• Hail to the Chief

    Hail to the Chief

    A historic moment
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    General  Fiction

  • The World Turned Upside Down

    The World Turned Upside Down

    The more things change...
    from 6 reviews.
    War and History  Fiction

  • I'm Dying

    I'm Dying

    No greater fear
    from 12 reviews.
    General  Fiction

Bananafish308:

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps."

-Confucius

July 16, 2019 at 9:51AM
    Gloria ....: So where do alternative facts fit into this then?
    July 16, 2019 at 6:14PM

Bananafish308:

"Facts don't do what I want them to."

-David Byrne
Talking Heads

July 12, 2019 at 7:00PM
    Six-Star Writer: You have the right to free speech. As long as your not dumb enough to actually try it.

    The Clash
    July 12, 2019 at 7:13PM

Bananafish308:

While we're invoking Roger Waters:

"And you didn't like school
And you know you're nobody's fool

So welcome to the machine

Welcome my son, welcome to the machine

What did you dream?
It's alright, we told you what to dream"

-Pink Floyd / Welcome to the Machine

June 28, 2019 at 11:11AM
    Six-Star Writer: And. I didn't listen to them-'the people who told me what to dream, that is--not Pink Floyd. Love PF.

    Saw the Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking concert in Oakland, CA. One of Water's solo efforts. Used to listen to PF in England in the 80s when the US when the U.S. military stationed Mr there. And in CA, as a teen.
    June 28, 2019 at 11:19AM
    Six-Star Writer: Sorry for all the typos. Hard to write on a shaky tractor trailer at 55 MPH.
    June 28, 2019 at 11:21AM
    Bananafish308: Haha, that would do it.

    I love PF, also. Saw Waters solo in NY a couple of years ago. Tried so hard to see the original "Wall" tour in 80-81, but, with only 12 shows in the entire U.S. (7 in LA, 5 in NY), it was impossible.
    June 28, 2019 at 11:30AM

Bananafish308:

A little change of pace today. Some Aldous Huxley quotes on objective reality and similar pertinent themes:

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

"You shall know the truth, and truth shall make you mad."

"The deepest sin against the human mind is to believe things without evidence."

"People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think."

"The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free."

"Never have so many been manipulated so much by so few."

"Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism."

"One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them."

June 21, 2019 at 11:33AM
    Gloria ....: I like the one about the truth making one mad. LOL. Is that mad crazy or mad angry, or does it matter?
    June 21, 2019 at 5:24PM
    Bananafish308: Hey Gloria, I interpret it to mean mad angry. You see it all the time in the forums. People get angry when some of us insist on discussing facts and objective reality.
    June 21, 2019 at 9:00PM
    Bananafish308: ...and piggy backing on your post from a couple of days ago regarding fools:

    "There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true."

    -Soren Kierkegaard
    June 21, 2019 at 9:03PM
    Six-Star Writer: Yeah, there's a lot of that going on, BF. But it's nothing new under the sun. Heaven forbid people believe the truth. It's usually much more satisfying and safer to believe lies and propaganda.
    June 22, 2019 at 9:54AM
    jlsavell: Love all these quotes, Bill- so very appropriate for our times. Eh?

    Thank you for sharing.

    Jimi
    June 22, 2019 at 1:01PM

Bananafish308:

...and piggy backing on an earlier theme regarding fools:

"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true."

-Soren Kierkegaard

June 21, 2019 at 11:15AM

Bananafish308:

A little change of pace today. Some Aldous Huxley quotes on objective reality and similar pertinent themes:

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

"You shall know the truth, and truth shall make you mad."

"The deepest sin against the human mind is to believe things without evidence."

"People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think."

"The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free."

"Never have so many been manipulated so much by so few."

"Dictators can always consolidate their tyranny by an appeal to patriotism."

"One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them."

June 21, 2019 at 11:08AM

Bananafish308:

"Some assembly is always required."

-Robert Fulghum

June 19, 2019 at 10:07AM
    Six-Star Writer: Yeah, and when there is, it's a lot more fun assembling something when you throw away the directions.
    June 19, 2019 at 4:13PM
    Ms. Snyder: I think they should say hours on certain projects!
    June 19, 2019 at 6:43PM

Bananafish308:

"It doesn't matter what you say you believe - it only matters what you do."

-Robert Fulghum

June 18, 2019 at 12:36PM
    Six-Star Writer: Actually, sometimes it matters what you say you believe, too.
    June 18, 2019 at 11:18PM
    Bananafish308: I think you might be misunderstanding what I believe he is saying. Another way of saying it might be:

    "It only matters what you SAY you believe, if your actions back up what you say."

    For instance, it is naturally very admirable if a person says they believe in equality for all. If, however, that person then turns around and discriminates against a certain group when hiring at his job, then it really didn't matter what he SAID he believed.

    June 19, 2019 at 10:01AM
    Six-Star Writer: Nope, I didn't misunderstand. And my original comment is still valid.
    June 19, 2019 at 4:15PM

Bananafish308:

?You may never have proof of your importance but you are more important than you think. There are always those who couldn?t do without you. The rub is that you don?t always know who.?

-Robert Fulghum

June 17, 2019 at 8:33PM

Bananafish308:

Sometimes the simplest words are the most profound. This is the hallmark of Robert Fulghum. Every now and then I think about this wonderful man. His gentle, wise wisdom had a significant impact on me when I was younger.

I would like to try and post at least one quote of his every day. I will kick it off with the following:

"Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some."

"Play fair. Don't hit people. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody."

"I've always thought anyone can make money. Making a life worth living, that's the real test."

"Clean up your own mess."

"The examined life is no picnic."

"Share everything. Don't take things that aren't yours. Put things back where you found them."

"'Maybe.' There's our word. The wisest answer to ultimate questions."

"If you want an interesting party sometime, combine cocktails and a fresh box of crayons for everyone."

"And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together."

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!


June 16, 2019 at 11:13AM
    Bananafish308: A little redundancy there - "wise wisdom" LOL.
    June 16, 2019 at 11:35AM
    Sarkems: Got to be honest, I'd never heard of this man, so googled him. Wise words, indeed.
    June 17, 2019 at 3:00AM
    damommy: I have some of his books and read them often. My favorite it 'I Learned Everything I Needed to Know in Kindergarten.'
    June 17, 2019 at 12:59PM
    Bananafish308: I agree, Damommy. That is an awesome book. It is the one that introduced me to this man and I read all his ensuing books.

    My daughter just turned 18 and goes off to college in September. I plan on getting her this book. I think it is a wonderful perspective on life to pass on to any young person just going out into the world.
    June 17, 2019 at 8:28PM

FanStory wrote to Bananafish308:

The World Turned Upside Down finished second in the contest "What If?"

October 29, 2018 at 12:13AM
    michaelcahill: Ahh ... Bill! I was wondering who wrote this stellar piece. Loved this. Too bad there weren't more entries, but great work anyway. :))
    October 29, 2018 at 12:18AM
    giraffmang: congratulations
    October 29, 2018 at 5:13AM

FanStory wrote to Bananafish308:

A Perfect Microcosm of Society... finished third in the contest "Fanstory Review"

July 18, 2018 at 12:13AM

FanStory wrote to Bananafish308:

Be Kind finished first in the contest "This Is My Life!"

May 28, 2018 at 5:10AM
    Ginnygray: Congratulations on a beautiful writing and win with, ?Be Kind!?
    May 28, 2018 at 8:40AM
    Bananafish308: Thanks so much, Ginnyray! Congratulations on your 2nd place finish with "This is Me." Such an inspirational piece.
    May 28, 2018 at 9:27AM

Bananafish308:

This month is my ten year anniversary on FanStory. I'm not sure what to make of that. LOL.

July 13, 2016 at 9:30AM
    mrsmajor: Hi,
    Congratulations!

    It means you have enjoyed most of your time here..and that's a good thing...I celebrated 11 years last year (10/04)...but I don't think I will subscribe again...
    July 13, 2016 at 12:41PM
    Bananafish308: Thanks Vickie.

    I know what you mean. I keep telling myself I won't subscribe again, then another year goes by. If you don't re-subscribe, you will be sorely missed.

    Bill
    July 14, 2016 at 8:38AM
    I am Cat: Congratulations!
    July 14, 2016 at 1:50PM

FanStory wrote to Bananafish308:

All Our Children finished second in the contest "I Believe"

July 6, 2016 at 2:10AM
    djsaxon: Fantastic, Bill. Congrats :-)
    July 6, 2016 at 10:44PM

Bananafish308:

"Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it."

-George Bernard Shaw

June 2, 2016 at 6:06PM
    djsaxon: Yeah, what a classic quote from the Prince of allegory and metaphor. Love Bluntschli's line in Arms and the Man when he likens a cavalry charge to "throwing a handful of peas against a window pane" :-)
    July 6, 2016 at 10:54PM