wit and wisdom of people i read

when will flickering candles, orange haze, undulating shadows and the face of the one you love cease to be the best television ever? – stew

With all due respects to Bob Barker, I would have bet anything that he was already dead. And I would have bet everything that “The Price Is Right” was no longer on the air. I’ve got to start watching more TV. – j-walk

You’re not really having an adventure unless knowledge of your blood type is required beforehand. – coop

Luckily, the coroner who lives next door refused to supply the scattered body parts they sought to complete the illusion. –  defamer

I turned into a Democrat just to be rebellious. – leahpeah

After all, their application ran perfectly on the System/3 and there was no need to change it. – daily wtf

Today is Halloween, and may I just remind you how much I don’t like this holiday? – mark evanier

Working the Wound: by stew (lyrics)

Everyday I build a mask
Up to the task
But now there’s no real me

Call me a collage
Of spare parts found in Berlin’s garage
But there’s no real me

I cut clippings from my dreams
And move them around till they look like me
But there’s no real me

My paste-on eyes can see right through
All of you
But you don’t see me

Josephine entertained
They’d laughed and swooned
All she had was her pain
Carefully tuned

Boy was she was without shame
So elegantly marooned
The mask was just her band-aid
She worked the wound

I finally found a home
Between the clicks of a metronome
Now there’s no real me

I went out on a limb
But the tree disappeared and the sky grew dim
Now there’s no real me

My pain entertains
I see you applaud
Thanking God you’re sane
Now woe is me

I’m cursed to entertain
You laugh and swoon
All I have is my pain
Sharp and in tune
And should I feel ashamed since I’m still here marooned
No one else can be blamed
For me working the wound
I’m still working the wound
I’m still working the wound
I’m still working the wound

(stew’s blog;  passing strange: now playing at the berkeley repertory theatre)

Tefillin

Religious practice fascinates me lately:

Tefillin – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tefillin Hebrew: תפלין, also called phylacteries, are either of two boxes containing Biblical verses and black, leather straps attached to them which are used in rabbinic Jewish prayer. They are an essential part of morning prayer services, and are worn on a daily basis except the Sabbath and festivals by many Jews. In this article the term “to lay tefillin” will be used throughout but it is still correct to use “wear”.