Tag Archives: reflections

The Cursor Clown

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee
©2015 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee [caption id="attachment_1459" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Mimi & Eunice, “Contribution” Mimi & Eunice, “Contribution”[/caption]

Writing Life:  Technology and the Cursor Clown

  Have you ever noticed how a blank computer  screen stares endlessly back at the writer? It can be mesmerizing, it may even be unnerving, to say the least. The arrogance of technology .  The defiance of the cursor clown. That reminds me.  I'm convinced my old laptop screen, somehow mysteriously still attached to this cranky old Gateway,  has learned to smirk.  As we speak, it has a smirk. That's it.  It's smirking.  Smirking at the dedicated writer, the word-cobbler,  the famous scribbler of great words, the eternal optimist, yes, even the creator of The Fires of Waterland and Morgidoo's Christmas Carol and all varieties of other interesting written stuff. "You jest, I dare 'ya, do it again."   it says. "It's only fiction"  it says.  "Got writer's block, have 'ya?" The cursor clown  blinks, the  computer laughs raucously  and beeps it's approval. Defiance. I don't reply to raucous laughter, taunts, smart-assed comments, or blackmail. "You're dispensable"  I caution, quite firmly too.  I refuse to blink, stirring black coffee, waiting for the inevitable one-line comeback. I might even read the comics while I'm waiting. It seems technology arrogantly defies dreams and aspirations, hastening to trip up even the most stalwart. It may be assisted with a screechy, smoking hard drive and dying battery. The screen, with it's blank face, impenetrable walls and innocent iconic game distractions may be a computer's best ally and defense against arbitrary, timely words, regardless how creative and elegant they may be. Worn-off letters on sticky keyboards, crabby software, updates, and devious social media distractions and icons  all conspire, but the most evil of all must be the cursor clown. The blinking  cursor. That's why it's called the cursor. That must be it. The  nervous, stuttering cursor, the unreliable genetic offspring of respectable, aged,  tapping 2H pencils,  blinks merrily;  a foolish, dancing hooligan with silly grin, top hat, cane and invisible tap-dancing shoes. The invisible clown dances on an invisible banana-peel on the screen,  cane flashing into sight to tease rather than please, offering  little inspiration, not a shred of helpful advice, and fleeting offers annoying as  a buzzing mosquito. Swat. Smack. The cursor clown  may be seen  hastily back-stepping, with a ferocity at times that may have been learned from scruffy, junkyard dogs snapping sandwiches, fingers, and beautiful eligible words out of sight and back into oblivion. Off on, off on, off on....you get the idea. Off on. Off on. Off on. Backspace, delete, bite me, you're it. Surprisingly, a poor imitation of an old-fashioned two-step. The dancing, cursor clown. "I'm on the stage, writer-man, admire me, worship me; feed me again,scribbling person, I dare'ya."  The cursor clown taunts wickedly.   "Where's my spiral notepad and pointy 2H with all the teeth-marks on it?" I ask, most  innocently, of course.   Beep....Silence. Words appear magically on the screen...and remain.... Imagine that...it seems subtle threats work after all... Maybe I'll crank that noisy old pencil-sharpener just a bit too, for good measure...  #   Is that Incoming I hear?        
Posted in Reflections, The Human Mind, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Writing Life: What do You Think About?

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee
©2014 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee   [caption id="attachment_1346" align="aligncenter" width="584"]Time to Think...                                     If you write, it's also Time to Think[/caption]

*Happy New Year to everyone, with best wishes for the safest, healthiest, and most prosperous Happy New Year ever.  Happy 2015, people!     

 

It's time to write....What do You Think About?

Vacation's over, time to get into gear. Haul out that pencil and paper, pen and ink, or even the crusty, unreliable  old laptop. It's time to write, write, and write but you're stuck in a rut?  What do you think about? It has to be one of the most interesting facts about people; each individual is different, unique,  and many have highly individualized, specific interests.  Some are apathetic and have none. The collective human condition by design, or by destiny may be involved.  Common interests may occur as a result of necessity, social exposure,  peer association, societal trends, and pressure to fit in manipulates the mind  this way and that. But does that mean you must consistently think the same ‘content’ as your peers?  Are you required to conform?  No. Think. Perhaps lifestyle, career-oriented, keep-up-with friends and  trends are involved to some degree. Influential. They rule you. No?  Regardless, you can bust out of the mold. Perhaps you're already  totally different, weird&wonky, unique in every way.  Congratulations if you're interested in old books, literature,  writing, fancy cars, snowflakes, art,  writing, tools and rocks, pickup trucks, pickles&pies, mud-in-your-eye religion,  kids, cats and coconuts, history and mystery,  —or are you just plain weird and think differently because of some happy accident? Do tell.

Be Different, Think for Yourself, Decide...

How do you know if you're really different? Do you daydream about  horses, college courses, law and discourses? You like pinecones, old bones, gardening gnomes and get distracted easily?  What’s that down the rabbit-hole? Wait, there’s a chicken. I want a sandwich. That tree looks like a bonsai. How many trees are there in Canada?  How does your mind work?  How do you decide what to think about and end up scribbling?

Have you ever really thought about it?

Are your interests in fishing  wild water and living in the rough? How about  skiing, glass blowing,  or  old bars, fast cars, classic guitars, apple- pickers and the Blues? There are crafters and believe in the forever-afters. Politics and magic tricks? What about the news? Sci-Fi , admire the sky, outer space is quite the place but inner space may be more challenging.  What have you got to lose—by exploring your mind? Do you know where your mind is and what it contains?  Dare to use it. You may be much smarter than you think if your interests are highly varied, and even learn to specialize as time flies. Think about it. You may already be a veritable, scribbling genius.  Are you another Einstein? Another outstanding writer, instead of boring ordinary.  Do you think like a genius?  Do you think in terms exotic, psychotic, neurotic, or erotic? Scientific? Quickly now, make a list.  See what you've missed.  Open the mind,  you never know what you’ll find… What do YOU think about?  The old adage "know thyself" comes to mind. Will self-discovery help your writing? # Is that Incoming I hear?
Posted in Humanity, Reflections, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments