Category: Philosophy

“Harlan tells his tale”

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You’re from Borneo? said Alex. Yes, said Harlan. What happened to your tusks? I had to sell them to pay for my flight. Wasn’t that painful? said Alex. Not as painful as keeping them. What do you mean? said Blurtso. My brothers were killed for their tusks. Oh, said Blurtso. Why did you come to Boston? said Alex. I’m a Redsox fan, said Harlan. Really? said Alex. Who’s your favorite player? My favorite player, said Harlan, is Big Papi. What’s it like in Borneo? said Blurtso. It’s beautiful, said Harlan, there’s more grass than you could ever eat. Do they speak English? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan, in the north. Are you a Hindu? said Alex. Yes, said Harlan. What’s a Hindu? said Blurtso. Hinduism, said Alex, is a religion that believes elephants are sacred. Really? said Blurtso. What religion are you? said Harlan. I don’t know, said Blurtso. What religion thinks donkeys are sacred?

“Blurtso sings with friends”

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 Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson

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Blowing Away – Linda Ronstadt

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Bookends – Paul Simon

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America – Paul Simon

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Brushfire Fairytales – Jack Johnson

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Bubble Toes – Jack Johnson

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Buckets of Rain – Bob Dylan

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Don’ t Mess Around With Jim – Jim Croce

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Fall Line – Jack Johnson

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Feeling Groovy – Paul Simon

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Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon

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Forever – Ben Harper

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F- Stop Blues – Jack Johnson

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Gone – Jack Johnson

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Homeward Bound – Paul Simon

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I’d Rather Hurt Myself – Roger Miller

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Leaving On A Jet Plane – John Denver

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I Know Where I’m Going – Traditional

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Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye – Traditional

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Kathy’s Song – Paul Simon

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Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

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My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper

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No Other Way – Jack Johnson

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Girl From The North Country – Bob Dylan

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One More Cup Of Coffee – Bob Dylan

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Posters – Jack Johnson

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Sara – Bob Dylan

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Scarborough Fair – Traditional

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Shelter From The Storm – Bob Dylan

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Shenandoah – Traditional

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Tenderness – Paul Simon

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The Least You Could Do – Ben Harper

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Times Like These – Jack Johnson

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Traffic In The Sky – Jack Johnson

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We Had It All – B.W. Stevenson

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Better Together – Jack Johnson

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You Can Close Your Eyes – James Taylor

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Your Loving Arms – Hank Williams

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Song For The Asking – Paul Simon

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Congratulations – Paul Simon

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Sarah Maria – James Taylor

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Believe In Your Dreams – Rudolph and Clarice

“Blurtso reflects on his reflection”

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Isn’t that an odd shape, thought Blurtso, staring at his reflection in the water. That nose, so round and ponderous, like a boxing glove, and that smug little smile, and those attentive, pin-point eyes. What a strange thing it is, that shape, my shape, staring at my shape, that shape. Boxing-glove nose, big and white, grey body, dark-grey hoofs, perked-up ears above attentive eyes. Tuft of hair atop his head. Atop my head. My head housing pin-point eyes looking at his head. Housing looking housing looking. Blurtso one and Blurtso two. Blurtso one and Blurtso too. Double Blurtso smiling smugly, me to me. What does he see when he looks into me? What does he think when he thinks of me? Does he think who on earth could he be? And what’s the heart of this mystery?

“Bonny and Ditto share some quality time” (I)

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Yes, said Bonny, there are many flies today… Now, the first step in painting a beautiful canvas is to choose an inspirational subject—a subject that expresses the humility and grandeur of nature…

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Excellent! said Bonny.

“Morton’s Pond” (XXVI)

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“Sights” – Stillness of sky. Stillness of lake. Joined in reflection. Clouds blown together, clouds blown apart. Spider, fly, eater and eaten, diner and dinner, survivor and snack… joined in reflection.

“Morton’s Pond” (XXIV)

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“Thoughts” – It’s hard to believe Thoreau became famous for doing this. Living in these woods and writing down his thoughts. I guess a lot of people say they would like to live in the woods, but almost none of them do it. Maybe that’s why he became famous—because people can continue to live in their big houses in the city and can read about living in a cabin. They can experience it without doing it. Maybe that’s what humans are looking for in life, to experience things without really doing them. That would explain all the televisions and computers and iPhones.