Topics

1

Apple Talk / It Really Makes You Think

« on: November 01, 2012, 05:46:04 pm »

A young high school football star, killed in a tragic car accident.

It really makes you think...

A bright young honors student, dead at 17.

It really makes you think...

A loving family man, shot in the street for no reason.

It really makes you think...

No, it doesn't.

What people are really saying when they say that is that "I'm not used to thinking, it makes me stop smiling". Thinking about the consequences of our actions, the realities of life and death, and the bitterness of the inevitable end are hard things. I walk around with a smile, just like anyone else, most of the time. I rarely contemplate these things unless I'm sitting alone in my room. But some days... some days, I do think about it all. And I don't smile. But neither do I frown. I am merely neutral. and if someone asks what I am thinking, and I answer honestly, they think I'm morbid, or gothy, or a real "misery chick". While they believe that I'm fascinated with death, I am merely contemplating the brevity of life and what it is that I can do to make the final curtain less dark and grim. I'm a realist, but also, optimistic that the future is not just a fade to black.

Doktor D. Jennifer Phox,
Misery Chick

(the dreadful hours, my first thought to your latest offering was "It really made me think..." a phrase that I have grown weary of in the past few days. So, thanks for reminding me to think.)

2

Apple Talk / Running Out of Time

« on: October 19, 2012, 09:50:15 pm »

Well, chief, we're looking at complete core shutdown here if we don't do something quick. Primary functionality is at 20%, with secondary and tertiary systems rapidly approaching that level. The auxiliary isn't working either.

No, we tried that. It didn't work. The internal temperature just keeps rising. Pretty soon it's going to explode out the vents and the core will simply melt.

What's that? Well, sure if we reroute power from the mainframe to the critical systems we might be able to keep her running, but only at a fraction of her potential.

Alright, shut it all down. All unnecessary systems. Only leave respiration and circulatory regulation. Anything else is too resource intensive. Let's just get to work and see if we can get her up and running again.

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Apple Talk / Lilting Lullabies

« on: October 19, 2012, 02:47:51 pm »

Hush little baby, don't say a word.

Momma's gonna buy you a polished turd,

and if that polished turd don't stink,

Momma can't tell you how to think.

*****

Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree tops

When the wind blows, the foundations will rock,

When the walls break, the foundations will fall.

But we ain't got no chance to see that at all.

****

Lullaby and goodnight,  flambeaux alight.

With lillies o'er spread is King Louis' head.

Lay low the walls of the Bastille, may the people arise through blood and steel.

Lullaby and goodnight, Libertines unite.

De Sade's grace glow and shine bright.

Cast off the yoke of morality, and may you embrace liberty.

4

Apple Talk / Pocket full of miracles.

« on: October 19, 2012, 02:14:57 pm »

What I've got in my pocket is going to save you so much trouble. No matter who you are, where your from, or what you circumstances are, just one of these little miracles is going to fix you right up. All it takes is a deep breath, and taking the plunge.

What I've got in my pocket will cure what ails ya. Cancer, stigmata, Libertarianism, no matter the disease, you'll feel like a million smackers after smacking this. 100% all-natural, no side effects, and it's government approved.

What I've got in my pocket was never in a lab. It's not been co-opted by the scientific conspiracy.  No men in white coats cutting facts to unrecognizable pieces to suit their ends here.

What I've got in my pocket is free from religion. No hippie-dippy, new-agey, woojie-woojies, nor corpse-god eaters, nor followers of the imageless prophet, nor the true chosen people of the Semitic war god have been near it.

So what have I got in my pocket?

5

Apple Talk / A-tisket, A-tasket

« on: October 02, 2012, 08:32:43 pm »

A-tisket, a- tasket,

A green-and yellow a basket.

I wrote a letter to my love,

and on the way  I lost it.
 
I lost it, I lost it,

If only she had caught it.

A little boy he picked it up, and told the nearest sergeant.

A-tisket, a-tasket.

Marching off to track it.

We wrote our plans in coded hands,

And the government they grabbed it.

They grabbed it, they grabbed it,

And now we have to chance it.

The sergeant went to the general; he said they had to lance it.

A-tisket, A-tasket

Severed head rolling in a basket.

My love lost a letter that he wrote,

And on the gallows, he found it.

He found it, he found it.

And on the gallows, they had us all surrounded.

A-tisket, a-tasket.

6

Apple Talk / The Dead Skunk, Part Two

« on: September 05, 2012, 06:19:12 pm »

I've never stopped to think about just how much of my short life I've spent going from one place to another. My earliest memories are of ferries and 8 hour car trips. My entire life has involved at least 15 minute commutes every day, and I've gone on two cross-country drives, hundreds of road trips, a bus trip, and countless train rides as an adult. And I enjoy the journey far more than the destination most of the time (except the bus ride, but that's a story for another time).

Yesterday I was driving and taking in the sights and smells of the weekend's long rain. The smell of rain is definitely one of my favorites, and light fog and wet trees are enormously pleasant sights on a long drive. Then I caught a whiff of something else. The smell of wet, matted fur, blood and gore, freshly burning rubber, and excrement; and something else, something implacable; perhaps, if you'll indulge me, it was the smell of fear and pain, but I cannot rightly say. 

I saw a poor dead thing in the middle of the road. Not a skunk, perhaps a raccoon or 'possum, maybe even a large cat; whatever it was, it was smashed beyond recognition, and clearly a fresh kill,  because there was no hint of the sickly sweet scent of decay about it. i looked at the twisted, wreck of a creature and felt sad.  Yet I kept driving, and i didn't even roll up the window... I just kept right on enjoying the journey.

This morning when I drove past that spot, it was no longer there, but the bloodstains and the skid marks remained. I briefly thought of the poor animal, and but quickly forgot it and returned to enjoying my trip.

Yet here I am, sitting in a computer lab. Now that there is no vehicle taking me along a familiar path, no splash of rain on a windshield, no roar of an engine accelerating to distract me, my thoughts return to the pitiable thing whose life ended on a highway one morning. Soon my head will be filled with information about Greek architecture and I will once again forget, and then when I leave here for greener pastures, I'll be taking a different route... but tomorrow morning, I'll come by the same spot. And i wonder... will i be mindful once again and think of the dead thing and wonder about its life? Or will i be absorbed by the road, and the wind, and roar of the engine and simply by-pass the small memorial without thought nor care?

7

Apple Talk / Sitting in a room.

« on: September 03, 2012, 04:34:31 am »

Sitting in my room with light piano music in my headphones. I'm looking out my window, watching the night. It's raining outside, as it has been ever since Friday.

It's kind of weird. I can't remember the last time I just did this. Just sat and looked out my window, listening to music, and just relaxing.

All too often lately, my relaxing has been putting some movie on (usually my favorite  B-horror trash at that), as reading and other such pursuits tend to remind me too much of the intellectual burnout I've been struggling with.

But this... this is far more relaxing and recuperative. It's meditative, and therapeutic. Just a much needed respite from the trials and tribulations, and horrors and hang ups of the daily grind. Maybe it's all I need.

8

Apple Talk / It's 2am, start of a 3 day weekend, and i just got a warning ticket.

« on: September 01, 2012, 07:53:24 am »

...well, someone named Jennifer D. Phox got a warning ticket, that was handed to me, for apparently things that I had done. In any event, i have still never received an honest to goodness traffic citation.

In any event, there has, apparently, been a lot going on while I've been doing the whole education thing. STOP DOING STUFF, SPAGS! 
D. Jennifer Phox,
Just sayin' hi.

9

Apple Talk / ATTN: Everyone (Not for the squeamish. Seriously.)

« on: July 22, 2012, 07:23:30 pm »

I would like to take a moment and remind everyone of a particular piece of home decor: a lamp shade. Hand made, mid 20th century. Fitted nicely on a heavy European frame. There is one thing about it though. The lampshade is an odd yellowish color, and has a very strange texture. Well, it would be strange if one didn't know it was made from human skin. Then it makes perfect sense.

And just remember. It was made by a person.

10

Apple Talk / Roger, I Can't Find The Nashville Bus Station

« on: July 10, 2012, 04:34:01 am »

...but I guess this is close enough.

I kinda get the feeling these days that I'm just talking past people. I mean, I look them in the face but then they get all weird and their mouths turn in probosces and then I watch as their eyes fragment and go all compound, and I realize it's like watching The Fly transform in real time.  And then they start talking in cartoon swears, and you'd be surprised how "#$@%@!" is pronounced (well, not YOU, but most people).

And then I can see my words directionalize and shoot right past their ears and slap into the wall like a plate full of lutefisk. Reasoning with the wall seems like a more productive pastime. Why is it that this happens?

11

Apple Talk / NIGEL, CHECK THIS SHIT OUT!

« on: May 29, 2012, 12:55:22 am »

http://www.wimp.com/whennigel/

12

Apple Talk / Shocking historical revelations.

« on: May 28, 2012, 10:09:33 am »

Shocking new archaeological evidence reveals that not only did the Mayans have superior seafaring capability, they used it tyo take the superior technologies of nunchucks, sombreros, and tiny burritos to China.

I couldn't find the historical fact thread and my roommate demanded I reveal this truth to you.

13

Apple Talk / ATTN: PEEDEE

« on: May 16, 2012, 06:55:30 am »

It has come to my attention that you are no longer producing work at the quality I've come to expect. While this might not be a problem with some of your previous supervisors, but here at Discordicorp, we hold our employees to a higher standard. If this continues, I will have to write a formal infraction. What have you got to say for yourself?

14

Apple Talk / PHOXUMENTARY: It's more likely than you think!

« on: April 30, 2012, 04:49:38 am »

So slightly misleading title, but I did do an interview for a documentary regarding translation and the Bible, and the first rough clip of the documentary is available for interested parties (I have been told to stress that it is not even close to being complete, so you know..)

Anyway, post ITT and I will PM you the link.

15

Apple Talk / ATTN: RICHTER

« on: April 29, 2012, 04:54:11 pm »

I saw you at the Frist in Nashville yesterday. That or you have a doppleganger. WHICH IS IT?