote anarchy, injustice, corruption and wars after the sunset.
One important task before me is to convince people in position of responsibility that there are safety rules in arts.
If you purchase a gun, you are obliged to have a licence, know the law and receive training in safe handling of a firearm. Unfortunately, no such requirements exist in arts, although they can inflict great damage. Firearm can injure or kill a person, but by arts whole nations can degenerate or their culture perish.
Since we are, as a species, 'not in the know' regarding our origins and purpose of existence, we have two basic methods to solve our problem. The traditional employs an arbitrary anchoring point sufficient for majority. Some of us proclaim it with disproportional noise. The second group accepts the lack of information, not a fault of ours. The choices are sorted mainly along intelligence lines of which there are different kinds.
Intelligence is mostly innate, but can be much improved or diminish by the individual's efforts. Here arts play significant role, which is not recognised by the authorities who have no particular interest in smartening up the population. It would be the end of their kingdoms.
Intelligence on a very basic level is enhanced and pre-conditioned by ability to see reality; the opposite way is insanity. Seeing things exactly as they are is not as easy matter as it may appear. Try to draw a picture, a quick portrait of someone. Does it clearly resemble the person? If not, then you are not able to see the reality properly. It is not the eye, the arm and the hand muscles or as some misinformed scientists call it 'eye-hand coordination" which is incorrect. It is the inability to pass the real-life perfect information through our nervous system unaltered by our incorrect opinions. Remember, the hands of a surgeon can repair nerve fibres, transplant heart. He is able to do it only if he leaves his personality outside of the operating theatre.
The skills of seeing things properly are skills of denying our mind access to incorrect opinions, preferably to all opinions. Only some will alter reality in a pleasant way. The skills can be gained by painful practice, for example in drawing. The exercise will also leave an undisputable evidence of your progress, improving your mental skills, problem solving and general intelligence.
In the old days, drums and other audio devices were used to prop spirit of the armies before attack and instill fears in the defenders. I think this usually had an opposite effect, hardening the will and determination of the opposing force.
This universal principle is operating every day ; we know that when one walks in a forest at midnight and is afraid, he begins to whistle. The connection of fears and feelings of guilt with loud noise is undeniable.
When I hear the words " non-proliferation", I hear war drums. If a party hundred times stronger insists on denying an access to effective weaponry to a weaker one regardless of the circumstances, it must be recognised by anyone as an act of war. We also know that aggression of any origin and ideological background will never be forgotten and forgiven.
July 17, 2206
When we affix a ballast to the bottom of our sailboat we think of keeping it upright. We refuse to think it will help sink the ship faster.
July 18, 2006
Some say men are God's favourites, therefore given dominion over the Earth. I believe inferior men shoved these words into God's mouth. Motivation ? Plans for future enslavement and exploitation of fellow humans and its justification. by Divine decree.
God graciously allowed men to share the planet with other entities ; any perceived difference is a product of our defective thinking.
There are experts everywhere you look, especially if you do not employ strict definitions.
My definition of an expert is following:
If you can't touch, chew and eat, throw, hammer, draw, cut, pour, fly, stain or burn it, you do not have expertise.
August 3, 2006
Append to the encyclopedic dictionary
fax ; a machine which sends, without prejudice, both faxts and manufaxtured stories. Loved by the media
August 11, 2006
Whether or not I will have an opportunity to lecture on ethics in art, I have prepared some questions for the students.
An actor walks out of set after filming a scene which subject was violent and immoral and is confronted by a person: "Do you think what you do is right"?
He answers, " I am not the director or producer. I am just an actor doing a job in order to feed my family".
The question for the students: Do you think it was a correct answer ?
As the ring sounds I leave the answer for the next day and will also ask their comment on one possible answer.
"The answer is an excuse that is commonly accepted in a corrupt society. Among civilised people it will not be accepted. The activity will not be illegal, because in an enlightened society the law is also enlightened, but it would be severely censored by the citizenry; there would be no audience".
I would hope, upon finishing the unit, to make it clear that it is the duty of the Government to provide an example in morality, but it is the duty of the citizens to enforce it.
August 26, 2006
My Mother, farmer's daughter, was much quicker than myself in recognising the true nature of organisations. "Devil fathered Organisations and loved them not", she used to say.
As there is no organisation without evil design at its conception, there is none without disastrous aftermath.
August 27, 2006
The braves and the cowards
One does not have to be a psychiatrist to know that individuals and nations who are the most violent are also most cowardly. Superior men can bear abuse without retaliating or, as Lao-tse put it more gently, "Superior man does his duty, but does not require others to fulfill their obligations".
August 31, 2006
Append the appended
2. democracy; a form of government where the elected manage to convince many that their ascent to power was by democratic means and that they actually execute the will of the people. As diplomacy is said to be a "war by another means" ' democracy appears to be a "dictatorship by another means".
money laundering; finger-pointing phrase meant to discredit a competitor. The principal money-launderers are the governments, virtually all their proceeds are, directly or indirectly, results of immoral or questionable activities they engage in while dancing on an edge of sword of the Constitution.
September 16, 2006
The more urgent it is becoming to learn about the beneficial and destructive powers of art the more indifferent the audiences appear. Have we reached the point of no return, is the ideal of Renaissance dead?
One who cannot fully appreciate the effects of art on our psyche can be likened to one in possession of advanced aircraft only to tow it as a float in Rose Parade once a year.
October 18, 2006
We look up to people who have conquered their senses, are successful in the battle against greed, violence, cowardice and other fears, who speak truth regardless of consequence. Yet, we may have difficulty establishing dependable criteria, definition in describing such persons. Should they still be called humans and if so, are they advanced beings or dysfunctional beings?
Buddha left for us a perfect teaching, some may regard it a religion. His monumental work was spurred, as the story goes, by the shock of seeing sick, dying and suffering men.
Still, I wonder what might happen if he had exclaimed. "Wow, this is what awaits us all? Well, it seems to be pre-ordained, so we better accept it. Who am I to rebel against Divine decree?"
Wouldn't it be much simpler way to solve a problem?
Democracy. Each of us may have slightly different idea what the word means. In simple terms, what is the will of majority the minority should accept, based on counting votes. I am afraid only the majority will agree
If there is to be peace there must be a willing compromise; a hundred votes must have the same weight as one single one; Government must answer to the same law as a single citizen.
This may be too difficult for the democratic majority to understand.
October 19, 2006
"Little learning is dangerous", I read on the cover of kids' notebook. If so all learning is dangerous, since we never will be able to sound the depth of complete knowledge.
November 7, 2006
Who is the Ruler?
When we see a subject sniveling, crawling on the ground before his King we may not realise that this is a complex behaviour with multiple aspects.
There is a component of fear and appeasement, a desire to infiltrate, by a back door, the clique of the powerful, manipulate and enlist the monarch to support one's personal agenda and by reinforcing the pomp and circumstance intimidate potential enemies.
It is similar in the case of worship. We fear God, trailing behind Him in a manner of a dog following bitch in heat and expect advantages, a precious compensation. Man is mercenary through and through.
I have read about one who, when tempted, threw himself on a bush of thorns. It may appear a worthwhile and pious attempt to straighten one's thinking. On the other hand, he may just be a masochist, the pain yielding higher pleasure than the original temptation; a case of cure worst than the disease. Man is a devious creature.
December 16, 2006
Dogma does not fall from heaven, it it created by people. There is no other purpose for dogma than to contradict dogmas previously and subsequently created. There can be no other outcome than clashes of dogmas, animosity, waste of time and resources, wars. Therefore, creators of dogmas are murderers, disciples of Satan.
It is no different with words, definitions. They are purported to facilitate communication ; in reality they are bases of arguments and confusion. Therefore, the Sage devotes his life to silence and reaches supreme understanding.
December 24 2006
I watched the 36th Disney's animated, the Mulan. Only distraction, but insignificant, was the garbled sound caused by poor pirating.
The only question remains: Where on earth the barbarous Wild West Huns acquired such heavenly calligraphers?
January 4, 2007
I used to think my dictionary is a good one; not any more. There is a definition there explaining the word "plaintiff" but no mention about "decorated tiff"!
January 20, 2007
Non-chroma
When number of murderers in a community increases, murder becomes first tolerated, then accepted, then fashionable, then celebrated, then lawful, then necessary and finally, required.
This is subject to universal laws of nature.
First men acted in a simple classical manner of "fight-or-flee". With increase in population and multiplication of adversities the space between the fight and the flee increased; now it deserves its own category. Nowadays men use more sophisticated ways to solve problems - they pussyfoot around, explain away, scientifically analyse them.
In simple language, it is called deception.
The generic deception includes, in addition to the rationalisation, denial of existence and equalisation, considering an event as a phenomenon not different from other, thus lessening its impact.
In the universal language, this area is represented by non-chroma - white, gray and black. It must be noticed that in highly emotional situations, during funeral rites, people in the West wear black. This indicates the cultural habit of denial. In the East, they wear white; they accept death as a necessary ingredient of life. In some cultures they celebrate death as a liberation from the earthly sufferings. They wear colourful costumes at the funeral.
Colour is a fascinating subject. Unfortunately, there are preachers in high positions who talk nonsense and create confusion. The most common and fatal error is not considering the difference between the colour's universal value and the individual's manner of reacting to it.
In the arts, deception and underlying fears are manifested by admixture of black or white to pure hue, surrealistic treatment of the subject and many other alterations or avoidances of the truth.
We can notice overuse of gray in publications and on web pages, too small or unreadable font on low contrast or confusing background, multiple layers, etc.; they all indicate that deception in our society is past the tolerated and accepted, it has become fashionable.
January 27, 2007
I believe knowledge and intellectual property are greatly overrated. There is certain cowardice in claiming credit for achievements caused mainly by the fact that one was born earlier and certain justified resentment by the following generations for having wind taken off their sails.
January 28, 2007
Blow up airplane ?
There are two groups of people, steadily increasing in numbers in whom an associated thought arises. One who plans to avenge wrong done to them and second who is scared because of wrong they have done.
To me it just reminds to bring a favourite toy to my baby from the mall..
February 6, 2007
Time of kissing babies and showing off dental work is coming !
Luckily, I won't be required to personally meet any of the free meal providing candidates, so it won't be necessary to give them the following advice:
Smile, smile, (name of the candidate) God loves imbeciles.
February 7, 2007
Our puppies love licking my toes. They assume something that smells beautifully must also taste good.
There is a close parallel in religion and politics. They both ought to provide us with security, one in spiritual realm, the other in social order and justice. They both fail miserably and they both demonstrate two of man's chronic disabilities ; his lack of understanding and his lack of understanding his lack of understanding.
There is only one True Religion. It is based on deficiency of one's mind.
It appears we must make a choice; either spirituality or religion. One cannot have both.
February 8, 2007
"Do not do onto others what you do not want them to do onto yourself. This sums up the law of the Prophets". Wise words.
What do I think of the Prophets? I rather not say, except that prophesies, miracles and sidhis were intended to impress stupid people. I believe if one is not lying in his faith he should accept what is given to him from above without trying to subvert His command. For looking into the future is no doubt an attempt to manipulate it to one's advantage. Were the Prophets aware of this? If yes, they had serious conflict of interest; if not, how could they be considered enlightened?
February 24, 2007
There is a time when all our valuable experiences become wasted or perverted unless they become precisely defined and vocalised.
A word of caution: At certain point honesty turns into arrogance and subtlety into dishonesty.
March 14, 2007
It is easier to give than to receive advice. If you experience difficulties in communication with your mate, there are two easy-to-follow steps to fix it.
1) Assume it is your fault
2) In the case you are absolutely perfect, start leaning towards imperfection and try to make your
and your mate's faults complementary.
Here comes another chance to loose friends and make enemies. There is a display of huge abstract photographs at the SM Megamall. They have a board there eloquently promoting abstract art. I almost got convinced. Except for the experience of the contemporary society being already permeated by deception and cowardice, do we really need promotion of art which apologises not taking a stand, always leaving a back door open, explaining one's action in whichever way it is more convenient and profitable?
March 27, 2007
One intent on discovering his spiritual destiny will, inevitably and finally, come to understand that we do not pray to God - we manipulate God.
April 6, 2007
Bush must have consulted the ancient oracle Pythia and gotten the message insecure emperors regularly receive , " If you cross the river ( ? Euphratus ) you will destroy great Empire".
April 17, 2007
Observing an amoeba under a microscope I can see similarities with certain so-called artists on certain Channel and how the process of evolution works. Undoubtedly, the amoeba thinks, "I wish I could become an artist, like them. All I have to do is to learn to count to eight".
May 3, 2007
Encyclopedic dictionary, continued
participatory democracy ; a political system where citizens elect their government first, then continue to tolerate their corruption and impotence.
fascism ; a system of operation of government using organisations with excessive powers but no responsibility, maintained by an atmosphere of fear.
This applies to foreign governments, not our own.
May 29, 2007
Study
There are two kinds of religions One which imparts incommunicable spiritual knowledge and other comprising blind leading the blind. The blind, in an effort to compensate for their blindness, talk too much. Those who experience encounter with the first kind retire to mountains or caves and remain silent.
It is my personal opinion that by performing rituals and parroting useless words one moves in direction of not-knowing. Perhaps this was the intention of founders of cults. That which appears to unite people under one ideal actually divides them. Divide and conquer.
June 20, 2007
Undeniably, God's mills may mill slowly, but certainly. The courts' mills mill just slowly.
June 27, 2007
There still may be some people who do not understand the word counterproductive ; never too late to learn.
On TV, we could see an ad done by some sub-standard artist and ordered by a government official (there is only one kind ).
It featured a long line of very ethnically looking people, each claiming "I am American". The creators undoubtedly wanted to show the U.S. is a melting pot, in a "united we stand" way. I believe to the intelligent it may say that the Empire is crumbling, in a "divided we fall" way. It is always a good idea to use brains before putting stuff on the air. They should first listen to lecture of the late Zen Master Suzuki about affirmation and negation.
July 6, 2007
Some people took exception to my opinion that religion and spiritual nature of man are mutually exclusive. I do not understand what is so difficult in this concept.
Religion is about men , it is man's organisation, regardless of the claims. Men are deceptive, arrogant, even lacking human qualities. Religions cannot help but reflect man's evil nature.
Spirituality concerns soul. Soul is faultless.
July 24, 2007
Complete instructions, please !
Advice which is curt can be considered either overly respectful or arrogant. My beloved K'ung Fu-tsu , as recorded in the Analects. commented on the subject of his proposed dwelling among barbarians, "How could they be barbarians if a gentleman lived among them ?" Master made the same mistake as Jesus when he advised us to turn the other cheek.
Master should have said, in order to avoid conflicting interpretations, " If a gentleman lived among them they would have a chance to become civilised , but only under condition they have already seen inadequacy of their philosophy. In other case they would be angry having their lifestyle challenged and I would be killed and eaten immediately. Similarly, Jesus should have elaborated, " Turn the other cheek, if it would help correct the offender".
Turning the other cheek, should the bank shake hands with the robbers - no hard feelings - preferably apologise to them for the inconvenience of having them chased by police and arrested?
Useful advice should make one also understand that by turning the other cheek may encourage committing more and graver offences.".
It wouldn't be fair to forget to mention the original purpose of the advice, de-escalating violence. This must have been on Jesus' mind.
August 16, 2007
It appears that Governments are no less crooked than advertisers or manufacturers, otherwise they would be able to tell them how to behave.
If you complain to a watch company that their wristwatch supposed to be water resistant to 10 meters got water just after crossing street in little rain you can be sure to hear following explanation: " Sir, we guarantee it did resist. We did not say it would resist successfully or that it would actually be waterproof".
August 18, 2007
Celebration
After the usual carnivore/gulp period the inevitable happened, mostly confirming what I knew already, e.g. regardless what clothes you hang on a gorilla, it will remain a gorilla. This usually is accompanied with a matching lyrics.
" After some time I made up my mind that she was THE girl...." If it took some time she definitely was not
THE girl ; he was not THE guy either. Neither THE lyricist.
A boyfriend who cannot throw pebbles is sure to give similar performance later on.
"Breaking my heart again...." Didn't learn the first time?
"...made it through the rain.." Dry or wet ?
" I need you today, o Mandy..." Such a rare straightforwardness deserves a reward.
She a mermaid he a walrus - what a charming pair we are, what a charming pair we are...
By skillfully programming the scores around 85 points it is certain the video CD's will keep on selling.
Still later the candles on cake blowing duty. When all the king's donkeys and all the king's (plastic} men were removed not much of the cake was left.
August 26, 2007
Trial and Error.
If reasonable doubt is the line dividing the guilty from the innocent, then it is incorrect to call such system Justice. Anyone familiar with the impressive Roman heritage in the art well knows precision in definitions is of utmost importance. He then realizes it should be properly termed "Approximation of Justice".
A few steps down the scales held by the Lady we notice that her blindfold is a Saran wrap. She represents political variation of Justice.
Angry Jesus kicked out merchants from the Temple. Pious act, but if you think of it, is selling goods for money or praying for success in business or favours in the heaven that much different?
September 12, 2007
A trip to Sta. Lucia to buy our baby a bicycle. Passing Taytay SM Mall, it is almost finished. Another place to spend big. I was shocked recently getting RAM memory for Peso 600 in an ordinary computer store; they wanted to sell me the same stick for Peso 2,200 in the Megamall.
Sta. Lucia Mall is the most beautiful. When you want to use an escalator going down and chicken out, there is a small foyer of sort provided so you can step aside, pretending to admire the fountain and when your heartbeat slows down you may get on the moving dragon. Very thoughtful architect.
One easy way to gauge how deep human civilisation has sunk is to go to the bicycle shop and try to lift one of those. All the greed of the corporations, ever tightening vise of the media and stupidity of the consumers are concentrated there. You can feel it, you can smell it.
September 13, 2007
Military is the most efficient, well oiled machine. When I thumbed through the manuals I could see, like in a mirror, military law of Old Rome. Also most stupid. When an ambitious officer have all trees painted orange he's got good explanation. When the enemy sees it he becomes confused and will be defeated easily.
My last years in the service I spent with the celebrated "Sturmovik" planes.. I may be the last mechanic to caress them, they retired with me.
There were some hilarious moments, at least from my point of view. I lost a seal, tiny but very important gadget.
Whole fleet, including the highest commanders went on their knees, crawling and combing the airport grass with their fingers. No luck.
Then I found it while changing clothes it was there laying on the hangar floor. It slipped off its ring which was defective. The brass were celebrating as if they won a Million Dollars. Ehmm...Rubles. No need to report it to the Minister of Defence.
Those were the golden years. We were young and stupid. The imperialists were lucky, did not cross our path.
How the times change; my compatriots can kiss their ass freely now, excuse the expression. I hope they know the difference between polite peck and deep French.
Tony Blair and his foreseeable successors have to learn a lot. One cannot sit on two chairs, especially with half ass in Europe, the second in America. It is just not physically possible.
September 14, 2007
Append
In my dictionary, word diluvial refers to time of the Flood. This is not sufficient explanation because in most people's mind Flood is associated with the story in the Bible where God sends deluge to punish sinners.
God is not known to contradict laws of nature. No amount of torrential rain can raise water above the Mount Ararat. It was most likely caused by movement in the Earth's crust. Secondly, God would hardly be interested in some backward group of humans, regardless how much they sinned. If he were, nevertheless, he would let them self-destruct. Events of this nature are on record.
October 4, 2007
As teenagers, we were told that only those over fifty who have traveled in the Soviet Union are qualified to give advice. I know now that living abroad definitely broadens one's horizon, but would raise up the age bar to seventy. The young guys know nothing. For example, they think only some cars have air conditioning. Big mistake. All cars have air conditioning, only the condition of the air may be different in each. They believe Chow King are successful because they offer good food for reasonable price. Again, they ignore the fact that theirs is a cut-throat business; obviously, they do not like to see blood from the jugular squirting all over the place, they prefer the more civilised way of chow-king the competitors.
November 2, 2007
When one is unable to solve a problem, he may give up. It is perfectly alright to call a phenomenon one cannot understand "a mystery". However, it is not acceptable to make resorting to mystery a guiding principle of an Organisation.
November 6, 2007
As a consequence of losing war, Emperor of Japan was made to renounce his divine heritage. It may not be correctly perceived who was humiliated more; the Emperor or Americans, for trying to alter which cannot be changed - one's origin.
As this is a matter of principle, it makes no difference whether or not the Emperor actually came from divine bloodline. The Masters Values Re-shufflers were at it again in Nurnberg. Allies had the opportunity to catch the war criminals, but they should then be tried by Country not a party to the conflict.
Only a plaintiff with slug mentality would demand to be judge in his case.
Progress is method by which men lacking intelligence commit violence upon Nature. On the other hand, everything that expires in the Universe is Nature ; man-made disasters are natural disasters. At this point we realise stupidity of the philosopher, the shit-disturber.
I almost broke my leg getting out of bed, slipping on equivalent of banana peel. Does this explain everything?
November 22, 2007
The argument of evolution versus intelligent design rages on. It seems that the intelligent design people have certain unfair advantage. Although they may be considered on defensive because they use deception calling God who they actually have in mind, by different name.
If the evolutionist people bring any number of proofs that natural evolution is visible in every corner of the Universe, that there is undeniable randomness and irregularity which does not seem intelligent, which indeed appears stupid and unjust and after the poor evolutionist is exhausted and at the end of his wits, the intelligent- designist delivers the coup de grace: "The randomness, contradictions, stupidity and all your efforts are due to the Intelligent Design !"
November 25, 3007
Chinese Emperors were pragmatic and wise, dealt severely with instigators of rebellion, but were lenient towards the followers. They understood the value of obedience and loyalty of the people to their princes . If they punished the commoners, the principle of loyalty on which their own rule depended would be in jeopardy.
Present Chinese Government is just pragmatic.
Merkel faced criticism for her meting with Dalai Lama and given advice to be more pragmatic in dealing with easily offended Chinese.
If I were the Prime Minister, I would give the detractors an explanation ; " Mr. Speaker, I would like to make five points for the Honourable Member to consider ; first, Germany is a sovereign Country and I am a Prime Minister of sovereign Country who will choose whom she will meet, without any dictators interfering. Second; German people suffered unspeakably by death and humiliation, precisely because of pragmatism. Third; it is better to die for a just cause than to be a victorious coward. Forth; the Honourable Member should make up his mind who is insulted here, German people or Chinese Government. Chinese people are fine, thank you.
Five; Mister Speaker, the whole World is watching us".
November 30, 2007
Polite is one of the triplets ; brother to Dishonest and Cowardly.
February 3, 2008
Honesty is adornment of scientist. They seem quite plain.
We should listen to opinions of others in technical affairs. However, In the matters moral and spiritual gentleman's opinion should be immutable.
February 12, 2008
Artist must be a patriot in order to justify his existence, not someone similar to one selling Rolex watch on a corner quickly, without the movement, a useless scrap of fake art.
February 22, 2008
If we want to claim understanding of a logical sequence we must refer to the Originator. Without knowledge of Conception and first steps in the chain of events how can we grasp our woes? We must then admit it is work of Destiny, therefore find no humans to blame or retaliate against.
March 18, 2008
Under ancient Indian caste system, if an untouchable sweeping the street saw a person of higher caste he flattened himself on wall of a building, lest his shadow would defile such exalted one. So I heard.
In case there is such Thing as God it would be safe to keep my shadow to myself. I speak of God as a matter of convention, not to imply I actually know anything about the Subject.
March 19, 2008.
They say that to cormorants souls of lost sailors , ever close to the sea, transmigrate.
If this is true, we can imagine roasting pigs performing the only useful service in their lives, ever close to the trough, whose souls they contain.
One who gets hold of the CONCEPT will become the ruler of the Universe. Many tried, but only made asses of themselves even as they managed to shroud themselves in dignity and attract many followers.
April 5, 2008
Again, I am amazed seeing people laughing heartily at someone getting hurt, insulted or suffering by other misfortunes and wonder how it did become an acceptable form of entertainment. Does the barrier erected between real injury and simulated one indicate an onset of social schizophrenia?
April 7, 2008
I love you...I love you...I love you..., only simple words you may understand...
Not only dull-witted teenagers, even older guys broadcast this nonsense. I believe it is the educators' fault, not telling people about the universal rule the Old Philosopher explained, that when genuine relations are absent they are replaced by words.
April 19, 2008
There is considerable confusion in the matters of tradition and progress. A designer who keeps following his professors does not show respect, rather incompetence.
April 26, 2008
Despite my reticence, people always get my opinion.
A vendor in a record store I just passed by: "You do not like this music?"
"They should never let them out of the mental institution; look what happened".
June 2, 2008
People often ask why I do not particularly like working in oils.
In an oil painting. the composition, colours, subject matter, etc., all attest to the artist's skill, are undisputable proofs.
In brush-painting oriental style on white absorbent paper in black ink there are similar telltales highlighting quality of the creator. There is no single atom which can conceal anything, all is undisputable.
In oil painting. however beautiful and artistic, the last, most important action of actually laying the pigment on surface of the canvas has no witness. No way of telling how many mistakes were made, how many times the artist changed his mind and wiped the stroke off. This is disputable and I am not a friend of disputable, that's why I refrain.
June 3, 2008
Religious leaders who exhort their followers to avoid sin actually insult them by suggesting they do not have enough brains themselves to know what is best for them.
June 5, 2008
In the old days human relations were simple. Conflicts were solved by muscle and stone hammer. We are much more advanced today, we invent laws, philosophies and religion to guide us. There is a problem with this kind of solution. Everyone wants his own criteria, law, philosophy, religion and can easily create dozens after supper. It can be seen and demonstrated beyond argument that this is ineffective, even evil.
I believe only reasonable means of judging our actions is to consider them from the point of expediency.
According to this thesis, the bad, criminal, immoral and unproductive actions should be called "mistakenly believed expedient" and for the moral, agreeable behaviour conforming to law, custom and religion the proper term would be " expedient from the strategic point of view".
JULY 2, 2008
I am standing on the edge of precipice with obligatory fear in my eyes. Beside me, a Queen stumbles over, falling to her death.
In a moment of desperation, I cry, "God ! Save the Queen !".
This would be an instance of ejaculation There is a second entry in my dictionary, much more realistic.
July 20, 2008
Demure, proper, are traditional sought-after qualifications of a woman. Why on earth, then, her underwear is so small, almost non-existent?
July 21, 2008
If you don't believe that criticism is a first
decisive step toward correcting inadequacy, stupidity and evil,
if you do not know meaning of the word "satire",
find yourself an entertainment requiring less brain activity
and leave this section alone.
I am re-building it; where there was a mild criticism
it will now draw blood.
Every simpleton can, and does, write music making no sense, musically and in lyrics.
I believe there is a virtue and superiority in discipline, self- imposed restrictions and adherence to artistic traditions. This is true in every Muse.
I am writing volume of business letters. My printer refuses to work on sub-standard quality envelopes, so I must hand-write the addresses. Very irritating. When I finally find better envelopes, I will use the old ones to write letters to my dog. He cares not for the envelope quality as long as a bone is included.
'Catalogue' is better word than 'catalog' which may be misunderstood as an order to do something to a log, cat being instrumental.
August 2, 2008
Girl, you're so beautiful
Come with me to network
I'll make you into starlet
Rich and famous bitch
Come with me to network
Throw demure and proper
I'll
make you into starlet
On my dirty show...
Lyrics to a tune with czardas flavour I met some 40 years ago.
Never forgotten. What about the lyrics? I made up my own
August 11, 2008
Morality: Rational or instinctive?
Humans have no dependable point of reference in philosophy , purpose of life, therefore are best advised not to use definite values, rather comparison.
When we see male bird courting female, building elaborate decorations to impress her, we know that he may be displaced by other more aggressive male. However, he will not promise her marriage and then abandon her as many human males do.
It is difficult for us to admit rational behaviour in an animal, therefore refer to it as instinctive. In humans, whether we call it instinctive or rational, it is pitifully lacking.
August 24, 2008
An Inventor Delivers State of Disunion Address
Ladies and gentlemen, dear citizens;
.
We beget, raise and cherish children, devote to them long
years of sacrifices and resources.. We respect all children, not just our own
We do not say onto them, "you exploit us, want
advantages without giving us anything in return". To mention profit in
front of children would be morally repugnant. We understand they are the future
parents, creators of values, protectors of society.
Yet, when we meet an inventor we employ different philosophy.
We forget that he was born to create, deliver immediate and recurring benefits
to us. We perform the same despicable and cowardly acts as an aggressor planning
to start a war. We de-humanize, lie, vilify. It is easy then to accuse him of
self-interest and greed in order to justify our blackmailing and treating him as
less than human. Only those incorporated, endowed with phoney artificial body
are to be treated with respect.
Ladies and gentlemen, to treat an inventor differently than a
gifted child is morally repugnant; societies following such practice are morally
deficient.
Thank you for your attention.
Great Silence is a precursor to Great Announcement.
Couples experience stronger emotions in courtship than after five years of
marriage. The Teacher told us Buddhas postpone their entering Nirvana for
the sake of sentient beings Sir Francis Chichester: "Joy of
life comes not from success, but from the attempt"..
It seems a law of nature is at work here which we ought to
study.
Perhaps not. Great Cleverness precedes Great Confusion.
August 28, 2008
Artist Delivers State of the Art in Arts Address
Using accepted statistical tools,
contemporary art cannot even remotely compare to Old Greeks
This is the most polite way I am
able to present the truth. It is beginning to dawn on me why I cannot find an artist
to talk to, have even been "disapproved" from joining Yahoo art
discussion group.
I carry such insults with pride
Thank you for your attention.
September 1, 2008
Definitions...
Who is an artist? Examples abound. Albert Schweitzer who was brilliant organ player, lectures and expert in musical and theological fields, Nobel Prize Laureate, left fame and comfort to build a hospital in Equatorial Africa; Emile Zola, prominent French writer shouted to the face of the Nation, in midst of anti-Jewish frenzy involving army officer Captain Dreyfus, "This man is innocent".; In various fascist or communist regimes, artist risked their lives to protest Government actions and lack of freedoms; Dr. Rizal, hero of Philippine independence, etc., etc..
These are artists. Leaders in community.
They first made sure that their own personal sense of balance, beauty and spirit of servitude to the Nation is in high orbit.
Nowadays, people clamor to be called artist who have no redeeming qualities. Imitating retarded monkeys, lying, dressing themselves funny like 8-year old kids, creating junk and actually selling it to unsuspected public which shows clearly their receding moral and mental abilities. Without a sense of shame.
A true artist may, during long winter evenings, create some works of art. However it is not a pre-requisite.
September 6, 2008
When I came first to Canada I thought SITCOM stands for "sitting and communicating". 'communicating' being euphemistic allusion to 'talking stupid'.
.September 10, 2008
In some cultures deception starts at the kindergarten level.
Here is an example of unmodified truth
Baa baa black sheep
Have you any wool
Yes sir, yes sir
Ten bags full
One for my master
One for my dame
Eight for the Bribernment
Who live down the lane.
September 12, 2008
On a school trip, a truckload of hogs was overtaking our bus . They were crowded, so one jumped up on a platform of a sort.
I reasoned that he is a Chairman of the Board. Ha,ha,ha, everyone laughed.
Nothing funny, it shows pigs have similar social organisation as humans. I believe theirs is more intelligent and equitable.
October 28, 2008
Arts of rhetoric and polemic, seamlessly integrated with logical thinking habits essential in the ancients' curriculum are disappearing. The current leaders of any denomination hate to see anyone standing out of line. When the Leader whistles, everyone jumps, with perfectly coordinated shirts, waving the same balloons.
We should not completely ignore the wisdom of our predecessors; therefore, here is a refresher exercise:
It has been said that Governments derive their just power from consent of the governed. This is a fallacy. Supposing the Government was elected by majority, it still is illegitimate. Those who consented have not obtained consent of majority of those who did not consent that they may act on their behalf.
I wonder why they call Mr. Minton bad. What is wrong with inventing a gentlemanly game of bouncing a feathered ball back and forth.
November 10, 2008
The ugly business of pulse jets.
Incurably into propulsion of exotic kinds for over half Century I keep close watch on this subject. There is one thing though that bothers me a lot.
Whenever the WW II V ! missile powered by Fi-103 pulse engine is mentioned it invariably is "The infamous "
O. K. with me, except, why similar weapons killing countless civilians are not given the same treatment. For example, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It was given a cute name-"little boy" Were they trying to say that Japanese women and children are less human than British?
Another beef I have with the Lockwood-Hiller engine. Not only it was shamelessly stolen from the French SNECMA, The Lockwood is an inferior copy of it and what is even worse, they have obtained US Patent encouraging similar habits. Very strange, indeed.
I shall always use its real name "Ecrevisse". If not similar any more, I call it "U-Turn " engine. Many of my engines' intakes point in the same direction as exhaust.
If I could work for the SNECMA I would give them the latest variation of this engine which will not lose efficiency with increasing size. They spent considerable energy on this problem.
December 5, 2008
The Network is going overboard with Pacquiao. Even the so-called dancers wear boxers and the least decrepit of them show off that which is normally referred to as "muscles".
December 14, 2008
Forty days passed and soul of our beloved brother and brother-in-law is liberated from all earthly attachments; so they say. Mother must be proud seeing all children and ever-increasing fold of grandchildren assembled for the occasion.
It brings on painful memories of my Mother, an old widow who was denied the pleasure of seeing any of her four grandchildren, not even pictures, tortured by the communist miscreants just because her only son has chosen to avoid possible civil war and stayed abroad. They confiscated all our mail, letting her think I am dead.
I believe in His justice; the sub-humans must suffer in the deepest hell. Some may still try to avoid it, changing colour of their jackets, as customary in cowards.
People wonder why I prefer Philippines to Canada.
In the Philippines, family reigns supreme. They may let me die because of lack of money for hospital and medicine. However, they will comfort me to my last breath
This is all I ask for.
January 25, 2009
Walking by a restaurant under sign " House that chicken built" it reminds me all the men scanning, by eyeballs or palms of their hand the female form - "Universe that the House built".
February 14. 2009
Symbolism, again...
Besides introspection vehemently rejected by psychologists of the West but expounded in the East Symbolic Language is one of the most valuable source of information about personality.
Explorers from out of space landing their flying saucer in Acropolis, Greece, can perfectly judge, using the symbolism contained in the architecture, character of the Greek culture of 500 B.C.
It affirms flawlessly the ancients' desire for balance and beauty. The austere sophistication of the Doric style combining with obvious veneration of perfect human form spells out in Universal Language, "in healthy body healthy spirit".
Symbolic Language is all-pervading. When I order 'halo-halo' in a restaurant I try not to notice how the other diners feverishly pound it, as if their life depended on it, downgrading the contents to a formless mélange of indefinite properties. This is how they see their fellow humans.
My spoon enters the bowl carefully, not to disturb the chef's arrangement which he built with loving care. In one movement, it picks up representative sample of the dessert, without assaulting the rest.
Whether you care or not about Universal Language, this exactly is the way I want to relate to my co-travelers in this valley of tears.
Had their spaceship landed somewhere else, where the edifices look like tall towers of pancakes clearly horizontally separated they would know that this is a strictly stratified society which forbids hanging socks to dry on the same line or in same height as the trousers.
Looking at Gothic cathedral they may understand the repression, inflated egos and fear of action besieged by this culture. Going back to Planet X they ought to wish us good luck, hope that Earth can bounce back. Still, they have not heard the sounds...
April 2, 2009
I was quite unhappy to see only the last flicker of the Pinocchio movie. I remember the old Italian with Gina Lolobrigida as the Fairy.
It is sad to se one day worth of good movies, 364 days garbage. I must have done some terrible crimes in my past life.
April 20, 2009
Lao-tse's haute culture words, "Tao that can be spoken of is not the real Tao" which Western mal-educated scholars call confusing, difficult to understand, should be stated more bluntly for their benefit,
"Anyone who speaks eloquently on a subject
he cannot possibly understand is an imbecile"
They also have difficulty with the verse,
"Without going out of door
I know the whole world"
Since Lao-tse's time the pattern has not changed; going out to "learn" most of us have bad intentions, wrong motivation which prevents us from seeing the truth even when it hits us over head. We want to dominate, change regimes, establish new world orders.
Lao-tse has no motivation, therefore all knowledge comes to him like a tamed tiger.
May 20, 209
A boss of organised criminals wanting to expand his empire announced a competition for new ideas in the business. The winning suggestion was this:
Get a guy who will do anything for money. That is easy. He must be good looking, so he can get some innocent girl to his apartment and have sex with her. Tape it secretly.
Publish it on Internet, make video CD's. Then let the lady sue him for taping and publishing such act without consent which is a serious offence. You supply him with a good Attorney; who cares about the girl.
Many outraged people and organisations will rush to defend and comfort the victim, it will be all over the media, men will frantically search for copies, more similar movies will be demanded and manufactured. If the affair reaches high Courts. even better.
What a simple and clever method to have a massive publicity to kick-start a stagnating lucrative industry, almost free, and a lawful reason for the authorities to see with their own eyes - ts, ts, a copy
This is, of course, a fiction - but it could happen, somewhere.
May 28, 2009
Such a thing indeed happened -and right here in the Philippines. It is sad to see the general deterioration of morals due to influence of foreign sub-standard cultures which has willing distributors in local Media.
I am not interested in seeing any of it, except if I am given assignment as a Document Examiner. In such case I may be able to pinpoint whether the victim was unaware she is being taped.
If a willing accomplice, the victim will be liable and unable to collect any compensation.
Beside the facts investigators determine, although by common experience they may not be up to the task, there is a separate issue of equal importance.
The authorities have failed miserably to employ existing laws concerning public decency, interference in judicial process and specific women protection laws to stop any publicity. Regardless of the court verdict there is an overwhelming need to protect dignity of women.
In not doing so, they open themselves to civil and criminal prosecution for
*dereliction of their duties
*being on a payroll of organised crime. It should be upon them to prove otherwise.
*corrupting minors - everything adult watch kids are free to watch
June 11, 2009
We all know that crime does pay.
Even more bullshitting. Just read the "One Thousand and One Nights".
June 19, 2009
My beloved teacher K'ung futsu, perhaps the only one who would understand my plight is known to sleep in his best clothes, with folds perfectly arranged - in case he should die or the Prince decide to pay him visit in middle of night will forgive me. In this , I am exactly opposite.
June 22, 2009
The great entertainer is dead. If I had any respect for the entertainment industry, I would be sad, too.
Speaking of the industry, not the dead person, if one cannot behave like a human he should not be regarded as such.
The same goes for certain individual who tried to bullshit us into believing that there are separate entities, leprechauns of Id, Ego and Superego within each of us. It is OK to be deranged, but one should not claim the right to infect with his schizophrenic hallucinations whole generations.
June 29, 2009
At regular intervals I point out to my offsprings the danger of manipulating feelings of our fellow humans and how pathetic it is to make a living by pretending to be someone else.
On the theatre stage acting is a ritual devoid if deception, one of the more decent forms of entertainment and art.
Just another day I was related there were some girls in Megamall calling 'pogi' after my youngest. I advised him, retroactively, if he can not avoid conversation a good answer may be," Yes, it is little foggy today".
In ancient China Emperors were told by Sages not to let common people know about gold and luxuries lest they become overcome by envy and gluttony. We should not let other people learn we can create make-believe emotions otherwise they will be insecure and forever doubt our honesty.
Above all, Desiderata proclaims, we must not feign affection.
August 18, 2003
What one believes in doesn't confer on him any privileges; rather offers opportunities for discord and bloodshed.
Making a star and making us believe that Sadam has weapons of mass destruction works using the same mechanism and works on people of the same intelligence.
June 29, 2009
Mother of one of the victims in the sex video scandal appeared on TV stating the family had considered offering twenty Million Peso for not publishing the offending tape. TO WHOM ?
This shows that:
*There is an entity who has supreme control of the whole business which exists only in a sophisticated Organisation,
*That there is an attempt from certain quarters to increase stakes and publicity
*That if the parents are genuinely interested in protecting their daughter and family reputation
they would have never appeared on TV.
These are the most simple analytical deductions even the uneducated must arrive at.
July 3, 2009
Promises, promises...
I may love you, I may not, said a man at the altar to his bride. This is called "Strategic Ambiguity", the kind promised to Taiwan by the US. Some define it as "treachery / cowardice complex".
July 9, 2009
Whether ordinary Joe or a scientist, they are supposed to ask questions to find the truth.
Not in my life; their inquiry is meant to have their hallucinations confirmed as the truth.
July 12. 2009
In the pile of newspapers meant for starting barbecue I found an article celebrating a victory of sort; a terrorist confessed to being a mastermind and participating in considerable number of crimes - after years of torture. The old KGB would get the same result in a week.
Speaking of KGB and its spiritual master Stalin, my countrymen vehemently denounce them. I hope this includes the evil that lingers.
Instead of the bad stuff, I keep in mind a small granite monument, tombstone , at the northern entrance to the City, a place of fierce battle between German and Russian troops, with inscription in Russian:
Whoever you are
Fisherman miner
Scientist or shepherd
Forever remember
Here lay your best friend
July 14, 2009
Append to encyclopedic dictionary, section "ery"
bery; a method of corrupting minors by offering them "beries" , usually followed by-
mulbery; glossing over the despicable act, pretending nothing happened.
adultery; a place where hatchlings are kept till they grow to adult size.
July 15, 2009
First I thought Rock'n'roll was the audio evil. Then the heartbreak of losing Treasure Luciano. Nothing prepared me for the Bang'n'howl. Things are getting from bad to worse.
Not much different in politics. There are four separate Worlds on our Planet ready to annihilate the human race. American World, Chinese World, Civilised World and Cowardly World.
You cannot have four cocks on one pile of manure.
You cannot transform Peking Duck to Beijing Duck or Directory to Folder unless you are a maniac bent on destroying human race. Confucius in Analects: " If they can do this, then they are capable of anything".
August 5, 2009
There is a language anomaly in the word gentleman. The root does not refer to the gentleman's gentleness, rather predictability which is a fierce animal.
September 1, 2009
There seems to be a widespread confusion about foundations of religious faith and atheism.
When an intelligent man is faced with a problem he cannot solve he admits his shortcoming and may give up.
The stupid either concocts a ridiculous and non-working solution or violently denies a solution exists.
The wisest among us hope that a solution may be found later on and leaves the field generously wide open.
October 6, 2009
"You gave me dignity, you needed me..." One of the better songs, done by people who know. However, I believe it forces you into psychoanalytical mode. Why she did not have dignity before? Is it going to be permanent conversion? Etc., etc.
October 12, 2009
In Philippines water sucks. Literarily, technically, frequently and annoyingly. Water columns in the upper parts of the grid create vacuum as the water level recedes towards the main.
Most people queried about meaning if "GMT" reply that it is Mean Greenwich Time, time at the Zero Meridian. Everything depends on opinion.
The optimists believe it concerns time at the Meridian360.
B.O. (Body O-stink)
Holy Father instructs us that it is not necessary to employ heroic measures to save life, even as Life is sacred.
The same principle may be applied in keeping our bodies clean. Someone working hard in remote fields is expected to have farmish olfactory accent. It is different in a salesperson in fancy department store; her physique is directly linked to her job security.
The entertainment people, in a rare glimpse pf intelligence, insist on bad publicity being good publicity,
This affirms the universal laws of physics. Every force creates its own counter-force of equal value facing opposite direction, every affirmation automatically creates negation.
Those of us unable to recognise any good and intelligent point in what is presented to us will, on account of generosity, create such.
December 5, 2009.
Virtues of a scientists are:
*Strict regard for precedents, whether they are correct or wrong
*Following the boss' directives whether they are correct or wrong;
*When advised by his superior to "think out of box", just move to the next corner in the same box;
*To publish, publish and publish (or perish)
*To be ever ready to travel to symposiums in exotic locales and write impressive reports about the proceedings;
There may be some more skills to be acquired to become a perfect and highly prized scientist. Unfortunately, they may do very little for his professed goal of progress.
December 11, 2009
Being known aficionado of Old Greeks I was asked the meaning of phrase "sword of Damocles". I explained to the inquirer that that was the way Greek King Damocles emphasized the danger the ruler is subjected to by comparing it to a heavy sword hanging above his head by a thin thread that can break any time.
This is ancient history. Today. the situation is reversed. It is not the ruler, but the people above whose heads the sword hangs of corruption, injustice, abuse and wars to annihilate them at the rulers whim.
December 18, 2009
I have been unwilling, you may say hostile witness to an entertainment. If I met the artists in a dark alley, I would advise them to publish a disclaimer, saying it was not their idea, but the producers' who convinced them that everyone is entitled to have fun, even those on the low end of the food chain. For they are too, humans - sort of.
January 2, 2010
eron2(at)philonline(dot)com
632 289 0028 ask for Oldrich