Roedelius - Selbstportrait Vols. I - III

Epitaph

First they exterminated the native population, and then they brought in slaves to work the fields. After a violent, bloody war the slaves went off to work in factories, keeping their former masters rich and idle while the descendents of the slaves still worked very hard, earning only pennies on the dollar. Instead of trying to make life better and fairer for everyone, as many had in the past, the people quickly forgot these noble Enlightenment goals and soon made it their business only to prosper at the expense of others, just as it had been before the advent of democracy. 

Nonconformity was at first encouraged, then only tolerated, then violently stamped out. 

Meanwhile the rivers were dammed, the trees felled, the lakes surrounded with vacation cabins and retirement condominiums to house all the people trying to escape their newfound imprisonment. What little forest remained caught fire and burned, and the Earth and even the air people breathed gradually filled in with waste products and poisons, further reducing the people's ability to think, plan, or even to do much of anything at all.  

So then, bereft of fortitude or dignity, they decided to elect a Fascist Dictator, in order that their numerous and mounting problems be solved for them, for once and for all. 

It was nice to know that someone cared about them, since by this time practically no one else did.

Pigs on the wing

It is difficult to determine where the "meaning" of anything (waiting, we suspect) lies to be found...

Only that when we have found the meaning, it lies not with the thing betokened.

 

 ≡  Intrinsic meaning is not a feature of our universe.

Seen this movie?

One side likes to wave signs. The other likes to flash guns. Neither seems to have any particular claim to morality, legality or even common sense. 

Just where does one find such bad actors? such pretenders to the throne of decency, virtue, or humanity?

"Long live President Bacon and his Piggy Parvenu Posse!" vs "Justice for the Uninformed, Tasteless and Mediocre!"?

Please tell us there isn't a sequel planned.

Ambient / experimental mix

@insectoid_intelligence · island2island

Featuring works by Chris Carter, Forrest Fang, Haruomi Hosono, and Catarina Barbieri

One hour, for your listening pleasure. No interruptions.

(ed. note: Apologies for the initial errors in the tracklisting. They have been corrected). 

Morning juice

[Taken from the AP live feed, 21 October 10:50 AM CDT] 

"The U.S. president and Australian prime minister welcomed press into the Cabinet Room to announce that the two countries will sign a critical minerals deal.

Australia is rich in rare earth resources that the U.S. is eager to tap, as China imposes tougher export rules on its own critical minerals.

Trump said the agreement had been negotiated over several months.

Albanese stressed the close relationship between the two countries, and said the criminal (sic) minerals deal was 'just taking it to the next level.'"

Considering that one party to the deal is in fact a convicted felon, it would seem that sometimes the truth just can't be reined in. 

At least our president isn't an "illegal drug leader". 

Whatever that actually is, it sounds pretty awful...

Happy Birthday, Brad!

This month saw what would have been Bradley's 59th birthday. Happy Birthday, friend! There's nothing particularly special about 59, but it is both prime and one short of 60, the basis of the sexagesimal system of numbers used by the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians. Therefore it represents the largest digit in that system of numbers:

Unlike Mr. Smith (and, evidently, some National Geographic readers), I happen to have precious little interest in the supernatural, but even I might have to admit that it sometimes feels as if he never left us.

The pleasure was all mine. I have indeed kept it up, in my own peculiar fashion. It may not bear much resemblance to the aesthetics of previous eras, nor would perhaps even some of my contemporaries think much of it. But it's not up to them. I prefer to think that some of my best work always lies ahead, not far behind in some distant era. Isn't that what the word "progressive" is supposed to mean? 

After all (and this is one of my very own expressions), "life is chiefly for the living."  

So here's a big fat bowl for you, buddy! You were amazing, and I will always honor your memory for the gifts you shared so eagerly and without any assurance of recompense. They were extraordinary. We would do well to follow your example. But clearly our task has only begun.

These are dark times. There are no easy answers. We know we're up against practically impossible odds. But why give up? Merely because the end for each of us is already known, should we allow ourselves to become the instruments of our oppressors? Let us rather continue to strive with renewed vigor for a world that is more supportive, inclusive and humane. If we fail, we have no one to blame but ourselves. 

Keep it up!

P.S. Happy birthday to my late grandparents as well, one of whom happens to share a birthday with the late Bradley Smith :)