are we laptops or typewriters?
(http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AaxAzGo3CISTZGZnZDJtbjhfMmNua2NyZmN6&hl=en)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Verse 48
All is Done Without Doing from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
To obtain a diploma
requires the storage of trivia.
To obtain the Great Integrity
requires their abandonment.
The more we are released
from vested fragments of knowledge,
the less we are compelled
to take vested actions,
until all is done without doing.
When the ego interferes
in the rhythms of process,
there is so much doing!
But nothing is done.
To obtain a diploma
requires the storage of trivia.
To obtain the Great Integrity
requires their abandonment.
The more we are released
from vested fragments of knowledge,
the less we are compelled
to take vested actions,
until all is done without doing.
When the ego interferes
in the rhythms of process,
there is so much doing!
But nothing is done.
Monday, December 7, 2009
It has to be good for something
This body is good
for the moment that you share with me. If it were a coupon,
it wouldn't be good for any date in the future.
It's useless for looking at in the mirror, for appraising in any
manner except in the sense that we are close to each other.
It is for deep breaths, kisses on the tip of the nose, playing with your earlobe.
You're my man. My dark haired angel, woods runner, spirit holder.
Smile sweet satisfaction, comfort, and I am tired. Last night, coming home
from the gym, under the majestic November maples,
I understood that there is no deluge of life events
that one can avoid or defer. There will be no waiting.
In a now-decaying northern town engineers built a system of locks to
make the rapids of the St. Mary's River navigable for freighters, imposed
order and humanness on forests and glacial lakes.
Meanwhile, waves from Lake Superior lap against the shore like
a song I knew before I was even born. Huge forces, physical
and ideological, pick us up under the arms and set us down
in places we must learn to occupy.
I work so hard to humble myself before them, but softening is slow work.
When doubt comes I take up Marge Piercy's plea for utility, for a place
to start, fulfilling work to be done.
Take this body, a quiet offering; let me start here, with you today.
for the moment that you share with me. If it were a coupon,
it wouldn't be good for any date in the future.
It's useless for looking at in the mirror, for appraising in any
manner except in the sense that we are close to each other.
It is for deep breaths, kisses on the tip of the nose, playing with your earlobe.
You're my man. My dark haired angel, woods runner, spirit holder.
Smile sweet satisfaction, comfort, and I am tired. Last night, coming home
from the gym, under the majestic November maples,
I understood that there is no deluge of life events
that one can avoid or defer. There will be no waiting.
In a now-decaying northern town engineers built a system of locks to
make the rapids of the St. Mary's River navigable for freighters, imposed
order and humanness on forests and glacial lakes.
Meanwhile, waves from Lake Superior lap against the shore like
a song I knew before I was even born. Huge forces, physical
and ideological, pick us up under the arms and set us down
in places we must learn to occupy.
I work so hard to humble myself before them, but softening is slow work.
When doubt comes I take up Marge Piercy's plea for utility, for a place
to start, fulfilling work to be done.
Take this body, a quiet offering; let me start here, with you today.
Awareness
Awareness
I chose to explore intimacies after recognizing the need for a deeper awareness (in everything).
My journey on exploring intimacies needed focus.
I began handwriting in a journal.
I revisited these entries, to notice what I decided was worth documenting at the time.
I recorded conversations in secret, to preserve their naturalness.
Conversations I’d hope would reveal more than what was said.
Ultimately, I was hoping for answers to come through an increased sense in documenting/recording/things that are not permanent/
I do have to confess that I often realize the chance to record too late, but I hope my memory allows for apt resonances of the progress those missed chances gives.
I would find myself exploring my body as I read, coming to awarenesses that would have likely gone infinitely unnoticed.
The state of illness came to mind, as the most obvious ways one is forced to attend to oneself.
Reading Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons, of deconstruction,
of language, of deconstruction of language,
of a simpler awareness, and
meditation
It brought be back down. I didn’t have to look so far and wide for resonances, for answers. There were closer questions within grasp
that were being overlooked.
I began by looking back, at documentations before I was on this journey, or, at least, aware of any of this.
Stein's words extended beyond the recording,
expressions that I wanted to appropriate, translate toward my own exploration;
expressions that
could have been mine.
Everyday questions and meditations
What was said, what I said
what was being said, and not
being said,
what was holding me back,
and still
holds me back;
Resistance.
I chose to explore intimacies after recognizing the need for a deeper awareness (in everything).
My journey on exploring intimacies needed focus.
I began handwriting in a journal.
I revisited these entries, to notice what I decided was worth documenting at the time.
I recorded conversations in secret, to preserve their naturalness.
Conversations I’d hope would reveal more than what was said.
Ultimately, I was hoping for answers to come through an increased sense in documenting/recording/things that are not permanent/
I do have to confess that I often realize the chance to record too late, but I hope my memory allows for apt resonances of the progress those missed chances gives.
I would find myself exploring my body as I read, coming to awarenesses that would have likely gone infinitely unnoticed.
The state of illness came to mind, as the most obvious ways one is forced to attend to oneself.
Reading Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons, of deconstruction,
of language, of deconstruction of language,
of a simpler awareness, and
meditation
It brought be back down. I didn’t have to look so far and wide for resonances, for answers. There were closer questions within grasp
that were being overlooked.
I began by looking back, at documentations before I was on this journey, or, at least, aware of any of this.
Stein's words extended beyond the recording,
expressions that I wanted to appropriate, translate toward my own exploration;
expressions that
could have been mine.
Everyday questions and meditations
What was said, what I said
what was being said, and not
being said,
what was holding me back,
and still
holds me back;
Resistance.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Guerrilla Troop Doodle
If you'd like to play a part in my guerrilla theatre troop, please see if any of the times work for you in my very first doodle:
Guerilla Guerilla
(http://doodle.com/wsepaqf9apb7sgy4)
http://doodle.com/wsepaqf9apb7sgy4
http://doodle.com/wsepaqf9apb7sgy4
If you could also please e-mail me to let my know you plan to take part, I could add your e-mail address to the regular list of guerrilla theatre supporters/actors.
Thanks!
Guerilla Guerilla
(http://doodle.com/wsepaqf9apb7sgy4)
http://doodle.com/wsepaqf9apb7sgy4
http://doodle.com/wsepaqf9apb7sgy4
If you could also please e-mail me to let my know you plan to take part, I could add your e-mail address to the regular list of guerrilla theatre supporters/actors.
Thanks!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
thoughts in the early morning
I realized that the most interesting and emotionally compelling theme that I want to probe in this project (zine-making) is human communication in a time when technology (home computers, the internet, I-pods) makes it very easy to be more anonymous, isolated, and in a certain sense "unencumbered" by traditional relationships. My stance is that all attempts at "reaching out," so to speak, and communicating with other beings in a respectful and nourishing way are valuable. However, I realize that Facebook and other websites are not perhaps the best way of connecting and forming relationships; I will include a couple of critiques of these websites and the culture that has developed as they have gained popularity. For example, what are the limits imposed by computers in terms of communication?
Craigslist.com, Facebook, and Twitter gave me the inspiration to explore this. I have noticed that people will use their Facebook status as a means of expressing remarkably personal (sometimes painful) feelings. The "news feed" on Facebook is an easy way of finding out what is going on in other people's lives. People vary in the degree to which they post sentiments and updates from their personal life - some statuses are generic as "Go Blue!" on gamedays while others make me want to stop what I'm doing and call the person to cheer him or her up, they sound so desperate and in need of basic human comfort.
The idea is to write haikus based on Facebook statuses, and to make a pictoral Craigslist personals montage. (Craigslist.com is another site that is regularly used by (lonely, desperate people.... and people who aren't necessarily lonely and desperate) to connect with others). Still not sure whether I should create these from my own head or borrow them directly from the site (without any attached names, of course).
I should finally note that this idea of connection is so dear to me because if there were one thing I could change about myself, I would totally eliminate my shyness and anxiety about engaging with other people. There's a fairly well documented dynamic (at least in the world of The Smiths, The Cure, and popular music culture) of a gut need to express oneself to others and also to help others to express themselves genuinely while simulataneously fearing that one is never quite enough, never quite ready, never quite able to do this.
Craigslist.com, Facebook, and Twitter gave me the inspiration to explore this. I have noticed that people will use their Facebook status as a means of expressing remarkably personal (sometimes painful) feelings. The "news feed" on Facebook is an easy way of finding out what is going on in other people's lives. People vary in the degree to which they post sentiments and updates from their personal life - some statuses are generic as "Go Blue!" on gamedays while others make me want to stop what I'm doing and call the person to cheer him or her up, they sound so desperate and in need of basic human comfort.
The idea is to write haikus based on Facebook statuses, and to make a pictoral Craigslist personals montage. (Craigslist.com is another site that is regularly used by (lonely, desperate people.... and people who aren't necessarily lonely and desperate) to connect with others). Still not sure whether I should create these from my own head or borrow them directly from the site (without any attached names, of course).
I should finally note that this idea of connection is so dear to me because if there were one thing I could change about myself, I would totally eliminate my shyness and anxiety about engaging with other people. There's a fairly well documented dynamic (at least in the world of The Smiths, The Cure, and popular music culture) of a gut need to express oneself to others and also to help others to express themselves genuinely while simulataneously fearing that one is never quite enough, never quite ready, never quite able to do this.
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