TIDBITS 10/12/08

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We encourage you to forward this email to friends and colleagues. ====================================== Hill Censer

... or ... Mountain Censer. Origin ... the Han dynasty. These were incense burners shaped as mountain peaks rising over crested waves in the form of islands. They represented the abodes of the Chinese Immortals ... hermits of perennial youth ... both islands and immortals dissolving into mist upon the approach of humans. Brigadoon anyone?

It is said that the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di sent an expedition of several thousand aristocratic youths to find the islands for it was there that the drug preventing death grew. Unfortunately ... they never returned. Whether they are dead or still alive and well is something we mere mortals will never know.

Lest there are thems amongst you wot thinks a censer to be a paltry gift at best ... a trinket of little value to be enjoyed by society's fringe members ... I am here to tell you you are wrong for it is well known that the Queen Mother of the West (not to be confused with the Wicked Witch of the West of Dorothy fame) gave Emperor Qin a censer depicting one of the isles. And if it's good enough for Queenie and Qin ? it's good enough for me.

Some of these censers include in their makeup tigers and hydras and goats and deer and mythological monsters of all sizes and shapes. This ... as you all know ... is a paradigm meant to ensure man understands the forces which motivate the universe and which source humankind. This is of course theoretical rather than empirical ? but I know quite a few folks whose biological origins quite clearly stem from mythical monsters which lurk in the deep abysses of primeval forests.

As an aside ... for those rarest of readers who prefer immortality to wealth ... I have the potion ... which I shall impart forthwith. Should any of you partake and in about 100 to 200 years from now you find you suddenly have an urge to discuss your good fortune at having read Tidbits ... not to worry. Let me know how to reach you and I'll be in touch at a most propitious moment in time.

Cinnabar was believed to be transmutable into gold in a furnace. Now then ... have someone you trust--moi for instance--cast a small vessel out of this gold. Place into this vessel your favorite food or drink. Could be Lo Mein ... could be Maneschewitz Malaga ... and eat or drink and be merry. Immortality will be yours. Guaranteed.

By the way ... as an aside ... did you know Parthian incense was/is known as Gum Benjamin? This is a fact folks. Now how's that for quaint? Also ... in case you think cannabis is a modern phenomenon ... they used that as incense too back in them thar days.

And of course ... I have an image of a censer of outstanding beauty to show you. It is made of bronze and gold and silver ... and it is in the shape of a sacred mountain. It is inhabited by deities and wild animals. And if you shrink yourself down in your mind's eye ... you might envision yourself living among these beings in the depths of the mountain cavorting if you will with gods and beasties alike. As a parenthetical aside ? by a show of hands ? who amongst you like to cavort. Write. Email. Use carrier pigeon or telepathy. I need to know this.

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at

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where you will scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says Current Tidbits ... and you will get to view an incense burner of the highest caliber.

And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark

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