Another visit in Hawai'i Kai was on the agenda for the day. Moms and I only made the rounds in Koko Marina ... lunch at Zippy's and shopping at Foodland. Later, moms served Foremost® vanilla ice cream for dessert. I kept moms company until 1am.
I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Head Park and spent about 30 minutes there. The park was cold and windy. The rest of the afternoon followed the usual format ... work out at the gym, shop at Foodland, return to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I was able to procure a hot meal (i.e., local-style bento) at Foodland for $2 ... a real deal for half of a lamp-baked chicken and rice.
The evening was supposedly to be the same routine. However, when I booted up my Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer, I discovered that there is a 1.25-inch wide vertical bar about an inch-and-a-half from the right side of the display. The problem is possibly somewhere on the video card because the white bar is visible even in the BIOS setup screen. My guess is that a sugar ant crawled into the computer and shorted out portions of the video card. Of course, another computer problem has arisen at the most inopportune time. I cannot afford to purchase another computer at this time. My Toshiba® Satellite notebook computer has a 17-inch display. So, there is adequate screen real estate still available. I attempted to take a screenshot, but the vertical bar does not appear. So, my guess is that the graphics processor is fine. The sugar ant is probably shorting the output circuitry. Even if I open the computer to clear the sugar ant from the circuitry, I doubt that the problem will be cured. I will have to keep using the computer until it breaks down.
The sinister kahuna has been working overtime to bring the ol' lavahead down to his knees. Perhaps my discussion yesterday about "righteousness" irked the evil nemesis. There's really nothing much that I can do, eh?
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Conundrum
Yes, another urban nomad kind-of-a-day has vanished into the Twilight Zone. Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The itinerary was the same as always. Soon enough, I found myself back in Slob Manor (read: rental housing) to commence my evening ritual.
In my reading of the Good Book (New Living Translation), I have finally passed the halfway mark. I am currently reading Proverbs. So far, I have not encountered much difficulty in either comprehension or interpretation. Everything has been fairly straightforward. An issue that has surfaced is the matter of "righteousness." The issue came to light when I pondered about how Abraham and Noah (two examples) were considered "righteous" men. And, why would they desire to be "righteous"?
A definition of "righteous" is in order first. I believe we have two possibilities:
I bring up the issue because one of the theses discussed in the book, "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts," by Finkelstein and Silberman is that the Israelites had edited the Scriptures over time to integrate what the authors call "legends and myths" in the original texts in order rally the Israelites around their own deity. Cynically speaking, then, the Good Book was simply a public relations ploy to increase the spiritual commitment of the Israelites.
That's all fine and good. However, the preceding thesis does not explain why anyone would desire to be "righteous" in the first place. By all accounts in the Good Book, the same kinds of debauchery that we witness today was present back then in full force. In living a modest, mendicant, and honest life-style, a person would be giving up on all that the world had to offer, albeit debaucherous. We see the same issue in modern society. Obviously, very few people seek the path of "righteousness," if at all.
In my own time, I had often lamented that I could never regain lost innocence. I've mentioned that personal quagmire in the old journal. In retrospect, I may have really been alluding to a quest to attain "righteousness." Many of the Scriptures refer to meditation of the laws, decrees, and regulations of the Almighty. I contemplated the various laws, decrees, and regulations. Then, I wondered about what exactly needed meditation. The laws, decrees, and regulations are straightforward. There's no ambiguity. Then, I realized the folly of my error.
Meditation is necessary because of the treachery of the human heart. I surmised that one of the primary steps to "righteousness" would be a serious review of the laws, decrees, and regulations of the Almighty prior to making a crucial decision or taking any kind of vital action in our day-to-day affairs. If we do not follow such a course of action, then we would easily succumb to temptation or impulse.
The thought of attaining and maintaining "righteousness" in our times seems ludicrous. Why give up all the fun and excitement? After all, we only have a handful of years to live out our wildest fantasies. Why spend the time pondering outmoded laws and ideas? I venture to guess that both Abraham and Noah were confronted with the same conundrum. Yet, they chose to remain "righteous." Can I accomplish the same goal?
In my reading of the Good Book (New Living Translation), I have finally passed the halfway mark. I am currently reading Proverbs. So far, I have not encountered much difficulty in either comprehension or interpretation. Everything has been fairly straightforward. An issue that has surfaced is the matter of "righteousness." The issue came to light when I pondered about how Abraham and Noah (two examples) were considered "righteous" men. And, why would they desire to be "righteous"?
A definition of "righteous" is in order first. I believe we have two possibilities:
- Righteous in one's own eyes (i.e., self-righteousness, arrogance)
- "Righteous" in the eyes of the Creator
I bring up the issue because one of the theses discussed in the book, "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts," by Finkelstein and Silberman is that the Israelites had edited the Scriptures over time to integrate what the authors call "legends and myths" in the original texts in order rally the Israelites around their own deity. Cynically speaking, then, the Good Book was simply a public relations ploy to increase the spiritual commitment of the Israelites.
That's all fine and good. However, the preceding thesis does not explain why anyone would desire to be "righteous" in the first place. By all accounts in the Good Book, the same kinds of debauchery that we witness today was present back then in full force. In living a modest, mendicant, and honest life-style, a person would be giving up on all that the world had to offer, albeit debaucherous. We see the same issue in modern society. Obviously, very few people seek the path of "righteousness," if at all.
In my own time, I had often lamented that I could never regain lost innocence. I've mentioned that personal quagmire in the old journal. In retrospect, I may have really been alluding to a quest to attain "righteousness." Many of the Scriptures refer to meditation of the laws, decrees, and regulations of the Almighty. I contemplated the various laws, decrees, and regulations. Then, I wondered about what exactly needed meditation. The laws, decrees, and regulations are straightforward. There's no ambiguity. Then, I realized the folly of my error.
Meditation is necessary because of the treachery of the human heart. I surmised that one of the primary steps to "righteousness" would be a serious review of the laws, decrees, and regulations of the Almighty prior to making a crucial decision or taking any kind of vital action in our day-to-day affairs. If we do not follow such a course of action, then we would easily succumb to temptation or impulse.
The thought of attaining and maintaining "righteousness" in our times seems ludicrous. Why give up all the fun and excitement? After all, we only have a handful of years to live out our wildest fantasies. Why spend the time pondering outmoded laws and ideas? I venture to guess that both Abraham and Noah were confronted with the same conundrum. Yet, they chose to remain "righteous." Can I accomplish the same goal?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Oh, the Mundanity!
I was finally able to visit with moms in Hawai'i Kai. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred, so there really isn't much to discuss. The itinerary was the same as usual, so there's no need to delineate upon it. I wasn't really in the mood to perform my usual workout at the gym. However, I forced myself to do so. Shopping at Foodland in Koko Marina for my own groceries was a nightmare as usual. I simply cannot find anything remotely edible. I would have purchased another hot meal (i.e., local-style bento), but I was still quite filled from lunch.
After all was said and done, I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I parked along the side street as usual. When I set foot in my squalid room, I immediately commenced the dreaded laundry chores. That, of course, wraps up another day for the urban nomad. The evening routine is already chiseled in stone. We all know the drill.
A downpour ensued within a few minutes of my arrival at the dump. The rain certainly befits my mood as of late. To be quite frank, I have been overcome by feelings of hopelessness and grief. For some strange reason, I keep reading the various news sources. Why can't I stop the latter benign activity and live in ignorance? The more I read, the worse it gets. First, I feel anger. Then, anger fades to despair. Why do humans wish to inflict so much pain on other humans? What exactly is the purpose? Why has greed become so all-pervasive? Accumulating immense wealth simply deprives others of their fair share. Our lives are so short that greed makes no sense. Just how much does one need for the seventy or so years of living on the planet?
After all was said and done, I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). I parked along the side street as usual. When I set foot in my squalid room, I immediately commenced the dreaded laundry chores. That, of course, wraps up another day for the urban nomad. The evening routine is already chiseled in stone. We all know the drill.
A downpour ensued within a few minutes of my arrival at the dump. The rain certainly befits my mood as of late. To be quite frank, I have been overcome by feelings of hopelessness and grief. For some strange reason, I keep reading the various news sources. Why can't I stop the latter benign activity and live in ignorance? The more I read, the worse it gets. First, I feel anger. Then, anger fades to despair. Why do humans wish to inflict so much pain on other humans? What exactly is the purpose? Why has greed become so all-pervasive? Accumulating immense wealth simply deprives others of their fair share. Our lives are so short that greed makes no sense. Just how much does one need for the seventy or so years of living on the planet?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Global Geopolitical Dislocation
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... how I have longed to scribble that phrase again! There is a certain ring to it, eh? Well, no need to go any further (refer to the "blog" of February 8th). As you may have guessed, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Thank goodness.
There's been a lot of babbling on the alternative sites about the global financial crisis and the empire's so-called "stimulus" package. I'm tired of the crap, so I'm not going there. My only comment is that there are only two possible outcomes:
To be perfectly honest, I am not expecting a recovery (refer to article, "Beginning of Phase 5 of the global systemic crisis: phase of global geopolitical dislocation," on the Europe 2020 site). The only way out of the current mess will be a global war (i.e., global geopolitical dislocation). We are so deep in fascism now that there is no other recourse. I would say that now is a good time to sit down and review some history.
In further pondering the book, "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts," by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, I found humor in the fact that two Jewish scholars were attempting to discredit the Hebrew Scriptures. I don't place a lot of faith in archaeology or the Carbon-14 dating method. Has any altar of Molech been unearthed? I place even less faith in documents of past empires. Why would we believe that any (ancient or current) empire's documents would be untainted and unbiased?
There's been a lot of babbling on the alternative sites about the global financial crisis and the empire's so-called "stimulus" package. I'm tired of the crap, so I'm not going there. My only comment is that there are only two possible outcomes:
- Complete financial collapse
- Return to the "bubble" economy status quo
To be perfectly honest, I am not expecting a recovery (refer to article, "Beginning of Phase 5 of the global systemic crisis: phase of global geopolitical dislocation," on the Europe 2020 site). The only way out of the current mess will be a global war (i.e., global geopolitical dislocation). We are so deep in fascism now that there is no other recourse. I would say that now is a good time to sit down and review some history.
In further pondering the book, "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts," by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, I found humor in the fact that two Jewish scholars were attempting to discredit the Hebrew Scriptures. I don't place a lot of faith in archaeology or the Carbon-14 dating method. Has any altar of Molech been unearthed? I place even less faith in documents of past empires. Why would we believe that any (ancient or current) empire's documents would be untainted and unbiased?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Paradox
I followed the alternative urban nomad itinerary, just as I did on Saturday. The only deviation was that I washed my Nissan® Frontier truck instead of spending time at Koko Head Park. I cleaned the interior with my Dirt Devil® Quick Power® handheld vacuum cleaner. Then, I scrubbed the bed of my truck for the first time in months.
I was able to procure a hot meal (i.e., local-style bento) for dinner at Foodland in Koko Marina. I was famished after my mediocre workout at the gym. Sadly, my dinnertime ambiance was disturbed by a number of sugar ants roaming for food in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing). Upon closer scrutiny, I discovered that a major ant infestation was under way. Hundreds of sugar ants were moving in a long line to the food debris lying around in the second floor common area. The kitchen was also overrun by sugar ants. Dirty dishes and food debris are the cause. Once an infestation of that magnitude occurs, then the ants will be scouting around in every nook and cranny.
I happened to peruse the book, "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts," by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman when I was at Barnes & Noble®. The authors purport to dismiss the various accounts of the Hebrew Scriptures in the Good Book using extensive archaeological data. I would assume that most worldly readers would subsequently chuck the Good Book out the door. In fact, I might have done the same thing had I not realized the futility and limitations of human knowledge.
For me, I have no doubts that there is an intelligent source behind the origins of the universe and the makings of Universal Law. Humans simply cannot understand such concepts. Take the universe itself, and ponder the paradox of an infinite and boundless space populated by finite objects. Imagine the power that equals the sum of the universe's components. Then, in our own microcosm, we fail to unravel the essence of life itself. We don't know why it exists, and why there is a harmonious synchronization of all life forms and their respective life cycles. Humans alone are an anomaly that cannot be explained. We are, by far, the oddest creatures on the planet.
Given that an intelligent source exists, then that source would have to make itself known to its most sentient offspring. In other words, if there is a deity, it would insure that we humans knew of its existence. That would be even more so given the fact that we alone have the faculties to ponder questions of meaning and purpose. One of the key points that keeps me going in the direction of the Good Book is that it describes a deity who is not represented by any dungy idols (e.g., Molech) and who actually forbids the latter. A true spirit being would not have a physical shape or form.
I am at the point in life where I can look back and see where I have been, and look forward to see where I might be going. So far, I have not seen anything purposeful and meaningful. And, given the context of my mortality, I can further see the futility in almost any worldly pursuit. I believe that the chronology in the Good Book serves to display the futility of all human pursuits on a grand scale. We are lost and confused until we can connect with the source of our being. That is also why we reconnect with our parents in the later years, after we are done with our trivial pursuits.
The "blog" itself is a chronicle, albeit a foolish one, of my own coming to terms with mortality and meaninglessness. My only joy now is to look around me and see the Creation. Even when I am about to eat an orange, I peruse the whole fruit for a few minutes. I revel in its marvelous construction. In fact, every life form in my periphery ... every plant, every bird, every tree, even the detestable sugar ants ... I must peruse and contemplate the miracle of their being.
I was able to procure a hot meal (i.e., local-style bento) for dinner at Foodland in Koko Marina. I was famished after my mediocre workout at the gym. Sadly, my dinnertime ambiance was disturbed by a number of sugar ants roaming for food in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing). Upon closer scrutiny, I discovered that a major ant infestation was under way. Hundreds of sugar ants were moving in a long line to the food debris lying around in the second floor common area. The kitchen was also overrun by sugar ants. Dirty dishes and food debris are the cause. Once an infestation of that magnitude occurs, then the ants will be scouting around in every nook and cranny.
I happened to peruse the book, "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts," by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman when I was at Barnes & Noble®. The authors purport to dismiss the various accounts of the Hebrew Scriptures in the Good Book using extensive archaeological data. I would assume that most worldly readers would subsequently chuck the Good Book out the door. In fact, I might have done the same thing had I not realized the futility and limitations of human knowledge.
For me, I have no doubts that there is an intelligent source behind the origins of the universe and the makings of Universal Law. Humans simply cannot understand such concepts. Take the universe itself, and ponder the paradox of an infinite and boundless space populated by finite objects. Imagine the power that equals the sum of the universe's components. Then, in our own microcosm, we fail to unravel the essence of life itself. We don't know why it exists, and why there is a harmonious synchronization of all life forms and their respective life cycles. Humans alone are an anomaly that cannot be explained. We are, by far, the oddest creatures on the planet.
Given that an intelligent source exists, then that source would have to make itself known to its most sentient offspring. In other words, if there is a deity, it would insure that we humans knew of its existence. That would be even more so given the fact that we alone have the faculties to ponder questions of meaning and purpose. One of the key points that keeps me going in the direction of the Good Book is that it describes a deity who is not represented by any dungy idols (e.g., Molech) and who actually forbids the latter. A true spirit being would not have a physical shape or form.
I am at the point in life where I can look back and see where I have been, and look forward to see where I might be going. So far, I have not seen anything purposeful and meaningful. And, given the context of my mortality, I can further see the futility in almost any worldly pursuit. I believe that the chronology in the Good Book serves to display the futility of all human pursuits on a grand scale. We are lost and confused until we can connect with the source of our being. That is also why we reconnect with our parents in the later years, after we are done with our trivial pursuits.
The "blog" itself is a chronicle, albeit a foolish one, of my own coming to terms with mortality and meaninglessness. My only joy now is to look around me and see the Creation. Even when I am about to eat an orange, I peruse the whole fruit for a few minutes. I revel in its marvelous construction. In fact, every life form in my periphery ... every plant, every bird, every tree, even the detestable sugar ants ... I must peruse and contemplate the miracle of their being.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Squalid Sunday (Reprise)
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-Sunday was nearly a carbon copy of last Sunday. You know the drill. An almost perfect day was ruined when a chunky older babe (term used loosely) threw her humongous carcass into the seat next to mine on the bus this afternoon. At one point, I was inadvertently used as a cushion for the blob's awkward landing. Immediately, I opened Lou's School of Etiquette for matriculation.
Yes, the same ol' shit was the order of the day. I stopped off at Foodland in the Aina Haina Shopping Center to procure a pint of Dreyer's® ice cream. I ate the sumptuous snack at the bus stop. Upon my return to Slob Manor (read: rental housing), I performed the dreaded laundry chores and other mundane tasks.
The library has been closed all weekend and will also be closed tomorrow. Hence, the deviation from the urban nomad itinerary yesterday. The urban nomad as well as the myriad homeless depend on the library. It is the only place that offers shelter from the elements, a quiet reading environment, and clean restroom facilities to the destitute.
The gale force winds continue. Ubuntu Linux is still giving me grief. Slob Manor is still a total dump. The empire's "stimulus" package is a joke. What more can I say?
Yes, the same ol' shit was the order of the day. I stopped off at Foodland in the Aina Haina Shopping Center to procure a pint of Dreyer's® ice cream. I ate the sumptuous snack at the bus stop. Upon my return to Slob Manor (read: rental housing), I performed the dreaded laundry chores and other mundane tasks.
The library has been closed all weekend and will also be closed tomorrow. Hence, the deviation from the urban nomad itinerary yesterday. The urban nomad as well as the myriad homeless depend on the library. It is the only place that offers shelter from the elements, a quiet reading environment, and clean restroom facilities to the destitute.
The gale force winds continue. Ubuntu Linux is still giving me grief. Slob Manor is still a total dump. The empire's "stimulus" package is a joke. What more can I say?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Stonehead Tidbits
I rode the bus to Kahala Mall at 8:45am this morning. I arrived shortly after Barnes & Noble® had opened. I procured a small cup of decaffeinated coffee. I sat and read a few computer nerd magazines of the Linux variety. I also perused a few books. I walked out to the bus stop at 11:40am. Within a couple of minutes, the bus arrived, and I was on my way back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing).
Once back in my squalid room, I gathered my gym bag. I departed for Hawai'i Kai at 12:30pm. I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Head Park. The gale force winds were blowing through the park at full force. At one point, a downpour ensued. The gale force winds have been continuous for over four days. I ran for shelter in the recreation center complex. As I passed the ceramics studio, I saw the Kawaikui Beach Park maintenance guy in there. I stayed at the park until 1:30pm.
I drove to Koko Marina and found shaded parking immediately. I walked to the gym and performed my usual workout without having to wait for any machines, which was unusual. I was actually surprised how well the day was going, that is, until I went shopping at Foodland. I ran into a series of inconsiderate asswipes throughout the store. I had to open Lou's School of Etiquette for matriculation. I was, at the least, able to find a decent hot meal (i.e., local-style bento) ... Kalua Pig and rice. The rest of the daily routine was predictable once I arrived back at Slob Manor.
By the way, I had sent e-mail to former Pseudo-professor Glenn the other day, since I had not heard from him in a while. I received a reply sometime today. Apparently, he had experienced a stroke at the beginning of January (ten days before he was to move to Texas). He has been in three medical facilities since that time. He was released today. Scott, his son, has moved back to Hawai'i. So, along with Nancy, they are renting a three bedroom apartment in Honolulu. I will make an attempt to visit him once he is up and around.
Well, since V-day is upon us, I should briefly discuss the babe situation. When I say "brief," I mean brief. The babe situation is a done deal and has been now for over a decade. I had a few brief moments of stupidity, but I came to my senses fairly quickly. Babes simply are not interested in the ol' lavahead. And, frankly, the ol' lavahead has nothing to offer any babe. In addition, the old fool is now a senior citizen. If anything, Spankwire, or Tube8 sites can provide temporary relief for the aging Vienna Sausage. Sheesh!
Once back in my squalid room, I gathered my gym bag. I departed for Hawai'i Kai at 12:30pm. I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to Koko Head Park. The gale force winds were blowing through the park at full force. At one point, a downpour ensued. The gale force winds have been continuous for over four days. I ran for shelter in the recreation center complex. As I passed the ceramics studio, I saw the Kawaikui Beach Park maintenance guy in there. I stayed at the park until 1:30pm.
I drove to Koko Marina and found shaded parking immediately. I walked to the gym and performed my usual workout without having to wait for any machines, which was unusual. I was actually surprised how well the day was going, that is, until I went shopping at Foodland. I ran into a series of inconsiderate asswipes throughout the store. I had to open Lou's School of Etiquette for matriculation. I was, at the least, able to find a decent hot meal (i.e., local-style bento) ... Kalua Pig and rice. The rest of the daily routine was predictable once I arrived back at Slob Manor.
By the way, I had sent e-mail to former Pseudo-professor Glenn the other day, since I had not heard from him in a while. I received a reply sometime today. Apparently, he had experienced a stroke at the beginning of January (ten days before he was to move to Texas). He has been in three medical facilities since that time. He was released today. Scott, his son, has moved back to Hawai'i. So, along with Nancy, they are renting a three bedroom apartment in Honolulu. I will make an attempt to visit him once he is up and around.
Well, since V-day is upon us, I should briefly discuss the babe situation. When I say "brief," I mean brief. The babe situation is a done deal and has been now for over a decade. I had a few brief moments of stupidity, but I came to my senses fairly quickly. Babes simply are not interested in the ol' lavahead. And, frankly, the ol' lavahead has nothing to offer any babe. In addition, the old fool is now a senior citizen. If anything, Spankwire, or Tube8 sites can provide temporary relief for the aging Vienna Sausage. Sheesh!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Exodus Update
Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... can you believe it? There is absolutely nothing to report in the "blog" about the day's itinerary. All I can say is that I have become totally engrossed in the reading of the Good Book (New Living Translation). I have found one oddity so far. In the 2nd of Samuel, King David takes a census of his people. According to the New Living Translation, the Almighty gave him the order. Yet, by doing so, David committed a gross sin. Yet, in the 1st of Chronicles, the origin of the census idea was attributed to Satan. In checking another more reliable, albeit literal, translation, I discovered that the rendering of the text in question in the 2nd of Samuel did not attribute the census idea to the Almighty. Incidentally, the attribution of Satan in the 1st of Chronicles is the only time so far that the evil entity has been mentioned since the obtuse reference to the "serpent" in Genesis. Of course, Molech is mentioned many times over.
I will be spending another evening locked in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing), just as I do every night these days. I even prepare and eat my dinner in my squalid room. Fortunately, I have seemingly been cured of my chronic claustrophobia. There was a time not so long ago that I could not handle being in a closed small room for very long. In fact, I used to keep the door of my squalid room open during my waking hours for that very reason. Well, as I have mentioned prior, I have no social life. I have absolutely no close friends to "hang out" with. I have made no attempt to meet new people either. Frankly, I avoid any social contact with anyone, if at all possible. That's another reason why I am always in my squalid room at night. Obviously, some aspects of the exodus have progressed much further than other parts.
Aside from that, the exodus is not going as planned. The empire's economic meltdown will certainly continue to impede my progress. I am already beginning to wonder if I will be sucked into the vortex of ruination just like all of the other saps around me. To be perfectlyhonest, I hope that the empire goes down this year. It's time to put an end to the charade. Better for it to go down now, then to go through another hellish "bubble" and face complete devastation later.
I will be spending another evening locked in my squalid room at Slob Manor (read: rental housing), just as I do every night these days. I even prepare and eat my dinner in my squalid room. Fortunately, I have seemingly been cured of my chronic claustrophobia. There was a time not so long ago that I could not handle being in a closed small room for very long. In fact, I used to keep the door of my squalid room open during my waking hours for that very reason. Well, as I have mentioned prior, I have no social life. I have absolutely no close friends to "hang out" with. I have made no attempt to meet new people either. Frankly, I avoid any social contact with anyone, if at all possible. That's another reason why I am always in my squalid room at night. Obviously, some aspects of the exodus have progressed much further than other parts.
Aside from that, the exodus is not going as planned. The empire's economic meltdown will certainly continue to impede my progress. I am already beginning to wonder if I will be sucked into the vortex of ruination just like all of the other saps around me. To be perfectlyhonest, I hope that the empire goes down this year. It's time to put an end to the charade. Better for it to go down now, then to go through another hellish "bubble" and face complete devastation later.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Rubric of Redundancy Redux
I arrived in Hawai'i Kai at 9am this morning. Moms was home, and so was my sister-in-law. Moms and I departed immediately for Ala Moana Center. My sister-in-law, in a last minute change of plans, stayed to wait for the termite treatment crew to arrive. The house would be "tented" and fumigated for one day, so everyone had to evacuate the premises.
Once at Ala Moana, moms took a package to the Post Office to send to my aunt in Reedley. Then, moms shopped at Sears®. I purchased a small cup of decaffeinated coffee at Starbuck's®. I walked around the store with moms. We happened to run into Aunty Maria. Moms and I later joined Aunty Maria and her German friends at Zippy's. My aunt meets with her friends there every week.
At noon, moms and I walked to Shirokiya and ate bento lunches there. Afterward, moms wanted to view the koi in artificial koi pond. At 1:15pm, moms and I departed. I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to the Pagoda Hotel. As we walked into the lobby, I saw my sister-in-law standing at the front desk. Moms was able to check in early. My sister-in-law drove back to Hawai'i Kai to pick up my nephew from school.
I helped moms carry her stuff up to her room. I chatted with moms for a few minutes. Moms will be returning to Hawai'i Kai sometime late tomorrow morning. She will ride along with my sister-in-law. However, my bro and sister-in-law are going to sign some mortgage refinancing paperwork tomorrow morning. I do not know the details, but I hope that they had consulted with an accountant first.
Then, I drove back to Hawai'i Kai. I found shaded parking at Koko Marina, walked to the gym, performed my usual workout, shopped at Foodland, and drove back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). The evening? Same ol' shit.
The whole day may seem familiar, and that is true. My bro had the house "tented" back in August. Apparently, just a few short weeks afterward, there were termite droppings visible around the house. So, the fumigation company offered to "tent" the house again at no charge.
Once at Ala Moana, moms took a package to the Post Office to send to my aunt in Reedley. Then, moms shopped at Sears®. I purchased a small cup of decaffeinated coffee at Starbuck's®. I walked around the store with moms. We happened to run into Aunty Maria. Moms and I later joined Aunty Maria and her German friends at Zippy's. My aunt meets with her friends there every week.
At noon, moms and I walked to Shirokiya and ate bento lunches there. Afterward, moms wanted to view the koi in artificial koi pond. At 1:15pm, moms and I departed. I drove my Nissan® Frontier truck to the Pagoda Hotel. As we walked into the lobby, I saw my sister-in-law standing at the front desk. Moms was able to check in early. My sister-in-law drove back to Hawai'i Kai to pick up my nephew from school.
I helped moms carry her stuff up to her room. I chatted with moms for a few minutes. Moms will be returning to Hawai'i Kai sometime late tomorrow morning. She will ride along with my sister-in-law. However, my bro and sister-in-law are going to sign some mortgage refinancing paperwork tomorrow morning. I do not know the details, but I hope that they had consulted with an accountant first.
Then, I drove back to Hawai'i Kai. I found shaded parking at Koko Marina, walked to the gym, performed my usual workout, shopped at Foodland, and drove back to Slob Manor (read: rental housing). The evening? Same ol' shit.
The whole day may seem familiar, and that is true. My bro had the house "tented" back in August. Apparently, just a few short weeks afterward, there were termite droppings visible around the house. So, the fumigation company offered to "tent" the house again at no charge.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Misplaced Worship
"We all have gods, Martin Luther said, it is just a question of which ones. And in American society, our gods are often celebrities. Religious belief and practice are commonly transferred to the adoration of celebrities. Our celebrity culture builds reliquaries and shrines to celebrities the way Romans built them for divine emperors, ancestors and household gods. We are a de facto polytheistic society. We engage in shamanism." -- Chris Hedges (Truthdig site)Another urban nomad kind-of-a-day ... need I say more? I usually eat my pathetic lunch (i.e., cup of granola) in the small coconut tree grove in the Capitol district. Sadly, I am privy to the horrendous traffic along King Street. I simply try to imagine that none of that crap exists. I look at the trees and the the birds that are milling around me for a handout. This afternoon, when I walked back into the inner courtyard of the library, I noticed that my chair was gone. At the next able, two chicks (term used loosely) were sitting with three additional chairs. I looked over at the pair and shook my head. "Sorry, We didn't mean to take your chair," one of the dolts said. Then, why did she take it? It was obvious that I was using it. "That's okay," I replied. "It's not my chair." I retrieved another chair. Then, I sat down and continued to read the Good Book.
A few minutes later, three more chicks (term used loosely) arrived. They greeted the pair who were already there. Then, they all sat down. The older blond babe is apparently the leader of a so-called "Bible Study" group. She runs the session daily. She began with a prayer asking for the "Holy Spirit" to come upon them. Ten minutes of idle talk ensued, most likely to get the one new member comfortable. The "Bible Study" itself was about ten minutes with several cited Scriptures and associated loose interpretations offered by the blond babe. They ended the session with another prayer tended by one of the other regulars. When they stood up, they surrounded the new member and put their hands on her body. The blond babe led some kind of convocation ceremony. I was seriously hoping that I would not hear the name "Molech" uttered.
I am still suffering from the same abdominal pains that commenced on Monday. I am beginning to wonder if I have some kind of serious condition. Perhaps the stress of the economic crisis has gotten to me. I don't know for sure. I cannot say that I have been sleeping well. I have plagued with a variety of odd dreams every night.
Well, here's another quote from Chris Hedges' commentary:
Neal Gabler writes in “Life: the Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality” that the power of celebrity culture means we often seek to enact the movies that play inside our heads. We become celebrities, at least privately, to ourselves. Celebrity culture is so ubiquitous that it has established perverse interior personal scripts and modes of speech through which our relationship with the world is often constructed. Gabler argues that celebrity culture is not a convergence between consumer culture and religion but instead is a hostile takeover of religion by celebrity culture. Commodities and celebrity culture alone define what it means to belong to American society, how we recognize our place in society and how we determine our spiritual life. Celebrity culture is about the denial of death. It is about the illusion of immortality. The portal to Valhalla is through the celebrity.The ol' lavahead had a similar commentary in the "blog of January 29th.
In effect, we can easily determine the human need to worship and the ease with which the focus of such worship is misplaced. Hence, the creation of fraudulent deities and their dungy idol likenesses (e.g., Molech) are not very far-fetched. I do not, however, believe that the innate human desire to worship is derived from evolutionary patterns of attempted social insight. Rather, the desire is programed deep within our psyche. Our need for such spirituality will be met one way or the other, debauched or not.
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