tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post6774581342569467407..comments2024-03-28T12:10:26.197-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Sometimes a Snake is Just a SnakeGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30745633478370680732007-04-05T06:19:00.000-07:002007-04-05T06:19:00.000-07:00Putting things right:Only 50,000 people died from ...Putting things right:<BR/><BR/>Only 50,000 people died from an Asian cobra bite last year. 2,000,000 people died from the bite of a mosquito.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-74260340488709657302007-04-04T08:58:00.000-07:002007-04-04T08:58:00.000-07:00Hsssssssssss!Hsssssssssss!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-23447262026766449612007-04-04T08:51:00.000-07:002007-04-04T08:51:00.000-07:00And you don't know what the rattlesnake thought of...<I>And you don't know what the rattlesnake thought of you, for that matter. Perhaps nothing good.</I><BR/><BR/>Oh, I'd guess that the rattler thought it was done for. <I>That guy is freakin' huge! I'll bite him if it comes to that, but precious little good it'll do me. I hope he's not hungry!</I> There may have been a small voice, in the back of the snake's mind of <I>If I <B>could</B> eat him, I'd be able to live for a year!</I><BR/><BR/>Those of us living in the western hemisphere are blessed with native poisonous snakes who are, for the most part, shy and retiring. Unlike their more agressive eastern hemisphere counterparts, our snakes don't want much to do with us. Those snakes can strike, but usually because someone has foolishly grabbed, sat or stepped on a snake - oftentimes because they wheren't paying attention.<BR/><BR/>Note that the human versions are more like the aggressive snakes - they'll chase you, some even spitting their venom. And they're annoyed at you just because you passed thru their territory...I R A Darth Aggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03580296517949279444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-29078851696890803812007-04-04T07:23:00.000-07:002007-04-04T07:23:00.000-07:00Sorry about that last link...No more GWOT, House c...Sorry about that last link...<BR/><BR/>No more GWOT, House committee decrees<BR/><A HREF="http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2007/04/military_gwot_democrats_070403w/" REL="nofollow">DEMS BAN 'GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR'...</A>Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-77937340043185601832007-04-04T07:21:00.000-07:002007-04-04T07:21:00.000-07:00mizze said... "Van,What flavour of tree would you ...mizze said... "Van,What flavour of tree would you like?"<BR/><BR/>It would have to be able to double as a shady thinking spot, and a solid climbing tree with lots of good thick branches, so I've always had in mind an Oak or a Walnut. <BR/><BR/>I suppose Keith Richards would also feel at home there... eating the nuts... being one with the nuts.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-16363677701206914092007-04-04T07:18:00.000-07:002007-04-04T07:18:00.000-07:00This is quite remarkable. I seem to remember readi...This is quite remarkable. I seem to remember reading something like this in ‘1984’.<BR/><BR/>Merely interesting that it is ok however to refer to the “War in Iraq”? …which it is not. It is not a war at all there. It is not even a battle, speaking with these terms properly.<BR/><BR/>No more GWOT, House committee decrees<BR/>http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2007/04/military_gwot_democrats_070403w/Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-88393652157946895862007-04-04T06:55:00.000-07:002007-04-04T06:55:00.000-07:00Bizarre, you can not make this stuff up category:I...Bizarre, you can not make this stuff up category:<BR/><BR/>I'm sitting at a borrowed computer with an archaic version of IE - where the choice between orange and blue button (publish or preview) on the comment page doesn't display guide words, so it's a crap shoot as to which one will post a comment.<BR/>When I click the blue button, or is it orange, I'm taken to preview and in preview if I click publish I'm taken to <BR/><B>Julie's profile page on her blog.</B> I worked around it by clicking the just-go-ahead-and publish-it-w/o-preview. Thanks to God, I've committed to updating my internal software.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-84871920140698950992007-04-04T06:37:00.000-07:002007-04-04T06:37:00.000-07:00Van,What flavour of tree would you like?I did get ...Van,<BR/>What flavour of tree would you like?<BR/><BR/>I did get the impression that Mrs. Tandy will not be putting Mr. Tandy in a square setting surrounded by lotus petals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-41738630068534647502007-04-04T05:41:00.000-07:002007-04-04T05:41:00.000-07:00The state of the poor,left at your doorwill witnes...The state of the poor,<BR/>left at your door<BR/>will witness for me<BR/>what grace will find theeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-84197934598412694982007-04-04T05:39:00.000-07:002007-04-04T05:39:00.000-07:00"...there is something "impure," so to speak, that..."...there is something "impure," so to speak, that precedes the fall -- not just the clever and cunning snake, but more importantly, our attraction to him. For "cleverness," "craftiness," "shrewdness" -- these are all faux forms of intelligence, and substitutes for wisdom."<BR/><BR/>That is pretty much THE temptation isn't it, the temptation to try and 'put one over' on reality - or it's substitute: what you can get the people around you to believe, and believe about you. And just like <I>That!</I> you are at odds with the Good, the Beautiful and the True, each of which deals only with reality.<BR/><BR/>"When someone says that a Bill Clinton or Bill Maher are "intelligent," I scoff, for it is an abuse of the term. If intelligence does not lead to wisdom, truth, and prudence, then it does not deserve the name "intelligence.""<BR/><BR/>Yes indeedy.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-64506069982100537662007-04-04T04:35:00.000-07:002007-04-04T04:35:00.000-07:00Nomo--Just a good natured reference to George's di...Nomo--<BR/><BR/>Just a good natured reference to George's dislike of my dragging the proceedings from the vertical with "banal and trivial" music.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-11777427648951912612007-04-04T03:59:00.000-07:002007-04-04T03:59:00.000-07:00Joan,Sorry I missed it! Glad it was happy. Did you...Joan,<BR/>Sorry I missed it! Glad it was happy. Did you save me some cake?<BR/><BR/>Would you like to see PC edutainment get a well-deserved @ss-kicking for your belated present?<BR/><BR/>(Caveat: this only works if the small children in your life have exposed you to the dreaded Dora the Explorer. If not, it might be unintelligible.)<BR/><BR/>But for those who despise Dora only slightly less than Caillou -<BR/>http://www.jaynebingler.com/blog/?m=200703&paged=2<BR/><BR/>"Say Backpack!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-7510238596204429072007-04-03T22:31:00.000-07:002007-04-03T22:31:00.000-07:00Did you ever notice how many words in the English ...Did you ever notice how many words in the English language that begin with strong "s" sounds have to do with the vibration of base manifestation - snake, sex, sound, hiss, hypnosis.<BR/><BR/>The very shape of "s" denotes vibration - vibration of prima materia.<BR/><BR/>Remember the snake in Jungle Book - Trust in me.<BR/><BR/>The sin in the garden was about seeking nourishment from the tree of good and evil (ie. the lower dark material pole in Bob's cosmological diagram) rather than the tree of life... Living life upside down... Putting the horizontal first over the vertical in your life. Falling under its spell<BR/><BR/>Living right side up and being an ever better conduit of O into the world is the answer.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps we had to fall in order to become who we were meant to be (and we all recreate the fall in our lives). Luckily, there are people like Bob to cast nets to help us stop falling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78784973381412967912007-04-03T22:09:00.000-07:002007-04-03T22:09:00.000-07:00Dr Bob clips:“Atticus is the "embodiment of quiet,...Dr Bob clips:<BR/>“Atticus is the "embodiment of quiet, intelligent strength and conscience."<BR/><BR/>Reminds me of the way Michelangelo depicted Moses:<BR/>http://www.cptryon.org/hoagland/<BR/>travels/stpeterchains/moses.html<BR/><BR/>Symbolically speaking he chose to depict Moses as having those same interior qualities as Atticus but in physical presence. It’s a massive sculpture, obviously very strong physically – but notice how gently he holds his beard, tablets – and thus holds his ‘strength’ in reserve. Authority.<BR/>Don’t miss the narrative about the chip on the knee. Also keep in mind the size of this sculpture requires you to look up at it. It was carved with the viewer’s perspective very much in mind – and these photos don’t really show that aspect well at all unfortunately. He towers over you.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-92206138443555163782007-04-03T22:04:00.000-07:002007-04-03T22:04:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-28611054436401425002007-04-03T22:03:00.000-07:002007-04-03T22:03:00.000-07:00Alright! Rattler stories - I have one too.Once whe...Alright! Rattler stories - I have one too.<BR/><BR/>Once when I was about 11, I was showing my 8 year old sister the rocky shoreline of a reservoir. As we stepped down through the boulders we heard the telltale <A HREF="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Peter-Greens-Fleetwood-Mac/dp/B000075AJ1/ref=dp_return_1/026-6422266-2938036?ie=UTF8&n=229816&s=music" REL="nofollow"> rattlesnake shake</A>. It was about 2 feet in front of us. I had just enough time to whisper "don't move!" when my sister jumped up and ran as fast as she could.<BR/><BR/>She's the smart one in the family.<BR/><BR/>I just stood there, transfixed. Her sudden movement spooked the snake though, and it started to follow her path. Unfortunately, I was right in its way, so as I watched, it crawled right over the top of my sneaker and up through the rocks. I didn't move a muscle but I believe my heart about exploded out of my chest.<BR/><BR/>I've run across several of the little bastards since then and I swear I can spot them from a hundred yards. I don't really care to get that close again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-91439748062780081492007-04-03T21:41:00.000-07:002007-04-03T21:41:00.000-07:00Dr Bob,I can’t believe I missed this gem today:“th...Dr Bob,<BR/>I can’t believe I missed this gem today:<BR/>“the snake, who can never leave the earth plane.”Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-18040468701265449892007-04-03T21:27:00.000-07:002007-04-03T21:27:00.000-07:00GB said "A soulful lesson in snakes (apologies to ...GB said "A soulful lesson in snakes (apologies to George D)."<BR/><BR/>I don't get it.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-896309546638535812007-04-03T21:07:00.000-07:002007-04-03T21:07:00.000-07:00This is just a masterpiece of insight and writing....This is just a masterpiece of insight and writing.Bob's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11971565970366294930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-57900077017545542072007-04-03T20:49:00.000-07:002007-04-03T20:49:00.000-07:00Oh Veritcal Mysteress!Pardon thy humble servant, j...Oh Veritcal Mysteress!<BR/><BR/>Pardon thy humble servant, just this once again! <BR/><BR/>How was it possible to misconstrued the rememberance of this blessed anniversary of our anointing with thy presence among thy lowly adulators!<BR/><BR/>Forgiveness please, Oh Great One!<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>I grovel before you, as is my due,on this, your very special dayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-32979199802760612962007-04-03T19:08:00.000-07:002007-04-03T19:08:00.000-07:00jwm said...As someone who loves the Southern Calif...jwm said...<BR/>As someone who loves the Southern California hills, I can attest to the electric power of the rattlesnake. I remember coming up alongside one when I was riding up a trail in Chino Hills State Park. It was axle to axle the length of my bike. Although that sound *SSSSSSS* comes in through the ear, it totally bypasses all the higher functions of the brain. *SSSSS* I don't care if you've never heard a rattler before. You recognize it immediately. It goes straight to the fight or flight center of your reptile brain. That's not really accurate. It never stops on "Fight". Never. Every instinct you were born with yells, "RUN!"<BR/>Nonetheless, you <I>have to</I> stop and see.<BR/>It's only after you've stopped to see a beast like the one Bob described that you can appreciate the Crocodile Hunter reaching down and actually grabbing one of the the damn things.<BR/><BR/>My thought for the day:<BR/>Don't grab at a rattlesnake.<BR/><BR/>JWMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33094095441722596902007-04-03T18:30:00.000-07:002007-04-03T18:30:00.000-07:00I was still a liberal when I was twenty - I'm part...I was still a liberal when I was twenty - I'm partway to thirty now, and just like Winston Churchill predicted, I'm making the turnaround; I'll probably be more Republican than my grandparents by the time I get to forty. My wife remains a staunch don't-tread-on-me libertarian, however; she can't make the jump to conservatism no matter how hard she tries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-37546206072798824422007-04-03T18:23:00.000-07:002007-04-03T18:23:00.000-07:00MAGNUS: Actually I'm more interested in prevention...MAGNUS: <I>Actually I'm more interested in prevention. Today's entry seems on the verge of some revelation about the part in an otherwise healthy person that is drawn toward the creepy crawling poisonous danger.</I><BR/><BR/>I can't help but think that we're talking about something along the lines of "I hear the tale that I heard told: Mithridates, he died old."The surest way to inoculate the next generation against Leftist ideas is not to shield the kids from them (which doesn't work very well with substances or behaviors, in my experience), but to get them introduced to these ideas as soon as they can understand how they work, and to teach them exactly WHY said ideas are a load of wrong-headed horsehockey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-41930269554162120502007-04-03T18:06:00.000-07:002007-04-03T18:06:00.000-07:00Finally had a chance to read the Gramscian link - ...Finally had a chance to read the Gramscian link - it really is amazing what is accepted as unremarkable today that would have cause violent reactions from my Grandpa.<BR/><BR/>I especially liked the link mid way through to wildmonk.net - it's good to see others tie it back to to that cesspool Rousseau. Too often he's pawned off as a gem of forward thinking and sense - disturbed by our schools? Look no farther than him. Disturbed by post-whatever? All the roots run back to his pen. Long ago the French had a choice between becoming someone like Bastiat or Rousseau, sadly for Western Civilization, they chose the latter.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-60719756590529387502007-04-03T17:54:00.000-07:002007-04-03T17:54:00.000-07:00Bob wrote today, "Believe it or not, there was a t...Bob wrote today, "Believe it or not, there was a time that I believed each and every one of these items on the snake's agenda."<BR/><BR/>Guess I was lucky that those particular items missed me, but my peers and I DID buy into the idea that we should all be "open to everything," and that it was proper/hip/enlightened to carry that attitude. This acted like a "gateway drug" in our lives, and of course, lots of ugly critters slithered in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com