Aztec Two-Step (Reprise)

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... if only there was some kind of purpose for the ordeal. Alas, I would be the last to know. I followed the same nauseating routine, of which further details are not needed.

I happened to run into Ann on the way to the gym. She said that she has reconnected with Lori. For a while, their friendship was on the rocks, so to speak. Apparently, Ann had taken the bus up to the North Shore to visit just recently. I haven't seen Lori in person for well over a year. Lori had contacted me a couple of times, but somehow we never could connect.

I also ran into Pseudo-professor Bill at the gym. I was surprised to see him there. We chatted briefly. I haven't seen him in over two years. I minimized my discussions about the Diploma Mill, since that is now ancient history. He wants to get together sometime, so I may take him up on the offer.

I also heard Caroll via e-mail. She is still working at Longs® as well as teaching in afterschool program. Caroll keeps trying to get ahead in life, but she's like me. For every step forward, take two back. In the days of old, that was known loosely as the "Aztec Two-Step." Of course, the latter term is also synonymous with "Montezuma's Revenge." Sheesh!

No Tengo Ninguna Idea

Oh boy! Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has collapsed into a "singularity." Really? No, not really. At the library, I completed reading Hawking's Book, "A Brief History of Time." Let's face it. There's never going to be a "grand unified theory" (GUT) that will explain exactly what happened during Planck's Period. In the calculus, we can perform nth-order integration which will delineate n dimensions. We can use the imaginary number, i (the square-root of -1), to define negative time. However, there is no guarantee that the laws of mathematics were even valid prior to the formation of the elementary particles of the universe. Is it just too much for arrogant humans to concede that there is a Creator?

I am beginning to wonder if I am just wasting my time with all of that nonsense. Perhaps I should invest my time learning a new language like Spanish in the case that the final exodus takes me to Mexico or Costa Rica. At least I would be accomplishing something tangible. Sheesh!

Another mediocre gym workout has come and gone as well. I am apparently still losing weight and muscle mass. Obviously, my diet has been insufficient. I simply cannot find any edible and nutritious food anywhere. There's just nothing but junk food. The only consolation is that I have been taking longer showers at the gym. I am now even bringing a scrub towel with me. I may be wimpy, but I am squeaky clean.

Back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing), I discovered several thousand sugar ants invading the trash can filled with rotting food. On Saturday, I moved the trash can near the front entrance of Slob Manor. I had suspected then that the sugar ants would soon converge on the it. My goal was to move the ants' food source away from the section of the driveway that I had previously parked my Nissan® Frontier truck. Thus, I proved to myself that the proximity of the trash can is what led to the ant infestation of the truck. What is interesting is that the trash can is now luring all of the ants that are living in the framework of the house. It's actually quite sickening. I had to perform mass ant genocide with my trusty can of Hot Shot® Roach & Ant Killer. Oh, the horror!

For dinner, I used the slimy Louis Rich® cold cuts (with the exception that the slices were miraculously not slimy anymore) in my panini. No Montezuma's Revenge. No emergency run to the filthy restrooms at Kawaikui Beach park. Heck, I really regret discarding the other package of slimy Louis Rich® cold cuts.

Fallacy of "Ownership"

My Nissan® Frontier truck and I were on our way to Hawai'i Kai at 7:30am this morning. My first stop was Foodland in Koko Marina. I purchased a cup of coffee and loitered in the vicinity for about an hour. There really is something quite enjoyable about a nice hot cup of coffee in the morning.

As usual, moms and I made the usual rounds around Hawai'i Kai with lunch courtesy Panda Express®. Sadly, there was nothing interesting in the fortune cookie today. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I kept moms company until 1:30pm.

I drove back to Koko Marina, found shaded parking, and walked across the street to the library. After an hour, I meandered to the gym, performed my usual workout, and shopped for groceries. I purchased a Spam® Musubi for dinner. I decided to sit at one of the tables along the periphery of Koko Marina and eat the Spam® Musubi. After the mundane meal, I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I thought that I have having a less-than-mediocre day until Alan, one of the other Slob Manor residents, returned to the dump. He apparently got into a "fender bender" a few minutes earlier. When I went outside to discard my paltry trash, I observed that the front-end of his car had sustained quite a bit of damage.

Well, that's part of the risk involved in the "ownership society," eh? Frankly, I am sick and tired of the "ownership society." Ownership is only meaningful if one is immortal. Otherwise, it's a total joke. However, many dimwitted people in the empire do not get the joke. After all, brain donation is an art form in the empire. The latest in the line of stupidity is, of course, the uproar over "socialism." Most of the aforementioned idiots do not even know the definition of the word. In fact, they are not even cognizant of the fact that they live under Fascism. Fools! The only reason that those "knobs" hate "socialism" is because they believe it to be a threat to the "ownership society."

By definition, an "owner" cannot be a slave at the same time. How could an "owner"-slave make any sense? However, the slaves in the United Fascist States of Empire (USFE) have lobotomized themselves into believing that they are indeed "owners," not slaves. The latter pathology is often identified as "derealization" based on "incongruence." With the stock market surging and all of the talking heads proclaiming that the boom times are back, the slaves taken the bait. Consumer spending is going up. The real estate "bubble" is starting to inflate again. Why, even tourism is picking up here in the islands. We'll just have another slew of new "owners" until the next bust cycle.

The Outsider (Reprise)

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday commenced at 8:15am this morning. Once in town, I followed the "reenactment" routine by purchasing a cup of Seattle's Best® Colombian coffee at Safeway®. I then sat for over an hour in the catacombs of Kukui Plaza.

When I checked my mailbox at the Post Office, I discovered that I did not receive my monthly statement for the despicable "condotel" unit. I was more than a little perturbed. I performed my usual workout at the gym. Then, I rode the bus to Ala Moana Center. I purchased a banana, a chocolate chip muffin, and a Yakitori Bento at Foodland.

While riding the Route 24 bus through Waikiki, I decided to change my routine and alighted at Kahala Mall. I found an isolated concrete bench near the office buildings at the rear of the mall. I ate my Yakitori Bento in peace. I also spent about an hour at Barnes & Noble®. I arrived back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) a little later than usual. I was happy to have spent more time away from the dump.

Sadly, all I have is another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening awaiting me. Essentially, I have nothing to do except to piddle around with my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. Even with my "good years" dwindling down to nothing, I am not simply not compelled to do anything about my situation. I am not interested in worldly pursuits. As I have always stated, all I want is freedom and peace of mind.

Progess?

I departed for town on the bus at 8:15am this morning with my copy of the NLT (New Living Translation) Study Bible discretely packed in a plastic bag. When I arrived at the library, I immediately donated it. In the end, I had many more difficulties with the commentaries in the NLT Study Bible about the trinity, hell, and the rapture (all of which are bogus). Then, again, the NLT is published by Tyndale House, which also publishes the despicable "Left Behind®" series of books. So far, I have only seen in circulation one of the many books that I have donated to the library. Fortunately, it had borrowed many times over. As for the rest of the day ... classic urban nomad. No further details are necessary.

Yesterday, I had to discard a new package of Louis Rich® cold cuts that I had just opened because the turkey slices were slimy. I had used a couple of slices to make my panini because I did not detect any spoilage smell. I did not experience food poisoning, but I also do not want to "push the envelope." This afternoon, I opened another new package of Louis Rich® cold cuts and the turkey slices were slimy. Again, there was no nauseous smell. I used two slices for my panini because I could not see myself discarding another expensive package of food. However, within 30 minutes, my stomach felt gaseous. I had to make an emergency run to the filthy restrooms at Kawaikui Beach Park. Montezuma's Revenge had wielded its ugly head. I am not sure if the cause was the slimy cold cuts or not. Why I must tolerate that kind of foolery is another question entirely.

Well, with the NLT Study Bible finally donated, I can only hope that the divestiture of the remainder of my useless possessions starts picking up the pace. I am on a mission, but I am not certain about its purpose. Sheesh!

Disappointing Day

After a restless and sleepless night, I was up and on my way to Ala Moana Center at 7:45am in my Nissan® Frontier truck. I had an appointment at the endodontist at 9am for a follow-up to my root canal work a few months ago. I cannot truthfully say that I enjoyed the visit. The office is run like a factory assembly line. I just hope that I never have to end up there again. Fortunately, the ordeal lasted a mere 11 minutes. I was able to get a free cup of flavored (yuck!) coffee, which was the highlight of the entire visit.

I walked to Barnes & Noble® in order to pass the time. I was surprised to see the hottie bookseller on duty. Whoa! Baby was looking mighty fine. I perused various sections of the store, but I was highly distracted by the hottie bookseller. I also perused the new Lego® Store.

At 9:30am, I meandered back to the Sears® end of the mall. Along the way, I saw moms walking from the other direction. Moms had left at 8:45am on the bus, but ended up being delayed by typical bus scheduling stupidity. Moms wanted to purchase a pair of shoes at Robins, but there were none in her size in stock. We also looked around Longs® and Sears before strolling to Shirokiya for lunch. Sadly, we discovered that the genuine Shirokiya bentos have been discontinued. Most of the other vendors in the food section offered a variety of similar bentos. Moms and chose a couple of Korean-style bentos. I am sad to report that I was very disappointed. Moms shopped for groceries at Foodland before we departed the mall.

The excursion to Ala Moana was not very fruitful or enjoyable for either moms or myself. The best part of the day was when moms served Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I then kept moms company until 1:30pm.

To add redundant filler to the "blog," I drove to Koko Marina, found shaded parking, walked to the gym, performed my usual workout, took a long shower, shopped at Foodland, and returned to the despicable and ant-infested Slob Manor (read: rental housing). Another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening awaits me. Wheee!

Dark Cosmos

What can I say about another urban nomad kind-of-a-day? Nothing, absolutely nothing. At the library, I was privy to sit about two tables away from three homeless derelicts, one of whom was talking at the top of his lungs. There were endless stories about where to get free food and free sundries, where to get the best free meals, where to shower for free, and so forth. At one point, they were complaining to each other about rude people who do not cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. I doubt that any of them realized how bad they smelled (even with the alleged free showers). Is it not just as rude to be amongst other people and smell like dung? Stupidity has no bounds.

I commenced reading Stephen Hawking's book, "A Brief History of Time." Quite a fascinating book. I'll be returning to Hooper's book, "Dark Cosmos," shortly. The consensus in scientific circles is that the universe is expanding at a rapid rate. That is, of course, what gave birth to the idea of the "singularity" and the "Big Bang" theory. There are three possibilities for the future of the universe:

• Gravity prevails, and the universe begins contracting until it collapses on itself
• The universe expands at an even more rapid rate
• The universe gradually decreases it rate of expansion, but does not contract.

Apparently, the last two options are the most feasible. Note that, in either case, all of the galaxy clusters remain intact, most likely due to the elusive "dark matter" and "dark energy." Yet, the same "dark matter" and "dark energy" are supposedly responsible for the expansion effect.

If the universe were to reverse itself and contract, would it return to the "singularity"? That does not seem likely given the alleged composition (i.e., proto-sub-subatomic particles) of the "singularity." The universe is comprised of matter that is composed of structured atoms. Those atoms contain charged particles that cannot be compressed into zero space. "Black holes," for example, are localized "singularities." A "black hole" is a possible end state for a neutron star. Since neutrons have no charge, there are no forces of attraction or repulsion. The particles can be compressed into zero space by extreme gravity.

There appears to be no theses concerning the "singularity" and the short interval known as Planck's Period. What exactly did the "singularity" contain? It had to be near infinite in mass and compressed into zero space. There could not have been any charged particles, so I make the assumption that there were proto-sub-subatomic particles. During Planck's Period (an elapsed 10^-43 second), the sub-subatomic particles came into being. Fascinating, isn't it?

The rest of the day was classic urban nomad. We already know the drill. I only keep the face of sanity by continually pondering the mysteries of the universe. However, I could easily breach my own sanity by the possible realization of a benign Creator. What exactly is the purpose of life amidst a hostile universe, albeit one that is structured by exacting laws?

By the way, I found a source for a PDF version of the Good Book (King James Version and Apocrypha), so I downloaded it and saved it on my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. My original intention was put a version of the Good Book on my Palm® TX, but the whole conversion process was a nightmare. Obviously, I am making preparations to donate my copy of the NLT (New Living Translation) Study Bible to the library. Of course, I still have a lifetime subscription to the NLT Study Bible Online. So, why do I need a copy of the Good Book? For reference, my friends.

Fission Chumps

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... what is its purpose? Fodder for the "blog," of course. At the library, I completed the perusal of the book, "Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide." Quite a book, actually. I have commenced reading the book, "Dark Cosmos: In Search of Our Universe's Missing Mass and Energy," by Dan Hooper, which is an introduction to "dark matter" and "dark energy." Indeed, the subject matter of cosmology is quite taxing for the oversized cranium. Thus, I managed to lapse in and out of a coma several times in order to relax my puny mind.

The rest of the day was classic urban nomad stuff. Nothing to write home about, though. Back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing), I noticed another sugar ant invasion thanks to a new batch of rotting fast food lying around in the second floor common area. I committed mass genocide with my slippers (read: slippahs) by squishing all of their tiny heads. In my squalid room, I observed at least 50 sugar ants scouting around on the floor and on my pathetic desk. Naturally, I squished each and every one of their tiny heads.

A major heatwave has ensued for several days now. Trade winds have been minimal at best. There were a few intermittent showers, but nothing to cause any cooling effect. Perhaps that is why the sugar ants are out in full force. Thus, I should also mention that I happened to observe a thick trail of sugar ants near the outside water faucet. I opened the faucet full blast. The resulting tsunami swept them all away. Oh, the horror!

Fusion Chimps

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... alas, what is its purpose? At the library, I commenced my research on cosmology. Reading about the origins of the universe is fascinating. However, science is basically another religion. Faith is required to believe. Take the "Big Bang" theory, for example, which states that the universe began as a "singularity." What the latter means is that the near-infinite mass of the entire universe was once compressed into a microscopic area (i.e., the "singularity"). The "Big Bang" itself transpired in only a few seconds. During the first fraction of a second, known as Planck's Period, an unknown process instantaneously inflated the "singularity," producing the sub-subatomic particles that were the building blocks of protons, electrons, and neutrons in atoms. Concurrently, four types of force fields (i.e., electromagnetic, gravity, weak bond, strong bond) came to fruition. From that point, the particles and forces merged and formed matter, the first being the two lightest elements, hydrogen and helium. There is strong evidence that the framework of the "Big Bang" is essentially correct. However, there are a lot of assumptions and conjecture to explain the "missing links." Sounds a lot like the theory of evolution, doesn't it?

I believe that science is basically on the right track. However, the school of materialism is very influential. Its believers cannot accept any supernatural or "unobservable" phenomena. Hence, they are limited to make wild guesses, or to make blanket statements based upon vague assumptions. Take the "singularity," for example. Where did it originate? Why did it suddenly decide to decompress (during Planck's Period)? And, what about the sub-subatomic particles? How did they join to make atoms? And, what of the structure of atoms? Why does an electron instantaneously appear in different, albeit set, orbits? And, why are those orbits perfect for the construction of all matter? The conundrum is quite similar to the microbiology of cells, and how even simple cells perform complex functions such as replication. The cell has no brain, but there appears to be some kind of lifeforce that animates it to do what it does.

Incidentally, about 93 percent of the volume of an atom is empty or free space. Everything that appear as solids to our eyes is actually virtually non-existent. Only the strong bond forces between atoms and molecules gives the appearance and feel to solid matter. Atoms that constitute the matter which forms our bodies may have been around as long as the universe itself. Mind-boggling, isn't it?

I personally do not have any qualms about introducing the idea of the Creator into the science equation. In fact, the supernatural is the most likely answer to fill in the blanks. I must admit, though, that I have become overwhelmed by cosmology and the origin of life. What is the grand purpose of the universe? What is the purpose of life?

After an unexciting workout at the gym, I rode the bus back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). Once again, I was privy to witness actual "missing links" in the evolution of humans from apes and chimpanzees, all of them riding the Route 1L bus. I double-checked to see if they could actually walk erect. For that matter, what about the troglodyte-like living conditions that I am subjected to at Slob Manor? Is that not evidence of the domicile of "missing links"? Why, then, do I continue to stand by my knowledge of the Creator? Purpose is the answer.

Placebo Detox

My Nissan® Frontier truck and I were on our way to Hawai'i Kai this morning at 7:45am. I am not sure why I left so early. Moms had saved me a piece of pumpkin pie to eat for breakfast. Then, moms and I made the usual rounds with lunch courtesy Zippy's. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee and vanilla ice cream for dessert. I kept moms company until 1:30pm.

The rest of the day was trademarked urban nomad. Nothing out of the ordinary transpired, although I was not in a particularly good frame of mind. The disconnect seems to be exacting a bigger toll on my psyche than originally imagined. I really did not want to return to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). In fact, I kept thinking that I would be better off homeless. Perhaps now is the time for me to get a foot in the door of homelessness.

Moms gave me more religious literature to read. I was tempted to simply discard it. There's just nothing about moms' church that makes any sense. Its interpretations of the Good Book are skewed. In fact, I have no idea why the NLT (New Living Translation) Study Bible is still in my possession. The entire Good Book has been a failed prophesy. Or, am I missing something?

Believe me, I am no run-of-the-mill agnostic. I did not chose my path. The default option only became apparent when I completed six months of religious research. The "blog" contains capsule summaries of that research. I neglected to follow through on research about the Intertestimental Period (with the exception of the Dead Sea Scrolls). I believe that a lot more of the truth will become evident upon the completion of that task. For the time being, I am taking a break. I will be concentrating more on the spiritual mind, neuroscience, and cosmology.

Incidentally, I have not noticed any sugar ants crawling around on my Nissan® Frontier truck. Did my strategy work? The truck is still parked out on the street. I am wary of parking it in the Slob Manor driveway. The whole dump is infested with ants. Let me cite an example. If I were to sit at any of the two dining tables anywhere in Slob Manor with a plate of food, there will be several ants crawling all over the plate and the food within ten seconds. There are scout ants all over the floor and on the walls as well. That's how bad it is.

Mystical Calm

Once again, I attempted to leave early for town on the bus. This morning, I departed Slob Manor (read: rental housing) at 7:40am. I rode the bus to Kahala. I ended up waiting 20 minutes for the Route 23 bus. The Route 24 bus had arrived on time, but it was not heading to Ala Moana Center. I transferred to a Route 19 bus at Ala Moana. I finally alighted in town at 9am.

Repeating the "reenactment" episode of last week, I walked through Kamali'i Park. The small park is looking pretty shabby these days. Not even the homeless hang out there anymore. I procured a cup of Seattle's Best® Colombian coffee at the Pali Safeway®. Then, I stationed myself in my usual spot in the catacombs of Kukui Plaza. I spent about an hour there just sipping my coffee. A deep mystical calm enveloped my entire self. Then, I happened to observe a few sugar ants scurrying around on the concrete wall behind me. However, I did not squish their tiny heads.

I followed the same dull itinerary, albeit in a very leisurely fashion. Later in the afternoon, I was able to procure a Yakitori Bento at Foodland in Ala Moana Center. I also purchased a banana and a big-ass chocolate chip muffin to eat for a snack while I waited for the Route 24 bus. Sadly, I had a difficult time enjoying my snack, what with all the cigarette smoke and all.

I had an interesting discussion with Alan, the only guy living downstairs right now in Slob Manor. Yes, there are still two vacant room downstairs. I am surprised that Pat, the landlord, has left them vacant for so long. Alan has a small cottage business that he runs basically as a hobby. He wants to expand the business and needs more room. He is pretty much doing the work in his very cramped room at this time. He was thinking about renting one of the vacant rooms in addition to the one he has now. I suggested that he negotiate the rent for entire second floor. That way, the Indian guy and I would have to move downstairs. I am not really keen on the idea of moving downstairs, but I believe that it will be better for my sanity. Anyway, another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening awaits me.

Since life sort of fell apart for some of the poor schmucks in the empire like the ol' lavahead, there has been a great disconnect. I have attempted to cope with the problem using the "less is more approach." Mind you, I have been plagued with severe anxieties, the roots of which are too numerous to list at this time. However, a tasty cup of coffee has actually brought a tranquil calm to my psyche. I am not going back to my old coffee addiction, but I am not going to deny myself the occasional indulgence. I am way too old in years to keep denying myself of everything. I suppose that the coffee has an anxiolytic effect. The amphetamine-like substance caffeine appears to reverse the hypertensive symptoms. I am also listening to House Music courtesy Deep House Cat more often on my Palm® TX. Both the coffee and House Music have brought me close to a religious, spiritual, or mystical experience (RSME).

By the way, the Pure T 'n A site has proven to be quite interesting. I have not really taken the time to peruse the nooks and crannies of the site with the exception of the obligatory rules. The site hosts a "private" tracker for hurdy-gurdy "torrents." In other words, it requires a membership. There are specific rules to maintain the membership, the prime directive being equitable "seeding" after downloading. There are various levels of memberships starting at "Virgin" which is directly promotable to "Player." A high degree of contribution and a nomination by a current high-level member can lead to a promotion to "Pronstar" and "VIP." There are also a large number of forums that members can participate in, which is also quite interesting to peruse. Yes, a whole active community devoted to hurdy-gurdy aficionados. Isn't that something?

Return of the Disconnect

A major disconnect has occurred. I cannot put a finger on the exact time and place when the latter transpired. All I know is that I am no longer willing to function under the auspices of the present state of humanity. As I mentioned previously, I have left everything "up in the air." Not much is being accomplished. Days, if not weeks, go by before I complete a single task in the queue. I can distinctly recall when I was a "jack of all trades, a master of none." I was able to multi-task and complete numerous projects simultaneously. Alas, those were the days!

I have been perusing the new "time bomb" (i.e., the Advance Time Technology wind-up clock given to me by moms). I have cleaned it, although there are numerous scratches on the bezel. I have also enclosed it in a plastic bag to protect it. Actually, the Advance Time Technology clock (made in China) is not at all like the old "time bomb." The ticking sound is much quieter. However, it is not keeping perfect time. The artificial life-style, the one I was once immersed in, requires perfect timepieces. Schedules must be followed. Appointments must be kept. Everything must be synchronized. That's why my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer uses three international time servers to insure that its clock is accurate. The Advance Time Technology wind-up clock is unacceptable low technology in this era. That's truly sad.

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has been sanitized for your protection. I decided to leave for town at 7:45am this morning. However, as I walked to the bus stop, I observed the intended bus pass by. Was the bus early? Were my two clocks to blame? I wanted to take the circuitous route through Waikiki, but my plans were obviously thwarted. I waited 30 minutes for the next bus.

At the library, I completed reading the book, "The Spiritual Brain," by Beauregard & O'leary. I can actually recommend the book. It is truly an objective, almost clinical, overview of the topic. There's no sensationalism. There's really no unwarranted bias. Just the facts. Aside from that, I lapsed in and out of coma for part of the time. No doubt, the horrid disconnect was at play.

I robotically fulfilled my workout obligation at the gym and returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). Another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening awaits me. Incidentally, I discovered that Amazon® sells the Advance Time Technology wind-up clock (made in China). There are only two customer reviews, both highly critical, of the poor clock. Apparently, it is so poorly assembled that it is unlikely to last more than a month or so.

Time Bomb

"When I threw the shoe in the face of the criminal, George Bush, I wanted to express my rejection of his lies, his occupation of my country, my rejection of his killing my people. My rejection of his plundering the wealth of my country, and destroying its infrastructure. And casting out its sons into a diaspora." -- Muthatthar al Zaidi

My Nissan® Frontier truck and I were on our way to Hawai'i Kai at 7:45am this morning. My first stop was the Hawai'i Kai Shopping Center in Kuapa Kai. The cheap clock in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) had stopped. The culprit was the battery, easily determined because it was leaking. I perused both Longs® and Safeway® only to discover that I would have to purchase a four-pack of batteries at a whopping $5-plus. Whoa! Instead, I ended up purchasing a cup of Seattle's Best® Columbian coffee at Safeway®. I sat at one of the few concrete tables and sipped the delightful beverage.

Moms and I only made the rounds in Koko Marina with lunch courtesy Yummy's. Later, moms served pumpkin pie and Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. I kept moms company until 1:30pm. I then returned to Koko Marina, found shaded parking, walked to the gym, performed my usual workout, shopped at Foodland, and drove back to Slob Manor.

I managed to peruse my Nissan® Frontier truck periodically and spotted no ants whatsoever. Needless to say, I am not going to prematurely proclaim victory over the ants. Thus, I will continue to park the truck on the street indefinitely.

Moms gave me her old Advance Time Technology wind-up clock (made in China). Moms had not really used it much since it was too difficult for her to wind up. I have not owned a wind-up clock since the demise of the "time bomb" (i.e., my long-gone $4.99 wind-up clock). I also happened to find another battery lying around, so the clock in my squalid room is operational again. For how long, who knows?

Power Source (Reprise)

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... amazing, isn't it? At the library, I continued to read the book, "The Spiritual Brain," by Beauregard & O'leary. I am reading the section about religious, spiritual and mystical experiences (RSMEs). What I found interesting is that persons of a variety of religious backgrounds experienced the same or similar phenomena. A correlational problem involves the matter of language and semantics. However, the fact that such ethereal experiences are not exclusive to any one religious belief is an indication that there is no true religion per se. If worship was exclusive to God (of Judaism, Christianity, Paulinity, and Islam), then only He could be "channeled."

I attempted to concurrently begin reading, "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the End of Reason," by Sam Harris. After he mentioned that a "people of tolerance" (i.e., the empire) were forced to go to war in Afghanistan against Islamic "terrorists," I had to to put the book down. Obviously, Harris was more interested in selling copies of the book than revealing the truth. The Christian empire (i.e., the United Fascist States of Empire) has launched a "crusade" against Islam. To make matters worse, Harris is both an avid evolutionist and materialist¹.

As I have stated previously, evolution is a religion onto itself. Faith is very much needed to believe. Thus, die-hard evolutionists believe that some primitive form of humans have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. The more modest evolutionists believe that humans have been around for at least 100,000 years. Even the most dimwitted form of humanoid would have overpopulated the plant, depleted natural resources, and brought humanity to extinction long before such a time period could have elapsed.

My right shoulder is still giving me grief at the gym, even though I have reduced my weight maximums. Obviously, old age is taking its toll. And, there's nothing that I can do about it. Mortality is what has caused humans to engage in foolish behavior. Most likely, religious beliefs originated as an answer to mortality. The ability of the soul (or mind) to "channel" spirituality is probably merely an introspective into the deep recesses of our conscience, our "moral compass." The Creator's intention may have been to endow us with the ability to make sound moral and ethical judgments. Instead, humans came up with religion.

¹Materialist, a believer in the science of materialism wherein only physical observable data is acceptable.

Coins & Ants

Aside from restoring my monk haircut at the Institute of Hair Design, there was no deviation from the urban nomad kind-of-a-day. I did, however, take the circuitous bus route to town via Waikiki and Ala Moana this morning for no particular reason.

This evening, I happened to check the values of the various coins that I had accumulated over the years. At first, I thought that a few of the recent ones had no numismatic value. However, after further Web research, I discovered that the coins are worth more than face value. I am glad that I checked because I was going to deposit the coins in the bank tomorrow.

Earlier, I only made a quick perusal of my Nissan® Frontier truck. I did not see any ants crawling around, which means nothing. The ants could be lounging around in the truck's frame. The nest, wherever it is, will be hatching hundreds of ants very soon.

Vehemence of Silence

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... same old routine. Rude schmucks everywhere. What is the world coming to? The library did not open until 10am this morning due to some kind of power outage. There were quite a few people waiting when I arrived.

I continued to read the book, "The Spiritual Brain," by Beauregard & O'leary. What I am not able to understand is why God (of Judaism, Christianity, Paulinity, and Islam) is always assumed to be the Creator. There are no other options. That has presented quite a problem for me. In fact, the God of the Good Book has me quite confused. I do not understand why the Almighty required a "Kingdom" complete with myriad angels (i.e., archangels, cherubim, seraphim). What exactly do the members of the "Kingdom" do? Certainly they do not spend all their time supervising the earth. Well, in fact, there is supposedly a spiritual war going on between he Almighty's camp and Satan's camp? Yes, that's the same Satan who was barely mentioned in the entire Hebrew Scriptures (so-called "Old Testament").

Then, there is the matter of the Mosaic/Deuteronomic Law in the Hebrew Scriptures. I have not found any reference in the Christian Greek Scriptures (so-called "New Testament") that rescinds the Mosaic/Deuteronomic Law. In other words, Judeo-Christian believers should still be offering burnt sacrifices. "Stoning" should still be the means of capital punishment for certain crimes. Only circumcision is no longer a requirement, at least according to the self-appointed Apostle Paul. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

I am not certain about why I keep belaboring these points about the falsity of the world's common religions. I suppose that it comes as quite a shock to realize that we really have no higher purpose for our existence. There also seems to be no basis for morality. Previously, I asked, "What is the world coming to?" I truly do not have an answer.

Essentially, I have been grasping at straws, so to speak, in order to derive some kind of meaning for humanity. With each passing day, I find nothing redeeming. Just a quick review of the day's "news" verifies the latter. I have not attended to my own affairs. I have left everything "up in the air," when I should have been more diligent about the exodus. The time is coming when I will need to flee at a moment's notice. Will I be ready?

My Name is Not Earl

"You have an ability to sense and know higher truth." -- from Panda Express® fortune cookie

Another visit to Hawai'i Kai with my ant-infested Nissan® Frontier truck ... moms and I made the usual rounds with lunch courtesy Panda Express®. Later, moms served Foremost® coffee and vanilla ice cream for dessert. I kept moms company until 1:30pm.

I followed my usual routine. I performed a leisurely workout at the gym. Then, I shopped for groceries at Foodland. I ran into Mark in the store. We chatted for a few minutes. Before departing for Slob Manor (read: rental housing) from Koko Marina, I checked the truck for evidence of ants. Sure enough, I observed about eight of them crawling around. Naturally, I squished all of their tiny heads. Obviously, the ants are not going away anytime soon.

I wasn't exactly pleased to be back at Slob Manor. For dinner, I ate one Spam® Musubi, a banana, and a navel orange. I was still quite full from lunch. Another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening awaits me. Sheesh!

Over the past few days, I have had to deal with a huge influx of rude people. My tolerance for inconsiderate troglodytes has always been low. I suppose that most of those clowns can dish out and take rudeness because they have families, loved ones, or other social entities in the background which offer some semblance of decency. Loners like myself do not have such an option. We are constantly bombarded by rudeness in the outside world. Then, we must return to harsh living environments. Eventually, one's own heart will be hardened. Humanity becomes one big disappointment, and misanthropic attitudes prevail. There is only one answer for those of us who share the same lot in life ... yes, the exodus.

Reenactment

I left for town at 8:15am this morning, quite early for an urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday. I departed hastily both today and yesterday because the Indian guy was up early on both days for no apparent reason. With all of the accompanying noise, there was no reason for me to sit in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing). As I mentioned prior, the Indian guy has been keeping some strange hours ever since he purchased his "babe magnet" automobile.

Once in town, I decided to reenact an old routine that was deprecated well over a year ago. I walked to the Pali Safeway® and purchased a cup of Seattle's Best® Colombian coffee. Sadly, all of the energy bars were gone already. I then sat on one of the concrete benches in the catacombs of Kukui Plaza and enjoyed my cup of coffee. Just like the good ol' days!

After checking my mail at the Post Office, I made my way to the gym. I was 30 minutes earlier than usual, but I was able to catch a microsecond glimpse of the hottie gym trainer. As to be expected, baby was looking mighty fine. My workout was leisurely accomplished. Then, I employed the usual circuitous route back to Slob Manor via Ala Moana Center. At Foodland, I purchased a banana, two greasy Reser's® burritos for a later snack, and a Futomaki Sushi roll for dinner.

I have been trying to maintain a very low social profile, but often I run into someone whom I know. Today, at the gym, I ran into a bus driver whom I happened to get to know because he drove the night Route 1 shift. That's when I used to go to Kahala Mall almost every night. We chatted about the usual gym stuff. I was humored that he thought I was still in my mid-thirties. He's also a vegetarian for the most part. I was surprised because he has been able to keep his weight from declining. Yesterday, at the library, I ran into one of the retired guys that previously went to the downtown gym. Something apparently happened, so he now goes to the Kapi'olani branch. He was one of the nicer guys at the gym. Most of the other fools are completely absorbed in their feigned self-importance.

Classic Urban Nomad (Continued)

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day commenced fairly early. I departed for town on the bus at 7:45am this morning. However, I ended up waiting 30 minutes for the library to open. I completed reading Strobel's book, "The Case for a Creator." As to be expected, the conclusion of the book included the obligatory Christian "witnessing," not that the latter was unexpected. I am now singularly committed to reading, "The Spiritual Brain," by Beauregard and O'leary. So far, the book has been very interesting, and there are no attempts at Christian "witnessing" by the authors.

Yes, I spend about four hours in the inner courtyard of the library for four days each week. I sit at one of the tables along the periphery of the courtyard. The metal chairs are not very comfortable. In fact, I believe that I have the equivalent of bedsores as a result. I turn the chair to face the courtyard and use the back wall as a headrest. Sometimes I lapse in and out of a coma in order to catch up on much needed rest. Obviously, I am not living the life-style of a "winner." Only the homeless spend more time there than I do.

After a leisurely workout at the gym, I headed back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). What a horrid and dismal dump! I could barely stand it in my squalid room. I walked the two blocks to peruse my Nissan® Frontier truck. No vandalism. Only one ant was visibly scurrying around. Naturally, I squished its tiny head. A few minutes later, I decided to drive to Hawai'i Kai. I ended up at Koko Marina in search of something to eat for dinner. What I really wanted was a nice meal to cheer me up. Neither Foodland or Taco Bell® met the criteria. I finally decided upon Loco Moco. I ordered a $8 Beef Curry plate lunch. I was the only patron in the entire dining area. I ate my meal in leisure and enjoyed every bite. Needless to say, I was both stuffed and satisfied afterward. I was able to return to Slob Manor in preparation for another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening.

Classic Urban Nomad

My ant-infested Nissan® Frontier truck and I were on our way to Hawai'i Kai at 8:15am this morning. Our first stop was the Goodwill drop box. I donated my all-in-one corkscrew/knife/bottle-opener (i.e., no more cheap boozin' for the ol' lavahead) and a star socket set. Not a big donation by any means. Yet, every divestiture of useless possessions counts. Moms was home when I arrived. Moms and I only made the rounds in Koko Marina. Lunch was courtesy Zippy's. Later, moms served Double-Layer Guava Cake for dessert. I kept moms company until 1:45pm.

The rest of the day was classic urban nomad. No details are necessary. I was extremely fatigued for most of the day. No doubt, the constant metaphysical pondering that I have been engaged in is finally taking its toll. Then, there is the ant infestation of my Nissan® Frontier truck. So far, my strategy has not panned out. I spotted at least ten ants this afternoon. Of course, I squished their tiny heads. There are probably several hundred more ants still residing in the truck. Only a small fraction of ants are visible at any time. How long can they hold out without food or water?

Healthcare & Ants

"Wall Street and the big insurers got the message. The day after the [Obama] speech, share prices for health insurers surged: UnitedHealth by 17 cents to $28.57; WellPoint by 96 cents to $53.80; Aetna by 59 cents to $29.84; and Humana by $1.12 to $39.19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average extended its five-day rally, closing at its highest level since October." -- Jerry White ([deleted] site)

The routine is always the same. Need I say more? I neglected to mention that I am concurrently reading the book, "The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God," by Lee Strobel along with, "The Spiritual Brain," by Beauregard & O'leary.. Previously, I had decided to mummify the reading of the Strobel's book, but later changed my mind. The book is published by Zondervan, a religious publishing house, which was the main reason for initial mummification.

My workouts at the gym have become increasingly laborious. However, I continue with the regimen. After all, that's my healthcare insurance. Incidentally, very few people seem to understand the gist of the so-called "healthcare reform." Here's is a capsule summary provided by the [deleted] site:

A market of private insurers will be set up to offer substandard health plans. Individuals will be required to buy insurance and potentially will be fined thousands of dollars if they do not, thus providing a massive boondoggle for the insurance companies. Employers will find it easier to ditch employer-provided health coverage, thus boosting corporate profits. At the same time, the ultimate aim is to phase out or cut government spending on entitlement programs (particularly Medicare, which, under the pretext of eliminating "waste" and "inefficiencies," will be subject to immediate cuts).

Sounds great, doesn't it? That's "change you can believe in."

Once back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing), I walked the two blocks to where my Nissan® Frontier truck is parked. No sign of vandalism, thank goodness. There were three or four ants roaming about. Naturally, I had to squish their tiny heads. Perhaps my strategy has been successful. I have cut off both food and water from the ant colonies. I was foolish not to realize that the Slob Manor trash can (about three feet from where the truck was parked in the driveway) was the source of food. The ants had sought shelter to nest and store food, the choice being the truck. Let's see what happens in the next day or so.

Ant Farm (Reprise)

"Christ is coming soon." -- José Flores, religious fanatic who attempted to hijack Flight 576 AeroMexico jetliner

I was on my way to Hawai'i Kai in my ant-infested Nissan® Frontier truck at 8:15am this morning. Moms had an appointment at Queen's Hospital again. On our return trip, moms and I stopped off at Longs® in Kuapa Kai and Foodland in Koko Marina. Moms served lamp-baked chicken, fresh ahi sashimi, fresh vegetables, and rice for lunch. For dessert, moms served Foremost® coffee and vanilla ice cream. I kept moms company until 2pm.

I followed the mundane urban nomad routine (i.e., gym, shop for food) after that. Then, I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). We all know the drill already.

The ant infestation in my truck has continued to increase even though I performed an initial "ant flush" with water the other day. I repeated the process again this afternoon, doing a more thorough job. Within minutes, I observed several ants crawling around. By chance, I discovered two thick trails of ants that led straight to the front and rear tires of my truck. In retrospect, I realized that the ant infestation probably commenced when a palm frond landed on the hood a few months ago. I had observed millions of ants using the the palm frond as a bridge from the ground to my truck. Obviously, there is no way for me to stop the infestation.

In desperation, I moved my Nissan® Frontier truck back onto the street. I am now parked about two blocks away from Slob Manor. The truck is once again an open target for vandalism. There is also no guarantee that the ant infestation will decrease. For all I know, the ants living on the truck will recruit other ants from that area in da 'hood. I could have a worse situation on my hands.

Protein Soup

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... we all knew that already, though. At the library, I completed reading Schroeder's book, "The Hidden Face of God." I thoroughly enjoyed the book, especially the topics dealing with biology and molecular biology. In fact, I have been somewhat mesmerized all day. Clearly, there is a lifeforce that guides all cellular functions. Cells have no brain or organs, and no protein soup concoction could replicate complex cell functions. I am now beyond convinced that there is a Creator. So, I have commenced reading the book, "The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist's Case for the Existence of the Soul," by Mario Beauregard and Denyse O'leary. Not much else to report, I'm afraid.

Slave Labor Day 2009

I departed for Kahala Mall on the bus at 7:45am this morning. I brought two muffins from Liliha Bakery that moms had given me. I ate the muffins for breakfast in the air-conditioned comfort of the mall. I ended up at Barnes & Noble® as expected. I enjoyed a cup of real coffee and perused the usual genre of books and magazines.

I was back at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 12:30pm. I decided to give my Nissan® Frontier truck a sponge bath because of the water residue from the "ant flush" that I performed yesterday. I also observed that the number of ants has been multiplying. Obviously, the ants have nested somewhere inside the truck.

After cleaning up, I departed for Hawai'i Kai. I wanted to purchase a can of rust remover from the auto parts store, but the dump was closed. So, I looked around City Mill. I was able to find a can of Rustoleum® Rust Reformer for $7 and some change. I then drove to Koko Marina, found shaded parking, performed my usual workout at the gym, and shopped at Foodland. I was not able to purchase a decent bento, so I had to settle for four greasy Reser's® burritos.

Prior to departing Koko Marina for Slob Manor, I spent some time spraying Rustoleum® Rust Reformer on all of the hidden rusted area of my truck. I have neglected the completion of this task for so long that the rust has increased. As I was spraying the rusted areas, I observed a number of sugar ants crawling around. I had to squish their tiny heads. I was slightly bothered by the fact that each ant possesses a generic soul (which I extinguished).

Back at Slob Manor, I continued to treat the rusted areas of my truck, all the while enduring countless attacks by myriad mosquitoes. More and more ants began appearing. Naturally, I crushed each of their tiny heads. As darkness descended, I opted to eat all four of the greasy Reser's® burritos for dinner. Needless to say, my stomach was a little queasy afterward. Another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening awaits me. Well, that's my exciting Slave Labor Day adventure.

Inspiration

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday was hampered by rain. Yes, rain. The sky looked ominous before I departed for town on the bus. However, I voted against bringing my umbrella. Once in town, I was privy to frolic in a downpour. Really? Not really. I decided to forsake the jaunt to check my mail and headed straight for the gym. I was quite fatigued, so my workout did not go well. In addition, I only ate four Kellogg's® Fiber Plus® granola bars. So, I was hungry as well.

The rain had stopped before I exited the gym. Once again, I followed the circuitous bus route through Ala Moana Center on the way back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I purchased a bento, a banana, and a $2 chocolate chip muffin at Foodland. I ate the banana and the muffin while I waited at the bus stop.

When I alighted the bus near Kawaikui Beach Park, I felt raindrops. While I waited to cross the street, a downpour commenced. I was sopping wet when I set foot in my squalid room. Since I was already wet, I decided that I would wash my Nissan® Frontier truck. Well, not exactly. Instead of washing the truck, I sprayed out the engine compartment, the windshield drainage ducts, the undercarriage, and every nook and cranny that might be hospitable to sugar ants. After going through all that crap, I discovered several ants still crawling around on the truck. Sheesh!

I neglected to mention that I found something puzzling in Gerald Schroeder's book, "The Hidden Face of God." Schroeder cited an example of a woman who was in a bad traffic accident. She suffered head trauma that resulted in the loss of her long-term memory. She essentially did not know who she was. Neither could she recognize her own daughter. In time, Schroeder stated, the woman developed a new personality and a new life. If there were the possibility of a resurrection, which persona would be restored?

With the "blog" of August 15th, I began to state my intuitive ideas concerning the Creation and whats in store for all of us. Although humans are an advanced creature, there is no reason to believe that the Creator has made provisions for resurrection or eternal life. The anecdote cited previously supports my thesis. My guess is that the soul in all creatures is generic, much like the kernel of a computer operating system. The kernel can do nothing on its own. However, with software drivers, it can interface with computer hardware. Then, additional application software provides the computer's ultimate functionality. The generic soul is what is placed in all living creatures, but the extent of the creature's faculties is entirely dependent on the type of physical brain it interfaces with. Yes, the soul that I have is mine, but my self-awareness is only made possible by the complexity of my human brain.

Obviously, none of what I just discussed is comforting to me. Frankly, the idea that this life is all that I have is truly disconcerting. And, I suppose that our distant ancestors were also quite perturbed by the same realization. That's when God (of Judaism, Christianity, Paulinity, and Islam) came into existence. The great religious thinkers of days long gone worked themselves into a tizzy to explain human life. Perhaps they drove themselves to the brink of insanity in that quest.

Although the Good Book states that "God sits above the circle of the earth" (Book of Isaiah) and "the earth hangs on nothing" (Book of Job), there is no evidence to confirm that all of the authors of the "canon" were not "flat earth" believers. "Heaven" is above the earth. Sheol, Hades, the fiery Gehenna, and "hell" are below the earth. In between is the "flat earth," also known as "Purgatory." In fact, the Apostle Paul mentioned in one of his letters that an acquaintance of his had seen the third level of "Heaven." The idea that "Heaven" had seven levels was formulated during the volatile Intertestimental Period of Judaism, much as the other questionable doctrines that eventually seeped into Pauline Christianity. I surmise that Sheol, Hades, a fiery Gehenna, and "hell" were empirically determined most likely by observations of live volcanoes. Hot magma flowing from the lavahead was probably the inspiration. Lavahead? Get it? Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaaa!

There is also a big problem with evolutionists. Their "faith" in evolution is much the same as experienced in religious fanaticism. There are no existing intermediate forms (i.e., "missing links") between apes and humans. Only very small questionable fossil fragments have been used to "reconstruct" entire skeletal structures. There is no "missing link." Much of the Creation had to occur concurrently. Otherwise, all species of life would never have survived. There is a Creator. Unfortunately, the Creator is not God (of Judaism, Christianity, Paulinity, and Islam).

Rampant Stupidity

I departed for Kahala Mall on the bus at 7:45am this morning. Obviously, I left pretty damned early. I stopped off at Longs® to see if I could find something worthy of calling breakfast. Nada. I then perused the selection at Whole Foods®. However, the prices were way too high for a peon like myself. So, I ended up at Times, specifically the Saint Germain Bakery concession in the store. I purchased two small muffins for $3 and some change. I walked back to Kahala Mall and ate my paltry breakfast in air-conditioned comfort.

As to be expected, I ended up at Barnes & Noble®. I sat in the café and sipped on real coffee while I perused my favorite Linux magazines. I also perused a few books that will be added to my library reading list. I departed the mall at 11:52am. I had to wait for the bus, so I finally returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) at 12:30pm.

I had to decide whether I wanted to got to the gym in town or in Hawai'i Kai. Since Hawai'i Kai is closer, I opted to go there. I am not certain why my memory seems to fail me, but the wait at the bus stop and the ride to Hawai'i Kai on the bus takes about as long as the trip to town. I did my usual workout at the gym. Then, I purchased a banana and a box of Kellogg's® Fiber Plus® granola bars. The box states, "Taste Better than Fiber One®!" I can confirm that the latter claim is very true. I actually wanted to purchase a bento, but that was not meant to be.

I had to wait 30 minutes for the bus. So, I finally arrived back at Slob Manor at 4:45pm. I had deep regrets about not going to town instead. I piddled around for the rest of the afternoon. I spent about an hour committing mass genocide upon the myriad sugar ants that have nested in my Nissan® Frontier truck. Obviously, that is proving to be a fruitless endeavor.

Another urban nomad kind-of-an-evening awaits me. Oh, the horror! Many thanks to Urban Coyote for sending me tips on how to end the ant infestation. However, I do not know how I will be able to set boric acid traps in my truck. Mr. Bumpy also advised me to not divest the 51-year-old booklet, "Adventures of a Pebble." The copy is worth close to a C-note. Unbelievable!

By the way, the furor over the limp healthcare reform is actually rooted in Christian religious quackery. The reason that many of the rank-and-file idiots are opposed to any kind of reform is not because of the fear of "socialism." Rather, they are hard-wired to believe the statement, "God only helps those who help themselves." The fools-in-question believe that the latter quote came from the Good Book while, in actuality, the source is Ben Franklin (not a patriarch of the Good Book).

Christian religious quackery is also the reason why there is little opposition to the empire's carnage in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The empire, the United Fascist States of Empire (USFE), is a Holy Christian Empire. It is waging a war against Islam (which shares the exact same God). Yes, Pakistan is a Muslim state, a result of its separation from India (a Hindu state). Christian religious quackery is also why the empire is firmly behind Israel. The third temple must be constructed in Jerusalem, and the various sacrifices must commence immediately afterward by Levitical priests, in order to bring about the "second coming of Jesus" and Armageddon. Believe it or not, this is the real world that we live in. And, everything is becoming more stupid with each passing day.

A Bridge Too Near

I was on my way to Hawai'i Kai in my ant-infested Nissan®; Frontier truck at 8:15am this morning. Moms had an appointment at Queen's Hospital for her hearing aid check-up. Then, we had to drive back to Liliha so that moms could pick up her new eyeglasses. Afterward, moms and I visited Liliha Bakery. Moms purchased all kinds of delicious baked goods. The place was packed with people. According to moms, Liliha Bakery is the best bakery in the islands.

We stopped off at Koko Marina to eat lunch at Zippy's. After lunch, moms shopped for groceries at Foodland. We finished our long excursion at 1:30pm. Of course, the day would not be complete without Foremost® ice cream for dessert. I kept moms company until 2:15pm. Then, I commenced my usual urban nomad routine. No further details are necessary.

New Paradigm

"However, at this point, five stocks (yes only five) account for 40% of the trading volume on the market. Those five stocks: Citigroup, CIT Group, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG. Think about that, five stocks out of several thousand, are accounting for 40% of ALL trading." -- Graham Summers from the article, "Crooks, Computers, and the Coming Crash," on the Kitco® site

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... say it ain't so! At the library, I continued to read Gerald Schroeder's book, "The Hidden Face of God." Aside from the sparse references to the Creator being God (of Judaism, Christianity, Paulinity, and Islam), the book has been an excellent read. In fact, most of the content has been mind-boggling. I have been locked in an internal debate about metaphysics since first opening the book.

I do not know why the Creator is always identified as God (of Judaism, Christianity, Paulinity, and Islam) by default. If the latter were true, then I would also have to accept the various inaccuracies, anachronisms, problems of theodicy, and unfulfilled prophesies of the Good Book as well. The Almighty of the Good Book is omniscient as well. He is able to see into the future because His existence transcends all time. From what we can observe, the actual Creator does not appear to have such powers. And, it certainly does not appear that human life was created with any kind of resurrection in mind.

Even Schroeder's discussion about the human brain seems to indicate that the soul is intimately tied to the physical brain itself. Our memories, our emotions, our personality, as well as all of our human functions are deeply rooted in the biological (and chemical) processes of the brain. Memory seems to be the antecedent for all behavior, good or bad. Thus, in the course of a human lifetime, the collected experiences become part of a vast database in the physical brain. Hence, I am less inclined to believe that humans inherited "sin" from the Garden of Eden incident. In fact, I am beginning to realize a whole different perception of the Creator, the existence of humanity, and the purpose of the universe.

Invisibility

I was on my way to Hawai'i Kai at 8:35am this morning. Moms was home when I arrived. However, since moms was busy, I drove to Koko Head Park. I gave my Nissan® Frontier truck a sponge bath and subsequently waxed the exterior. I had originally planned to accomplish the wax job sometime during the upcoming Slave Labor Day weekend. Later, moms served hot dogs and fresh vegetables for lunch. As always, Foremost® ice cream was served up for dessert. I kept moms company until 1:30pm. Then, I drove to Koko Marina to complete my urban nomad kind-of-a-day.

After a less than stellar workout at the gym, I was able to procure a $3.50 hot meal (local-style bento) consisting of Hamburger Curry and rice at Foodland. Greasy, but delicious. Much better than the Reser's® frozen burritos that were my first choice.

Moms is very excited about an upcoming assembly and an international convention being convened by her church. The international convention will be held at the Hawai'i Convention Center in Waikiki. I really don't say much when moms is discussing religion, particularly the doctrines of the church. I have already been able to identify the gross deviation from Pauline Christianity when I read the Good Book. However, since I am almost certain that the Good Book is not what it proclaims to be, the issue is moot.

At this point in time, I have become very detached (i.e., disconnected) from humanity. I am no longer concerned about much, not even the mundane or the spiritual. I am certain that the "blog" reflects my affect. In a sense, I may have made an unwitting quantum leap toward exiting society. I am still chained to my useless possessions and the despicable "condotel" unit, but my psyche has attained freedom. Obviously, I have no passion for anything. Yet, is that really so bad? I have, in essence, become the non-entity that I have always aspired to be. Aside from moms, no one knows or cares who I am. I have no obligation or attachment to anyone. Of course, being a non-entity is somewhat disconcerting at first. After a while, though, the freedom brought on by invisibility become priceless.

"Fishy" Nonsense

Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day? You bet! Anything noteworthy to report? Nada. Just the way we like it. Sheesh! At the library, I commenced reading the book titled, "The Hidden Face of God: How Science Reveals the Ultimate Truth," by Gerald Schroeder. Don't be fooled by the misleading title. The book is actuality quite interesting. Schroeder avoids proselytizing or using religious dogma to substantiate his thesis.

My investment accounts are yielding next to nothing. In actuality, my one IRA bond fund account is producing most of the dividend income, and there is only $29,000 in it. I was planning to move the bulk of my IRA money market account into the bond fund, but something "fishy" is going on in the markets. Bond fund NAVs (read: net asset values) usually go down when the stock market surges. However, bond fund NAVs and yields have been going up as well. Something is clearly wrong with the stock market rally. Well, wrong is right.