Art is as fugitive as fraud

the thoughts that came willy-nilly after reading this

Sometimes I read stuff online or I hear stuff on the radio or I listen to someone I know talking, and I'm overwhelmed by the suchness of it all and I just can't think about it, any of it, anymore. Someone over here is wondering whether or not global warming exists and someone over there is wondering why Cardinal Mahoney gets to go over to Rome and help pick out a pope when his decision-making abilities have surely been questioned as being less than ethical and then that someone over there thinks hero worship of the disabled is something to be denigrated and while I might know on some level what they're saying -- I know what you're saying, but -- sometimes it's too much suchness and I want to say calmly and matter of factly I don't care. I actually got a thrill when I watched Pretorius' silver blades running down the track and never once entertained the thought that he was less than or even more than despite, despite being the operative word. It was just a beautiful thing. So, I'm in the mood to call a spade a spade, a blade a leg, a blade a blade, a gun a gun and when a person has a gun something bad might happen. I personally don't want to defend myself or my kin with a gun and I have no idea what I'd do if threatened but when that person says they'd have no problem shooting the guy dead, it's too much such and I just can't think about it, any of it, anymore.

Pick up, drop off, drop out

That's what I'll be doing much of today -- picking up, dropping off, picking up and dropping off. Oh, and going to work and to a school conference. Plus, my Olympic hero Oscar Pretorius might have murdered his girlfriend and a meteor injured 1000 people in Russia. So, I'm picking up, dropping off and dropping out of here until later.

Blade Running

I'm not much of an Olympic-watcher and tend toward the cynical -- too much money, too many drugs and performance-enhancing shit, too many goofy commercials and corporate sponsorship, too many professionals playing as amateurs, etc. -- but the story of the South African runner Oscar Pistorius gave me that stand-up-hair-on-your-arms chill and thrill. Despite those who cried foul on his disability giving him an advantage, I felt thrilled by his efforts, by the sheer skill and fortitude, speed and strength he gave to become an Olympian.

I think that those shiny bladed legs carried all persons with disabilities forward a bit more -- and those of us who walk alongside them some heart and hope and continued courage to persevere.

Watch this video and tell me whether you agree or not:

HERE.