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The West Wing, ever so often, managed to perfectly capture the crazy paradoxical nature of the human condition. Watch and experience the juxtaposition so masterfully done in this short clip.
How can any day be a day of joy when some 20,000 children will die of preventable causes. Oh sure, we pull it off – we ignore, we distance, we glaze over the baleful reality that would ‘ruin’ our festive spirits. It is a supposedly happy time year, yet the rate of suicide always spikes during the holiday. We entertain ourselves, ostensibly to be happy, but what is this happiness that is procured while fleeing headlong from the misery that defines the condition of collective humanity. The (un)funny thing about the whole situation is that unless one takes the time to think about the paradox of the season (and life) it un-gently fades into the background; yet, the dissonance remains, like a middle C and F# played repeatedly without resolution (try it on the next keyboard that crosses your path, it is really a henky sound).
Why should one bother with those grating notes in the background, when so much is done to wash them away? I mean, why not subscribe to the ‘life is great for me, let’s live in moment’ and all that. We should insert the cliche examined vs. unexamined life bit here to make this sappy holiday soliloquy complete. :)
(ed. Funny, I made a typo in that last sentence instead of “let’s live” I had produced “let’s lie”… )
This, like much of my writing, is vaguely contemplative, but mostly hot air generated in one of the many cavities in my skull. Given my predilection to rage-hate philosophical word-wanke I hope, gentle readers, that I have not strayed to far into that particular territory.
Rather; let us together find some small sliver kinship and solidarity with our tri-tone reality (that C/F# thingie), and try to reconnect with those qualities that make us good human beings – empathy, altruism and charity – for every season.
And yes, a Happy Holiday wish to all our readership here on DWR, and all the best in the New Year. So sayeth the happy cat.
It must be the holiday season as it seems that I’ve given the gift of knowledge to an intrepid crusader of the Manosphere. Slow days at work means I can spend time feeding my SIWOTI compulsion. This is Red Pen of Justice material, but in a different format as instead of interspersing my commentary into the body of the original work, I’ll post my analysis of the dudes arguments as they would appear in his comment section if he decided to publish it. Brace yourself folks, the “wisdom” flows hard and fast in this dude’s sage observations of all hardships faced by the menz. I’ll put it under the fold since it is a mighty wall of text.
Unfair? Nah.
What a concept eh?
Late to the party as usual, this mash-up of Sam Harris laying the smack down on christianity is too good not to post.
Vishnu and Fiona are still in the process of acclimatising to each other. It has gotten better, as catured in these pictures. :)
Trying to get a picture while keeping the kittehs in their sombre monorail arrangement proved tough to photograph.
Darn cats kept on moving, the nerve.
The look I get, often accompanied by a wet nose on my leg, reminding me to practice the social democratic values I espouse.
A pic from earlier in the year, with the high summer sun lighting our bedroom and most favorite dog, Shadow. :)
A second musical interlude on one Friday? This one not from Arb? Something special and wonderful must be happening!
If you’re thinking something along these lines, you’ve never been more right in your life. Welcome friends to my very first musical interlude post. Why now? Because it’s the holiday season and you deserve a little extra love. Why me? Because I have a knack for finding those extra special somethings you just don’t see everyday and I’ve found an absolute gem for you today.
Leonard Solomon is a musical genius and craftsman extraordinaire. He has invented some marvellous instruments and arranged numerous pieces to fit his wondrous creations. Here for you now, Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance #5 on the Majestic Bellowphone.
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
Your opinions…