Monthly Archives: Sep 2023

Required to Write Because…. (A Lament)

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Lamentation for the Future

Foreword: One danger or risk in writing is The Mood taking over. You have this urge to write ‘something’ in the style, even the content you have doubts about. This could be using a format you are not comfortable with or a subject matter which you are sure ‘needs more work’. And yet The Mood insists that this is how it will be. Part of you is still urging caution and suggesting the result should be put away for another day to be nuanced, worked on with reflection, jagged parts given a better ‘finishing’. The Mood will have none of that; it insists on the raw product be made public; The Mood in this case fancies itself to be a distant cousin of Melpomene, the Greek muse of Tragedy and bothered me to produce this. Truth be known I know not just what form this is. I dare not suggest poetry as that could bring sad shakings of head or even noises of disapproval from genuine poets. It may be some kind of monologue or soliloquy  in a play never to be written. All I am certain of is that it is a response to the news of several floods, droughts, fires and storms this year coupled with the continued presence of the Denial Industry, its Political Appointees and Social Media acolytes. (And probably influence of three or four Scottish laments which are ever in the back of my mind. No one does laments like the Scots) 

                  I was born
                When the seasons sang
                To an ancient song
                  With a warning verse
                  Of our vulnerability.
                  But our vanity and greed
                  Plugged our ears
                  Blinded our eyes
                  Said it would all be fine
                  There would be sunshine
                  After all the rains
                  And the storms were but passing trials
                  Cured by reassuring leaders’ smiles.
                  And mercenary pundits’ lies

                  Now the forests burn
                  Consuming innocents’ homes
                  While the begged for rains
                  Gather in far off tribes
                 Thus, with cousins grim
                  Sweep other folk away
                  Into seas that warm,
                  In their silent scorn.

                  There will come the day
                  Mayhap not so far away
                  When my eyes will close
                 For the very last time.
                  Weep not for me,
                  I will be at rest.
                  Save your tears for those
                  Who are left behind
                  To the wild, hot fiery winds
                  The raging storms
                  And the blazing sun
                 That blazing sun.

On The Subject of Meaning Well #Blog Battle : September -Particle

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Particles

There came Third War of The Lanes, which was horrendously expensive due to the strategy of moving fleets through the Fifth Dimensional Point of Transit. So much so that there was hardly enough to buy weaponry to cause great loss of life and structural damage. Thus, fleets effectively glared at each, or tried to sneak in and land on a planet and capture it by default, although there were sometimes humiliating defeats when some regressed populations threw rocks at these valuable ships and there was not much to fight back with.

During the peace talks the very noble thought was reached that what was needed was a generally harmless and uncontroversial religion which everyone could worship in numerous ways. This was thought a splendid idea and The Unity of Temples of Respectful Worship was brough into being. This was the first decision made by the newly created Council of the Fifteen Worlds.

Rich people who were less rich than they had been even so managed to syphon off money to fund the project and by doing so lessened their taxes burdens.

Theologians were left to work out the details and many had another splendid idea of bringing physicists in on the business. Parties in both fields had speculated on certain overlaps. What could possibly go wrong?

No one of course thought to consult with Historians or Intersocietal Relations Academics of the relevant Realism Schools; they both being out of favour in the post war self- and mutual congratulatory and optimistic atmospheres prevalent.

The first act of progress was to consider the Nature of that Which Was To Be Worshipped. Under pressure from governments and sponsors and not seen to be footling around, a working title of They Who Are took root. The consensus was the sheer majesty these words evoked would do very nicely. After all who does not like a dignified, imposing enigma? Those not consulted sat in corners various and looked at each other over their favoured beverages and kept it all to themselves.

Meanwhile the next step was to pronounce the interaction between this Supreme Concept and the Physical Universe. The Physicists pointed out everything was made of particles, and this was a commonality which should be addressed. The Theologians agreed, after all what had been brought into Being must be part of ‘They Who Are’, this was a splendid idea of the fundamental relationship. Simple tracts for public consumption were already in production. Particleism was nascent.

A considered rather mature act was to accept that folk although agreeing on the principal would have different perceptions. Physicists showed Theologians their basic works on Particles and with great ease it was seen there were three basic constructs of Particles and naturally Particleism.

The supremely remote Particles Quantum. These were really, really small, they made up atoms and usually had names which ended in ‘on’, except for the stubbornly unique ‘quark’. But this didn’t matter because they were so complex, they had an air of mysticism and that was fine.

Next up came the solid and dependable Atom and Molecules which made up stuff. The Particles of Structure; this would suit folk who did not feel too at ease with all that much mysticism but liked a bit of mystery of the constructive sort.

Final in a dive into the Grand Gesture, came The Particles Macrocosmic. By now the Physicists were being rather heady at being consulted so much and this let the Theologians go wild. It was agreed that All which could be seen was therefore evidence of They Who Are. Thus, the worship of Macrocosmicon was seen to be the most popular and easier to grasp.

On hearing this announcement, the Historians and Intersocietal Relations Academics both of the relevant Realism Schools, collectively winced.

Initially all went well. The Quantum devotees deemed Medatovees of the Infinite  did develop squints as a result of meditating in the hope of Great Insight and perceive the smallest of particles. The next group up The Structureists invested in microscopes and studied chemical and atomic tables. Some proposed there  was the Ultimate Compound, in which every element could be forged together. In this would be true insight into They Who Are. These had tremendous fun experimenting. Governments allowed them uninhabited small planets and planetoids so that when disasters came these were small, containable and did not affect populated regions.

However, Macrocosmiconism was not long in causing problems.

The Grandeur School claimed you could do no better in studying They Who Are than to looked to wonderous scope of Galaxies. It had been agreed these qualified as particles on account of there being lots of them, and they formed groups. So that was that. There were thence some grumbles from theologians who claimed a person could get as much insight in mediating upon the wonder of simpler things such as small rocks. This proved a very popular idea amongst those basic societies, particularly the more aggressive ones who viewed their historical victories as divine approval. Less martially inclined neighbours and authorities in general tried to supress the more excessive worship and drafted in theologians and priests of The Grandeur School into trouble spots, the latter insisted upon certain degrees of weaponry, purely for defence. The word ‘Defence’ being quite subjective.

The result was for The Grandeurists to become rather conceited in their allotted duties and started to make moves to define just what constituted a worshipable particle. Those who had been pondering a variety of items which could constitute a Particle worthy of worship did not care for such a high handed approach. Unpleasantness arose. Over the years this caused several distressing incidents and events across all fifteen inhabited and sort of advanced worlds along with numerous disruptions on the moons, smaller difficult to live on planets, and other bodies. The majority of Humanity was not happy about this, it seemed Particleism  was making too much of itself, its higher echelons being given to self-importance far beyond being what were arguably not that important particle. Amongst sections of the population there was growing nascent air  of ‘I Didn’t Sign Up For This’ .

Meanwhile.

Historically, those appointed to ‘Councils’ and other bodies intent of formulating some sort of rule tended to have a regrettably significant number of ambitious or avaricious or simply malleable persons in their ranks which led to misery for large portions of populations who did not deserve it. This trend might have continued had it not been for a question which had been looming in the recesses of the more mature minds of Humanity:

‘Who else is out there? Where are they?  What are they up to?’

There had been no satisfactory answers. This weighed heavy on the astute.

The result was three generations of a type of middle grade administrators who were particularly astute at seeing when something was going wrong, in this case a Universal Religion. Not a state of affairs when there was the possibility of Someone or Something appearing suddenly out of Somewhere. Action was necessary. The fact that folk at lower levels were working on it might have been appreciated by Medatovees of the Infinite if they’d been allowed to know, but these administrators were wary of any Particleism involvement.

While many were making reputations and wealth out The Particle Issue, and others were hitting each other, the middle grade administrators reached out in all directions to the like-minded. In a spirit of mutual support, they rose quickly up various ladders and against the backdrop of strident disruption, squints, sudden explosions and large ornate excessive ceremonies they set their own plans into action.

Some of these being seemingly small in content such as a commentary in a journal read by more than a few on the Planet Myrathia a juncture for trade routes; the headline being ‘In The Canticle of The Particle, Wherein Lies the Significance of The Article?’. Because this was written in what might be verse there were those within The Grandeurists who took great offense at what they saw as frivolity and demanded the author be brought to book. At the time the authorities and most of the planet were preoccupied with the biannual mass transfer of goods through the junctions, and were somewhat testy through lack of sleep, worrying statistics and trying to meet the requirements of the other planets.

The local Grandeurists were told in polite and diplomatic terms to go and boil their ornate hats, preferably with their heads in them. A large number of the lesser classes who had been tiring of this theological crew not contributing to the general movement of goods were in sympathy with the authorities. And various vulgar versions of the title were turned into tavern songs.

The results were something of a turning point in the way religion was seen upon Myrathia.

Which was how those up and coming administrators had intended matters. On Myrathia Grandeurists were thus slightly discredited. This proved fertile ground for those within the administrators’ offices to go to work digging up embarrassing personal facts and elaborating some. A few years work was needed, but with the aid of newly confident Historians, enthusiastic Intersocietal Relations Academics (of the relevant Realism Schools), previously disgruntled physicists who had been left out, and theologians of various other religions who had been keeping quiet for reasons for personal safety, whereas They Who Are was still respected Particleism was being viewed as possibly ‘Hoo-hah’, The followers of the three basic branches were not ready for that. Locally as Myrathia was the only planet suitable for any sort of substantial or even modest habitation the rest of the system was soon stabilised

Somewhat interested and also relieved that this was working so well those on the Council took up variation to their own planets and stellar systems. The process was on average a half generation in the settling and some practices verged on the unpleasantly military; therefore, all went well; aside from the Pnumenoic system whose various quarrelsome communities had been the source of all the Lanes Wars and unsurprisingly clung to the Grandeurists telling all Macrocosmiconism was the true and only way.

The Council by then with great deftness in the use of massaging of truth, applications of half-truths and a judicious sprinkling of downright lies made to seem it was blaming itself for encouraging the hastiness into a new religion. By then the current Council members were able to blame the previous Council members which was tough on those still around. A pronouncement was made that The Council was to be disbanded and each system to seek its own way in the spirit of mutual understanding, but that there would be no more official religions anywhere, anyhow. There were protests and some heads may have been boiled but overall populations now aware that authority was much more local and since there were only trade ships travelling along the Fifth Dimensional Point of Transit, the local authorities were far better armed. In general, everyone assumed their systems were now independent again and didn’t have to comply with what other systems were doing or worshipping.

Unbeknown however fourteen of the systems were keeping in close covert contact with each other; just in case. The Pnumenoic system was left to its own devices, twice it tried to start a war with other systems but found all its forces could do was get there and be shot at by far superior weapons. Their Grandeurists could not help but feel they were becoming unpopular and mentioning Macrocosmiconism loudly only got them disliked.

One sort of benefit of the whole failed experiment came from those now discredited Macrocosmiconism beliefs. The Cosmologist side of the Physicists involved in the creating of the systems in their gazing at stars and star clusters had concluded; there was or to be technical had been something out there. The question now being.

Where? And how would come calling? That concentrated minds wonderfully and no one talked of wars between Humans anymore.

How Unlock Your Smartness

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perplexed-baffled-man-scratch-head-look-owlishly-perplexed-baffled-confused-man-scratching-head-looking-owlishly-smth-120224839

Forewyrd

This post has a two part origin, though I wouldn’t call them parents. Firstly the idea arose as a reaction to the genre of the self-help book, which always requires buying something and written by someone who is a successful purveyor of these books (making money telling other folks ‘how to do it’….yeah… Right). Secondly by the now defunction MAD and its late 1950s article ‘How To Be Smart’ ;a series of cartoons, with commentaries; it played on the self-help books, social snobbery and reverse social snobbery; the classic line in the introduction being ‘And they say ‘Him Say’ and throw rocks’ . You have to admit that is a timeless commentary on those who would pulled down society’s progress. Anyway that done, I leave it up to you to decide who is being Smart here.

Introduction

What with Social Media there are a lot of folk who go around making income from not doing a lot, and being considered worth reading when they are actually yo-yos, some of them even get voted into positions of great responsibility and continue to act like yo-yos. Others just talk a lot on TV or radio without making any sense at all but still get lauded either for being incisive, subversive or funny, while not being any of the aforementioned. Some of the more astute ones just sit back, write books or go on lecture tours telling other folk how get successful or wealthy is by being pushy and announcing loudly to themselves various phrases. Others more sedentary just make a living telling folk how to improve themselves by reading the author’s book on how to improve themselves. Finally there are folk who write about secret knowledge or secret conspiracies, they are most likely inspired by exposure to all of the aforementioned and want to get on the gravy train too.

Small wonder then with all this circulating around in a frenetic battle for each proponent to be heard more than the rest, that a lot of folk feel either confused, unsettled or caught up in one of the frenzies, and some might get the feeling they are lacking something and are not ‘smart’. Which is when they start reading books that claim this is the path to improvement. This is what the authors are, literally banking on.

However I content that getting to be Smart or Improved is not helped by these artificial paths.

On Reaching the Basics of Being Smart

The first thing to do is separate out some of the various means of ‘Smart’ as used over the past century or so; at various times.

Firstly there are folk who dress up in clothes which are approved of by the majority of the population. These are normally conventional and expensive. These folk want people to look at them and think’ Gee. They look Smart. They must be Smart,’. Actually all this proves is they either have a great deal of money or are being paid wear something the manufacturer wants you to wear. This is not smart, this is being a tailor’s dummy. You will have noticed that some of these folk when they open their mouths in public confirm this impression. It’s best not to try and emulate this type. It either needs money or unnaturally photogenic looks. Thus mis-use of this tactic can lead to even the best of clothes looking ill-fitting, or worse that the wearer is desperately trying to look Smart .

The next category are those who say things that they think make them sound Smart. They rely on quotes, which they might get wrong or their timing is so bad it sounds like they are just interrupting. Some of them lapse into a habit forming quoting only one source, so you wonder if they ever had an original thought of their own. Others in their haste, misquote .( errata; Our haste we misquote) Whatever quote they do use someone will come along and says its wrong, or the attributed person didn’t say it or nobody said it all (without explaining why we are all using it). It is better to make up your own clever phrase. A sub-category is turning up of folk who think that making outrageously offensive statements is daring and shows them not to be a complete boor but a daring individual; in a desperate attempt to enhance this they will throw in an obscenity or if a bit coy will leave out one letter of said obscenity. All those in this sub category hope you notice them, buy their book or subscribe to their whatever. Actually you can go to to a pub, bar or tavern on a Friday night and get the same experience free, just paying for your drinks.

Some folk try and sound Smart by specialising. This maybe in History, Economics or one of the Sciences to name but a few. This is a risky business because all these subjects are replete with various views, interpretations and are being up-dated at a frenetic pace. It is therefore a dangerous business as you may meet someone who in criticising you can go on a greater length than you and seem to others a lot Smarter; even if you feel they aren’t you’ll have to write a longer response or rebuff and so it goes on. Those reading eventually decide neither of you are Smart, just pedantic bores; which is a dreadful social fate for anyone trying to seem Smart.

There are some subjects in which it is hopeless to appear as Smart by an overall majority of folk. These are religion, politics, sport and humour. True, a person attempting these might get a following, they will also obtain a grouping who disagree with them and consider them idiots. Since these subjects are places where often the severely opinionated dwell, these sort of folk only pay attention to those who support them. Thus the Smartness appeal is normally limited. Some may acquire a grudging sort of respect from those who disagree with them but they are a rare sort and tend to have tormented lives with private self-doubts in which they doubt their own Smartness.

You can therefore see from the brief summary above that choosing a sort of Smartness is filled with pitfalls, trials, tribulations and not something for the ordinary person who nevertheless wants to feel they have something akin to independent thought processes, intuition, a measure of astuteness and perception.

See, that’s your first Smart move.

On Endeavouring To Try and Be Smart

There are some steps you may care to consider.

The first one is not to bother to read any further on the basis that whatever I write will sound like the sort of advice or imaging I have been criticising. Thus, I will appear to be contradicting myself, or worse being hypocritical . At this stage individuality should take over, and it’s all up to you buddy.

Whichever you chose your Reactions can be variable

‘I don’t care. I’ll make up my own mind, my way, in my time, and spooofle to the lot of them!’ (whoever ‘they’ might be)

This is being pretty smart and reinforces the last words of the previous section.

Alternatively…

Big Raspberry.

Whereas it is arguable if this is a truly Smart approach; it does demonstrate that individuality which shows you are not willing to be taken in by any huckster of any shape, style or product. This I would maintain this does show a type of Smartness. However I would caution to sparing use, directed at those who are trying to pitch you something. It should not be used to members of the public unless of grounds of religion, politics, sport and humour (see above).

One which does take some doing considering the intrusiveness of Social Media, in the form of cookies, adverts and other gubbinz, is to cultivate complete indifference to any media celebrity be they influencer, pundit, outrageous freak or any combination. This might include closing down a site when their mug-shots turn up on a sidebar. Some folk do opt to pay what is in effect a ransom to free themselves from adverts. Whether that is being Smart or not is a matter for reasoned and mature debate between two proponents. Anyway not caring a Jolly Frib about what ‘someone’ is doing, advertising, promoting etc while not contributing anything constructive to society is pretty Smart if you ask me. (‘No, I’m not going to ask you’ you say……. Gee, that’s being Smart)

In short it’s still up to you.

How Do I Know I Am Being Smart?

Puzzled

This is the challenging question. Some would say if you are asking this, you should not be, because if you are confident in your Smartness then such a question will not occur to you. Others will suggest such an outlook is all wrong because being really Smart means you are checking on if you are really Smart, just in case what you thought was Smart was not actually Smart, but assuming Smartness because you thought it was, which by its definition is not Smart. (are you with me so far?) Others will defer back to the time-honoured ‘Never Mind. Who Cares? Whatever,’ which can be sort of Smart if you don’t make a big show of it (see later on under ‘Pitfalls’)

Possibly Smart Outlooks or Responses

Whereas the following list should be considered as somewhat Subjective (That’s a sorta Smart statement- it’s not only using a clever word, it’s being self-deprecating) you may wish to consider the following check list as an example

Do you disregard alternative news feeds for facts irrespective of their political and your political biase? (Most folk are entitled to voice opinions; these however are not necessarily viable ‘News’….)

For you is You Tube a go to source of entertainment or information? (There are many chuckles and ‘Awwwws’ to be had on this source, and some of the fanbases for TV series can be cool, if you encounter something  which claims to be ‘The Truth’  … seriously?)

Would you ever consider giving the time to listen to or watch, to name but a few… Trump, Alex Jones, Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, anyone who complained about The Barbie film unless they were a credited Film Critic,  anyone who is affiliated to Incel, a variety of Left-Wing Commentators who only blame the West and the USA? (If so….why have you read this far?)

How many comedians do you find genuinely funny, and not because you been told by a lot of folk they are funny? (Be honest)

On the same line. How many commentators and pundits do you feel genuinely to believe in and not just because a lot of folk of similar opinions to you say so? (Tip: Keep your answer to yourself or you most trusted. Life is short you might not want to be accused of something you an’t)

Have you read that latest Best Seller you purchased or is it still hanging about in a place where visitors can see it? (Tip: Put a book mark in at a random place, not too far in, when challenged, produce a raggedly old copy of something obscure, and say you re-discovered this when tidying up and just had to read it ‘again’)

Do you really consider ‘HarryandMehgan‘ news? (Answer this within the count of three. You are not allowed to consult any British based source or commentary, especially if you are a UK resident)

Do you Honestly believe in any Conspiracy Theories? (I warned you this was a Subjective list)

These are but a few I selected while in a particularly sour and dyspeptic mood. You should of course be able to compile your own, but do be honest with yourself, for we never know when other influences may be lurking there? From this you should be able to gauge your own independence of thought and thus….. Smartness.

Common Pitfalls It Is Possible On Reflection  You Feel Might Want To Avoid (That’s as fair a title as I can get)

As you can see I am not telling you, just suggesting- that’s all. (See- I am being Smart now)

This is nothing ‘Smart’ in not voting. This allows the likelihood of those you least want running your region. Saying ‘they are all the same’ means you been reading one of those site whose contributors whose minds are locked up tight, and keyhole gone rusty.

Affecting an air of cynicism is a perilous path. If used incautiously most people will reach the conclusion you are just doing that…… ‘Affecting’ you will only gather a small clique of similar folk and achieve nothing. Achieving something, no matter how small by societal standards is being Smart

Doing something outrageous for simply seeking attention of reaction is something the performing Arts and some playing with politics have been doing to; like way before we started to divide up BC / AD; BCE / CE. The truly gifted and talented spend some time work on it and hone their skill. Most, irrespective of their public profile are not truly gifted and talented. They are but media fodder and don’t really get it, nor do their followers. If you are going to be outrageous making rude gestures, swearing, making mean comments or pulling silly faces is just not sufficient. Like any work of art, it needs time, practice and careful planning if you want to achieve that most golden of prizes Appeal Across All Divides (You’ve gotta be pretty Smart to do that)

On this subject returning to the question of peer pressure. Not liking someone, beloved and worshipped by many in the arena of Arts is not actually a Crime. Being Smart though you are advised to start your comments acknowledging their popularity before you weigh in with your own ‘personal’ ‘However’. It is difficult for someone to get cross with you when you astutely play the ‘Not My Scene’ card. The truly Smart person can politely publicise the loathing of a person, cause, etc and still appear a balanced individual who the other side either say ‘Yes. But I disagree’ or just shrug think you a hopeless weirdo and walk away, while you have left a paper or cyber trail for others less judgemental to discern. (There are very few of those. I can but admire them and yearn for such a standard)

Entrenched views are common and in many cases justifiable. The debate however is the preserve of Erudition, Belief and Comprehension. You might not settle on one side or the other. That could be Smart. You could also fall over and demonstrate you don’t understand. Thus when having very different views from the general Us Vs Them conflicts  demonstrating a divergent thought, do not try and enter the argument solely for wanting to appear ‘Smart’. Also needs a lot of work and planning. The delicate balance in confounding both commonly held views can be fun working on, like making as model clipper ship from scratch (if you are so skilled in making model clipper ships, otherwise find your own comparison). One aspect of Smartness here is to display a Sense of Humour about the whole business. It throws folk. And more about that next.

In conclusion on Pitfalls. We must consider Sense of Humour. And in that Sense of Humour the ability to see humorous flaws in yourself, your arguments and your beliefs. Many a politician has come to eventual grief by taking themselves far too seriously and not willing to engage in a bit of banter with the opposition press or pundits. This can also be viewed in the Arts, in Sport and Social Interactions between groups. You can find Humour find amongst the more progressive and free minded scientists and historians. I daresay it exists in Economists and Social Sciences; I’ve just not met it yet. Anyway it is suggested it is a wise move to ensure your armour has a been tempered with perspective and self-deprecation.

Conclusion 

Not only are truly Smart folk astute, perceptive, self-deprecating, careful in their planning, they also don’t need 2,600 + words to define the subject.

Best of wishes in your journey to Smartness.