The Beginning of the Week

I noticed that this post was pretty redundant, as well as wasteful, so I should think that if I rewrite it. Won't that serve as progress?

Yesterday I read a post in which the writer said he plodded through his day, so I thought I should boost this guys ego, which I bet didn't need any boosting. I'm thinking that it's just too easy to write on the internet, so speaking for myself, a lot of waste especially for anyone who is reading this stuff gets posted or emailed, or published. I shall try to fix up my past, as well as write more carefully in the future.

Getting back to this guy who says that he plodded through his day, I would say that I have done the same today, and I would bet that this wasn't the first time in my life that I did that. I should think that I wouldn't have to post every day, also. This is just my attempt to weed out the dry spells.

For New People

If you are new here, or haven't been here in several days, I'd skim down for the pictures. Also those first few days were pretty lively, thanks to the first commentaries!

About Politics

Thee are some advantages in having no one here! I have much more freedom in writing about those things I think about. I would have not written about politics, but now we can go ahead!

Right now I'm wondering if the same money that is in control of politics is the same money that's in control of the media... I'm thinking that one is Murdock, and it would be impossible for the average citizen to know, as they are very carefully hidden. Ummm... Wouldn't there be a book on the topic? Maybe I should look for my next book! I just may post this around, to see if some of these guys can be found!

I'm interested in what you think!

Regarding family and friends

Well, as I predicted right away, family and most friends, especially those local do not intend to come here. This should not come as a shock, and I have a plan to look here for those bloggers who best match with myself. I've noticed that blogging is most set up for this, nice! And don't forget, we still have our invisible audience. I notice that I skipped yesterday, I see no problem with that, and I do hope I will spend more time in the great outofdoors with my segway this summer. I also liked the pretty orchid on top of the page. I have another to photograph right now... So, soon....

Vicompte dropped in again?

It would seem that Vicompte dropped in again, but did he? I'm not so sure. I'm pondering this.

Yes, orchids can bloom in the new sunporch. Go to my web page to see the sunporch. 

Replace all that TV time?

The mostest fun thing about getting rid of TV has been filling in the time. I already mentioned renting DVDs and VHSs from Facets in Chicago, which has replaced the "sitting" time. I must admit that I have also have my computer in the middle of the house, facing the living room, which is a great advantage. I think the next best choice would be right in the living room, facing the TV, and that connecting it to the TV would be a very nice luxury. I have my old collection to relearn and enjoy.

Oh, I know an argument that my brother makes, and I should mention. He never watches anything twice. I would argue endlessly (don't argue with my brother, though) that the reason is because what people watch is so boring. If you have something worthwhile, you can watch it again and again until you have it memorized like scripture.

Computer video is everywhere by now, although usually in the form of short clips, so it's not as relaxing as TV, and I could imagine a family fighting over the clips, so it might not replace TV quite yet. The great advantage to that is that it's not as mindless.

Occasionally there is something on TV, so a short cable subscription would have it's advantages in building a collection of V'S/DVD disks/tapes. I've done that in the olden days, and I must say that I am much pleased to watch those old tapes I thought I might listen to. If your aim here is not to save money, I would keep a cable subscription with the object being to record a personal collection.

More yet to say on the computer. I think a text reader is essential to have, and cheap for what it does. I do not really like reading long pages on the computer. The only way to go is with a textreader. Encarta has its own texreader and I would say use it. As far as I'm concerned, it's essential to have. I use www.nextup.com, which reads anything you can put in the memory (cut, copy). The nice lady or man, depending on what you choose, sounds nothing like the old textreaders, and for a few more bucks, can sound very close to live indeed. Text reading has developed in the last few years to a must, I insist.

This is getting too long, me fears, and I think I should break it down into smaller pieces. Look for related topics in the next few days.

Vicomte de Chagny

Does anyone miss Vicomte de Chagny? Things just don't seem the same without him. I think no one can ever replace him, but I'm planning to invite Eleanor Roosevelt, Gertrude Stein, Richard Strauss, Alexander Pope of course, and others. I think they should help us establish the climate we're looking for. My plan is to keep inviting people until we get a more established base line here. I am thinking that I may have to keep inviting such people until we have a secure foundation. If necessary, I'm thinking that I might invite Frances Bacon, Epictitus, and I'm sure I can continue to find people to invite. Things will turn out fine, I'm thinking. In the mean time, I hope you stick around and post and have a good time until These invisible people begin to participate. Good luck to us. I think I shall ever and always miss Vicomte de Chagny, however. He will be irreplaceable.

Link to Facets Multi-Media - Search:

Facets Multi-Media - Search:

I know I made a link that worked once, let's try again.

About TV and other Media

As I've always said, watching network TV may make you sterile, but lately I would say that TV WILL make you sterile. Isn't it true that the same money that put Bush in office is the same money that's controlling the media? I think Rupert Murdock fits in there some place, and I think it is true in a way in wich we will never know, a nefarious way. But it seems more insidious than that to me.

I really think I have found a way to save money if you have cable, and fix up the media means at the same time. I have been very happy since I canceled cable, I have bought no rabbit ears for local channels, I suppose I will miss something some day, but I can always fix that. That's what neighbors and family is for. Computer has advanced to such an extent that it can fully replace TV, and it's so much less likely that you will become sterile. More than that. DVD and VHS can very happily replace livingroom entertainment. I must admit that I have taped things that have mattered over the years, which helps, but for livingroom entertainment, I have found icing on the cake. rents media through the internet, through mail. I mentioned that I was watching Richard Strauss last night, and have it in the background right now. I've finished watching McBeth, The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Gatspy, Of Mice and Men, and will have an endless supply of entertainment that's not likely to make me steril at all. I'm extremely happy with the setup. I think something happened recently in Wausau, but that's what family and neighbors are for! You can always find out if something happens, unless everyone follows my advice. We would be living in a different world if that happens, though. And best of all, you don't have to watch sterilized and homogonized politics! Use the computer to find out what is happening in the world. You may learn a few things and save money, no less! Have a happy night.

Kinda cool they way the still life fitsinto the painting? Pictures seem to liven up a blog a bit? 

Before you leave.....(message to family and local friends)

Before everyone is gone, I should mention that even by myself I am expecting to keep things uptodate for my invisible guests. Everyone is invited to drop in, and even participate as often as you wish. You are always welcome to come here.. I'm believing that I will but up at least daily posts and frequent pictures, although the nice weather should be spent out of doors. I've enjoyed your company and you are always welcome.

Where are we here?

Rosencavelier/sp just finished, and I must say that it leaves quite an impression on me. I've seen it before, but I've also forgotten it.

Already am I thinking that if I haven't lost my audience already, I soon will. I strongly suspect I shall continue to do my best work here, for even if there are people around, aren't they invisible? Where does all this go? I will surely say that I don't know. All I can say is that it goes somewhere. That's good enough for me. I shall say, thanks to the invisible phantom, I am convinced that I should do the best I can; and that's what will be worthwhile. It's awfully big out there!

Alexander Pope, Today's entry

I'm not sure if this link will work, but the poems I'm refering to are comments in the following topic:

Make sure you read the comments, even if it takes longer

I did go through the work to find out that the first poem is by Pope, and the second, also "An Essey to Criticism" part 3. There is so much literature out there that it's easy to get lost. I did recognize this to be among the best, though, which made it worth the work to track down. There is enough in these two short poems to spend infinity to digest.

"The Learn'd reflect on what before they knew:" -- Pope

Yes, indeed, someone here that isn't one's normal neighbor, ideed! I haven't slept or eaten now in six days, and I'm thinking of catching a taxi and going to the Ile de France to see what might show up.

I found one myself which I might say is worth spending time with.

Fools! who into the notion fall,
That vice or virtue there is none at all.
If white and black blend, soften, and unite
A thousand ways, is there no black or white?
--Alexander Pope--

And don't forget the Bush quotes I've been adding to my e-mail signature lately.

I'm watching R. Strauss' Rosencavelier tonight, but tomorrow I think I shall explain Facet's of Chicago's video rental system.

We should include some pretty flowers, even if pretty chilly today. Lilac is getting pretty after 5 years of growing. 

This little guy thinks he should hang out with dad, but I think he belongs in the nest with mom. 

To Sister Faye

Ok here, is it you who is writing this poetry, perhaps while sitting on the throne? I think probably not, but I'm starting to loose my mind here. Besides contemplating Vicomte de Chagny, now I have to discover hidden meanings in this poetry. I just may find myself somewhere in outer space with no way to get back. Then what? This is my second day with neither eating or sleeping and I'm starting to loose weight. Wait a minute, that's a good thing.

To Mary Goldfinch

I am thinking to myself that you, Mary Goldfinch, also are not above being a fraudulent Vicompte de Chagny. This is a most serious matter, and just in case anyone else here is a pretender to be Vicompte de Chagny, no one here is safe from me. I haven't slept now for 24 hours, planning on who the imposter is, and how I can get even. However, if Vicompte de Chagny is really here, I continue to be most honored.

Another blog for the crawly things!

This is to let everyone know that this log will be kept free of Creepy things. Because I spend so much time with them, I think I can make plenty of posts there on them. I've moved them there because I want everyone to feel safe of them here. That is, if you can stand my threats! The new blog? http://tomscrawlies.blogspot.com/

Make sure you read the comments, even if it takes longer

I don't know who the assortment of anyminyouseuses here are, but they are Ever, always, and constantly a good deas richer than the original posts. If you take the time, you will meet the real characters, and that's an understatement.

The Segway Carrier is a real honey! 

Regarding Still's Disease these days

Regarding the crappy old Still's, I may mention that I had the best winter ever, and I even tried to get off the prednisone. Once I got down to 1mg EOD, my crappy lungs and heart acted up, so I went back on it. Now I am fine, as long as I am as lazy as I am anyway. I do putter all day, you know. Real work, like logging the woods and plowing the fields seem pretty off the horizon, I figure, but, hey, I don't like to log the woods! I'm doing just fine, I figure.

To Erik Schroeder

This is just a warning that if I find out that you're Vicomte de Chagny, I will get even with you if it takes the rest of my natural life. Should I ever meet de Chagny, I shall have to apologise effusely forever to him!

dgs712: "A ghost," he said, "who, on the same evening, carries off an opera-singer and steals twenty-thousand francs is a ghost who must have his hands very full! If you don't mind, we will take the questions in order. The singer first, the twenty-thousand francs after. Come, M. de Chagny, let us try to talk seriously. You believe that Mlle. Christine Daae has been carried off by an individual called Erik. Do you know this person? Have you seen him?"

To Vicomte de Chagny

Vicomte de Chagny? Am I writing to you? A story, interesting to me, is that your name popped up on the blog (link below) And I just had to do a Google Search, and I found the most interesting things! How your name popped up on my brand new blog is a real mystery to me, but I am most pleased and honored that it did! I shall leave it there as an honor! I still havn’t posted anything on opera, but I must do that! I did just put up a pretty neat (I think) comment on Art, but I don’t know where the Opera came from! I did live in Chicago for 30 years and have seen many an opera there, and really miss culture up here in the north woods. I love my nature here, but I really miss Chicago at times.

Again, I am most honored to write to you and I would be thrilled to learn about this great mystery!

Sincerely, Tom Kufahl

While we're on the topic of Cycles, here's brother Bruce taken by the local Herald for a Harley Affair.  

More basics

I'm still swept away with this idea! Remember, if you want to be part of this, just ask me and I'll invite you tkufahl@charter.net (experiment). As I might be just a tad on the eccentric side, I believe I will be happy to entertain myself, but remember that the potential for community is here. More is merrier, and learning to get around in Blogger is a most cool adventure, I'm thinking. So be most free to ask me for an invite, and common over, even just for 1 sentence! And remember also, you can set up your own blog if you have time and a fancy to! So, yet, common in! Anyone in the whole world can comment, you know, (even enemies, hehe) but if you want to post, ask me for an invite! Enough on that?

How about Some Study?

Lest anyone should think that art is of no importance, consider this. From Britannica (Britannica DVD is an unbelievable bargain for what you get, by the way. I keep updating it, just to see how they improve it). I shall be short, so as to not take up too much time.

From Art, Philosophy of.

Art as a means to truth or knowledge

a. One of the things that has been alleged to be the purpose of art is its cognitive function:
b. art as a means to the acquisition of truth. Art has even been called the avenue to the highest knowledge available to man and to a kind of knowledge impossible of attainment by any other means.
.........................
But what exactly does “truth to human nature” mean? The criterion is as old as Aristotle, who wrote that poetry is more true than history because it presents universal truths whereas history gives only particular truths and that poetry (dramatic fiction) shows how a person of this or that kind probably or necessarily would behave (or think, or feel).
...........................
Is truth to human nature aesthetically relevant? That is, when present does it make the work of literature better and when absent or flawed does it make the work worse as literature? Here again there would be some difference of opinion, but a very large number of critics and aestheticians, in the tradition of Aristotle, would say that it matters aesthetically a great deal. The novelist does not have to be true to geography or history or astronomy, but he must be, as the 19th-century U.S
............................
it goes on to become almost to hard to read, but I should surely like to think about this much of it.
...........................
Another idea: 22. Art as a means to moral improvement .

a. To say that a work of art is aesthetically good or has aesthetic value is one thing; to say that it is morally good or has a capacity to influence people so as to make them morally better is another. Yet, though the two kinds of judgments differ from one another, they are not entirely unrelated. Three views on the relation of art to morality can be distinguished:

Whew, that's enough to think about for awhile. Of course you can always buy Britannica and think about some more.

By the way, I think that the only real way to study with the computer is to have a text reader. www.nextup.com makes a text reader that is very reasonably priced, and the nice lady or guy can just read and read and read as long as you wish 'em to without getting tired.

Another link to Tom's Home

Tom's Home

About the pictures

This thing is really beginning to look like fun and I'm ready to begin becoming serious, I think. I just figured out how to post the pictures, obviously, and it was a bit difficult to figure out. it requires another program, the blog site recommends, and I got through with it. I am really beginning to wonder how long this will be free, or how much memory it will allow me to have. I must say that I'm enjoying it thoroughly in the mean time! It's super. The hawk picture is of a super nice young lady and I had the pleasure of going to a meeting at her house, where I met her hawk! I can't get over the picture!

On the same day I got the cycling picture of my cousin, Lavora, who just bought a motorcycle of her own! Another most amazing surprise. May I mention that she doesn't look a day over 21, does she! The fact is that she was key to my survival in high school! Don't do the math to figure out Lavora's age! :)

Both of those pictures tickle me no end! So, I just had to do my best to throw myself in with them! I know I don't make it, but I can make believe, can't I?

Well, now you can look forward to more blogging!

Match for Cousin Lavora? Well, at least trying 

My Dear Cousin! Remember thos High School Days! 

Beautiful, no? 

Blog just for anyone's Ideas

comments
This blog is made especially for anyone to add posts, as a public spot for anyone to use. I'm hoping the directions are pretty easy to follow. Just be bold and go ahead and add your ideas!

For beginners, but Moving toward a real blog

This is looking pretty good, by tomorrow I think I will be able to start being a bit more serious. I shall leave this stuff around for beginners, though. Remember, anyone can make comments, so feel free to add comments.