Tongue of Wood by Stephen Crane

There was a man with tongue of wood
Who essayed to sing,
And in truth it was lamentable.
But there was one who heard
The clip-clapper of this tongue of wood
And knew what the man
Wished to sing,
And with that the singer was content.

- Stephen Crane

Poems by Stephen Crane

A man saw a ball of gold in the sky;
He climbed for it,
And eventually he achieved it --
It was clay.

Now this is the strange part:
When the man went to the earth
And looked again,
Lo, there was the ball of gold.
Now this is the strange part:
It was a ball of gold.
Aye, by the heavens, it was a ball of gold.


***

The wayfarer,
Perceiving the pathway to truth,
Was struck with astonishment.
It was thickly grown with weeds.
"Ha," he said,
"I see that none has passed here
"In a long time."
Later he saw that each weed
Was a singular knife.
"Well," he mumbled at last,
"Doubtless there are other roads."


***

To the maiden
The sea was a blue green meadow,
Alive with little froth-people
Singing.

To the sailor, wrecked,
The sea was dead grey walls
Superlative in vacancy,
Upon which nevertheless at fateful time
Was written
The grim hatred of nature


- Stephen Crane

The Nutty Fruitarian

Health Riddle

Q:       I don't eat meat and yet I am not a Vegan,
           I'm not a Vegetarian, either.    So... What am I?

A:     I'm a "Nutty Fruitarian!"  

Facts

Fruit has on average more fiber, more calories, and more nutrients per gram than vegetables.  Tree Nuts have fiber fat and protein and are perfectly balanced nutrition for human consumption.

Idea

Join the Nutty Fruitarians.   Change the world.


Get regular, be extreme.     Become a "Nutty Fruitarian" now.

copyright(c)2014 William Schaeffer

Dr Oz Checklist

Dr Oz Checklist


Calcium
Magnesium
Zinc

Essential Minerals.
Ready for lift off.




copyright(c)2014 Wm Schaeffer

Dr Oz Cheat Sheet

Dr. Oz Cheat Sheet

omega 3          fish oil
omega 5          coconut oil
omega 7          macadamia nut
omega 9          olive oil

Healthy cooking oils.
Blast off into health.





copyright(c) 2014
Wm Schaeffer

Abstract Photography

The Art and Science of Abstract Photography

By Bill Schaeffer, August 6, 2007

Definition:

Abstract Photography, n. The practice of photography resulting in blurry, indistinct, unrecognizable pictures or extreme close ups that emphasize color, form, motion, and texture rather than the representation of an image or object.

A Methodology:

1- Wait till it is dark outside.

2- Get an ordinary , fairly good digital camera.

3- Turn OFF the flash.

4- Leave the camera in automatic focus and exposure mode (to start)

5- Get in your car and roll down the windows (or leave them up for extra "filtering")

6- Drive around looking for light sources to photograph while you are driving at the same time

7- Also try this: Don't even look for something to shoot, just point your camera out the window and photograph "whatever"

8- Continue to drive safely and observe the traffic laws while you are creating art

9- Stop the car and get out.

10- Continue photographing light sources with the flash OFF. Try focusing in the dark and moving the camera around while the shutter is open. Concentrate on fluid motion. Try "breaking all the rules of good photography" and see what happens.

11- Have FUN and don't worry about results. Go get a cup of coffee, or a snack, and read a magazine. Enjoy the night air.

Comments:

This is a fun way to spend time with a digital camera, especially if you are a “serious” amateur photographer.    Try and take a few abstract photos at a public event when you are “really there” to document the event.    Take a few abstract photographs whenever you are taking “serious photographs.”     Try some abstract photos if you are shooting at night, or taking a long drive in the car.     

More Comments:

This concept is related to the practice of abstract painting

copyright(c)2007,2014 William A. Schaeffer 

We Used to be Happy

We Used to be Happy

By Bill Schaeffer

We used to believe in the Bill of Rights, the dignity of man, and the pursuit of happiness.

Now we believe in managed care, right to work, and increasing the bottom line.

We used to want to build schools, parks and hospitals for our communities.

Now we want to build more prisons, more factories, and more gambling casinos.

We used to value learning, reading, music, and literature.

Now we value the loudest beats, the baddest car, and the dirtiest girl.

We used to read poetry, the Bible, and the classics in French, and Latin.

Now we read the stock market report, the racing form and the Penthouse Forum.

We used to listen to symphonies, musicals, plays and lectures on politics.

Now we listen to sound bites, ring tones, commercial interruptions, and professional sports announcers.

We used to go to church picnics, community dances, and country fairs.

Now we go to nightclubs, dance halls, movie palaces, and restaurants and bars.

We used to take a hike in the woods and have a picnic in the park.

Now we have catered events, fast food , TV dinners, and caffeine free diet cola.

We used to fall in love and get married.

Now we have sexual expression, prenuptial agreements, child support, prophylactics, and marriage counseling.

We used to sing work songs, sing in the church choir, and sing the baby to sleep.

Now we have personal music systems, internet downloads, noise canceling headphones, and Prozac for children.

We used to play baseball, or hide and seek, marbles, dolls, or build a fort.

Now we watch TV, have structured play time, watch TV, play computer games, or watch TV.

We used to know who our neighbors were, and what they did for a living.

Now we have security access, gated parking, video surveillance, and condo management.

We used to make decisions based on principle, honor, and the right thing to do.

Now we attempt to justify our expediency, convenience, greed, laziness, and theft.

We used to write letters, diaries, memoirs, and visit the relatives.

Now we have focus groups, email, blogs, phone messages, and new found friends.

We used to be thankful for the few comforts and graces we had.

Now we are bitterly resentful that we do not have everything we see on TV.

We used to care about trying to build a better world for our children.

Now we just want to get our piece of the pie before it is all gone.

We used to be proud of our country, our work, and our family, and our community.

Now we just want to take the latest anti depressants and play the newest video game.

We used to love life, laughter and the feeling of sunshine in the afternoon.

Now we despise anyone and anything that stands in our way.

We used to have beautiful wild forests and meadows, and fresh clean rivers.

Now we have asphalt, cement, smog, dirty water, toxic waste, herbicides, and killer bees.

We used to have clear night skies, and a fresh new moon.

Now we have street lights, 24 hour access, motion detectors, security lighting, and razor wire.

We used to have medicine men, root women, and family doctors.

Now we have pharmaceutical corporations, medical insurance payments, and thorough research documentation of known possible anti carcinogens.

We used to have myths, and fables, and stories by the campfire.

Now we have primetime programming, mass marketing to children, adult literature, and Cable News Network.

We used to know what life is about and where we were going.

Now every day is a new experience of unlimited possibilities in and exciting and challenging universe of change.

We used to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Now we eat breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, tea time, cocktails, dinner, desert, nightcap, late night snack, and finally a cookie before bed.

We used to be happy.

Now we experience, and are aware of, the full range of our emotional nature.

©2007 Wm Schaeffer

Stupidity

"Stupidity is NOT a choice.  It is a Birthright." - Mr. Atwater



copyright(c) 2014 Wm Schaeffer

Humiliating Dating Scenarios

Humiliating Dating Scenarios

1) My friend Bob was the typical nerd programmer.   He was brilliant and talented but with few social graces.   After a while, he started earning some real money, so he bought a brand new sports car. It was expensive.  On Friday of the first week of ownership he had a date with an attractive woman he met through a dating service.

The car was beautiful.  He drove to the woman’s house and picked her up.  He decided to take the freeway so he could impress her with the speed of his new car.  After turning onto the entrance ramp he gunned the engine and lost control.  The engine was more powerful than he had anticipated and there was light mist of water on the pavement.   The end result was that he drove straight into the retaining wall on the entrance ramp and ruined the car.  It was not drivable and had to be towed away.  It took three months to get the car back.

Furthermore, his date insisted on being taken to the hospital and claimed that she had injuries.   She later sued him for damages in court and won.

Bob thought that he was a race car driver, but he was mistaken.  Owning the car doesn’t make you a good driver.   Always remember that driving is dangerous. 

2) My friend Bart was working for a sales organization doing canvassing from door to door.   He was part of a team assigned to the city and was paired with an attractive female coworker.   As a team, the two of them would go house to house.  One took one side of the block and the other took the other side.  Then they would break for lunch.  The weather was very hot, since it was the middle of the summer, but Bart found his companion charming and really enjoyed the work.   Every day they would have lunch together and talk.  She was a great conversationalist and he enjoyed listening to her voice.

The second week they worked together Bart found he was falling in love and was sure that his partner felt the same way.   One day at lunch, when they were sitting in the car talking, he tried to kiss her.

Pulling back abruptly, she was shocked and insulted.  “Bart!  What are you doing?” she cried.

After explaining his intentions and professing his love for her, she coldly responded,   “You idiot.  Why would I want to fool around with you?   Not only am I engaged to be married, but I have a boyfriend also.”

And then she demanded to be driven back to headquarters where she filed a sexual harassment suit against Bart.  He was removed from the sales teams and assigned new work in the office.   Eventually his contract was shortened and he was laid off.

Bart thought that lunch time was personal time, but he was mistaken.   Lunch time is still company time. And don’t you ever forget that.

Copyright©2014 William Schaeffer