Debt Slavery

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... same old, same old. Redundancy is certainly an obvious trait of poverty. The empire's puppet politicians have resurrected the Wall Street bailout in record time. We could be a complete Fascist state as early as Wednesday evening. Sadly, I am almost certain that the bailout proposal will pass this time around. The defeat of the previous version was mere showmanship, more "good cop, bad cop" histrionics. The crooks will not stop until we give them the money.

The sad state of affairs, of course, is being disguised as an attempt to "free up" credit markets. What it really means is that the ruling elite (i.e., moneychangers and powers-that-be) want to insure debt slavery for the rank-and-file peons. The latter peons have already been indoctrinated with the basic concepts of debt slavery. That's why we see such a fixation with FICO scores. In lieu of a real living wage, we are given the option to secure credit and take on massive loans to realize a higher standard-of-living. We are then inundated with the usual "American Dream" baloney in order to create extreme anxiety and feelings of inadequacy.

I am also very suspicious of the alleged bank failures that have been occurring in increasing frequency. I am inclined to believe that there is some kind of sinister machination involved, the objective of which is a major consolidation of the commercial banking "system." I would not doubt that the plan involves the the destruction of smaller banks and credit unions in order to create large banking oligopolies who will further rape and pillage the rank-and-file peons.

The propaganda will continue ... the bailout will save "America" ... it will save jobs ... it will save 401(k) plans and pensions ... blah, blah, blah. What exactly is there to save? The whole "system" from consumers to corporations runs solely on leverage (read: debt). It's all about saving the debt slavery "system." Mind you, once Social Security and Medicare are "privatized" or eliminated, the deal will be done. My suggestion is that rank-and-file peons should immediately remove all investments in stock mutual funds. All 410(k) plans should be revised to more conservative (i.e., non-stock) choices. Overall, we must stop purchasing on credit and reduce our loan portfolios to zero. That's the only way out of this mess.

Critical Mass

Moms and I made the rounds at Koko Marina this morning. Moms shopped at Price Busters and Foodland. We then procured local-style plate lunches at Loco Moco. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I also helped moms bring in the laundry.

I kept moms company until 1pm. After that, I spent 1.5 hours in Koko Head Park, although the experience was far from enjoyable. Battling the thousands of flies was not conducive to relaxation. I drove to Koko Marina and was able to find shaded parking. I walked to the gym and did my usual cardio workout. Subsequently, I shopped at Foodland before returning to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). My own laundry was awaiting my attention when I arrived.

Our slide into Fascism has been postponed until Thursday at the earliest. Although the "revised" bailout plan was rejected by the House today, there is little doubt that it will keep coming back like a bad sitcom. The stock market fell predictably, the highest single-day loss in history. However, word on the "street" indicated that the Asian stock market was already in decline even before the bailout vote. Thus, Wall Street's losses were part of a cascading effect.

Mind you, I really don't care if the empire's economy collapses, as long as the pain and suffering is shared by everyone including the so-called "upper class." A major correction is long overdue. And, really, it's time to stop calling it the "subprime crisis." How can a small group of impoverished homeowners cause a global financial collapse? Obviously, the loans were packaged and sold many times over (i.e., "securitized"). Each time a package was sold, exorbitant fees were extracted. In addition, each package must have been used to "create" additional money, much like the "fractional reserve" banking principle. There is no other way that such a small set of home loans could eventually balloon into a trillion-dollar crisis. If that's the case, then the bailout package becomes suspect. It is too little to effect any cure. However, it is enough for the ruling elite (i.e., moneychangers and powers-that-be) to make a final wealth transfer before the "system" collapses.

We have a few more days before the Fascists take full possession of the empire. There is speculation that Shrub may declare a form of martial law if the economy were to tank within the next few days. There is also speculation that the Fed has been actively engaging in activity to bring about a contrived financial meltdown. In any case, we must be prepared for the inevitable. There will be a huge transfer of wealth upward to the ruling elite whether the latter is caused by lost jobs, hyperinflation, termination of "safety net" programs, or outright theft by means of vanished assets. Greed knows no bounds, and it is now at critical mass.

Fascist's Holiday

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday ... exactly the same as Sunday last week. Are details necessary? Only one item is worthy of mention, that is, I received the monthly "condotel" statement. Once again, the "condotel" did not break even. I estimated the shortage to be about $350 or so. Money is just flowing out of the ol' lavahead's investment accounts. Is he deriving any pleasure from the financial siphoning? Obviously not. Fortunately, the government bailout plan has not been passed by the empire's puppets as yet. We have a one-day reprieve before being catapulted into a Fascist state.

Well, I finally got the lowdown on how to reboot Linux when the Gnome® desktop is frozen. I already knew that a hard reset was a terrible option. The solution is to use the Alt-SysReq key combination. While holding both keys down, I must input R-E-I-S-U-B (in that order). Then, the system will safely reboot.

Fascist Coup

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... the itinerary was exactly the same as detailed in the "blog" of Tuesday. We can expect that, short of any unforeseen event, the itinerary of Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday will be pretty much identical. No need for me to repeat myself. The evenings are also redundant. Can you say, "Ubuntu Linux"?

I have yet to get a good night's rest. I am still experiencing a variety of strange dreams. Thus, I am extremely fatigued during my waking hours. Add to that my apprehension about the fraudulent bailout plan developed by the scheming Ben Bernanke and Hank Paulson. Even with all of the public outrage (which surprised me, frankly), the empire's puppet politicians are planning to have the bailout package ready before Monday. If the bailout package does come to fruition, be aware that we (read: the empire and its slaves) have crossed the threshold to a Fascist state.

Fascism is defined as a system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. Other elements of Fascism include:

• Powerful idea of nationalism
• Powerful executive control in government
• Lower human rights outlook
• Military reigns supreme
• Corporations wield great power
• Idea that National Security is at great risk to some threat
• Identifying of enemies/scapegoats that unifies citizens in patriotism
• Mass media controlled by state and corporations
• Fixed elections
• Rampant corruption
• Unlimited power held by police force

Learn about the Fascist coup that will take place tomorrow.

Morbid Boredom

I was on my way to Kahala in my Nissan® Frontier truck at 7:30am this morning. I ended up parking in the Kahala Mall parking lot and walking across the street to the dentist office. I had my teeth cleaned and examined. Along with a minimal amount of X-rays taken, the cost came to $189 and some change. I have three small cavities which will be dealt with in a future appointment. The estimated cost will be either $380 and $480 depending on the type of filling that I choose. Parting with that kind of dough is difficult, especially since I have scrimped excessively in order to survive. However, I have not been to the dentist for over three years. That, in itself, was a foolish move.

I drove to Hawai'i Kai after my appointment. Moms was home when I arrived. Moms and I ended up in Koko Marina. We ate local-style plate lunches at Zippy's. Then, moms shopped for groceries at Foodland. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I chatted with moms until 12:40pm.

I spent about 1.5 hours in Koko Head Park. The sky was overcast, but it did not detract from the scenery. Essentially, I had the whole park to myself again. No amount of riches could substitute for such an experience. I am finding that a healthy dose of natural surroundings is mandatory to maintain sanity in an insane world. Reluctantly, I drove to Koko Marina at 2pm. I found shaded parking easily. I walked to the gym and performed my usual workout. Were it not for the fact that the gym is my health insurance, I would seriously consider terminating my membership. I shopped for my own groceries at Foodland before returning to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) to endure another evening of morbid boredom.

So far, the "good cop, bad cop" theatrics have held off passage of the fraudulent bailout. However, we cannot underestimate the power of the moneychangers and powers-that-be. Behind closed doors, the empire's puppets will come together and facilitate another major fraud on the unsuspecting masses. I am not conflicted by my own position about the bailout plan. Yes, I could really benefit by the re-inflating of the so-called "housing bubble." Yes, I could benefit by another real estate sucker purchasing the "condotel" unit at or above my purchase price. However, I know that I am the "low man on the totem pole." I am not in the elite class. I am a member of the rank-and-file scum. Knowing my "place" allows me to acknowledge that I cannot benefit by any ruling class initiative, especially in the long run. My only goal is to stay ahead of the game until the exodus makes itself manifest. Nothing more, nothing less.

Bailout Bamboozlement

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... cloned!Read the first paragraph of the "blog" of Tuesday. Same ol' shit. The idiotic bailout plan has made me weary. Currently, there are some "good cop, bad cop" histrionics going on in the empire's capitol. To add to the theatrics, Federal regulators closed down failing Wamu after the rallying stock market closed for the day. If the cheesy script hadn't seem so plainly obvious, I might have mistaken the whole charade for a made-for-the-tube movie. There have been myriad articles, op-ed pieces, and "blogs" about the bailout, all redundant with little in the way of information that we need. I finally read a piece by Michael Hudson titled, "The Insanity of the $700 Billion Giveaway," on the Counterpunch site. An excerpt:

This is not what the magic of compound interest promised. But it is where it had to end up, with mathematical inevitability. It was an advertising come-on for Wall Street money managers and promoters of "pension-fund capitalism" (or "peoples' capitalism" as it was called in Chile by the Chicago Boys working for General Pinochet's murderous regime, and Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives in England). The promise is that if people consign these funds to individuals who make much, much more than they do but have the survival-of-the-fittest advantage of being much, much more greedy, they will receive a perpetual doubling of interest. That is how retirements for American workers are still supposed to be paid – by magic, not by direct investment. Prospective retirees are supposed to ensure a good life by investing savings in loans to corporate raiders who fire, lay off, downsize and outsource these very workers. The trick is to persuade employees to hand retirement funding over to financial managers whose idea was to make money off the economy by extracting interest and dividends off workers, homeowners and companies being bought on debt leverage. In the final analysis it is debt leverage by itself that is supposed to fuel capital gains.

This has led to madness. The maddest solution of all would be for the government to give the extractive financial sector even more money – funds that no private lenders have been willing to provide, not even vulture funds. No private firm has been able to discover what Mr. Paulson and the unfortunate Mr. Bernanke are sanctimoniously promising: that a viable deal, even an almost money-making one, can be made by buying junk now and waiting for "the economy" to make it good.

Hudson also puts an end to the myth about the "lack of liquidity" in the markets. Heck, there's a lot of liquidity. The Fed has been injecting money into the "system" continuously for months. Where did the money go? Can you guess? Here's the crux of the bailout according to Hudson:

What it can do is provide a one-time transfer of wealth to insiders who already have been playing the debt-credit system and siphoning off its predatory financial proceeds to themselves. The Wall Street bankers, brokers and fund managers to whom I've been speaking for many decades all know this. That is why they pay themselves such large annual bonuses and large salaries each year. The idea is to take as much as you can. As the saying goes: "You only have to make a fortune once in a lifetime." They have been salting away their fortunes year after year, mainly in hard assets: real estate (free of mortgages), fine furniture, boats and trophy art. One last $700 billion heist and they can make their getaway.

In my own off-beat analyses, I have come up with the same conclusion. I urge all two readers of the "blog" to read the aforementioned article and to make future plans accordingly.

Gnome® Disappointment

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Wednesday was overtaken by a coup just like the empire's economy. I was on my way to Aina Haina at 9:15pm. I first stopped at Foodland in the Aina Haina Shopping Center. Then, I spent two hours in the library. I read seemingly endless diatribe about the financial bailout coup that is currently unfolding as we speak. I became even more fatigued and lethargic. I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) at noon.

After packing my gym bag, I drove to Hawai'i Kai in my Nissan® Frontier truck. I spent a little over an hour in Koko Head Park. Only a young hottie and I were in the entire main park area. Reluctantly, I drove to Koko Marina. I found shaded parking easily. Then, I walked to the gym. I performed my usual workout. Then, as per my Wednesday ritual, I ate dinner at Taco Bell®. Three Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos. Yum! Afterward, I shopped for groceries at Foodland before returning to Slob Manor at 4:30pm.

The bailout of Wall Street has been the hot topic of the alternative media and the "blogosphere," so there really is no need for a marginal "blog" such as this one to wax philosophic. My own belief is that we are in the midst of a major coup. Nothing is going to stop it. We are at the doorstep of the secular Apocalypse.

Well, I have discovered one disappointing aspect of Ubuntu Linux, specifically the Gnome® desktop. The Totem media player is the culprit that is causing the entire desktop (except for the mouse cursor) to freeze. Unfortunately, none of the Ctrl-Alt key combinations work once the desktop freezes. Thus, I must invoke a hard reset. In searching the Ubuntu Forums, I discovered several threads about the Gnome desktop freezing either while Web browsing or using a multimedia application. No solutions have been found.

No Bank Left Behind

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day slithered by very slowly. I was extremely fatigued. I did not sleep well at all last night. Thus, my disposition was dismal and apathetic all day. I found little reason to be alive. I spent 3.5 hours in the inner courtyard of the library, most of which was self-engaged in a comatose stupor. I also perused another Linux book, although I have no idea why I am wasting the time doing so. I gain some knowledge of Linux, but the latter knowledge is frivolous. I must return to more essential reading. I did my usual workout at the gym. Again, I had little enthusiasm for what I was doing. I rode the bus back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing), arriving before 5pm.

Well, there's been a lot of discussion in both the alternative and so-called "mainstream" media about the big bailout plan proposed by Ben Bernanke and Hank Paulson. However, I suspect that the bailout plan will be approved within a week giving Paulson dictatorial powers over the financial sector. Make no mistake, there will be no help for the distressed rank-and-file homeowner.

One would think that, as the descriptor "subprime crisis" implies, that an adjunctive solution to the problem would be some kind of assistance for the millions of homeowners who will soon be homeless. Then, I was enlightened when I recalled the old adage, "There's a sucker born every minute." Paulson and Bernanke know the adage well. Suckers are what make so-called "bubbles" function. Taxpayers will eventually absorb all of the losses of the bad "paper" that will be collected under the auspices of the Treasury. The banks will receive "free" money to recapitalize, while simultaneously foreclosing and evicting defaulting homeowners.

Here is where the myriad suckers come in. The defaulted property will be repackaged and offered to a whole new generation of suckers who are waiting in line to become homeowners. They will be fooled into believing that they are buying in at the bottom of the market. Then, the housing "bubble" will re-inflate.

Yes, there will be another bursting of the "bubble" yet again. However, the precedent will have already been set. Another bailout would ensue. In the meantime, we can expect a radical change in other aspects of society. Social services from the New Deal era will be eradicated. In the ramp-up to feed the voracious appetite of greed, no one will really notice. Yesterday's victims will be long forgotten, a powerless mass of homeless and destitute derelicts. Greed, delusions of "exceptionalism," and hubris will preclude any kind of revolution. We are a society of fools who will be consumed by the empire until we have no worth, except to literally become the fertilizer for the next breed of fools.

Lolo Monday

Moms and I made the usual rounds in Hawai'i Kai this morning ... Longs® in Kuapa Kai and Foodland in Koko Marina. For lunch, moms served lamp-baked chicken and Ahi Poke courtesy Foodland, fresh vegetables, and rice. After lunch, moms wanted me to listen to her testimony about the incident with the House of Lolo's rabid dog. Moms has an appointment tomorrow with my sister-in-law's employer who is an attorney. The attorney has been dealing with the House of Lolo's insurance company. So far, moms has received $1,000 for medical expenses. I assume that the attorney is also seeking punitive damages. Last I heard, the latter was to be about $10,000 (split between moms and my bro).

I departed at 2pm. I spent a short amount of time at Koko Head Park. I was not able to fully enjoy the scenery. For some reason, I felt agitated and fidgety. I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Marina and found shaded parking. I walked to the gym and did my usual cardio workout. Afterward, I shopped for a few grocery items at Foodland before heading back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). When I set foot in my squalid room, I immediately initiated the dreaded laundry chores. The rest of the day will follow the same ol' shit.

I made an appointment with my dentist for this coming Friday morning. I will going in for a cleaning and a check-up, although I already know that I have at least one tooth that is giving me grief. I will be paying for service out of my own pocket. Obviously, I am not too happy about all that. I am getting a taste of how the poor and the destitute are living. I am learning what it's like to live in fear of losing everything and not being able to afford anything. I may be two or three steps ahead of the general populace of the empire, which may or may not be an advantage. I will say that, when more and more fools are sucked into the vortex of poverty and despair, we will see desperation wield its ugly head. I want to be long gone to a safe haven before that happens.

Bailout Blues

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday has been neutered. Upon checking my mail, I discovered nothing but mailings from the AARP®. I left he unsolicited stuff in my PO Box. I am maintaining the ruse that I only receive junk mail in order to defend why the jury questionnaire was "lost." Frankly, the jury crap is the last thing that I need to worry about right now. I performed my usual workout at the gym. Sadly, no hottie gym trainer. Then, I ended up riding three different crowded buses to return to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I had to make a stop at Foodland in the Aina Haina Shopping Center. I had to purchase a few necessities. For a snack, I had my eyes set on ice cream. However, a few weeks ago, I had discarded the plastic spoon that was in my gym bag. I reluctantly settled for a bag of acrylamide-laced Wavy Lays® potato chips. I almost finished the entire bag of chips before the bus arrived. I was back in my squalid room by 5pm.

As I suspected, there was a huge run on money market fund deposits. Over $190 billion fled the previous investment safe haven. No telling what will happen this coming week. Another major run will probably shut down more funds including the ones that hold all of my savings. The state of affairs looks grim. According to the AARP® Bulletin:

Undermining our natural strengths are a viral combination of a record national debt now approaching $10 trillion; a federal budget deficit projected this year at $492 billion, but likely closer to $700 billion; a staggering foreign trade deficit; and exhausted savings accounts. The average American household is now buried under mortgage debt of $84,911, car and tuition loans of $14,414, home equity loans of $10,062 and credit card debt of $8,565 — in sum, outstanding debt totaling $117,952. According to other Federal Reserve statistics, average household savings this year are a mere $392.

Something big is goin' down. I am wondering how close we are to finding ourselves under martial law. Is the secular Apocalypse finally upon us?

Well, I will spend another evening with Ubuntu Linux on my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. I have unleashed the power of Compiz Fusion on the Gnome® desktop. I won't use many of the features since I am not concerned about "eye candy." However, the power of Linux can no longer be underestimated.

Hail Hardy Heron!

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day found me in the inner courtyard of the library this morning. I was extremely fatigued. I have not slept well in days because of the onslaught of absurd dreams. My tooth (i.e., rear left molar) has also giving me grief. I lapsed in and out of a coma between sporadic readings of various Linux books. I walked to the gym at the usual time. I performed my usual workout. I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm. The buses were extremely crowded today. No doubt, the bailout plan by the Fed and the Treasury is bringing new hope for the so-called "American Dream" to the masses.

Well, so far I have been extremely satisfied with Ubuntu Linux v8.04.1 LTS (aka "Hardy Heron"). The new version named "Intrepid Ibex" will be released next month. However, I will not upgrade until I receive the "Live CD." I must test the new verison first. Well, all that I have left to do with "Hardy" is to completely configure the firewall and to fix the headphone problem. I will never be returning to that "other" hideous operating system. I also have no intention of acquiring another Apple® computer either.

To Ben Bernanke and Hank Paulson: Can you bail me out of a $500 dental bill?

Blood in the Streets

I was on my way to Hawai'i Kai at 8:30am this morning. Moms was home when I arrived. To my surprise, moms indicated that she had to pick up her hearing aid this morning. Apparently, moms had called yesterday and left a message on my voicemail. However, I had turned off my cell phone indefinitely over two weeks ago. Moms and I departed immediately in my Nissan® Frontier truck. We battled heavy rain for most of the journey to Queen's Hospital. Once there, I found parking. Moms and I weaved our way to the doctor's office. Moms retrieved the hearing aid from the front desk. Then, we headed back to Hawai'i Kai. In actuality, the whole trip was ridiculous. Why didn't the office just send moms the hearing aid in the mail?

On the way back, we stopped at Ross® in the Hawai'i Kai Towne Center. Moms wanted to look for a new frying pan. Finding a suitable one, moms purchased it. Our last stop was at Koko Marina. Moms shopped for groceries at Foodland. Then, we ordered take-out plate lunches from Yummy's. After lunch, moms served up Foremost® vanilla and coffee ice cream. I helped moms harvest the 12-pound bittermelon squash from the back yard. Moms weighed the squash to find the exact weight. It was huge. Then, I cut it up into four pieces. Moms gave away three pieces to the neighbors. I drove moms to her friend's place to deliver the last piece. Moms also gave away a few home-grown papayas. I finally departed at 1:30pm.

I had to make a quick stop at my local bank in Kuapa Kai. Then, I drove back to Koko Marina. I was able to find shaded parking, although the sky was still overcast. I walked to the gym and performed my usual workout. Afterward, I purchased a couple of packs of sushi for dinner from Kozo Sushi. I also shopped for my own groceries at Foodland. I was back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4:30pm. Unfortunately, I had to perform the dreaded laundry chores. With that task completed, I was able to relegate myself to the usual routine.

Well, the roller coaster ride in the financial markets culminated with "good news" for everyone. The Fed and the Treasury will now be amassing all of the toxic debt garbage that was accumulated by the commercial and investment banks. Prior to the "good news," the total amount of the government bailouts was $900 billion. The new plan will add on billions more. Where exactly is the money coming from? The Federal government is completely in debt. There's still a huge trade deficit. And, the two conflagrations in Iraq and Afghanistan are still being funded. I assume that the money is both being "printed" (by the Fed) and borrowed (from China, Japan, and Russia). That is "good news"? For the moneychangers and powers-that-be, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" For the rest of us, we will be looking at a nightmare. In the end, our tax dollars will be funding a revolving government credit line that will surpass our lifetime and the lifetimes of future generations. I can also assume that unfunded liabilities such as Social Security and Medicare will finally be "privatized" or eliminated.

The fun part is that the typical troubled homeowner will be abandoned. Foreclosures will continue. The properties will be repossessed and put back on the market as a new "housing bubble" inflates. Since the toxic debt instruments will have been removed from the banks' balance sheets, the sale of the distressed properties will result in pure profit. The poor will become poorer and homeless. The precedent has been set. The sordid scenario that lead up to the current crash can be repeated again and again with no repercussions. No one will be arrested. No one will go to jail. And, the government is guaranteed to provide bailouts when the new "bubble" bursts.

I received another e-mail from my investment bank once again making assurances that all money market accounts are safe. Specifically, there are no toxic "paper" from Lehman Bros in its portfolios. I suspect that there is a major run on deposits going down as we speak. I have made no effort to move any of my own money. Where will I put it? And, at this point, can I actually beat the herd to the punch? I seriously doubt it. Several other money market funds have already shut down. Another great wealth transfer has begun. As I predicted a long time ago, the cycles will become shorter and more erratic. Unfettered greed has a way of consuming itself as well as destroying anything in its path. The crisis is not over. With each effort to "tame the savage beast," there will even more furious rampages. It needs to be put down now, but the moneychangers and the powers-that-be won't let that happen. When the "beast" finally breaks out of its cage, there will be real blood in the streets.

Command Line

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been entered on the command line. I spent 2.5 hours in the inner courtyard of the library. I continued to peruse various Linux books. I made an interesting discovery. I can use the key combination Ctrl-Alt-F1 to put the Gnome® desktop in background mode. The whole screen then essentially becomes a command line terminal. To restore the desktop, I use the Ctrl-Alt-F7 key combination. The procedure is important in the situation when the Gnome desktop freezes. I had previously performed a forced power down to solve the problem. With the latter knowledge, I can kill the offending process that is affecting the desktop through the command line without shutting down.

At 12:30pm, I walked to the gym to drop off my gym bag. Then, I sashayed over to the Institute of Hair Design to restore my monk haircut. Sadly, the haircut was not up to the usual standard. I performed my usual workout at the gym. Then, I rode a fairly crowded bus back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). The two young Diploma Mill hotties were also on the bus. I was back in my squalid room by 5pm.

I have not made a decision about the pathetic offer for the "condotel" unit. Many moons ago in the "blog," I discussed that I would have to pay a price for my "freedom," as it were. Obviously, I am not so willing to pay over $50,000 for my supposed emancipation. In fact, making such a drastic concession during the current financial crisis will only intensify my enslavement. I would be forced to return to wage slavery immediately, that is, if there are any jobs available. What has become very clear to me is how the moneychangers and powers-that-be (read: ruling elite) are exploiting the masses and stealing what little wealth they have.

One way or the other, the ruling elite must re-inflate the so-called "housing bubble." The "fixes" that have been applied (i.e., bailing out or subsidizing failing investment banks and insurance companies) were to placate the other nations who finance the empire's debt (i.e., China, Japan, and Russia). The whole financial "system" runs on debt and debt alone. The only speculative "wealth" that the common rank-and-file peon has access to is real estate through debt instruments. Thus, the only solution to the economic crisis is the hyperinflation of assets and the locking in of the peons into mortgage slavery. If the "bubble" cannot be re-inflated, the entire financial "system" will eventually collapse. That is the axiom of compound interest.

On a side note, I finally terminated my eBay® account. I will no longer need it as I will not be acquiring any more useless possessions that will need to be divested.

So Strange

"These are the people who sang, 'There's no money for Social Security. We're going to have to privatize it. We're going to have to turn over your Social Security to Bear Stearns, to AIG' — to the very people who have shown how they're mismanaging money. Imagine if the Republican program had gone through and Social Security had been privatized and these were the jokers who were managing your Social Security. They'd stick you with the losses." -- Michael Hudson, in an interview with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day, practically the same as last Wednesday, has gone bankrupt. Yes, I ended up at the Aina Haina library, then I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) at noon. I finally washed my Nissan® Frontier truck before driving to Hawai'i Kai. I spent only 40 minutes at Koko Head Park. However, my time there seemed eternal. I was essentially the only person in the main portion of the park. At 2:15pm, I reluctantly drove to Koko Marina. I found shaded parking and walked to the gym. I performed my usual workout. I ate an early dinner at Taco Bell®, opting for three Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos. I made one final stop at Foodland to purchase groceries. I was back at Slob Manor by 5pm.

The Reserve Primary Fund is the first money market fund to "break the buck" during the current financial crisis, that is, its net asset value (NAV) has gone under one dollar (last quoted at 97 cents) per share. The firm invoked a time window of seven days for redemptions, which is most likely aimed at curbing a run on deposits. Only yesterday I received an e-mail from my investment bank assuring account holders that everything is fine. That's when I began to worry. All of my liquid assets are deposited with the latter, of which 95 percent resides in three money market funds.

I have received an extremely low offer for the "condotel" unit as relayed to me by e-mail from Debbie, my realtor. Should I accept the offer, I would lose $50,000 off the top. As much as I want to sell the dump, I cannot sustain that kind of a loss right now. With looming losses yet to be incurred from my investment accounts, I am even more wary to make such a move. I have not proffered a response yet.

Perhaps my good fortune is coming to an abrupt end soon. I have no idea how the masses are coping. The failure of the financial "system" is a boon to the moneychangers and powers-that-be. There will be tremendous profits made as wealth is once again transferred from the bottom to the top. Pension funds, retirement accounts, and ordinary investment accounts are going to be sucked dry when all of the toxic debt instruments and associated fodder become "write downs" as losses. With home prices continuing to drop, the net worth of most of the home-owning masses has been depleted. Yet, there's not even a peep heard from the masses. So strange.

Keep Fiddling, My Friends

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been leveraged to the hilt. I spent 3.5 hours in the inner courtyard of the library. I perused more Linux books. Then, I performed my usual workout at the gym. I rode the bus back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) at the usual time. Only one of the two young Diploma Mill hotties was on the bus as well. I was back in my squalid room by 5pm.

I have been reflecting on and off for the last few days about my life, specifically how I have been able to skirt tragedy for so long. In the journal, I have alluded to being "saved" in the eleventh hour. And, such was the case many times over. Even in the last year or so, I have survived unscathed from the ravages of wage slavery and financial meltdown. I was able to amass adequate resources just before empire's economy tanked. Although I am now entering a period of hardship now, I will be able to maintain my low standard-of-living. I have also been fortunate insofar as my health is concerned. After years of alcohol and substance abuse, I have not yet suffered from the deleterious effects of either. I have had numerous flashbacks of my foolishness over the years, including conduct unbecoming, debauchery, and general stupidity. How did I end up not paying the price for such acts?

I will again spend the evening "fiddling while Rome burns." The Fed surprisingly did not lower short-term interest rates. Don't worry, it will probably do so after the next bank failure. The Fed did manage to give a huge $80 billion loan to troubled AIG. Say what? An insurance company? Something is really "fishy," if you know what I mean. And what about Morgan Stanley and WaMu? The financial "system" is collapsing. What else can I do except piddle around with Ubuntu Linux?

I should mention that I finally unclogged the drain in the bathroom basin. It has been plugged for over two weeks. I used the filthy toilet bowl plunger (which was probably more sanitary than the sink). After plunging away furiously, what looked like a small black scouring pad vomited out of the overflow outlet. Upon closer scrutiny, I discovered that the "scouring pad" was composed of hair and skin shards tightly knitted together. Yuck! Another day at Slob Manor.

While Rome Burns

Moms had a dentist appointment at Ala Moana Center, so we were on our way there by 9am this morning. Moms shopped at Sears® and Longs® with the hour of time before her appointment. Subsequently, moms and I ate bento lunches at Shirokiya. Then, we made one last stop at Foodland so that moms could shop for groceries. We were on our way back to Hawai'i by 12:45pm. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I also helped moms bring in the laundry. The two o'clock hour came about very quickly.

I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Marina and found shaded parking. I walked to the gym and performed my usual cardio workout. After a shower, I shopped for two days' supply of groceries. On my way out, I noticed that I was charged for a box of couscous that I did not purchase. Although I was able to correct the transaction, I was somewhat perturbed. I found myself back in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4:30pm. I performed the dreaded laundry chores, albeit reluctantly. Then, I prepared for another evening with Ubuntu Linux on my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer.

The empire's banking system is on the verge of collapse, but I was hard-pressed to see any concern anywhere. At the mall, the satanic gargoyles were spending money like there's no tomorrow. All of the food places were full. Petrol is down to $4.18 per gallon, so the number of 4000-pound motorized chairs (read: automobiles) on the streets has increased. It is as if everyone is certain that $2 per gallon petrol is right around the corner. In fact, I fully expect the Fed to lower short-term interest rates between 0.5 and 1.0 percent very soon. And, as we speak, AIG is in the crosshairs. As for the ol' lavahead, he fears that he will wake up one morning to discover that his investment accounts have vanished into thin air.

With nothing left but to "fiddle while Rome burns," the ol' lavahead placated himself with another evening of Ubuntu Linux fun. I have not attempted to resolve the headphone sound issue yet. So far, I have been tweaking my computer to my liking. Everything about Linux is impressive. It just works.

Call of the Mundane

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday ... what can I say? I checked my mail, sat outside on one of the benches along Fort Street Mall, and performed my usual workout at the gym. I rode the bus to the Aina Haina Shopping Center. I shopped for a couple of grocery items at Foodland. Then, I rode the next bus back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I was back in my squalid room by 3:45pm.

I received the requested healthcare plan(s) information from AARP®. I am considering a new and inexpensive healthcare plan that provides very minimal coverage. The cost? A whopping $39 per month. There are more expensive plans which provide more cash benefits and other options (e.g., prescription drug allowance). At this time, I do not anticipate that I will require extensive medical attention. I have gone almost three years without any healthcare coverage. I am making the broad assumption that I am relatively healthy, even though I am a senior citizen. Yet, what will I do in he event of an unforeseen catastrophe?

I finally converted my credit card account to a "paperless" one. I have also set up electronic payments without using my local bank's bill payment service. I assume that I will still have to pay my bills even when Lehman Bros and Merrill Lynch both get flushed down the urinal. Are we close to the secular Apocalypse? Well, the evening will be more of the same. Can you say, "Ubuntu Linux"?

Computer Nerd Fun

I spent all of last night in front of my Ubuntu-enabled Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. I have managed to tweak the operating system to my preferences, although I have avoided any superficial "eye candy." I have been able to set the font smoothing, install more fonts, install codecs, and more ... all without using the command line. The Ubuntu Documentation has been an excellent resource. Currently, I have only two issues outstanding:

• No sound from headphones
• Plug-ins in Firefox® browser causes Gnome® desktop to freeze

The last issue required a hard reset of the computer. Unlike the previous operating system, Ubuntu Linux booted up fine. I have uninstalled most of the useless applications. I have installed the Firestarter firewall utility, but I have postponed any plans to install an anti-virus utility. The Transmission bit torrent client was also included. All in all, I am very happy with Ubuntu Linux.

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been "put out to pasture." I spent 3.5 hours in the inner courtyard of the library. I completed Christiane Bird's book, "Neither East Nor West." The last chapter was most enjoyable. Bird's introspection and reflection had me reassessing my own values. I also spent some time perusing a few Linux books. Then, I walked to the gym to perform my usual workout. After a grueling bus ride with many idiots, I found myself back in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4:30pm. After an early dinner consisting of veggie "rations," I was ready to embark on my evening ritual. Yes, I will be spending more time with Ubuntu Linux, of course. Well, Hey! I'm a computer nerd!

Welcome, Ubuntu!

I woke up early this morning. I piddled around with my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer for an hour. I have been uninstalling a lot of applications. In actuality, Ubuntu Linux has been fairly easy to use. While the user interface appears to be "cartoon-ish," the whole operating system is solid. I decided to discard the System Restore CDs that were bundled with the computer. I won't them need them anymore.

I departed for Hawai'i Kai at 8:30am. Moms and I only made the rounds in Koko Marina this morning. Lunch was at Zippy's. Then, moms shopped for groceries at Foodland. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. Moms and I ended up chatting until 1pm.

I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Head Park. I spent and hour there, although the experience less than enjoyable. I had to combat the myriad flies and ants. I drove to Koko Marina at 2:15pm. I was able to find shaded parking. I walked to the gym, did my usual workout, shopped for groceries at Foodland, and drove back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I performed the dreaded laundry chores before settling in for the evening routine. Of course, I will be spending more time with my computer. Although it is fully operational, I must find solutions to the minor problems that I described yesterday.

Finding and installing applications are both quite different on Linux-based systems. I am able to get by fine with the various "package" managers. However, some of the applications may not be readily available from certain repositories. What it all boils down to is mastering the command line. Hence, I will be doing a lot of reading, especially on-line. Thank goodness the Firefox® browser has miraculously stabilized. Sheesh!

Windows® Vista Implosion

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been ... BSOD! Last night, my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer was "taken through the wringer" by the Windows® Vista SP-1 update. The infamous blue screen (read: BSOD) was popping up randomly, requiring me to restart the computer each time. I shut down the computer with the hope that all would be fine the next day.

This morning, I attempted to boot Windows® and was greeted by the blue screen. In fact, I was not able to go further than that. The computer was essentially "hosed." From what I could decipher off of the blue screen, the registry was corrupted. I was not really upset. After all, what could I expect from Microsoft®? At that point, I vowed that I would not go through another multi-hour process of installing Vista® and its updates ever again. I reached for the Ubuntu Linux CD that I received a few days ago. I popped it into the optical drive of my notebook computer. I then ran it in "Live CD" mode. To my surprise, everything including sound was operational. My decision was made.

I left for town at 9:15am. So, I was not able to install Ubuntu Linux on my computer. I spent 3.5 hours in the library. I spent most of that time reading Linux books. Then, I walked to the gym. I was preoccupied during most of my usual workout. I rode a very crowded bus back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). The two young Diploma Mill hotties were also on the bus. When I set foot in my squalid room, I immediately began the installation of Ubuntu onto my computer. I was done within half-an-hour.

There are problems with Ubuntu. Although I have sound, the headphone jack is no longer active. The crappy Firefox® browser crashes every few minutes. And, the look and feel of Ubuntu is rough and very unrefined. I had a very difficult time composing the "blog" because Firefox® just wasn't stable enough. Oh well. Can you guess what I will be doing all evening? Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Surprise Windows® Update

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been vanquished. I rode the bus to Aina Haina at 9:15am, even though I knew that the library did not open until 10am. I piddled around and eventually sat outside on one of the benches n front of the library. I spent close to two hours in the library reading periodicals. I returned to Slob Manor by noon. I packed my gym bag and was on my way to Hawai'i Kai in my Nissan® Frontier truck by 12:30pm. I spent 1.5 hours in Koko Head Park, my sanctuary from the madness of society. I drove to Koko Marina at 2pm. I was able to find shaded parking. I walked to the gym and did my usual workout.

After the gym, I paid a visit to Taco Bell®. I ordered three Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos, essentially what would comprise my dinner. The dining area was almost empty, so I was able to enjoy a nice quiet meal. Afterward, I purchased a small plastic container for $1.50 at Pricebusters. Why am I buying more crap? Well, my thought at the time was that I need a storage container for panini ingredients when I finally unbox my DeLonghi® "retro" contact grill and panini press. I made a final stop at Foodland to purchase a handful of groceries. I must shop for groceries every two days because of the perishable nature of the products that I eat. I was back in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm.

Unbelievable as it may seem, the Windows® Vista Service Pack 1 update suddenly appeared in Windows® Update on my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. Mind you, I have not installed any new device drivers. The update consumed about one hour of time. There were a few oddities during and after the installation process. Upon several restarts, my computer appears to be operating fine. I will know more over time.

Reluctant Endorsement

The gravity of the situation has increased exponentially. I am speaking of the decline of empire. If you read the articles that I cited yesterday, then you know what I mean. Drastic times call for drastic measures. As the disaffected populace appears neither ready to revolt or turn off the tube, then the only approach is to circumvent the "system" through its own processes. Rather than boycott the election as I have previously suggested, I now urge the homeless, the wage slave peons, the urban nomads, and the disenfranchised nobodies to vote for Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzales. It is imperative that neither of the so-called "mainstream" candidates be (s)elected.

I surmise that, if a concerted effort is not taken, then the secular Apocalypse will be a certainty, if not Armageddon itself. Recent events in the financial markets coincident with world affairs suggest that we are on a collision course with global destruction. When the Wall Street Ponzi-scheme finally collapses, there will be a major war, one that will bring more pain and suffering than I had previously calculated.

Unlike the common satanic gargoyle, the ol' lavahead has the time to engage in a lot of reading. He spends hours each evening in front of his Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. He reads dozens of articles from myriad sources every night. The pattern is clear. We are rapidly approaching the "end of days." Yes, the situation is so grave that the ol' lavahead has decided to make a reluctant political endorsement. Reluctant because he has no faith in human governments.

As for the ol' lavahead, he is waiting for the secular Apocalypse to arrive to fulfill Prophesy. He is anticipating mucho pain and suffering. As a monk, he knows that the preceding is his calling. Yet, as an urban nomad, he is compelled to sound the alarm. Will the ol' lavahead be voting? No, out of principle, he is simply an observer. Any interaction on his part would adulterate the observation per the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been sacrificed at the Temple of Doom. I spent 3.5 hours in the inner courtyard of the library. I spent most of that time lapsing in and out of a coma, although I was not fatigued. I did my usual workout at the gym. Then, I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm. Is there more to say about my daily routine? Not really.

I have discovered that I can opt to go "paperless" with my Chase® credit card account. I can also activate on-line payments through my on-line account for no charge. If I subscribed to my local bank's bill payment service, I would have to pay a fee of $5 per month. Well, I should have the aforementioned options activated within a couple of weeks. We're moving closer to "General Delivery" mail.

Reflexive Segue

Wow! Lots and lots of new mixes on the Pure House Music site. Last night, I listened to the "Fresh Fish" mix courtesy Deep House Cat. Smooth and deep, just the way the ol' lavahead likes his House Music mixes. The empire is collapsing. The stooges who are running the financial sector are out to save themselves and their ilk. Can you see why House Music has become so necessary in these times?

Moms and I made the usual rounds in Hawai'i Kai ... Longs® in Kuapa Kai and Foodland in Koko Marina. We ate lunch at Panda Express® in the Hawai'i Kai Towne Center. Later, moms served up Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I chatted with moms until 1pm. Yes, that's the same routine. And, frankly, that's the way I like it. In any case, that is the crux of any semblance of stability in my life.

I spent about 1.5 hours in Koko Head Park. Essentially, I was the only person in main part of the park. Just me and the birds. I cannot even begin to describe the incredible sense of being that I experienced during that time. I did not want to leave. However, the gym was silently calling to me, beckoning me to engage in the daily ritual that has indentured me for decades.

I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Marina, finding shaded parking immediately. Oddly, I observed that the entire parking lot was fairly empty as I walked to the gym. Where were all the tourists? I tried not to think of the consequences. I did my usual cardio workout at the gym. Then, I made a final stop at Foodland to purchase my own groceries. I treated myself to an Icee® beverage, although I felt guilty for splurging on luxuries. I am supposed to be a mendicant monk, an urban nomad.

I was back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4:30pm. I reluctantly performed the dreaded laundry chores. Then, I reflexively segued into my usual routine commencing with a veggie "rations" dinner.

Things That Get Lost

"I wish I could at least call this denial. But if people are incapable of even perceiving the facts because of state conditioning, serving up the facts is useless. Which is why all that powerful truth out there on the net has no real effect. It exists outside our indoctrination's reference framework. Therefore it does not exist. What exists is the system." -- Joe Bageant

Last night, I listened to a new mix by Ollie Brooke on the PureHouseMusic site. The "Indigo" mix was fabulous. Smooth. Real smooth, just the way the ol' lavahead likes his House Music mixes. And, what better way to spend the evening in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing)?

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday has been anesthetized. The buses going in both directions were extremely crowded for some reason. I deduced that today was a major shopping day. What recession? As for the ol' lavahead, only his workout at the gym was on the agenda. The hottie gym trainer was working with a senior citizen gym member. Baby was looking mighty fine, by the way. I stopped off at the Aina Haina Shopping Center on the way back to Slob Manor. I purchased some Tako (read: octopus) Poke, a bag of Tostitos® tortilla chips, and a "Big Kahuna" bottle of Steinlager® brewski. I ate quite a few of the Tostitos® chips while I waited for the next bus. Once back in Slob Manor, I chilled the "Big Kahuna" bottle of Steinlager® brewski for a few minutes. Then, I dropped back the entire bottle. Oh, what a life I lead!

The jury duty questionnaire is still lying around somewhere, soon to be "lost." I'm ready to make the switch to "General Delivery" mail. I have got to exit the so-called "mainstream" society before I lose my mind. I cannot play the foolish games anymore. And, why should I? What have I got to gain? I am already an outcast. I seek freedom, not enslavement.

Minimalist Plot

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been "nationalized," but not even remotely to the extent that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be by tomorrow. I rode the bus to town this morning at 9:15pm. A toothless and apparently homeless babe (term used loosely) was sitting in the middle of the long row of seats way at the back of the bus. I was sitting in the same row next to the window with one empty seat between me and the homeless babe. The homeless babe was talking to herself. At one point, she was yelling and babbling incoherently to no one in particular. The good part is that no other passenger dared to sit next to her, so I had a comfortable ride to town. I spent 3.5 hours in the inner courtyard of the library. Then, I walked to the gym to do my usual workout. Nothing noteworthy transpired, so I was back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm. The evening? Same ol' shit.

Yeah, another night of the same ol' shit. Computer nerd stuff. And, more computer nerd stuff. With the Pure T 'n A site still on its last leg, there are no hurdy-gurdy "torrents" to download. What about Tube8? Well, what about it? I could, of course, close a few personal on-line accounts and shut down one of the journal's mirror sites with a couple taps on the trackpad of my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. Then, why don't I do so? Well, I have to compose the "blog." With so little happening, I must drag out the minimalist plot as long as I can. Speaking of the "blog," I may be covering more abstract matters including the nothingness of being in Universal Law. Then again, maybe not.

Sadly, I discovered that the Nalu Board (similar to the Indo Board) is no longer being manufactured. The company was a one-man operation. Apparently, the owner has found a "real" job, so the Nalu Board is history. I still have my Nalu Board, although I have not used it in a while. I finally located a piece of scrap carpet to use as a friction surface, but I have not cut it to size or cleaned it yet. Perhaps the Nalu Board should just be divested. Sheesh!

Issues of Destitution

Moms and I were on our way to the Queen's Hospital at 9am. Moms had an appointment with her audiologist. As it turns out, moms will be without her hearing aid device for a few weeks as the latter is shipped off to the mainland for service. To me, that was ridiculous and unacceptable. However, there wasn't much that we could do.

Moms and I were back in Hawai'i Kai by 10:30am. We made a stop at Koko Marina. First, we ate lunch at Zippy's. Then, moms shopped for groceries at Foodland. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I then chatted with moms until 1pm.

I made a quick run to Safeway® in Kuapa Kai in response to a circular that I perused when I visited with moms. The item I was looking for was sold out. So, I ended up in Koko Head Park for about 45 minutes. I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Marina and found shaded parking. I did my usual workout at the gym. Then, I shopped for my weekend food supply at Foodland. I was back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm in time to perform the dreaded laundry chores.

While I sat and waited for moms, I pondered many issues that have recently come up as well issues that I have tabled mostly because of apathy. Time is growing short, and I have no time to continue "kickin' the can." My minor back problems and my rapidly deteriorating teeth are health issues that I have deferred for no real good reason except that I do not want to spend the money. My prior experiences with healthcare while I was insured has not sat well with me. Having to fully pay for the same kind of compromised service is not acceptable. Overall, I had also been waiting for the sale of the "condotel" unit to free the equity I have invested in order to address healthcare issues. Obviously, the equity will not be seen for several years.

Other issues still on the back burner:

• Divestiture of remaining useless possessions
• Termination of useless personal accounts (e.g., eBay®, Amex®, PO Box, etc.)
• Closing of one of the journal's mirror sites, associated message boards, and on-line accounts

With the empire on the wane, I must increase my mobility and work vigorously toward the exodus. And, I must establish a deadline (possibly the end of the year) to accomplish the aforementioned tasks.

Well, thank goodness the freak shows (read: political conventions) are over and done with. I have come to view politics with a great disdain now that I am not affiliated with either of cloned organizations. I have also been able to observe that there really is no difference in either political party's "base," as the voting constituency is referred to. The same level of ignorance, bigotry, and hatred is all-pervasive. The whole (s)election process, from the citizens' point of view, is no different than the Super Bowl. Choose a team, display rabid forms of loyalty and rivalry, and cheer 'em on to the finish. Yet, just as in professional football, the intrinsic differences between the players and the fans is gargantuan. Count me out.

Bread & Circuses

Last night, I was able to listen (on the Net) to Sarah Palin's acceptance speech to be the vice presidential nominee at the RNC. She stole the show from the usual old Republican fossils like Giulani, Thompson, and Shrub himself. In fact, Palin has taken the limelight off of John McCain. In the meantime, the so-called "liberals" and "progressives" were still locked in a seedy debate over Palin's family dynamics. What has happened to the fools? I monitored several of the comment sections of various articles about Palin. The heaviest participation involved the "tabloid"-like gossip that has subverted any debate on issues. By the way, the bikini and rifle photo of Palin was proven to be a faked composite.

However, let me make it perfectly clear. A McCain administration will be a scary one. An Obama administration will also be a scary one. In all honesty, I can see the "lesser of two evils" about as much as I can "see the forest from the trees." This is a scary year for the empire. Already facing decline, the empire is fighting for survival. We are in big trouble as the ruling elite (read: moneychangers and powers-that-be) plan to finish the job they started. We, the minions and peons, will bear the brunt of their nefarious pogrom.

I also transferred $1,400 from my investment accounts to my local bank to cover expenses incurred over the month. This will be the first month that I will assume a loss calculated to be $400 at the moment. I am facing the crisis of a lifetime, just as many of the destitute and the homeless, because of the greed and corruption of the moneychangers and powers-that-be. The (s)election will not save us. We will be faced with more of the same ... same highway robbery, that is. We are given these "bread and circus" political conventions that resemble the Oscar Awards more than anything else. Then, we must choose one set of the ruling elite's puppets for four more years of marionette foolery. Why do the empire's citizens put up with that crap? Why can't they elect decent third-party candidates?

I don't want to see a bunch of wannabe actors on stage reciting empty platitudes and meaningless rhetoric. I want to see action. Get the empire out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Forget about regime change in Iran. Forget about a confrontation with Russia and China. Stop appeasing Zionist Israel. Cut the crap about al Qaeda. Tell the truth about the "September 11th" event. Bring the empire's war criminals to the dock in the Hague. Repeal USA-PATRIOT and the Military Commissions Act. Close down the torture camps. The list is endless, but none of the items are "on the table." Why? To learn the answer, simply look up to see who is pulling the strings, so to speak.

Another homeless guy kind-of-a-day has gone without bread or circus. The urban nomad and the homeless are not privy to the excesses of the affluent class. I left for town at 9:15pm. I had over three hours of time to enjoy in the inner courtyard of the library. As always, I did my usual workout at the gym before departing for Slob Manor (read: rental housing). The same two young hotties, apparently Diploma Mill students, were on the bus, too. Upon arrival at Slob Manor, I prepared myself for another evening of the same ol' shit. What will tomorrow bring?

Future Bound

Moms and I made the usual rounds in Hawai'i Kai including Long's® in Kuapa Kai and Foodland in Koko Marina. Moms and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch which included lamp-baked chicken courtesy Foodland, steamed rice, and fresh vegetables along with sushi from Kozo Sushi. For dessert, moms served Meadow Gold® vanilla ice cream. I chatted with moms until 1pm.

I spent almost two hours in Koko Head Park. I ruminated upon the issues that I will face as the economy in Hawai'i degenerates further and the empire slides into collapse. In all honesty, though, I have no idea what I will do. My options are gradually disappearing. And, the "system" continues to close in on me. Psychologically, I have become very restless. Familial piety is all that keeps me sane and from fleeing.

I finally drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Marina at 2:45pm. I easily found shaded parking. I did my usual workout at the gym in a leisurely fashion. Then, I shopped for a couple of day's worth of groceries at Foodland. I was back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm.

The evening will be spent listening to House Music mixes and will also find me locked in a struggle to determine more constructive steps to facilitate the exodus. Expenses are rising even though I have been cutting back on everything including necessities. Food costs, especially, have gone through the roof. Strangely, I find that only the homeless and I appear to be suffering from poverty. The remainder of the masses seem to have an abundance of money and have no trouble spending it, which is all the more reason why I must prepare to flee at a moment's notice.

General Delivery

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been "preemptively detained." Again, I made the usual rounds ... the library, the gym. You know the drill. I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) on a very crowded bus. I sat in the middle of the long row of seats in the very back. Two young hotties sat on each side of me. That was the highlight of the day. I was back in my squalid room by 5pm.

I neglected to mention that I performed the dreaded laundry chores late last night. I had no choice as I had to wait in line to use the laundry facilities. This evening, I engaged in a more productive activity. In a bold move to toward "paperless" transactions, I logged onto almost all of my various on-line accounts and activated the option for electronic communications and archiving. Subsequently, I shredded any remaining physical documentation that is available on-line. My eventual goal is to eliminate the need for a physical mailing address. I will use the homeless trick of relying on Post Office "General Delivery." That should put a stop to the jury duty mail.

I have sustained some kind of back injury, the origin of which is unknown. It's actually along my spine. I felt a painful pop yesterday. Now there is a conspicuous bump. The area is also sensitive. I have decided to voluntarily reduce the maximum weight in all of my workout sets. Without any health insurance, I cannot be too careful.

Have you observed the excessive vitriol being dished out against Sarah Palin? She's the vice presidential running mate of John McCain. The so-called "liberals" and "progressives" are really slammin' her. In fact she's the target of more hatred than McCain himself. Worst of all, the attacks are mostly "tabloid"-oriented gossip. Very little has focused on important issues. Even the so-called "progressive" sites are spewing out an endless stream of articles, mostly negative, about Palin. Frankly, I believe that they have all taken the bait and fallen into a seedy trap. They have taken the discord to an adolescent level, and they have raised Palin to cult status. Not bad considering that we have hardly been introduced to her. Tired of these games? Boycott the vote, or vote for a third-party candidate.

Slave Labor Day 2008

Take last Saturday and clone it. That's the day in a nutshell. From the Barnes & Noble® Café in Kahala Mall to Kawaikui Beach Park to Koko Head Park in Hawai'i Kai. To the gym in Koko Marina, to Taco Bell®, to Foodland, and back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). The only oddity of the day was when I discovered that my Taco Bell® Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos were conspicuously missing one ingredient, the rice.

Slave Labor Day is a holiday in the empire. For unemployed urban nomads, it's just another day. Officially, Summer is over. Yet, who really keeps track of the seasons? I have managed to stay financially afloat for a year longer than I had originally predicted doom. However, my good fortune has come to an end. The "condotel" unit will be the "straw that breaks the camel's back" starting this month. By the way, tourism is fading fast in Hawai'i. I have no idea when the panic will start. There will be mass layoffs, which will cascade through the entire economy. I will also be brought down by the sinister kahuna, using its various "psych-ops" tricks like jury duty to toy with the oversized cranium.

Incidentally, I watched excerpts of John McCain as he announced the reduced schedule of the Republican Convention ahead of Hurricane Gustav arriving along the Gulf Coast. The most disconcerting aspect of McCain's announcement was the pronounced blinking of his eyes. Whassup wi' dat? Fortunately, McCain now has young hottie, Sarah Palin, at his side. Yes, as far as the ol' lavahead is concerned, Palin is a young hottie. However, she cannot hold a candle to the hottie gym trainer.

Whoa! Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and two of her staff were arrested today. I have been watching Goodman's continuing coverage of the police state tactics that are being used against activists and protesters at both political conventions. "Preemptive detentions," is the latest technique.