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One

A good pal of mine and I talk about things metaphysical, philosophical, the world (sometimes with horror), and such things as makes us think. Also Football of course. Once, a long time ago, we began talking about the World-As-One.

The thing that’s wrong with that image is that it takes place in the physical body, rather than in the consciousness. That’s true, yet difficult to get the mind around, or to form an agreement. If we picture our thoughts combined with others to create the mind at large, or all thoughts to create one whole consciousness, it’s far easier to contemplate. This, it seems to me, captures the concept.

OneMind

Now I can see how my thoughts, negative or positive affect the whole. It’s such a good reminder too, that it might be worth my while to think in affirmatives. Even if it’s much more difficult, especially with the world as it is right now. But that’s exactly the point isn’t it.

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Simple

More on the simplifying and the simple things. I found this in 20th Century Art. It is simple, and yet so powerful. The composition and lines and lack of lines is just stunning. It is also strangely erotic. The eye follows the picture around and back around again, almost difficult to leave. If you look closely at the bottom left hand, you will see the hand falling into the blackness of the background, yet still visible, making the background a shadow, and dimensional. In fact, having looked at this long enough, the whole of it became dimensional.

A tribute to the simple, the black and white of it.

Louise Brooks in black with pearls

Louise Brooks in black with pearls

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At The Book Store

Or, the continuing saga of books with the eternal question: Do I have too many, or not enough? Or, on the road to the Simplified…

…So I made it to the 1/2 Price Bookstore. There I found a pleasant surprise in that the store buys books everyday and they do not limit the amount of books you can bring to sell. The books they do not buy are given to some charity. Or you can take them back of course. I was able to leave the cart of books there, and will be bringing the rest of the designated ones from home. It is a large bookstore and well organized so it’s very comfortable. There are chairs here and there, where you can sort through the books you have picked up while wandering through the aisles.

I made it out with only two books as a purchase. They are good finds and ones I have been thinking of pursuing. When all the accounts were settled I ended up owing only $2.49. (It is funny—costing me money when I have sold so many.)

I don’t even feel guilty.

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These are the books I obtained from the book-sale day. Not too shabby. It could have been a great deal worse but I kept reminding myself that I was downsizing, cleaning out, simplifying.

And, there’s a great Italian restaurant just a few doors down. Now there I spent too much. But I was able to bring home the leftovers for the dog and cat. All in all, I’d say a success on the road to simplicity. And hope for the future.

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A Horde Of Books

Today’s the day. I have two huge bags filled with books and they are going to the half-priced book store. I’m hoping to have some purchased from me. Of course there is always the danger of buying more to take home. Fingers crossed.

Paperbacks Plus Bookstore

Both photos posted by Bibliotech.

This poster has a comment to savor. And that may be part of the many reasons there are to gather books. Those that time graduates into a problem.

As I will be getting new tile and wood floors, I really do need, quite must, make things easier. And I do, really, want to simplify, downsize. Make clean and simple. And it will sparkle with white (off white, streaked) floors. Not only must some furniture depart, but the hoard of books must be trimmed.

This means to stop returning to those books scheduled for departure. I put the stacks together, then go through them again and pull many out. This goes on for days. I wonder how I could have possibly decided to put certain ones into a pile for removal. What indeed was I thinking?

Lord. I was thinking about Clean and Simple. Fresh and Open. Light and Easy. The saints of modern living. There ought to be a prayer for the strength to at least keep books in the departure stacks.

And today’s the day 100 or so are going away. They are in the car. I am driving to the book store. Dear Saint [*insert appropriate saint name*] please let me get them into the store and sold. Please. I’ll be good for the rest of my life if only I am granted this one petition. I promise.

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This —or— That

I have always sworn to myself that I would stay away from politics here. Not because I don’t want to be controversial, but because I get so passionate and Crazed. Panicked sometimes. But I’m thinking that a spot or two here or there, a post of this or that—without taking on the full complement—might be sustainable. We’ll see. And here’s my first go.

Osnos-JoeBiden

Osnos-JoeBiden—posted in The New Yorker

Most commentators are pretty focused on the same things, starting with Biden being the only one (of declared candidates running in 2020) who seems willing to take on Trump. This is usually posited as a good thing.

I tend to agree, though I do wonder that Biden might be making the same mistake Clinton made in focusing on Trump’s perceived-as-horrible aspects, and is basically running campaign ads for him. With Biden’s campaign video of “the fight for the soul of America,” he is saying choose “this or that” with the assumption most of America will like “this.”  Biden said, “If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation. Who we are.” Well maybe, as America said before, it IS what we want, and the video is encouragement to vote for Trump—and the fundamental alteration of the character of this nation.

On the other hand—because there always is one—it is a direct volley across the bow of the expected Trump campaign and the composition of his base. Maybe some of his followers—and certainly the Democrats and Independents of this nation—do not want “that.”

At least Biden has made it clear. And it is either this or that.