Volumes where the golden insect crawled fetch glory by the yard, but there is no communication between the ink and the eye, for try as they might, libraries cannot express the depth of what they lack in emotion. Sharp-toothed keys assist the explorer in gaining entry to a world renowned for its emptiness, but there is never any action in the quotidian balance. Read, read, read, they said. However, he was left alone to ponder the fruitlessness of his desperation. Sadly, Hugo observed the declination of reason as three virgins giggled and proceeded to retain their innocence, which, by the way, was neither innocent nor retainable. They must have known what was on offer without the experience, he calculated, for there was guile in their laughter. One of them, she of the radiant halo, dipped and scooped up the golden spider leaving only its latest unreadable tome in a web of silky verbosity. Virgin or muse, he could not tell. Still, he was news once again without the slightest perception of validation. Everything he touched glowed and shimmered in an ephemeral way. Yet, he never doubted all was at their behest.
Popping, he shriveled almost immediately and shortly thereafter he noticed he was losing hair again and there were liver spots.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
It's My Belief We're All Crazy
It's my belief we're all crazy. I think we have to be to survive without scars.
There is no point in trying to deny the healthy aspects of approaching the game from the other end of the terminal. If you try to play by the rules, someone with a wider perspective will find reason to oust you. Take the limited but keep an ear to the conductor's announcements. There is more to be found at the next stop.
Sun comes up. Sun goes down. That's all you need to remember.
Don't make long term plans, but do listen to the weather report. It's only guesswork.
Seventh son of a seventh son. No reason to think you're blest in any degree.
Meet the regulars. Say hello. Don't give out more information required than enough to get you a seat. It's a long ride and you will grow tired standing. But again, be adaptable. As often as things are capable of change, they probably will. Keep your eyes peeled for an available seat, but if after three stops none becomes available, make your own. Sit on the floor.
Two men walk into a bar. That's a different story.
If the sun doesn't rise tomorrow, forget the preceding and go with Plan B.
Keep watching this space for further updates.
The Man is not on your side. He works alone. Notice his flawless skin? No scars? Think he's sane? Could be He's playing a different game. Maybe, though, He's been playing this one so long, the rules do not apply. Plan B involves living long enough to make your own rules.
Plan C is a combo situation and requires quick stepping back and forth between the previous two. It is inadvisable due to the wear and tear it affords. There is some scarring. There is no Plan D. Best to proceed until a roadblock presents the need to decide; do so rapidly and take another shot. Don't vacillate. There is never much to be gained.
Veterans achieve a measure of immortality but never beyond the measure of the species.
Best to you each morning. Sun comes up. Get dressed. Otherwise, plan your funeral. Don't bother with obituaries. Most people don't read them. And those that do, well, isn't it obvious why they do?
Try spot remover and remember laughter causes lines but it's the least painful course. Listen for the whistle. Have your ticket ready and hop on.
Nobody here but us chickens.
There is no point in trying to deny the healthy aspects of approaching the game from the other end of the terminal. If you try to play by the rules, someone with a wider perspective will find reason to oust you. Take the limited but keep an ear to the conductor's announcements. There is more to be found at the next stop.
Sun comes up. Sun goes down. That's all you need to remember.
Don't make long term plans, but do listen to the weather report. It's only guesswork.
Seventh son of a seventh son. No reason to think you're blest in any degree.
Meet the regulars. Say hello. Don't give out more information required than enough to get you a seat. It's a long ride and you will grow tired standing. But again, be adaptable. As often as things are capable of change, they probably will. Keep your eyes peeled for an available seat, but if after three stops none becomes available, make your own. Sit on the floor.
Two men walk into a bar. That's a different story.
If the sun doesn't rise tomorrow, forget the preceding and go with Plan B.
Keep watching this space for further updates.
The Man is not on your side. He works alone. Notice his flawless skin? No scars? Think he's sane? Could be He's playing a different game. Maybe, though, He's been playing this one so long, the rules do not apply. Plan B involves living long enough to make your own rules.
Plan C is a combo situation and requires quick stepping back and forth between the previous two. It is inadvisable due to the wear and tear it affords. There is some scarring. There is no Plan D. Best to proceed until a roadblock presents the need to decide; do so rapidly and take another shot. Don't vacillate. There is never much to be gained.
Veterans achieve a measure of immortality but never beyond the measure of the species.
Best to you each morning. Sun comes up. Get dressed. Otherwise, plan your funeral. Don't bother with obituaries. Most people don't read them. And those that do, well, isn't it obvious why they do?
Try spot remover and remember laughter causes lines but it's the least painful course. Listen for the whistle. Have your ticket ready and hop on.
Nobody here but us chickens.
Friday, January 5, 2007
Resolution
A few minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve, with the sound of fireworks preventing his usual attempt to sleep through the curve, Michael sat looking at the ball clock on the small table in the corner of his dining room. His cell phone was charging and it was unlikely anyone else would call with wishes for prosperity as he had earlier spoken to his sister back home; his MP3 player, filled with soothing New Age music, which might have helped drown out the celebrants, was also charging in another socket, so he stared at the clock to try catching the changing display in the act of inaugurating the new year. He was not yet bored with his responsibilities, nor those to come, but was aware that inertia was a heartbeat away.
At 12:00, the clock's display wished him a Happy New Year, and that was his only resolution - to be happy no matter how often he might find himself running on a treadmill during the coming semester. Be happy and keep in shape; maintain good health - prosperity was out of the question on a teacher's salary. Save enough money, however, to go to England in the spring.
He said a silent thank you to the clock, and its green, glowing numbers and letters moving around inside the sphere seemed to twinkle in appreciation.
It did not require charging and ran consistently on observatory time. It had been programmed so even if there were a blackout, it would pick up the correct time when power returned.
Perhaps, Michael thought, he would visit his family in New York in April and cut the London trip short by a few days. He was such a long way from home, and hadn't seen any of them face-to-face in over eighteen months. Yes, that was what he would do, and he would gift his sister and brother with clocks like his. Time knows no location. It can't be bound in place.
At 12:00, the clock's display wished him a Happy New Year, and that was his only resolution - to be happy no matter how often he might find himself running on a treadmill during the coming semester. Be happy and keep in shape; maintain good health - prosperity was out of the question on a teacher's salary. Save enough money, however, to go to England in the spring.
He said a silent thank you to the clock, and its green, glowing numbers and letters moving around inside the sphere seemed to twinkle in appreciation.
It did not require charging and ran consistently on observatory time. It had been programmed so even if there were a blackout, it would pick up the correct time when power returned.
Perhaps, Michael thought, he would visit his family in New York in April and cut the London trip short by a few days. He was such a long way from home, and hadn't seen any of them face-to-face in over eighteen months. Yes, that was what he would do, and he would gift his sister and brother with clocks like his. Time knows no location. It can't be bound in place.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Announcing a new perspective
Well, my friend is here to make an announcement.
After five and a half years in residence, I have started the process of getting my Mexican papers. I think I will feel like I truly belong after I have those.
Of course, I should improve my Spanish enough so I don’t sound so ignorant all the time, but I’m working on it.
I always use the excuse, to anyone who appears to need one, that I am so busy working on English lessons that I don’t have the time to practice, but that is an excuse. When I’m not checking students’ work and preparing lessons, I try to get some writing done. And I’m always checking other people’s blogs and Arts & Letters Daily for news and items of interest, so I am rather busy.
Have recently been reading far too much about “information overload.” That’s my problem. I’m addicted to the acquisition of information.
Anyway, I’m going to try approaching my own projects from a new perspective in 2007. I’m going to be an American-Mexican.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
From Y2K to 2012
Inside Outside-In: A Blog (game) for the 21st Century.
Beginning: 31 December 2000
Midpoint: 21 December 2006
Finish: 21 December 2012
Beginning: 31 December 2000
Midpoint: 21 December 2006
Finish: 21 December 2012
Friday, December 15, 2006
Advice to the Friends of the Extranjero
Let him breathe. Give him a space which he can identify as his own. Remember he is a guest in your territory and will always maintain that status even if he stays long enough to acquire citizenship; your home will never truly be his home. I know, you will say things like, “Mi casa es tu casa.” But the subtext tells him it is your home and you are sharing it. It is not his home.
The ideal place, or space, he can occupy is most likely where he works. Don’t invade his livelihood, unless he invites you into that space, and if he does, be aware he may be selective in the process. He is not asking you to bring your entire lifestyle and accoutrements in with his invitation. If you are his connection to his new residence, he likely wants to be able to share with you some part of his life that is proprietary to return the favor of your sharing the other 95% of his quotidian activities. Remember, 100% of the space is yours but you must cede that small portion where he feels in charge to him and then act the guest. Failure to respect this small portion of the extranjero’s space is probably the greatest reason to send one packing. You are “at home” 100% of the time, but the extranjero is never truly at home. Play nice.
Respect that his ideas and ideals may be different from yours. This refers to food, customs, entertainment, lifestyle. The extranjero is an adventurer. If one has come this far, he is probably open to experiment, but has a lifetime of experiences already behind him. It is not that easy to change however strong the initial effort or drive may be. It is like the non-swimmer who likes to dip his toes in the water before plunging. Pushing one into strange waters can produce irreversible shock to the system. Give the experimenter time and realize that everyone’s “time” is different. Because you had a cousin that learned a foreign language in six months and seemed as fluent as a native speaker within two years, does not mean everyone can do so within the same timeframe. Your new friend may never become fully accustomed, despite a strong desire to do so.
Meet him halfway. Don’t make him do all the work of becoming accustomed. Surely you have heard the old maxim that the best way for one to learn a foreign language is by becoming fully immersed in the experience. For some this may be true, but in my experience it is scary to feel lost without a signpost. Speaking only your native language all the time is just as debilitating to the extranjero’s development as constantly deferring to his. Remember, everyone he comes into contact with, who is not yet a friend, will take care of this chore. As a friend, and most likely the reason for his being in your country, you must be the signpost. If you care about acclimatizing your new friend, you must be aware of his “moments”, those times when he is ready to try. While it is true that children can and must learn by constant exposure, it has been proven that adults are resistant to this practice. If you speak nothing but your native language to the extranjero, the process of becoming accustomed starts to feel like a second job. Likewise, if you constantly defer to his, he will become lazy about the process and avoid situations where that “work” is required. Become alert to the signals. Learn to recognize the openings.
Be honest. Of course, when these “chores” begin to feel like too much work to you, perhaps it is time to admit you’ve had enough. You can never be friends with someone for whom you must “work” all the time. Let your friend know that you need a break. Don’t depend on subtlety to get your message across. The other will read your discomfort as betrayal. Don’t try to arrange things to appear as if they have happened by chance, and don’t lie. Even a “white lie” can be a form of betrayal. Case in point: you have been invited to spend the evening with the extranjero and some of his co-workers. He is trying to mix his two worlds (It is one of those moments.), and you take charge by inviting cousins or friends to casually drop by at a place they are not known to frequent to join the party. Unless your new friend is ignorant, in which case such a ploy would not be transparent, your maneuver will clearly be read as your reaffirming of his “guest” status, someone whose social activities must be managed by a firmer hand. This kind of set-up may be appreciated by a newcomer of a couple of weeks or less, but is insulting to someone who has been in in situ for several months or more. It is condescending and sends the signal that you have made a private assessment of the other’s social development and found him wanting. You are trying to change your 95% into 100%. If in truth, you were the one who would feel uncomfortable without your “back-up” in a group of extranjeros, it would have been better to make other arrangements at the outset.
The ideal place, or space, he can occupy is most likely where he works. Don’t invade his livelihood, unless he invites you into that space, and if he does, be aware he may be selective in the process. He is not asking you to bring your entire lifestyle and accoutrements in with his invitation. If you are his connection to his new residence, he likely wants to be able to share with you some part of his life that is proprietary to return the favor of your sharing the other 95% of his quotidian activities. Remember, 100% of the space is yours but you must cede that small portion where he feels in charge to him and then act the guest. Failure to respect this small portion of the extranjero’s space is probably the greatest reason to send one packing. You are “at home” 100% of the time, but the extranjero is never truly at home. Play nice.
Respect that his ideas and ideals may be different from yours. This refers to food, customs, entertainment, lifestyle. The extranjero is an adventurer. If one has come this far, he is probably open to experiment, but has a lifetime of experiences already behind him. It is not that easy to change however strong the initial effort or drive may be. It is like the non-swimmer who likes to dip his toes in the water before plunging. Pushing one into strange waters can produce irreversible shock to the system. Give the experimenter time and realize that everyone’s “time” is different. Because you had a cousin that learned a foreign language in six months and seemed as fluent as a native speaker within two years, does not mean everyone can do so within the same timeframe. Your new friend may never become fully accustomed, despite a strong desire to do so.
Meet him halfway. Don’t make him do all the work of becoming accustomed. Surely you have heard the old maxim that the best way for one to learn a foreign language is by becoming fully immersed in the experience. For some this may be true, but in my experience it is scary to feel lost without a signpost. Speaking only your native language all the time is just as debilitating to the extranjero’s development as constantly deferring to his. Remember, everyone he comes into contact with, who is not yet a friend, will take care of this chore. As a friend, and most likely the reason for his being in your country, you must be the signpost. If you care about acclimatizing your new friend, you must be aware of his “moments”, those times when he is ready to try. While it is true that children can and must learn by constant exposure, it has been proven that adults are resistant to this practice. If you speak nothing but your native language to the extranjero, the process of becoming accustomed starts to feel like a second job. Likewise, if you constantly defer to his, he will become lazy about the process and avoid situations where that “work” is required. Become alert to the signals. Learn to recognize the openings.
Be honest. Of course, when these “chores” begin to feel like too much work to you, perhaps it is time to admit you’ve had enough. You can never be friends with someone for whom you must “work” all the time. Let your friend know that you need a break. Don’t depend on subtlety to get your message across. The other will read your discomfort as betrayal. Don’t try to arrange things to appear as if they have happened by chance, and don’t lie. Even a “white lie” can be a form of betrayal. Case in point: you have been invited to spend the evening with the extranjero and some of his co-workers. He is trying to mix his two worlds (It is one of those moments.), and you take charge by inviting cousins or friends to casually drop by at a place they are not known to frequent to join the party. Unless your new friend is ignorant, in which case such a ploy would not be transparent, your maneuver will clearly be read as your reaffirming of his “guest” status, someone whose social activities must be managed by a firmer hand. This kind of set-up may be appreciated by a newcomer of a couple of weeks or less, but is insulting to someone who has been in in situ for several months or more. It is condescending and sends the signal that you have made a private assessment of the other’s social development and found him wanting. You are trying to change your 95% into 100%. If in truth, you were the one who would feel uncomfortable without your “back-up” in a group of extranjeros, it would have been better to make other arrangements at the outset.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
One Day
One day is just like the next. It all averages out. The action is in the minutes.
Take a moment to relax. Have a cup of tea, or coffee if you prefer. Have a biscuit.
Call a friend.
Write in a diary. Don't lose any of those precious moments. Time has a way of eliding their significance.
One day everything will be right, or it may never be. One day never comes. It never happens. You can only concentrate on the moment. Maybe tomorrow you'll take care of it. It happened yesterday. Today's the day. Can you? Did it? Is it, really? The whole day? Or just in the space of an hour?
Have you ever planned and prepared a sumptuous meal? The shopping for it, especially if it contains exotic ingredients, could take a while. The cooking may take more than an hour or two or even longer. Maybe you'll share a nice bottle of wine with your spouse or whoever it is you plan to share this meal with.Oh, it's going to be a glorious repast! You even light candles.You sit down at the table. Spread your napkins in your laps and raise your glasses in a toast. Then dig in. Delicious! And before you know it, one of you turns to the other and remarks, "Oh, all that work, and it's all finished." The essence of that meal was that one moment when you swallowed that last forkful. It may have taken hours to prepare, but it was all building to that point where you had ingested all. That final moment was the meal.
One day is a collection of moments. One day is a formless thing only given some shape by collecting the memory of those moments.
In the Disney movie version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (I hate that description, but more of that at another time), Snow sings, "One day, my prince will come..." One day, at one particular moment, he will arrive and lift her heart to heights of rapture previously only imagined, but what of the day after he comes? That rapturous moment will become old news, no news. Memories never hold as much emotion as the moments they recall. That only happens in the movies where the moments can be played over and over again as real (or cinematic, if you will) as the first time they occur, and think of this, the first time you see it, you're only seeing the image of something that happened for real on a sound stage months or even years ago. So not even your first time is the real thing for the participants. Even if a tear comes to your eye because you are moved so deeply -- it's their memory, not yours. But it evokes a moment you have experienced. A moment only.
The moment you learned whether it was a boy or a girl, or twins.
The moment you passed and could proceed to the next step.
The moment you said, "I do." The very essence of your wedding day.
The moment you realized you didn't.
The moment you were given praise for a job well done.
Childhood moments of gratification. All those moments gathered together in big bundles of hours. Those were the days.
Can't I get a moment's peace? One day you will have endless peace.
One day, but hopefully not today.
Take a moment to relax. Have a cup of tea, or coffee if you prefer. Have a biscuit.
Call a friend.
Write in a diary. Don't lose any of those precious moments. Time has a way of eliding their significance.
One day everything will be right, or it may never be. One day never comes. It never happens. You can only concentrate on the moment. Maybe tomorrow you'll take care of it. It happened yesterday. Today's the day. Can you? Did it? Is it, really? The whole day? Or just in the space of an hour?
Have you ever planned and prepared a sumptuous meal? The shopping for it, especially if it contains exotic ingredients, could take a while. The cooking may take more than an hour or two or even longer. Maybe you'll share a nice bottle of wine with your spouse or whoever it is you plan to share this meal with.Oh, it's going to be a glorious repast! You even light candles.You sit down at the table. Spread your napkins in your laps and raise your glasses in a toast. Then dig in. Delicious! And before you know it, one of you turns to the other and remarks, "Oh, all that work, and it's all finished." The essence of that meal was that one moment when you swallowed that last forkful. It may have taken hours to prepare, but it was all building to that point where you had ingested all. That final moment was the meal.
One day is a collection of moments. One day is a formless thing only given some shape by collecting the memory of those moments.
In the Disney movie version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (I hate that description, but more of that at another time), Snow sings, "One day, my prince will come..." One day, at one particular moment, he will arrive and lift her heart to heights of rapture previously only imagined, but what of the day after he comes? That rapturous moment will become old news, no news. Memories never hold as much emotion as the moments they recall. That only happens in the movies where the moments can be played over and over again as real (or cinematic, if you will) as the first time they occur, and think of this, the first time you see it, you're only seeing the image of something that happened for real on a sound stage months or even years ago. So not even your first time is the real thing for the participants. Even if a tear comes to your eye because you are moved so deeply -- it's their memory, not yours. But it evokes a moment you have experienced. A moment only.
The moment you learned whether it was a boy or a girl, or twins.
The moment you passed and could proceed to the next step.
The moment you said, "I do." The very essence of your wedding day.
The moment you realized you didn't.
The moment you were given praise for a job well done.
Childhood moments of gratification. All those moments gathered together in big bundles of hours. Those were the days.
Can't I get a moment's peace? One day you will have endless peace.
One day, but hopefully not today.
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Haunted Pictures?
detail of The Hands Resist Him
painted in 1972 by
Bill Stoneham
Some people claim this painting is haunted. Take a look at these two articles:
Castle of Spirits
The Artist's Site
People say they come away from looking at it with a queasy feeling in their stomach.
What do you think?
Can a painting or photograph be haunted?
Can an artist hypnotize you through his work?
After pondering Mr. Stoneham's "haunted painting", take a look at this site.
I'm pretty sure it will leave you feeling odd.
Spirit in the Canyon
By the way, do you have any good Halloween stories?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away...
Here's something to check out:
Yahoo 'Time Capsule' to Launch from Mexican Pyramid
The Mexican Pyramid of the Sun at the Teotihuacan archeological site outside Mexico City will serve as a “launch pad” for the digital information capsule
Yahoo to Launch Time Capsule From Mexican Pyramid
Time capsule to be beamed from Mexican pyramid
Yahoo To Pester Aliens With Earth News
If they asked you for something to include in the Time Capsule, what would you contribute?
That is to say, what do you think the aliens should know about Earth and its inhabitants?
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