Jimmy Cracked Corn

There is no spoon

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:52:40 +0000

Don’t hang on. Nothing lasts forever but the Earth and sky. It slips away…and all your money won’t another minute buy. –Kansas

I like the story I heard about some monk or something. I don’t remember who it was that had this idea, but I have tried to put it into practice in my life.

My possessions are just…stuff. I try my hardest to do as this other person did, and to let go of my possessions WHILE I STILL OWN THEM.

The plate I’m eating on? In my mind it’s already broken.

What?

Yes.

The plate is already broken, already ruined, destined for the landfill.

Looks fine to me.

Well it’s not LITERALLY broken. I have just pre-recognized that it won’t last forever and I shouldn’t be too attached. If it fell on the floor right now I wouldn’t have feelings about that because I’ve already let it go.

If you can force yourself to view all your stuff as already broken, it won’t bother you as much when the day comes that you do have to part with it. Try it!

Eliminate Wrong Thinking

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:45:34 +0000

Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.

-Bob Marley

I am required to keep my lawn green and weed-free and well trimmed because the neighbors would be angry if I didn’t.

I am required to spend whatever it takes to keep my clothes in fashion because strangers wouldn’t approve if I didn’t.

I simply must watch at least SOME television programs because I don’t want to be out of the loop in the break room at work.

I’m a guy…I’ll look bad if I don’t follow sports.

My car isn’t the newest model. I wonder what people at church think? Last time I traded sooner. I bet they are talking behind my back.

College is for everyone. You simply must go even if you don’t think you’ll need it.

Excrement and Memories

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:43:27 +0000

And the people would eat up all the food, gobble, gobble, yum, yum, and it would become nothing but excrement and memories. What then…?

-Vonnegut in Galápagos

There isn’t much growing outdoors in my part of the world right now. We’ll harvest a few more salads from the hoop bed, but I’m sure glad for the canning pantry right about now

Your appliances are spoiling you.

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:40:29 +0000

We are rebuilding yesterday to ensure our tomorrow.

- SteamPunk Magazine

What old-fashioned life skill are you going to practice this month? May I suggest you do a load of laundry in a bucket, by hand, without running water? Try it, it’s a bit of a workout.

801.9 Billion Dollars

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:42:32 +0000

The final U.S. pricetag for the Iraq War was $801,900,000,000.00.

I heard it said today that the same amount of money would have fully funded a college education for 16 Million people.

16 Million! That’s probably everyone who attended college in the last 10 years.

How would you have spent $801B?

We just want to keep you safe

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:38:24 +0000

If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy… The loss of Liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or imagined, from abroad…”

- James Madison

Wait. Did James Madison just predict the formation of the Department of Homeland Security over 200 years in advance? Yes, yes he did. Like I said, history repeats itself.

Be a good soldier

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:36:24 +0000

Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.

-Benjamin Franklin

Tyrants.

I can think of a handful of folks that are supposedly representing me that fit that description.

How many middle-class folks does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:34:35 +0000

In accordance to the principles of Doublethink…it does not matter if the war is not real…or when it is, that victory is not possible. The war is not meant to be won. It is meant to be continuous. The essential act of modern warfare…is the destruction of the produce of human labor. A hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. In principle, the war effort is always planned…to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects. And its object is not victory over Eurasia or Eastasia…but to keep the very structure of society intact.”

- Orwell’s 1984

Diversify your skillset

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:33:21 +0000

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship [to direct the steering or course of], design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

-Robert Heinlein

History repeats itself

Jimmy Cracked-Corn — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:32:22 +0000

The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
- Cicero in 55 BC