h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I had to look up maenad.


I must confess that in my youth I was mostly
a follower of Bacchus and the Dionysian need
to avoid the direct and wholesome light of the
sun and its dazzling theories of social harmony,
sexless love and universal brotherhood.

With age I am drawn more and more to the light
and have even become almost completely socially
tolerant of dullards, moralists and the prideful while
losing patience with drunkards and junkies.

I can understand now how the sun is seen as a god
and I see his watchful gaze in ancient mandalas
and modern smiley faces.


Obviously the truth lies between the extremes of
night and day. In fact most beauty is only seen in
the soft half light of dawn and dusk - when the
purple shadows fall.



Thanks for explaining more about the SAS tunnel and
your intended use on expeditions of exploration. In
an earlier mention you talked about a trial set-up
in your garden and I had visions of you digging a
trench and crawling into a hidey-hole to escape from
the whirled in general, perhaps become a sniper or,
god forbid, bring the dirt in on top of you.

Do take care. Hope my references to you as one of
Pratchett's weird sisters in another thread caused
no offense. I earnestly believe in an other age you
might have faced persecution in the witch hunts, but
hope you can see how now it is a positive and credible
role to play in this mad, mad, modern whirled



~jwf~

I'm fundamentally an artist. We are driven to do anything in its cause.

No, no offense of course. I know how to take you.

I'm basing my description of the Apollonian and Dionyusion principles, principally on Nietzche's first book, The Birth of Tragedy.

The Apollonian principle is to do with the clear light of reason and consciousness; he is the sun god. (obviously he has other aspects in the round..but this is the meaning in this context).

The Dionyusion principle is to do with intoxication, music and the unconscious.

Nietzche explains about the early Greek Tragedies that were performed in theatres in valleys where the back of the theatre was open to the lanscape.

There was this idea that the god Dionyus who was both male and female, would ramble over the hills of Greece followed by his female maened hordes..in a kind of frenzied mish mash..and then down into the valley.

They would form the Greek chorus. Which we might call the orchestra pit today for opera.

The chorus would sing comment on what the actor on stage was saying. The actor was of the Apollonian principle. The two principles would make the tragedy of the theatre.

The chorus wouldn't be describing what the actor was saying in music..but commenting..ie it was communication between those two principles.

I came to an understanding of the often cited but seldom
realised polar opposition of Apollo and Dionysus back in
the sixties.

Folk music hootenannies of the sing-along variety were often
held in sunny farmers' fields and attended by Apollonian types
like jocks and nerds who had no idea of the sources of most
traditional ballads and work songs.

Folk music of the more moody, protest and political type
(sometimes with electric guitars and drums) was played in
dark coffee houses into the wee small hours and nodded to
by lank-haired ladies and bearded lads of the Dionysian type.
Liquor and soft drugs were often involved.

The edges blurred a bit when psychedelic folk-rock evolved.
That's when I realised there are no fixed positions, just
tendencies away from a mass central identity that is always
in flux.

The north pole has bears, the south pole has penguins
but most of us live in between.

~jwf~

Birth of Tragedy is actually my favourite Nietzche. His first. And pretty rambly actually.

He makes a big point that the very early Greeks who he is referring to when theatre first evolved...had a full acceptance of the tragic reality of the human condition but retained this insane optimism.

The Greeks were essentially shepherds.
Sheep were the basis of their economy
and the foundations of their poetry, so
it is not surprising they got caught up
in some of the sheep's philosophy. Sheep
know that one day the butcher's knife will
fall, but until then appreciate the sunrise,
the green grass and the cooling breezes.

~jwf~

He is very contemptuous of the later classical Greek playwrights..but he is referring to people like Sophocles who wrote the Oedipus plays. I have his Theban plays. Worth reading..though I doubt I'd have the concentration for it these days.

Where on earth are you?

And no Taff either..

I don't fit in here now. I don't understand a lot of language here..to do with all sorts of stuff...and because I don't understand it..I don't understand what I don't understand...plus I just don't have the first clue about some knowledge to do with internet trends or whatever...People assume everyone knows about that stuff.

But I'll always be a poet and artist. As will you.

We'll always be very playful.

I feel so alone here without you...

I'm so completely happy to see ~jwf~ back.

Actually,

~ jwf ~

I'm going to make the effort to always type it correctly in future.

Hi Eff...

Good to see you.
I did follow a couple of threads in your journal lately.
I saw Taff and anhaga have been chatting with you.
You know you have friends here.
We'd like you to be here.


Stop worrying about your differences.
And don't worry if you don't find every thread compelling
or comprehensible or even coherent.

Differences are what make cyberspace so interesting.
There is no need to be smarter or prettier or richer
or funnier or healthier or faster or even angrier.

The secret is the same as in RL. Just be yourself.
And allow others to be themselves.
Even if they don't make sense.

And if they behave rudely you can just ignore them.
It's as easy to be kind as it is to be cruel in cyberspace.
Some people might never figure that out.
Especially if we let them get under our skin.

Cyberspace is like RL.
Respond to what pleases you, ignore what doesn't.
But cyberspace is not RL.
So don't take it too seriously.

I am going to be making a point of being more selective
about when and where and to whom I post. I'll be here,
but I won't be quite as visible as I used to be. After
11 years I finally figured out that cyberspace is not
a viable substitute for RL and I have been taking it
far too seriously.

Take care,
talk to you soon,
~jwf~

I'm glad someone can follow my journal threads I can't follow any of them.

And trust me to get right into cyberspace..as everyone is getting right out of it .

(But my idea is to start blogging, hopefully with others I like to communicate with..and new people.

It's nothing about people having to reveal any real life details...but people who love their minds coming together.

But I'll also be here..but thinking of it in a *different* way...like an HMS Endeavour

Time to resurrect this.

This and the Vespa thread are my favourites.

Okay situation is. I *need* personal transport. Wasting far too much money on cabs. I just can't deal with buses etc or waqlks of very far. That weakness and lack of stamina is the last thing to come back although everything else is *loads* better Plus chemo will last 6 months...so scooter out I'm fairly certain until next year. She's heavy..but she is tucked up in a strong cover..

So I'm thinking about a small car again as well..I'm bowled over by Mini Coopers. A guy down the road has a really excellent one in British Racing Green...and they are dream to drive apparently...ie sporty feel.

I noticed there are vast numbers for sale second hand..eg for £4000 this

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/mini-cooper--chilli-pack--metallic-red-with-black-roof-and-wing-mirrors/100188716

I'll get second hand for sure..

So what do you think to Mini Coopers? I'm wasting time at present looking at them on the web..in between wasting time listening to music..and planning summer art projects which *will* need transport.

It is difficult to know what to recommend for your
circumstances. I know nothing of London traffic or
what else might be available and at what cost. The
people I know who own them do say it is a fun, sporty
and reliable car with high standards of build quality.

I can only offer suggestion/advice on two counts:
1) consider the value of resale when you get back on your
scooter and want rid of the car, and
2) the cost of parts and service in the meantime, which I
know from experience are appreciably much higher for BMW
products. The German economy depends on them making people
pay a premium for their perceived superior quality.

(The operative words there may be 'superior quality' or
perhaps 'percieved'. The latter is often an important
factor in a driver's appreciation and joy of a car. There
is an almost tangible feedback loop in driving a BMW -
a palpable form of positive karma.)

That said, the price for the 2003 in the ad does seem
reasonable considering the relatively low mileage and
the condition as it appears in the pics. If there is a
current surplus of used Minis for sale you may have
found a genuine bargain and a very therapeutic ride.


~jwf~

Thank you so much for your straightforward practical advice ~ jwf ~ with a hint of karmic influence I'm getting the good vibes already...and simply must have one of these cars to keep the demons at bay.

My identity is threatened by the endless stream of phone calls and appointments going on about drop-ins, information, councillors, and if I never hear that word 'support' again it will be a day too soon. The DVD they sent me with its calming sugary music was full of it. I even have a form to fill in which will look to my spiritual needs it's called my, 'Holistic Needs Assessment Concerns Thermometer'.

No these people are bloody brilliant...but I'm Effers the lunatic artist, with a need for some natty transport.

I'm thinking to do some panoramic photography this summer of landscapes of the English countryside..some drawings to.

Of course this depends on the bloody side effects. I won't be getting a car yet..still far too weak...but its an aim...I simply have to reclaim my identity from big C.

I got the booklet from the Vespa club of Great Britain...what a lovely warm letter..and they have lots of meets...so next year that's my aim..and I want a car and a scooter.

My parents put all this money in trust for me...I spend really very little..but now I know you can't can't take it with you...I want to live a bit..it would be wrong not to I think.

summer art projects which *will* need transport...well you can't sleep in a mini, but spare parts are easy to get and fit yourself. Not a lot of storage place if more than three make a journey..nice cars to drive though, not so nice on a motorway, on a wet and windy day with a couple of Eddie Stobarts trucks behind and in front..

I don't drive on motorways as I get panic attacks on them. I have a tent..The Hurricane. I doubt I'll be fitting them myself...I have a local garage that looked after my Golfs for many years..not expensive and lovely people..not rip off types.

I won't be doing the art stuff with anyone else...good god no Me with a camera and doing drawings with others around...I'm a serious artist you know, when it comes to that sort of art...

You have to realise the power of my irrational mind as well...it's not really about being sensible...the scooter isn't a sensible one...it's about a pretty car that's fairly reliable.

But good to see you on this thread again logicus I enjoy your take on things..even if I don't always show it.

Starting to keep a regular eye on that web site for second hand mini coopers..there's a lot of choice..Nearly at the point where I could imagine a test drive..but I'd prefer it isn't a massive trek to get to the thing.

I am nervous though. After the scooter problem. I don't want to just end up with a collection of vehicles that never get driven sort of like trophy vehicles.

The neighbours will even

Oh god I've gone off those minis. Suddenly they seem like pretentious nonsense..

I should probably shut-up now and post something when I've actually got something and am *driving* it.

Sorry to multi post but I'm going round in circles in my head about it all. Why can't I have a more fixed mind? Instead of a constant bloody journey.

Cars are a symbol of potential, success and freedom.
They are aspirational. You are merely struggling to
establish some stability and position and identity
for yourself. Perfectly understandable.

But do realise that there are so many options, so many
types and and styles, it is often difficult to restrict one's
persona to any one model.

That's the real reason I have so many of the damn things.
One for every mood.

It is spring-like here today so I'll be driving my 'new'
2006 Pontiac Solstice convertible. It might even get warm
enough this afternoon to put the top down - but in the
meantime I will be 'seen' as youthful, energetic, ready
for the season. Also bright and fresh and candy-apple red.


~jwf~