The Panchatantra

The great ancient Indian book of wisdom, revered far from India, is available in both print and video forms on both Amazon and Youtube, among other places on the web. The Panchantra (literally, Five Principles) dates in its written form from around the 3rd century BC, but the tales were undoubtedly told from millenia before.

To the modern reader, the simple tales of animals and humans seem disarmingly naive. Yet the truths they contained were revered, and the wisdom of this book was considered one of India's greatest treasures. One only has to read the Persian Book of Kings to understand the supernatural significance this book was supposed to have.

Recovery

Man, I hate the flu!

Dawn Over Teheran

If you can, spare a thought for the people of Iran this week. With the thirty-first anniversary of the founding of the 'Islamic' Republic looming, they will be facing what may be the decisive trial for the survival of their freedom, their nation and their culture.

Then Bharam smiled at him and threw his ring
Into the air, "A slave can be a king,"
He said, "for just as long as this will stay
Up in the air. And there's no simple way
To gain a royal crown: make no mistake,
This is an arduous task to undertake."

From the Reign of Hormozd,
From the Shah Nameh by Aboloasem Ferdowsi
Translation by Dick Davis, Viking Edition

Reno Snowed In

Damn! So much for watching the Super Bowl from the homey comfort of my favorite card table. When even Global Warming turns out to be a vast draft of hot air, what is there left to believe in. Which reminds me, I best divest that investment in Burlingame beachfront property.

Blog Bogs

Still trying to figure out how to post ^%&&*! photos. After that craft is mastered, hope to show some interesting stuff. Will consider porn-especially if it draws traffic (hey, works for me).

Old John came up to me at Pete's the other night and I happened to mention to him that I was starting a blog. "A what?", he asked. A weblog, I answered. A kind of computerized diary and confidant, only open to the whole world.

John shrugged, "well, as long as you have something to say. Me, I could never do such a thing. I just don't find myself that interesting." Then he smiled that oddly crafty Slavic smile of his through his beard and returned to the counter with his mug of Coke and resumed his nightly task of razzing Raymond.

I, likewise, don't really know if I find myself that interesting. Hopefully, readers out there will prove me in error. But apart from that, I hope to bring the many characters I have met to life in this blog. Their electric shades should provide some night's diversion.

Reflections on a Rock

In my hands, I hold a green rock. Waterworn, its color and folds brilliant in the early morning sun. From the purely empirical point of view, it is just what I see. Something that might suit a garden, serve as a paperweight, or simply entertain my eyes in an otherwise drab room.

From the scientific point of view, it is an example of a metamorphic rock known as serpentine. A composition of magnesium and water. The product of deep forces of heat and pressure. The child of ancient, long gone oceans and the radiant heat of an infinity of charged particles gathered within the planet's crust.

From a metaphysical point of view, it is a shadow, an echo of a greater form, or perhaps of an infinity of forms. A product of infinite causalities in this and all other realities, echoing throughout infinity.

From my aesthetic, it dances in green rapture. It lingers upon my perceptions. It has attained a sense identity that will persist as long as this limited form that is me persists.

New Year's at Pete's Fence

New Year's had a magical quality this year. I was hung out on the fence with the usual post bums, enduring an unusually intense California winter rainy season. Above us, the harvest moon shone through the now quiet storm clouds. The bleak San Jose urban landscape seemed a ramshackle film set beneath a glowing, nacre ceiling. Seeing the dark shadows of the trees, I was moved to song. I was moved to Byron:

For we shall go no more a roamin'
Into that star-drenched night,
Tho' the songs are still a-flowing,
And the moon be still as bright!

I mangled the words, I know. Not that it matters, for as we sang it:

Meow, meown, meow, MAwh,
Emeow, meow, meoh
Meow, meow, meow,
Meow, moo, meow, meow, mwaoh!

Countries Whose English Names are Totally Different.

Germany is actually Deutschland.

Japan is actually Nippon, or Dai Nippon.

Greece is actually Ellinika (El-li-NI-ka).

Finland is actually Suomi.

Enunciating Language

My old Latin teacher always said that the best way to learn a language is to use it. Enunciate.

Communicating in it with others is the best, but if, say, you don't know anyone to call in Nancy, the next best is to simply take a piece of French text and read it aloud to yourself.

Famed explorer Richard Burton advocated a really developed version of this idea. Take a text, outline vital words and phrases, repeat them continuously. Don't do this more than fifteen minutes a day, so that the mind could retain its "freshness". He learned whole languages with this method.

Pete's Is Gone

Pete's, the popular family restaurant in San Jose, is no more. Owner Peter Frangos formally closed it with a farewell party to all staff and friends Sunday night. For fifteen eventful years, Pete's hosted a rambunctious gathering every night. Hopefully, this blog will document some of the happenings at one of the most unique eateries in any area.