THUS SPAKE GERRY THUSTRA II

O man, take care!
What does the deep midnight declare?
"I was asleep—
From a deep dream I woke and swear:—
The world is deep,
Deeper than day had been aware.
Deep is its woe—
Joy—deeper yet than agony:
Woe implores: Go!
But all joy wants eternity—
Wants deep, wants deep eternity

Nietzsche

At the beginning of the parable of the one legged cabby, Thomas is lost. He finds himself in ennui at best, dolor at the worst. He had not made his pittance for the day. By completing his daily goal he is enabled by the end of the month to take care of his needs, his rent, his food, his heat……..

At the last minute he espies the customer who can make his day…enable him to reach his daily goal.

He is stumped by the immediate goal. He knows not where it is and must seek direction from his employer. What is Northco? No that is not his question. Rather, where is NORTHCO. He is not in his present position capable of grasping what NORTHCO IS ANYWAY.

As oft times happens in life, we are only charged with the immediate task. One does not write a novel in a month or a week or a day. One does not build the Taj Mahal in a day or a week or a month. And we peons, we lowliest of the low (which represents 99% of all humankind) are not ‘let on’ to the grander plan as written in the sacred edict of the grand oligarchy. We are to only do our part, complete our small goal for the day.

Never assume the great professors of our day tell us. But we must assume or we cannot complete our tasks. We assume when we awaken that we are in our beds, in our own homes be they the grandest houses or the most meager of apartments. We assume the coffee pot is in the same place it has been for weeks and months on end. We assume there are no new holes in the flooring as we make our way to the bathroom from our beds. And so on. For that is our lot.

The powers that be tell our cabby what route to take for the destination of our fare. For three long years he has learned most of the routes available in this greater metropolitan area. He has driven in the rain before just as he has driven in the fog before or the snow storm before……

As soon as he takes the route suggested by his mentors, he begins to have misgivings of it all. Where am I really? What am I doing here, in this place, really? He has put himself in a spot where he must trust somebody or something in the outside world. A source that is not inner directed at all. And yet he cannot choose in midstream so to speak, he cannot opt for something different considering the circumstances. He must not admit to total chaos.

We shall return to Thomas at a later date. For now, think of the chaos. Ponder that chaos. Feel that chaos. For it is the reality of all life. We perceive patterns; we make assumptions only because we must have bearings of some sort.

THUS SPAKE GERRY THUSTRA

We shall now take a five minute break stated Horace, the blind leader of the tribe. Horace was the leader in that he was responsible for preparing the warehouse each day; collecting the remunerations each day; and cuing Gerry. Horace was like the agent.

Meanwhile Gerry Thustra adjusted his pajamas under his great flowing robe of red. His ‘costume’ had not changed in years, in decades really. His mustache and goatee were rather new, relatively. His booming voice had not changed over the decades at all, really, as he ventured into the new century finding himself at his own half century mark.

The flock present was around 900 good burban people. Lady shoppers and lady shop keepers. Businessmen and bums. Kids who would skip school from time to time. An eclectic crowd to be sure.

Now cometh Gerry Thustra, let the truth telling continue, shouted Horace the blind one.

Feeling the chaos may bring us peace at times. For we control very little while embarking on the path of mere mortals. We are angry at the powerful because they appear to have more control than us.

Now it is time for the Parable of “Sir Lionel”.

Sir Bors was one of four Knights of the Round Table to fulfill the Quest For the Holy Grail. Actually, according to the sage Mallory, Sir Bors embarked with his brother Lionel for the sacred prize.

The two knights from Brittany and lately from Camelot made their way on their journey to places unknown; to places unsung. Oh, they would find clues along the way. One great ogre who at first seemed to threaten a village turned out to be an oracle of sorts which led the two towards northern Wales from Cornwall.

During the last leg of that journey, the two questers stopped for repast at a local inn. The inners of this inn were quite mysterious. Dank and dark and dungeon like. There were four tables and they duly laid a coin upon the table, as was the Welsh custom and a fair maiden came with a pitcher of ale along with two large metal cups. A wash basis was provided as our heroes washed the road off of their faces and hands.

Just following their second pitcher, three rowdy knights appeared and a picked a table.

Bors and Lionel were so grateful to be served such a fine bird with baked roots that they barely heard the slights from the sinister crew sitting to their left. Just as the supping came to an end, one of the dark knights grabbed the maid and carried her out of the establishment.

Bors and Lionel immediately stood and yelled halt when the remaining two animals pulled their swords. Before the Camelot crew could react a sword went into Lionel’s back, causing excruciating pain. Bors, in two strokes of his mighty sword slew both knights.

He knelt down and tended to his brother.

I must retrieve the maiden from the evil horseman Lionel. Hold on until I return.

Sir Bors rose at once and ran to his steed, tracked down the maiden and brought her back to the inn after avenging Lionel’s wound. The opposing knight was struck asunder.

Upon his return, Bors found his brother without breath, dead to all the world.

A great dolour fell upon our hero, creating a wound from which he would never recover even after fulfilling his quest.

How should we judge our brothers?

THUS SPAKE GERRY THUSTRA!!!


This is cross posted at:

Arthur of the Roundish Table: Chapter Two

Chapter 2

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PEACE



Arthur and his troops had engaged in twelve great battles, ending in the Great Battle of Mt. Badon, thereby vanquishing the pagan Saxons. Back at Camelot, Arthur is addressing his knights at the roundish table:

Today we must address the problems associated with peace. Many soldiers still on our dime and Kay the Seneschal is constantly asking for more supplies. Soldiers become antsy when they are not pursuing prey.

We have lost many peasants, which does keep down the surplus population as Merlin always loves to point out but they are not getting in the barley we need to sustain the amount of ale we have been swigging lately.

The Jews are being too tight with their purse strings and not lending enough to keep our blacksmiths burning their forges, to sustain the lumbering we need to keep the forests at bay, to sustain the cartwrights who keep our supplies on the road, to sustain the road workers who help our troops and to spur on our mercantilists and to keep our tailors from importing the wool from the north that is so scratchy in the place of the silks we used to import from Asia.

Sire, what pray tell is 'dime' Gawain called out.

Sire, what pray tell is a 'seneschal' cried Gareth.

Both good looking boys but none to quick in the area of the cranium.

Sire, sire, why not kill all the Jews and lend ourselves all the monies we need? Cried out half the hall.

No, no, no, said the King. I already discussed that possibility with Merlin and he reminded me that that was tried only forty years ago. Banking is just not in our blood. The traders from France ended up with all the money and so then we had to go conquer France again. Now do not get me wrong, I really like the food there. But the French smell funny and they are constantly protesting something and nobody wishes to work more than 32 hours a week.

What, Sire, do these French do with all their extra time? Queried Bedivere.

Oh Bedivere, the French spend a lot of time ravishing their females in violation of the rules set down by Our Lord Jesus Christ. And they also spend all their time writing something called poetry. I really do not understand it, but French ladies swoon over this poetry, especially with the added benefit of wine.....Anyway. We are not going to kill any Jews. I have been getting a good return on my investment, they tell me. I do not know what that means, but they say I already own a place called Monaco and now I am making even more money on these dice games.

But we must opt for change. We must see what we can do to hold my Realm together , work on our infrastructure and begin a new era.

But, Sire, what pray tell is infrastructure? Asked Gawain.

But, Sire, what is an era? Inquired Gareth.

Sire, we must go on a quest, called out Lancelot.

A multitasking quest cried Tristan. And .....Lancelot and I can stay here and protect the castle.

A quest called out the rest of the gathering. A quest

Bedivere chimed in: Sire there is a dastardly dragon in Caerleon. Women have been ravaged!!!

Tristan addressed Bedivere thusly, Bedivere, dragons do not ravage women. They may burn the maidens and they may eat the maidens but they cannot remove their maidenhood due to their anatomical structure.

Well then they are being eaten, and burned and ...and...savaged. That's it, savaged and we can not longer abide the savaging.

Tristan looked at Lancelot and smirked. Lancelot then added his two pence: Sire, there is an Ogre, a giant residing at St. Michael's Mount. The monster has been ravaging the locals and calling out for what he calls the sniveling Celts. It is time for us to answer its call.

Finally Gawain added these comments: There are rumors Sire that the King of a Hundred Knights is alive and well at Leeds. Ready to gather his last 14 knights and… and ...and call for a council of war!!!!!!!

LIVE AT LEEDS. LIVE AT LEEDS, sang the chorus of knights.

HOLD IT DOWN. What do you think this is, a press conference? And Gareth don't you dare ask me what a press conference is or I shall withhold the soothing cream we have been giving you for that itch you always complain about.

NOW ORDER, ORDER I DECLARE.

The room quieted down and Arthur began to smile. This is a great day. This is a great idea for a new era. My swarthy knights, today I shall declare a new Quest. We shall call this day ‘The Quest for Taxes Feast Day’. From this time forward, on this date, our great knights (along with a couple thousand peasants of course) shall go out into the countryside and enter all the shires and approach all of the church properties demanding their tithes for the month. One month out of every year shall the monies received by the clerics be tendered to the King. All plenary indulgences shall be collected to forestall a purgatory on earth.

But sire, what about the Pope? He may become angry and discombobulate us. Thus cried Bedivere.

You mean excommunicate us, Bedivere? Said Tristan, with a scowl.

That too, said Bedivere.

The Pope will not find out until next month as to our goings on. Besides, the Winemakers Guild and the Bakers Guild have been protesting at the Vatican ever since they found out that the Pope has been watering down the communion breakfasts and substituting silly wafers for pieces of a wheat loaf. He has his own problems and listen to this carefully. Ever since he killed all of his Jews, the Church's return on investment has been way, way down. See, we must watch our prejudices lest our pocketbooks be squandered. Besides, you ever see the Pope in battle? All those vestments really screw up his ability to ride a horse and the priest soldiers have been wearing those dresses again. No sense of horsemanship. I swear.

All of a sudden all the knights knelt and blessed themselves.

Er, I swear that we shall not fail in our quest to better our kingdom. Proclaimed the King.

Tristan and Lancelot, you shall lead half of the palace guards unto the country side and bring bags with you. Large bags. And fill them with plenary indulgences from the friaries and the monasteries and the cathedrals but leave London alone for now, I am meeting with the Archbishop on the morrow.

Sir Dobbs...SIR DOBBS

Yes, sire.

Why are you not capitalizing your s's, Dobbs?

Yes Sire!!!

Sir Dobbs there are problems with our boundaries to the south. Some people called Angles are creating havoc in the Southern Provinces. These beasts have terrible teeth and they talk funny and I wish you to pursue all the Angles. Understand soldier?

Yes Sire. And who should I take with me?

One quarter of the palace guards for now Dobbs. But make it fast because I will need you to lead some subcontractors up to Hadrian's wall to buttress our boundaries with the Picts.

But Sire. What is a contractor?

Never mind. Pursue all the Angles.

Snerf, Snerf where is Snerf, yelled the King.

The hunchback hobbled over to the 'head chair' of the table, grumbling as usual. He had once been a happy peasant, short, but happy with a wee little lass. He oftimes thought of his maid Mariannette. Hours in the hayloft until her father found out about it and had him whipped unmercilously Shortly he discovered that he had been left crippled for life. How was he to know she was only twelve (thirteen was the advent of maidenhood in those days of yore. To this day that sentiment can be found in places like Jerry Lee Lewis' home town) and she said she was fourteen and much more adept at things of the heart-so to speak-than any virgin.

Snerf was not his birth name. He had been Christened Stephan of Dover. His old master had a speech impediment and thus he was left with nothing, not even his name. He was taken prisoner five years prior and brought to Camelot when it was discovered that he had a talent with vegetables and he became first lay assistant to Kay the Senescel.

WAKE THE HELL UP SNERF AND HURRY OVER HERE

Oh, oh, he thought. He is mad again. What can I do you for King of mine?

The King was holding a deer leg and made a menacing movement towards him. This venison tastes like a Saxon peon who has rotted in the peat bogs for months. What the hell is this?
Take this back to Kay and tell him to get me some mutton.

So the first cabinet meeting of the New Realm, ends.

THUS SPAKE GERRY THUSTRA

The Thustras were your normal inner burb people. That mysterious group of post war America whose biggest aim in life was to own their own home far away from the city (well six or seven miles was pretty far) and far away from Negroes and Jewish folk.

The homes were built, almost over night with the help of mortgages approved by the feds and monies from the various GI bills and the deeds were duly encrypted with restrictive covenants and everybody lived happily ever after.

Well not really of course, but that is another story which may be partially covered in this great epic.

Anyway, back to the Thustras. Elmer, the patriarch, came from good European parentage. His paternal grandparents arrived at Ellis Island from a small town SE of Holmberg or somewhere in the old Yugoslavia or some such place. Gerry really was not sure except Grandpa always liked a beer and a bump and every time Gramps would slug down the bump he would yell: YAVEAST

Grandma was quite demure and never said much in front of strangers. Little Gerry only met her a couple of times as a youngster but he was sure she knew something about Tarot Cards and carried these bones in a box at all times.

Elmer’s father was a carriage driver where he drove his customers with the help of two old mares, through the local park near the BIG CITY. Elmer’s mom was a short fat lady who always yelled at Gerry for something.

OH HOW GERRY DETESTED THE HOLIDAYS. Such strange creatures would arrive at dinner sometimes and he was told that he was somehow RELATED TO MOST OF THEM.

Gerry’s mom was Calustra. Yes, that is right, Calustra Thustra. But since Gerry only had to call her mom it was okay with him. Her parents had more of a divergence in origin.

Calustra’s mom came from some small enclave near Milan, Italy. How grandma got here, Gerry had not the slightest idea. But Nana, as she liked to be called, was always kind to Gerry. When no one was around, Nana would tell Gerry:

You can be whatever you want to be Gerald, but do not be a cinema man.

You see, Gerry came to discover that Nana did not really appreciate Dad. But that is another story.

Elmer got back to the States following his stint in the Army as a cook during WWII. He had been stationed in England most of the time. It seems that he somehow got into the ‘procurement’ business over there, which is where he procured the down payment for his home in suburbia.

Elmer went to college on the GI bill and received three and a half years of good education, majoring in films. By 1959, when Gerry reached his ninth birthday, Elmer owned the Exotic Cinema on the outskirts of the city. (This was one reason that Nana did not care much for Elmer)

Oh and Nazareth was the name of the burb.

Well Gerry got through the sixth grade at Nathan Hale Elementary School and he had had enough.

So when ‘sign up’ day happened at Nazareth’s West Junior High School, Gerry ‘opted out’. He just never showed up. Papers were lost. The Thustras were never much up for PTA and such. I mean Elmer was just scraping along at the cinema. Oh sure, Elmer would always have his camera available for those important shots of certain City Fathers showing up for popcorn at his theater, but the ‘tips’ he received from this side photography business were enough just to bring home extra groceries to feed the 9 youngins. Mom was so busy washing clothes and keeping Kevin from killing David, that….well no one really followed up on Gerry.

Gerry would wile away the hours wandering through the public library and catching any new happenings at the world’s only in-door mall, Southside Dale it was called. Built in 1957, it really represented all that was new about post war America. Clothes shops all over the place. Book stores and knick-knack shops adorned the sides of this great edifice. Food was for sale everywhere. Pieces of pizza, hoagie sandwiches, hot dogs……..whatever one craved that day, at that moment.

Gerry always remembered to leave home at 8:00 AM and to get back home by four PM.

…………………………………………

July 5th, 2001 at Southside Dale Shopping Center, Nazareth, Minnesota.

The greatest single shopping center on the globe had suffered from entropy some forty years after its creation. It was now divided into three parts. The Middle Dale was a Wal-Mart. The West Wing was a Sam’s Club. The East Wing was more or less vacant with the exception of a strange meeting that took place once a day at one PM. Thursday through Tuesday that is.

Hundreds would flock at the East Wing just after noon and camp on rugs provided by Sam’s Club in order to hear the thoughts of the day from Gerry Thustra.

At exactly One P.M. Gerry appeared to the throng, made up of ladies sick of shopping, youngsters sick of school and Postal Workers who happened to work strange shifts. At least I hope they had strange shifts; I mean otherwise who was delivering the GODDAMN MAIL. (Blesses himself)

GOD IS DEAD pronounced the Shoppers’ Shaman (as he was referred to in the local press). Gerry’s voice boooooooooooomed in this mostly empty warehouse. Made one wonder why the microphone was ever invented in the first place.

God is dead and so are all of our aspirations, consolations, trepidations, acclamations, and constipations.
We need god no longer. Just as we need to heed the government any longer. Give nothing unto Caesar because there is no Caesar. Give nothing unto god, because there is no god.

THUS SPAKE GERRY THUSTRA.

Well, the throng was puzzled as it always was this time of day. What does this mean? Do we not pay taxes anymore? Do we not come to the East Wing any longer?

Gerry always began like this. Shaking everyone in their boots. After lunch for many the blood has rushed from the cranium to the belly leaving those who have supped with ennui. Adrenaline was what was called for in this instance.

We are alone. All of us. If you, over there, the lady in the plastic coat that shines in the darkness of my soul, were to see me grasp my chest and fall to the ground of a fatal heart attack…you could do nothing. Oh a paramedic might attempt to revive me while another good citizen called 911…But those are mortal duties that must be accomplished or you would be seen as not doing your social obligations.

No we are alone in that none of us in the end can prevent our own death or the death of others on our planet. We leave our mother’s womb and we are alone for the full tour, as it were. It is enough that we do not kill someone else while on this ‘tour of duty’.

I will now relate to you the parable of the one-legged cabby.

Thomas was from somewhere in the Middle East. We are not sure if that was his ‘given’ name or not. It was late at night and just toward the end of his shift, but Thomas had not had his complement of fares that day. Coming around the Police Station a few miles from the airport where he had hoped to find a ride less traveler, he espied a large figure in a deep dark trench coat haling him for a ride. Well, it looks good enough for me Thomas thought.

Thomas duly stopped and signaled that the fellow could jump in his cab. Will you take me to Northco?

That depends upon what Northco is and where it is sir. I have had this route for all of three years and I have a good mind and remember my fares and destinations. It is what I do. But what is Northco.

Check your GPS idiot.

Blushing, Thomas typed in the letters on his keyboard and there, at the edge of town and just within his route was NORTHCO.

Sorry about that sir. Yes, we shall take the shortest route for the traffic is thin this time of night.

It was a full twenty miles away and Thomas duly called it in knowing that the fare would make his shift profitable. Everything was kosher.

But as they proceeded down highway 62, something strange occurred to Thomas. He was sure that he had just crossed Hwy 494 going WEST on 62. There was no Highway 62 West of 494. That was the end of 62…or it was supposed to be. He checked his computer. Yes indeed he was on the right road. The screen indicated that his cab was going in the right direction on the right road to the right destination. When the hell did this all change?

Then he remembered that he had never heard of NORTHCO before. He certainly had never traveled there before. And to make matters worse, it was particularly dark that night. A deep cover of clouds hid the stars along with the slim crescent moon that was predicted for the night. And it was misty, the kind of mist that is almost a downpour. Where the windshield wipers must be on continuously and where it became necessary to open a window when making a turn.

It was like he had never been in this city before. 36 months as a cab driver can do

Although he usually refrained from speaking to fares unless first addressed, Thomas cleared his throat and asked innocently:

What exactly does NORTHCO do sir, if I may be so bold as to ask?

There was no response from the fare. Thomas stole a quick glance into his rear-view mirror at the fare. He shook his head. He could not see the fare’s face. Only the outline of a huge man in the back seat of his cab.

Well, the road is right, the destination is right…the computer says so.

Three years and Thomas never felt like this. He certainly was confused but the instruments told him to not be so. He could discern the divider in the highway; he was on the right side. He could certainly discern the glowing white stripes separating the Western bound traffic.

And speaking of traffic, this Sunday Night had none. Not none, to speak of. There was no traffic at all.

Thomas felt the perspiration on his pate and his underarms were reeking. He never smelt this bad, even at ‘closing time’. He could feel his breath weaken. It is like those times when you have to consciously breath; afraid that if you quit thinking about your breath, you would die.

He checked the clock and it read 12:30 AM. It was Monday. And at this speed……….

STEP ON IT GODDAMN IT. Yelled the passenger. The first words out of his mouth since he gave the driver the destination.

Does any of this look familiar to you sir? I mean have you ever been to NORTHCO before?

STEP ON IT I SAY!!!

Thomas put his foot down on the accelerator taking his transport to 70 MPH. He almost hoped a cop would stop him. He began to care little about his license, his driving record or even the damn cab…all of which embodied his livelihood. Then to 75 MPH.

He could see the stripes on the road moving faster and faster. It was now 12:45 A.M. Nothing looked familiar. How could he have never been on this road before this? I mean his main drag was the airport for chrissakes which meant any destination was possible.

Now Thomas could hear his own heart. He could not remember ever HEARING his heart before. He glanced down at the clock, it read 2:30 A.M.

This is not possible. WHERE THE HELL AM I.

Of a sudden, Thomas looked up and there was a sign on the road:

WELCOME TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

Take the next right onto Highway 82. We are almost there. This was the declaration from the mute fare.

Thomas proceeded to make the right turn and proceeded north and within two miles he saw the sign:

THIS WAY TO NORTHCO.

As he pulled into the long driveway in front of the building, the fear left him. It felt like he had had a long sleep and a good shower. It never occurred to him that he would be driving three hours to get home. Thomas did not care.

The fare asked:

How much?

The voice shook him for some reason. Er….two hundred dollars.

The fare reached into his pocket and pulled out four bills, handing them to Thomas.

KEEP THE CHANGE.

Everything kind of went blank for Thomas just after receiving the funds.

He awoke, suddenly in his cab, parked in the company garage. He looked down at the clock and it read 8:00 A.M. He looked up. It had been his router who had awoken him by tapping at his driver side window. Thomas looked down at the four bills still in his hands.

THUS SPAKE GERRY THUSTRA.

Stay tuned for part two. What is the message?

NOTHINGNESS

Philosophy is a waste of time. I am lost in high school and I get to the U and I am stuck in a long line to register for courses and I end up in Philosophy I; Anthropology I and World History I.

I remember the History Professor, within the first minute of his introduction asking the 250 or so students:

"Who, here, had a coach as their world history teacher in high school?"

Everybody raised their hand. Unless both their hands were involved in activities that come easily to young men.

"OK. Lets start anew. The eighteenth century represents the 1700's. The nineteenth century represents the 1800's."

Everybody laughed, but I knew I had a chance.

I remember Philosophy I because I began reading Plato. The Apology, made me cry. I was hopelessly lost. The sophists were the bad guys and Socrates (I pronounced in my head with a silent 'e' until the professor straightened me out. I had always thought it was Hercules like Hercules Perot.)

I bring this up because I ended up in law school and the origins of law school end up in the school of the Sophists. And yet, you are supposedly taught by the Socratic Method.

It is kind of like the Republicans telling you that the Democrats are elitists. I do not know how better to describe it.

I remember thinking that in the Apology, there was never an apology. The bad guys were the sophists and they killed my friend. A friend who had been dead for 23 1/2 centuries before I was born.

There were 'schools' in the ancient world. Different perspectives.

There were the atomists who believed that everything could be boiled down to small particles, atoms.

There were those who believed that the entire perspective of the human poplulation was nothing but a dream.

Now there are many, many 'schools' in ancient Greek thought. So do not chastise me for ignorance. Besides, I am good at ignorance.

What can philosophy teach us? Well Socrats (as I perceived him and pronounced him), opens the Apology with the words:

"There are things beneath the earth and above the heavens that will never be understood in your philosophy."

Kind of like arguing with Fundamentalists who think that the world is 6 or eight thousand years old. Who actually have Fred Flinstone museums where you can see Fred mining with a dinosour as his digger.

My basic question of the day is: What is nothing? or What is nothingness?

Hold your two hands about a foot apart. What do you see?

There is nothing between my two hands.

But, when I do this, I know that is not a true statement.

There is air between your two hands. There is nitrogen, and oxygen, and a hundred different molecules depending upon where you are that exist between those two hands.

And there are biological entities between your hands. There are hundreds of different forms of bacteria and viruses. Living beings that you cannot see.

There are things like asbestos and dead skin and smoke and other things that are not 'alive' between your two hands.

Now we come to a Greek concept of the vacuum.

I f you take away from or ignore the water and nitrogen and oxygen, and asbestos and bacteria and viruses and everything else. Can you really say there is nothing between your two hands?

No, because there is space between your two hands and, evidently, if we are to believe scientists, space is something.

First, outer space is not a concept anymore. We can see it.

National Geographic, in its November issue, showed PICTURES of planets orbiting another sun 160 light years away from us.

These pictures were not 'artists conceptions' they showed three PLANETS orbiting another sun. And by telescopic time lapsed photography they actually show a picture of the arc of one of the planets.

I never thought I would ever see this in my lifetime. I was amazed.

This was not mathematical wizardry or deductions from watching the 'wobbling' effect of faraway suns. The procedure used for ten years to demonstrate that other solar systems exist in our own galaxy was categorized as the 'wobbling effect.' These are pictures and not pictures of 'dust', but of planets.

These scientists, astrophysicists, tell us that space is not Kalvin zero. It is a 'temperature of 3 degrees above', Kalvin. This is different from Celsius . The Kalvin 'thermometer' registers lack of heat to the point where there is no atomic movement at all.

But, no matter where you go throughout the universe, you will find some heat.

And of course, there is light, photons, or we could not see anything between us and what we are recording.

And there is gravity, whatever the hell that is, between us and the sun and the other suns we are looking at.

Space is not nothingness.

And space is expanding. The galaxies are moving apart except those like our closest neighbor that is coming toward us, or we are going toward it, or both.

Galaxies are moving apart and space is expanding.

THE ONLY ISSUE TO ME INVOLVES NOTHINGNESS.

What the hell is space expanding INTO.

Is it expanding into nothingness?

The Greeks asked simple questions. Dictionaries cannot answer some of these questions. Most of the elemental questions cannot be answered. Even today.

No one can answer the question: What the hell is nothingness?


(Note, this was the first blog where I received recommendations and comments at TPMCafe. December 7, 2008. I left it as it was. Typos and all. you can read comments at http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/dikkday48yahoocom/2008/12/07-week/

A CONTRAST AMONG DOOLITTLES

Alfie Doolittle






Once upon a time there was there was a Mormon attorney who wished to make a difference, strive for change and make America a better place for rich white people to live and thrive. In 1990, John T. Doolittle was elected to the House of Representatives from a district in California where gated communities and rich exurbs are the rule of the day.


And John T. Doolittle was able to do that House seat proud until January of this year; I mean what a voting record: http://www.ontheissues.org/ca/john_doolittle.htm

Any time he could make life a little bit easier for those attempting to scrape by in gated communities, Doolittle was there doing a lot. Any time he was called upon to vote down breaks for the poor so that they could just sit around on food stamps and drink beer all day, Doolittle was there for the count.

You would never him quote Alfie Doolittle his dear departed cousin:

I'm one of the undeserving poor, I am, up against middle-class morality all the time. What is middle-class morality? Just an excuse for never giving me anything.

And this was what Doolittle was all about, and let me tell you this man DIDALOT, not a little to further Truth, Justice & The American Way:

* "Conservative Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.), for example, said he hoped a Bush administration would beat back efforts at campaign finance reform and gun control while dramatically cutting federal regulation. 'The power of the presidency, coupled with a Republican Congress and conservative control of the Supreme Court, is nothing short of awesome,' said Doolittle, one of DeLay's closest allies. 'This is the implementation of the rest of the 'Contract With America.'" --Washington Post, December 6, 2000.
* "A DeLay ally, Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.), said Republicans 'are going to have to respond in kind' by filing ethics charges against key Democrats. From now on, he said in an interview, it's a matter of 'you kill my dog, I'll kill your cat.'" --Washington Post, June 15, 2004.
* "'I do not subscribe to the theory of global warming,' he said. 'Liberals like to use pseudo-science.' He said that liberals want to implement severe restrictions and their actions 'would make everything more expensive.'" [Chester Progressive, Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006, pg 16A. (Doolittle interview with newspaper, Chester,CA)]
* "The legislation introduced by Congressman John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) provides for deregulating campaign finance, eliminating both contribution and expenditure limitations. It also provides for ending federal financing of presidential campaigns. Its emphasis is on improved disclosure of campaign finance information primarily through electronic filing. To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing of campaigns for election for Federal office."

All Representatives find special projects to work on during their tenure in the People's House; or at least the good ones, and Doolittle was one of those good ones for sure. Back in 2006 it was reported that:

Most Americans couldn't locate the Northern Marianas Islands on a map if their lives depended on it-- nor could they tell you anything about the island chain. However, in the northern California district between the Sacramento suburbs and the Oregon border, more and more people are knowing an uncomfortably lot about the Northern Marianas. That's because the Republican incumbent in CA-04, John Doolittle, an incredibly corrupt and thoroughly immoral bribetaker has been all caught up in a whole slew of Abramoff-related scandals, one particularly horrible one centered in the Commonwealth-- a nice way to say "colony"-- of the Northern Mariana Islands. And the swirling controversy around the scandal is being covered by the Sacramento Bee, the district's most read newspaper.

Now that the FBI is actively investigating Doolittle's role in the pervasive Culture of Corruption in DC, his activities in the Northern Marianas scandals are coming out. Last week, the Bee reported that the forced prostitution, slave labor, forced abortions and generally nightmarish conditions put together by villains like Tom DeLay, Bob Ney, Don Young and John Doolittle as a model working situation for a Republican Party-dominated society has become a campaign issue in CA-04.

A month before Rep. John Doolittle took actions that would help disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff win back a contract to represent the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in blocking immigration and labor reforms, he heard sworn witnesses describing some of the sordid abuses the legislation was intended to halt. At the Sept. 16, 1999, hearing before the House Resources Committee, witnesses told of deplorable working conditions, trafficking in women and forced prostitution.

Now, seven years later, Doolittle's opposition to the reforms in the U.S. territory has become a dominant issue in his campaign for a ninth term in Congress. http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2006/10/another-chapter-in-john-doolittles.html

Getting young girls employment was one of the greatest accomplishments of Doolittle during his tenure and it had nothing to do with food stamps or welfare. I mean these girls had to follow the rules in order to better their lot.

But those dirty liberals have taken it upon themselves to attack this sort of conduct and they found out how to get this epitome of conservative values by going after an underling:

"Doolittle's former chief of staff, Kevin A. Ring, went to work with Abramoff. Doolittle's wife, Julie, owned a consulting firm that was hired by Abramoff and his firm, Greenberg Traurig, to do fundraising for a charity he founded. Two sources close to the investigation said that Ring, while working for Abramoff, was an intermediary in the hiring of Julie Doolittle's firm, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions Inc., which last year received a subpoena from the grand jury investigating Abramoff," Susan Schmidt and James Grimaldi, reported in the November 26, 2005, Washington Post. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Doolittle/Commentary

Ring is in the midst of his trial right now, facing 127 years in prison (something Madoff would have hoped for) on seven felony counts. The trial has worn on some participants:

Crying witnesses, colorful e-mails and descriptions of lobbyists as "sugar daddies" and congressmen as their "champions" -- it's all become routine in the trial of Kevin Ring, former associate of imprisoned ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff. With a full cast of former lobbyists and congressional staffers who have already pleaded guilty in the scandal testifying as cooperating witnesses, courtroom drama has yet to cease, and it's only bound to continue as the defense is expected to begin presenting evidence next week.
Read more: http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/09/ri. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x483520

Former DOJ Chief of Staff David Ayres invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, according to this report.David Ayers, who was Ashcroft's chief of staff at the Justice Department during the Bush administration, refused to answer questions under oath about tickets he received from Abramoff's firm and any favors he may have granted for the firm's clients.

Ayers was called as a defense witness in the corruption trial of Abramoff deputy Kevin Ring. Ring faces charges that he illegally influenced federal officials by providing them with expensive meals, drinks and tickets to concerts and sporting events http://politicalactivitylaw.com/?p=5283

In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth...(Luke 13:28)

So, in the midst of Ring's trial, Doolittle has been indicted. Or has he?

Federal prosecutors named ex-Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) as a co-conspirator Thursday in the public corruption case against former House aide-turned-lobbyist Kevin Ring. The government included Doolittle, who has not been charged with wrongdoing, on a list of 11 co-conspirators filed Thursday.

The government's list of co-conspirators also included Doolittle's wife, Julie Doolittle, as well as John Albaugh, chief of staff to then-Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.) who pleaded guilty in 2008 to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud; Ann Copland, a former aide to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) who pleaded guilty in March to honest services wire fraud; Robert Coughlin, a former top Justice Department official who pleaded guilty in 2008 to violating conflict of interest laws; Will Heaton, chief of staff to then-Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) who pleaded guilty in February 2007 to a conspiracy charge; Laura Blackann, Doolittle's former spokeswoman and wife of Trevor Blackann who pleaded guilty in November to filing a false tax return for not reporting more than $4,100 in gifts from lobbyists; Peter Evich, Doolittle's former legislative director; Gregory Orlando, who also served as Doolittle's legislative director; former White House aide Jennifer Farley; David Lopez, Doolittle's former chief of staff and political adviser; and Ryan Thomas, a top appropriations aide to then-Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.). http://www.rollcall.com/news/38936-1.html?type=pf

Well he made it on the list of co-conspirators, But he still walks free as a bird.

Doolittle has little in common with his cousin Alfie Doolittle. I mean you will never hear Representative Doolittle say for instance:

I'm wanting to tell you, I'm willing to tell ya, I'm waiting to tell ya.

John T. Doolittle rather makes his cousin Alfie seem like a pillar of the community, does he not?

Arthur of the Roundish Table: Chapter One

ARTHUR OF THE ROUNDISH TABLE

CHAPTER 1

DUX BELLORUM

It had been a long campaign. Twelve great battles fought on battlegrounds to be memorialized in poetry and prose for centuries to come.

The first at Glein, four battles alone at the River Dubglais, In the place called Linnius, the battle at Bassas River, the next at Cat Coit Celidon, then on to Guinnion.

Finally THE GREAT BATTLE AT BADON where the Saxon pagans were finally defeated.

At Mount Baden Arthur meets with his primary lieutenants.

Sire, this may be the last of them, said Sir Kay.

All say yea to that, Bedivere responded.

Blood, sweat, tears and shite. All shed for Peace in Our Time. The King pronounced.

Sire, pray tell what is 'shite'? Inquired Bedivere.

Oh it is a term I learned from the Saxon over there. I smit him with my sword and just prior to disemboweling him, he yelled shite at me along with a litany of short words. I am pretty sure that shite has something to do with horses.

At any rate, the King continued, we have lost close to four thousand horsemen and many thousands of peasants over the last three years, but we have succeeded where my father has not.

Mission accomplished, I say, mission accomplished.

Now let us kneel down in prayer and thank our Lord Jesus Christ for our victory today. A victory that shall be remembered by our tribes for generations to come.

All the great lieutenants knelt. There was Bedivere and Kay who had been with him from the time of the stone. And Lancelot and Tristan, the greatest of his warriors. There was his cousin Gawain along with his brother Gareth. Merlin would appear and disappear. Come and go. But he had helped in the planning.

At last the forces of good had prevailed.

Arthur had disbanded most of his forces but decided to keep a significant guard, prepared to defend his people. And now, back at Camelot he calls for a meeting of the Round Table.

I know, how can you ‘head’ a roundish table. I mean there really is no place at the table that stands out. Merlin helped with this by establishing the King’s Chair. A chair with a huge back with the great seal of the King, chiseled into the wooden frame. The Seal portrays a Red Dragon defeating a white dragon. Arthur demurred at first and complained that the teeth of the Red dragon were cutting into his back. Merlin, a satirist at times, underlined that the King must always be watching his back but he had the chief tailor prepare a cushioned cape that removed the King's back from any discomfort.

Arthur stood to address his fiefs:

As you know, we are now a land at peace. A peace that we have not seen for decades. I commend the dukes, the earls and the kings (with small k's, remember, always small k's from now on) who joined forces for a cause and a new solidarity under my reign.

And....

(Lancelot waltzes in, with a zing to his step)

Lancelot, you are always late. And yet you always have that spring in your step. What is it that you always find time to do just before our important meetings?

I...I...Sire, I always make sure that my clothes are always hung correctly and Galant the tailor is a bit, er Picky.

Well, maybe next time he will remind you to pull up your zipper.

Take your seat.

Tristan your uncle is noticeably absent from these proceedings, and why is that so?

Sire, my uncle is preparing for his wedding and sent me as emissary to your table, responded the Irisman.

But isn't king Mark marrying Iseult? I thought I saw her in the inner sanctum today?

Uh, uh...Sire I escort her wherever she goes for safety sake and I think Mighty Arthur, you recall that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. Tristan cleared his throat.

You know Tristan, Lancelot told me the same thing two years ago during my wedding preparations and I did not see either the bride or Lancelot for months at a time. And when I did, they were always smiling like you are right now. I am going to have a talk with the Archbishop of Canterbury about this tomorrow. I do not think I like old customs like this one. They are pagan and make a lot of us uneasy and suspicious.

Today we must address the problems associated with peace.

TEN CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR RETIREMENT

I came across a real gem in the web-o-sphere concerning retirement. The Ten Biggest Retirement Mistakes.

I found it at a site called Wallet Pop. It has made a permanent impression on me and I have completely changed my ideas as far as retirement. http://www.walletpop.com/retirement/biggest-retirement-mistakes

Overconfidence in Your Investing Skill

This is an important point. I mean if you have trouble getting out of your high chair in the morning, it might be a good thing to speak to those who are 'in the know'. We must admit that there are things above the heavens and beneath the earth that we might not be able to fathom in our philosophy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3peAlsLRSU&feature=related

I mean you can watch Jim Cramer on CNBC. He would have been a lot of help prior to the meltdown. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-extended-interview-pt--1

Of course during and after the meltdown; not so good.

You could pretend to read and understand the WSJ I suppose and review a number of business sites and then put together important spread sheets. But you might do better just putting a list of stocks from the WSJ on your wall and throwing darts at it. Hell even a monkey can do that. http://seekingalpha.com/article/110147-bobo-the-dart-throwing-monkey-s-five-hot-etfs

Or you could go see a professional, somebody who knows what they are doing. You could have gone to Bear Sterns to get your stock tips. If you did by the way, get a good book on coupon clipping along with my new book entitled: How To Survive With Your Thermostat Set at 45 in the Winter.

The problem is this. If, after a long and careful search you find the best stock advisor and he gives you the heads up on some pending catastrophe that could hurt your portfolio; you could end up in jail for receiving inside information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Stewart

Ben Stein is just a master at financial counseling:

Yes, You Can Be a Successful Income Investor: Reaching for Yield in Today's Market ISBN 1-4019-0319-3 Yes, You Can Still Retire Comfortably: The Baby-Boom Retirement Crisis and how to Beat It ISBN 1-4019-0318-5 2006 Just one heck of a guy that Ben Stein. Here is what he had to say in August 2007:

On August 18, 2007, on Fox News Channel's Cavuto on Business, Stein appeared with other financial experts dismissing worries of a coming credit crunch[23]. The lone dissenter was Peter Schiff, who predicted that the mortgage sector would create a crisis leading to massive recession, a view that produced laughter from the other experts. Stein strongly recommended investing in then-troubled financial institutions[23].

Ben Stein: The credit crunch is way overblown. The [financial institutions] are being given away; they're so unbelievably cheap...The subprime problem is a problem, but it's a tiny problem in the context of this economy...It's a buying opportunity, especially for the financials, maybe like I've never seen before in my entire life.

Peter Schiff: This is just getting started. It's not just subprimes. This is a problem for the entire mortgage industry. It's not just people with bad credit that committed to mortgages they couldn't afford. It's not just people with bad credit who are going to see their home equity vanish... This is going to be an enormous credit crunch...Neil Cavuto: You must be a laugh-riot at parties.

Ben Stein: ...subprime is tiny. Subprime is a tiny, tiny blip.

Peter Schiff: It's not tiny. And again, it's not just subprime. It's the entire mortgage market.

Ben Stein: You're simply wrong about that... Defaults for the whole mortgage market are tiny.

Ben Stein: I think stocks will be a heck of a lot higher a year from now than they are now.

Well at least old Ben is a laugh-riot at parties even if he lacks even a modicum of prescience..

If you break down Mr. Steins' advice as far as retirement it kind of goes like this:

Get eight million dollars. That should be enough. Now take a couple million and hide it. Hide it off shore. Hide it in a jar. Hide it in your car. Does not matter. It will be there when every thing else goes south.

Then make sure that the investment of your hard earned six million dollars beats the cost of living raises over the year of investment though.

Oh. And if everything else goes south, get a job selling fraudulent products. http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/08/ben-stein-fired-by-new-york-times/

I mean you might pick up more than a couple of good bucks from selling drugs, but why do that when you can take the opportunity to help some crooks steal millions of dollars from millions of people?

Using a Market-Beating Broker

I am not sure what the author is referring to but I really do not care and I think I covered this anyway.

Fleeing to Safety

Well what more can I say about this. Always have your visa updated and ready and when things really go south and the SEC is about to show up or even some sharp narcs, get on a plane to the Caribbean and get the hell out of here.

Believing All Bonds Are Safe.

Who cares?

Being Tempted by ETF's

Do not be overly tempted by ETF's. That is what I always say.

Ignoring Immediate Annuities

I always put my faith in the Putting Off Annuities. I mean if the markets fail, you gotta give the annuity enough time to get their government bailouts and start stealing some good money again.

Retiring Too Early

Do not retire too early. If you are 25 and have Ben Stein's eight million dollars in the bank, go ahead and retire.

If you are 75 and are not sure if you can afford your hemorrhoid medicine this month; DO NOT RETIRE.

Not Having a Current Will

I mean you are dead. Why should you care about your investments?

Remarrying Without a Prenup

An. A little advice here. Give her flowers and go out to eat once a week. BUT JESUS H. CHRIST, DO NOT MARRY HER. GEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!!! And if that does not work you can always tell her that you are a Roman Catholic and the Church does not recognize the divorce proceedings that occurred in the early 1980's.

Taking Social Security Too Soon

That is right. If you are in my age group, do not take Social Security at age 62. Just sleep in the park for three short years, pick up some food stamps and.....never, never, never, get sick. One day you will wake up and you will be 65 and you can have all your Social Security Benefits.

Of course if you choose to die at age 67, you kinda lost out on some real pocket change.

http://www.walletpop.com/retirement/biggest-retirement-mistakes