Welcome to the Bumbastories Monday Magazine
We regret to announce that this week’s magazine contains nothing particularly significant. But since our aim is simply to entertain, maybe it’s OK that the magazine sits on the weak end of the significance spectrum. How significant is significance, anyway? Last we heard, the jury is still out on the significance question. However the jury is in and the verdict delivered on the subject of “Meaning”. Please see the Funny Pages entry on “The Meaning of Life”. Also see song at end of the magazine, a song Bumba wrote a long time ago which is clearly not very meaningful, but is quite sweet nonetheless.
That being said, George Packard, our roving reporter, is still out there: doggedly determined and decidedly dead-earnest not only about alliteration but also about journalistic significance. George wants to lasso some “breaking news”, a scoop. Ya gotta admit, social significance is nice in a magazine. But, as we were saying, this week’s Monday magazine is a bit low on significance. And meaning too.
The Meaning of Life
The Meaning of Life
The Buddha was asked by one of his disciples about the meaning of life.
By way of response, the Buddha held up a flower.
“Do you mean to say,” exclaimed Rami Medran “that the meaning of life is a flower? Just a little flower?”
“The meaning of life is anything you chose,” responded the Buddha slowly, “If you like, the meaning of life is my fat ass.”
“Oh no, oh no,” gasped Suri Ba’an, “That cannot be.”
“OK,” drawled the Buddha, “the meaning of life is your fat ass. Or, if you like, a tiny flea that is crawling around your fat tooches, searching, poor thing, for his meaning of life.”
“Aah! The Buddha means to say that the meaning of life lies within the examination of life itself. The noble quest, the struggle of the mind to make sense of the maya of existence!’ countered Suri Ba’an.
“OK,” said the Buddha. “Let me put it this way. The real meaning of life is the line at the 7-Eleven convenience store.”
“What is this, sire? This 7-Eleven?” they asked.
“It’s a combination of two prime numbers together with too high prices. Don’t you get it, dudes? I’m only kidding.”
“Aaaaaaahhh,” they all sighed.
“Right. I was only kidding. The ultimate in meaning, the bottom line on the meaning thing is Jack Nicholson.”
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All right, here’s some quick social commentary:
Question: Is that it? Is that the extent of Bumbastories’ social commentary and insight into the plight of modern civilization?
Answer: Well, it’s a start, isn’t it?
Question: How about the relationship between the military-industrial-media complex and the widening stratification and disparities between the social classes?
Answer: Yeah, that too.
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And now for a sweet song, Desert Wind….
Wishing everyone a pleasant week.
An Occasional Story or Magazine 
Just now getting around to reading this. Thanks for the wish for a pleasant week. It was.
That’s a good question. When I was expanding the scope of military-industrial I added the fourth estate, the media, but left out big oil, big agriculture, the banks etc. Too many hyphens! All the money is against raising monies for public services. They want to hold it all, which is expected, but the little folks have to at least make some noise.
Good Question:
“How about the relationship
between the military-industrial-media complex
and the widening stratification and disparities
between the social classes?”
+
how much money goes to the
military-industrial complex
and how much goes to social & health support?
Compare USA and Scandinavia…
dear Stephen “Buddha” Baum: “…I quit/retired three weeks ago after very gratifying career. The work goes on…” = congratulations for your powerful engagement!
That was very insightful, I feel like I have learned something valuable today which I may sell on because that is the mercenary way of this world and probably how capitalism works.
Whatever it is you learned, I’ll go 50-50. Paul Simon has a song That Is Worth Some Money. With him it’s true.
Good song Bumba!
Thank you, Miller. Book going out tomorrow.
“nothing particularly significant”?!!!!! I respectfully disagree!
As for the meaning of life, pushing the little triangular white shape and listening to my friend sing is one of them! Thank you, Stephen!
A joyful week ahead! 🙂
YOU and your talent and your kindness are significant and meaningful. A joyful week to you too!
…a big smile back, my friend! 🙂