Today I caught the bus into town. It is interesting what you learn on a bus.
The bus was pretty full. I had to perch on a high narrow seat behind the driver, next to a woman who was reading a magazine.
A few seats back was a very fat man, who I've seen on the bus before. He looks like a big brown balloon, or walnut, and every so often shouts WaahaY!!
The bus radio was playing Billy Joel's Uptown Girl. That alone was a good reason not to have caught the bus. Then it got to the bit that goes oh- oh- oh- OH -oh- OH- oh- oh- oh- OH- oh- oh- oh- oh. I'm sorry that I can't really give you a proper impression of the notes. If I had a pencil and paper, I could, and if you could see the paper. Actually that isn't true, as I can't write music down convincingly. But I'm sure you remember the part.
So, what was I saying? Oh yes. Well I'm sitting behind the driver, right? But he can't see me, there's a barrier between him and me. And the woman next to me is reading a magazine. And Mr Walnut is keeping quiet after a big WaahaY! And I realise my eyebrows are going up and down in time to Billy Joel. Or it might even be the entire top of my head that's doing it. And I'm thinking, waaahay! it's amazing what you learn about yourself on a bus.
Showing posts with label magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magazine. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Stage 18 - Irritations
The members of Team Philosophe are feeling discouraged. During the whole of the Tour so far they have never even progressed to the middle of the peloton.
The VeloDrone: One may as well stay home and cultivate one's garden!
Le Bon David: Or edit one's magazine.
Jean Paul Sartre: That's right. You two edit a magazine. I had forgotten. What is it about again?
The VeloDrone: Cycling, and philosophy. Would you like to contribute something, when the Tour is over? I think Belle et Bonne is going to ask Simone.
Jean Paul Sartre: Belle et Bonne! That girl is a puzzle to me.
The VeloDrone: Why? She is a treasure, but I have never found her a puzzle.
Le Bon David: Oh, she can be a puzzle. She will insist on calling me her uncle.
The VeloDrone: That is entirely your own fault, David. But tell me Jean Paul, why do you find her a puzzle?
Jean Paul Sartre: She told me that she had no difficulty understanding existentialism. She said it was about how irritating life can be if we let it.
The VeloDrone: Hee hee! That's good. So it is! So is all philosophy if you think about it.
Jean Paul Sartre: I asked her what she found irritating about her own life, and do you know
what she told me?
The VeloDrone: Nothing.
Jean Paul Sartre: How did you know?
Le Bon David: He is her father.
Jean Paul Sartre: No he isn't. Anyway, if she finds nothing to irritate her in her life, how can she understand existentialism?
The VeloDrone: Do you mean to say you agree with her definition of it?
Jean Paul Sartre: No, I'm just saying .....
Le Bon David: He's got you there, Jean Paul. But let's not argue. We'll soon be in Bordeaux. Who's for a glass of red?
The VeloDrone: One may as well stay home and cultivate one's garden!
Le Bon David: Or edit one's magazine.
Jean Paul Sartre: That's right. You two edit a magazine. I had forgotten. What is it about again?
The VeloDrone: Cycling, and philosophy. Would you like to contribute something, when the Tour is over? I think Belle et Bonne is going to ask Simone.
Jean Paul Sartre: Belle et Bonne! That girl is a puzzle to me.
The VeloDrone: Why? She is a treasure, but I have never found her a puzzle.
Le Bon David: Oh, she can be a puzzle. She will insist on calling me her uncle.
The VeloDrone: That is entirely your own fault, David. But tell me Jean Paul, why do you find her a puzzle?
Jean Paul Sartre: She told me that she had no difficulty understanding existentialism. She said it was about how irritating life can be if we let it.
The VeloDrone: Hee hee! That's good. So it is! So is all philosophy if you think about it.
Jean Paul Sartre: I asked her what she found irritating about her own life, and do you know
what she told me?
The VeloDrone: Nothing.
Jean Paul Sartre: How did you know?
Le Bon David: He is her father.
Jean Paul Sartre: No he isn't. Anyway, if she finds nothing to irritate her in her life, how can she understand existentialism?
The VeloDrone: Do you mean to say you agree with her definition of it?
Jean Paul Sartre: No, I'm just saying .....
Le Bon David: He's got you there, Jean Paul. But let's not argue. We'll soon be in Bordeaux. Who's for a glass of red?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Professor Freud Receives A Letter
Dear Professor Freud,
Please forgive the long interval between our receipt of your letter and our response. My colleague the VeloDrone and I have had many long and philosophical discussions on the issues that you raise, and have come at last to this conclusion:
We have no case to answer.
Dali's story about you, your bicycle, the red hot water bottle and the snail are in the public domain. Indeed we note that the incident has most recently been celebrated in a play.
We meant no disrespect to you by speaking in a lighthearted manner about your bicycle. Our magazine is dedicated to the philosophy of bicycles and bicycling and our intention is to roam both far and wide in this pursuit. We wished, in other words, to honour you, comrade, by your inclusion.
And therefore, dear Professor Freud, we should like to extend an invitation to you to submit an article to Velosophy, on any subject that you wish, as long as it relates to philosophy and bicycles. You may like to consider writing on the subject of your 'scurrilous' friend, Dali. Or perhaps, upon the subject of bicycles and the meaning of their appearance in our dreams. It shall of course be left entirely up to you.
We should point out that we will not be able to pay you for your article, but we would like to think that you will consider it both as an honour to yourself and a token of the good faith of your fellow velosophers,
Le Bon David and the VeloDrone.
Please forgive the long interval between our receipt of your letter and our response. My colleague the VeloDrone and I have had many long and philosophical discussions on the issues that you raise, and have come at last to this conclusion:
We have no case to answer.
Dali's story about you, your bicycle, the red hot water bottle and the snail are in the public domain. Indeed we note that the incident has most recently been celebrated in a play.
We meant no disrespect to you by speaking in a lighthearted manner about your bicycle. Our magazine is dedicated to the philosophy of bicycles and bicycling and our intention is to roam both far and wide in this pursuit. We wished, in other words, to honour you, comrade, by your inclusion.
And therefore, dear Professor Freud, we should like to extend an invitation to you to submit an article to Velosophy, on any subject that you wish, as long as it relates to philosophy and bicycles. You may like to consider writing on the subject of your 'scurrilous' friend, Dali. Or perhaps, upon the subject of bicycles and the meaning of their appearance in our dreams. It shall of course be left entirely up to you.
We should point out that we will not be able to pay you for your article, but we would like to think that you will consider it both as an honour to yourself and a token of the good faith of your fellow velosophers,
Le Bon David and the VeloDrone.
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