Fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago. The most prevalent legend has it that fireworks were discovered or invented by accident by a Chinese cook working in a field kitchen who happened to mix charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter (all commonly found in the kitchen in those days). The mixture burned and when compressed in an enclosure (a bamboo tube), the mixture exploded. -Legend
Tonight's word: LIGHT FUSE AND GET AWAY
I used to love fireworks when I was little. The illegal ones the best. Some were called firecrackers. Black Cats. Bottle rockets. Quetes. Roman candles. Our entire summers were matches and gun powder. Surprised I got 10 digits now that I think about it. And 2 good eyes. But we had fun.
But for some reason today, when I saw all the 20,000+ DOW articles, I smelled that familiar gunpowder again. I could hear the sizzle of the fuse. I don't know if you were a little pyro like me back in the day and played with these things, but if you did, you know that there are quick fuses and then there's QUICK fuses. Some you're just lucky to get out of your hand in time. And if you were too late, you definitely had a couple of numb digits. But you lived to fight another day.
I know someone way up high lit the fuse on a big mother today. I can smell it. And so can you. But how fast the fuse is, is anyone's guess. We know its a mighty mighty firecracker, biggest we've ever seen. So just how long is the fuse on one that big? I wish I knew. Shoot, I wish you knew. Cause time went sslllooowwww today and probably going to be a slow night. Slow until we get the green light. We can always argue back and forth about the Yankees or the Red Sox, tomato or tomoto but really it's all about that fuse. Bout dat ass? Nawww. Bout dat fuse, son.
I guess it's a good day to get straight with myself. Turn my surfboard from the wave and start paddling. A good day to start thinking about saying adios to some hombres and muchachas that I've never met in person. Some good folks who worked on the same highway as I did for a few years. Some faded away and some new ones popped up. Had a few good laughs too. Knowing that we were all shackled and drawn but just trying to make the best of a tough situation. Just working that chain gang. Singing songs of praise to our Lord. Singing till our sunshine day comes a dawnin'. What else is a poor boy to do? Maria. How you doin, girl?
"Knowing that the shovel in the dirt keeps the devil gone, woke up this morning shackled and drawn"
https://youtu.be/1Lz-whY0vWo
Yosef said many moons ago that we all "tow the rope". I see that in the words of OWK and Cowboy and Matt and Victor and Sarah and many many more. You guys and gals are awesome. Just pulling the rope the best we can. Swinging the pick the best we can. With the only tool we have. Our hands and our wits. You know Patrick is towing the line. Getting up at all these odd hours to feed the chain gang. You know Dr WC is pulling it. You know Yosef is too. I know have a new found respect for the aallllll the writing he has done. Like Humpty Dumpty said, "Brother, it ain't over easy".
But tow the rope we do. Tow the rope we will till our slow boat from China comes in. Looking back in hindsight, no surprise it's been a slow fuse. But fuses can quicken. And quicken it has. So tonight, I might have a room temperature proper pint of Guinness and start thinking about drafting my goodbye to this chapter of my life. To some of the nice folk I'll feel kin to for a mighty long time. Everyone scatters after a jailbreak, don't they? Old boss man don't know the times they are a changin'. Besides, he ain't so big. He just tall that's just about all.
Here comes old Pa with the dynamite. Light the fuse and get away.
And that's the word
Heisenberg
https://youtu.be/cqhemmeAZAA
https://youtu.be/7wpPfvR39E8
Gray morning light spits through the shade
Another day older, closer to the grave
Closer to the grave and come the dawn
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn
Pick up the rock son, carry it on
I’m trudging through the dark in a world gone wrong
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
I always loved the feel of sweat on my shirt
Stand back son and let a man work
Let a man work, is that so wrong
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn
Pick up the rock son, carry it on
What’s a poor boy to do in a world gone wrong
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
Freedom son’s a dirty shirt
The sun on my face and my shovel in the dirt
A shovel in the dirt keeps the devil gone
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn
Pick up the rock son, carry it on
What’s a poor boy to do but keep singing his song
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
Gambling man rolls the dice, workingman pays the bill
It’s still fat and easy up on banker’s hill
Up on banker’s hill, the party’s going strong
Down here below we’re shackled and drawn
Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn
Pick up the rock son, carry it on
We’re trudging through the dark in a world gone wrong
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn
Pick up the rock son, carry it on
What’s a poor boy to do but keep singing his song
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn