Sat Aug  5 23:15:52 UTC 2023

[Hand-formatted by artisanal nymphs]

There goes another more than a year without a gopher entry. I have the process
pretty well as streamlined as it should be, but no matter the medium or venue
I remain an intensely private person. Naturally my human ego and vanity demand
some sort of attention? Though I think of it more as possibly reaching kindred
spirits.

I'm not utterly without friends, but I could definitely use more. And while I'm
better than ever now at navigating human interaction with a broad variety of
types, it seems harder than ever to form lasting relationships. And my friends
don't necessarily have to share my values in every possible way, but they do
have to not feel like a net negative in my life. And even after having had so
many former friends, some decades-long, either ghost or actively shun and
slander me - maybe because of it - I'm far less tolerant of negativity. I can
only try to remain positive and offer suggestions and extend a helping hand for
so long, and when all I got in response is how it's pointless to even try,
eventually I didn't want to be around that person. Right now I'm temporarily
avoiding another extremely close and dear friend because I can't fathom his
attitude and I find it appalling on many levels - I've expressed this to some
extent, but past a certain point it serves no constructive purpose. So all I
can do is avoid him for a time, and get back in a positive mindset, and
hopefully he won't keel over before I decide to contact him again. (He has more
than ten years on me, so it's certainly a growing possibility.)

I'm tired of a world that's become an Emo Phillips joke about religion. I know
there's plenty of good out there; I'm not blind to it, and I see it every day.
But I hate that the best lack all conviction, while the worst are not only full
of passionate intensity but amplified and drilled into our cortex every which
way we turn.

In closing, one of my few semi-original pieces, continuing from Gil-Scott Heron.
Can't believe I wrote this almost ten years ago.


Revolver
Feb 2014

Brothers and sisters.
As I'm sure you have no doubt heard,
the Revolution will not be televised.
But who watches TV anymore?
Too bad for you
It won't be on Youtube or Netflix, either.

Likewise, as you can probably guess
the Revolution will not be delivered by US Mail,
although the Pony Express might play some minor role.

The Revolution will not be tweeted, or hashtagged
But it will be followed
Mostly by those unwilling to lead themselves.

The Revolution will not be available in a convenient bundled package from your local cable provider,
Or by prescription from any so-called medical professional
But it will have a great many unwanted side-effects.

The Revolution, like fire, is a fearful servant and a terrible master
And it you grab the wrong end
You will most definitely be burned. 

The Revolution does not care how swole you are, brah
If you are small of mind or heart.

The Revolution will under no circumstances be transmitted over Google Fiber.

The Revolution will take you full circle,
For better and worse.

The Revolution will not be brought to you by one nation, one people, one spirit
And it can only truly be heard
One voice at a time.

The Revolution is always happening
The Revolution is always near
The Revolution is all around you
The Revolution is...here.

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