The Doors of Perception

If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite.

Will the meek inherit the earth?

For some years I have assumed that far from inheriting the earth, the meek will be trampled underfoot.  I am beginning to wonder whether I am mistaken.

“Objective truth” is an illusion.

Unqualified objective truth can not exist.  Heavily qualified objective truth probably does.

Art as a lens on “reality”.

You may be forgiven for mistaking the image above for photo montage. But it is not: it is the London Mustaba project.

Art as metaphysics

I have sometimes wondered whether art has any importance, and if so, what? 

Dvorak – Stabat Mater

For many years I had worked on the assumption that anything written east of Berlin was cacophonous and horrible. I have been proved wrong by Dvorak.

London as a foreign city.

Portobello Road in London W11 is a most curious mix of home and abroad. 

The Stockmarket as a Complex Adaptive System

I recommend a paper entitled “The Stockmarket as a Complex Adaptive System” by Credit Suisse Director Michael J. Mauboussin.

Investment “Systems”

Long term investment is simply about following the trend of economic growth. I am not convinced there is much more to it that that.

Happiness and Genetic Bingo

We can expect limited success in our endeavours to change but some change is better than none. We may be able to tip the balance in our favour.

Was the Noble Savage a Happy Bunny?

It is pleasant to imagine that there was a day in the distant past where people did not live in Grenfell Tower and didn’t have to look at Trump’s haircut in the media.

Bad News Fatigue

I turned to the Guardian this morning after my Bad Hair Day yesterday, looking for inspiration but need not have bothered.

Really Bad Hair Day

Bad hair day doesn’t begin to describe the awfulness of a day of real negativity.  There are days when the sun just seems to go out.

Class Prejudice

Is it right to feel distaste for your fellow man?

Get Rich Quick: El Dorado

The legend of El Dorado, a fabulous golden city in South America, inspired many expeditions in the 16th Century in search of wealth and excess. 

Solace for Deep Weariness

I’m sure there is peace to be had and I have often found snatches of it. The big trick is to make it last.

Do Not Stand by My Grave and Weep

A poem written in 1932 by Mary Elizabeth Frye, beautifully set to music by Howard Goodall as part of his Requiem: Eternal Light.

The Internet – Saviour or Satan?

Is the internet a curse or a blessing? Used carefully, in my opinion it is a huge blessing. 

Was Albert Einstein into Alchemical Healing?

I was reading a post this morning on “alchemical healing” and was a little puzzled by it.

Free Legal High

Earlier this morning I had been contemplating nihilism.  I was feeling nihilistic and unconstructive.  I wondered if some pill or other could improve my mood and cheer up my day.

Do I mean what I write, do I write what I mean?

I was wondering whether I really mean what I write? Or to turn it round another way, do I write what I mean?

How to be a 21st Century Hermit

I wonder whether it is possible to be a hermit these days? And if so, where.

The Internet Troll and the Origins of Conflict

Internet forums are the perfect place to understand the petty origins of conflict.  The Troll must be studiously ignored.

The Arab Israeli conflict is very, very Simple

The Arab Israeli conflict arose from vibrating energy “strings” – it really is that simple in a sense.

Fauda – Do we, Should we Watch It?

My latest Netflix Binge is Fauda – a violent, compelling and visually superb take on the Arab Israeli conflict.

“Down” Deal

I’m sorry to have to wax lyrical but it doesn’t get much better than being “down Deal” (as the local patois would have it).

Fish, Chips and South East Kent

Deal is a little seaside town in East Kent which seems to have been forgotten by time and a mile or so further south are to be found beautiful Walmer and Kingsdown.

Flogging Blogging

Commercial blogging is so utterly grubby and most practitioners of the art are second hand car salesmen, whatever they pretend they are selling or “doing”.

Psalm 137: Happy the one who takes your little ones, and dashes them against the rock.

Someone in Canterbury Cathedral (the Dean perhaps?) decided that Verse 9 was going a little far .

Communist Manifesto vs Mein Kampf

In today’s Guardian, some dear lady say that she gives the Communist Manifesto out as a gift. 

We are all Gay now

I am so grateful for the BBC who explain that LGBT+ is now passé. 

The Internet Blagger and Bluffer

I am always amused by the sheer vastness of the Blagging and Bluffing community on the internet offering advice on subjects in which they themselves possess no expertise whatsoever.

Bingeing on Netflix

As deadly sins go, bingeing on Netflix probably ranks among the less serious.