thermodynamics of ideas

Taurus the Goat  (This section title after Peter and Maggie’s 21st century mythology discussion.)

In his youth, Taurus had experimented with many unusual and controversial themes, but none failed so spectacularly as his venture hiring out goats as self-adapting lawn maintenance devices. He’d tended to associate with certain new-age types, or whatever they were calling themselves in those days. While one might not look back to that era and call him a ‘hippie’, Taurus himself had no reason to be ashamed of his close affinity and admiration for the rebels, radicals, and revolutionaries of the modern social economy.  In those days, in certain circles, it was considered ‘hip’ to be non-conformist.

Alas, like most of his other attempts at magnificence, Taurus’ experiment failed miserably. (Goats took too much care, too much food, too much coming out the other side, too much work all around.) For many years afterward, whenever the goat story came up, Taurus would defend himself with the simple curt reply, “I thought it was a pretty good idea.” Fortunately he hadn’t had too much money to lose at that time, a fact that he’d never lose sight of.  Somehow, he would connect himself to wealth.

So it was with particular interest one weekend while attending a small rural college that he met a stunning raven-haired woman. The conversation just seemed to come out of nowhere. Suddenly she was there, he was there, and just as suddenly, they were having a conversation as if they were old friends with a lot of catching up to do.

Then again, suddenly, the conversation changed direction.  He ventured a question – really the only thing that came to his mind. “So, are you a student here?”

“No, my sister attends and I’m just here for the day to visit her. In fact, here she comes now.”

Taurus turned, and was somewhat surprised (having hoped for twins) to find his glance landing upon a rather plain and stern looking young woman. The Enamored One was a few years older than he perhaps, and the other a few years younger, but didn’t look anything like the sister. “This is Amika. And I am Erica,” said the first.

Taurus shook hands with Erica saying, “My name is Taurus,” and turning to Amika with outstretched hand, trying to feign equal interest in both, said, “I’m very pleased to meet you.” He waited for a dreadful second, then another, for her reciprocal token of friendship to meet his own expression mid-air and perform a trapeze feat of aero-dynamics. And yet the saving hand was not there, or at least was not in sight at the moment that a lifetime of previous practice and experience had led him to expect.

Thankfully, although the hand didn’t come up, the voice eventually did. Amika said, “I’m sorry I can’t shake hands. I’ve been tending the goats.”

Intrigued, forgetting his outstretched hand, Taurus said, “Goats?”

As it happened, the sisters were indeed connected to great wealth, although that wasn’t obvious in their outward expression.

Not long after the two students became accustomed to seeing each other about the campus, Taurus began to see Amika in a new light. She was here and Erica was not. Amika wasn’t as stern and plain as was his first impression. Rather she was totally and completely inviting to his attentions and growing affection. Taurus followed the ancient Siren call, as had so many men before him. The next thing he knew, Amika was giving him ‘TheTalk’ about her Expectations of Man and what she could do for him should he endeavor to meet those expectations.

Amika had a gift and she knew it. She used her gift to its fullest advantage. It was her secret weapon against those forces at loose in the world that might accidentally or intentionally get in her way towards whatever she was on her way to. She didn’t know exactly what that was yet but had the faith that the moment would reveal itself when its time had come.

She tolerated his political orientation, but insisted that he keep it to himself and craft a new presentation. Over time, the one thing would grow and metamorphose into another thing. She cut his hair, dressed him in better clothes, and led him into new friendships.

Amika understood in a way Taurus never completely did that of all the ideas that could come into being at any given instant, only the smallest fraction were available to a given individual or, as was the present example, a couple or group of people. … The skill of success, she believed, was to first recognize that there is some best idea, some best move available to each and every human being on the face of the earth at every single instant. The trick was to understand that initial fact so that one will be vigilant enough to see and utilize it when available.

The logical starting point is the end result when so little is known about everything else concerned with the question.

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Benny’s primary competition for advertising revenues was another monthly paper that occasionally hit the streets about mid-way into the DC Herald cycle. The publisher of that paper (name?) was well-known around town as an (eccentric) child of family wealth. As such, the competitor didn’t have the limitations of propriety (etc.) that respectable publications such as the Washington Post and the DC Herald did.  Thus,  the publisher could  step on toes, insult the powerful, and pride himself with the most in-your-face, risqué, and profane periodical anyone could imagine.

He may have stepped a little too far into forbidden territory when he published a political cartoon that depicted a caricature of Taurus, in obvious delight, standing behind a goat that was oblivious to everything but the clump of grass it was chewing on. A thought balloon emanating from the Taurus character read, “Don’t knock it if you ain’t tried it.” The heading at the top of the image was “The Goatherder: Episode 1.” (See NOTE below.)

NOTE: Taurus would have to have been a recognized character at this time, which would put the event after the country trip. But Benny could also be told of this anecdote as a previous event by some peripheral character like Peter. The publishing heir could have experienced some catastrophe or drug arrest shortly after, putting to death the rival publication.