From Dr. A.B. Blinky: Ode to a "Friend Lost Last Night"

She was smart, full of vigor within a deteriorating physical temple. We differed on God and many other things insignificant, sharing a love together within the mysteries of life, friendship, and the Universe.

She was warm and kind, although suffering with poor eyesight and hearing but enjoying an enormous intellect and mind, although constricted by her inability to move freely and express her insights fully.

Here for 93 years and gone in one second; the dichotomy staggering. Yet, it was her time and not mine or the others who will always love her.

She loved fully on large things and small, like a ride in a Rolls Royce convertible on warm and not-so-warm days, bets paid out with franks at Costco, shots of Harvey Bristol Cream, and debates on timely topics. She had a point of view, backed by facts and backed off to no one.

To credit her son and family, she lived her later years in comfort with enormous expressions of love until she left, peacefully and without pain.
Bye-bye, Betty. You decided; I support your decision but don’t have to like your choice.

Like the others who love you, I am selfishly disappointed. My tears are for me, my loss, with joy in my heart for your successful escape. Thanks for “just” being . . . and for being my friend.

Dr. A.B. Blinky via HippoParamus

From Dr. A.B. Blinky

No sorry; no indiscretions noted.

It was fun to talk with you with your defenses put aside for a minute or so, although not fair. I was careful, however, not to take advantage of you. Next time I’ll put my defenses aside and you can have the fun; and don’t abuse me.

We should all do it more often, more of the time; putting our defenses aside that is. It’s a risk of course and sometimes, though, it brings people closer together. Defenses keep us apart and safe. I like the former. It’s more real and honest. Safe is boring!

Besides, 90% of all real and truthful communications, when sober, is non-verbal. Hard to see on the phone, however. The other 10% is verbal, and most of the time, perhaps another 90%, it’s a lie. I find this exaggeration a very useful heuristic to use in all my communications, … More at another time.

To our next meet-up and to being truthful, sober or otherwise,

All I can do is the best I can do?

I can't express my disappointment - I was shot down in April but the "Party" is in May! I'm looking forward to it.

Pum

A Riddle

My father loved two American cities: Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. Both cities host little to no industrial decay and have beautiful architecture. In the late 50s or early 60s, the US Army drafted my father. Ironically enough, in Corpus Christi, Texas, Dad shared barracks close to Elvis Presley. The rest of the recruits, including my father, hated the “King,” a phenomenological, horny talent, whose white car became red by the end of the day.

Why?

Use the comment function to post any responses to the riddle posed. Good luck!

Guerrilla Warfare on the Potomac (circa 1992)

Ever since you beautifully articulated a part of Guru Nanak’s teachings to me over the phone (last year, we spoke of guerrilla warfare on the banks of the Potomac River), I have been preoccupied with what you told me: in one sense, your stance seems horrendously Gandhi-like (pardon the linkage) in the negation of the self (i.e., if you do away with desire, you do away with misery). In another sense, those thoughts pose a possible pseudo-epiphany. Be patient, I will explain. But, please, whatever you do, do not throw a book in my face.

My confusion or apprehension to acceptance of your philosophical dialect stems possibly from Rand’s influence. As you are aware, Rand regarded an individual’s happiness as the paramount realization of justice and beauty. However, Rand pits Government against the individual; Government is the greatest roadblock to an individual’s happiness due to its capacity to tax its own citizenry, thereby depriving individuals of their right to enjoy the fruits of their own labor. The plausibility of this conclusion may be questionable and, henceforth, unduly questioned and, hopefully, put to rest.

In the Dialectic, Descarte concluded: “I think, therefore, I am.” However, this philosophic self-discourse may be a futile strategy to arrive at truth, justice, and logic, nes pa’? I already know that I exist, understand? I am more concerned with existing beautifully and living a good life (not just ‘the good life’). But, I do think that Descarte had an interesting methodology.

Without Descarte, there may never have been colonialism and the subsequent globalization of human interaction, because he aligned the pursuit of science and technology with the existence of Golf (I mean GOD, oops). Anyhow, if we concern ourselves with our senses as tools for measuring and experiencing the material world and treat them as gifts (from DOG spelled backwards) rather than taking our senses for granted, we can proceed from here, yes?

Because we interact with one another, create things, actualize tasks and projects, and, ultimately, use our senses spontaneously (like memory and sight – if you open your eyes, you see, etc.), then we must owe our “individuality” to something outside ourselves and simultaneously to what comes from within our own souls. But, because we are separate entities (you and I), we are individuals in the most basic sense of that word. Don’t you think, in some sense, then, our achievements (anything considered worthwhile by anyone) flow from our individuality because, ultimately, ambition or desire “pumps” our desire and ability to achieve?

Without desire, achievement has no value. So, how can one say: “if you rid desire, one becomes closer to obtaining happiness but happiness shouldn’t be a goal?” For clarity’s sake, I didn’t say that happiness is the only goal. Then, ultimately, the question becomes: “Is existence, by the virtue of being human, sacred in itself?” THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING: YES!!!

Yours,

HippoParamus

P.S. Don’t let them fool you; a FLAT TAX is inherently progressive: simple, fair, and just. The more money one makes, the more one pays. Fact: the American middle class – and not the corporations and fat cats that we continuously bail out - is footing 80-90% of all gross federal tax receipts. Get mad. Get very mad!

A Humorous Vignette from a Friend at Van Ness: Circumcision

Were you circumcised without your consent? Has this left you scarred for life? If so, our legal team will ensure that you obtain the financial compensation that you deserve for any physical mutilation and trauma endured.

So pick up your phone and call us at 1-800-444-SKIN. That’s 1-800-444-S-K-I-N.

Jerckov, Wanker, and Associates. Let us handle your penal matters.

I Have Faith

Y'all:

A system of love: philosophy

Would anyone trade his or her own eyesight for all the money in the world? I doubt that anybody would or will upon this supposition.

Thus, everyone who reads this essay has by thought and perspective in tandem become by an ontological proposition, a trillionaire.

A great philosopher once stated: "Time is more important than money because one can always make more money but never obtain one last second passed, in accordance with universal circumstance. Time is not money - money, however, by its essence is meaningless and life precious."

Geezie weezie - who wrote that? Could it be a philosopher whose first name starts with a "P" and last name begins with a "B?"

Yours,

HippoParamus