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

Blowing Away – Linda Ronstadt

Bookends – Paul Simon

America – Paul Simon

Brushfire Fairytales – Jack Johnson

Bubble Toes – Jack Johnson

Buckets of Rain – Bob Dylan

Don’ t Mess Around With Jim – Jim Croce

Fall Line – Jack Johnson

Feeling Groovy – Paul Simon

Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon

Forever – Ben Harper

F- Stop Blues – Jack Johnson

Gone – Jack Johnson

Homeward Bound – Paul Simon

I’d Rather Hurt Myself – Roger Miller

Leaving On A Jet Plane – John Denver

I Know Where I’m Going – Traditional

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye – Traditional

Kathy’s Song – Paul Simon

Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper

No Other Way – Jack Johnson

Girl From The North Country – Bob Dylan

One More Cup Of Coffee – Bob Dylan

Posters – Jack Johnson

Sara – Bob Dylan

Scarborough Fair – Traditional

Shelter From The Storm – Bob Dylan

Shenandoah – Traditional

Tenderness – Paul Simon

The Least You Could Do – Ben Harper

Times Like These – Jack Johnson

Traffic In The Sky – Jack Johnson

We Had It All – B.W. Stevenson

Better Together – Jack Johnson

You Can Close Your Eyes – James Taylor

Your Loving Arms – Hank Williams

Song For The Asking – Paul Simon

Congratulations – Paul Simon

Sarah Maria – James Taylor

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.