Technology Slave

I was back to my usual routine in town again today. However, I am becoming much more cognizant about my nebulous future and my fragile mental state. What exactly keeps me tethered to society? The "condotel" unit? My Nissan® Frontier Nismo truck? If anything, I could abandon both possessions and absorb the loss (about $75,000). Yes, that's a lot of dough. However, there will be a point when I may see diminishing returns. Ideally, I will have divested both before the critical times arrive.

My only real fear right now is that the Fed will give in and lower short-term interest rates to zero again, leaving me with zero income. Global inflation is increasing and many of the world's central banks are raising interest rates. We have incredible high inflation domestically, but the moneychangers and the powers-that-be have done everything possible to mask inflation by "doctoring" the figures, exporting labor expenses, and inflating both the so-called "housing bubble" and "stock market bubble." The use of speculative "wealth" has been quite successful at fooling the masses. Yet, as easily as that "wealth" comes about, it disappears quite rapidly as well.

Incidentally, my Ubuntu Linux CDs arrived. I have the 32-bit and 64-bit versions. All that's missing is a computer to install the operating system. I have debated whether I should give in to materialism and purchase a cheap notebook computer (i.e., $600 or so) and replace the operating system with Ubuntu Linux. Do I need a computer? That's the big question. For the time being, my Palm® TX seems adequate. I am not certain how long Palm® will survive. Palm®'s only savior will be the rumored new Linux operating system for its PDAs. In any case, my overall goal should be to move myself away from technology, not embrace it any further. Yes, technology is also a form of enslavement.

After my workout at the gym in town, I will immediately return to Waikiki. I will go directly to the Waikiki Banyan parking structure and retrieve my truck. Moms invited me over for dinner. I am excited to spend that time with moms. When my bro and his family return from vacation, I will no longer have that opportunity. I will go back to deconstructing my life and prepare for my ultimate exodus from society. Later this evening, I anticipate the same old stir crazy feelings to surface. Perhaps this evening will be a good time to visit my safe haven, Barnes & Noble®, eh?

Rejuvenation

I was torn between the option of venturing off to Ala Moana Center or to journey into the darkness of debauchery, Fudgepacker Park (formerly Kapi'olani Park), for the evening. Rather than deal with the crowds of shopping idiots, I decided to join the ranks of derelicts, the degenerates, and the homeless in the dismal park. I spent about an hour there, doing absolutely nothing but staring blankly out toward the vast blackened expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Every now and then, I would look toward the airport and observe the various jet airliners coming and going. I imagined the myriad satanic gargoyles herded around the airport like cattle. Each plane that departed from the airport made me feel good. That's about 200 satanic gargoyles going home. Sadly, each arriving plane obviously replaced the clowns who departed, which made me feel queasy.

When I returned to Quagmire Prison (read: hotel), I spent about an hour in the prison compound (read: hotel lobby) reading the latest issue of the AARP® Magazine. Then, I went into lockdown in my prison cell (read: little shoebox).

This morning, I retrieved my truck from the Waikiki Banyan parking structure at 10:15am. I had hastily completed a load of laundry before leaving. I arrived in Hawai'i Kai a little before 11am. I embarked on a tanning hike up Koko Head, something that I have not done in a long time. The view of Diamond Head on the horizon was breathtaking as I ascended to road to the top. I was able to get a bit of tan. Frankly, I have not been out in the sun in such a long time that I have acquired one of those pathetic "redneck" tans. Needless to say, I felt rejuvenated after the hike.

Moms did not return until about 12:40pm. Moms prepared a bunch of leftovers for lunch. At 2pm, I walked to the gym in Koko Marina while moms took a nap. I did my usual weekend cardio workout while enjoying the view of Kuapa Pond from the large windows. I purchased an expensive Starbucks® bottled coffee beverages from Foodland and sat on one of the benches to drink it. Why didn't I just purchase a real beverage at the Starbucks® a few doors down?

Moms was up when I returned. I washed my gym clothes by hand and hung the laundry up to dry. Moms prepared more of the same leftovers for dinner. I was able to chat with moms for quite a while. My bro and his family are gone for their vacation, so I will be able to spend more time with moms, which is also an excuse for me to make sure that moms is alright. I left for Waikiki at 7pm. After parking my truck, I was back in my prison cell soon enough. I felt stir crazy again. My only two options were the same as the previous night. Again, I opted to go to Fudgepacker Park. I spent most of the time contemplating my "compartmentalized" life-style. I also could not help but wonder what I am going to do when moms is gone. I have no other express purpose for being alive at this point in time.

On my way back to Quagmire Prison, I observed an unbelievable number of young hotties out carousing in their "hootchie momma" outfits. They all knew they were hotties, which gave them ample reason to emulate Paris Hilton's typical behavior. Yes, there are a lot of hotties out there, but I sure would not want to put up with the crap that they dish out? As a loser and a monk, I don't really have to worry about such nonsense. Upon my eventual return to Quagmire prison, I went into lockdown in my prison cell for the remainder of my waking hours.

Perhaps I am just suffering from that new psychopathology identified as Bush Exasperation Syndrome (BES). A brief description:

As first reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), symptoms of Bush Exasperation Syndrome include involuntary outbursts of projectile cursing whenever the name or image of President George W. Bush is flashed before sufferers of this malady. This catalytic image (or trigger) has produced bouts of explosive and uncontrollable profanity in well over half of those tested for the disease.

But reflexive and propulsive swearing is only the most benign symptom of BES. As the disease progresses, more advanced symptoms include the loss of a sense of humor, coupled with feelings of hopelessness and despair. And the number of traffic accidents is thought to have increased due to drivers losing control of their vehicles while suffering BES-related episodes.

Read about this debilitating disorder in the article titled, "Bush-Exasperation Syndrome Spreads," authored by Jaime O' Neil which appeared on the Smirking Chimp site. It's a worthy read.

Very little appears to be going on in the news, aside from the usual trivial crap à la Paris Hilton. I have no desire to know anything about Hilton. It's not like baby is coming around to do da wild thing with the ol' lavahead. Very little developments in the alternative news sources as well. The so-called "stock market bubble" has been very erratic. Naturally, my bond fund investment tanked. The dollar gained against other currencies. Shrub has decided to put the so-called "missile shield" in Poland. Well, hey! He's the "decider"!

A secret deal is being put together that encompasses NAFTA-style free trade agreements with Peru, Panama, South Korea and Colombia, and is designed to pave the pay for the passage of presidential fast track authority which lets presidents eliminate all labor, environmental and human rights provisions from trade agreements. Meanwhile, the daily cost of the Iraq incursion is $195 million to taxpayers. I have no idea what the Afghanistan incursion is costing. Yes, it's just business as usual. Sheesh!

Vow of Eternal Silence

Yet another evening in quasi-lockdown in my prison cell (read: little shoebox), the fourth night in a row. I was going stir crazy by 10:30pm, so I stepped out for some fresh air. I walked to the detestable Food Pantry and purchased a big-ass can of cheap brewski. That's about as fresh as the air gets in Waikiki. I spent the rest of my waking hours in the prison compound droppin' back the big-ass can of cheap brewski and reading the remainder of Pete Peterson's book, "Running on Empty."

Another day of the same ol' shit. I spent most of the day in front of the computer reading the various alternative news sources. Frankly, the latter is a depressing task. Finding the truth by sifting through the bullshit is a cumbersome task. Then, to digest the truth is even more difficult. It is not the purpose of the "blog" to discuss in detail my findings. Obviously, there are numerous "blogs" of varying levels of punditry and the alternative news sources themselves which do a far better job. My only observation is that everything is literally "going to hell in a handbasket." The number of crises are alarmingly increasing worldwide. We are delivering ourselves to our own destruction by several irreversible means. There is no denying such a fact.

Incidentally, Larry Chin wrote an interesting take on the "National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive," effective May 9th, that has not been discussed at all in the "mainstream" media. I mentioned it briefly in the "blog" yesterday. The article is titled, "New presidential directive gives Bush dictatorial powers.” The entire directive is provided verbatim. Does anyone care? Or, is the sale at Wal-Mart® more important?

In the US and most of the First World, complacence of the masses must be maintained, and what better way than sloth, one of the "seven sins." We rely heavily on a corrupt and morally bankrupt economic "system" to maintain the status quo, with little regard for the fact that the "system" is essentially destroying the planet and decimating a large number of life forms (including humans) to accomplish its objectives. There is no other way to describe such behavior as anything other than extreme selfishness. In the First World, the latter trait is masked by the term, "rugged individualism," a misnomer at best. Believe me, it is nothing more than selfishness in the most debased form. Frankly, in my opinion (which is not worth much), the damage is far beyond repair. An exodus from society is the only solution for those who truly wish to be spared the inevitable time of reckoning.

After viewing the Presidential debates, I came to realize that I was being visually and intellectually accosted by a bunch of "posers." Then, I reflected for a moment. The whole of society is comprised of "posers" and wannabe assholes, usually characters and caricatures of often-fictional persona non grata featured on the tube. "Posers" possess no redeeming qualities, just as the characters they emulate. They speak from both sides of their mouths. Now, as I look around me, I see nothing but "posers." With that revelation, I made a conscious decision to distance myself further from these satanic gargoyles, for that is really what they are. I must become more hermit-like, avoiding all contact with others. I must also revisit the "Vow of Silence," that is, learning to not utter one single word during the day.

Another aspect of the Presidential campaign is the recent fixation on the alleged religiosity of the candidates. I find the whole matter sickening and offensive. What's even worse is to listen to the gabacho¹ clones each profess a high degree of commitment to Christianity. To see that kind of "faith based" rhetoric in political discourse is a blatant disregard for the "separation of church and state." None of that crap should come as a surprise as Kevin Phillips had presented appalling evidence of the increasing intrusion of religion in every aspect of "American" society in his book, "American Theocracy." No matter how many times these clowns profess their faith, their "love of God," and their "accepting of Christ" in their hearts, they remain hypocrites who serve Christendom, the apostate wing of El Diablo. Nowhere is it written in the Good Book that true Christians should deeply involve themselves in the affairs and politics of the world. The Good Book warns that "the ruler of the world" is Satan. "Do not store up treasures in the world," we are admonished. Are these "Sunday-go-to-meeting Christians" even aware of what is written as law for them?

Although the topic of religion may appear to be quite boring, there is good reason why I delve into the matter especially in view of the blatant hypocrisy and blasphemy that we witness today. We are previewing a dangerous sign of prophesy, one that is certainly a prelude to Armageddon. Even if one has no religious inclination, there can be no denying that faulty religious fanaticism and nationalism are an extremely volatile mix. We can go on and on about "Islamo-Fascism" and "terrorism," yet we are totally unaware that we are fomenting the same kind of thinking in this nation. If Phillips is correct, about 60 percent of the US population are at the least "Sunday-go-to-meeting Christians" while 30 percent are hardcore dispensationalists. To hear these lost "sheep" talk is beyond chilling. This is "God's chosen nation," they offer. Nothing can change their minds, which is what the moneychangers and powers-that-be desire.

Take a good look at the so-called "churches," the actual physical edifices which house the various apostate congregations of Christendom². The gaudy temples of affluence, greed, and avarice are full of dungy idols. Worshippers are directed by evil "shepherds" and false prophets to do the deeds of El Diablo. Rather than preach humanitarian ideals, the latter agents of the sinister kahuna brainwash the masses to believe in their own salvation and superiority over "inferior" breeds. Rather than bring nations together, they foster hatred and violence "in the name of God," a name that they do not even know. How can anyone worship a deity without knowing its name? That alone is a telltale sign that the nameless god whom they worship is really Satan. Heck, even Satan quoted from the Good Book. I am far from a religious "kook," but I do know that the prophesy is being fulfilled. We, as a people, could have turned it around. However, the majority of us are infected by the epidemic of the "seven sins." The worst part about the infection is that it hides behind the façade of religion. If anyone is part of this great empire of false religion, follow the advice of the Good Book: "Get out of Babylon!"

¹Gabacho, a fat slob White Supremacist satanic gargoyle.

²Christendom, a grouping of apostate religious sects claiming to be Christian.

Mindset

Yesterday, I purchased a can of Bush's® Baked Beans for the first time in a very long time. The sale price? A whopping $1.50 per can. Sheesh! I consumed the whole can of beans for my prison dinner. Alas, I was reminded of my old days in the Roach Motel back in Convalescent City. Those were the days! I spent the whole evening in lockdown in my prison cell (read: little shoebox) again, the third night in a row.

Another day of the same ol' shit. I slept in until 9am. Then, I packed up my gym bag and departed for town on the prison transport (read: bus). I followed a very roundabout route to town, one that took a fairly long time. I only mention the latter in passing because I am attempting to emancipate myself from the wage slave mindset. I am unemployed. I do not need to be in a hurry to get anywhere. I have absolutely nothing on my agenda. I can, however, still feel the anxiety generated over my inherent need to hurriedly go from place to place, a distinct carryover from my wage slave days. Old habits are difficult to break.

I finally exchanged all the shares from my one-and-only IRA stock mutual fund to my IRA money market account. Although, the total value only amounted to $2,600 and some change, I did not want to see it deplete to nothing when the so-called "stock market bubble" collapses again. At redemption, the NAV¹ was still short $2 per share of its highest point. I plan to do the same with my IRA bond mutual fund, if and when it recovers from the severe losses of the past three years.

As part of my "Secular Apocalypse Watch," I must remain vigilant about current affairs. Why, pray tell, since I am not even an active participant in the political process? Friends, we are all affected by the evil machinations of the moneychangers and powers-that-be. There is only so long that the average moron can amuse oneself with the useless material possessions (all made in China) acquired to distract the feeble mind from the wage slave's life-style.

I read an interesting article titled, "The Thirteen Stars and Stripes: An Expatriate's Alarm," by Emanuel Garcia that appeared on the Information Clearinghouse site. It's worthy of a read. An important excerpt:

A quartet of laws has been signed that lays the complete legal foundation for the takeover of our constitutional democracy. They are the (so-called) Patriot Act of 2001 (extended in 2005); the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (which allows for the suspension of habeas corpus and the practice of torture and rendition); the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, which facilitates the declaration of martial law and nullifies posse comitatus by allowing the President to station troops anywhere in the country and to commandeer the National Guard without the consent of local authorities; and, finally, the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, signed on May 9, 2007, which in the event of a catastrophe would place all governmental authority in the hands of the President.

The aforementioned legislation passed with nary a fanfare, leaving most of the idiotic satanic gargoyles in the nation in the dark. After all, who can tell the difference? Life goes on. Wal-Mart® is open, and everything to raise our "standard of living" (all made in China) is readily available on the shelves. "You have the right to remain dead!"²

For those who care, there is a matter of the definition of "catastrophe," the event that could invoke complete martial law (read: dictatorship). From my own understanding, a natural disaster may even qualify as a "catastrophe." And aside from an act of "terrorism," could large groups of demonstrators or protesters also be a prerequisite to martial law? Shopping-crazed citizens may want to engage in the discovery phase of these facts. Why, a consumer riot at, say, Wal-Mart® over the introduction of a new Playstation® gaming console may also invoke martial law.

¹NAV, net asset value.
²"McBain" foolishness from an old episode of The Simpsons®.

Absurdia

Once again, I spent the entire evening in lockdown in my prison cell (read: little shoebox). From my prison cell window, I can see the various high-rise mausoleums (read: tombs) adjacent to Quagmire Prison littered about the ghetto-like ambiance of the Waikiki "jungle." I observed that the majority of the zombies in their mausoleums spend most of their time in front of the tube, clearly evident by the dotted flickering fluorescence intruding upon the background of darkness. Is this all we have to do in our spare time?

I spent a small part of the evening viewing the Republican presidential debates, just as I did two days ago for the Democratic presidential debates. What a waste of time! Watching the myriad shills of the "system," most of them sleazy gabachos¹, made me want to "deliver street pizza," if you know what I mean. Who would vote for any of those pendejos²? If anything, I was impressed by Republican Congressman Ron Paul, even though he has an uncanny resemblance to "Magneto" from the "X-Men" movie. The sad part is that Paul has been "marginalized" by his own party. Even the debate coverage by CNN kept him at the sidelines.

Another day of the same ol' shit. I find that I am caring less and less about my current benign life-style. What seems to have been misplaced recently is my motivation to complete my exodus from society. I must seek the severance of all ties with the so-called "mainstream." Although, I am just past three weeks since my emancipation from wage slavery, I have fallen back upon the old foolish ways. For one thing, I am wasting far too much time commuting to town on the prison transport (read: bus) and wasting even more time in the faculty computer room at the Diploma Mill. Heck, I don't even work there anymore. I am also spending far too much time on the computer. Oh, the absurdity of it all!

I have far too much time on my hands, but I have yet to even realize the long-term ramifications. My ability to use my free time wisely is blunted by consumerism. In other words, I will have to pay a nominal fee to engage in almost any activity. I've stated this problem ad nauseum. I mention it again only to stress that I have yet to find a way to circumvent the problem. Thus, I am left with the same routine, one that has been optimized for time management at minimal cost. I suppose that I will have to continue the same routine until I divest the "condotel" unit and my Nissan® Frontier truck. Yeah, I keep bringing up the same old conditionals, but with good reason.

My growing impatience with essentially myself has basis in the increasing volatility of world affairs as well as the complex and corrupt financial web that has been spun to keep a dying capitalistic system going for a little while longer. Further, I have become cognizant that my actions or inaction openly appease the profligacy of empire. I certainly would not want to be a fat, diabetic, satanic gargoyle with high blood pressure sitting in an overpriced and over-leveraged house in the suburbs with numerous gas-guzzling SUVs in the carport when the shit hits the fan. While I am obviously far from that position, I am still more entrenched in the "system" than I care to be. Because of my entrenchment, I have sacrificed a level of mobility that will be required when the fan starts flinging the shit everywhere.

¹Gabacho, a fat slob White Supremacist satanic gargoyle.
²Pendejo, area in and around the Vienna Sausage Zone.

Equilibria

I spent the whole evening in lockdown in my prison cell (read: little shoebox), even in the midst of a severe claustrophobic reaction. Sometimes the physical body is just too fatigued to obey the willful mind. I did absolutely nothing. Off and on, I perused the tube to see if there was anything worthy of viewing. I should have known better. Off and on, I piddled around with my beloved Palm® TX in order to assure myself that I do not really need to make a large expenditure to procure a computer. Finally, I sat on the floor in the bathroom at 11pm and read a few more pages from Pete Peterson's book, "Running on Empty."

Aside from Peterson's diatribe about "America" being the best country in the world and the "American" people are the best people in the world, his book concentrates on one aspect of the economy that is severely overlooked, that is, the increasing population of senior citizens. Ultimately, Peterson discussed the fate of Social Security and Medicare in view of the other burgeoning structural deficits. Peterson is a true conservative Republican much like Kevin Phillips, author of the book, "American Theocracy." Peterson asserted that there is no established trust fund for either Social Security or Medicare. It is a "pay-and-go" system. Hence, the latter is yet another criterion for national insolvency. Peterson provides in-depth actuary statistics to substantiate his thesis. The combination of an ever-increasing senior population (thanks to the "baby boomers" and increased longevity) and a projected decrease in future birth rates, the "pay-and-go" system will not be able to adequately fund the timeless "New Deal" social programs.

I might mention that Peterson postulated that one solution would be an increase in the number of immigrants, although he did not specifically advocate such a plan. An astute reader may also be able to infer the reason behind the backing of the current highly controversial immigration "reform" legislation, one which seems to favor amnesty for illegal immigrants already residing and working here as well as to increase the "guest worker" program. Aside from the fact that domestic labor costs can be cut at the expense of non-immigrant workers, both Social Security and Medicare could supposedly benefit by the mandatory contributions of the immigrants once they become "legal." Of course, no one considers whether the immigrants themselves will utilize those social programs in the future and negate the possibility of attaining solvency for either.

My trip to town on the prison transport (read: bus) this morning took a little over an hour including my 25-minute wait for the Route B CIty Express that did never showed up. I was perturbed, naturally, but the prison transport schedule should be the least of my worries as a "retiree." The rest of the day was the same ol' shit. Over two weeks have elapsed since my emancipation from wage slavery, yet I still have not been able to emancipate myself from the same daily routine (see "blog" of April 28th titled, "Who Knew?"). I now have an incredible amount of free time. Yet, free time without adequate funding is useless.

I am living in a microcosm of uncertainty. Every six weeks, I wait in trepidation for the Fed to begin a series of cuts of short-term interest rates in order to inflate yet another so-called "bubble." It's just a matter of time. Economic activity will never return to the status quo of yesteryear. The only way an economic collapse can be averted is to maintain the so-called "serial bubble" economy wherein debt and equity "bubbles" are inflated and popped in overlapping sequence. The "serial bubble" economy has a limited lifespan. It can only continue until all excess wealth is drained from the middle class and the impoverished. In the long run, the structural deficit constraints will also come into play. Just how long are foreigners willing and able to loan and "invest" their exorbitant dollar currency reserves back to the US? For me, there will be tough times when the greed and gluttony of the moneychangers and powers-that-be kick in yet another debilitating "bubblicious" cycle.

Petrol prices are allegedly on a downward trend. Once again, prices are being manipulated to keep the economy afloat. Less than a month ago, there were various horror stories spreading about $4 per gallon or higher petrol prices for the Summer months. There were threats to initiate a lawsuit against OPEC to increase production. The real problem, though, was claimed to be limited refining capability even though the refineries are owned by the oil companies. Thus, the strategy was to force oil producers to glut the oil market with excess supply and bring per barrel prices down which would then lower petrol prices without cutting refinery profits. OPEC refused to comply. So, what caused the glut to lower oil prices? Or, was there collusion with the oil companies to drop profit levels voluntarily in order to prevent an economic crisis?

Surely, even with such machinations of evil, there is always the possibility that an unforeseen event such as Tropical Cyclone Gonu could wreak havoc upon the supply chain. However, as Gonu thrashes the coasts of Oman and Iran, possibly shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, there is little hope that it alone will invoke the kind of economic collapse worthy of the secular Apocalypse. At most, Gonu will produce a small price spike in six weeks, not enough to bring about massive pain and suffering. Sadly, only a large-scale secular event (e.g., an incursion within Iran) could bring about the much needed pain and suffering in this nation just as we have served up as a main entrée to other less fortunate nations.

Why exactly do I keep bringing up pain and suffering? Why do I wish such destructive forces against "God's chosen nation" and the self-righteous satanic gargoyles who infest it? These are not my wishes. This is about entropy and the various universal laws of equilibrium, both of which are defined by the laws of physics. We have used every possible means to subvert pain and suffering by exporting it elsewhere. Pain and suffering is now disproportionately unbalanced, though neither is a force to reckon with. As with everything else, the forces of pain and suffering will attempt to equalize, that is, redistribute fairly across the board. Because the imbalances are so extreme, the equalization may cause a severe overshoot, possibly the secular Apocalypse. Understand that the balance must be restored irrespective of human desire and manipulation. The secular Apocalypse must occur, unless Armageddon beats it to the punch.

We can, of course, look at this struggle as one between the forces of "good" and "evil," which is obviously the preference of the religious dispensationalists. The problem with this model is simply the fact that we have a case where "evil" is masking itself under the guise of "good." We are witnessing a contingent of fools who have self-determined that they represent "good," and are of "God's chosen nation." Once an entire society has judged itself as righteous, then no argument can be made otherwise. By stepping back we are able see that "evil" is impersonating "good," and only then can the acts perpetrated by such a society be exposed as inherently "evil." Is there a balance or equilibrium between "good" and "evil"? Certainly not in any religious doctrines. However, with the amassing of "evil" in recent times, we will see the overshoot again to correct and perhaps extinguish the large collective force of "evil." When other nations refer to the US as the "Great Satan," they are not off-base.

So, why am I not out having a good time (i.e., spending money like there's no tomorrow) instead of fretting about nonsense that is seemingly out of my control? I am certainly no pundit. Only three people read the "blog" and definitely not for my punditry. Let me explain in the simplest terms. I've long ago discovered that the composite of all relevant issues are intricately intertwined, most of which were caused by the deliberate actions of greed and corruption.

No matter how much we try to believe that we are not complicit in the atrocities that we may read or hear about, the latter belief is unfounded. We live the life-style that we do because the architects of the "system" (i.e., the moneychangers and the powers-that-be) have oppressed the planet's ecology and the majority of its indigenous people. To claim ignorance or disbelief is disingenuous at best. Only when the architects turn against us, which they are gradually coming around to doing, will we realize that they are traitors, thieves, and murderers. In the meantime, if we leave our own vices (read: the "seven sins") unchecked, then we are of the same ilk. I, for one, have forced myself into mendicancy out of survival needs and to reduce my own complicity.

Monday Mundanity

When I returned to Waikiki yesterday afternoon, I just couldn't sit in my decrepit prison cell (read: little shoebox) for long. I walked across the the street and sat on the bench along the Ala Wai Canal. I was surprised to see two ducks paddling around in the sewage. I spent an hour just looking at the mountains, the foothills of the Ko'olaus, in the distance. Naturally, after spending time outside, I had even less inclination to sit my prison cell. So, I ended up at Barnes & Noble® in Ala Moana Center at the usual time. Then, I spent the last of my waking hours in the prison compound (read: prison lobby) with yet another big-ass can of cheap brewski and Pete Peterson's book, "Running on Empty."

This morning, I found myself at Kahala Mall at 9:15am. I purchased a cup of coffee at the Barnes & Noble® Café and perused a few magazines. I met moms at the entrance to the mall at 10:30am. We ate a delicious lunch at Panda Express®. Then, I drove moms back to Hawai'i Kai. Moms served up some coffee ice cream for desert. We sat and chatted until 12:45pm. Then, I was on my way to fulfill the remainder of the same old daily routine.

Moms had heard a rumor through her friends that something terrible happened to Lori. I wanted to avoid calling Lori with such foolishness, but moms was overly concerned. I called and chatted with Lori, giving only a terse summary of the rumor. So, the rumor was just a rumor. Moms was relieved. I will most likely have some explaining to do to Lori later. Moms also mentioned that my bro and his family are leaving for Texas on Friday to visit my sister-in-law's relative. They will be gone for two weeks. Well, at least moms will have some peace and quiet for the duration.

I have been giving a lot of thought about what will happen to moms in later years. Moms is in her mid-eighties. Although moms remains incredibly healthy and ambulatory, the situation could change abruptly at any time. Even so, within five years or so, I would expect that moms' mobility and health may diminish drastically. I am not certain how I am going to deal those issues when the time comes. I am certain that moms does not want to be admitted into a convalescent home. In the worst-case scenario, moms has given me the paperwork and specific instructions to execute her wishes per her healthcare directive. This puts me in a precarious position as I may have to disregard my own feelings and opinions. I think about that burden of responsibility every single day.

Wait and See

I had full intentions of remaining in lockdown in my prison cell (read: little shoebox) all night, but I became restless at 10pm. Claustrophobia wielded its ugly head yet again. I rode the prison transport (read: bus) to Fudgepacker Park (formerly Kapi'olani Park). I sat on one of the desolate benches a few hundred feet from the various homeless "campers." Even with the large population of homeless "campers" and derelicts, the stretch of beach spanning most of the Waikiki District is perhaps the safest beach area at night on the whole island.

As I sat benignly on the bench facing the ocean, I could hear nothing else but the gentle breaking of the waves along what is left of the artificial beachfront. I am fortunate to be able to enjoy such moments. I need not worry about a bomb exploding just a few feet away from me. I need not cower in fear that, whenever I hear jet engines overhead, I will shortly hear the shrill sound of a launched air-to-surface missile. I have been quite cognizant of such realities as of late.

I walked back to Quagmire Prison (read: hotel) at 11pm, stopping off once again at the Food Pantry to purchase a big-ass can of cheap brewski. I spent the last of my waking hours in the prison compound (read: hotel lobby) reading Peter Peterson's book, "Running on Empty," and droppin' back the big-ass can of cheap brewski. Sad to say, after completing Robert Fisk's book, "The Great War for Civilization," I have not had much interest in reading anything else. Fisk's book will be a hard act to follow.

I followed the ever-benign daily format for Sunday as detailed in the literary subgenius of the "blog" of April 28th titled, "Who Knew?" I managed to maintain a very leisurely pace all day long. I was unaffected by the fact that I looked like a homeless guy. Even my cumbersome gym bag did not annoy me. Thus, my nerves were not as frayed as yesterday. Why can't every day be that way?

Although I had planned to begin my financially lean times with a few cost-cutting measures, those intentions have remained fleeting thoughts at best. Thus, I purchased a cup of coffee, albeit the smallest size, at Safeway® this morning. And, I feasted on two Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos at Taco Bell® after my workout at the gym. Speaking of the gym, I caught a glance of the hottie gym trainer while I was on my out of the gym. Baby is still looking mighty fine.

Well, there really is nothing else to do except to wait for the economy to collapse, for the secular Apocalypse to commence, or for Armageddon to pour destruction over the planet.

An interesting analysis by Mahdi Nazemroaya titled, "More Smoke on the Horizon in the Middle East War Theater," appeared on the Global Research site. Nazemroaya provided credible scenarios for an escalation of war in the Middle East. All I know is that something needs to happen, and it must happen soon. We are facing several crises, all of which seem to be converging at about the same time:

• Economic collapse
• Resource war escalation
• Peak Oil
• Global climate change

In addition, the US may foolishly be looking at invoking a new version of the Cold War with Russia. Something's gotta give.

Benign and Mindless

I really did not want to make the trek to Ala Moana Center last night. Instead, I rode the prison transport (read: bus) to Waikiki Beach for what I thought would be a refreshing reprieve from the usual mundane routine. When I arrived at Lou's Kabuki Theater at Pavilion One, I was shocked to observe a bunch of punks and derelicts occupying the whole place. I sat on one of the benches adjacent to the structure only to be privy to some poor schmuck engaged in a foolish argument on his cell phone with his babe. I couldn't take it any longer, so I ventured off to Fudgepacker Park (formerly Kapi'olani Park). I was able to find a secluded bench to sit upon. All the while, I noted the sheer number of homeless who were encamped almost everywhere in the park. Oddly, there were deviant fudgepackers around. I trekked back to Quagmire Prison on foot at 10:30pm, stopping off at the Food Pantry first to purchase a big-ass can of cheap brewski.

I spent the rest of the evening in the prison compound (read: hotel lobby) reading the last few pages of Robert Fisk's book, "The Great War for Civilization," and droppin' back the big-ass can of cheap brewski. I have to admit that I felt an emptiness, a void, after completing Fisk's book. I have spent over a month reading it. I can safely say that the book has had quite a lasting effect on me. I still urge others to read the book. All readers will come way with something valuable, at the least a sense of gratitude for not being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. For me, I have become more disillusioned about the fate of humanity without Divine intervention.

This morning, I departed for the Waikiki Banyan parking structure just a little before 9am. I retrieved my truck and drove to Niu Valley to view another rental. The house was way in the valley close to Niu Valley Middle School. I attended that particular campus in my younger formative years. There were quite a few people milling about the house when I arrived. I met Bill, the guy who submitted the listing. He is a gay elementary school teacher. The other tenants are two young hotties. They are all "working professionals," I was told. I could tell right away that I would not fit in. The tenants were all Caucasian, which is the primary factor. Thus, I doubt that they will select the ol' lavahead from all of the potential rental candidates. None of the current tenants own the place, which surprised me since it was expensively furnished. Utilities are not included in the $650 monthly rent. An additional $70 monthly per person would cover utilities, I was told. They are livin' way too large for me. Think MTV®'s mindless fodder, "Real World." I thanked Bill and left after a few minutes. The other rental candidates (all guys) were given the tour of the house by the young hotties, so they were doing everything possible to impress the babes. I am too old to play those games.

I stopped off at Kahala Mall before returning to Waikiki. I had hoped to have a relaxing day. Was I ever wrong! I purchased a few odds and ends at Longs®. One item that I needed was a set of ear plugs. If I remain in Quagmire Prison, I will most likely need the ear plugs. Why didn't I just purchase the cheap ear plugs instead of the $100 Brookstone® Tranquil Moments® "sound therapy placebo" in the first place? Then, I walked to Barnes & Noble®. I purchased a large cup of coffee in the café and browsed the store. After I finished the cup of coffee, I drove back to Waikiki.

Naturally, after parking the truck, I was in need of restroom facilities, what with coffee being a diuretic and all. Of course, there are no public restroom facilities in Waikiki except for the beach area. I rode the prison transport to the beach, all the while toting my ridiculous gym bag. As I alighted the prison transport, my gym bag became caught in the door. I almost threw the damned gym bag in the ocean. I had to walk to Fudgepacker Park, if you can believe it, to locate the nearest restroom. Then, I strolled to the closest prison transport stop (read: bus stop). After a few minutes, I noticed a small, obscure sign which indicated that no prison transports would be stopping there because of a number of special events slated for the day. So, I walked to the next prison transport stop. I looked back and saw a prison transport at the other stop. Naturally, that was the Route B City Express that I desired to ride to town. I was fortunate to ride another prison transport to a subsequent prison transport stop just a few seconds ahead of the City Express. I alighted and boarded the City Express. The ride to town was horrendous. Traffic was extremely heavy. My nerves were shot. So much for a relaxing day.

I finally arrived in town about 12:30pm. I was extremely famished, so I trudged over to Safeway® to purchase four air-filled energy bars. Fortunately, one of the buildings occupied by the Diploma Mill was open. So, I was able to sit comfortably and eat the air-filled energy bars for lunch. The rest of the day was the same ol' shit, both mindless and benign.

My need to go to town, as it were, focused on my gym workout and the composition of the "blog." The insanity that I went through this morning was, in effect, the sacrifice that I make for the latter and the former. Well, I could have easily remained in Waikiki and gone to the gym there. So, that leaves me with one compelling reason to end up in town. Yeah, the idiotic "blog." My refusal to spend the money to purchase a computer is at the bottom of the overall foolishness. Yet, what exactly drives me to update the "blog" every single day? Is that what I live for? Is the "blog" my only purpose in life?

Incidentally, housing prices and rentals are out of control in Hawai'i, and nothing is going down in spite of the fact that the real estate market is collapsing in various parts of the mainland. The rental segment is depressing. One look at the craigslist shared rental listings proves my point. The average is now about $750 per month for a room in a condo or house. The craigslist apartment rental listings are even more ridiculous. Studios average about $1,000 per month. One-bedroom units average about $1,300 per month. Adding insult to injury, real estate prices have not gone down much, certainly not enough to make anything affordable. Yet, the mind-boggling luxury high-rise developments are popping up everywhere. No one exactly knows who are purchasing those overpriced units.

Structural Deficit

Oh boy! Another evening at Barnes & Noble®. Another late night in the prison compound (read: hotel lobby) with a big-ass can of cheap brewski and Fisk's book. And, another day of the same ol' shit in the faculty computer room at the Diploma Mill. As usual, I browsed the various alternative news sites. The articles appearing on the those sites are becoming extremely redundant. Shrub is a dictator, yet impeachment is out of the question. The Democrats are traitors. The occupation in Iraq is going bad, but no one wants to stop the insanity. Massive levels of corruption are spiraling out of control. Blah, blah, blah. Words have ceased to have any meaning anymore. Nothing is going to change because no one cares. This is the land of the evil satanic gargoyles, a nation infected by the epidemic of the "seven sins."

The only interesting article that I read appeared in the Dallas News. An excerpt from the article by Georgie Geyer:

President Bush is more convinced than ever of his righteousness. Friends of his from Texas were shocked recently to find him nearly wild-eyed, thumping himself on the chest three times while he repeated "I am the president!" He also made it clear he was setting Iraq up so his successor could not get out of "our country's destiny."

Well, don't that beat all?

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my absolute last paycheck from the Diploma Mill was credited to my local bank account yesterday. Although the amount was quite meager, the additional money will keep me afloat for another month. In the meantime, I must develop a sound financial plan. According to an article in the Star-Bulletin, the Hawai'i tourism industry may be in for a tough time for the remainder of the year, possibly carrying over through next year. Obviously, the ramifications for the "condotel" unit are clear. It will become an albatross, if it isn't already. Depending on how serious the decline in local tourism becomes, there could be a flood of foreclosures of the thousands of "condotel" units here. Of course, that leaves me in a "structural deficit" predicament. Should I put the dump back into the hotel rental pool?

I ran into Glen along Fort Street Mall this afternoon. He was laid off from the Asylum along with a few other staff. He is now working at the Diploma Mill Bookstore. The Asylum is apparently down to about 25 students total. The dump is also going to lose its accreditation. Most of the faculty are still there including James, Judith, Wayne, and Joanne. There are almost as many faculty as there are students. A fitting end for the dump.