Saturday, May 27, 2006
Now There Is An Anniversary Worth Celebrating!
As the irreverent folks from *Twisted History* kindly reminded us today ~
1647: First Salem, Massachusetts, 'witch' executed today. (No, Joe McCarthy isn't there.)
For those of you who crave more traditional accounts of historical facts, check out the main link provided today, from which the following is extracted:
1647 - Alse Young, a widow, hanged for witchcraft in Hartford, Connecticut. Hers was the first trial and execution expressly for witchcraft in the colonies. Her daughter Alice was accused of witchcraft 30 years later, in MA.
1648 - First witch execution in MA colony. Midwife Margaret Jones hanged in Boston.
Joe might not have been around - but I sure wish I had been!
No, not to enjoy popcorn while observing the sad spectacle - NO.
If I had been around, and allowed to handle the proceedings too, I would have made sure that the investigation had been meticulously carried through and that there had been no shadow of a doubt that these "witches", male or female (for, originally, the term "witch" was genderless) were not in reality the object of envy and hatred from their accusers who then would be the true guilty parties here...
Nothing as "witch-like" as the envious, I tell you!
The "original sin" as the "crime of witchcraft" are two expressions that have suffered from misrepresenting over the years, especially due to the attitude of disbelieving blowhards and foolhardy skeptics out there...
The "original sin" is simply that of DISOBEDIENCE whereas the "crime of witchcraft" is that heinous act by which an individual will cause harm to another being - by whatever means available.
This is not to say that poisoned apples do not exist - because they surely do, as many a trick-or-treater has found out over the years, mainly through the old "blade at the apple's core" trick... (but not only that)
Likewise, the occult exists - alas. Native Americans, South Americans, Africans and Europeans know all about it; what do North Americans know? Ah, yes, of course; they know how to pollute the planet in more concrete ways...
Far more pleasant an anniversary to remember today, and a bonafide birthday to celebrate too, is that of the wonderful human being named Rachel Carlson - a kind soul like we have so very few left nowadays indeed...
Rachel Carlson (born on May 27th, 1907)
Carlson was an American writer and marine biologist. Her well-known books on sea life—Under the Sea Wind, The Sea Around Us, and The Edge of the Sea—combine keen scientific observation with rich poetic description. Her Silent Spring, a provocative study of the dangers of certain insecticides, is generally acknowledged as the impetus for the modern environmental movement.
Why aren't there more persons of her ilk on this Earth anymore?
I am, by the way, the proud owner of a first edition copy of her book "The Sea Around Us" - and that will only be bequeathed to someone really really really worthy on my list of potential heirs, I can tell you this much right here and right now! ;)
Link
1647: First Salem, Massachusetts, 'witch' executed today. (No, Joe McCarthy isn't there.)
For those of you who crave more traditional accounts of historical facts, check out the main link provided today, from which the following is extracted:
1647 - Alse Young, a widow, hanged for witchcraft in Hartford, Connecticut. Hers was the first trial and execution expressly for witchcraft in the colonies. Her daughter Alice was accused of witchcraft 30 years later, in MA.
1648 - First witch execution in MA colony. Midwife Margaret Jones hanged in Boston.
Joe might not have been around - but I sure wish I had been!
No, not to enjoy popcorn while observing the sad spectacle - NO.
If I had been around, and allowed to handle the proceedings too, I would have made sure that the investigation had been meticulously carried through and that there had been no shadow of a doubt that these "witches", male or female (for, originally, the term "witch" was genderless) were not in reality the object of envy and hatred from their accusers who then would be the true guilty parties here...
Nothing as "witch-like" as the envious, I tell you!
The "original sin" as the "crime of witchcraft" are two expressions that have suffered from misrepresenting over the years, especially due to the attitude of disbelieving blowhards and foolhardy skeptics out there...
The "original sin" is simply that of DISOBEDIENCE whereas the "crime of witchcraft" is that heinous act by which an individual will cause harm to another being - by whatever means available.
This is not to say that poisoned apples do not exist - because they surely do, as many a trick-or-treater has found out over the years, mainly through the old "blade at the apple's core" trick... (but not only that)
Likewise, the occult exists - alas. Native Americans, South Americans, Africans and Europeans know all about it; what do North Americans know? Ah, yes, of course; they know how to pollute the planet in more concrete ways...
Far more pleasant an anniversary to remember today, and a bonafide birthday to celebrate too, is that of the wonderful human being named Rachel Carlson - a kind soul like we have so very few left nowadays indeed...
Rachel Carlson (born on May 27th, 1907)
Carlson was an American writer and marine biologist. Her well-known books on sea life—Under the Sea Wind, The Sea Around Us, and The Edge of the Sea—combine keen scientific observation with rich poetic description. Her Silent Spring, a provocative study of the dangers of certain insecticides, is generally acknowledged as the impetus for the modern environmental movement.
Why aren't there more persons of her ilk on this Earth anymore?
I am, by the way, the proud owner of a first edition copy of her book "The Sea Around Us" - and that will only be bequeathed to someone really really really worthy on my list of potential heirs, I can tell you this much right here and right now! ;)
Link
Friday, May 26, 2006
Anybody Overtly Offended? Ohh ~ Sorry!
Lo siento
Ik ben droevig
Sono spiacente
Perdóname
(fade in)
I've heard it all before
(repeat 12 times)
Chorus:
I don't wanna hear
I don't wanna know
Please don't say you're sorry
I heard it all before
And I can take care of myself
I don't wanna hear
I don't wanna know
Please don't say "forgive me"
I've seen it all before
And I can't take it anymore
You're not half the man you think you are
Save your words because you've gone too far
I listened to your lies and all your stories [I listened to your stories]
You're not half the man you'd like to be
(chorus)
Don't explain yourself 'cause talk is cheap
There's more important things than hearing you speak
You stayed because I made it so convenient [I made it so convenient]
Don't explain yourself, you'll never see
Gomen nasai
Mujhe maph kardo
Przepraszam
Slicha
Forgive me
[Sorry] (repeat in background)
I've heard it all before
(repeat 15 times)
(chorus)
(begin chorus in background)
Don't explain yourself, 'cause talk is cheap
There's more important things than hearing you speak
(chorus continues in background:)
[I don't wanna hear]
[I don't wanna know]
[Please don't say "forgive me"]
I've heard it all before
(repeat 3 times)
...NOT sorry!
Link
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Rest In Peace
Some Of Us Are Gone Too Fast - Others Should Go Faster!
The First Category Includes The Likes Of John Candy... John Lennon... JFK... RFK... John The Baptist... John Belushi... Chris Farley... Gilda Radner... Marty Feldman... John Kennedy Jr... Marie-Soleil Tougas... João Pimentel... Jack Lemmon... Walter Matthau... Lee Remick... John Spencer...
The Second Category - Bin Laden, Fanas, Sevantsian, Bellemarre, Aguiar, Moniz...
Oh, If Your Last Name Is One Of These - My Condoleezas!
Those I Truly Mean To Call The Grim Reaper To Know Who They Are - They're Know-It-Alls, They Must Know!
And That Goes For One Halifax Tool / Shell Of A Man Who Has No Guts Nor Brains Too...
And One Illinois Dumba$$ As Well - He With A Scrawny Build And The Make-Believe Big Dog Attitude That Fools Absolutely No One...
Now, Please Hurry Up On YOUR Grand Journey Then...
Go The Way California Is Going... Mayhaps, Soon Too?
DANI CALIFORNIA lyrics - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Gettin' born in the state of Mississippi
Papa was a copper and momma was a hippie
In Alabama, she would swing a hammer
Price you gotta pay when you break the panorama
She never knew that there was anything more than poor
What in the world does your company take me for
Black bandana, sweet Louisiana
Robbin' on a bank in the state of Indiana
She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
Condemned everywhere sayin' baby whatcha gonna
Lookin down the barrel of a hot metal .45
Just another way to survive
Chorus:
California rest in peace,
Simultaneous release,
California Show your teeth,
She's my priestess I'm your priest
Yeah Yeah
She's a lover, baby and a fighter
she shoulda seen it comin when it got a little brighter
with a name like Dani California
The day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
A little loaded she was stealing another breath
I love my baby to death
Chorus
Bridge: **sung by John**
Who knew the other side of you
Who knew that other side you proved
Too True to say goodbye to you
Too true too sad sad sad
First to fade her, gifted and I made her
One for the now and eleven for the later
Never made it, Up to Minnesota
North Dakota man was a comin' for the quota
DOWN in the badlands she was saving the best for last
it only hurts when I laugh
Gone too fast
Chorus x 2
*john's solo*
Oh - need I remind to those who THINK that they know the Word of God that The Lord Himself ordered Saul and many others to go and slaughter all manners of "beyond salvageable elements" - and spare no one? Wishing death upon evil and scum is NOT against The Word... nor the grain! One has to be able to recognize who is truly evil and true scum - that is not always accurately accomplished...
Link
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
So, Can We Talk Now...?
COLDPLAY LYRICS - "Talk"
Oh brother I can't, I can't get through
I've been trying hard to reach you, cause I don't know what to do
Oh brother I can't believe it's true
I'm so scared about the future and I wanna talk to you
Oh I wanna talk to you
You can take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done
Are you lost or incomplete?
Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your missing piece?
Tell me how do you feel?
Well I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak
And they're talking it to me
So you take a picture of something you see
In the future where will I be?
You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or a write a song nobody has sung
Or do something that's never been done
Do something that's never been done
So you don't know were you're going, and you wanna talk
And you feel like you're going where you've been before
You tell anyone who'll listen but you feel ignored
Nothing's really making any sense at all
Let's talk, let's ta-a-alk
Let's talk, let's ta-a-alk
Link
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Here's Another One Now...
Where Are They now? Where am I now? I'd have need of their sage counselling and advice...
This video comes in two versions - the most striking and recent one though is simply not luminous! In it, Blunt, James Blunt, bluntly goes ablaze while enjoying a midnight stroll... Spontaneous human combustion of singer-songwriters is simply not worthy of The Luminous Blog... Thus, please enjoy the earlier version!
Here are the lyrics:
She said to me, "Go steady on me.
Won't you tell me what the Wise Men said?
When they came down from Heaven,
Smoked nine 'til seven,
All the shit that they could find,
But they couldn't escape from you,
Couldn't be free of you,
And now they know there's no way out,
And they're really sorry now for what they've done,
They were three Wise Men just trying to have some fun."
Look who's alone now,
It's not me. It's not me.
Those three Wise Men,
They've got a semi by the sea.
Got to ask yourself the question,
Where are you now?
Really sorry now,
They weren't to know.
They got caught up in your talent show,
With you pernickety little bastards in your fancy dress,
Who just judge each other and try to impress,
But they couldn't escape from you,
Couldn't be free of you,
And now they know there's no way out,
And they're really sorry now for what they've done,
They were three Wise Men just trying to have some fun.
Look who's alone now,
It's not me. It's not me.
Those three Wise Men,
They've got a semi by the sea.
Got to ask yourself the question,
Where are you now?
Link
Monday, May 22, 2006
Let's Keep This Going Now... Shall We?
My Blog - My Prerogative, Right?
Exactly...
Hence, I feel like going on for a while with this spur-of-the-moment thing that made me post the YouTube video AND the lyrics of a favorite musical masterpiece - yesterday's post featuring Baz Luhrman's "song" there...
Today, a radically different piece of music.
It has to be this way - since this is Monday's post!
Fear not; it is not the Boomtown Rats' infamous "I Hate Mondays"
I would never have that as "luminous music" - here, on the luminous blog!
It is dark though - darker than what the luminous blog perhaps should have grace it... But, again, it has to be this way. For this post replaces on the main page (which holds fourteen posts, at all times - the fourteen most recent ones, of course) the homage/commemorative/in memoriam post on my saintly dad...
Something about "no tomorrow" was required and dark it is for I immediately thought of... Donnie Darko. Or rather... of Tears For Fears? I have, though, a hard time to come by either - tears do not come when one is stunned... numb. And as for fears... what is there to fear when one fears not death itself?
Irrational panting pervs? Megalomaniacal extremist minds? Addicted scum of the world? Sullying sick souls, that subversively pervade even further said world?
Nah... there is nothing to fear there!
Now for the lyrics - and the video!
It is the song "Mad World" - as sung by one Gary Jules in his excellent cover version of the Tears For Fears (which was a band's name) classic...
The video contains clips from the film "Donnie Darko" - which in my estimation is a hodge-podge fantasmagorical mix of various elements, oftentimes incongruous. It always hit me as a sort of sick and demented twist on Jimmy Stewart's Harvey - mixed in with a teen angst flick, a supernatural thriller and a morbid sense of humor... Oh, and it also has the same punch at the end as that whole "dream season" of Dallas! Oops - call me a luminous spoiler and slap me with a lawsuit, will you now?
But enough of that - this isn't another IMDB preview/scoop!
Tears For Fears - Mad World
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Mad World
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Mad World
Link
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Luminous Advice Never Goes Stale
Luminous text written by Mary Schmich
Luminous song rendered by Baz Luhrman
Luminous clip produced by DM9DDB
And it comes complete with Luminous Portuguese subtitles too!
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99,
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists,
whereas the rest of my advice has no basis or reliable then my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice....now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh, nevermind, you won't understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded, but trust me in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future, or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind: the kind that blindsides you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing, every day, that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts; don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive; forget the insults. (if you succeed in doing this, tell me how).
Keep your old love letters; throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives; some of the most interesting 40 year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of Calcium.
Be kind to your knees -- you'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40; maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body: use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or what other people think of it; it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance... even if you have no where to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions (even if you don't follow them).
Do not read beauty magazines; they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents; you never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings: they're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but what a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps and geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old; and when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse, but you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you are 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia; dispensing it is a way of wishing the past from the disposal -- wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
I do love the actual song, which sort of frames the monologue read by Baz Luhrman, and it is, again, mostly for its WORDS: "Someday ~ A Spirit Will Take You And Guide You Back ~ I Know You're Hurting But I Will Be There For You" ~ Amen To That! I have my ideas on Who that Spirit Is...
Link
