Old age worry is its own climate, she reflects. Up against the wire, as you are, the proverbial bus is less of a concern: it is heading for you anyway. The assault upon health is inevitable, rather than an unanticipated outrage. You remain solipsistic—we are all of us that—but the focus of worry is further from the self. You worry about loved ones—that tiresome term, as bad as closure—you worry about the state of the nation, about sixteen-year-olds sticking knives into one another, about twenty-year-olds who can’t find a job, you worry about the absence of sparrows and the paucity of butterflies, and destruction of habitats, you worry about the decline of the language, about the books that are no longer read, about the people who don’t read.
All of which if entirely unproductive—self-indulgent, maybe. Leave the knives to the police, the habitats to the environmentalists. If people don’t read, that’s their choice; a lifelong book habit may itself be some sort of affliction.
— How It All Began, Penelope Lively
1.
In response to this week’s ’news’ of our own politics, as well as what’s happening on the world stage, I bring you a few choice R words from Ambrose Bierce’s Devil’s Dictionary, which were first introduced in a weekly paper in 1881 and continued through 1906.
REALITY, n. The dream of a mad philosopher. That which would remain in the cupel if one should assay a phantom. The nucleus of a vacuum.
RECONCILIATION, n. A suspension of hostilities. An armed truce for the purpose of digging up the dead.
REFLECTION, n. An action of the mind whereby we obtain a clearer view of our relation to the things of yesterday and are able to avoid the perils that we shall not again encounter.
REGALIA, n. Distinguishing insignia, jewels and costume of such ancient and honorable orders as Knights of Adam; Visionaries of Detectable Bosh; the Ancient Order of Modern Troglodytes; the League of Holy Humbug; the Golden Phalanx of Phalangers; the Genteel Society of Expurgated Hoodlums; the Mystic Alliances of Georgeous Regalians; Knights and Ladies of the Yellow Dog; the Oriental Order of Sons of the West; the Blatherhood of Insufferable Stuff; Warriors of the Long Bow; Guardians of the Great Horn Spoon; the Band of Brutes; the Impenitent Order of Wife-Beaters; the Sublime Legion of Flamboyant Conspicuants; Worshipers at the Electroplated Shrine; Shining Inaccessibles; Fee-Faw-Fummers of the inimitable Grip; Jannissaries of the Broad-Blown Peacock; Plumed Increscencies of the Magic Temple; the Grand Cabal of Able-Bodied Sedentarians; Associated Deities of the Butter Trade; the Garden of Galoots; the Affectionate Fraternity of Men Similarly Warted; the Flashing Astonishers; Ladies of Horror; Cooperative Association for Breaking into the Spotlight; Dukes of Eden; Disciples Militant of the Hidden Faith; Knights-Champions of the Domestic Dog; the Holy Gregarians; the Resolute Optimists; the Ancient Sodality of Inhospitable Hogs; Associated Sovereigns of Mendacity; Dukes-Guardian of the Mystic Cess-Pool; the Society for Prevention of Prevalence; Kings of Drink; Polite Federation of Gents-Consequential; the Mysterious Order of the Undecipherable Scroll; Uniformed Rank of Lousy Cats; Monarchs of Worth and Hunger; Sons of the South Star; Prelates of the Tub-and-Sword.
RELIGION, n. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.
REPARATION, n. Satisfaction that is made for a wrong and deducted from the satisfaction felt in committing it.
REPORTER, n. A writer who guesses his way to the truth and dispels it with a tempest of words.
REPRESENTATIVE, n. In national politics, a member of the Lower House in this world, and without discernible hope of promotion in the next.
REPUBLIC, n. A nation in which, the thing governing and the thing governed being the same, there is only a permitted authority to enforce an optional obedience. In a republic, the foundation of public order is the ever lessening habit of submission inherited from ancestors who, being truly governed, submitted because they had to. There are as many kinds of republics as there are graduations between the despotism whence they came and the anarchy whither they lead.
RESIDENT, adj. Unable to leave.
RETALIATION, n. The natural rock upon which is reared the Temple of Law.
RETRIBUTION, n. A rain of fire-and-brimstone that falls alike upon the just and such of the unjust as have not procured shelter by evicting them.
REVOLUTION, n. In politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. Specifically, in American history, the substitution of the rule of an Administration for that of a Ministry, whereby the welfare and happiness of the people were advanced a full half-inch. Revolutions are usually accompanied by a considerable effusion of blood, but are accounted worth it— this appraisement being made by beneficiaries whose blood had not the mischance to be shed. The French revolution is of incalculable value to the Socialist of to-day; when he pulls the string actuating its bones its gestures are inexpressibly terrifying to gory tyrants suspected of fomenting law and order.
2.
Some random observations. We noticed while shopping in grocery stores and other retail establishments in England that there was silence. No background music. What is it about our culture that insists the consumer of goods must have a desire to be bombarded with corporate soft/hard rock music while picking up some toilet paper and bananas? And as citizen Drhjast6wEE from the planet Gleebo observed and asked about in her blog, what is it with the connection between the human male penis/brain and the volume level of bro-mufflers on their cars? The latter is almost making our neighborhood unlivable due to the close proximity to Fort Lowell International Speedway.
3.
As of this writing, 22 House Republicans voted against Gym Jordan…but everything can change on a dime. Word is he is attempting a third speaker vote. Said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa), “One thing I cannot stomach or support is a bully.”
4.
Just to give you an idea of what mainstream media heads are really thinking, Robert Reich reported this: As the 2016 presidential race heated up, Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS, said the Trump phenomenon “may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS,” adding, “Who would have expected the ride we’re all having right now? The money’s rolling in and this is fun. . . . I’ve never seen anything like this, and this is going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It’s a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going.” Moonves knew his admission was a terrible thing to say because he was aware that the common good required a different response, and less coverage of Trump.
5.
And in music news, next week is kuh…razy busy. Not only are the Morpholinos playing their regular last Thursday at Monterey Court (Oct 26), the band is also playing GLOW in Oracle on Saturday night, October 28. We go on at 9pm and doors open at 7pm. Come out and walk the sculpture trails! And, as a bonus, I’ll be hitting the tubs with Mitzi Cowell and the Valiants on Friday, October 27th at GLOW as well…same deal on times. Then I wrap up the weekend with Kevin and the gang at Borderlands on Sunday afternoon, 2:30-5pm.
6.
And here’s another new piece finished earlier this week. American History, As Told By White Men, In Red—Mixed Media, 12” x 11.5” x 2”, 2023.
And now…
Thanks Gary, I do feel better. Something about the musings of my favorite over-achiever that eases my soul. The League of Holy Humbug, you wouldn't know when the next meeting is? Oh, and please sign me up as a habitual book reader. Like all my bad habits-it's just fun!! kw
Aubrey Beardsley…..old hero never gets old.