I rode the bus to Aina Haina this morning. I spent two hours in the freezing cold library, thanks to the overworked air conditioner. Even the staff is dressed like it is Winter on the mainland. Sheesh! I rode the bus back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) at noon. I gave my Nissan® Frontier truck a sponge bath. After I washed it a week ago, my hard work was soiled by heavy rain on the very same evening. I also finally cleaned the floor mats. I piddled around until 1:30pm.
Then, I drove to Koko Marina. Traffic was extremely heavy. Surprisingly, I could not find any shaded parking. The parking structure was completely full. I had to park by Taco Bell®. Since petrol has been down about four cents per gallon, everyone has returned to driving around like crazy. As Shrub stated, the "American" life-style is not negotiable. I walked the roundabout way to the gym since the concrete spalling work on the parking structure had blocked the one-and-only staircase. I did my usual workout. Since I was already parked by Taco Bell®, I made an easy selection for the day's treat: two Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos sans Montezuma's Revenge. The dining area was also completely crowded with slobs. However, I was able to find a small table. I enjoyed my snack immensely despite the crowd.
I made my final stop at Foodland. I shopped for the usual groceries. In the end, I purchased a small piece of pudding cake for yet another snack. Why am I wasting so much dough on crap? I was back in my squalid room at Slob Manor by 5pm. The evening? Same ol' shit.
Sadly, I've been preparing my Palm® TX for divestiture after a hastily made decision late last night. I reviewed the state of the device. I observed that the digitizer is indeed wearing out. Rather than using glass, the digitizer is simply a contact-sensitive plastic matrix layered over the display screen. Thus, the entire digitizer has an uneven response to the pressure applied by the writing stylus. I suspect that, in normal use, it would last slightly longer than the warranty (one year). The internal Lithium-Ion battery is still functioning, but most likely will fail soon. Most Lithium-Ion batteries degrade significantly within two years. I am pretty much finished with electronic gadgets. Incidentally, take a good look at the new iPhone® 3G piece of junk. Looks great, doesn't it? Step back and imagine yourself with such a device. At first glance, it sure looks like it can bring about "freedom." Yet, aside from being financially enslaved to AT&T®, imagine the enslavement to its myriad connectivity and services.
I test fired my Nova® Spirit electronic restraining device (ERD). Surprisingly, the Lithium-Ion battery pack is still functioning. The device itself is in excellent condition. As the "system" begins to collapse, the ERD may come in handy. No divestiture of the device is planned.
I hope to accelerate the divestiture of my useless possessions as doing my part to dismantle the empire. Every act that I engage in must now be a countermeasure to empire. I detest the so-called "mainstream," the mindless zombie state that has enabled the moneychangers and the powers-that-be to enslave the masses. I will also be concentrating more of my efforts to absorb what I can from the fringes of the "system," a lesson that I learned through homeless guy emulation.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Gale Force Winds
The weather continues to be an oddity. The days have been fairly nice and warm. However, there have been intermittent showers, mostly at night. The gale force winds are still blowing. I must close the louvers in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) in the evening. However, the dirt and dust swirls into my squalid room nonetheless. I must constantly blow the thin layer of dirt particles off of my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. Naturally, since I am a senior citizen, I end up spewing spittle all over my computer. Old age has not been kind to the ol' lavahead.
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day was painstakingly executed in rare precision form. You know the drill. I nursed my frayed nerves in the inner courtyard of the library. Then, I did my usual workout at the gym. I was back at Slob Manor by 5pm. I was able to enjoy a peaceful veggie "rations" dinner. I will spend the evening battling the gale force winds again.
I have decided to resurrect my Palm® TX after rediscovering it a week or so ago. I discovered that OPIE Linux can be installed on the device. After further investigation, though, I decided against replacing the Palm® operating system (OS). Yes, the latter is a single-tasking OS, and it's not very elegant. However, it does the job. The most important task is that it can render my financial spreadsheets properly. I will be investigating other practical uses for it.
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day was painstakingly executed in rare precision form. You know the drill. I nursed my frayed nerves in the inner courtyard of the library. Then, I did my usual workout at the gym. I was back at Slob Manor by 5pm. I was able to enjoy a peaceful veggie "rations" dinner. I will spend the evening battling the gale force winds again.
I have decided to resurrect my Palm® TX after rediscovering it a week or so ago. I discovered that OPIE Linux can be installed on the device. After further investigation, though, I decided against replacing the Palm® operating system (OS). Yes, the latter is a single-tasking OS, and it's not very elegant. However, it does the job. The most important task is that it can render my financial spreadsheets properly. I will be investigating other practical uses for it.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Ten to Nine
To calm my nerves last night, I listened to a series of House Music mixes by Lady Liquid on the Pure House Music site. Nothing can soothe the frayed nerves like House Music except, maybe, cheap booze. However, the urban nomad no longer partakes of cheap booze. He has had little inclination to get hammered, even though his daily adventures often push him to the edge of sanity.
Moms and I made the usual rounds in Hawai'i Kai this morning including Longs® in Kuapa Kai and Foodland in Koko Marina. Moms and I ate lunch at Yummy's Korean Barbeque. Later, moms served up Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. As usual, I kept moms company until 1pm.
I spent just a little time at Koko Head Park and enjoyed the scenery. Then, I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck back to Koko Marina. I found shaded parking in the parking structure. I did my usual cardio workout at the gym. Afterward, I did my personal grocery shopping at Foodland. I also indulged myself with a cold Icee® beverage. I was back in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4pm, just in time to perform the dreaded laundry chores. Obviously, I was "on a roll" to fulfill the mundanity of the same ol' shit. And, that's exactly where the day will find its conclusion.
I did not sleep well at all last night, which is now becoming part of my routine. I am even more fatigued than yesterday. Thus, my ability to think beyond the mundane has been severely hampered. I will seek out more House Music mixes on the Net to divert me from the usual diatribe. I need a short breather from the empire and its foolishness.
Moms and I made the usual rounds in Hawai'i Kai this morning including Longs® in Kuapa Kai and Foodland in Koko Marina. Moms and I ate lunch at Yummy's Korean Barbeque. Later, moms served up Foremost® coffee ice cream for dessert. As usual, I kept moms company until 1pm.
I spent just a little time at Koko Head Park and enjoyed the scenery. Then, I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck back to Koko Marina. I found shaded parking in the parking structure. I did my usual cardio workout at the gym. Afterward, I did my personal grocery shopping at Foodland. I also indulged myself with a cold Icee® beverage. I was back in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4pm, just in time to perform the dreaded laundry chores. Obviously, I was "on a roll" to fulfill the mundanity of the same ol' shit. And, that's exactly where the day will find its conclusion.
I did not sleep well at all last night, which is now becoming part of my routine. I am even more fatigued than yesterday. Thus, my ability to think beyond the mundane has been severely hampered. I will seek out more House Music mixes on the Net to divert me from the usual diatribe. I need a short breather from the empire and its foolishness.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Useless Possessions
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday ... gone forever. Did anything out of the ordinary occur? Nah, same ol' shit. Of course, with every Sunday, the only important item on the agenda was my workout at the gym. Everything else was simply a waste of time. However, time is something that I have an abundance of, most ironic given the little actual time that I have left on the planet. I was back at Slob Manor by 3:15pm.
I piddled around in my squalid room for the rest of the afternoon. I surveyed the sheer number of small useless possessions that I have acquired over the years. I rummaged through the other gym bag that I use for luggage. Once again, there was a proliferation of crap that I did not need. The really sad part is that I somehow spent good money to procure the crap. The problem, I believe, stems from my inability to focus on one kind of transient life-style. Am I going to be a homeless guy emulator? Or, will I be an urban nomad? What if I change my mind and become a reclusive monk? Hard as it may be to believe, each of the aforementioned life-styles requires different types of basic survival paraphernalia.
Some of my major possessions require more possessions to upkeep the latter. Take my Nissan® Frontier truck. I must keep my small toolbox full of tools, even though I never use them. I also have paraphernalia to wash and wax the truck. My "condotel" unit generates a whole mess of paperwork, which I must keep until the unit is sold. Thus, I have a large file container to store all of the "condotel" paperwork along with my own personal documents. Since I recycled the shipping crate for my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer, I will eventually have to purchase a protective case for it. That's how consumption becomes endless.
I enjoyed a peaceful dinner comprised of veggie "rations." Although I ate a lot, the total caloric count was probably not much. I doubt that I consume more than 1,500 calories per day, which is why I continue to lose weight. Yet, what am I going to eat? Most of the food choices are crappy, poisonous, or both. Perhaps that is why I am always fatigued as well. The crazy nightly dreams are not helping either. Last night, I found myself reincarnated as a university student living in some kind of dormitory situation. There were a lot of young hotties running amok, by the way. The dream, though, was actually a nightmare. I was caught up in an environment that I detest. I was losing my mind. Then, I woke up to "drain the lizard."
My DeLonghi® "retro" contact grill and panini press is still in its box, still sitting in the exact same spot that I left it when I brought it back to Slob Manor. I really have no intention of unboxing it. I should returned it for a refund. The conundrum that keeps the DeLonghi® appliance sealed in its box is that I have found nothing to cook that is not poisonous. Thus, the contact grill feature is now useless. And, what kind of panini could I devise that is actually healthy? I cannot simply grill the bread alone.
And, on and on it goes. Every useless possession of mine has the same morbid twist to its ownership. Why do I own anything at all? That is the big question, isn't it? I have observed a few of the homeless with an enormous amount of stuff packed in rolling luggage, shopping carts, plastic bags, and backpacks. I have seen individuals with houses, condos, apartments, and cars stuffed to the brim with crap. That's the "ownership society" in action. What we need is a "disownership society," that is, a communal culture that shares resources rather than replicate them in absurd redundancy.
I piddled around in my squalid room for the rest of the afternoon. I surveyed the sheer number of small useless possessions that I have acquired over the years. I rummaged through the other gym bag that I use for luggage. Once again, there was a proliferation of crap that I did not need. The really sad part is that I somehow spent good money to procure the crap. The problem, I believe, stems from my inability to focus on one kind of transient life-style. Am I going to be a homeless guy emulator? Or, will I be an urban nomad? What if I change my mind and become a reclusive monk? Hard as it may be to believe, each of the aforementioned life-styles requires different types of basic survival paraphernalia.
Some of my major possessions require more possessions to upkeep the latter. Take my Nissan® Frontier truck. I must keep my small toolbox full of tools, even though I never use them. I also have paraphernalia to wash and wax the truck. My "condotel" unit generates a whole mess of paperwork, which I must keep until the unit is sold. Thus, I have a large file container to store all of the "condotel" paperwork along with my own personal documents. Since I recycled the shipping crate for my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer, I will eventually have to purchase a protective case for it. That's how consumption becomes endless.
I enjoyed a peaceful dinner comprised of veggie "rations." Although I ate a lot, the total caloric count was probably not much. I doubt that I consume more than 1,500 calories per day, which is why I continue to lose weight. Yet, what am I going to eat? Most of the food choices are crappy, poisonous, or both. Perhaps that is why I am always fatigued as well. The crazy nightly dreams are not helping either. Last night, I found myself reincarnated as a university student living in some kind of dormitory situation. There were a lot of young hotties running amok, by the way. The dream, though, was actually a nightmare. I was caught up in an environment that I detest. I was losing my mind. Then, I woke up to "drain the lizard."
My DeLonghi® "retro" contact grill and panini press is still in its box, still sitting in the exact same spot that I left it when I brought it back to Slob Manor. I really have no intention of unboxing it. I should returned it for a refund. The conundrum that keeps the DeLonghi® appliance sealed in its box is that I have found nothing to cook that is not poisonous. Thus, the contact grill feature is now useless. And, what kind of panini could I devise that is actually healthy? I cannot simply grill the bread alone.
And, on and on it goes. Every useless possession of mine has the same morbid twist to its ownership. Why do I own anything at all? That is the big question, isn't it? I have observed a few of the homeless with an enormous amount of stuff packed in rolling luggage, shopping carts, plastic bags, and backpacks. I have seen individuals with houses, condos, apartments, and cars stuffed to the brim with crap. That's the "ownership society" in action. What we need is a "disownership society," that is, a communal culture that shares resources rather than replicate them in absurd redundancy.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Greater World War
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... same old, same old. I spent three hours in the inner courtyard of the library, lapsing in and out of a coma. Then, I did my usual workout at the gym. I returned to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) before 5pm. At first, I did not want to make the trek to town. However, I realized the therapeutic nature of the inner courtyard of the library. It is really the only place to unwind and preserve my sanity.
The Iolani Palace grounds were closed to the public all day. Apparently, the Kingdom of Hawai'i Nation sovereignty group took a bold step last night that resulted in 22 arrests. The group's king, Akahi Nui, attempted to literally seat himself on the throne in the palace. I am not certain about the number of sovereignty groups that exist in the islands, but each seems to be thwarting the efforts of the others. Frankly, the only way that Hawai'ian sovereignty will be accomplished is through consolidation and militarization. The empire appears to only know one language: war. Can you imagine a breakaway war here in the islands? Perhaps I should pen a novel with that very plot, eh?
I have commenced reading the book, "Neither East Nor West: One Woman's Journey Through the Islamic Republic of Iran," by Christiane Bird. Yes, I thought that I had completed my research on Iran. Not so. In looking at the map of the Middle East, I came to realize that Iran still rmeains the most direst route from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf. Obviously, there are similar, albeit more circuitous, routes through Turkey, Iraq, and Kuwait or through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, transiting oil and natural gas through either alternative route is extremely risky given the empire's unending wars to "secure" those region. As for Iran, the empire has two goals. First, it intends to procure Iran's oil reserves, by force if necessary. Second, it plans to open strategic access for yet another pipeline to bypass any competing Eastbound Sino-Russian pipeline.
Now, here's where the analysis becomes radical. We've been hearing about the empire's plans for the ridiculous "missile shield" as well as the stationing of radar listening stations, both in former Soviet bloc nations. We've also been watching as the empire steadily attempts to recruit those same nations into NATO. We already know of the plans to keep a number of military bases in the empire's newest colonies, Iraq and Afghanistan. If we peruse the "big map," we may be able to understand the logistics. What if the empire's Neoconmen are planning to militarily sweep the Russian Federation and possibly China? The offensive would commence with nuclear first-strike missiles. The "missile shield" will be in place for the counterstrike by the Russian Federation, theoretically reducing the efficacy of the latter. The second part of the offensive would include air and ground tactical forces initially composed of the NATO nations ringing the Russian Federation as well as the Middle Eastern colony states. This would be the same kind of Nazi drive that Adolph Hitler attempted during the last days of World War II, heading straight for Moscow.
I have spoken of the moneychangers and the powers-that-be with little focus on their respective identities. In fact, at one time, I had already thought that the pyramidal structure of power was already in place. Recent events prove that not to be true. The moneychangers and the powers-that-be are the "Western" financial institutions and the "Western" (and pro-"Western") government-corporations (i.e., "corporatocracies"), respectively. The moneychangers and powers-that-be attempted to destroy both Russia and China through Chicago School "shock doctrine" economics, but that failed miserably. The two "rogue" nations now stand at odds with the "West."
In the empire, the preceding issue is a bipartisan one, in case anyone believes that there is such a thing as a "progressive" party. No candidate from either mainstream party or for any particular office is against a planned offensive aimed at Russia and China. For now, the greater issues appear to be oil and strategic access. That's only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. The empire's immense military buildup after the so-called "Cold War" ended has only one possible scenario. The empire is also doling out a lot of money (that it doesn't really have) to prop up nations and regimes subservient to empire. Planning a "go for broke" finale is nothing new in the history of declining empires. The NeoConmen have the plan as well as the full backing of all the financial and political institutions of the empire. The Resource Wars are the just the beginning of what will be known as the Greater World War.
The Iolani Palace grounds were closed to the public all day. Apparently, the Kingdom of Hawai'i Nation sovereignty group took a bold step last night that resulted in 22 arrests. The group's king, Akahi Nui, attempted to literally seat himself on the throne in the palace. I am not certain about the number of sovereignty groups that exist in the islands, but each seems to be thwarting the efforts of the others. Frankly, the only way that Hawai'ian sovereignty will be accomplished is through consolidation and militarization. The empire appears to only know one language: war. Can you imagine a breakaway war here in the islands? Perhaps I should pen a novel with that very plot, eh?
I have commenced reading the book, "Neither East Nor West: One Woman's Journey Through the Islamic Republic of Iran," by Christiane Bird. Yes, I thought that I had completed my research on Iran. Not so. In looking at the map of the Middle East, I came to realize that Iran still rmeains the most direst route from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf. Obviously, there are similar, albeit more circuitous, routes through Turkey, Iraq, and Kuwait or through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, transiting oil and natural gas through either alternative route is extremely risky given the empire's unending wars to "secure" those region. As for Iran, the empire has two goals. First, it intends to procure Iran's oil reserves, by force if necessary. Second, it plans to open strategic access for yet another pipeline to bypass any competing Eastbound Sino-Russian pipeline.
Now, here's where the analysis becomes radical. We've been hearing about the empire's plans for the ridiculous "missile shield" as well as the stationing of radar listening stations, both in former Soviet bloc nations. We've also been watching as the empire steadily attempts to recruit those same nations into NATO. We already know of the plans to keep a number of military bases in the empire's newest colonies, Iraq and Afghanistan. If we peruse the "big map," we may be able to understand the logistics. What if the empire's Neoconmen are planning to militarily sweep the Russian Federation and possibly China? The offensive would commence with nuclear first-strike missiles. The "missile shield" will be in place for the counterstrike by the Russian Federation, theoretically reducing the efficacy of the latter. The second part of the offensive would include air and ground tactical forces initially composed of the NATO nations ringing the Russian Federation as well as the Middle Eastern colony states. This would be the same kind of Nazi drive that Adolph Hitler attempted during the last days of World War II, heading straight for Moscow.
I have spoken of the moneychangers and the powers-that-be with little focus on their respective identities. In fact, at one time, I had already thought that the pyramidal structure of power was already in place. Recent events prove that not to be true. The moneychangers and the powers-that-be are the "Western" financial institutions and the "Western" (and pro-"Western") government-corporations (i.e., "corporatocracies"), respectively. The moneychangers and powers-that-be attempted to destroy both Russia and China through Chicago School "shock doctrine" economics, but that failed miserably. The two "rogue" nations now stand at odds with the "West."
In the empire, the preceding issue is a bipartisan one, in case anyone believes that there is such a thing as a "progressive" party. No candidate from either mainstream party or for any particular office is against a planned offensive aimed at Russia and China. For now, the greater issues appear to be oil and strategic access. That's only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. The empire's immense military buildup after the so-called "Cold War" ended has only one possible scenario. The empire is also doling out a lot of money (that it doesn't really have) to prop up nations and regimes subservient to empire. Planning a "go for broke" finale is nothing new in the history of declining empires. The NeoConmen have the plan as well as the full backing of all the financial and political institutions of the empire. The Resource Wars are the just the beginning of what will be known as the Greater World War.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Resource Wars Redux
A State holiday forced me to modify my urban nomad itinerary. I found myself in the Barnes & Noble® Café early this morning with a $3 rip-off cup of hot chocolate in hand. I spent about an hour there. Once the crowds of shoppers begin to gather, I must leave immediately to preserve my sanity. A few minutes after I walked to the bus stop, I was joined by Ann. We chatted while we waited for the bus. At one point, Ann went off on a tirade about the myriad inconsiderate clowns who also ride the bus. She really worked herself into a tizzy about the same kinds of nonsense that infuriates the oversized cranium. At one point, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I don't think that Ann understood what I found to be so funny. We continued our conversation on the bus. Ann lamented that she does not own a 4000-pound motorized chair (read: automobile), which would allow her to escape the idiocy of riding the bus. Well, that may be so, but 4000-pound motorized chair ownership and driving itself are another story.
I alighted the bus near Slob Manor (read: rental housing) as to be expected. Washing my Nissan® Frontier truck was next on the agenda. I spent about 1.5 hours laboring at the task. When I was done, the truck looked much better. However, there is always an internal struggle about my need to maintain my useless possessions.
I drove to Hawai'i Kai at 1:15pm. I was able to find shaded parking in the Koko Marina parking structure. I walked to the gym and performed my usual workout. I was quite fatigued because I did not sleep well last night. I had an odd dream which revolved around the use of the Nova® Spirit electronic restraining device (ERD). After a nice long shower, I felt better.
I decided to risk another bout of Montezuma's Revenge by eating at Taco Bell® again. I ordered two Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos. You knew that already, though. After the enjoyable snack, I shopped at Foodland to replenish my food supply for the next three days. I was back at Slob Manor by 4pm. The urban nomad's day was not done yet. He had to perform the dreaded laundry chores. Finally, he was able to settle into the routine of the same ol' shit at 6pm.
Sadly, even a few so-called "progressive" Web sites have bought into the "Russian aggression" propaganda that was stirred up in the so-called "mainstream media." I will discontinue viewing any of those sites and will not link to any of them either. Not surprisingly, many of the offending sites are fully backing the dysfunctional cardboard candidate, Barack Obama, who was vacationing in Hawai'i. As for the urban nomad, he could care less about the "system" sycophant.
As I mentioned previously, the oil pipeline running through several former states of the Soviet Union including Georgia, is at the heart of the matter. The Resource Wars have already commenced. Mind you, the Federation of Russia already has a pipeline in place running parallel from the Caspian Sea just a few hundred miles north in its own territory. The matter of oil is also at the heart of the Kosovo affair as well, even though no pipeline runs through it. The Trans-Balkan oil pipeline (which is coming up for approval) will transport Caspian Sea oil from the Black Sea port of Burgas to the Adriatic, passing through Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania (also former Soviet states). The implication is that Albania's consent would only occur if Kosovo was made independent of Serbia, hence NATO (read: empire proxy) intervention.
As for "punishing" Russia, there are very few European nations willing to do so. Little wonder why. A large percentage of atural gas is supplied to Europe by Russia. And, Russia has taken up the slack in trade that has afflicted the EU because of the global recession. The empire has been actively engaged in recruiting the former Soviet nations into NATO in order to establish the ridiculous "missile shield" ring around Russia. However, the more nefarious reason is in the NATO charter itself. Any war involving a NATO member will require the military assistance of all NATO members. Had Georgia already been a NATO member, there would essentially have been an instantaneous world war. Something to ponder while playing with your iPhone®.
I alighted the bus near Slob Manor (read: rental housing) as to be expected. Washing my Nissan® Frontier truck was next on the agenda. I spent about 1.5 hours laboring at the task. When I was done, the truck looked much better. However, there is always an internal struggle about my need to maintain my useless possessions.
I drove to Hawai'i Kai at 1:15pm. I was able to find shaded parking in the Koko Marina parking structure. I walked to the gym and performed my usual workout. I was quite fatigued because I did not sleep well last night. I had an odd dream which revolved around the use of the Nova® Spirit electronic restraining device (ERD). After a nice long shower, I felt better.
I decided to risk another bout of Montezuma's Revenge by eating at Taco Bell® again. I ordered two Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos. You knew that already, though. After the enjoyable snack, I shopped at Foodland to replenish my food supply for the next three days. I was back at Slob Manor by 4pm. The urban nomad's day was not done yet. He had to perform the dreaded laundry chores. Finally, he was able to settle into the routine of the same ol' shit at 6pm.
Sadly, even a few so-called "progressive" Web sites have bought into the "Russian aggression" propaganda that was stirred up in the so-called "mainstream media." I will discontinue viewing any of those sites and will not link to any of them either. Not surprisingly, many of the offending sites are fully backing the dysfunctional cardboard candidate, Barack Obama, who was vacationing in Hawai'i. As for the urban nomad, he could care less about the "system" sycophant.
As I mentioned previously, the oil pipeline running through several former states of the Soviet Union including Georgia, is at the heart of the matter. The Resource Wars have already commenced. Mind you, the Federation of Russia already has a pipeline in place running parallel from the Caspian Sea just a few hundred miles north in its own territory. The matter of oil is also at the heart of the Kosovo affair as well, even though no pipeline runs through it. The Trans-Balkan oil pipeline (which is coming up for approval) will transport Caspian Sea oil from the Black Sea port of Burgas to the Adriatic, passing through Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania (also former Soviet states). The implication is that Albania's consent would only occur if Kosovo was made independent of Serbia, hence NATO (read: empire proxy) intervention.
As for "punishing" Russia, there are very few European nations willing to do so. Little wonder why. A large percentage of atural gas is supplied to Europe by Russia. And, Russia has taken up the slack in trade that has afflicted the EU because of the global recession. The empire has been actively engaged in recruiting the former Soviet nations into NATO in order to establish the ridiculous "missile shield" ring around Russia. However, the more nefarious reason is in the NATO charter itself. Any war involving a NATO member will require the military assistance of all NATO members. Had Georgia already been a NATO member, there would essentially have been an instantaneous world war. Something to ponder while playing with your iPhone®.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Worldly Arrogance
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day? You bet! I spent three hours in the inner courtyard of the library, lapsing in and out of a coma. I did my usual workout at the gym. I partook of the various energy bars samples that were on a table near the staircase to the main floor of the gym. Within minutes, I observed that I was feeling quite perky. I was energized. I suspected that some of the samples were coffee flavored with trace levels of caffeine.
During the workout, my mind was working out feverishly in the background. I contemplated the sheer vanity of the "American" life-style, the sheer arrogance of the "American Dream," and the sheer audacity of it all in combination. I thought of my own complicity in these matter, how I had sought to mold myself in the likeness of the debauchery. In fact, I had given in to the weaknesses of pleasure and comfort. The physical being craves both pleasure and comfort. And, we have free will to pursue the latter and former as vigorously as possible. What we, as humans, have never understood is the implicit contractual obligations of free will, one being the mandate to exercise discipline on the "self." Without such discipline, we easily fall prey to the epidemic of the "seven sins," engorging ourselves like gluttons on a smorgasbord of hedonistic delights.
The only means to attain absolution from a narcissistic nightmare is to yank the latter out by its roots, so to speak. Self-discipline requires more than a mental flogging. Indeed, a person must clearly remove all tangible temptations, which means some degree of isolation from the environment. Also necessary is a divestiture of as many worldly possessions as possible. Then, finally, a media disconnect is required. I, myself, had become lax in my approach to self-discipline. Reaping what I sowed, I experienced high levels of anxiety and lethargy in lieu of vigilance. I came to despise the homeless guy emulation and the urban nomad life-style. In other words,I was losing my humility. I was regaining worldly arrogance.
What exactly causes world leaders to allow arrogance to feed into megalomania? Why, in their short lifespans, must they inflict generations of pain upon others? Why do they become autocratic Fascists? Really, the price of power is arrogance and hubris. Arrogance has its origins at the same crossroads that I have faced. Without self-discipline, it grows unchecked until the perpetrator finds himself a satanic gargoyle prostrated before the temple of El Diablo. The shameful actions, deceit, and sin that we are privy to witness on a grand scale is beyond human capability. There must be a sinister force, an evil machination, as the power source. Nothing else can explain the phenomena.
As I've stated before in the journal, there is only one solution to the pervasive debauchery aside from Armageddon itself. The synergistic power of evil is more than the sum of its individual human collective. Humans must disengage from the source in order to power it down until it can be destroyed. If we must commit to one act of "individualism," then let it be the disconnection from evil.
After a nice refreshing shower, I was on my way to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) on the bus. Once again, I was privy to ride the bus with the same two young hotties, the Paris Hilton wannabes, fully absorbed with themselves. Clutching their expensive cell phones, they talked loudly and in comic animation about guys, parties, and the usual university co-ed nonsense. I had flashbacks about my own university tenure. The higher education "system" is a big joke. There's nothing educational about it. Rather it is part of the bigger "system," the one clearly managed by the sinister kahuna.
Back at Slob Manor, it's always the same ol' shit. The Chinaman has possibly been laid off now for about three weeks. Most likely, the construction industry in Hawai'i is beginning to feel the pangs of attrition. Fortunately, he can file an unemployment claim. There's a new housemate, a guy named Wesley. He's a PhD candidate at the UH, the same campus attended by the two young hotties on the bus. The upstairs refrigerator is still filled with crap. There are three huge boxes of kid's cereal in there for some reason. I did not know that cereal had to be refrigerated. Also, a gallon of milk and a half-gallon of organic milk have been in there for a month untouched, along with a huge bag of now-stale baked goods. There is also a package of green salad mix which has composted into a thick green slime. The former food, now garbage, belongs to the Indian guy. He has taken to the habit of purchasing several days worth of fast food and stuffing the latter in the fridge as well. Fortunately, he tends to eat that stuff within the appropriate period of time. The bathroom sink is clogged once again. That's Slob Manor in a nutshell. I'm the urban nomad, and I approve this "blog" entry.
During the workout, my mind was working out feverishly in the background. I contemplated the sheer vanity of the "American" life-style, the sheer arrogance of the "American Dream," and the sheer audacity of it all in combination. I thought of my own complicity in these matter, how I had sought to mold myself in the likeness of the debauchery. In fact, I had given in to the weaknesses of pleasure and comfort. The physical being craves both pleasure and comfort. And, we have free will to pursue the latter and former as vigorously as possible. What we, as humans, have never understood is the implicit contractual obligations of free will, one being the mandate to exercise discipline on the "self." Without such discipline, we easily fall prey to the epidemic of the "seven sins," engorging ourselves like gluttons on a smorgasbord of hedonistic delights.
The only means to attain absolution from a narcissistic nightmare is to yank the latter out by its roots, so to speak. Self-discipline requires more than a mental flogging. Indeed, a person must clearly remove all tangible temptations, which means some degree of isolation from the environment. Also necessary is a divestiture of as many worldly possessions as possible. Then, finally, a media disconnect is required. I, myself, had become lax in my approach to self-discipline. Reaping what I sowed, I experienced high levels of anxiety and lethargy in lieu of vigilance. I came to despise the homeless guy emulation and the urban nomad life-style. In other words,I was losing my humility. I was regaining worldly arrogance.
What exactly causes world leaders to allow arrogance to feed into megalomania? Why, in their short lifespans, must they inflict generations of pain upon others? Why do they become autocratic Fascists? Really, the price of power is arrogance and hubris. Arrogance has its origins at the same crossroads that I have faced. Without self-discipline, it grows unchecked until the perpetrator finds himself a satanic gargoyle prostrated before the temple of El Diablo. The shameful actions, deceit, and sin that we are privy to witness on a grand scale is beyond human capability. There must be a sinister force, an evil machination, as the power source. Nothing else can explain the phenomena.
As I've stated before in the journal, there is only one solution to the pervasive debauchery aside from Armageddon itself. The synergistic power of evil is more than the sum of its individual human collective. Humans must disengage from the source in order to power it down until it can be destroyed. If we must commit to one act of "individualism," then let it be the disconnection from evil.
After a nice refreshing shower, I was on my way to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) on the bus. Once again, I was privy to ride the bus with the same two young hotties, the Paris Hilton wannabes, fully absorbed with themselves. Clutching their expensive cell phones, they talked loudly and in comic animation about guys, parties, and the usual university co-ed nonsense. I had flashbacks about my own university tenure. The higher education "system" is a big joke. There's nothing educational about it. Rather it is part of the bigger "system," the one clearly managed by the sinister kahuna.
Back at Slob Manor, it's always the same ol' shit. The Chinaman has possibly been laid off now for about three weeks. Most likely, the construction industry in Hawai'i is beginning to feel the pangs of attrition. Fortunately, he can file an unemployment claim. There's a new housemate, a guy named Wesley. He's a PhD candidate at the UH, the same campus attended by the two young hotties on the bus. The upstairs refrigerator is still filled with crap. There are three huge boxes of kid's cereal in there for some reason. I did not know that cereal had to be refrigerated. Also, a gallon of milk and a half-gallon of organic milk have been in there for a month untouched, along with a huge bag of now-stale baked goods. There is also a package of green salad mix which has composted into a thick green slime. The former food, now garbage, belongs to the Indian guy. He has taken to the habit of purchasing several days worth of fast food and stuffing the latter in the fridge as well. Fortunately, he tends to eat that stuff within the appropriate period of time. The bathroom sink is clogged once again. That's Slob Manor in a nutshell. I'm the urban nomad, and I approve this "blog" entry.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Longing for Longs®
Moms should have been back at the house by 10am this morning. My sister-in-law is taking the day off and will be driving moms back. As you may have guessed, moms is very old-fashioned. Unlike peers in her age group, moms does not use a cell phone. Moms has no idea how to operate one. Moms also does not have a driver's license. Moms does not eat junk food or watch the tube. Much of what moms does is reminiscent of practices in rural Pahoa on the Big Island at the turn of the century. Perhaps that is what endears me to moms. There is something more human about the old-fashioned life-style than the monocular quest for shiny objects.
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day found the urban nomad in his usual locations, the inner courtyard of the library where he lapsed in and out of a coma for three hours, and at the gym for his usual workout. The ride back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) on the bus was marred by the presence of several young punks and Paris Hilton wannabes who seemed to have forgotten to take their dosage of Ritalin. Can they not sit still without bumping into anyone else for no other reason than to play with their cell phones? Can they keep from carrying on as loudly as possible only to call attention to themselves as self-made celebrities? I don't want their autographs. I just want them to shut up and sit still. I was quickly reminded of the reason why I do not care to return to the excruciating occupation of pseudo-professor. I had to deal with numerous spoiled brats who have never been disciplined in their entire short lifespan. Well, they may have been verbally disciplined, for whatever that's worth. However, such actions (or inaction) only makes fools of the parents. The breakdown of society begins with a breakdown in the ranks of the progeny.
The evening will find the urban nomad engaged in the same ol' shit. Details are not necessary. Incidentally, the Longs® chain has been sold to CVS®. The stores on the mainland will be absorbed into CVS®, taking on the namesake. The stores in Hawai'i will continue to operate under the Longs® name. Longs® is a very important part of local culture, believe it or not. Yet, I have to wonder when Longs® as we know it will cease to exist.
By late evening (circa 10pm), I was feeling quite disengaged from myself. The sleepless nights, the constant intrusive memory recollections, and my broad-based view of the "end of days" have taken a toll on the oversized cranium. I almost "pulled the plug" on the "blog." These are desperate times. I watched a fascinating interview by Amy Goodman with investigative reporter Ron Suskind on Democracy Now! Yet, in the end, I was sickened as much as I was enlightened. Fortunately, on-line House Music saved the day.
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day found the urban nomad in his usual locations, the inner courtyard of the library where he lapsed in and out of a coma for three hours, and at the gym for his usual workout. The ride back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing) on the bus was marred by the presence of several young punks and Paris Hilton wannabes who seemed to have forgotten to take their dosage of Ritalin. Can they not sit still without bumping into anyone else for no other reason than to play with their cell phones? Can they keep from carrying on as loudly as possible only to call attention to themselves as self-made celebrities? I don't want their autographs. I just want them to shut up and sit still. I was quickly reminded of the reason why I do not care to return to the excruciating occupation of pseudo-professor. I had to deal with numerous spoiled brats who have never been disciplined in their entire short lifespan. Well, they may have been verbally disciplined, for whatever that's worth. However, such actions (or inaction) only makes fools of the parents. The breakdown of society begins with a breakdown in the ranks of the progeny.
The evening will find the urban nomad engaged in the same ol' shit. Details are not necessary. Incidentally, the Longs® chain has been sold to CVS®. The stores on the mainland will be absorbed into CVS®, taking on the namesake. The stores in Hawai'i will continue to operate under the Longs® name. Longs® is a very important part of local culture, believe it or not. Yet, I have to wonder when Longs® as we know it will cease to exist.
By late evening (circa 10pm), I was feeling quite disengaged from myself. The sleepless nights, the constant intrusive memory recollections, and my broad-based view of the "end of days" have taken a toll on the oversized cranium. I almost "pulled the plug" on the "blog." These are desperate times. I watched a fascinating interview by Amy Goodman with investigative reporter Ron Suskind on Democracy Now! Yet, in the end, I was sickened as much as I was enlightened. Fortunately, on-line House Music saved the day.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Out of Style
I departed for Hawai'i Kai at 8:15am this morning. Moms was home when I arrived. I loaded moms stuff into my Nissan® Frontier truck. Then, we departed for Ala Moana Center at 9am. My bro is having the house "tented" for termite fumigation. Thus, my bro, his family, and moms have to vacate the house for a day.
Moms and I made the rounds at Longs® and Sears®. Moms purchased a few necessities and a windup clock at Longs®. Both moms and I went on a clothes shopping spree at Sears®. I purchased another cheap tanktop and a fairly cheap hooded pullover sweatshirt (total $30). For lunch, moms and I procured bento lunches at Shirokiya. Afterwards, we looked around at all of the interesting Japanese products. We then walked to Macy's®. Moms did a little more shopping. Moms also wanted to spend a little time by the Koi Pond. So, we strolled casually amongst the crowd to our destination. We sat for a while and watched the koi swimming around.
We departed Ala Moana a little before two o' clock. I found street parking across from the Pagoda Hotel. I helped moms carry all of her packages into the hotel. I offered to keep the packages in the truck until my next visit. However, moms declined. After checking in, I carried the stuff up to moms' room on the ninth floor. Moms had packed towels, soap, and other personal effects. Moms had purchased the windup clock to use in the hotel. I pointed out to moms that the hotel room already had everything she needed. I also had to demonstrate the use of the keycard to moms. Having lived in the "condotel" unit for over a year, I know much about hotel operations. Sadly, the room had the smell of cigarette smoke.
Moms and I sat in the lobby for a few minutes. However, the time was well past moms' nap time. So, I left shortly afterward. I drove back to Hawai'i Kai. I easily found shaded parking in the Koko Marina parking structure. I walked to the gym to do my cardio workout. Then, I made a final stop at Foodland. For a treat, I purchased a pint of Dove® Chocolate and Brownie Affair ice cream. I sat outside and ate my delicious treat. The crappy plastic spoon, however, was giving me grief. I was back in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm.
I followed the usual urban nomad evening recital, with the exception that I performed the dreaded laundry chores (again) on a smaller scale. Specifically, I wanted to wash my new hooded pullover sweatshirt. I am making preparations for the upcoming Winter. Yet, the weather in the last three weeks have actually not been any different from the Winter season. O'ahu has been plagued with gale force winds and heavy rain, which is very unusual for this time of year.
I was burdened by a forceful disconnect all day. Although the Russia-Georgia War has abated, there are other disturbing trends. For one thing, the empire's so-called "mainstream media" deliberately dissembled facts and twisted the truth to implicate the Federation of Russia as the sole aggressor in the war. We have already seen how the same kind of dissembling of facts was presented by the same media prior to the empire's incursion into Afghanistan and Iraq. Thus, how much do we really know about the "September 11th" event? What untruths are we being told about the ongoing financial collapse of the empire? The list is now endless. By default, I now place much more faith in the alternative news sources. I am also much more confident that "conspiracy theory" actually rings true. We, as a nation, are going to "reap what we sow." There's no question in my mind about that.
The only redemption that I seem to find is when I spend time with moms. I feel as though I have something worthwhile is achieved, albeit somewhat ethereal. I finally resized and cropped the photo that Lori had taken of the oversized cranium a few weeks back at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® in Koko Marina. My monk haircut had grown out. I was unshaven and unkempt in true homeless guy emulator fashion. I still wear those crappy shades from over 15 years ago. Mind you, I have a pair of $300 Oakley® prescription shades and a $300 pair of stylin' regular "vision compensators" (read: spectacles). Why don't I wear them? I should wear them at least once before the secular Apocalypse commences. Well, my rationale is simple. I am a senior citizen. I don't need to worry about making a fashion statement. Senior citizens always wear styles from at least one decade ago. Why should I buck the trend?
Moms and I made the rounds at Longs® and Sears®. Moms purchased a few necessities and a windup clock at Longs®. Both moms and I went on a clothes shopping spree at Sears®. I purchased another cheap tanktop and a fairly cheap hooded pullover sweatshirt (total $30). For lunch, moms and I procured bento lunches at Shirokiya. Afterwards, we looked around at all of the interesting Japanese products. We then walked to Macy's®. Moms did a little more shopping. Moms also wanted to spend a little time by the Koi Pond. So, we strolled casually amongst the crowd to our destination. We sat for a while and watched the koi swimming around.
We departed Ala Moana a little before two o' clock. I found street parking across from the Pagoda Hotel. I helped moms carry all of her packages into the hotel. I offered to keep the packages in the truck until my next visit. However, moms declined. After checking in, I carried the stuff up to moms' room on the ninth floor. Moms had packed towels, soap, and other personal effects. Moms had purchased the windup clock to use in the hotel. I pointed out to moms that the hotel room already had everything she needed. I also had to demonstrate the use of the keycard to moms. Having lived in the "condotel" unit for over a year, I know much about hotel operations. Sadly, the room had the smell of cigarette smoke.
Moms and I sat in the lobby for a few minutes. However, the time was well past moms' nap time. So, I left shortly afterward. I drove back to Hawai'i Kai. I easily found shaded parking in the Koko Marina parking structure. I walked to the gym to do my cardio workout. Then, I made a final stop at Foodland. For a treat, I purchased a pint of Dove® Chocolate and Brownie Affair ice cream. I sat outside and ate my delicious treat. The crappy plastic spoon, however, was giving me grief. I was back in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 5pm.
I followed the usual urban nomad evening recital, with the exception that I performed the dreaded laundry chores (again) on a smaller scale. Specifically, I wanted to wash my new hooded pullover sweatshirt. I am making preparations for the upcoming Winter. Yet, the weather in the last three weeks have actually not been any different from the Winter season. O'ahu has been plagued with gale force winds and heavy rain, which is very unusual for this time of year.
I was burdened by a forceful disconnect all day. Although the Russia-Georgia War has abated, there are other disturbing trends. For one thing, the empire's so-called "mainstream media" deliberately dissembled facts and twisted the truth to implicate the Federation of Russia as the sole aggressor in the war. We have already seen how the same kind of dissembling of facts was presented by the same media prior to the empire's incursion into Afghanistan and Iraq. Thus, how much do we really know about the "September 11th" event? What untruths are we being told about the ongoing financial collapse of the empire? The list is now endless. By default, I now place much more faith in the alternative news sources. I am also much more confident that "conspiracy theory" actually rings true. We, as a nation, are going to "reap what we sow." There's no question in my mind about that.
The only redemption that I seem to find is when I spend time with moms. I feel as though I have something worthwhile is achieved, albeit somewhat ethereal. I finally resized and cropped the photo that Lori had taken of the oversized cranium a few weeks back at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® in Koko Marina. My monk haircut had grown out. I was unshaven and unkempt in true homeless guy emulator fashion. I still wear those crappy shades from over 15 years ago. Mind you, I have a pair of $300 Oakley® prescription shades and a $300 pair of stylin' regular "vision compensators" (read: spectacles). Why don't I wear them? I should wear them at least once before the secular Apocalypse commences. Well, my rationale is simple. I am a senior citizen. I don't need to worry about making a fashion statement. Senior citizens always wear styles from at least one decade ago. Why should I buck the trend?
Monday, August 11, 2008
Resource Wars
I was on my way to Hawai'i Kai at 8:40am this morning in my Nissan® Frontier truck. Moms was home when I arrived. While moms completed a few chores, I used my trusty pumice stone to continue grinding down the callouses on the soles of my feet. Moms and I stopped by Panda Express® in Kuapa Kai to procure our plate lunches. We sat outside by the waterfront and enjoyed our meal. We made no other rounds. Once we returned, moms served up Foremost® vanilla ice cream for dessert. I sat and chatted with moms until 1pm.
I was fortunate to find shaded parking in the Koko Marina parking structure. I walked directly to the gym. I did my usual workout. Then, I shopped for a few grocery items at Foodland. I also treated myself to an Icee® beverage. I was back in Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4pm, just in time to perform the dreaded laundry chores.
The evening will find me logged on to my beloved Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. I will be researching and following the tragic and curious events in Georgia. The empire's so-called "mainstream media" has been dissembling information by carefully constructing reports to imply that the Russian Federation launched the initial offensive. By and large, I am now convinced that there is no way to trust the mainstream media. I must rely heavily upon alternative aggregation services such as the Global Research site.
I was fortunate to find shaded parking in the Koko Marina parking structure. I walked directly to the gym. I did my usual workout. Then, I shopped for a few grocery items at Foodland. I also treated myself to an Icee® beverage. I was back in Slob Manor (read: rental housing) by 4pm, just in time to perform the dreaded laundry chores.
The evening will find me logged on to my beloved Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer. I will be researching and following the tragic and curious events in Georgia. The empire's so-called "mainstream media" has been dissembling information by carefully constructing reports to imply that the Russian Federation launched the initial offensive. By and large, I am now convinced that there is no way to trust the mainstream media. I must rely heavily upon alternative aggregation services such as the Global Research site.
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