by John Philipp
Member since:
August 10, 2006

Thought~Byte No. 28

December 31, 2008 12:35 AM EST
views: 119 | comments: 94

Thought~Byte No. 28

 

 

 

Concept and words by John Philipp. Drawings by Phil Frank.

(The comments are where the wisdom is found.)

 
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Comments: 94

John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 12:36am EST
Thought~Bytes are posted every Wednesday. To see all Thought~Bytes and get an email when new ones are posted, please join Thought~Bytes
Lee P. Dec 31, 2008, 12:37am EST
Absolutely!
Sunaura *. Dec 31, 2008, 12:39am EST
Wise words indeed
Larry H. Dec 31, 2008, 12:42am EST
thanks for sharing
Sheila J. Dec 31, 2008, 12:48am EST
This is great! I need to post this in my classroom! Thanks for sharing!
CyberGwen ! Dec 31, 2008, 12:57am EST
If only we could learn this when in the cradle instead of much, much later!
René Allen Dec 31, 2008, 12:59am EST
Alrighty then.
Tanya P. Dec 31, 2008, 1:05am EST
Absolutely no absolutes! Hmmm, I think this is a contradiction! lol
Vivian A. Dec 31, 2008, 1:39am EST
I absolutely DISAGREE. I think you may have suspected as much, trying to lure me in John?
Georgiana S. Dec 31, 2008, 2:08am EST
true, which is an absolute!!
Jessica S. Dec 31, 2008, 2:42am EST
except with death and taxes, of course. ;)
Kathryn E. Dec 31, 2008, 3:00am EST
even death is relative. sort of.
Robert - just a simple man - B. Dec 31, 2008, 4:40am EST
No, there is one absolute. Although it's distribution and dispersement may be relative. A few blessed souls enjoy it life-long. For most it is fleeting, it comes and goes. And for a few, for some hidden purpose, it remains elusive, unexperienced. I believe that there is a formula, a constant yet undiscovered, but unlike E=MC2, it is not ours to decipher.

Regardless, this 'absolute' is the reason we all exist, it is the reason our species endures. It is True Love.
Robert - just a simple man - B. Dec 31, 2008, 4:45am EST
And you Obi-John may be the second absolute. Each early morning, I wake up for a drink of water. On early Wednesday mornings, I KNOW in addition to the water I'm gonna get a thought-byte along the way. If I don't, I'm going to start calling California hospitals to see where I'm suppose to send the flowers.
Cindy B. Dec 31, 2008, 5:00am EST
Very true! =)
Donna Hammett-Tooker Dec 31, 2008, 5:13am EST
Robert is right, you are an absolute pleasure and the weeks I was away, the thought-bytes were the thing I missed most. But, Robert, there is also the vodka that is an absolute... Dear lord, John, you're scaring the baby to death with this one - he can't possibly understand the import of what you have written on the walls and yet it will drive him to prove the validity of its message every day of his life. While the contention is that there is no absolute - we push the envelope further every day to prove that there IS absolute-ism. This one is rather nasty on this day when resolutions are due to the desk of Mother Nature, Father Time or whatever life-controlling entity you choose. I cannot disprove your thought-byte but I also cannot accept it because it limits my universe too much - I need there to be an absolute something out there.
JOHN BECK Dec 31, 2008, 7:19am EST
The first sentence is absolutely true.
The second sentence is an exaggeration but relatively true!
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:50am EST
"The first sentence is absolutely true.

The second sentence is an exaggeration but relatively true!"
John, it's not nice to be clever so early in my morning.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:50am EST
You're welcome, Marilyn.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:50am EST
"Absolutely!"

Lee, you may be unclear on the concept of this Byte :)
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:51am EST
Thank you, Sunaura.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:51am EST
You're welcome, Larry.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:51am EST
"I need to post this in my classroom! "

Be my guest, Sheila and be careful they don't turn it against you :)
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:52am EST
"If only we could learn this when in the cradle"

Maybe, Gwen, and then nobody likes a wise baby.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:52am EST
OK then, René
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:52am EST
"Absolutely no absolutes! Hmmm, I think this is a contradiction!"

Aha, Tanya. One of the key facets to this Byte.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:53am EST
"I absolutely DISAGREE."

That's OK, Vivian as long as you also absolutely AGREE.

(which would be yet another aspect to this Byte)
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:53am EST
"Might, just be."

Or might just not be, Darlene.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:53am EST
"true, which is an absolute!!"

Ah, but is it, Georgiana?
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:53am EST
"except with death and taxes"

Jessica, some would say that everything is relative to something.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:53am EST
"even death is relative. sort of.

See, Kathryn is one of those people.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:54am EST
"there is one absolute."

If, so, it must get awfully lonely, Robert.

A heads-up: sometime in mid-February I will make my annual Run-for-the-Sun. That Wednesday you may have to fend for yourself, young Luke.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:54am EST
Glad you think so, Cindy.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:55am EST
"I cannot disprove your thought-byte but I also cannot accept it because it limits my universe too much - I need there to be an absolute something out there."

You might want to reconsider whether lack of an absolute limits your universe, Donna.

I thought only you could do that.
Steph-in-NE ..... Dec 31, 2008, 8:01am EST
cool ponder my friends thanks for sharing
Bert Van Essen Dec 31, 2008, 8:09am EST
The child in the picture is a thought capture. I hope youngins' can feel free to color out of the lines. I can not answer now but I wonder hiow many absolutes date back to that young baby in the play pen.
Karen G. Dec 31, 2008, 9:03am EST
I agree
mary bryant Dec 31, 2008, 9:14am EST
you are so right
~Sia McKye~ Dec 31, 2008, 9:19am EST
Except maybe dying, lol! The rest is open for modifications.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 9:32am EST
You're welcome, Steph.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 9:34am EST
"I wonder how many absolutes date back to that young baby in the play pen."

Bert, maybe just be aware of how many absolutes you've accepted as you go through your day.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 9:34am EST
Glad you do, Karen.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 9:34am EST
Thanks, Mary.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 9:35am EST
"Except maybe dying, lol! The rest is open for modifications."

Why, Sia, there's an absolute assumption right there. :)
Patricia J. Dec 31, 2008, 9:38am EST
I agree. Great thought byte, John.
Teresa A. Dec 31, 2008, 10:25am EST
Death and taxes, LOL
:)
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Dec 31, 2008, 11:08am EST
I hope the New Year brings you good health, much happiness and many blessings.
Photobucket
Bob B. Dec 31, 2008, 11:09am EST
Thanks, John. Have a Happy New Year!
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 11:53am EST
Thanks, Patricia.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 11:54am EST
"Death and taxes, LOL"

I was thinking just the opposite, Teresa.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 11:54am EST
Thanks, Nana, and a Happy New Year to you.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 11:54am EST
You too, Bob. Thanks for dropping by.
Haim Kadman Dec 31, 2008, 12:19pm EST
Thanks for reminding us the bare truth John.
Lydia (part of the solution) Shelley Dec 31, 2008, 12:38pm EST
Teresa you can cheat death and avoid taxes... for a while at least LOL

As for me I'm an absolute nut but relatively sensible somehow. It's working for me quite well at the moment so I may as well enjoy it while I can!
David S. Dec 31, 2008, 1:07pm EST
I don't get it :)
Sheila Deeth Dec 31, 2008, 1:11pm EST
Nice one. Nice how the tiny ones remind us what isn't perfect might still be perfectly great.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 1:35pm EST
You're welcome, Haim.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 1:36pm EST
Whatever works for you is a key facet in this Byte, Lydia.

Thanks.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 1:37pm EST
David, sometimes bytes don't connect with where you are at the moment.

Consider it later.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 1:39pm EST
"what isn't perfect might still be perfectly great."

An aspect of this Byte, Sheila, and a wonderful way to express it.

Thanks.
Stefania H. Dec 31, 2008, 2:16pm EST
cute...
Nancy Biri Dec 31, 2008, 2:56pm EST
Thanks for sharing
Chas Andrews Dec 31, 2008, 3:03pm EST
true
Angela A. Dec 31, 2008, 3:09pm EST
I'm absolutely certain that I have relatives...
Sorry, John I couldn't resist that little pun.
Giggles as always my friend.
Larry M. Dec 31, 2008, 3:44pm EST
That should make a lot of your readers angry. They should find it insulting. But I suspect they will accept it easily. I have carefully not read the comments. Am I right?

Personally, I have not learned enough to know whether there are or not. Certainly the speed of light varies. That's how we get rainbows.

Of course the statement also contradicts itself. :-)
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 4:23pm EST
All statements contradict themselves at some level, Larry.

I would hope Bytes would neither anger or please people. Rather that they would see where that thought took them.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 4:24pm EST
Glad you liked it, Stefania.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 4:24pm EST
You're welcome, Nancy.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 4:24pm EST
Chas, you were expecting ... ?
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 4:24pm EST
"I'm absolutely certain that I have relatives.."

And Angela ends 2008 on a clever note :)
Elaine S. Dec 31, 2008, 6:30pm EST
I absolutely agree.
Jerri H. Dec 31, 2008, 7:07pm EST
Absolutely ;)
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:41pm EST
Thanks, Elaine.
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 7:42pm EST
OK, you guys are pulling my chain :)
blaine d. Dec 31, 2008, 8:12pm EST
so true, happy new year!
John Philipp Dec 31, 2008, 9:33pm EST
And a Happy New Year to you, Blaine.
Beth G. Dec 31, 2008, 11:11pm EST
This was very true, and very good! Thanks for sharing John!
John Philipp Jan 1, 2009, 12:16am EST
Thanks, Beth and Happy New Year.
Jan S. Jan 1, 2009, 2:36am EST
Absolutely right! Happy New Year, John.
John Philipp Jan 1, 2009, 11:03am EST
And a Happy New Year to you, Jan.
Bob Cronley Jan 1, 2009, 2:28pm EST
The statement contradicts itself. You are stating that there are absolutely no absolutes.
regina k. Jan 1, 2009, 3:25pm EST
cool
John Philipp Jan 1, 2009, 5:04pm EST
That is what I am stating, Bob.

I'm a big fan of statements that contradict themselves, understanding that, at some level, all do.
John Philipp Jan 1, 2009, 5:04pm EST
Thanks, Regina.
Marie J. R. Jan 1, 2009, 6:31pm EST
WoW !!!,, scary but true,,,
Bless you John,,, Happy New Year,,,
Christian Comments

Spicecomments.com - Christian Comments
John Philipp Jan 1, 2009, 6:57pm EST
Marie, when you know it's true, it's no longer scary.
Bill W. Jan 4, 2009, 12:07pm EST
How can you say that when you know that nothing is certain? That is a fragment in my brain left over from the only humanities lecture I managed to wake up in.

Rest easy
John Philipp Jan 4, 2009, 12:21pm EST
You're almost right, Bill.

Nothing is certain except this. :)

Happy New Year
Lance L. Jan 5, 2009, 3:19pm EST
In life it's all about perspective, for everything else we have the "0."
John Philipp Jan 5, 2009, 4:24pm EST
Not sure I understand that, Lance.
Roberta Moto Jan 23, 2009, 7:18pm EST
great post and conversation. We can never have this moment back again, time flows, things change and my view of things is different from your view of things, some will argue that our lives are just an illusion, that our reality is just an illusion, but all that is too deep for me
John Philipp Jan 23, 2009, 8:13pm EST
Too deep I take to mean you don't understand what they mean, Roberta.

Just interpret sayings (and Bytes) for what they mean to you.
Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. Mar 26, 2009, 10:17pm EDT
This is so true
John Philipp Mar 26, 2009, 11:08pm EDT
Thanks, Beth.

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