you even caught the Pantera.. and probably got the Jest with the title of the Article being from one album and my putting another very specific title as the amazon link...
but i digress...
it's all jaz(z)... and i can Play
Ruvy... thanks
this bit was about "explaining Tricks", to an extent...
Okay Gonzo, like staring at a good dessert and not being able to eat it, I gave in and read this thing, even thought I'll be late for an appointment.
I'm a new diabetic-your references to sugary treats I used to be able to eat was downright cruel.
Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed the article, and I'm sorta pissed that you don't wrtie more of them, like a street corner drug dealer always keeping his customers wanting/begging/pleading for more.
for John in #23....
thanks for stoppig by .. and i truly DO appreciate where yer coming from in the Critique... and i Understand your Point completely
as i tried to demonstrate with the diffeences between the "Vanilla" sections.. i am quite capable of conversing in a normal structure
i was Hoping that by setting differences in Stylings all within the same Article, i could demonstrate how manipulation of the Symbology of textual communications could be varied to help express those small things that are taken in sub-consciously via facial expressions, vocal inflection and the like in a new Way on screen
i guess to some like yourself, it can come across heavy handed rather than Musical...
"it's a fair cop"
at the same time, your own excellent Writing, and your statement about how you utilize phrasing to create your Voice as many great Writers do.. makes my Point for me
my Way just exaggerates that in a method i find not only personally Enjoyable, but some find Entertaining given the *informality* of Net communications rather than the much more formal Print media...
so many of the real Writers here on BC (yourself included John) DO have their own Voices by way of their word choices, phrasing and so on...
for example: when i read a John Spivey article, the Voice i hear is a cross between Garrison Keelor (Prarie home Companion) and the PBS "happy little trees" painter (blast if i can remember his name)..a warm, melodious Voice, rich in inflection
but you do give me much to think about myself... thanks
chantal - as Always, thank you...
i was pretty certain a visual artist such as yourself, shutterbug that you are... would catch it pretty easily..
changing lighting or filters can obscure/reveal so much when it comes to the Lens...
Jet - i knew ya couldn't resist... glad ya found it *tasty*
write more?
geeez... you really do want a hobo with a chainsaw (nod to Suss) running loose, don'tcha?
but it's part of what i'm doing here in this Thread.. trying to decide things, trying to Listen as much if not more, than i spew...
currently it appears the concensus is divided.. which is to be expected
I don't object to your stylings, I just made an alternate case. At this point your stylings and you are one in my mind. (Are you also center-justified?) I would hate to see the style edited to "look right." It would be like trying to make a poem look like prose. My cautionary note is that many contrive to be creative by being clever and so lose the content and meaning. I don't think you have to worry about the content and meaning part though.
I don't think we invented symbols. They came packaged in our dreams, and most animals dream. We get to write them and paint them.
ok... i guess the last bit to touch upon here is a Facet i use quite a bit, not so much in this Article, but in most of my mad peckings...
a post-modern propensity to sub-reference sub-cultural Substance
like the quoting of song lyrics, lines from movies, Monty Python.. right down to "nuff said" and Excelsior being blatantly stolen from Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame...
again, it falls into line with using other "tools" to try and convey shades of meaning by utilizing known material (if the Reader catches the sub-reference), to strike mood or ambiance or atmosphere as an added layer of Communication
i do tend to toss a lot of It out there, and i never expect anyone to get all of It, but the ones that do Resonate add some Flavor.. imo
and that's the Gist...
thanks to everyone who read, and a thunderous golfclap to those who joined in the Conversation!
One of the objections I have to much of modern academic poetry is the way in which the poets insert all sorts of references to other literature. It creates the need for a decoder ring and it also creates a poetic priest class that has all the inner knowledge and leaves the average reader flailing at the meaning. So I guess it matters what the writer's intent really is, whether to go for wink, wink, nudge, nudge, or to go for the broadest possible symbolic reference that conveys the requisite depth and meaning.
Sometimes a little doubt comes into play with referential things. Are Tool and Rush and Stan Lee more incisive and wise than Gonzo Marx? I'd be willing to bet they're not. A lot of referential stuff lies in the realm of post-modern irony, but again, I wager that you are deeper than irony. I think there is yet a truer voice to be heard. Maybe you're trying too hard.
well John, you raise some INteresting things to think about...
such as some of the sub-referenced being "wiser" or not
such is not my Purpose, instead i am utilizing much of it to try and strike a common Chord from the cultural background... like pointing to the Empire state building to define "tall" with a certain flavor...
perhaps it's not the best way for a Writer to communicate...
but i ain't no Writer, just a mad keyboard pecker
and i certainly ain't above Irony
as for trying too hard, yes.. in this Article and the comments, i am indeed trying hard.. since it came to my Attention in an oblique fashion that there was some controversy regarding my peculiar style...
but the Style itself is effortless to me, as you know.. i write in one "take", and if anything.. go over it once for pure spelling errors (being dyslexic, i am prone to)
other than that, what i type at the Moment is what comes onto the screen
done for my own Joy, as is the excercise of mental muscles in the discussion in enter... more so in the handful of Articles i've spewed out in the last year...
a deeper meaning to It all?
well, yeah... sometimes...
i guess part of It all is the recognition that the Journey can sometimes be just as Important as the Destination...
thanks Jet.. much Appreciated for the vote of Confidence...
but i'm not as certain, hence the gist of the Article itself
i find myself torn between the two modes of Thought here...
every point made by those advocating a more standardized Styling are completely valid, yet it rubs against the more freewheeling and expressive motif of what i've been doing around here for more than a year now...
it appears to be perfectly Acceptable in Comments... but hitting the proverbial Wall when it comes to Articles...
(credit where it's Due: big E DID post this Article exactly as i wrote it...much luv fer E.O.)
and thus my internal Conflict... stick with this medium/community and try and keep on doing what it is i have so much Fun in doing?
try and maintain my Voice , but shift it into a more normal structure ? (the Vanilla section above show how that turns out)
or stick to Heckling in the Comments portion?
the Community is the Thing for me *here*.. i mean just look at this Thread, or any of the others for that matter...
just on this one we range from yer Humble narrator's insanity... the cool, calm Voice of a dynamite published Author in John... a card carrying scientific mastermind physicist in duane... the visual Art of chantal... and even your own prolific Vision...
on and on
where else can you find such a disparate conglomeration of unique Intellects discussing shit?
that's the draw... and what keeps me hitting the site day after day...
much to ponder fer yer gonzo...
on a side Note: you can't even lift a volcano, much less oss one up here ya daft nutbar....
Gonzo..."on a side Note: you can't even lift a volcano, much less oss one up here ya daft nutbar...."
I was subtly hinting to see if you'd found just-published article on the Yellowstone Super volcano of interest. You seeM to know I lot about most things, but I didn't know if geology or siesmology was in your forte.
Great, now since reading this article several times, I can't stop humming this...
When I was young
It seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle,
oh it was beautiful,
magical
And all the birds in the trees
Well they'd be singing so happily
Oh joyfully,
oh playfully watching me
But then they sent me away
To teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible,
practical
And then they showed me a world
Where I could be so dependable
Oh clinical,
oh intellectual,
cynical
There are times
when all the world's asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won't you please,
please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am
Now watch what you say
Or they'll be calling you a radical
A liberal, oh fanatical, criminal
Oh won't you sign up your name
We'd like to feel you're
Acceptable,
respectable,
oh presentable,
a vegetable
At night when all the world's asleep
The questions run so deep
For such a simple man
Won't you please,
please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am,
who I am,
who I am,
who I am
gonzo-
I think you need to preserve your fun at writing. No straitjackets allowed. We aren't in high school English anymore (or college for that matter). They can always put disclaimers at the top of your pieces........I would emoticon here, but I don't do emoticon.
"geeez... you really do want a hobo with a chainsaw (nod to Suss) running loose, don'tcha?"
Why not? They made him the sports editor.
46 -
Mohjho
Aug 24, 2006 at 3:44 am
Gonzo, nice post, you seem to attract a wide variety of insightful comments. Keep it up!
A mad pecker (keyboard) like yourself has found your medium on the blog like ol Charley Christian with his new-fangled electric guitar.
All the old beat poets would probably agree with you in your attempt to gain additional meaning from a slight twist of standard style.
Its kind of funny how this works. Even Bob Dylan could not tell you the meaning of what he wrote even tho so many found personal insight to his ramblings.
I agree with Spivey that symbology is probably not an invention any more than some bird invented flying. It is what we are.
Gonzo, if I think of your style as "music", it's perfectly valid; however, when I focus on the art of communicating, for this twin hemisphere at least, I often find myself feeling that your style has begun to obscure your often righteous message, to the detriment of both the message and the messenger. Your devotion to your style is now actually working against your substance.
I keep getting the feeling that you're trying to apply musical artistic considerations to subjects that don't always respond well to that kind of approach...
49 -
troll
Nov 05, 2006 at 7:27 am
lots of folk have trouble listening to Schoenberg's work as well...someone should go over his stuff and make it more palatable
50 -
gonzo marx
Nov 05, 2006 at 9:44 am
heh..thanks troll
Christopher,
the whole Music thang is a definite mixed Metaphor, "analogies, allegory and algorithm"..Parables, what have you...all tossed into the mix... it's the way it Works foating out of my skull and onto the screen..
/shrugs
and i do Appreciate your take on it
but i must Respectfully say that the point is taken and moot at the same time
Calculus and Iambic Pentameter are tools to get the job done, gonzo, not ends in and of themselves...
53 -
JR
Nov 05, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Christopher Rose: Calculus and Iambic Pentameter are tools to get the job done, gonzo, not ends in and of themselves...
Speak for yourself. I study Calculus for fun, without any expectation of using it to some other end.
54 -
troll
Nov 05, 2006 at 6:23 pm
I'm with JR - ah the ah ha of groking a proof...not entirely unlike stumbling over an understanding of levels of reference and intent in gonzo's spew...errr - picture writing
if you mess with the ISO the burn won't fly
that said - the comments section remains open for experiments in sympathetic communication
Christopher sez...
*Only if somebody else can grok your meaning...*
and can't they?
am i, or have i been, so Obscure that NOTHING comes through to the Readers?
i put to you, that no matter what, anyoen who has read my Stuff walks away with something, maybe not everything, perhaps nto even what i intended, but something is Communicated
so, that's pretty much a straw man there Christopher...
as i stated in a previous Comment,in the environment of BC, we have something more Unique than in the Print world of magazines/newspapers...
a certain interActivity, the very Comments sections themselves.... where folks can Ask, and Question, and elucidation can and does occur
now, unlike some of the other Contributers to BC, my stuff tends to not be quite so explosive , and controversial merely for the sake of Controversy... which i Understand is the Reasoning behind some styles, being deliberately inflammatory...
instead, look at the reactions and Comments to my stuff, I know you have...you are the Comments Editor after all..you know i don't get as many Comments, but also that my Threads tend to be a bit more Civil, and that some real Communication occurs...even amongst folks who completely disagree with me or each other... but somethign opens up in the course of the conversations...
ah...what does it matter?
as i said, no harm, no foul, no mad, no bad...
the Policy is as it is, and i have been a grateful Guest in Eric and Phillip's "house"... and i have NO desire for any kind of *special treatment*
thus the End of my little Experiment, a heartfelt Thanks to all involved, from yer gonzo
Gonzo, I took an art class once where the instructor sat and read a descriptive passage of a house from a book.
We were then told to draw in detail what we thought it looked like.
25 students drew 25 different houses. No matter how hard you try to put your thoughts into words, there will always be those that inadvertantly or intentionally misinterpret them... just look at what damage has been done putting varied interpretations of the Bible.
Recently I tried a lame attmept of sticking up for chritopher rose and it was misinterpreted as not only an attack on him but on Blogcritics' policiy itself, which it wasn't, but try to convince others who pur words in my mouth of that.
ah Jet...thanks fer trying ta goad me into something...
i do Appreciate it
but, what are my choices?
to abandon the Way i express myself, and the Integrity of my own Thought in order to Conform?
rail against the Policy, and try to have an Exception made in my case?
neither of those are acceptable under my own basic Principles
if i change my *style* than it is no longer *gonzo marx* talking to folks...i might as well throw away the tag, use my real name and join the millions of others out there
not a bad thing, in and of itself, but definitely NOT the Experiment of my Voice, or the creative Joy i get in the typing...
and , as i show in the Article itself...definitely NOT the same Experience for the gentle Readers
there's no "giving up" on my part...rather it is Understanding and Respecting the decisions of the Editors and the whole Process here at BC...as well as the Fairness to other Writers, such as yourself
there are Rules in the sandbox, and the kids who don't follow them find themselves outside looking in
i'm ok with that, and you should be too!
so a heartfelt Thanks and Appreciation for where yer coming from, but PLEASE don't do any silly shit on my account, ok?
there's NO Battle to fight here, there's no *bad guys* here
just an honest difference of Views, and no room for "outside the Box"
Given that you are one of the less dogmatic minds on this site, gonzo, I would have thought, and hoped, your choice was to communicate clearly, cleverly and well rather than stick to your style above all else but that's just my opinion. Your mileage may vary...
go on up and click the link in number 51 and watch Gary Cooper's bit of monologue...it says quite a bit
i reserve the Right to do what i do the way i want to do It, or not at all
BC has EVERY Right to set their Policy as is seen fit, and to enforce that Policy as it sees fit, i totally agree and have NO argument with that
in number 59 i Ask, "what are my choices?"
and state why i have chosen to do what i'm doing
it ain't a matter of "dogma", it's a matter of Principle
and the Principles of editorial policy, and my own Creative ones are at odds
now, since i type for my own Joy at the process, and to indulge in the Conversations that result from said Work... why in the Name of whatever you hold dear shoudl i alter one iota from what i do?
to do so would make me a hypocrite to my own Principles, and stifle my creative output in a way that woudl not be Enjoyable for me to Make...
and would definitely NOT be what the *gonzo marx* tagline has come to mean in Context
my choice it to Communicate the Way i see fit, for my own Joy, and the Joy that comes from having my Work read as i intend it...
hence my use of the Fountainhead clip mentioned earlier...
i sincerely hope that helps
Excelsior?
62 -
nugget
Nov 06, 2006 at 10:09 pm
How did I miss this??
from the original article:
They said the same thing about Charlie Parker and bebop jazz when they first heard it. How stunned were the powers that be when Bird danced around the melody, never quite playing it, but implying it by what he was playing. It took a bit more for the listener to follow, but those who did found it well worth it, and the case can be made that Bird changed how some look at music forever.
Yes but Parker played bebop because he was a narcissistic attention-whore. There are many men who could do "great" things who opt for obscurity. Bebop is not THAT virtuous of a discovery. It is just another way for a man to express his combined rhythmic/pentatonic sensibilities according to the tunes and variations he has already successfully mimic(ed).
Furthermore, jazz is VERY limiting. There are so many things not allowed in Jazz. It gets credit for being "free" yet so many forget that MUSIC is free. Bach improvised 4-part Baroque harmony beautifully. How else would he have written 1500+ works if he wasn't an improviser who simply wrote as he played? (plus he was a reknowned counterpoint improviser on the organ)
Jazz? eh. It's quirky and can be fun. But mostly it's to show off.
Seeing as writing and jazz are both forms of art, I'm sure you'd agree that the parallels would not stray far off course if your metaphor were extended.
nugget..."it's a fair cop, but Society is to blame"
now, i can fully understand your bit abuot Bach, and might i Suggest, that he also pushed boundaries "far beyond driven"?
and do note, i say again here, that i write all in one *take* ....hence the improv...another nod to both jaz(z) and what you speak about when it comes to improv in music Composition
(( full Disclosure - the whole jaz(z) thing , which i have done twice here..is my own "in" joke...since jaz are my real initials and something i have been called by people at times in my Life))
is it due to being an "attention-whore" and "narcissistic"
to an extent...anyone who Writes/types/speaks/sing/plays/performs for an Audience has some streak of such within them
after all, those who engage in such Activity think they have something worth Expressing...and some Pride in HOW they express it
watch the clip in #51... the parallel is pretty decent...
hope that helps, and thanks nugget, for stopping by
Excelsior?
64 -
nugget
Nov 08, 2006 at 4:51 am
is it due to being an "attention-whore" and "narcissistic"
to an extent...anyone who Writes/types/speaks/sing/plays/performs for an Audience has some streak of such within them
no doubt.
But, we can't stop there. There are a slew of philosophies as to how one should "deal" with his pride/narcissism.
You link the Fountainhead court scene. I must say, that I disagree with that humanistic garble with every inch of my puny soul. It's arrogant crap. You can only believe that lunacy if you do not believe that God exists. Pure and simple. You either believe that man should serve God and his demands that we be servants to each other or that man should serve himself. There are no in-betweens.
It is my opinion that at all costs we should bury our pride. And only when the time is right, when we MUST open the flood gates for survival sake, only then is it necessary and virtuous to parade our aptitude, whatever level of talent that may be. This philosophy, in my experience, always yields the most humble, enjoyable, shared, and energetic performances. (interestingly, it is what stirs up the MOST envy in those seeking glory for all the immoral reasons) It keeps one very nervous, but if he does his homework, his humility and embarassment will only serve the audience's favor ten-fold.
Likewise, if you play or write something consistently, measuring variations and "creating" as you go to get a reaction out of others, I believe your means slowly chip away at your ends. (using some of your lingo here, forgive me.) You cannot force creation. Creation happens by a man cursed. A cursed man loves and hates his gift. He tries to hide it. He wants to fit in. He rarely sets himself apart. He is embarassed of it because it makes him different. You cannot abruptly create a template for "creativity" itself. Paradoxically, he wants to be heard. he has truth and feels obliged to spit it out somewhere. This is when my prescribed measured and humble approach is in order.
65 -
gonzo marx
Nov 08, 2006 at 12:03 pm
nugget sez...
*You either believe that man should serve God and his demands that we be servants to each other or that man should serve himself.*
and now nugget gets all Metaphysical, and here i was just talking about the integrity of an Individual's work, and the Pride in Craft that comes from doing what you want they way you want to do it...
nugget sez...
*It is my opinion that at all costs we should bury our pride.*
now i'm all for burying Hubris, but pride? especially pride in your Craft/Work?
sorry, i just can't go with that.. taking Pride in a job well done is not only perfectly Natural, but also help to generate a higher degree of Workmanship in performing the task... doing it Right for the sake of doing so is a very real Foundation for nto only self-esteem...but is the striving Force behind all Innovation and problem solving
nugget also talks about "seeking glory" as opposed to self satisfaction in doing what an Individual thinks is Important... seeking glory for it's own sake is a sign of Hubris..an unHealthy condition, as opposed to deserved Pride in accomplishment
the bit that bloggles my tiny little Mind is when nugget sez...
*You cannot force creation. Creation happens by a man cursed. A cursed man loves and hates his gift. He tries to hide it. He wants to fit in. He rarely sets himself apart. He is embarassed of it because it makes him different.*
i don't know who you are talking about...but i know some find Creation like giving birth...a painful process ...my wife is a perfect example, it's almost painful to watch her Work...
but let me point out the fallacy here for many... not all love and hate...some just love, some just hate...some walk away form whatever Gift they have, others embrace it fully and make it the focus of their Life
some actually Enjoy being "different", and walking apart
some have NO desire to "fit in", but Recognize and revel in being Individuals... they know there is a *herd* but would rather walk their own Way
nugget also sez...
*Likewise, if you play or write something consistently, measuring variations and "creating" as you go to get a reaction out of others, I believe your means slowly chip away at your ends.*
i think that one was aimed at me, and i just wanted to Correct...in my case, i don't adjust or create for others
..i do it for my own Enjoyment, and refine it as part of my Pride in Craft
i *speak out* the Way i do, because it is the Way i think suits what i have to say...and i think the Way i *say* it is Important for many reasons...a lot of which we have covered in this Thread...
a lot of the differences here seem to be coming from a difference of Viewpoints...
nugget appears to postulate that conformity and servitude are the place of Man
i think that the Individual striving to adhere to their own Principles is key....
here's what 3 Wise Guys from the great White North have to say on the subject of Freewill
18 years after it was Composed, and it still stands up solidly
and so, to you nugget... thanks for taking the time and effort to share your Thoughts, i DO appreciate where they come from, even if i don't Agree with much of it
the Choice still comes down to compromise the integrity of a chosen methodology, or discontinue and remain true to Principles
since the entire BC experience is voluntary, and done by the Writers for whatever purpose the Writer pursues... i just can't comprehend any possible Reason to compromise my Principles or sacrifice the Integrity of my own creative Efforts
nuff said....?
probably...
Excelsior?
66 -
Nite Hacker
Feb 04, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Just curious about which Iron Horse bbs are you referring to? Were you an Atari 8-bit user at one time? If so, are you referring to the Atari 8-bit Iron Horse BBS?
since setting *gonzo* aside, i've stayed away...come back trying differing names/styles to see what fits, and what would not only satisfy Principle, but also my own satisfaction coupled with the addictive need to type stuff to solidify thoughts as well as the innate compulsion to debunk bullshit
so...i'll just toss aside facades and put my real initials up for a name and see what happens, and how it *feels*
there goes anonymity, any detectives can easily take all the clues and find my home addy and phone number if they try hard enough
but i'll not "go quietly...", disgust with some things should not be an excuse for non-participation... took me a bit to come to terms with that...but there you go
"there is no turning back , now that you've woken up the Demon, in me" - Disturbed
lordy, has it been almost a year since i typed out this Article? guess so...
much on the personal front has occurred, involving my own health..and spending this last year at home on disability, to having surgery not too long ago...nothing has helped, really..and still no doctor/specialist can tell me WHY it's happening,no kind of prognosis or diagnosis...just seems like something i'll have to live with
so, will be getting a release to go back to work this month, more painkiller prescriptions and see how it goes...the 3/4 pay from disability has helped, but not kept up with expenses plus medical bills accrued after insurance pays it's share
c'est la vie, eh?
but that isn't really what i wanted to *talk* about...
it's about Writing, about how i both miss and loathe the idea of doing it again...how i have possibly reconciled my addle pated self into trying to make Articles conform more to "traditional" formatting in order to have a medium to rant from that might actually get read by some breathing people...
about making my meatspace friends shut the fuck up about it, and keep those i know in virtual space from pinging my e-mail box bitching that i have not given them something to chew on and chuckle over
about scratching that itch inside my head and vomiting words onto a screen
about railing at some of the shitstorm i see, that very few talk about, and living up to the Ideal that i should try and do something, anything to make it a little better, or at least shine the Light onto the bullshit when possible in the Hope of getting at least one other person *see* it and take umbrage
about using the one legal Weapon available, Words, to defend what i hold precious against the venal pigfuckers who run rampant and most times unopposed
about time i woke up screaming?
not sure...but i AM thinking about it,and have spent the last few days actually looking at BC again...dragging up a lot of the olde hate and discontent within me...media Headlines goading me
about making this incessant craving to type it out stop, perhaps
Mark once said to me , "the Poet and the Writer in you are fighting it out..." - i've never considered myself either...but maybe i do have that monkey on my back and just never accepted it
won't promise anything, especially since many times that i had thought my Mind was made up about some things, circumstances have shown me something different, and good counsel from good Friends said something else
so , out has come *gonzo marx*, for better or for worse...in what manner and how much so...i really don't know yet
Awright! I'm sorry you haven't recovered physically...I'm in the same boat with nowhere near the pain you have to endure.
But we need you back writing. I'll e-mail you...today's one of my bad days...can barely type. Or I'll call.
Take care.
71 -
SonnyD
Jul 10, 2007 at 12:56 am
gonzo: If you ever find a solution to the back pain problems let me know. I took so much Advil for so many years that my heart started doing a lot of really weird things and I had to stop. It never really helped that much anyway.
"the Poet and the Writer in you are fighting it out..." I love it. Have you ever tried writing fiction? That's not a monkey on your back, it's your muse telling you to write something.
first..it ain't my back, it's my guts..try spending 72 hours every 10-20 days standing up, in such pain that even after 1500 mg of Vicodin doesn't dull it....so bad that you shatter your own teeth clenching your jaw and don't notice until days after wards (2 teeth and one cap left)... for about 2 years now, the last one out on disability
but i digress...
for fiction...well, got something working...about 10,000 words into it, but outlines and notes a'plenty...underscore between my first and last name at the hotmail place and when chapter one is ready i'll send it to ya for amusement...JuJu knows i doubt anyone would ever pay for my drivel
my Muse, eh? wish the silly bitch would make up her Mind then...too many things popping around inside my skull
My oh my. And I thought I was in trouble. May you have a full recovery from whatever it is that is wrenching your guts, my friend.
The Muse...
Ah yes, the jealous Mistress who demands your mind and leaves your body bereft of energy. When I work on my articles in front of this machine, my wife complains she is a widow. When I discuss things with you, she complains she is left out of the loop... Reading you again reminded me of the Muse and why so many hate her...
thanks Ruvy..much Appreciated from you and Sonny and Mark
i don't finally come clean about some problems i've been going through to elicit sympathy, but to try and clarify why i have been a bit...cranky, at times
as for this Muse business..i dunno, either she should speak up, or shut the fuck up, imo..this muttering stuff all over the map is frustrating at best
Article comments
26 - gonzo marx
duane...
i'm flabbergasted, you grok in Fullness
you even caught the Pantera.. and probably got the Jest with the title of the Article being from one album and my putting another very specific title as the amazon link...
but i digress...
it's all jaz(z)... and i can Play
Ruvy... thanks
this bit was about "explaining Tricks", to an extent...
hopefully it quirked a grin
Excelsior?
27 - chantal
non-conformity may be uncomfortable for some...but refreshing for the rest of us....
do carry-on.
28 - Jet in Columbus
Okay Gonzo, like staring at a good dessert and not being able to eat it, I gave in and read this thing, even thought I'll be late for an appointment.
I'm a new diabetic-your references to sugary treats I used to be able to eat was downright cruel.
Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed the article, and I'm sorta pissed that you don't wrtie more of them, like a street corner drug dealer always keeping his customers wanting/begging/pleading for more.
Enjoyed it a lot
Infinite Diversity in Infinate Combinations
Jet
29 - gonzo marx
for John in #23....
thanks for stoppig by .. and i truly DO appreciate where yer coming from in the Critique... and i Understand your Point completely
as i tried to demonstrate with the diffeences between the "Vanilla" sections.. i am quite capable of conversing in a normal structure
i was Hoping that by setting differences in Stylings all within the same Article, i could demonstrate how manipulation of the Symbology of textual communications could be varied to help express those small things that are taken in sub-consciously via facial expressions, vocal inflection and the like in a new Way on screen
i guess to some like yourself, it can come across heavy handed rather than Musical...
"it's a fair cop"
at the same time, your own excellent Writing, and your statement about how you utilize phrasing to create your Voice as many great Writers do.. makes my Point for me
my Way just exaggerates that in a method i find not only personally Enjoyable, but some find Entertaining given the *informality* of Net communications rather than the much more formal Print media...
so many of the real Writers here on BC (yourself included John) DO have their own Voices by way of their word choices, phrasing and so on...
for example: when i read a John Spivey article, the Voice i hear is a cross between Garrison Keelor (Prarie home Companion) and the PBS "happy little trees" painter (blast if i can remember his name)..a warm, melodious Voice, rich in inflection
but you do give me much to think about myself... thanks
chantal - as Always, thank you...
i was pretty certain a visual artist such as yourself, shutterbug that you are... would catch it pretty easily..
changing lighting or filters can obscure/reveal so much when it comes to the Lens...
Jet - i knew ya couldn't resist... glad ya found it *tasty*
write more?
geeez... you really do want a hobo with a chainsaw (nod to Suss) running loose, don'tcha?
but it's part of what i'm doing here in this Thread.. trying to decide things, trying to Listen as much if not more, than i spew...
currently it appears the concensus is divided.. which is to be expected
we will see how it Plays out, eh?
Excelsior?
30 - John Spivey
gonzo-
I don't object to your stylings, I just made an alternate case. At this point your stylings and you are one in my mind. (Are you also center-justified?) I would hate to see the style edited to "look right." It would be like trying to make a poem look like prose. My cautionary note is that many contrive to be creative by being clever and so lose the content and meaning. I don't think you have to worry about the content and meaning part though.
I don't think we invented symbols. They came packaged in our dreams, and most animals dream. We get to write them and paint them.
js
31 - gonzo marx
understood John...
and yer probably right about the Symbols in a fundamental Way....
it's our shared Interpertation of them that i think we Invented... which is a large portion of what makes us Human...
write them, paint them, sing them, and calculate with them...
it's the Abstraction part... i think
Excelsior?
32 - gonzo marx
ok... i guess the last bit to touch upon here is a Facet i use quite a bit, not so much in this Article, but in most of my mad peckings...
a post-modern propensity to sub-reference sub-cultural Substance
like the quoting of song lyrics, lines from movies, Monty Python.. right down to "nuff said" and Excelsior being blatantly stolen from Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame...
again, it falls into line with using other "tools" to try and convey shades of meaning by utilizing known material (if the Reader catches the sub-reference), to strike mood or ambiance or atmosphere as an added layer of Communication
i do tend to toss a lot of It out there, and i never expect anyone to get all of It, but the ones that do Resonate add some Flavor.. imo
and that's the Gist...
thanks to everyone who read, and a thunderous golfclap to those who joined in the Conversation!
Excelsior?
33 - John Spivey
It ain't over yet...
One of the objections I have to much of modern academic poetry is the way in which the poets insert all sorts of references to other literature. It creates the need for a decoder ring and it also creates a poetic priest class that has all the inner knowledge and leaves the average reader flailing at the meaning. So I guess it matters what the writer's intent really is, whether to go for wink, wink, nudge, nudge, or to go for the broadest possible symbolic reference that conveys the requisite depth and meaning.
Sometimes a little doubt comes into play with referential things. Are Tool and Rush and Stan Lee more incisive and wise than Gonzo Marx? I'd be willing to bet they're not. A lot of referential stuff lies in the realm of post-modern irony, but again, I wager that you are deeper than irony. I think there is yet a truer voice to be heard. Maybe you're trying too hard.
js
34 - gonzo marx
well John, you raise some INteresting things to think about...
such as some of the sub-referenced being "wiser" or not
such is not my Purpose, instead i am utilizing much of it to try and strike a common Chord from the cultural background... like pointing to the Empire state building to define "tall" with a certain flavor...
perhaps it's not the best way for a Writer to communicate...
but i ain't no Writer, just a mad keyboard pecker
and i certainly ain't above Irony
as for trying too hard, yes.. in this Article and the comments, i am indeed trying hard.. since it came to my Attention in an oblique fashion that there was some controversy regarding my peculiar style...
but the Style itself is effortless to me, as you know.. i write in one "take", and if anything.. go over it once for pure spelling errors (being dyslexic, i am prone to)
other than that, what i type at the Moment is what comes onto the screen
done for my own Joy, as is the excercise of mental muscles in the discussion in enter... more so in the handful of Articles i've spewed out in the last year...
a deeper meaning to It all?
well, yeah... sometimes...
i guess part of It all is the recognition that the Journey can sometimes be just as Important as the Destination...
sometimes more so...
Excelsior?
35 - Jet in Columbus
Well Gonzo we all find our little ways to build or destroy the earth, some verbally, but most not intellectually.
I read this again today and still enjoyed it any way. Write more despite the concenesses(sic) or is it concensi or I'll drop a volcano on you...
a fan
Jet
36 - gonzo marx
heh...
thanks Jet.. much Appreciated for the vote of Confidence...
but i'm not as certain, hence the gist of the Article itself
i find myself torn between the two modes of Thought here...
every point made by those advocating a more standardized Styling are completely valid, yet it rubs against the more freewheeling and expressive motif of what i've been doing around here for more than a year now...
it appears to be perfectly Acceptable in Comments... but hitting the proverbial Wall when it comes to Articles...
(credit where it's Due: big E DID post this Article exactly as i wrote it...much luv fer E.O.)
and thus my internal Conflict... stick with this medium/community and try and keep on doing what it is i have so much Fun in doing?
try and maintain my Voice , but shift it into a more normal structure ? (the Vanilla section above show how that turns out)
or stick to Heckling in the Comments portion?
the Community is the Thing for me *here*.. i mean just look at this Thread, or any of the others for that matter...
just on this one we range from yer Humble narrator's insanity... the cool, calm Voice of a dynamite published Author in John... a card carrying scientific mastermind physicist in duane... the visual Art of chantal... and even your own prolific Vision...
on and on
where else can you find such a disparate conglomeration of unique Intellects discussing shit?
that's the draw... and what keeps me hitting the site day after day...
much to ponder fer yer gonzo...
on a side Note: you can't even lift a volcano, much less oss one up here ya daft nutbar....
{8^P~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excelsior?
37 - Jet in Columbus
Gonzo..."on a side Note: you can't even lift a volcano, much less oss one up here ya daft nutbar...."
I was subtly hinting to see if you'd found just-published article on the Yellowstone Super volcano of interest. You seeM to know I lot about most things, but I didn't know if geology or siesmology was in your forte.
A fan
Jet
38 - gonzo marx
ooops...ain't found the new Article yet...
but i'm on my Way...
Excelsior?
39 - Jet in Columbus
Great, now since reading this article several times, I can't stop humming this...
When I was young
It seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle,
oh it was beautiful,
magical
And all the birds in the trees
Well they'd be singing so happily
Oh joyfully,
oh playfully watching me
But then they sent me away
To teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible,
practical
And then they showed me a world
Where I could be so dependable
Oh clinical,
oh intellectual,
cynical
There are times
when all the world's asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won't you please,
please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am
Now watch what you say
Or they'll be calling you a radical
A liberal, oh fanatical,
criminal
Oh won't you sign up your name
We'd like to feel you're
Acceptable,
respectable,
oh presentable,
a vegetable
At night when all the world's asleep
The questions run so deep
For such a simple man
Won't you please,
please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am,
who I am,
who I am,
who I am
Supertramp, "The Logical Song"
I hope this means I "got" your article?
Jet
40 - gonzo marx
ewwwww....Supertramp?
/shudders
of course ya "get it", Jet...
anyone who reads is gonna "get" something
some get more than others, some like it, some don't
vive la differance'!
but that's not important right now (from Airplane)
Excelsior?
41 - Jet in Columbus
Just keep going Gonzo, I'll write part II of Have I become musically obsolete? if you're not careful
42 - Jet in Columbus
Isn't it ironic that I wrote 5 articles the week they decided to schlep off to las vegas?
43 - chantal
and thus my internal Conflict... stick with this medium/community and try and keep on doing what it is i have so much Fun in doing?
try and maintain my Voice , but shift it into a more normal structure ? (the Vanilla section above show how that turns out)
or stick to Heckling in the Comments portion?
This shouldn't be a question, gonzo....
It all depends on the motivation....why do you write the way you write? to please others? or to express yourself and get your point across?
Don't change to satisfy others.....vanilla is only good as ice cream...or pudding.
Just keep doing what you do, the *way* you do it.
xo
44 - John Spivey
gonzo-
I think you need to preserve your fun at writing. No straitjackets allowed. We aren't in high school English anymore (or college for that matter). They can always put disclaimers at the top of your pieces........I would emoticon here, but I don't do emoticon.
John
45 - Matthew T. Sussman
"geeez... you really do want a hobo with a chainsaw (nod to Suss) running loose, don'tcha?"
Why not? They made him the sports editor.
46 - Mohjho
Gonzo, nice post, you seem to attract a wide variety of insightful comments. Keep it up!
A mad pecker (keyboard) like yourself has found your medium on the blog like ol Charley Christian with his new-fangled electric guitar.
All the old beat poets would probably agree with you in your attempt to gain additional meaning from a slight twist of standard style.
Its kind of funny how this works. Even Bob Dylan could not tell you the meaning of what he wrote even tho so many found personal insight to his ramblings.
I agree with Spivey that symbology is probably not an invention any more than some bird invented flying. It is what we are.
Whats with all the taoist here?
47 - Jeremy
awesome tool video. thats why you rock!
48 - Christopher Rose
Gonzo, if I think of your style as "music", it's perfectly valid; however, when I focus on the art of communicating, for this twin hemisphere at least, I often find myself feeling that your style has begun to obscure your often righteous message, to the detriment of both the message and the messenger. Your devotion to your style is now actually working against your substance.
I keep getting the feeling that you're trying to apply musical artistic considerations to subjects that don't always respond well to that kind of approach...
49 - troll
lots of folk have trouble listening to Schoenberg's work as well...someone should go over his stuff and make it more palatable
50 - gonzo marx
heh..thanks troll
Christopher,
the whole Music thang is a definite mixed Metaphor, "analogies, allegory and algorithm"..Parables, what have you...all tossed into the mix... it's the way it Works foating out of my skull and onto the screen..
/shrugs
and i do Appreciate your take on it
but i must Respectfully say that the point is taken and moot at the same time
Excelsior?
51 - gonzo marx
and on that Note...
let me lay on ya the words of a Writer, as spoken by the late, great, Gary Cooper...
it kinda sums up a lot of what i've been touching on
this one is for big Al Barger....
objects in mirror care closer than they appear
Excelsior?
52 - Christopher Rose
Calculus and Iambic Pentameter are tools to get the job done, gonzo, not ends in and of themselves...
53 - JR
Christopher Rose: Calculus and Iambic Pentameter are tools to get the job done, gonzo, not ends in and of themselves...
Speak for yourself. I study Calculus for fun, without any expectation of using it to some other end.
54 - troll
I'm with JR - ah the ah ha of groking a proof...not entirely unlike stumbling over an understanding of levels of reference and intent in gonzo's spew...errr - picture writing
if you mess with the ISO the burn won't fly
that said - the comments section remains open for experiments in sympathetic communication
55 - gonzo marx
Christopher - i hear ya, but as i stated, bebop and Charlie Parker.. as for the "tools to get the job done"...
that's exactly what we're talking about, my choice of "TooL"s
when someone asked Miles Davis to define Music he said...
"music is the space between the notes"
i show the Differences in the original Post, utilizing different "means" toward the end...
each are still *me* typing them, but can you Honestly tell me that you don't *feel* the differences between each of the Sections?
troll sez...
*the comments section remains open for experiments in sympathetic communication*
always upward
not backwards...:::bows, hand over fist:::...
Excelsior?
56 - Christopher Rose
JR: Isn't that like learning a language but never speaking it? Seems kind of pointless to me...
troll: If calculus isn't used, there's no proof to grok...
gonzo: "i show the Differences in the original Post, utilizing different "means" toward the end..." Only if somebody else can grok your meaning...
57 - gonzo marx
Christopher sez...
*Only if somebody else can grok your meaning...*
and can't they?
am i, or have i been, so Obscure that NOTHING comes through to the Readers?
i put to you, that no matter what, anyoen who has read my Stuff walks away with something, maybe not everything, perhaps nto even what i intended, but something is Communicated
so, that's pretty much a straw man there Christopher...
as i stated in a previous Comment,in the environment of BC, we have something more Unique than in the Print world of magazines/newspapers...
a certain interActivity, the very Comments sections themselves.... where folks can Ask, and Question, and elucidation can and does occur
now, unlike some of the other Contributers to BC, my stuff tends to not be quite so explosive , and controversial merely for the sake of Controversy... which i Understand is the Reasoning behind some styles, being deliberately inflammatory...
instead, look at the reactions and Comments to my stuff, I know you have...you are the Comments Editor after all..you know i don't get as many Comments, but also that my Threads tend to be a bit more Civil, and that some real Communication occurs...even amongst folks who completely disagree with me or each other... but somethign opens up in the course of the conversations...
ah...what does it matter?
as i said, no harm, no foul, no mad, no bad...
the Policy is as it is, and i have been a grateful Guest in Eric and Phillip's "house"... and i have NO desire for any kind of *special treatment*
thus the End of my little Experiment, a heartfelt Thanks to all involved, from yer gonzo
time fer me ta take a Walk
nuff said?
perhaps....
Excelsior?
58 - Jet in Columbus
Gonzo, I took an art class once where the instructor sat and read a descriptive passage of a house from a book.
We were then told to draw in detail what we thought it looked like.
25 students drew 25 different houses. No matter how hard you try to put your thoughts into words, there will always be those that inadvertantly or intentionally misinterpret them... just look at what damage has been done putting varied interpretations of the Bible.
Recently I tried a lame attmept of sticking up for chritopher rose and it was misinterpreted as not only an attack on him but on Blogcritics' policiy itself, which it wasn't, but try to convince others who pur words in my mouth of that.
I feel your frustration my friend, I honestly do.
I won't give up if you don't
Jet
59 - gonzo marx
ah Jet...thanks fer trying ta goad me into something...
i do Appreciate it
but, what are my choices?
to abandon the Way i express myself, and the Integrity of my own Thought in order to Conform?
rail against the Policy, and try to have an Exception made in my case?
neither of those are acceptable under my own basic Principles
if i change my *style* than it is no longer *gonzo marx* talking to folks...i might as well throw away the tag, use my real name and join the millions of others out there
not a bad thing, in and of itself, but definitely NOT the Experiment of my Voice, or the creative Joy i get in the typing...
and , as i show in the Article itself...definitely NOT the same Experience for the gentle Readers
there's no "giving up" on my part...rather it is Understanding and Respecting the decisions of the Editors and the whole Process here at BC...as well as the Fairness to other Writers, such as yourself
there are Rules in the sandbox, and the kids who don't follow them find themselves outside looking in
i'm ok with that, and you should be too!
so a heartfelt Thanks and Appreciation for where yer coming from, but PLEASE don't do any silly shit on my account, ok?
there's NO Battle to fight here, there's no *bad guys* here
just an honest difference of Views, and no room for "outside the Box"
Excelsior?
60 - Christopher Rose
Given that you are one of the less dogmatic minds on this site, gonzo, I would have thought, and hoped, your choice was to communicate clearly, cleverly and well rather than stick to your style above all else but that's just my opinion. Your mileage may vary...
61 - gonzo marx
/sigh
Christopher, you misUnderstand...
go on up and click the link in number 51 and watch Gary Cooper's bit of monologue...it says quite a bit
i reserve the Right to do what i do the way i want to do It, or not at all
BC has EVERY Right to set their Policy as is seen fit, and to enforce that Policy as it sees fit, i totally agree and have NO argument with that
in number 59 i Ask, "what are my choices?"
and state why i have chosen to do what i'm doing
it ain't a matter of "dogma", it's a matter of Principle
and the Principles of editorial policy, and my own Creative ones are at odds
now, since i type for my own Joy at the process, and to indulge in the Conversations that result from said Work... why in the Name of whatever you hold dear shoudl i alter one iota from what i do?
to do so would make me a hypocrite to my own Principles, and stifle my creative output in a way that woudl not be Enjoyable for me to Make...
and would definitely NOT be what the *gonzo marx* tagline has come to mean in Context
my choice it to Communicate the Way i see fit, for my own Joy, and the Joy that comes from having my Work read as i intend it...
hence my use of the Fountainhead clip mentioned earlier...
i sincerely hope that helps
Excelsior?
62 - nugget
How did I miss this??
from the original article:
They said the same thing about Charlie Parker and bebop jazz when they first heard it. How stunned were the powers that be when Bird danced around the melody, never quite playing it, but implying it by what he was playing. It took a bit more for the listener to follow, but those who did found it well worth it, and the case can be made that Bird changed how some look at music forever.
Yes but Parker played bebop because he was a narcissistic attention-whore. There are many men who could do "great" things who opt for obscurity. Bebop is not THAT virtuous of a discovery. It is just another way for a man to express his combined rhythmic/pentatonic sensibilities according to the tunes and variations he has already successfully mimic(ed).
Furthermore, jazz is VERY limiting. There are so many things not allowed in Jazz. It gets credit for being "free" yet so many forget that MUSIC is free. Bach improvised 4-part Baroque harmony beautifully. How else would he have written 1500+ works if he wasn't an improviser who simply wrote as he played? (plus he was a reknowned counterpoint improviser on the organ)
Jazz? eh. It's quirky and can be fun. But mostly it's to show off.
Seeing as writing and jazz are both forms of art, I'm sure you'd agree that the parallels would not stray far off course if your metaphor were extended.
63 - gonzo marx
nugget..."it's a fair cop, but Society is to blame"
now, i can fully understand your bit abuot Bach, and might i Suggest, that he also pushed boundaries "far beyond driven"?
and do note, i say again here, that i write all in one *take* ....hence the improv...another nod to both jaz(z) and what you speak about when it comes to improv in music Composition
(( full Disclosure - the whole jaz(z) thing , which i have done twice here..is my own "in" joke...since jaz are my real initials and something i have been called by people at times in my Life))
is it due to being an "attention-whore" and "narcissistic"
to an extent...anyone who Writes/types/speaks/sing/plays/performs for an Audience has some streak of such within them
after all, those who engage in such Activity think they have something worth Expressing...and some Pride in HOW they express it
watch the clip in #51... the parallel is pretty decent...
hope that helps, and thanks nugget, for stopping by
Excelsior?
64 - nugget
is it due to being an "attention-whore" and "narcissistic"
to an extent...anyone who Writes/types/speaks/sing/plays/performs for an Audience has some streak of such within them
no doubt.
But, we can't stop there. There are a slew of philosophies as to how one should "deal" with his pride/narcissism.
You link the Fountainhead court scene. I must say, that I disagree with that humanistic garble with every inch of my puny soul. It's arrogant crap. You can only believe that lunacy if you do not believe that God exists. Pure and simple. You either believe that man should serve God and his demands that we be servants to each other or that man should serve himself. There are no in-betweens.
It is my opinion that at all costs we should bury our pride. And only when the time is right, when we MUST open the flood gates for survival sake, only then is it necessary and virtuous to parade our aptitude, whatever level of talent that may be. This philosophy, in my experience, always yields the most humble, enjoyable, shared, and energetic performances. (interestingly, it is what stirs up the MOST envy in those seeking glory for all the immoral reasons) It keeps one very nervous, but if he does his homework, his humility and embarassment will only serve the audience's favor ten-fold.
Likewise, if you play or write something consistently, measuring variations and "creating" as you go to get a reaction out of others, I believe your means slowly chip away at your ends. (using some of your lingo here, forgive me.) You cannot force creation. Creation happens by a man cursed. A cursed man loves and hates his gift. He tries to hide it. He wants to fit in. He rarely sets himself apart. He is embarassed of it because it makes him different. You cannot abruptly create a template for "creativity" itself. Paradoxically, he wants to be heard. he has truth and feels obliged to spit it out somewhere. This is when my prescribed measured and humble approach is in order.
65 - gonzo marx
nugget sez...
*You either believe that man should serve God and his demands that we be servants to each other or that man should serve himself.*
and now nugget gets all Metaphysical, and here i was just talking about the integrity of an Individual's work, and the Pride in Craft that comes from doing what you want they way you want to do it...
nugget sez...
*It is my opinion that at all costs we should bury our pride.*
now i'm all for burying Hubris, but pride? especially pride in your Craft/Work?
sorry, i just can't go with that.. taking Pride in a job well done is not only perfectly Natural, but also help to generate a higher degree of Workmanship in performing the task... doing it Right for the sake of doing so is a very real Foundation for nto only self-esteem...but is the striving Force behind all Innovation and problem solving
nugget also talks about "seeking glory" as opposed to self satisfaction in doing what an Individual thinks is Important... seeking glory for it's own sake is a sign of Hubris..an unHealthy condition, as opposed to deserved Pride in accomplishment
the bit that bloggles my tiny little Mind is when nugget sez...
*You cannot force creation. Creation happens by a man cursed. A cursed man loves and hates his gift. He tries to hide it. He wants to fit in. He rarely sets himself apart. He is embarassed of it because it makes him different.*
i don't know who you are talking about...but i know some find Creation like giving birth...a painful process ...my wife is a perfect example, it's almost painful to watch her Work...
but let me point out the fallacy here for many... not all love and hate...some just love, some just hate...some walk away form whatever Gift they have, others embrace it fully and make it the focus of their Life
some actually Enjoy being "different", and walking apart
some have NO desire to "fit in", but Recognize and revel in being Individuals... they know there is a *herd* but would rather walk their own Way
nugget also sez...
*Likewise, if you play or write something consistently, measuring variations and "creating" as you go to get a reaction out of others, I believe your means slowly chip away at your ends.*
i think that one was aimed at me, and i just wanted to Correct...in my case, i don't adjust or create for others
..i do it for my own Enjoyment, and refine it as part of my Pride in Craft
i *speak out* the Way i do, because it is the Way i think suits what i have to say...and i think the Way i *say* it is Important for many reasons...a lot of which we have covered in this Thread...
a lot of the differences here seem to be coming from a difference of Viewpoints...
nugget appears to postulate that conformity and servitude are the place of Man
i think that the Individual striving to adhere to their own Principles is key....
here's what 3 Wise Guys from the great White North have to say on the subject of Freewill
18 years after it was Composed, and it still stands up solidly
and so, to you nugget... thanks for taking the time and effort to share your Thoughts, i DO appreciate where they come from, even if i don't Agree with much of it
the Choice still comes down to compromise the integrity of a chosen methodology, or discontinue and remain true to Principles
since the entire BC experience is voluntary, and done by the Writers for whatever purpose the Writer pursues... i just can't comprehend any possible Reason to compromise my Principles or sacrifice the Integrity of my own creative Efforts
nuff said....?
probably...
Excelsior?
66 - Nite Hacker
Just curious about which Iron Horse bbs are you referring to? Were you an Atari 8-bit user at one time? If so, are you referring to the Atari 8-bit Iron Horse BBS?
67 - jaz
ok... i figure this is the best place to put this
since setting *gonzo* aside, i've stayed away...come back trying differing names/styles to see what fits, and what would not only satisfy Principle, but also my own satisfaction coupled with the addictive need to type stuff to solidify thoughts as well as the innate compulsion to debunk bullshit
so...i'll just toss aside facades and put my real initials up for a name and see what happens, and how it *feels*
there goes anonymity, any detectives can easily take all the clues and find my home addy and phone number if they try hard enough
but i'll not "go quietly...", disgust with some things should not be an excuse for non-participation... took me a bit to come to terms with that...but there you go
"there is no turning back , now that you've woken up the Demon, in me" - Disturbed
the Tao of D'oh.
68 - troll
I'm with you jaz...just have to treat some characters more circumspectly
69 - gonzo marx
ok..screed incoming...to whom it may Amuse...
lordy, has it been almost a year since i typed out this Article? guess so...
much on the personal front has occurred, involving my own health..and spending this last year at home on disability, to having surgery not too long ago...nothing has helped, really..and still no doctor/specialist can tell me WHY it's happening,no kind of prognosis or diagnosis...just seems like something i'll have to live with
so, will be getting a release to go back to work this month, more painkiller prescriptions and see how it goes...the 3/4 pay from disability has helped, but not kept up with expenses plus medical bills accrued after insurance pays it's share
c'est la vie, eh?
but that isn't really what i wanted to *talk* about...
it's about Writing, about how i both miss and loathe the idea of doing it again...how i have possibly reconciled my addle pated self into trying to make Articles conform more to "traditional" formatting in order to have a medium to rant from that might actually get read by some breathing people...
about making my meatspace friends shut the fuck up about it, and keep those i know in virtual space from pinging my e-mail box bitching that i have not given them something to chew on and chuckle over
about scratching that itch inside my head and vomiting words onto a screen
about railing at some of the shitstorm i see, that very few talk about, and living up to the Ideal that i should try and do something, anything to make it a little better, or at least shine the Light onto the bullshit when possible in the Hope of getting at least one other person *see* it and take umbrage
about using the one legal Weapon available, Words, to defend what i hold precious against the venal pigfuckers who run rampant and most times unopposed
about time i woke up screaming?
not sure...but i AM thinking about it,and have spent the last few days actually looking at BC again...dragging up a lot of the olde hate and discontent within me...media Headlines goading me
about making this incessant craving to type it out stop, perhaps
Mark once said to me , "the Poet and the Writer in you are fighting it out..." - i've never considered myself either...but maybe i do have that monkey on my back and just never accepted it
won't promise anything, especially since many times that i had thought my Mind was made up about some things, circumstances have shown me something different, and good counsel from good Friends said something else
so , out has come *gonzo marx*, for better or for worse...in what manner and how much so...i really don't know yet
but i think it might be time to find out
Excelsior?
70 - Mark Schannon
Awright! I'm sorry you haven't recovered physically...I'm in the same boat with nowhere near the pain you have to endure.
But we need you back writing. I'll e-mail you...today's one of my bad days...can barely type. Or I'll call.
Take care.
71 - SonnyD
gonzo: If you ever find a solution to the back pain problems let me know. I took so much Advil for so many years that my heart started doing a lot of really weird things and I had to stop. It never really helped that much anyway.
"the Poet and the Writer in you are fighting it out..." I love it. Have you ever tried writing fiction? That's not a monkey on your back, it's your muse telling you to write something.
72 - gonzo marx
first..it ain't my back, it's my guts..try spending 72 hours every 10-20 days standing up, in such pain that even after 1500 mg of Vicodin doesn't dull it....so bad that you shatter your own teeth clenching your jaw and don't notice until days after wards (2 teeth and one cap left)... for about 2 years now, the last one out on disability
but i digress...
for fiction...well, got something working...about 10,000 words into it, but outlines and notes a'plenty...underscore between my first and last name at the hotmail place and when chapter one is ready i'll send it to ya for amusement...JuJu knows i doubt anyone would ever pay for my drivel
my Muse, eh? wish the silly bitch would make up her Mind then...too many things popping around inside my skull
the Tao of D'oh
Excelsior?
73 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
My oh my. And I thought I was in trouble. May you have a full recovery from whatever it is that is wrenching your guts, my friend.
The Muse...
Ah yes, the jealous Mistress who demands your mind and leaves your body bereft of energy. When I work on my articles in front of this machine, my wife complains she is a widow. When I discuss things with you, she complains she is left out of the loop... Reading you again reminded me of the Muse and why so many hate her...
Welcome back...
74 - gonzo marx
thanks Ruvy..much Appreciated from you and Sonny and Mark
i don't finally come clean about some problems i've been going through to elicit sympathy, but to try and clarify why i have been a bit...cranky, at times
as for this Muse business..i dunno, either she should speak up, or shut the fuck up, imo..this muttering stuff all over the map is frustrating at best
but i digress....
the Tao of D'oh
Excelsior?