the look

There are few things in this world worse than a condescending look, folded up neat in the tweed suit of American propriety. Reputation is a shifting world of shadows, a chess game in which pieces and powers and talents are to be won and held on to in the ocular sphincters of others. Never mind if those things are in ourselves, it only matters that they are seen in ourselves by others. But, it is a dangerous game. Lurking around every glance is the naked truth - a harsh, unforgiving light - that doesn't cut corners or smooth out the wrinkles that end up in everyone's best sunday suit after long enough wear. Reputation! Reputation! Reputation! The golden dream of being well liked.

the kick

"It is from seeing a lot of round objects, none of which were perfectly round, that we are able nevertheless to abstract the idea of the circle." (Claude Levi-Strauss) The same holds true for a lot of things. People, art, cities - even the gentle curve at the nape of the neck. In reality, all these things are crooked, inconstant as the moon. But from many flawed points of reference, the mind constructs a smooth edge, a constant shape, an incorruptable idea. Those who are satisfied with the ideas don't accomplish as much, or destroy as much, as those who chase after the flickering shadows of those ideas on the inside of cave walls. If we could all eat air, maybe we could do without the shadow boxers.

the kiss

Since this is the first night, I figured I'd give you a good night kiss. Hopefully it will leave you some lingering comfort when you find yourself floating in the dark ether of the internet. It can be a frightening place, come evening song. Like the quiet walk back to senior field after evening circle, surrounded by friends on the rock strewn path, but, really, entirely alone beneath the wide gaping yawn of the night time sky. It was small solace to crawl into a cold bed then, but at least it was still something. Goodnight.

the third man

I figure no one will read this, so I can just ramble about whatever I want. So, in the past 24 hours, I've been thinking about "the third man" and running that amazing scene with Harry Lime at the Ferris Wheel over in my mind. Any way I turn it, it looks good, which is pretty amazing because with most things there's usually one angle which looks like crap.