I. Title
The name of this blog may change. A word I have always liked occurred to me as I thought about names (surely the most fun and least useful way to spend time on a new project). “Halcyon” slant rhymes with ‘calcium’ and is an adjective that means “like the good old days” – peaceful, prosperous, a pleasant temperature. If you’re like me, you may wonder if you missed out on yours. A fast, dirty Google search would have a person believe the word has roots in the Greek hals “sea” and kuōn “conceiving.” Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary says: “According to Greek mythology, Alkyone, the daughter of the god of the winds, became so distraught when she learned that her husband had been killed in a shipwreck that she threw herself into the sea and was changed into a kingfisher. As a result, ancient Greeks called such birds alkyon or halkyon. The legend also says that such birds built floating nests on the sea, where they so charmed the wind god that he created a period of unusual calm that lasted until the birds’ eggs hatched. This legend prompted people to use ‘halcyon’ both as a noun naming a genus of kingfisher and as an adjective meaning either “of or relating to the kingfisher or its nesting period” or “calm.”
I like the way “halcyon”‘s various meanings combine to cast light on what this Halcyon will seek. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, sea to shining sea.
II. Slogan/s
The road you’re walking on is moving too – Another foreign internet presence vying for influence over the American electorate – You are not special – I have an ulterior motive – Stop reading and go outside – Many – You are what you eat – Who’s there? – summer is coming – love each other – Mom?! – You are special – Welcome home – Adventure is out there! – You too – Get out as soon as you can — There is no who
III. Means
A. Narrative: This blog exists because I have stories to share. I will share stories. Pictures can be stories. A lot of stuff can be stories.
B. The Shape of Things To Come:
>> Excuse me! Two, here, take this megaphone!
<< Thank you for the megaphone, One.
>> It’s on.
<< Sure. Hello. [into the megaphone] One has handed me a megaphone.
>> Not an audience, though.
<< An audience of One. But there’s a chance somebody else might notice us. We have a megaphone now.
>> Not we, I gave it to you!
<< There’s only really one of us. Let’s settle for sharing it.
>> Okay…What can we possibly say to the people who might be listening?
<< Stuff that’ll fix the world.
>> Yes! Why didn’t I think of that?
<< I must have liberty withal, as large a charter on the wind, to blow on whom I please. Give me leave to speak my mind, and I will through and through cleanse the foul body of the infected world – if they will patiently receive my medicine.
>> That was astonishingly well said, but I disagree. We need some kind of shaping device, even if it’s just there to be broken.
<< Want to turn off the megaphone while we’re figuring this out?
>> Probably no one’s listening anyway.
<< Alright. I think whatever we fix should be related to the stories we tell.
>> Then we already have a mandate. To fix the world’s body.
<< Eh?
>> We’ll give a voice to places, to creatures. The stories and the advocacy will be a part of each other.
<< Are you suggesting we speak for the trees?
>> I love Dr. Seuss.
<< And I see what you’re getting at. We can remind people about everything that exists out there whether or not our own kind is thinking about it.
>> Sounds like a beginning.
<< And away we go!
C. But: Ain’t no rule says posts must be narrative or relate to the shaping device.
D. oes reality even exist?!: For the sake of privacy and better stories (though I am still thinking and need feedback on this), I may alter names and my firsthand accounts of events that happened to me. I won’t misrepresent other sources, and I won’t change other people’s stories unless they ask me to or I believe privacy is at stake.
E. Et Cetera: Maybe I’ll also post links to things that have influenced my thinking, new or interesting perspectives, or whatever I find worthwhile. I like a diversity of (good) ideas.
IV. Aims
A. Learn to communicate as if to an audience and deal with the resulting problems
B. Have fun
i. fuck around (this one is key)
ii. share stories
C. Make things better
D. Communicate to an audience?!
V. The title, slogan/s, means and aims of this blog shall be subject to change.
VI. Disclaimer
D I S C L A I M E R . The Author hereby disclaims all and any associations, personal, corporate, political, direct, indirect, Familial, scholastic, interpersonal, former, upcoming, recently concluded, long-ago, relational, amicable, impeRsonal, hostile, work-related, leisure-related, graffiti-related, secret, public, legal, underground, illegal, tunnel-related, or occurring in the environs of the locales henceforth known as “Narnia” and “Riverside Park;” and furthErmore disclaims any knowledge, suspicion, inkling, comprehension, awareness, apprehension, intelligence, or cognizance of wherE, how, when, why, of whom, by whom, or at whose behest the accompanying “Disclaimer” was produced; and furthermore professes a restrained, healthy, law-abiding, safe, risk-averse, reasonable, supercilious and mature sentiment of disapproval and corresponding lack of ideological or reified backing for any and all activities sometimes identified under the purview Of “big kid fun;” and furthermore hereby disclaims participation in any activity, pastime, incident, occupation, undertaking, diversion, or scheMe of any nature save vital life functions including, but not limited to, eating, breathing, and cellular respiration, and the act of issuing said accompanying “Disclaimer;” and reserves the right to delete any comments found to be standing in contradiction with the preceding disclaimers.