Bukowski

"That brightness which is borne in upon the eyes of all men both in heaven and
on earth is more than enough to withdraw all support from men's ingratitude --
just as God, to involve the human race in the same guilt, sets forth to all
without exception his presence portrayed in his creatures. Despite this, it
is needful that another and better help be added to direct us aright to the
very Creator of the universe. It was not in vain, then, that he added the
light of his Word by which to become KNOWN UNTO SALVATION; and he regarded as
worthy of this privilege those whom he pleased to gather more closely and
intimately to himself. For because he saw the minds of all men tossed and
agitated, after he chose the Jews as his very own flock, he fenced them about
that they might not sink into oblivion as others had. With good reason he
holds us by the same means in the pure knowledge of himself, since otherwise
event those who seem to stand firm before all others would soon melt away.
Just as old or bleary-eyed men and those with weak vision, if you thrust
before them a most beautiful volume, even if they recognize it to be some sort
of writing, yet can scarcely construe two words, but with the aid of
spectacles will begin to read distinctly; so Scripture, gathering up the
otherwise confused knowledge of God in our minds, having dispersed our
dullness, clearly shows us the true God. This, therefore, is a special gift,
where God, to instruct the church, not merely uses mute teachers but also
opens his own most hallowed lips. Not only does he teach the elect to look
upon a god, but also shows himself as the God upon whom they are to look."

that's the trouble with the visible elect, always showing up with extra people, making the waiters scramble. let god stand (or get his own table). and by the way, i tried reading with spectacles once. what a joke!! how can you concentrate with the crowd pressing in to get a view??

That's the trouble with poetic license...... it's issued free, and it can't be revoked or endorsed.

You can however make a fortune by issuing them to gullible fools at local reading circles.

Re - Reading with spectacles. Have you tried a manacle?

That seems a trifle extreme.

Plain ol' handcuffs work for me.

As usual on this damned perplexingly schizophrenic board, my rather honest question didn't get close to being answered. That is, "What do you think was Mr. Beardsley's original inspiration for the name of this board?" The Bukowski quote? Maybe he thought he could lure in sobers who secretly yearned for the enlightenment of the drunk, all the while subtly pushing the new "safe" alcohol alternative Blissium, in order to boost his secretly owned Blissium manufacturing plant's sales? Was it just a misspelling of "Gas in trunk", "Ask a Monk", "Pass the Funk", "Grab my Junk", or "Johnny's hairy belches"?
OH, Where for art thou sir Beardsley?

I think he just set it up whilst pissed and then forgot he ever did it . . .