December 20, 2001.
 
 
 
 

One man traveled the world with a certain apparatus,
which he offered for display to the public (for a nominal fee);
he called it, The B.O. -  The Big Obvious,
and when business was not what he had expected
(and for sake of maximum-accuracy-in-advertising)
he changed its name to, The B.S.O. --  The Big Simple Obvious,
and what it was was a device which, when you got up close to it,
would flash directly in your face the fact that if it were not for man
having thoughts, man would have no: problems, questions or complaints,
but almost every customer demanded their money back once they realized that the presentation of this single sentence was all that the device did.
The man even set up a quiet area in an adjoining tent
which he encouraged those who had just seen the statement to use as a place to
reflect-on, mull-over, muse-about & privately ponder
the implications, ramifications & humor thereof,
but no matter what he tried,  the enterprise never enjoyed real success.
 
 
 
 

If man discovered that there was something in water which caused him some discomfort, he would not stop drinking water, nor could he,
but every time he experienced the corollary discomfort,
he would remember its unavoidable source, (except of course for
idiots, imbeciles, and those otherwise mentally deficient).
 
 
 
 

Life has certain matters arranged in man’s brain which act as
their own blinders & deniers;
one in particular   --   related to the blueprints for the above man’s apparatus.
 
 
 
 

If life actually had a perverse sense of humor, the supremo example would be
its putting into man’s vocabulary the word, “hypochondria”
thereby making possible a situation wherein the majority can pretend that just a FEW -- --  mentally unbalanced men  –  live with out-of-control-thoughts
which cause only THEM to suffer
imaginary ills.
 
 
 
 

If water had a smarty-ass attitude and the necessary skill,
it might dilute its drinkers capacity to distinguish
the real from the imaginary in certain areas.
 
 
 
 

On one world was an animal whose primary sense was sight,
but who had therein, a genetic weakness:
while its overall & peripheral sight was excellent,
it was blind to anything right in front of it.
 
 
 
 

The authorities have been unable to make sense of the discovered flying machine;
its simplicity has resisted all standard examinations.
 
 
 
 

The rumor persists of a shop south of Singlepour which sells a flashlight
which not only shines light where it is pointed, but on itself as well.
                              (Rumors, rumors  --  some things never change.)
 
 
 
 

There is an ancient horse who runs in the high hills
whose abilities far surpass any others;
his self measured gallop is the secret of his success,
but curiously: every few steps  --   he hobbles himself  --  just for an instant.
 
 
 
 

Once again has the Intergalactic Calligrapher's Convention
declared a ban on the brush which paints itself into existence;
why they continue this empty gesture is a mystery --
since it long ago proved completely unenforceable.
                         (Part of the explanation could be in the fact that
                                   hypochondria has unrecognized relatives.)
 
 
 
 

No matter how often or vigorously was he grilled,
the man told the authorities nothing of value –
at least said nothing they could perceive as of value.
 
 
 
 

The absolute best way of keeping something from common knowledge
is to make everyone think they know it already.
 
 
 
 

                              One man traveled the world with a certain apparatus –
                              everyone is that man –
                              the apparatus comes with the man,
                              and when the secret it knows is flashed  --
                              almost everyone thinks: “How simple & obvious!  --
                         everybody knows that   --   I already knew that!  --
                                              I want my money back.”
 

                                                                 J
 
 
 
 
 
 

.............…almost everyone.