AmbivaBlog: Blaise Pascal Wrote My Epitaph.

Goodenough Gismo

This is the classic children's book, Goodenough Gismo, by Richmond I. Kelsey, published in 1948. Nearly unavailable in libraries and the collector's market, it is posted here with love as an "orphan work" so that it may be seen and appreciated -- and perhaps even republished, as it deserves to be. After you read this book, it won't surprise you to learn that Richmond Irwin Kelsey (1905-1987) was an accomplished artist, or that as Dick Kelsey, he was one of the great Disney art directors, breaking your heart with "Pinocchio," "Dumbo," and "Bambi."

74%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Blogs I love and/or learn from

Family

« Brilliant. Elegant. Indomitable. | Main | "It both must be implemented and can’t be implemented at the same time." »

Blaise Pascal Wrote My Epitaph.

My blog's epitaph, that is:

Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm.

(Pascal also said: "Imagination decides everything." Go on, get your mind blown!)

Posted by amba on April 08, 2009 at 12:43 AM | Permalink

Comments

Gardening up north is nice. After seven months, one is forced to take a break.

Posted by: Peter Hoh | April 08, 2009 at 01:30 AM

Right. Nonstop work is industrial; it's for machines. (And even they break down.)

Posted by: amba | April 08, 2009 at 01:42 AM

Don't worry about Grandeur! Let it all hang out. No need to be constantly brilliant, and no need to perform! You're tired; s'cool, say so.

Sure we like a little entertainment, but hey, we can give energy back too! (Think Sam Jackson on foot massages!)

A blog is not a book, Amba, day-to-day is fine here, human-all-too-human flaws and all.

Posted by: Ron | April 08, 2009 at 04:17 AM

Such modesty! ;-)

You don't have to abandon us to have us appreciate either your grandeur or your eloquence, you know...

Posted by: PatHMV | April 08, 2009 at 09:57 AM

But perhaps we could be a little more vocal about how much we appreciate you. Even when we aren't in a panic at your (possible, only temporary -- we hope!) loss.

Posted by: wj | April 08, 2009 at 10:04 AM

Or, for your blog's epitaph and subsequent resurrection, you could use the Pascal quote you sent me:

"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room."

Posted by: david | April 08, 2009 at 11:00 AM

The epitaph seems premature yet appropriate. Trying to perform for an audience is one reason I blog with the same view as I write in my personal, offline journal: It's for me. If it equates to performance and people enjoy it, fine, but that's not the point.

Then again, I wonder if someone's rapidly approaching birthday has something to do with this... Yet one more shoe waiting to drop in a hectic schedule, a full life, an agenda already overflowing...(?)

Posted by: jason | April 08, 2009 at 02:37 PM

Well, astrologers say you reach a low ebb right before your birthday. But what do they know?

Posted by: amba | April 08, 2009 at 02:49 PM