Max Ehrman – Desiderata
An evening pause: An excellent meditation for beginning the weekend. From the Youtube webpage:
Max Ehrmann was an American attorney and poet who often wrote on spiritual themes. During his life, he contributed great thoughts to our literary lexicons, blending the magic of words and wisdom with his worthy observations.
Desiderata, which means “things that are desired,” was written by Max Ehrmann “because it counsels those virtues I felt most in need of.”
I think the reading was a bit slow. I think it works better at either 1.25 or 1.5 speed.
Hat tip Cotour.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
A nice copy of which, suitable for framing, was given me by my mother on high school graduation.
Also, a good Eagles song. Oh, wait . . .
Coincidently:
I happened to randomly watch this video about a man who built a back yard observatory with a sliding roof:
https://youtu.be/H8O3WdJ7rUg
And towards the end of the video the astronomer notes a framed gift given to him by his wife which consisted of this poem, Desiderata, which she knew was his favorite to hang in his new facility.
I had never heard of it before, I could not even pronounce it, did not know what it meant.
I then looked up the poem and listened to the version posted above and I thought it was relevant to a conversation that I just that morning had with a friend who was looking for some perspective. I sent it to her, and she connected to it immediately, her mother had it hanging on her kitchen wall forever.
She needed perspective and her mother through me apparently provided it? (It’s a crazy existence)
And then I sent it to the Zman as An Evening Pause Suggestion who also connected to it immediately and posted it.
Just a nice full circle coincidence.
Jordan B Peterson: 12 conservative principles in 12 minutes
https://youtu.be/_MyduTaCh18
12:29
Cotour-
Great back-story!
–> nice video of that guy’s backyard observatory. (That, is a fancy store-bought one!) I didn’t catch where he is located?
In my area the astronomy club has a nice little set up, located 15 miles out in the boonies on the waste water tx plant property. An extremely dark area. They built practically everything from scratch.
http://www.stargazing.net/mas/home_pics/tt14.jpg
I prefer the “Disintegrata” It is so much more applicable to, and helpful in dealing with, the real world.
https://tcotrel.tripod.com/disintegrata.html. Whoever said the Klingons have no philosophers.
======
Go nastily amid the peace and tranquility, and remember what satisfaction there may be in genocide.
As far as possible, without surrender, move into other people’s space.
Lie often, and loudly; and listen to the lies of others, even the slow and incompetent — examples can be made of them later.
Seek out meek and inoffensive persons; they are annoying, but fun to kill.
Do not bother comparing yourself to others; those greater than you will eventually be eliminated, and those lesser than you are dead already.
Fart in airlocks.
Assassinate your superior as quickly as possible; your own career, however exalted, is not worth a plugged millo if one of your junior officers gets it over your dead body.
Exercise caution if one of your course changes suddenly produces a sensor ghost; for the Galaxy is full of Federation vessels.
But let this not blind you to the happier side of things; many Starship captains are swaggering, tin-plated dictators with delusions of godhood, and everywhere life is full of incompetence.
Advance yourself.
Especially do not feign meanness, neither be cynical about hate; you are not likely to run out of either.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the joys of defenestration and evisceration for more mature pleasures.
Nurture a deep-seated suspicion of small furry creatures that purr; you never can tell.
File your teeth regularly.
Discipline is important; practice holding it in between planet falls.
You are a scourge of the universe, no less than your average interstellar plague or black hole; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is going to pieces in a most laudable manner.
Therefore do your utmost to annoy the Destroyer, however you may conceive of Him, Big Bang or Entropy Death; and whatever your plans of conquest, as you wade through the morasses of peace with fire and sword, annoy your soul.
With all its truth, high resolve, and courage, the world still has its ugly spots.
Be thoughtless.
Strive to be miserable.
Andrew M:
Sounds very familiar, sounds like the Democrat party machine mantra.
“By any means necessary, up to and including murder”
Andrew M Winter,
“Disintegrata” That is why the name sounded so familiar, but wrong! Thank you for the reminder from oh, so long ago.
Robert,
Thank you for the original source material. I didn’t know it existed.
Edward: Thank Cotour, who suggested this pause.
Cotour,
Thank you for the pause.
Your very welcome, happy that many saw some value in it.
Hadn’t heard of Disintegrata before (thanks for that one!): this is the one I thought of:
https://genius.com/National-lampoon-deteriorata-annotated
You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here…..
Deteriorata! Deteriorata!
Go placidly
Amid the noise and waste.
And remember what comfort there may be
In owning a piece thereof.
Avoid quiet and passive persons
Unless you are in need of sleep.
Rotate your tires.
Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself
And heed well their advice,
Even though they be turkeys.
Know what to kiss… and when!
Consider that two wrongs never make a right
But that three… do.
Wherever possible, put people on hold.
Be comforted that in the face of all aridity and disillusionment
And despite the changing fortunes of time,
There is always a big future in computer maintenance.
[Chorus]
You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.
Remember the Pueblo.
Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle and mutilate.
Know yourself.
If you need help, call the FBI.
Exercise caution in your daily affairs,
Especially with those persons closest to you.
That lemon on your left, for instance.
Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls
Would scarcely get your feet wet.
Fall not in love therefore;
It will stick to your face.
Gracefully surrender the things of youth:
The birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan
And let not the sands of time
Get in your lunch.
Hire people with hooks.
For a good time call 606-4311;
Ask for “Ken.”
Take heart amid the deepening gloom
That your dog is finally getting enough cheese.
And reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot
It could only be worse in Milwaukee.
[Chorus]
Therefore, make peace with your god
Whatever you conceive him to be-
Hairy thunderer, or cosmic muffin.
With all its hopes, dreams, promises and urban renewal
The world continues to deteriorate.
GIVE UP!