Cheese

One of my favorite quotes is G.K Chesterton's comment about poetry and cheese: 'Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.' Well, I am breaking my silence on this matter this morning after thinking of the many moments when I would be quietly getting a piece of cheese out of the 'fridge when all of a sudden Merry (a very small shi tzu/ schnauser combination) is right next to me waiting for her share of the goodness. For being basically brain-dead (she barks at everything, even me), she is awful clever about food :)

'Cheese'

swiss cheddar
gouda brie pepper jack too
little growl tail wagging
waiting for a bite
grated unwrapped block
sliced matters not
always knows ready to beg
little growl tail wagging
so cute
provolone shredded deli
style too
smiling laughing antics
so many times
swiss cheddar
little growl tail wagging
off with her prize...
dogs and cheese
who knew?

C.

Australia Day

I wanted to wish my Aussie readers a Happy Australia Day whether they consider it 'Invasion' day or not :) I am sure they would wish me the best on the Fourth of July as well. Besides, most holidays these days are not that jingoistic anymore. It is all about food, alcohol, flirting, and forgetting about the government as much as possible.

But, in honor of the idea of patriotism, I leave you with some conflicting ideas about the subject from a bunch of dead people:

'Some claim a place in the list of patriots, by an acrimonious and unremitting opposition to the court. This mark is by no means infallible. Patriotism is not necessarily included in rebellion. A man may hate his king, yet not love his country.' -- Samuel Johnson

'He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans; we may, therefore, subject them to government.' -- Ibid.

'Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.' -- Also Ibid.

''My country, right or wrong'' is a thing no patriot would ever think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying "My mother, drunk or sober.'' -- G.K. Chesterton (who also knows the mysteries of poetry and cheese :)

'Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.' -- General Charles de Gaulle (crazy, De Gaulle saying something interesting)

'The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naïve and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to despair.' -- H.L. Mencken

Last one:

'Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.' -- George Washington

While intentionally tongue-in-cheek, the main idea is that even those who might be considered authorities on the subject have different ideas on what patriotism was and is. Personally, I do not mind some flag waving now and then (though I am not a fan of 'God Bless America' at ballgames), but I am hardly a jingoistic nationalist crying 'America, love it or leave it you commie pinko swine' (or perhaps something less Cold War). I do think of the concept of patriotism embedded in human consciousness frequently, but when it comes to holidays, I would rather kick back with a beer or a vodka and cranberry juice (Cape Cod) and grill the carcass of a dead animal with some friends and family.

In any event, have a great day however you decide to spend it.

C.

Thursday Thirteen 3 or 4

This is either my third or fourth Thursday Thirteen. I am not sure, so I will simply be vague. As most of my habitual readers know (and we know who you are... hello?), I am quite the fan of an increasingly obscure science fiction tv show called Babylon 5. It came out in the mid '90's and still has a strong fan base, but it is now being overwhelmed by newer shows that a) have been on so long that you have to mention them (Stargate and its derivatives... used to be Trek and its derivatives, but no more 'Enterprise') or b) just really good (Battlestar Galactica and the departed Farscape). Still, much of the plot cohesion you might see in these shows (BSG in particular) is a tribute to B5 and its writing, which to me, is still the best written sci fi show out there. And the show has had some great writers from J. Michael Straczynski, the series creator and main writer, to such fine guest writers as Neil Gaiman, Harlan Ellison, DC Fontana, and Peter David. Because of such great writing, naturally, a lot of good quotations are the result... some philosophical, some funny, and other poignant. In any event, here are 13 of my favorite Babylon 5 quotations.

1) 'The avalanche has already begun. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.' -- Kosh. My all time favorite and one of those enigmatically cryptic ones that lets you know how powerless you can be sometimes to the gears of history.

2) 'We know... The true secrets, the important things. Fourteen words to make someone fall in love with you forever. Seven words to make them go without pain, or to say goodbye to a friend who is dying. How to be poor, how to be rich, how to rediscover dreams the world has stolen from you.' -- Elric. I mentioned this one a few posts ago regarding the also enigmatic Technomages. I think the quote says it all about what they are.

3) 'We're all born as molecules in the hearts of a billion stars, molecules that do not understand politics, policies and differences. In a billion years we, foolish molecules forget who we are and where we came from. Through desperate acts of ego, we give ourselves names, fight over lines on maps, and pretend our light is better than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the piece of those stars that live inside us. A spark that tells us: you should know better. The flame also reminds us that life is precious, as each flame is unique. When it goes out, it's gone forever. And there will never be another quite like it.' --Delenn. Ok, this is more a monologue. It ties in well with my own philosophy of the universe and reads very well, though the acting was good too.

4) 'May gods stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk.' -- Ivanova. This was in reference to an old Egyptian blessing, and actually used in season 2 as well (this reference is from season 3). Though more of a deist these days, I like the way these words feel.

5) 'Only those, whose lives are brief can imagine that love .. is eternal. You should embrace that remarkable illusion. It may be the greatest gift your race has ever received.' -- Lorien. One of my favorite quotes about love, and who knew the wisdom of a sci fi tv show? :)

6) 'How is it all going to end?'
'In fire.' -- Kosh to Centauri Emperor Turhan. Even Kosh could see the writing on the wall, but Vorlons are supposed to know those things.

7) 'All my life, I've had doubts about who I am, where I belonged. Now, I'm like the arrow that springs from the bow. No hesitations, no doubts. The path is clear.' - Sinclair/Entil'Zha. I like to look at this one now and then to remind me to stay on the right path... I can understand completely on this one.

8) 'You do not understand... but you will.' -- Kosh to Sheridan. Again, Kosh at his cryptic best, though rather pointed, like a parent trying to get a kid see the forest for the trees and knows that it will all come in time... he hopes.

9) 'Now get the hell out of our galaxy!' -- Sheridan. Nothing like telling some First Ones that we don't need them anymore.

10) 'G'Quan wrote: 'There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future, or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.'" -- G'Kar (end of season 3 monologue). Ah, G'kar... from thug to diplomat to philosopher, his evolution is one of the great treats of watching the series from beginning to completion, and not the least to watch the acting of the late Andreas Katsulas as the Narn ambassador.

11) 'Why is that we always break up our history by the wars, not the years of peace?' -- Garibaldi. I always found this observation to be astute, and somewhat sad, but as as a student of history, and military history as well, I understand all too well.

12) 'Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here? Where are you going?' -- Lorien. The final piece of First One wisdom, this time, by The First One (um, First Ones are technologically superior beings with abilities that lesser beings, like us, would presume to be god-like in less enlightened days.). I've also written a series of essays on these questions... I will have to post them some time.

13) 'If you go to Z'Ha'Dum, you will die.' -- Kosh. No one ever listens to the Vorlon.

Well, that should do it and I hope I haven't confused most of my readers...

C.

More Wisdom From Babylon 5

Sorry don't have much today, but I am distracted by the likely Cowboys loss tonight (hope I am wrong, but...).

'We know... The true secrets, the important things. Fourteen words to make someone fall in love with you forever. Seven words to make them go without pain, or to say goodbye to a friend who is dying. How to be poor, how to be rich, how to rediscover dreams the world has stolen from you.'

Anyway, this is one of my favorite lines from B5 (hmmm, maybe for a future Thursday 13 I can throw out my 13 favorite line from Babylon 5... that would be different), and comes from the esoteric Technomages. What they do is really unimportant, though cool (using technology to appear as magic), but what is said in this bit is. It sort of explains the Technomage philosophy and definitely a unique perpsective... and I always liked the way it sounds.

Have a great weekend,

C.

Who Said This?

What follows is a little quote quiz, but I have made it a bit easier this time. I am going to give out the answers, they just need to be matched to the quote. They are deliberately deceptive and a couple are out of character for the person they match, and a couple are in fact, buried in the blog if you so desire to search that way. For whatever reason, these struck me as odd, humorous, or perplexing, and sometimes ironic and poignant.

The Answers:
A. Napoleon Bonaparte
B. Leon Trotsky
C. Robert E. Lee
D. Dave Barry
E. George S. Patton
F. Abraham Lincoln

The Quotes:
1) 'If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base.'

2) 'Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to shake off the existing government and form a new one that suits them better.'

3) 'You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.'

4) 'To write history one must be more than a man; for the keeper of this great justiciary must be free of all preoccupation of interest... and of vanity.'

5) 'Whiskey - I like it, I always did, and that is the reason I never use it.'

6) 'It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. '

A couple of these are probably obvious, but this is certainly more a fun than serious exercise :)

C.

To Quote Or Not To Quote

As I have mentioned before, I find the use of quotations liberating and oft times interesting. Some might not find them interesting, but that is ok with me. They have the right to be wrong. :) Ah, nothing like love and goodwill toward all, right? No, these quotes are not Christmas themed, but I was watching the end of 'Boston Legal' and it was sort of Christmas themed. In any event, what follows is a selection of the obscure, bizarre and somewhat nominal. Enjoy, if you will. If not, I will try and do better next time.

1) 'I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.' --Albert Einstein -- I have used this as a header for my War and Political Poems on another writing website... something of an epigraph, or perhaps an epitaph, depending on what the future holds.

2) 'To write history, one must be more than a man, for the keeper of this great justiciary must be free of all preoccupation of interest... or vanity.' -- Napoleon Bonaparte -- I rather like this one because of the shock factor... Napoleon, the Napoleon? I also like it since it reminds me that I need to seek objectivity in history, though it is often hard take a step back and render an objective view.

3) 'The avalanche has already begun. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.' -- Kosh, Babylon 5 -- I still use this in my signature file on occasion, as this quote from my favorite TV show reminds me that sometimes events are far beyond are control regardless of our attempts to change them.

4) 'You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.' -- Leon Trotsky -- Another one that makes one think of the source. On the other hand, quite the astute observation from one who probably understood better than most.

5) 'A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.' -- George Moore, The Brook Kerith -- I always liked the romanticism in this, and sometimes it can be true... but home is what you make of it and where you decide it to be. Nice sentiments, though.

6) 'Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.' -- Charles M. Schulz -- Ah, Charlie Brown and your wisdom. I am not as much a fan of peanut butter, but I take the meaning.

7) 'I do not know what I seem to the world, but to myself I appear to have been like a boy playing upon the seashore and diverting myself now and then by finding a smoother stone or prettier shell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lay before me all undiscovered.' -- Sir Isaac Newton -- I know this used as my header for the blog, but I have never explained my usage of this fine quote by Sir Isaac Newton. I keep it as my header as a reminder that if a man like Newton can be that humble before knowledge, then I know I have much, much to learn.

8) 'Inter Arma Silent Leges.'/'In times of war, all laws are silent.' -- I originally read this in a book called All the Laws but One about the removal of civil rights in wartime. (specifically the suspension of Habeus Corpus) Most interesting read, and the discussions were, well, intense.

9) 'Poets are mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese' -- G.K. Chesterton -- As a poet, I thought this was pretty silent... and I am still silent on the whole cheese issue.

10) 'Talk not of ruling in this dolorious gloom,
Nor think vain words can ease my doom.
Rather I'd choose laboriously to bear
A weight of woes, and breathe the vital air,
A slave to some poor hind that toils for bread,
Than reign the sceptred monarch of the dead.'
-- Achilles, The Odyssey

-- I have used a portion of this quote before in my poem, 'The Ferryman', but it is not the Alexander Pope version of The Odyssey. I read a portion of this recently in a new history of the Trojan war, and really liked its elegance. And it is an interesting take on our own mortality.

That should do it here, and I hope I have not bored away most of my audience.

C.

Movie Quote Answers

Ok, it has been a week on this, so I figure I might give out the answers... plus, what I was going to originally post I lost, so this is as good a time as any to post the answers:

For posterity's sake (and so that no one has to scroll back to the original post... unless you just happened to be scrolling through my blog for the sake of.. um, scrolling :) I have posted the original quotes... the answers will follow below them.

1) 'Let us cross over the river and rest underneath the shade of the trees'.
2) 'If you think this crowd is ugly, you should see the dancing girls.'
3) 'War will make corpses of us all.'
4) 'The dead know only one thing. It is better to be alive.'
5) 'Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.'
6) 'Why do all my generals want to destroy my bridges?'
7) 'I will tell you how he lived.'
8) 'This is the end for you, my Master'
9) 'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.'
10) 'What the hell are we supposed to use, man? Harsh language?'

1) General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, Gods and Generals (also his real life last words).
2) Fozzie Bear, The Muppet Movie
3) Faramir, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
4) Joker, Full Metal Jacket
5) William Munny, Unforgiven
6) Field Marshall Model, A Bridge Too Far
7) Nathan Algren, The Last Samurai
8) Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
9) Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
10) Frost, Aliens

Perhaps next time, I won't be so war/historical movie heavy, and maybe I might go with a different soundtrack. Or maybe I might do some general trivia, as opposed to movie only. I'm not quite NTN, but I know my way around a few Trivia Pursuit games.

C.

Movie Quote Quiz

Since I am going to be leaving tonight to head to Destin, Fl for Anime South (as noted on my little anime convention calendar to the right :) I have decided to post something for all the movie junkies out there. I posted a similar quiz like this on an old journal a couple of years back, but I think I only had three or four quotes. This time, I leave you with 10 quotes from 10 separate movies from various genres and time periods (though most, if not all, within the the last 4 decades or so). The format is quite simple: I give the quote and you tell me the movie... bonus points (if I gave out points) if you can get the character and/or actor who said the line. Some will be rather obvious, others not so much. Alas, I have no prizes to give other than kudos on your movie trivia powers.

I would normally make a disclaimer about using the Internet, but since I am using it to make sure my memory and the quote match, that would be rather hypocritical of me.

1) 'Let us cross over the river and rest underneath the shade of the trees'.
2) 'If you think this crowd is ugly, you should see the dancing girls.'
3) 'War will make corpses of us all.'
4) 'The dead know only one thing. It is better to be alive.'
5) 'Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.'
6) 'Why do all my generals want to destroy my bridges?'
7) 'I will tell you how he lived.'
8) 'This is the end for you, my Master'
9) 'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.'
10) 'What the hell are we supposed to use, man? Harsh language?'

Everyone take care and enjoy the weekend (though I am sure I will be able to get online at some point as my hotel has internet access in the rooms.)

C.

Quote Me Or Not

I find many a quotation interesting (as one might have guessed from the quote that highlights the title of my blog), but I have always been amused by the particular dichotomy of Ralph Waldo Emerson and his writings. The following quotes about quotations I have always found amusing, only because they were written by the same author, the aforementioned Emerson.

'I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.'

'By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote. '

'Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it.'

Still, I have always found that a quotation is useful in the proper context of course, and I am sure I have taken Emerson out of context, but ole' Ralph has always had a duality to his thoughts (like many writers) for he was a staunch abolitionist and yet referred to Native Americans as the 'noble savage'(a mentality sadly common in the 19th century). Anyway, just an amusing thought (or series of thoughts) early in the 'morn.

And for those of you out haunting your haunts or crawling the night away this Halloween weekend (as it is just about time to close down many of those haunts, except perhaps on the West Coast, do be safe and save some ghoulish behavior for the actual holiday on Tuesday (but only a little I suspect since most of us have work the next day... or in my case, a 12 hour drive to work for the weekend :). Anyway, take care and enjoy the extra hour of sleep granted by 'falling back'.

C.