A six-inch shocker

The weather was clear this morning,

roads smooth and debris-free all the way.

But roads were snow-packed this evening,

stuck cars and semis littered area highways.

Massive pileups showed how little we recall

from larger snows of several years ago;

Angry traffic maneuvers left others appalled,

Some people just will not take it slow!

Just making it home from work is a relief

when there are accidents and traffic jams

all over the city – downtown snarls beyond belief.

Loudest impact I heard was my car door slam.

We will recover and get the roads cleared off,

then next time we get 3” everyone will scoff.

An Alien Sestina

A sestina is a poetry form that uses six common words at the end of sentences, and moves them around in a shifting pattern.    The subject matter was inspired by the film  "Patient Seventeen."


A Non-Cosmetic Implant

The tingling pain in a certain man's leg felt alien,

different, the cause not normal, extraterrestrial?

At “first glance” one wouldn't think of an unearthly implant.

But it would be a stealthy way for Them to gain control.

Some advanced super-race managing their human harvest,

in a bid to perhaps perform future exobiology experiments.

Who can say what kind of bizarre science experiments

the creatures might perform – hard to fathom an alien.

Is it thoughts, feelings, hormones they want to harvest?

How do you predict the actions of some distant extraterrestrial?

Some seek out a surgeon to remove the offending implant.

One could always use a high-powered telescope on the implant,

An electron microscope and some carefully devised experiments.

The objects show an attachment to living tissues for control;

the objective and operation of said devices is completely alien.

Seems like humans may be connected by something extraterrestrial.

Perhaps to manipulate the organs that they will ultimately harvest.

Willing subjects influenced remotely will submit to harvest,

Nanotechnology tissue-interface exerts influence from implant.

We could study this technology, and learn from those extraterrestrials,

since we too understand science and could devise useful experiments.

Someday we may have to deploy forces to face the mighty aliens.

How dare they subject our once-free race to this form of control!

It is time for the human race to reassert our local control

over our own destiny – deny these interlopers their harvest.

Imagine what kind of taxes would be imposed by aliens!

How would they like it if we assaulted their bodies with an implant?

How would they like it if we drugged them and did experiments?

But I don't suppose human logic would make sense to an extraterrestrial.

Media documentaries reminds one of many things extraterrestrial,

lodges uncertainty in one's head, makes one fear other-worldy control.

Why who knows, during your sleep They could perform experiments!

Your gonads could have been pierced for a seedy harvest!

And you would forget it all, aided by their implant....

Humanity must awaken and unite against these malicious aliens.

No bold extraterrestrial had better attempt any kind of harvest.

No way they are gonna control me with an implant.

This corpus will use a 9MM to refuse experiments by aliens!

- end

Chill February - Darn Groundhog anyway

Brrr – just when we get used to balmy breezes,

wear thick over-shirts, and no heavy coats,

Chill temps rush back, bring coughs and wheezes,

Old man winter hovers over us and gloats.

Snow once again glitters over the landscape,

Drivers will have to remember how to maneuver.

Chilly air and poor conditions will grate;

Welcome to February, close those window louvers.

Even Wall Street caught a chill and dropped deep,

as an overdue dose of reality finally sets in;

Consequences of economic manipulations are steep,

experts will witness the coming disaster with chagrin!

Only seven more weeks until the arrival of spring,

We have made it before – just think of sunshiny things.

- end

Political Humor for a Friday

Just joking....kind of.  Read on.

The dot-coms flocked to our willing State,

offering plenty of land, water and electricity.

Smart workers in abundance, paid the going rate.

They set up several data farms quite easily.

State officials gladly gave you tax breaks,

Did you need new roads with that free land?

Just promise us to hire twenty or thirty techies,

We will all be eating crumbs out of your hands.

But wait, now we are broke, bankrupt, out of money.

There is no more to give, our piggy banks are empty.

No more corporate presents this year or next, honey.

It is our turn to request some financing and empathy.

Please Mr. Dot-Coms, the State of Iowa needs your help!

We are broke and in need, our budget is collapsing.

We are destitute enough to make elected officials yelp;

Please transfer all you can before our reserve is maxed.

Any help you give we will deeply appreciate,

State buildings renamed for your companies sake.

Our rewards are difficult to approximate,

but rest assured your fine reputation bespake.

And the sooner the better! TIA, Iowa

- end

thirty minus one

Twenty-nine Short Stories - Science Fiction and misc

https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Nine-Stories-Mike-Wilson-ebook/dp/B0714D14JD

Thanks for taking a look.

Simple Pleasures

Why fold arms all dignified and mature,

when you can cuddle a calico cat?

What's with the sense of pretension,

when a walk in the woods will do?

Stuffed animals on the couch make

better companions than some difficult person,

A good book or engrossing movie can

pass an evening easier and cheaper than

any loud, obnoxious nightclub.

Sometimes the simple pleasures

reward miniscule effort the most.

A pleasant payoff,

the price is low,

safety and chance of recurrence

are both very high.

“Simple-minded, childish, irresponsible,

socially inept,”

on and on the labels will go.

Fuck em all.

No matter what “They” say,

enjoy a simple pleasure today.

To pass the time there are worse ways,

and you will live to fight another day.

- end

Local History Fun

    There is a small building, a petite brick one-story with some decorative masonry on the exterior. Located at E. 5^th south of Court avenue in Des Moines. For many years, it and a small addition were utilized as small warehouse space, storing who-knows-what. But every so often, someone would remark on its decorative exterior and ask, what did this used to be? The answer surfaced for me a couple years ago on Facebook. It was a Wabash railroad passenger boarding station. Several railroads went through Des Moines, notably the Rock Island and the Union Pacific. So it appears to me the Wabash had to locate its terminal in an area away from the other traffic, in some accessible spot. The terminal was only active a few years, then it was shuttered, sold off, and used for storage.

Many buildings around my city, or any city for that matter, have a historical past. Some more dull and pedestrian than others. But they all have a story to tell. A story of how thing were when they were constructed. A story of the hopes and dreams of the populace in that city in those days. For example, there is one Iowa town named Grand Junction. It was so named since it was located at the junction of two railroads, and was hoped this would lead to booming growth and prosperity. An opera house went up, and several other buildings. Nowadays, only freight railroads go through Grand Junction, and most of the population has moved away. That story has repeated itself over and over in small towns all over the Midwest. But still, the history of the past can tell a fascinating tale, and a cautionary lesson as well.

     With a younger generation able to find what they want, when they want, at their fingertips, history becomes ever more accessible. Now, oftentimes one can see a place like it was 20, 50, 100 years ago. That seems to be useful. “Look how it was, look how it is. What are the advantages and disadvantages? What can we do to make it even better tomorrow?”

Cities are beginning to put up a lot of residences downtown again, and enhance mass transit systems. (Just like they did a century ago) Perhaps for greater efficiencies. Especially given increasing populations in larger cities. Learning the history of a locale can be entertaining, fascinating, and instructive. Who knows, there may be a few older buildings in your community that have not yet been demolished. Happy researching out there.

Dallas Buyers Club

What the F.....?
What a movie!

Not even a homophobic thug

could counteract a tiny virus.

He had to quit hating and join

the masses fighting the disease.

1980-2018

Angry straights and frightened gays

had to join forces to combat the scourge.

Sometimes blocked and frustrated by a

slow testing process, they made an end-run

around the medical establishment.

They saved many lives and moved the

needle of progress forward, case by bloody case.

What other war saw so many lives sacrificed

on a field of battle in hospitals and clinics

all on our home soil?

Even a quilt took to the field,

helped sway reluctant lawmakers to act.

Like with many other wars,

the current generation can only

imagine the devastation, the courage,

the sacrifice and victories along the way.

Now they can take a prep pill, and play.

Or take a daily pill if they, too, get infected.

Hopefully the next enemy fought is not so

stealthy it sneaks up and strikes down the

best of several generations, like HIV did.

Hopefully.

Get tested.

Politics vs Financial status musing

    Forget Republican vs Democrat, or old vs young. The hidden dichotomy permeating our society, like the invisible 800-pound gorilla, is the have's versus the have-nots. You can couch it in nice language all you want. “He is going through a difficult patch. She is in career transition. He is exploring employment alternatives.” Meanwhile the broke folks suffer resource depletion, or stress on their financial corpus, or bankruptcy, even homelessness.

     A low-income person has very limited options. They can't contribute to political campaigns – not very much, maybe a few bucks. They must always lowball things, shop for the cheapest groceries, clothes, necessities. Especially if they have children. The effect of limited income is not unlike a prison sentence, in that all of your choices are very limited.

     High-income folks, or even trust fund babies, have much more freedom. They can get better medical and dental care, better clothes, more healthy foods. They live in safer, calmer neighborhoods, and drive safer, better vehicles. They have many more choices and options in life. And most cannot understand what the problem is with the others. Why can't they just get a better job, go to school, etc?. What is wrong with them? The answer is that they are not suited, not able, not gifted. They are what they are.

     This is the dichotomy in society that not many mention, but that affects us all. A wealthy Democrat living in the best neighborhood has little in common with his poorer party members.

     A wealthy Republican has nothing in common with someone living on social security, who may even suffer as a result of their comrades votes in Congress, except a common political philosophy. There is partisan politics, and then there is the financial underpinning governing our actions, that many seem to tolerate or ignore. To be fair, there are many compassionate people in both parties who help their less-fortunate fellows, and these certainly deserve recognition. (A lot of people have helped me over the years). Thanks to this compassion, our society is significantly less rough than it could be.

Granted, many people want their shot at the “brass ring” or the big money score. Maybe they might win the lottery, maybe they will inherit, maybe their business will take off. In any case, many folks are reluctant to speak out against social inequities.

     I wish I knew of a solution to this division of the have's versus have-nots. But it seems like capitalism has inequality built-in. That is one of the main motivators for some who want to get ahead, to be one of the “have's.” All one can do is endure, unless we are sufficiently capable in some way or other to change our lot. I doubt that too many want to become poor, seriously poor. But there are a lot of poor that would like to better their situation one way or another. So casinos and lotteries keep doing a booming business.

     It just seems strange that, behind the veneer of political party affiliation lies financial “affiliation” and that seems to count for a whole lot more – always more than meets the eye.

As I write this the Powerball jackpot is projected to exceed a half-billion dollars. May be time to stop writing and go buy a ticket. Good luck out there.

(Addendum: Some 20-year-old in Florida won it. Lucky guy.)

Of time and Passing Relatives

Where did they go so soon?

Mother and father, aunts and grandparents,

Favorite great-uncle with all his stories,

even if we had to stay out of their yard.

That other uncle who taught their

poodle to say prayers on our redwood stool.

Those events that zipped by, but now are cherished

gems of nostalgia warming my heart.

Even though ever more of them are gone,

the memories tell me that I was part of

a large loving family with much shared joy.

The few remaining should know how special

those memories they made are in the present time,

with so much impersonal brutality coming at us.

Slogging into an ever-uncertain future,

more and more value resides in a

often-wonderful past enjoyed by us.

Even though childhood is peppered

with the urgency of getting to school,

sports practice, this or that or summer camp,

some specific moments of warmth

are irreplaceable, and so valuable.

Thanks to our relatives our lives seem

ever more special and blessed.

    - may you be so fortunate.

Rest in Peace, Marilyn

Stopped Dead Center

A cold day, my old day.

What should I do free day.

So many fragments of should,

ought to, could do, might do.

Rationalize rest, a day off, take a break,

watch some tube, meditate on things.

So I get up. walk around, pick at things.

As long as there is tonight's date to look forward to,

there seems little point in making the day difficult.

However, that 20^th century productivity nag will

not be silenced in my head, so I finally

go out to cash in some bottles and cans.

There, satisfied, damned gnawing conscience?

Even when I'm not at work, part of me is still

always at work. May be time for (another) nap.

- end

Feline Hardware

     Her eyes reflect ambient light, illuminating dark hallways. Her ears scan for noises, her green lamps flicker this way and that, her paws are sensitive instruments detecting vibrations and variations on the ground. Even her tail is an aero sensor, flicking around, perhaps feeling disturbances in the aether. She is not so much a “cat” as a collection of finely honed, evolved detectors that warn of attackers, or let her know where something good to eat may be located.

Perhaps all of that hardware and software is wasted in the house. The worst she must fear is my petting, grabbing hands. The most effort she expends getting a meal is following a familiar trail to the feeding dish, or maybe to a plant to chew on some more. Still, I am there to appreciate what a wonderful collection of evolution, learning and feline craft she represents. Aren't I the lucky one?

Her eyes are bright metaphors, enlightening the way.

Her ears sharp radars mapping her environment.

Her nose sniffs a reasonable way forward.

Her tail tickles the ether, and resonates with the cosmos.

Her paws can step on anyone's skin or feelings, and

sink claws in as deep as she feels necessary.

Cleopatra had no less power – perhaps the two are related.

-end

   

Story collection available on Kindle

Amazon Kindle e-book version of 29 stories is available for purchase or preview. 
Do check it out - and thanks if you did!

https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Nine-Stories-Mike-Wilson-ebook/dp/B0714D14JD

-end

New year Haiku

It is a new year, and one of my resolutions is to have better control over my facial expressions. Time will tell. Meanwhile, here are some Haiku on that subject. Thanks for reading them.

I don't think I'm cool,

the grimace on my face says

“I'm trying, people.”

Who “thinks he is cool?”

cannot help what my face does;

it's just me coping.

Sorry if I offend;

Sixty does strange things at times.

Intentions are good.

Holiday Wishes

First snowfall of the year graces our lands,

Colorful lights twinkle and sparkle;

Cheery-eyed youngsters gather round television

Christmas specials, and root for Rudolph again.

They nibble cookies and gobble candy,

hunt around for package hiding places.

Soon it will be time to tear off wrappings,

and see what Santa has given them this year!

Holiday happiness left a permanent mark on

many of our psyches – peace, goodwill and happy thrills.

Even the most hardened will soften a bit when

confronted with tables of goodies and joyful music.

Another holiday time is here, and fills us with good cheer;

If only we could forget January, and winter's cruel sneer!

Seven Days of the Week

Monday humdrum unpleasantness,

first day back at the grind,

throw yourself into problem-solving,

Try to fix things, stretch your mind.

It will soon be over, just like Saturday.

Tuesday is “get into the groove” day,

Work with various contractors,

dig deep into tough problems.

The day moves fast, and then it ends.

Wednesday, hump day, hope glimmers.

You fend off hassles and conundrums,

even as you peer ahead and spy a

coming weekend on the horizon.

Thursday, hopefully an easy day,

Problems come up and are

knocked down impatiently,

"get out of my way, I have a weekend

to make it over to!"

Friday, hooray!

Workingman's weekly holiday,

cheerful optimism day,

even if it gets busy, studded with problems.

You whiz through them,

gritting teeth, “know it won't be long.”

The end of the day blossoms,

and you trot out of work,

Steps light and spirits high.

Hopefully the weekend will

equal your soaring anticipation.

Saturday, saturnalia day, cheerful

run errands and ponder night's play.

The afternoon drags if nothing is going on.

Visits to home improvement places,

grocery shopping, car repair, yard work.

Then perhaps a nap, and on to the night's

special activities, whatever these may entail....

Sunday, sleep in day two.

Recover from Saturday's excesses,

clean up the place, go to meeting,

beg for forgiveness, or not.

Lazy afternoon relaxing,

perhaps yard work and errands.

Sunday night TV viewing,

perhaps a late social encounter.

Then eat a snack and get to bed.

Monday is coming, rearing its ugly head.

And you just know it will not be pleasant.

But we have been here before, and

survived it (just last week.)

Here we go again!

Cryptic currents

Bitcoin, bitcoin, buy little bits of Bitcoin.

Made a real hit coin, rose 1000's of percent.

Ethereum pumps the ether, raises hopes high,

litecoin and many others promise to be the

next “gold coin” in a very short time.

Forget value, forget P/E ratios, even

profits promised in the upcoming quarter.

Billions of dollars chases digital vapors,

hopes of making more propel prices ever higher.

Let's all chase nothing and see how rich we get.

Tulips, stock or housing bubbles?

How soon we forget!

Regrets of past disasters pushed out of our minds,

we throw precious cash reserves into money hives.

Will we ever see return or get our funds back?

Euphoria trumps caution and it's “full speed ahead.”

The wise are buying gold and burying it in jars,

stashing bills and silver in safety deposit boxes.

If they could they would hide money on Mars,

as the latest craze proceeds to fleece the flocks.

Caution seems best in these turbulent times.

Be careful out there, everyone.

-end

Political assault on the senses

Politicos are great at saying what people want to hear.

Support lower taxes? They'll find a way to throw you a bone.

Support soaking the rich? They'll agree with that, too.

They claim that up is down, and left is right,

green is red, and purple is just like white.

War is needed, and so is peace,

greed is good, but charity is nice.

Good roads and interstates are necessary,

hospitals and malls and subdivisions too;

Downtown development is a priority,

yet suburbs need improved, for me and you.

Partisanship threatens our capitalistic democracy,

the wheels of government seem locked down tight;

backroom discussions take place in the meritocracy,

Last-minute solutions are presented well past midnight.

The underneath processes seem quite confusing,

until one considers that most of these guys

attended the same ivy league institutions.

Perhaps a few pep talks from the old and wise

arrived via phone calls, while performing their ablutions...

Bills get passed, then signed, and life goes on.

People never really change; only the technology

of governing control  is different through the centuries.

-end

Enjoy the Feast

As we prepare to cook the turkey,

ham, roast, or raccoon if that's your thing,

time to give thanks for all of our bounty.

Plenty of edibles are around in our era.

Today we message from anywhere to anywhere,

receive last-minute menu picks at the grocery store,

or just have the whole big meal delivered via

selections we made on our smartphone.

Then we sit and eat and muse on days gone by,

family get-togethers, dueling casseroles from

hardworking aunts, admonished by amused uncles.

Carsful of family going over to the relatives,

everyone chatting and greeting and snacking,

playing games in the basement – childhood dramas,

young adult revelations, new couples vibrancy all mix.

Playing pool, ping pong, or perhaps cards later on,

back then the only electronic distraction was the

corner television, tuned to Christmas programming.

“Which Scrooge is in this years' A Christmas Carol?”

someone asks. “Who cares? So-and-so was the Best scrooge,”

is the refrain, insert your favorite actor here.

Holidays are reunions and trips down memory lane,

a refresher and reminder of just why we go through

life's constant grinds. Hope to show the family something new?

Hope to show off? Hope to reconcile past affronts?

Motivations are many, but suffice it to say,

there is no place like home for celebrating the holidays.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Don't forget hot e-book deals for Black Friday!

Check these out, at least:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/413457

https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Nine-Stories-Mike-Wilson-ebook/dp/B0714D14JD

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Sabbath Stroll (fleeing guilt gremlins)

That cut-off tree stump didn't care that

I interrupted Laura during Humanist Meetup,

the tree limb arching over the trail didn't

accuse me of slighting someone at work.

Sunshine continued to illuminate the leafy path,

throwing shadow reeds at my feet,

the breeze gently freshened the air

for my breaths, the river still glinted

reflecting multicolored hues to enjoy,

no matter what faux pas I committed

yesterday, last week or last month.

The forgiving ground yielded before my

steady footsteps, the trail unwound north,

then westerly, before turning back.

A discovery of piles of bricks, surrounded

by modern castoffs, was an interesting highlight,

taking thoughts off my blunders and errors.

The forest forgave me,

and then absorbed me

in all its subtle November

beauties, and I exited refreshed,

renewed, if a bit tired. Now,

what a perfect time for a

Sunday afternoon nap --

Next week is a clean slate.

- end

Two led the way

They knew they were different,

in a time when such things were scorned.

Fate and chance brought them together,

One even performed surgery on the other.

The female rowing champion became a male rowing champion.

The male race-car driver became a female race-car driver.

They became pioneers in physical and mental domains:

One took his life in 1962,

the other lived all the way to 2011.

Two brave and remarkable people cleared a path

for all of the transsexual and intersex who followed.

At the height of the Cold War these stories were

front-page news, perhaps taking fearful minds off

looming Armageddon.

Religious folk may have thought the end was here indeed,

now that humans retained the ability to change their gender.

As we delve deeper into genetic tinkering it is hard to imagine

what may be on the horizon soon.

But Roberta and Michael led the way –

Legions of transitioning folk are surely glad of this today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberta_Cowell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dillon

read on.    

Republished an older title

It has a new cover and a new price.  Check it out here:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97284

Thanks for taking a look!

9th Street North

The sharp businesswoman trots along the sidewalk,

glancing often at her phone, precious link to civilization.

A short, scruffy black man ambles in the opposite direction.

They approach, seemingly headed for a collision;

Improbably, the woman flicks a glance his way,

even as he gives her a more leisurely look.

Then she executes a perfect semicircle around him,

looking rapidly back at her phone.

Just another minor distraction,

leaf on the sidewalk, branch in the way,

paper litter drifting along,

homeless detritus a momentary

detour in one oh-so-very important life.

 - end

Now on Amazon Too!

My collection of short stories,  "29" is up on amazon, for sale in paperback or Kindle editions.

https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Nine-Stories-Mike-Wilson-ebook/dp/B0714D14JD

Thanks for taking a look-see.

- end

Memory rising

Hovering over the brushfire,
I add sticks and twigs.
The yard detritus piles shrink in turn  -- hooray.

The sound and smell of burning fires up memory.
Crackling reminiscent of past leaf fires in past yards;
Crumpling up newspapers to light our minor blaze,
the crinkle and crackle of logs warming our
living room during a festive holiday.
My father supervises as I get to do the honors....

Bonfires at summer camp roar impossibly high,
as lore both modern and ancient are weaved
into some tale, enrapturing all of us 13-year-olds.

The homecoming fire at High School,
guarded by two of us sleeping within,
set off the next night during celebrations.
Never had I seen a conflagration that mighty.

The beach fires on a large sandbar,
just downhill from a local retreat.
Some of us sipping brews, enjoying music,
making love and watching others do the same.
One of the very best fire memories one can have.

Memories rise up with the smoke,
are scented and enjoyed,
then vanish,
to be replaced by others.

One can only hope
that you and I
make more wonderful memories tonight,
to reminisce by at some other bonfire,
many years from now.

- end

Contemplative Particles

In the beginning there was Hydrogen and Helium.

Then, a scattering of heavier elements appeared.

A spinning and accretion over millions of centuries,

bright glimmers and redder streaks painted space-time's

blank canvas, getting ever more crowded with particles.

Stars, then planets, then primitive lifeforms

arose through the vast reach of eons.

Crouching creatures struggled and competed,

slowly ascended life's ladder of capability.

Flashes of sentience and comprehension

assembled into purpose and organization.

One day the primitive gleaner of subsistence

on some African plain looked up at the

magnificent cosmic artwork comprising the

Milky Way, and gasped in awe at Pleiades’s eye.

Stardust finally arrived at a place to appreciate itself.

Latest revision of 29 now available

A Revision of the short story collection  "29" is now available on Createspace.  Grammatical and punctuation errors have been fixed, and a cleaner table of contents is in place.  Thanks for taking a look! 

https://www.createspace.com/7171487

Have a great weekend!

Getting used to those darned seasonal changes

     We are approaching another winter, and the loss of sunlight every day impacts our morale as well as our eyesight. So it was perhaps helpful for me to contemplate what it would be like if our daylight savings time really changed. Like say, if we were able to live on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Or perhaps orbiting Jupiter. Or further out, say on the surface of Neptune if it were possible to live there.

     With a year lasting 40 Earth years, we would need a lot of adjustments! Would it get pitch black all day and night, then go to total brightness in the summer, like it does now on the Earth's poles? Probably so. Talk about needing to get over seasonal affective disorder.

     But if we had offspring, and they had offspring on said planets, they would easily adapt, having been brought up in the altered state of daylight. Their lives would be comprised of fewer, longer years and they would adjust. Unless they developed longer life-spans, then perhaps they would reach an average age like we do now, here on Earth, of around 20. But their 20 would be comparable to our 180 or somesuch.

     On the other hand, a year on the planet Mercury, or a comparable planet orbiting another star, would be much shorter. There would probably be little need for a daylight savings time. Or, perhaps, more need, since the daylight shifts would be so rapid and dramatic. But again, any offspring would adjust to the changes, and then think that Earth's seasonal daylight changes are the strange ones.

     So while we have some adjusting to do to get used to the winter months, just think of how difficult the task would be for any future settlers of some distant planet. Unless, of course, they resided permanently on some massive orbiting habitat where the seasons and weather are artificially controlled.

     They would have it good, presumably, until something went wrong.

Planets and their seasons (courtesy of NASA) :

PLANET	LENGTH OF SEASON
Venus	55-58 days
Earth	90-93 days
Mars	7 months
Jupiter	3 years
Saturn	About 7 years
Uranus	About 20 years
Neptune	More than 40 years

Good luck dealing with the coming snowfall, everyone.

-end

A Thinker Wonders

All one can do is sit and ponder strange fate,

stuck here on a rock amid such gruesomeness.

A creepy white tree, a grimacing face,

Something all bars and rods, lacking in grace.

Something else like metallic excrement, and

that tall spindly spider capable of who knows what.

Me, with my graceful, slender limbs and tall ears,

a fine specimen of Lagomorpha in my humble opinion,

perch proud and stately amid the chaff and detritus.

All those sculptures that echo Homo Sapiens fears

merely irritate my in-hare-ent gracefulness.

How did I ever end up in this art graveyard?

Clearly I'm superior to all of this garbage,

and just as clearly I resent the humans gaping,

prodding, touching me all the time.

The worst sit on my paws and pose for pictures!

Would I be better off in a stew pot?

After sitting here pondering the matter

for nearly a decade, I'm inclined to think:

Maybe so, maybe so.

A statement of life principles

Something I can wholeheartedly throw my support behind.

                                                         Humanist Manifesto III

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

The lifestance of Humanism—guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience—encourages us to live life well and fully. It evolved through the ages and continues to develop through the efforts of thoughtful people who recognize that values and ideals, however carefully wrought, are subject to change as our knowledge and understandings advance.

This document is part of an ongoing effort to manifest in clear and positive terms the conceptual boundaries of Humanism, not what we must believe but a consensus of what we do believe. It is in this sense that we affirm the following:

Knowledge of the world is derived by observation, experimentation, and rational analysis. Humanists find that science is the best method for determining this knowledge as well as for solving problems and developing beneficial technologies. We also recognize the value of new departures in thought, the arts, and inner experience—each subject to analysis by critical intelligence.

Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided evolutionary change. Humanists recognize nature as self-existing. We accept our life as all and enough, distinguishing things as they are from things as we might wish or imagine them to be. We welcome the challenges of the future, and are drawn to and undaunted by the yet to be known.

Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience.Humanists ground values in human welfare shaped by human circumstances, interests, and concerns and extended to the global ecosystem and beyond. We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.

Life’s fulfillment emerges from individual participation in the service of humane ideals. We aim for our fullest possible development and animate our lives with a deep sense of purpose, finding wonder and awe in the joys and beauties of human existence, its challenges and tragedies, and even in the inevitability and finality of death. Humanists rely on the rich heritage of human culture and the lifestance of Humanism to provide comfort in times of want and encouragement in times of plenty.

Humans are social by nature and find meaning in relationships. Humanists long for and strive toward a world of mutual care and concern, free of cruelty and its consequences, where differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence. The joining of individuality with interdependence enriches our lives, encourages us to enrich the lives of others, and inspires hope of attaining peace, justice, and opportunity for all.

Working to benefit society maximizes individual happiness. Progressive cultures have worked to free humanity from the brutalities of mere survival and to reduce suffering, improve society, and develop global community. We seek to minimize the inequities of circumstance and ability, and we support a just distribution of nature’s resources and the fruits of human effort so that as many as possible can enjoy a good life.

Humanists are concerned for the well being of all, are committed to diversity, and respect those of differing yet humane views. We work to uphold the equal enjoyment of human rights and civil liberties in an open, secular society and maintain it is a civic duty to participate in the democratic process and a planetary duty to protect nature’s integrity, diversity, and beauty in a secure, sustainable manner.

Thus engaged in the flow of life, we aspire to this vision with the informed conviction that humanity has the ability to progress toward its highest ideals. The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live is ours and ours alone.

- end

Time Machine

   Remembering an old version of the “Time Machine” by H.G. Wells. I feel like that guy nowadays. Growth has sprung up all over, the cityscape has changed all around me. Like in Ankeny, where bare fields have given way to heaps of houses and apartment buildings. Or western suburb farmland being covered with bungalows. Some great things have happened to us all, and a lot of horrible things too. Humanity has changed irrevocably, and we can't go back.

     All we can do is be like that character in the movie, perhaps, and join a good cause, fight for an underdog, make our lives matter in some way or other. Or at least make it to work everyday, before our jobs become outmoded, and we get replaced by AI modules of some sort. While the flesh is willing, hang in there!

Automatic Gunfire from a High Position

Amid the carnage, questions roll in.
"How did he sneak all those weapons up to his room?"
"How did he buy them in the first place."
"Why?  Why and why.    550-plus whys."
No sense to it, no rhyme or reason.

Killing for killings sake seems to be the newest national sport.
If so, count me out and give me a place to hide.
A tyranny of death, a freedom to kill at random.
No author of a bill of rights envisioned such mass murder.

Now people who go to resort cities aren't just
gambling for dollars, they gamble for their lives.
Will we ever be the same?
Words do little justice to the injured or dead,
so enough of those today.

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones.
We just never know how long we have left.

Do you know a secret

There are secrets all over downtown Des Moines.

Right in front of you if you know where to look;

desperate people of every sex, grinding their groins,

just find a shadow, some out of the way nook.

Every street breathes history along with auto fumes,

Every brick wall images dramas played out alongside.

Hidden air pockets with elite's colognes and perfumes,

less pleasant scents of the unlucky or the unrelieved.

The boardrooms and meeting rooms and rest rooms

of all those tall buildings carry daily dramas galore.

If a fraction of those walls would tell what they knew,

many a confident executive would shudder in horror.

Every city carries its share of secrets small or large,

Yet they all hum on, propelled with urgency of need.

Failures and cruelties would fill many a huge barge,

Everything gets overlooked in our mad rush of greed.

Some have an ear cocked for the greatest secret of all,

how to get off the career “treadmill” without a fatal fall.

A kiss a kiss

Just realized it has been 25 years since I've kissed a woman.  And kinky me, I decided it might be fun to try it again.   Even perhaps (invoking the ghost of Hugh Hefner,) see how many kisses I can collect the last three months of 2017.  Maybe offer to donate something to breast cancer research for every 10 kisses I receive.   Hmmmm - will have to think carefully about this.  I'll tally the kisses in a kiss-notebook, describing each one - duration, quality, name and age of the kisser.  Will keep the notebook hidden - wouldn't want a kiss-and-tell situation  LOL.  

Yep, might not be a bad idea.  Seems like fun, and who knows?  I might even meet a new special friend out of it.    The clever ideas I get on a Friday afternoon.

Total Exposure

What if Einstein posted nude pics,

along with his relativity theory?

What if Picasso blazoned the web with nudes

of himself, overweight as his works were disfigured?

Bing Crosby showing off his conquests?

Errol Flynn showing off his perfect pectorals?

Tyrone power flashing his guns online,

or Doris Day or Marilyn Monroe baring all,

leaving nothing to the imagination of an

admiring Internet public?

We may count ourselves lucky that these icons,

luminaries of the past lacked such exposure.

Why tarnish our shining ideal of fame or purity?

Those days are gone forever.

What celebrity of the last 20 years has not

been exposed in every way by some net denizen?

Celebrity is more, and less, than what it used to be.

More accessible for microscope-focused public eyes;

ephemeral, temporary – tomorrow they are replaced.

An inexhaustible supply of human pride and tragedy,

playing out moment by moment wherever we want to find it.

A star career now measured in months, days, clicks –

Being famous “ain't what it used to be.”

Click and search on, net-fanatics,

someday you, too will be famous,

or at least spied on by

more than one voyeur.

They make an appearance at last

Planted the seed with a touch of bravado,

the narrow strip of dirt surrounded by Mums.

Still, I tended the strip, pulled away crabgrass,

watered them on occasion; hope persisting.

The summer wore on hot and dry,

the tall grasses hung over them,

They broke the soil, came up slowly,

stuck spindly leaf-ringed necks out.

No flower buds appeared,

so I gave them a last drink,

consoled self (the seeds only cost a dime!).

Pulled and culled everything else,

forgot about my lost little strip of snaps.

Then one day, the last day of summer,

I walked the yard, and looked around.

Two brilliant yellow flowers peeked

out from under a Sea Oats overhang.

They made it! My beauties bloomed,

despite all the odds, the insects and moles,

the drought and creeping charlie and crabgrass.

Two blooming beauties gracing a drab area.

A lovely treat to see on this last day of summer.

(And you can see them here too.)

- end

WTF is going on

Privatization of medicare is leaving many untreated,

while providers go unpaid and chaos seems to reign.

What is happening?

Tax benefits are handed out to companies for a few paltry jobs,

while local homeowners and workers struggle to make ends meet.

What is happening?

State workers are being denied overtime,

while the state budget consistently runs in the red.

What is happening?

New apartment complexes are popping up all over,

with rents out of reach to all but the rich.

What is happening?

The cost of ground beef is skyrocketing, and other items too.

Meanwhile, wages are stagnant, or going down due to outsourcing.

What is happening?

Intelligent workers brought here as children are being deported,

a skilled labor drain in the midst of a labor shortage.

What is happening?

Medical insurance is out of reach for more and more and more,

existing plans are disappearing, nothing in their place.

What is happening?

Hang in there, everyone out there.

- end

Can we cure the Hurricane Hangover?

Hurricanes, hurricanes, blowin in my mind.

Causing devastation, ruining many lives.

Why do we have to endure all of this hell?

Is it our climate destruction? Hard to tell.

Tornado season seemed like it lasted forever,

All those homes shattered into so much tinder.

Now we must endure another horrific season,

A bit of sunny weather comes a teasing.

Watch all of the resort towns get flattened,

No matter how many “hatches get battened.”

Will they go through the entire storm alphabet?

All of those rescue challenges yet to be met.

How many can our United States withstand,

Before collapse and anarchy rule our land.

It looks like we are soon going to find out,

though we pray and panic and scurry about.

Perhaps they should fill tanker planes with water,

fly them to great heights to freeze their payloads.

Then swoop over the megastorm and dump the ice,

calm those hot winds and make the weather play nice.

More expensive to do this and pay a huge cost,

or endure devastation and mourn those who are lost?

Something to consider as we hunker in our shelters,

we can take bold action to make the situation better.

- end

A good weekend

Social times with friends, a visit to a neighborhood bar, a picnic, even a moonlight hike.  What more could a guy ask of a long weekend   (except maybe an extra day or two.)    Thankful for a wonderful time.

...have had worse weekends  :-)