Conjectures of a recovering dilettante --- Welcome to Pizzaonia! Reflections from a different perspective --- Diverti Mento, John Frank Giovanni, Frank John Franco, Vera V. Veronica and all of the Pizza digogo DiVinci family invite you to join us - We discuss and share ideas that are relevant to our new emerging world. A division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network
http://pizzaonian.com
"Pizzaonia emerging" Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Instute, Abe Straction, curator
Musings from Pizzaonia - a short reflection on solitude.
Today we make so much of solitude and meditation. Everyone writes about it, and many talk about it. It seems to us that one thing always gets lost in any discussion about solitude. Solitude is not an escape; it is not a place where you get off.
On the contrary, it is a method to help you continue your journey through life. Solitude allows us to stay relevant for the world we must engage every day.
It is a brief oasis, a place of rest that allows you a quiet respite to refresh your mind and body. In so doing, you can continue your journey with new vigor and enthusiasm.
How we choose to enter solitude is an individual experience. Some can do it anywhere they are; others need quite isolation. One thing is certain. We all need solitude to stay whole. Without it, we soon lose our way. Make sure every day has the solitude experience.
However, when you choose to enter your time of solitude always remember first its purpose. Focus on your journey. The road is always made clear to all who enter with an open heart and mind.
Before you leave, stay a moment - create a short oasis, a place of rest. Until next time,
(C)2012 Pizzaonian National Flag - Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute
The Pizzaonian Space Institute released today new, extraordinary photos of a black hole as seen from the Pizzaonian magnifier camera on board the Mozzarella space probe. (See below)
What makes these photos unique is their high resolution and magnification, 10,000 times greater than the original photos first published.
The Mozzarella space probe has exceeded all expectations by continuing to resist the effects of high gamma radiation and heat levels beyond human imagination.
More as it develops ……………….
Abe Surdity, bureau chief, The Pizzaonian, a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network
Photo of Black hole as seen from the cameras of the Mozzarella space probe, magnified 10.000 greater than previous photographs
(copyright)2017 Pizzaonian Space Institute
Black hole as photographed by Pizzaonian Space Institute Mozzeralla space probe, Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
Pizzaonian National Flag, courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
“Power is always charged with the impulse to eliminate the human variable, from the equation of action.” Eric Hoffer
You could argue over why the above is always true. What is not arguable is that it is always true. What is it in the human condition that makes the need for being in control (power) a constant?
Be it politics, business or religion, no matter how veiled its projected humility may be, seeking power is the inevitable outcome.
Every political party, every business and every religion seeks power. Some are obvious. Others are very good at masking themselves as defenders of the truth and common good, but their quest for power makes them no different from the rest.
In religion, the most interesting dogmas come from those faiths that claim to have no dogma. With the mask of humility and acceptance, they immediately claim the moral high ground. This well disguised assertion of humility and openness gives to their faithful the authority of invented moral superiority – that is power.
In politics, it does not take long to understand, regardless of how much each political party states it is serving the “best interest" of their country; each party is first serving itself. After all, in order to serve you must first obtain power. That’s why the cynical among us say, “in order to beat the system you must become the system” - a clever way of saying, “in order to beat corruption you must become corrupt.”
If true, this explains a lot. And the beat goes on……..
Brother Giovanni, commenting, from Pizzaonia for the “The Pizzaonian.”
"PIZZAONIAN EMERGING #3" Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, Curator (C)2013
“..ideological myopia -a failure to realize compromising a little is better than staying stuck in the present path.” C. Nobel
A traditional dilettante could never be an ideologue. It runs counter to the tradition. The mere thought that someone could be so sure of themselves that they never need to compromise is to any serious dilettante - complete folly.
We need to make clear that by dilettante, we mean a “lover of the arts” rather than it’s more popular meaning “a dabbler, or someone who moves from one idea to another.”
“A lover of the arts” is not an artist, but one who appreciates art, but even more, respects culture as the foundation of a well-defined life. In order to respect culture you not only must be thankful for your own life, but the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of all other life as well. Simply said, you respect the human condition and embrace humanity warts and all.
From our distant perch, it seems in your world, there are two places that produce the most ideologues. They are emerging countries trying to gain a foothold, and established dominant countries struggling to keep their vaulted position in the order of things.
Everyone else in the middle seems quite content to live in relative tranquility at least in comparison to the two extremes. They seem to have put their faith in the people rather than in institutions or governments. As it was said to me years ago “Governments come and go but the people are forever.”
This also makes sense since it is the people who form cultures not governments. One could argue that the institutions and governments of our world reflect the culture of the people, and in the beginning this is probably true. However, unfortunately, this is always short-lived.
It is only a question of time until institutions become worlds of their one, living in a bubble that serves their purpose rather than the general good. It seems to be the inevitable nature of power to insulate itself from outsiders who seek to share it or be included.
This is hardly a new condition. It has existed from the time of the caves. As soon as some cave dwellers realized they had bigger clubs than “the other guys” they formed their own exclusive circles.
George Orwell said it better than anyone in Animal Farm - “All pigs are created equal, but some pigs are more equal than others.” You need to look at any advanced democracy and see this being played out each day.
What else could explain the “madness” going on in the U.S. Congress? This is a perfect example where a so-called democratic institution claims to represent the people as it serves its myopic self-interest. Enter the intolerant ideologues who would destroy the country in order to save it.
As we said at the beginning, give us the dilettantes every time. They are much too interested in the wonders of the world to seek power. And if they did seek power, they soon realize that this interferes with their dilettantism and move on to better things. As a result, the worlds they live in are much safer and better places.
John Frank Giovanni commenting for the "The Pizzaonian"- a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diverti Mento, Editor Emeritus
Nothing gives Christianity a bad name as much as the assumption that the Bible must be interpreted literally to be considered the true word of God. Metaphor is often used to describe basic truism about life. In almost everything else, this is an accepted statement. However, when it comes to the Bible, this assumption becomes a sacrilege.
The problem with this supposition is it presumes that the state of consciousness and awareness of human beings more than 2000 years ago was the same then as it is for us today. We know this is not true. To assume otherwise is to ignore the linear evolution of human consciousness. It is obvious to virtually everyone that over the last two thousand years we have evolved emotionally and intellectually to a completely different mindset then the people who lived in earlier biblical times.
This is not to imply in any way that the mindset of the people in earlier biblical times was less than ours. They were the people of their time, and we are the people of our time. Simply consider the state of our technology and the situation of our more forward-thinking awareness, and you need to say no more. Why then can’t we accept what the original writers of the New Testament regarded as literal truth in their time, as any less accurate in our time, if we now recognize them as metaphorical representations of the same certainties? Will this make them any less true? I don’t believe so, and here is why.
If God is who we think God is, certainly an all-knowing creator would be aware that the people of our time would be in a different state of consciousness than the people of biblical times. If we are mindful of this fact obviously God is cognizant of the same thing. Therefore, if you are going to proclaim God’s word that is to be understood and accepted through time, the statements would have to be made in such a way that all future ages could accept them regardless of the advancement in linear consciousness of each succeeding generation. Obviously, fundamentalists would not agree with this. However, I would submit that those of us, who can easily accept biblical truth expressed in metaphors, are no less fundamental in our beliefs. Since I speak from a Christian perspective, I am sure that the same truths that most fundamentalists believe are shared by those of us who do not see the Bible as a completely literal document.
Unfortunately, the issue will always be that if you do not accept God’s written word as stated in the Bible literally, that somehow it will be significantly changed by later generations. I would suggest that these different interpretations are just as likely regardless of which position you personally take.
There will always be significant differences in opinions as to what the truth is. Certainty is not what this is about. That is why we call it faith. The first question that comes to mind; what is God’s role in all of this?
As the world’s consciousness expands, and as we become a worldwide, globalized community there has to be some recognition that God is, and was, in a historical sense aware of this inevitable progression of human consciousness. If so, for each of us the process, by which all generations come to accept the written world as true, must go beyond the word itself, regardless of whether we accept it is literal or metaphorical in context.
Sooner or later, the realization comes to each of us who believe in a personal, all knowing, loving creator - the truth of His being and word relies on the quality of our individual relationship with Him.* And of course, we must always acknowledge the “word’” as expressed in the Bible is necessary for each of us since that inspires and allows us to seek our relationship with God in the first place.
The critical issue that many Pizzaonians face is to decide just how much technology they want in their lives. As you know, since we are an alternate universe, our technology is unlimited –virtually anything we want is available.
In the beginning, this was considered a blessing. However, Pizzaonius, our founder, saw this as a curse disguised as a blessing.
As a friend of mine said, “You don’t need it until you have it, and once you have it, you can’t live without it.
Now from the perspective of your world, unlimited technology might seem to be paradise. What is left out of the equation until you face the problem is carefully thinking through how technology changes your relationships - and, eventually the fabric of your social order.
How many of you remember when it was absolutely necessary for people to talk to each other directly? While this was not always as comfortable as you might want it to be, it did have some consolation. You had to learn to get along, or you were in big trouble. And, getting along was much better than not, so you worked a little harder at it.
Now with social media communication dominating so many personal and business relationships you have the illusion of community without any of the satisfactions and trials that only actual, in person community can provide.
Could this be why you have such difficulty in finding consensus?
Oh you still talk occasionally with your friends and family, but somebody is sending those trillion or so text messages every day.
There was one more thing Pizzaonius was very wise about. He knew and understood that the workplace was a major factor in the development of healthy social skills.
What he forced us to do was confront how work relates to the human condition and social viability. We now know technology has the capacity to eliminate work as we know it. If you don’t already know, you will soon, that much of the political and economic turmoil currently being experienced in your world is caused by technology eliminating jobs – jobs that will not be replaced.
The inevitable result is that you will have fewer people working. Add to this, that many folks with paid employment will be working alone in a media virtual work environment with little face to face daily contact. This is not a recipe for developing good social skills.
It was recently written in one of your financial journals that the real difficulty facing the world will no longer be the creation of wealth; technology will take care of that problem. The real issue will be figuring out how to distribute the wealth being created fairly.
Add to this the inability to talk and relate to each other, and you have a real problem. Good luck with this one.
Diverti Mento, editor emeritus of “The Pizzaonian” a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network.
"Pizzaonia Emerging" courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
BROTHER GIOVANNI’S JOURNAL…………….
Every time I portalize back to Pizzaonia from the United States I have to sit for a day or two to let the clutter filter out of my thoughts. It only takes a few days in the U.S. to be completely inundated with commercial messages. They are as ubiquitous as the billions of micro waves that penetrate every space available. At least, you are not as aware of the micro waves.
If you concentrate on what you are hearing and seeing on television and/or radio, you become aware that you are being swamped by commercials, occasionally interrupted by programing. The only escape is to watch and listen to their public television stations. I will, however, confess to you that after a couple of hours with public broadcasting stations, you are ready for some commercials.
So where does that leave me after a short stay here – for one I start looking for the nearest Portotran so I can get back to Pizzaonia.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the United States. This is my native country. Unfortunately, everyone here is selling something. It is so bad that if they don’t have a product to sell, they create one with an idea which can be capsulized into a clever tweet and then made into a movement that requires membership, and of course, a fee to join. Someone needs to work on a drug that will prevent intended viral content from going viral.
Marketing is so pervasive that billions of dollars are spent on advertising that sells and promotes products and software on how to learn to market better. Which obviously means that marketing products that market marketing, may be the most lucrative businesses here? You figure it out.
How did all of this happen - or is it obvious that a democratic capitalistic country and economy would inevitably make selling more important than what is being sold? I know this sounds crazy, but is it possible that this is what happened?
Brother Franco and I have speculated from our distant perch in Pizzaonia that two things may have brought this about.
One, globalization has taken place. Companies that once were exclusively American are now multi-national and see their country of origin as a market and little else. Whether they sell their products to an American, Chinese or Saudi Arabian makes little difference to them as long as their products get sold.
Two, combine automation with globalization and the outsourcing of everyday manufacturing jobs to other parts of the world, and you are left with jobs that are about services and not actual products.
What are services? Services can run the gamut from cleaning hotel rooms to highly complex design engineers. They either make a product for the digital world, or they are working with a service product. Ironically, the most service oriented job of them all, direct selling, is now being done more and more in the virtual world. What happens when they invent machines that can clean rooms, fix beds and serve food? It does not take long to figure out that you only need so many design engineers.
What does that leave – you guessed it – marketing? And yes, eventually as stated, the marketing of marketing becomes bigger than the market or the product. Sound crazy? I hope so, because if it isn’t I have some marketing software on marketing that I would like to sell you.
Till next time……
John Frank Giovanni, commenting for "The Pizzaonian" a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diveri Meneto, editor
