Right so today my blog is going to be a bit off the cuff, a little extraneous, maybe even superfluous to requirements. I am going to start by expounding upon the theory (that I am making up as I go along) that people who are intelligent, educated, or simply read a lot (none of which implies the other is present) have a particular tendency to use large words in various places in their daily discourse, in order to flaunt their assumed superiority in these matters over their erstwhile companions. Of course this habit is, to some extent, endearing in those who can pull it off well; but in the majority of people it makes them seem pretentious (an adjective I tend to overuse), obnoxious, or even obstreperous. The usage of such florid verbosity does not add, nor take away from their personality (or lack thereof) but simply confuses the hell out of the person listening. That is, unless the other person is also a wordmonger. The suffix '-monger' does not always denote a negative trade, but in this instance, I would lump a 'wordmonger' in with the likes of 'Warmonger' and 'Fleshmonger' in the negative camp. I would not use the term 'wordsmith' which implies a certain mastery of craft (I would not use it to describe myself, certainly.) Words are powerful. Words have life. They are not simple objects to be flung around in pursuit of superiority. At some points in everyone's life, a short period of time should be taken to reflect in silence. Allow your words to rest. Nobody has an infinite amount. We have as many as we need. For some that may be thousands, in the case of politicians, lawyers and other types who use the power of words and their inherent malleability on a daily basis to earn their salaries. Others may have no words at all. Lost child soldiers in Central Africa; illiterate farmers; mountain tribes in Nepal; and even the dispossessed in our own society, the homeless, the unfortunate, the sick, the elderly. These people have no words to describe what they suffer. Maybe it should be up to those of us who have the words to take a rest from using them for our own gain, and to use them to promote awareness. Some of the organisations which I want to use my words to promote include:
Simon Community of Ireland:
and especially Galway Simon:
Invisible Children:
and finally VCD Nepal:
Thank you. peace and love. not just from me, or for me. but from everyone, to everyone.
Dermo
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
This is a verse or two which I scribbled at 5am
Don't you try to bring me down
like sumo wrestlers do
I've got an evil masterplan
That's of no concern to you
a door closes in the dead of night
as I trip into the mist
so don't attempt to foil my plans
your presence may not be missed
so sleep you not oh foolish one
for your mindplay seems absurd
keep good watch on every move
for on deaf ears falls no word..
I think I might have to write some more for this, but it came out of nowhere and very likely that's where it'll go back to. still at least here is something for the archives.
like sumo wrestlers do
I've got an evil masterplan
That's of no concern to you
a door closes in the dead of night
as I trip into the mist
so don't attempt to foil my plans
your presence may not be missed
so sleep you not oh foolish one
for your mindplay seems absurd
keep good watch on every move
for on deaf ears falls no word..
I think I might have to write some more for this, but it came out of nowhere and very likely that's where it'll go back to. still at least here is something for the archives.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Not To Worry
All in life is chance, as they say. It's probably true. Clichés do have that working in their favour.
Since my last update, I have become a little more adept at decision making, and moulding those chances to my own advantage. I finally took the plunge, rented a car, and drove it round on American roads. after a shaky start, I'm beginning to feel comfortable with it all. Now all I need to do is to figure out fun places to go in it. that shouldn't be a problem...
Also, for those who have never read my blog before, this is going to be a short post, I am currently not thinking so many jumbled thoughts as usual. I have been reading up on 17th/19th c. history and that is something which interests me. In other news, I am on a short trip to see that special someone, so I'm endeavouring not to spend all my time living vicariously through the internet.
Wishing you all Peace, Love and a Worry-free wallet.
Dermo
Since my last update, I have become a little more adept at decision making, and moulding those chances to my own advantage. I finally took the plunge, rented a car, and drove it round on American roads. after a shaky start, I'm beginning to feel comfortable with it all. Now all I need to do is to figure out fun places to go in it. that shouldn't be a problem...
Also, for those who have never read my blog before, this is going to be a short post, I am currently not thinking so many jumbled thoughts as usual. I have been reading up on 17th/19th c. history and that is something which interests me. In other news, I am on a short trip to see that special someone, so I'm endeavouring not to spend all my time living vicariously through the internet.
Wishing you all Peace, Love and a Worry-free wallet.
Dermo
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Eat Well, Live Well.
So I promised to start blogging more. I've been in California for the last two days, and the life and climate of this country give rise to many, many different topics to blog about. Maybe this is why many Californians are bloggers. who knows?!
To begin with, I must praise the climate. Warmth and daylight make people happier, and there does seem to be a certain sense of 'sunniness' from the people here. Even if they are serving you coffee in Starbuck's. It is a pleasant place to wander around. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure it has its downside and seedy underbelly too. I have been lucky to see nice parts of it. Okay, enough gushing about the good things.
I promised someone I'd blog about cattle. Yesterday, as we drove north towards San Jose, we were passing by miles upon miles of rolling green pasture. To the west, the mountains rose up about 3/4 miles away. The shade of green was so healthy-looking, I was disappointed to see it so empty. In Ireland that amount of grassy hillside would sustain more cattle or sheep than currently make up the livestock population. Why are there no sheep on the hills? It may just be a symptom of homesickness, wanting to see green hills with the little white dots all over, sheep climbing up to pastures that cows probably couldn't get to. Either way, I wondered where the cows were. I'd seen the TV ads for California dairy products, where the tag-line says "California cows are Happy Cows." Well, I discovered shortly afterwards, and these cows did not look like they were happy. For about 2 miles along the highway, and about a mile deep, what could only be described as a multitude of cattle were pent up in a corral, nose to tail, and barely enough room to even swing a tail, at that. I wondered at the mindset that thinks this is good farming practice, and wondered even more at the quality of the beef or dairy produced. Even this is probably considered 'humane' or 'organic' farming. I do not claim to know anything about farming practice, but I do know that in the modern world, it is all about profit. Quality in food, just like standards in hospitals or durability in products, has been sacrificed in the name of the almighty dollar. I always attempt to eat organic foods, wherever possible, but in the present climate, it is often hard to find food that is organic or homegrown which does not cost a week's wages.
Today's dinner was beef or fish, neither of which was labelled as to origin. I tried both, and found the beef hard and stringy, and the fish soft and tasteless.
I have, in the past week or so, been seriously considering vegetarianism. I think that it would be very difficult for me to give up bacon and ham, and more especially fish. Most other meat I could very well live without. I plan to start my new diet as soon as this crazy touring schedule ends. I think semi-vegetarian is as good a plan as any.
On a completely different note, I saw a band called The Steelwells perform in Visalia and am their new biggest fan. I had a chat with the drummer after the gig and he was a sound guy. In fact they all seem like sound guys. I reckon their music will do well over in Ireland. I'm going to be bigging them up for the next while. check them out: http://thesteelwells.blogspot.com/ http://www.myspace.com/thesteelwells or on Twitter @thesteelwells
And finally, on a note that ties together California, music, and living well, I must just add that I have been back listening to Jackson Browne quite a lot recently. His melodies and lyrics just move me. Sublime.
Peace, Love and Gut Health to you all.
Dermo
To begin with, I must praise the climate. Warmth and daylight make people happier, and there does seem to be a certain sense of 'sunniness' from the people here. Even if they are serving you coffee in Starbuck's. It is a pleasant place to wander around. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure it has its downside and seedy underbelly too. I have been lucky to see nice parts of it. Okay, enough gushing about the good things.
I promised someone I'd blog about cattle. Yesterday, as we drove north towards San Jose, we were passing by miles upon miles of rolling green pasture. To the west, the mountains rose up about 3/4 miles away. The shade of green was so healthy-looking, I was disappointed to see it so empty. In Ireland that amount of grassy hillside would sustain more cattle or sheep than currently make up the livestock population. Why are there no sheep on the hills? It may just be a symptom of homesickness, wanting to see green hills with the little white dots all over, sheep climbing up to pastures that cows probably couldn't get to. Either way, I wondered where the cows were. I'd seen the TV ads for California dairy products, where the tag-line says "California cows are Happy Cows." Well, I discovered shortly afterwards, and these cows did not look like they were happy. For about 2 miles along the highway, and about a mile deep, what could only be described as a multitude of cattle were pent up in a corral, nose to tail, and barely enough room to even swing a tail, at that. I wondered at the mindset that thinks this is good farming practice, and wondered even more at the quality of the beef or dairy produced. Even this is probably considered 'humane' or 'organic' farming. I do not claim to know anything about farming practice, but I do know that in the modern world, it is all about profit. Quality in food, just like standards in hospitals or durability in products, has been sacrificed in the name of the almighty dollar. I always attempt to eat organic foods, wherever possible, but in the present climate, it is often hard to find food that is organic or homegrown which does not cost a week's wages.
Today's dinner was beef or fish, neither of which was labelled as to origin. I tried both, and found the beef hard and stringy, and the fish soft and tasteless.
I have, in the past week or so, been seriously considering vegetarianism. I think that it would be very difficult for me to give up bacon and ham, and more especially fish. Most other meat I could very well live without. I plan to start my new diet as soon as this crazy touring schedule ends. I think semi-vegetarian is as good a plan as any.
On a completely different note, I saw a band called The Steelwells perform in Visalia and am their new biggest fan. I had a chat with the drummer after the gig and he was a sound guy. In fact they all seem like sound guys. I reckon their music will do well over in Ireland. I'm going to be bigging them up for the next while. check them out: http://thesteelwells.blogspot.com/ http://www.myspace.com/thesteelwells or on Twitter @thesteelwells
And finally, on a note that ties together California, music, and living well, I must just add that I have been back listening to Jackson Browne quite a lot recently. His melodies and lyrics just move me. Sublime.
Peace, Love and Gut Health to you all.
Dermo
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