summer reading

Momo - is no less for being a children's book. Reminds the reader of the importance of learning to listen, really listen. And the illusion of time, and the ongoing theft thereof by gray suited men we long ceased to see. A true celebration of life and as much a prerequisite read as the Little Prince.

Lust for Life - a biography of Van Gogh's life. Inspiration in textual form. From books to working as a minister in the darkest coal mines... Insane passions shaped into multiple life-paths, finally to fixate on art with an unrelenting resolve that can only follow when someone believes in you as blindly as you believe in yourself. Without the financial and emotional support of Theo Van Gogh Vincent could not have been. In this life the line between brilliance, passion and madness remains eternally blurred.

Three cups of tea - (still reading) How one mountaineer set up multiple schools in Afghanistan.

horoscope

even if there isn't a drop of truth or realism to it
why is it we judge so harshly, why is it we are so quick to rob each other of our dreams

and even if voltaire never uttered the words, there they are whispered in an argument over dinner: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it

oscillation in the search for a happy medium

are passions serious things or frivolous?
should one live by the moment savoring its flavor, or plan ahead a little more
is it more important to live near the sea, to follow inspiring work or... follow another dream forgotten in the striving toward current goals?
it helps to look in from the outside, but that's very different from having answers

not that answers can be had, or are necessarily needed...

how are you?

is often replied to by either an evaluative judgment (fine thanks)
or answers other questions (what have you been doing)

i am enjoying growing
could be the more succinct reply, but it's not likely to be understood.

the thing with thrills

is that they easily become addictions

"You'd kill yourself for recognition; kill yourself to never ever stop." Radiohead/Jamie Cullum

the woman of many voices

• and what if we only spoke in

a) superlatives?
b) diminutives?
would we change, or only the image> the line between self-image and external image continues to blur.


• and do we really prefer people who tell us about ourselves?



• today's chemist says toxicity and corrosiveness are different properties. the world as it spins toward entropy needs more katalysts.



• Iceland's population really only is around 300,000 (of which Reykjavik has 100k)



• watch out for country influenced personality modulations

Oh and be careful with undercurrents, sometimes they carry you away.

The Quiet World - Jeffrey McDaniel

(Originally received from Nutshell.)

In an effort to get people to look
into each other's eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly a hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.

When the phone rings, I put it to my ear
without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn't respond,
I know she's used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.

ode to JP

i am concerned that your honest blemishes do more to enamor me than the words of most living men. kudos to Simone for releasing the letters.

best dance.

as in ever.
with soul, from your toes.
i hope we dance again.