Category Archives: Life

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the current situation is not our fault; for you see, it’s the crisis that’s doing it; move along

– Grocery store increases price by 23% in one year because [insert crisis here] and not because [they just want more of your money]

– Economic stats are that inflation is still rising at abnormal levels for years because [insert crisis here] when [government financial guys don’t what they’re doing]

– You notice the squirrel on your property has not managed to find as many nuts as usual and you get in his face, his response is because [insert crisis here] and he promises to do better [you never see him again]

– Any of the planet’s current dozen vicious wars are due to [insert crisis here] and not that the planet does not care because of [insert any public relations talking point here]

– Random business says their quarterly profits are down because [insert crisis here] and honest, just honest, they’ll do something like a share buyback to make sure everyone’s good after said crisis is over [will, never, ever, happen]

– The entire posse from those Frozen movies say their billion dollar profit kiddy happy films mean they’ll not be available with another film for seven more years because [insert crisis here] and then they fuck off to a horror movie cabin and get wasted [one of them will die]

– Some entity still claims their failures are due to the pandemic compounded by [insert crisis here] and that they’ll get back to it when [insert any lie here]

– A giraffe shows up at your front door at 3am and says it needs you to plant a tree on your front lawn so it can eat and not die because [insert crisis here] but when you point out that trees take years to grow the giraffe just laughs and says he knows that and he just wanted you to open the door [giraffe pulls firearm and robs your entire residence of everything of value]

– After what is probably like a decade of posting, a blog author still feels the need to post because [insert crisis here] and knows it’s also insane but does it anyways because fun, equals [insert any mental health talking point here]

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Kagoshima – Sakurajima

Sometimes things I haven’t thought about in decades will appear in my brain and it makes me laugh out loud. This is the volcano Sakurajima which is east of, but essentially within the city limits of Kagoshima in Japan.

This is still an active volcano. In my shot here, over two decades old, you can see the steam. My coworkers and I hiked up there. We got to the base via a cab.

We asked the cab driver what would ever happen if the volcano ever fully erupted again. He pondered it for a moment with his hand on his chin. And he waves his hand around with a wave and an absolute smile on his face and he gleefully says: “Oh, all this go away.”

We all lost our minds in laughter, as he did too. I laughed tonight = win

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what do you do when you pity an ant

As mentioned in prior posts, I’m outta my apartment. I’m temporarily at me Ma’s (she will get back here in two weeks). Her mailbox is like a five minute walk from her front door. It’s not anywhere you could check every day on a whim. You have to commit to it, as I usually do, but sometimes not.

I get down there today, and at the mailbox, in the back, is an ant colony. To include the larvae and all that creepy stuff. This house is not a recluse wood shed nightmare, but it’s quite isolated. I joke with my Ma a lot when woods things happen that she lives in the woods. What does she expect?

And thus, this didn’t not surprise me, but it was gross. There are ants crawling all over the mail. I spend like 15 minutes clearing everything off the mail and then inside the mailbox using the junk mail as a tool. If I’d had a hose I’d have used that. But it’s too far from the house.

I’m pissed, that’s why I spent 15 minutes doing this. We live in the woods. Why can’t the ants find Anyplace else to start their colony than in one mailbox when they have 1,382 other options. Then towards the end, one of the ants grabs one of the larvae, and tries to take it into the back of the mailbox again. Said ant was doing its duty, reflexively reacting.

It made me sad for a brief moment. Ant was just doing what ants do. But then after that brief split second moment of sadness, I swiped again. But I’ve been thinking about this for hours now. Why?

I don’t really have any point or conclusion here. I guess I’m just writing. Also, for fuck’s sake ants, make your ant colony not in a mailbox. But I don’t know. I guess what’s bothering me, for no valid reason at all, is I swiped the fucker carrying the larvae, even though I was sad doing it, I just did it.

[shrugs]

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technical difficulties – and the forthcoming cultural certainty of stupidity

[cue 1950’s instructional video introduction lively music; cut to man standing on a large, rectangular blacktop; he wears a nondescript black uniform; military in nature; he nods at information he reads from his black iPad]

Uniformed Man: Yes, yes, brilliant. [looks up]  Oh, hello, I’m Grand Parade Ground Major Obey, and welcome to “Technical Difficulties Must Always Be Explained Without Thought”. In this guidance you will acquire the skills necessary to achieve true independence! It is where you live, but are actually not alive. It’s win, win! I hope you’re paying attention little ones, because soon you’ll be growing up, passing that special moment of your lives, and are thus directly accountable for your behavior.  [wags spiny finger]  And we all want to make sure we’re following the rules, eh? So, let’s begin our voyage of discovery, shall we?

[quick cut to late middle aged man walking down sidewalk on a sunny day; suburbia, like late 1950’s; he is lightly whistling; is seen to be happy] “Mister, mister!” [lovable little crowd of scamps stops him] “Do you have the time, Sir? Mama says we have to be back at 11 for lunch.” [looks at wristwatch] “Why yes young man, but you all had better hurry, it’s already 10:43.” [man observes one boy with a small switchblade, opened; light laughter from man] “Now young man, you can’t run with a knife like that, it’s unsafe, put it away now then.” [sheepishly] “Yes, Sir.” “Now run along little guys, don’t be late.” [boys scamper away, laughing]

[extreme record screech]

GPGM Obey: Now what was unhappy with that? Don’t they all look so content, a perfect interaction for a grand sunny day, right?

[menacing eyes] Wrong.

For you see, everything about this was incorrect. First off, that man should have taken out his smartphone and filmed the young little boy with the knife in hand. Then he should publish the content on all his social media accounts to shame the boy. But he’d be sure not to verbally tell the boy to put the knife away.

After all, we can’t interfere with total strangers. It might make somebody upset. [wry laughter] Also, the man should not have told them the time like a Gentleman. He should have admonished them with screaming profanity for being late and being so silly to not have a phone of their own. This type of behavior is necessary to make our modern world bright. [cynical laughter]

And don’t you think for a second the man could have pointed to his wrist to indicate the concept of time. [laughter] For you see, in our modern world where everybody obeys the rules, people have lost the concept of the gesture to the wrist to indicate the concept of time. And after all, if such simple gestures are not understood between humans? Well, that makes my job easier. [cynical laughter]

So in order to continue the doom, and to make sure everyone obeys the rules, we have to punish this man for being a normal human being.

[quick cut to scene of man executed by a jackboot firing squad; the brutality is horrific as he is broken in half by a barrage of large caliber rifle rounds to the torso]

Well, little ones, that’s all the time we have for today. But remember, what you’ve learned today, always applies at all times. And don’t forget, if you’re not following the rules? We’ll know. Huh, huh, huh.

if you showed this picture to anyone south of the age of 30, would they know what it means if the words “technical difficulties” was not printed atop of it? every youtube video puts those words atop of it when they show this, because they think you are stupid, and know nobody knows anything anymore

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cut grass is one of the most unique smells ever

Fresh cut flowers can somewhat claim a room. But generally speaking, there is a reason the concept of sniffing flowers exists.

But when you cut the grass, it’s smell is so unique and it’s everywhere. The smell remains for most of the day.

I’m not saying I’m unhappy with this. [shrugs] I’m just making an observation. I’m sure there’s a scientific reason for this. I guess? [shrugs]

Enjoy your day!

at some point it might be a good idea to do a long form post on how the green grass yard concept came about; for most of human history, this idea would have laughable

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you can always tell when the tech freaks are a little scared; but they’ll still win

For those who are unaware, Instagram is 100% owned by Facebook, which is actually Meta, just by a different set of names. They’re all essentially one company. I don’t think most Americans know this, if they read this, it never stuck in their brains.

It’s along the lines of the fact that I think most Americans don’t know that Bud and Miller are both foreign owned.

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger founded Instagram, then with the same move as Jan Koum with WhatsApp, they both sold out. They’re all part of the same Meta (actually Facebook) ecosystem

Hey, when I mean sold out? They did the work, and they got their fortunes for it. I just don’t have a brain that can hate on this anymore (with so much else too). It’s become so common you’d be angry every day to the point of absolute insanity. For example, see the Paramount Skydance merger and tell anyone with straight face that the game isn’t rigged. Good luck Hollywood, as we posted about two weeks back, you’re finished anyways.

[just to get this outta the way; because ragebait rules The Internets; this is not a pro/con Trump post]

I most certainly watch too much of online video on YouTube or Tubi or whatever. I need to pick up a book I haven’t read yet. But sometimes, absolute passiveness is needed. It’s the same thing, only in moderation is what is always needed. As with anything in life.

Anyways, the ads online shake up based on what corporations want you to see, to influence you. It’s not just ads for products you can buy. But also, political topics, or to shape the opinion of anything to the audience (you) in certain direction forever. You’ll see the same ads again and again and again. Because (whoever) paid Facebook to do it. Or paid Google (Alphabet) for YouTube to air it, or on and on and on.

Thus, my Guests and I give you what has magically appeared on The Internets in the last week or so: Instagram Teen Accounts

Gee, I wonder why? It’s not like almost a dozen countries are working to establish laws that ban certain parts of social media for anyone like below the ages of 13-16. I mean, I’m sure these teen accounts idea is because Facebook cares about children. Honest.

In other news, Facebook will always win. So why bother with getting ahead with these “ads”? To shape the narrative. Facebook knows they’ll win, but before this gets out of hand in America, writing the script ahead of time gets them ahead of the lawyers, lobbyists, donors, and the average person. Which means less money paid out to get away with what they do.

In other news, Facebook (along with many The Internets others) are in a tight spot right now. I’m sure they care about the children. Or any potential forthcoming regulation that would require them to back away with algorithms that are specifically designed to addict people. Of any age.

If I was Facebook, I wouldn’t worry. Congress can’t regulate a dog kennel. But better safe than sorry.

Hmm, also, so, … everyone should know that you can go to YouTube (or dozens and dozens of other sites) and watch almost all of their videos without ever signing in, right? No matter how horrible the content is.

If nobody signs in, the browser/app/site/whatever is incapable of determining the age of the user or that it’s a child. The Internets companies saying their algorithms can inherently determine the age of the user is a bold faced lie.

There are parental controls available on the physical devices children use. The device has that power. The Internets doesn’t.

If a seven year old stumbles upon a Ukraine drone snuff film where Russians are horribly butchered (well, …, maybe that’s not a bad thing). If they’re not logged in? Nothing can stop them. Then what’s the point of all this multi country legislation?

Regulation cannot replace good parenting. In any form.

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the worst thing you can be in life is pathetic

Let’s say you lived in a small farming village ~2K years ago. There’s maybe about 200-300 people in the local area. You grow up there. You never leave. To the point you get sick of watching that ugly looking tree on one of your village’s dirt roads as it grows old over 50 years. It haunts your dreams for decades. You imagine the wildlife that are forever on that tree are going to break down your door. At any time. They’re there to rob you of your firewood.

And after 50 years as you become an old person, you’ve just had it. You no longer give a shit. You just want to stop looking at that horrible tree. You want to cut it down in the dark of night. Because it’s not on your property. A bird flies by and promises you that in fact, in true fact, you’re making the right decision. If you cut down the tree, the bird will give you a free jug of swill. Honest.

But eventually, as much as you really, really want to?

You don’t do it.

After all, after 50 years? Whatever. You’ve got grandchildren to protect. So essentially you just do nothing. Whether it’s wise or not. And on your deathbed the tree comically laughs at you, knowing it will be alive for several more centuries while you become bones and dust.

The village is basically just left alone to do its thing. 97% of people born there never leave, not even for one day. And it’s a relatively peaceful village (aside from the basic crimes of all awfulness that humanity has done to each other since sand was created). As long as the large, but still somewhat reasonable taxes are paid to the local lord the village is left alone.

Then, every once in a while, the lord works a levy on the local young men for [insert any stupid and pointless war here]. But it’s okay. Because the lord is only asking for like twelve guys. And surely, there are enough stupid young guys who seek adventure and glory instead of a calm, happy life. So it’s all good.

The town doesn’t really have a mayor, or a town council, or anything. People just generally govern themselves and work out disputes with their neighbors. Despite what movies will tell you, almost all neighbor disputes in human history were resolved without violence.

Then, after centuries of this construct, one of two things happens. The third option (3) is the status quo, which is awesome and generally works pretty well. Then these things can happen (I have to leave the complicated details out of my scenarios, or we’d be here all day; please bear with me):

1) Normal guy in village (they all know him from birth) gains absolute power over the entire village. Everyone knew he was a little weird as a kid, but just generally a guy, he was just there. They were wrong. When he takes power, he orders the throats of all his supposed enemies slit. He rules with total authority for life. When he dies, maybe his son becomes the new “mayor”. But more than likely the village devolves into a village gang fight (aka village civil war) as people slaughter each other to claim power.

2) Some average guy with good intentions (he thinks so; but maybe he’s wrong) gains power. He establishes a town council and a series of local agents and appoints them to be the voice of the various parts of the village to him. He’s not the best, but when he needs to, he makes decisions and for the most part governs wisely. Most people don’t really like him because he’s aloof, and after so many decades in power, he’s become quite haughty. But everyone goes along with it because he does things that help the village. Even when he makes mistakes, they’re mostly still behind him. The village appreciates the stability.

These two can happen. Or, as mentioned above, the third option is the status quo. But, … what if this happens:

(4) A person is made mayor for any reason. But they don’t have the skills or confidence to do it. Instead of making decisive decisions, or getting out there and talking with people, or constructing a village organization? The person does very minor things, some of which might help, but are just a rounding error. After decades in power the “mayor” dies. The village is pretty much exactly the same. It’s as if this person never existed.

Why did I do this post? How did I not stop typing earlier?

I do get carried away here. There is no doubt. If you want to see total stream of thought nonsense? See my last Iran post.

I got carried away with this particular post. [shrugs] But basically my point is what one of my best bosses once taught me (it’s a short list). The worst thing you can decide to do: Is Nothing.

I read the BBC every day for general information. At least it’s not behind a paywall. It’s more clickbait than a normal human brain can absorb, but I don’t click on that. I think I wrote about the BBC and clickbait on this degenerate blog like a decade ago. But a lot of the BBC quite obviously focuses on Britain. As they should since they take the License Fee. The British taxpayer has to deal with this, whether they like it or not.

But it can devolve into things which are just strange or utterly pointless. Iran has been their number one topic for a month. And as such, internal British politics and the actions of the Prime Minister regarding this war are reported. License Fee.

It means nothing. Starmer and the BBC are the little boys and girls, hand in air, begging for attention. The Royal Navy sent one destroyer to do nothing. A small amount of fighters have shot down a handful of drones. I think Ukraine shoots down ten times more drones in only one night.

But there’s Starmer, and the BBC, hand in air. Pretending to be a crucial part of a world conflict that they aren’t part of. And plus, Starmer has reputedly said is not a British war.

I got no problem with Starmer and the general scope of the British elite to not want to be a part of this. I get it. They might be mostly right. But then there’s the hand in the air: LOOK AT ME!!!

Starmer and the UK are my (4) above. They’re just there. It’s kind of pathetic. This was the British Empire. Yet as is well known, the NHS is a problematic, absolute medical disaster at home. The Empire is over. Maybe instead of focusing on Iran, in any way, is less of a priority than making sure people can get medical attention at a rate that is reasonable?

They won’t. Starmer and the UK are the (4) above. [shrugs] Become the (1) or (2) above. Or, acknowledge that you’re a failure and irrelevant. It’s a shame. France leads Europe now. The British are just there. I hope for much better, I love the country, but if you look at the litany of about two decades of Prime Ministers? I think they will be (4) forever.

The worst thing you can do in life is to be pathetic. I should know, it’s been a significant portion of my life. In the end, make a decision. Any decision. Even if you’re wrong, at least you’re doing something.

If I could put this in nautical terms, imagine this situation:

You are driving your sailboat and you’re (somehow) about to collide with a speedboat. You have five seconds to decide what to do. But based on the visual information available to your eyes at that exact moment, you don’t know what to do because you don’t have enough data or time to evaluate your options. So in those few seconds, you have to choose your immediate turn: Port or Starboard? You don’t know if you’ll be right or wrong. You have five seconds. But making no decision at all means you’ll collide.

We all have to make decisions. So we are not pathetic. Apathy is a curse. I don’t know what Britain is anymore.

In general, despite the beyond comprehension complexity, please let the killing stop somehow.

…

Damn, this post is like 17 longer than I intended. Uh, …, so, … Love Your Neighbor

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embrace nepotism as reality; it’s never going to change

For whatever reason, it just seems to me that so many people are out on the warpath to nepotism lately. Whether it be politics, sports, acting, lion tamer, business, arctic explorer, and the local butcher.

Why are all these people where they are because of their bloodline? Isn’t that unfair? It’s a valid question. It’s been one that’s been asked for over 5K years.

It’s just human. We can’t get over it. We’ll never get over it. If anybody thinks we can get over it: I refer you to Cnut and the tide.

The very idea of a hereditary monarchy is a form of nepotism. So are wills. So are people’s last names.

Is this a good thing? Probably not. But as we progress as humanity, we must always acknowledge at the beginning that we are who we are. If we deny who we are? We can never become something better.