Projections

The acquisition of the new iPhone XR was somewhat impulsive. The expenditure was not necessary and only added to the current financial burden. Consider that vehicle registration increased by approximately $60 for the next fiscal year. Petrol is inching toward $4 per gallon. Renewal of the driver's license next month will be $40 for an eight-year term. Automobile insurance will cost $144 for six months. Was a new "smartphone" really necessary?

Dental work is slated for the beginning of the 2019 year. As the latter is a total "out-of-pocket" expenditure, the projected cost for routine cleaning, examination, and subsequent abstraction(s) will be at least $500 or more. A possible cavity will increase the outlay by $100 or more.

New eyeglasses are desperately needed. However, that expenditure will be postponed until the middle of the 2019 year when an eye examination is slated. Cost for eyeglasses are totally "out-of-pocket" again.

Addendum: A case for the new all-glass iPhone XR was desperately required. A flexible clear case was specified. Only $40+ third-party cases were available, until the search descended upon Walmart®. The appropriate case was procured for $5 and some change.

iPhone XR

The Apple® Store in Kahala Mall was open at 8am this morning for the iPhone XR debut. Sadly, there were few people there. No waiting lines even at 10am when the mall officially opens. What about the pre-order pickup? Did anyone actually pre-order the device? Doesn’t seem likely. The “bad press” about the “budget” iPhone is probably to blame.

iPhone XR

After playing with a display model, an inquiry was made about the availability of the various models. Most seemed to be in stock. A confirmation about the $200 iPhone 7 trade-in allowance was also made. Then, an iPhone XR in the (PRODUCT)RED color was purchased.

The Apple® associate is a nice guy, but he really wasn’t that knowledgeable about the device. Most of his presentation was hype. The “Genius” who was supposed to set up the new device and deactivate the old iPhone was more concerned about assisting other customers. Fortunately, any “tech savvy” fool could complete the process with no assistance.

The iPhone XR is actually a really nice device. The “bezel” isn’t that thick. The LCD display is more than adequate. It is a big “smartphone,” however. And, the weight is a bit cumbersome. Nonetheless, the time to take advantage of the decent trade-in value for iPhones with the “Home” button is right now. Waiting until next year will probably see such devices drop in value to the equivalent of a cheap doorstop.

Addendum: At the Apple® Store in Ala Moana Center this evening, absolutely no one was at the iPhone XR display table. And, there were no lines for in-store pick-up either.

Options - Fail!

After some confusion, the application for the Waikiki “old folks home” was finally processed. An appointment was subsequently made for an interview twelve days from today. So, there may be some hope to flee from the Lower Maliki ghetto.

Old Folks Home in Waikiki

At this point in time, there is absolutely no parking stalls available at the “old folks home” in Waikiki. Thus, is accepted, the move to the facility will require renting an expensive parking stall, most likely at the Waikiki Banyan Hotel.

One of the main objectives for the move to Waikiki is the final divestiture of the Nissan® Quest minivan. Turns out that divestiture is not often easy. However, the incentive (i.e., paying for a parking stall) is there. So, the only obstacle is the foolish spell of the “ownership society.” Renting an automobile for the weekly visit to Hawai’i Kai may be costly, but that makes more sense than keeping the minivan.

Moving to the “old folks home” in Waikiki will also require yet another change in itinerary and daily routine. The key to success will be a gradual transition over a period of two or three months. Then, back to the same ol’ shit.

Addendum: The application for the "old folks home" in Waikiki has been rejected because of the minimum income stipulation. However, recertification for the “old folks home" in Makiki has been completed. Same property management firm. Essentially the same rent. WTF?

Update: The resident manager at the “old folks home” in Lower Makiki has intervened to countermand the previous stupidity. The application for the Waikiki “old folks home” is now moving forward with a tentative approval. A viewing is being arranged to confirm whether the new accommodations will be feasible or not.

Game Over! Apparently no parking stalls are available at the “old folks home” in Waikiki. So, the application process has been mummified. Monthly public parking is available at the Waikiki Banyan, but $220 is “over the top.” During the time of ownership of the detestable “condotel,” the monthly parking fee was only $100 or so.

Game Over!

The time has come, at one month short of 64 years of age, to officially declare, “Game over!” There’s no need to mince words on the matter. Actually, the declaration could have been made over a decade ago. The criteria?

• No family or offspring
• No friends or social network
• No wage slave job
• No money
• No hobbies or interests

That’s essentially the definition of a pariah, an outcast, an outsider. Frankly, though, the aforementioned criteria are distractions or “immortality projects” pertaining to the “vital lie.” Pushing aside all aspects of the “vital lie” leaves nothing of the material world, only stark consciousness and the organism itself. Reality is stripped of superficialities. All that’s left is life and death.

In view of “Game Over,” there will be a policy change for acquisitions of useless (or useful) possessions. The procurement process must now review whether the acquisition(s) can remain in service until end of life much like the standard old codger’s windbreaker jacket.

The observation stage of the senior citizen life-style is drawing to a close. At this point in time, there is much concern about the viability of living beyond 70 years of age. Significant degradation in the so-called “quality of life” is of primary concern. From all indications, there are no happy “Golden Years” senior citizens except in the imaginary AARP world.

Praise Molech! - 2

Sporadic news and commentary of no interest to anyone ... Praise Molech! The same ol’ shit is the primary focus of this edition. Praise Molech!

The heatwave has continued unabated. Another record was set on Friday night with temperatures in the “old folks home” exceeding 100^o in the hallway and disgusting cell. Heat flashes were experienced which impeded any attempt at sleep. Praise Molech!

Lower Makiki is now home to myriad feral chickens and roosters, most likely imported by the new homeless “camping” adjacent to the State Juvenile Detention Center. The roosters are crowing loudly at the “crack of dawn” daily. Praise Molech!

The recertification process at the “old folks home” is a repeat of what occurred during initial placement from the Sand Island homeless shelter. Financial documents are constantly being requested over and over again. The motivations of the property management firm are suspect. More scrutiny, bordering on harassment, is probably the modus operandi for anyone stigmatized by homelessness. Fuck it! ... errr, Praise Molech!

A former colleague at the Diploma Mill has revealed that the entire downtown “campus” is relocating to Waterfront Plaza (aka Restaurant Row) this coming Summer. Two medium-rise buildings along Fort Street Mall and one building at the Executive Center will be vacated. Many of the small eateries along Fort Street will go out of business. The area is likely to become a haven for myriad homeless and halfway house derelicts. Praise Molech!

The “ownership society” and consumerism has increased the levels of boredom, depression, and nihilism amongst the rank-and-file peons. Even a pariah can be affected (read: infected). Thus, the old iPhone 7 may be replaced with the new iPhone XS or XR model at a significant cost (and loss). The damned “notch” is horrific, though. Fuck it! Senior citizens will be robbed of all their money long before death anyway. Praise Molech!

Afterword

The temptation to deviate from the Notes express mandate has been quantifiable. However, the need to do so was tempered by the absence of an audience. Thus, the failure of the “civilization” paradigm, the collapse of the “West” (including empire), and the possible upcoming “hot war” with both Russia and China are topics that can be explored on the Net via qualified resources (i.e., RT, Sputnik News, PressTV, Paul Craig Roberts, Michael Hudson). Notes will retain its mundane content.

Overall, though, the aforementioned topics are merely the symptoms, not the actual causes, of the general malaise and nihilism that result from the fear and denial of death. Only the Great Prophet, Ernest Becker, has offered the most plausible and comprehensive explanation of the fatalistic “human condition.” Becker could offer no real solutions as there are none. Humans are destined for self-destruction no matter what because there is no way to eradicate individual and collective consciousness. Only the “vital lie” provides temporary relief, that is, as long as the latter is firmly entrenched in conviction and belief (often called “faith”).

Becker also focused on the human need to create a superficial separation from animals. In fact, that separation is the basis of the failed “civilization” paradigm. Physical animal characteristics must be covered up. Animal acts (e.g., reproduction) must be sanitized and cloaked with ridiculous nomenclature. Animal biology must also be sanitized and masked by idiotic rituals. Animal behavior must be suppressed or repressed by all means necessary, even by force. As the “civilization” paradigm fails, the “inner animal” breaks free. And, “all hell breaks loose.”

Finally, Becker notes that all humans suffer from psychopathology, the only individual difference being the degree of its manifestation. In other words, the fear or denial of death can never be cured. It is the root of human psychopathology and it can only get worse, not better, over time. When an entire society or species is collectively involved in futile “immortality projects,” the outcome can only be self-destructive.