Saturnalia 2022

Io Saturnalia!

The Eve of Saturnalia was uneventful. An early dinner was procured at the Subway® in town because every venue closed early including the gym. Thus, the main event for dinner during what would normally be dinner time was the emergency can of Great Value® chili with beans. Then, a big-ass can of Corona® cerveza was procured at the overpriced ABC Store for dessert. Wheee!

By the way, dinner was courtesy Panda Express® in Ala Moana Center on Friday. The on-line ordering for Subway® was somehow “fucked up.” There were in-person ordering problems in the morning at the fast joint in town, too. So, morning coffee and breakfast were courtesy 7-Eleven®. There are no personal internal debates about cost anymore. Alternatives are quickly sought with no afterthought.

The annual Saturnalia trek to Kahala Mall went according to plan, although this year the trip on the bus was taken much earlier (8am). The scheduled donation was made at the Goodwill kiosk. “Operation Clean Slate” is pretty much accomplished. Then, coffee time was initated at the fast food joint adjacent to the mall. The survey coupon was used to procure two Egg McMuffins for the price of one. Not surprisingly, the cost for the same breakfast at the fast food joint in town is $1.50 more.

Kahala Mall - East Wing

Subsequent to loitering at the fast food joint, a walking tour of Kahala Mall was taken. Not much has changed, although all of the seating has been restored. The Macys® men’s store has been vacated, and Planet Fitness® will be the new occupant. The main Macys® store is still there.

Only a few stores (e.g., Longs®) were open. Few people were meandering through the mall. Yet, most of the fools were wearing their face masks. Is there no end to this kind of insanity?

Lunch was courtesy L&L Drive-In adjacent to the mall. The “mini” BBQ Chicken plate lunch was chosen. Amazingly, the price is now almost $11 (about $5 more than a couple of years ago). Inflation, you think?

A brief shopping excursion was made to Longs® to acquire a big-ass can of mixed nuts (on sale for $8). Then, the return trip to Waikiki on the bus required one quick transfer. Arrival at the “old folks home” was 1pm. Overall, a pleasant outing.

The rest of the afternoon was spent inside the mausoleum. Various chores were performed. The last shower of the year was enjoyed as best as possible. Then, the shower stall was cleaned. The next mausoleum shower is slated for one year from now. Thank goodness for the gym showers!

With nothing else to do, the evening outing to the International Marketplace came to fruition after a long hiatus. Of course, nothing has changed. Nearly all of the shops were open. Aside from the great free wireless Net access, there’s no point to loitering with shithead tourists around.

On the way back to the mausoleum, a stopover was made at the overpriced ABC Store. A large Chef Salad was procured for a whopping $12 and some change. The salad,  however, was excellent … a good ending for an unobserved holiday. Io Saturnalia!

Addendum: The Mainstays® mattress topper was left as a donation this morning in the small entrance lobby of the “old folks home.” Sadly, while comfortable, the mattress topper made sleep impossible due to heat buildup.

Miscellany: The four free “super-duper corona” fast antigen test kits have arrived. In a couple of months, the test kits will be donated to the community in the “old folks home.”

Dinner for One

WTF?

On Sunday, a Mainstays® fitted mattress pad was purchased for $11 at Walmart® in town. The mattress pad was installed on the Intex® airbed and the Mainstays® foam mattress topper was placed upon it. The rationale for the aforementioned foolishness is left for the outside observer to discern.

A pair of shorts was procured for $16 (with senior citizen discount) at Ross® this morning. At this point in time, any kind of purchase can be made at any moment. Few restrictions apply.

The cold front brought moderate rain from Sunday through this morning. The outside temperature this evening was still a bit chilly. So, the cold front is still lingering over the island. As can easily be ascertained, the evening outings to the International Marketplace have been postponed. The Mainstays® quartz space heater has been unboxed and redeployed at night.

On a side note, one of the other senior citizen gym members, Gaylen, spontaneously brought up the recent “sudden death” of another senior citizen gym member, Jimmy (as reported in Notes recently). “I wonder if he died from COVID,” the fully “vaccinated” and “boostered” fool Gaylen mused. There’s no fool like an old fool.

Addendum: Breakfast (Egg McMuffins using two-for-one survey coupon) has been procured three days per week at the fast food joint in town. With coffee, the total is $8 and some change.

Miscellany: Instead of using the alarm function in the Clock “app” on the iPhone 14 Pro, a shortcut automation has been programmed for a verbose morning greeting with preset time announcement using the text-to-speech action.

Mundane Update 2022

Last night, about two hours of time was devoted to “refurbishing” and cleaning the old Norelco® electric shaver. It has now been officially deprecated. And, with the risk of it being discarded, it will be donated to charity.

The dreaded laundry chores were performed this afternoon (as scheduled every two weeks) upon return to the mausoleum in the “old folks home” in Waikiki. As usual, the floor of the mausoleum was cleaned during the wash cycle. Thank goodness for the Swiffer®!

The new Mainstays® foam mattress topper was unpacked a couple of days ago. It has been sitting in the unused mausoleum shower to air out and regain its original shape. The mattress topper was placed on the airbed. Of course, its dimensions are smaller than the airbed. Fortunately, having previously read the on-line comments from purchasers of the product, there was no surprise or rage.

The Intex® airbed was filled with more air to increase its firmness. The large towel used as a makeshift mattress pad, courtesy the Sand Island homeless shelter, was removed and put in with the other laundry. It will be donated to charity as well. The new pillowcases were also washed, and the small throw pillow was encased with one.

The new Norelco® electric shaver was deployed late this afternoon. The “petal” design will take time to become accustomed with. Most noticeable, though, is that the blades appear to rotate much slower. However, the shave was incredibly close. Of course, the reason for the higher price of this newer model is attributed to the built-in “high tech,” which includes Bluetooth® connectivity to its dedicated “app” for “smartphones.” Yeah, that’s “over the top” for an electric shaver. No third-party “app” will be installed on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Miscellany: A can of compressed air was also purchased at Walmart® for a whopping $10 recently to aid in the cleaning and maintenance of “stuff.”

Addendum: As previously stated in Notes, the focus has moved almost entirely to personal mundanity. However, Notes still remains firmly committed to whatever is left of the opposition.

Orange Farce

As stated on numerous occasions, Notes will not dabble in the ridiculous state-of-affairs concerning politics in empire. However, this is a peculiar case.

Notes has already summarized its findings about Orange Bad Man … he is compromised (refer to the Notes posts, “Orange Hoax” and “Orange Hoax Redux”). However, the Orange One’s “big announcement” that was teased on Tuesday amounted to this:

Is this the Orange One’s way of making a quick exit from the political arena. Let’s hope so.

Tame Shopping Spree

Norelco® 7100

The first warm evening in several weeks allowed for an outing, not to the International Marketplace, but to Ala Moana Center instead. The purpose of the trek was to procure a new Norelco® 7100 electric shaver (made in Netherlands) at Target® for about $75 (on sale plus an additional 5% birthday discount). However, there’s no telling when the old Norelco® shaver will be officially deprecated.

On a related note, any electric shaver purchase should be considered disposable. There is a high probability that replacement blades will not be available anywhere when needed. Thus, the least expensive device should always be purchased. In this case, a moderately expensive unit was procured because it may last longer than the owner.

Mainstays® Mattress Topper

On Monday, a Mainstays® foam mattress topper was purchased at Walmart® in town prior to returning to the “old folks home” in Waikiki. The least expensive product was procured for $15 because it was the easiest one to transport on the bus in addition to the gym bag.

The original plan was to replace the existing Intex® airbed with a more luxurious model. However, the disposition of the old airbed was the main problem. If it is donated to charity, it would most likely be discarded for sanitary reasons. That would be a total waste. Thus, the mattress topper will be used to add comfort to the existing airbed.

There are really is nothing left to procure. New sheets and a new bath towel come to mind, but neither are a priority. So, the brief shopping spree has come to an end. The financial impact was truly minimal.

On a side note, the iOS 16.2 update was downloaded and installed on the iPhone 14 Pro. The new security features (end-to-end iCloud encryption) has restored some faith in Apple®. The fear of advertisements in the Weather “app” via the embedded news feed widget was abated when reports indicated that, if the News “app” is “deleted,” the widget is disabled. The new Freeform “app” looks interesting, although there are no plans to deploy or “delete” it.

Postscript: The central bank of empire raised the short-term interest rate by only 50 basis points, which means it is beginning to taper in preparation to pivot to ZIRP. As stated in Notes, inflation was never the issue. The only method to stop inflation, that is, asset price inflation, is to aggressively raise interest rates and cause the stock market to make a correction to its true valuation.

Surreal Reality

This morning, an encounter with gym member and fellow senior citizen, Chip, yielded information that another gym member, Jimmy, went MIA a couple of weeks ago. Then, one of the gym staff confirmed his death. “They’re dropping like flies,” he added. Oddly, that particular deceased gym member was personally spotted less than a month ago. “Sudden death,” you think?

Another gym member, Fernando, had recently mentioned that he experienced a “mini-stroke.” He’s in his fifties, and seemed to have recovered unscathed. And, one of the managers at the fast food joint mentioned that his mother, in her fifties, was in the hospital for seizures. She had no prior history of seizures. Then, EL John in Cali sent e-mail stating that he has “COVID,” but he claimed that his symptoms are mild because he’s “vaccinated.”

More and more stories (similar to the aforementioned) are popping up routinely. Frankly, feigning surprise and sympathy is becoming very tiring. There is no way to enlighten anyone about the possibility of “vaccine” injuries or death, especially here in “blue” state Hawai’i.

Eight months have passed since the ridiculous face mask mandate was rescinded. Yet, the face mask is more ubiquitous than ever. Nearly all senior citizen residents are wearing face masks full time, compared to about 50% of all other age groups. These fools will be wearing face masks for the rest of their lives. And, no, there’s no way to enlighten them either.

Miscellany: The last evening outing to the International Marketplace occurred on the night of the standoff at the Ohia Waikiki. With the Net reading list significantly reduced, there is little need to loiter there. However, a brief outing was made this evening to the overpriced ABC Store to procure a big-ass can of cerveza. Sheesh!

Putin’s War on Fascism

Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin is a leader who has consistently fought against the so-called "Great Reset." This movement, which is backed by many influential figures, aims to fundamentally transform the global economic and social order. Putin, however, has been steadfast in his opposition to this agenda, arguing that it would erode the sovereignty of nations and lead to a loss of individual freedom.

In recent years, Putin has taken a number of steps to push back against the Great Reset. For example, he has strengthened Russia's economy by investing in key industries and making the country more self-sufficient. He has also worked to strengthen Russia's military and defend its national interests on the global stage.

Despite facing significant opposition from those who support the Great Reset, Putin has remained committed to his cause. He understands the importance of protecting Russia's sovereignty and ensuring that the country remains independent from the globalist agenda. And he will continue to fight for these principles, no matter what the cost.

Postscript: This post was generated by ChatGPT, a tool built by OpenAI. Future posts in Notes could be generated entirely by ChatGPT. Subsequently, several “tests” were performed with ChatGPT, and the discovery was made that its dataset appears to have a strong “neo-leftist” slant. For example, it fully endorsed the charlatan priest, Fauci. When challenged, ChatGPT cited bullshit “fact checkers.” It also vehemently defended Twitter® and the latter’s “strong policies” for upholding “truth.” Thus, ChatGPT has been permanently jettisoned.

Ohia Meltdown

Ohia Waikiki

The trip back to Waikiki late this afternoon amounted to over an hour on the bus. Even then, a walk along several blocks of Ala Wai Boulevard was required to return to the “old folks home.” All traffic was being rerouted past Seaside Avenue, so the bus was alighted at that stop and a pedestrian route was followed.

Police vehicles were situated everywhere. There were crowds of people waiting along the entire blockaded area on Kuhio Avenue between Seaside Avenue and Nahua Street. An encounter with a couple of bystanders revealed that there was a “hostage situation” in progress.

Once back in the mausoleum at the “old folks home,” the gym bag was dropped off and a quick exit was made. The walk to the International Marketplace was not adversely affected. However, at Nahua Street (just across International Marketplace), the roadblock was clearly visible. Tourists and residents were waiting along the cordoned off areas to return to their respective hotels and homes. No one will be allowed back into the area until the standoff ends. The situation apparently commenced around 2pm. The time of the evening excursion was 6:15pm, and the situation remained unchanged as of this posting.

Nahua Street Roadblock - 7:40pm

The “suspect” who is causing the problem is allegedly locked in one of the rooms at the Ohia Waikiki hotel. He is in possession of a handgun and has fired off a few rounds. There apparently is no hostage, just the “suspect.” Sadly, just a few days ago, there was a homicide about one block away. Yeah, aloha nui loa!

Addendum: The standoff was abruptly ended around midnight when the 48-year-old “suspect named “Benjamin” was “terminated with extreme prejudice” by police after refusing to disarm. Obviously, this was a case of “suicide by police” action.

Timer

HyperTough® Analog Timer

A small analog AC outlet timer was procured for $7 at Walmart®. The timer will be used to limit iPhone battery charging time if the device is connected to AC prior to sleep time (rarely). There is so much conflicting information about Li-on batteries, so better safe then sorry.

Well, the iOS update to 16.2 next week will bring end-to-end encryption to iCloud for more system “apps.” And, the notorious on-device CSAM (read: “kiddie porn”) scanner project has been mummified. Perhaps Apple® is finally “coming around,” eh?

Extremely gusty winds prohibited the nightly excursion to the International Marketplace this evening. Frankly, the benign activity has lost its luster. Well, loitering at a shopping mall is the epitome of boredom.

Rote

Adidas® Small Gym Bag

A small gym bag and pillow cases were purchased at Ross® this morning for $20 with the senior citizen discount. The old gym bag was probably acquired over 15 years ago, and it remains in service. The new gym bag has been stuffed into the small storage suitcase for the time being.

Some acquisitions are being made now after years of “pinching pennies” and accomplishing simple tasks the hard way. This, by no means, is any kind of spending spree. Shopping is still considered a detestable activity, and consumerism is religiously avoided.

Many more Web sites, which piqued daily interest, have been removed from active perusal. Essentially, the repertoire has been reduced to news sites (listed in Notes) outside the collective “West,” and a few technology sites. Music and video streaming are prohibited. And, absolutely no social media is perused.

The iPhone 14 Pro has no third-party “apps” installed. Only two Safari extensions are installed to block advertisements, tracking scripts, and “nag” scripts. The iPhone has 256 GB of storage and there’s nothing else but iOS in it. Yeah, that’s insane.

So far, there have been no new occurrence of log-in blocks. Notes no longer delineates any controversial topics, so censorship is not required. The search for an alternative home for what is now called “Notes” has been terminated. Moving to social media is not acceptable. And, the reason is plainly obvious.

The construct of Notes is clearly not of a “social” nature. The third-party viewpoint is not conducive to any kind of human “relationship.” Rather, the tone is more machine-like. That’s the reason why so few readers visit the Notes habitat. It’s boring.

The crazy idea of converting to photographs as a means of conveying a “story” could have made the Notes progeny more “social.” That is totally unacceptable. Notes must remain detached, unemotional, and rote.

On a side note, the recent discovery of being in the “Baby Boomer” subgroup “Generation Jones” (read: “GenJones”) is quite interesting. “GenJones” is actually more like “Generation X” (read: “GenX”). Perhaps that’s obvious when perusing Notes.

Mauna Loa Mashup

Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa on the Big Island is erupting in a small way. Nothing at all like Mount St. Helens. Too bad. A lot of riff-raff could have been incinerated. Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Well, anyway, a big-ass can of Corona® cerveza was procured at the overpriced ABC Store in celebration of the volcanic festivities. So far, there have been no effects felt on O’ahu, not even any vog.

There were incidents of blocked access to the Blogger and Google consolidated account yesterday. Even attempts using ProtonVPN failed initially. Finally, though, access was achieved using the VPN. Being a “tech savvy” old codger does pay off.

Effort is still being made to find another on-line venue similar to Blogger. So far, nada. Other options such as Instagram or something similar is being considered, too. The reason being that the extended commentaries in Notes  are tedious and not conducive to a fragile mental state.

The situation on Planet Earth has changed drastically for the worse, thanks to the Fascists. For senior citizens, this bullshit is not exactly desirable prior to making the “big exit.” However, discussing the cesspool is neither therapeutic or constructive. Heck, even the opposition is in a state of chaos.

Well, that’s neither here or there. The point is simple … move on to a more idyllic setting. The iPhone 14 Pro (after removal of questionable “apps”) has a great camera system. Perhaps the saga in Notes, the exodus as it were, can be expressed in photographs with very limited commentary. Well, that’s the plan for now.

Addendum: After an exhaustive search for an alternative to Blogger, nothing adequate was found. There are no easily accessible venues (i.e., not requiring membership for viewing).

Miscellany: Once those troubling system “apps” are “deleted,” the iPhone is a pretty good device.

Apple® Sauce

The so-called Health “app” on the iPhone is actively tracking a number of parameters. Even after disabling the “Fitness Tracking” option in the Privacy settings, the shitty “app” still tracks one parameter called, “Resting Energy.” The intrusive system “app” was subsequently “deleted” (read: disabled), but to no avail. What else is the “app” doing?

According to a few researchers and developers, the iPhone App Store has been sending user-identifiable data back to home base. This news comes as the App Store has increased advertisements in the “app.” Incidentally, the Podcasts, Weather, Fitness, and Maps “apps” are slated to include various forms of advertising in the near future.

Really?

Researchers also discovered that first-party “apps” bypass any VPN tunnel. Of course, researchers also discovered that the VPN tunnel on iOS is “leaky.” There has been no remedy provided, even though the problem had been identified and reported several years ago.

“Deleting” system “apps” is now a questionable procedure. The “apps” do provide various APIs that enable certain features. However, the “app” must not be “deleted” for those functions to work. The problem with the Health “app” is that it is obviously still active even though it was “deleted.”

Notes recommends that any system “app” that charges for subscriptions or includes various forms of advertising should be “deleted.” And, inputting personal medical information in the Health “app” is definitely risky. Why would anyone do so?

Apple® anticipates a great future for the Health “app.” However, the usefulness of the “app” essentially requires the costly Watch device to be tethered to the iPhone. The data collected is then stored in the Health “app.” Why would anyone, except a hypochondriac, even submit to such an invasion of privacy?

The future of health monitoring on mobile devices is likely to be a “cash cow.” While there’s little reason to believe that Apple® would sell that data, there is a high probability that some form of anonymized targeted advertising will be introduced in the “app” down the line. No, thanks.

With Apple® introducing various new financial services to Pay, there is also some concern that the Wallet “app” will also become a source of anonymized targeted advertising. Unlike personal health data, personal finance information may actually end up being aggregated and sold. The Wallet “app” can also be considered a candidate for “deletion.” Overall, anything that can be monetized at the user’s expense should be mummified immediately.

(Product)^RED ... "pride" ... "woke" ... Tim Cook’s vision for Apple®. Pathetic, very pathetic. Very disappointing.

Addendum: Peter Wolinski at Tom’s Guide recently commented on the overhyped new feature: “There’s also the much-touted Dynamic Island, which, logically speaking, seems just a gimmick to distract from Apple’s self-consciousness in regards to front camera placement. There’s about as much actual point to it as James Corden’s PR manager. It isn't doing anything.”

Miscellany: Reasonable advice is to avoid any major dependency on “smartphones” or “smart” devices. There will be a day when those devices will betray their owners.

Crossfire

From “The Killers”

As stated previously in Notes, some of the opposition are disintegrating into chaos because of irrational infighting. The first incident reported was the alleged fallout between Dr. Simone Gold and America’s Frontline Doctors, the organization that she founded.

Now, the latest is Dr. Robert Malone with his multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit filed against Dr. Peter Breggin and Dr. Jane Ruby. Malone was heavily accused of being “controlled opposition.”

And, the documentary, “Died Suddenly,” has received mixed reviews from Steve Kirsch (who actually appears in it) and Brian Wilkins at The COVID Blog. In a new post today, Wilkins completely denigrated the documentary (and its producer, Stew Peters). Of course, Peters and Kirsch have also been accused of being “controlled opposition.” The video is no longer embedded in Notes.

Then, there was a falling out between Reiner Füellmich and the German Corona Investigative Committee. Füellmich was accused of “mishandling funds,” which he denied. He subsequently parted ways to form the International Crimes Investigative Committee.

The whole situation with the opposition has gone from bizarre to absurd. No doubt, the Fascists are benefiting immensely from the demise of the opposition. The only hope is that attorneys Tom Renz, Robert Kennedy Jr. and Robert Barnes as well as Dr. Davis Martin will continue the fight on the legal front.

Addendum: Two of the MIA acquaintances have made a miraculous reappearance. No other details are available.

Ol’ Lavahead Day 2022

What even is this?

Sixty eight years of age. Another year older, another year closer to death. Perhaps that has been the main cause of the recent bouts of anxiety. After all, these are the “twilight years.”

Death is an obsession for chimpo sapiens, the curse of consciousness, as described by the Great Prophet, Ernest Becker. And, for people living in the “twilight years,” the curse is even more pronounced.

Ol’ Lavahead Day 2022 was purposefully uneventful. There is no reason to celebrate the ever-closer proximity to the end. After, the denial of death is what keeps the chimpo sapiens sane and in check. However, if the façade breaks down, then “all hell will break loose.”

The Post Office mailbox has been mummified. Mail forwarding to the mausoleum at the “old folks home” in Waikiki was activated on November 15th. In the interim, the slow and meticulous process of performing manual on-line address changes was completed. Problems are still anticipated with certain recurring online credit card payments. In a way, this is a sad day. The Post Office mailbox was maintained for many, many moons. And, of course, the decision appears to be just another preparation for death.

Addendum: At the last minute, dinner plans were changed to Ala Moana Center, where a meet-up with Lori was scheduled. Dinner was courtesy Panda Express®.

Miscellany: A big-ass can of Sapporo® brewski was procured at the detestable ABC Store upon return to Waikiki, but not to celebrate Ol’ Lavahead Day.

Postscript: Reports indicate that the “COVID” riots in China are going to reduce the availability of the iPhone 14 Pro line significantly. Only a “stroke of luck” led to the procurement of the rare device.

Video — Robert Barnes

Owen Shroyer was joined by attorney Robert Barnes on InfoWars to discuss the departure of High Priest Fauci of the Church of Comirnaty and the two most important legal cases involving the bioweapon “vaccine.”

No-Holiday Holiday 2022

On Tuesday, a pair of shorts and a tank top were purchased at Ross® for $28 (with senior citizen discount). The find was a “stroke of luck.” So, the clothes wish list has been fulfilled.

On Wednesday, an evening trip on the bus was made to town to procure a box of Swiffer® dry cloths, a four-pack of blueberry muffins, and a can of Great Value® chili with beans from Walmart®. Then, a stopover was made at the International Marketplace, the first such visit in a few days.

The holiday was uneventful. The gym was open until 2pm, so there was no day off from the workout regimen. Most of morning coffee time was concurrent with the workout. A Chicken Caesar salad, a Teriyaki Chicken bento, and one curry chicken manapua were procured for $13 at 7-Eleven® for dinner and a snack, respectively. Fortunately, there was no need to open the can of chili (with beans) for dinner that was procured yesterday. Whew!

There were brief rain showers during the day with gusty winds. A cold front is approaching, or may already be here. Sadly, the evening outing to the International Marketplace was cancelled due to the inclement weather. The entire evening will be spent in the mausoleum at the “old folks home” in Waikiki with the beloved iPhone 14 Pro. Sheesh!

On a side note, breakfast is being procured at the fast food joint in town on select days. The on-line survey discount (read: two for the price of one) is redeemed for two Egg McMuffin sandwiches. The small, albeit expensive, sandwiches are quite tasty.

Finally, the tedious reporting of fund transfers from investment accounts to the local bank as well as other mundane personal financial data will no longer be included in Notes.

Well, the central bank of empire has “signaled” that it is ready to pivot back to ZIRP … no surprise there. So, inflation has been squashed, but consumer prices are still rising sharply. Notes analyses have already concluded that inflation was never the issue.

The world population has surpassed 8 billion people. The bioweapon “vaccine” apparently had an insignificant impact on population growth. So, what are those mofo Fascists going to do now?

Is anyone sick of “Black Friday” yet?

Addendum: Be sure to download and read the entire essential Fascist library! Also, view all the timely video interviews featured in Notes.

Miscellany: The despicable Twitter® social media is allegedly restoring suspended accounts next week.

There’s little expectation that the Temple of Molech feed will be restored, although moot. Let it rest in peace.

Postscript: A day for being grateful, giving thanks? To whom? Well, be thankful for refusing the bioweapon “vaccine” and for being alive as a result.

Video — Dr. David Martin

Seth Holehouse and Dr. David Martin have an important discussion about the mRNA bioweapon, depopulation, and other relevant topics.

Personal Sitrep 2022

The personal crisis continues with no end in sight. Sadly, the cause of the personal crisis cannot be identified, although some attempts were made as chronicled in Notes. Two big-ass cans of cheap brewskis were procured on separate days last week in the vain attempt to soothe the allegedly frayed nerves. That kind of foolishness is now mummified. Frankly, at this point in time, only a lobotomy would be successful.

More analyses of personal finance has revealed that total monthly expenditures (including rent) have been $1,350 on average. Rent for the mausoleum at the “old folks home” in Waikiki is two times all other expenditures combined. Thus, approximately $16,200 is the annual outlay for all expenditures.

An attempt has been made to increase expenditures, mostly on better quality food. Yet, that’s only “a drop in the bucket.” Currently, brainstorming is on-going to determine new spending allocations.

At this point in time, there are enough funds in the investment accounts, along with the meager retirement benefits, to distribute $51,000 per year for the next ten years (arbitrary time period) before exhaustion. Subsequently, only the meager monthly retirement benefits will remain. Very little or no taxes will accrue.

Perusing the approved sites on the Net is still a primary, albeit pathetic, activity. However, the number and types of sites has decreased. Real (not “mainstream”) news is a priority. Technology sites have been deranked. Thus, one of the ad-blocking extensions for Safari has been mummified. Most of the approved sites have proprietary advertisements or none at all, so aggressive ad-blocking is not necessary.

With that said, there have been no evening outings to the International Marketplace for the past three days. The need for really fast and free wireless Net access is moot given the new self-limits on Web browsing.

Addendum: The works of the Great Prophet, Ernest Becker, are still available for download. The links are embedded in the Notes post titled, “ Death.”

Miscellany: One other important reason for the use of the ad-blocking extensions in Safari is the inclusion of script blocking, primarily the annoying crypto-mining scripts. Well, that’s kind of moot, now that the fall of FTX is bringing down the whole cryptocurrency regime.

Lies & Luck

“Western Civilization”

Last night, another trip to Ala Moana Center was made. The last of the slated donations (hair clippers and iPhone 12 case) were given to Lori instead. Dinner was courtesy Panda Express®. So, that’s that.

Fatigue and anxiety are still the order of the day. In analyzing the situation, another factor has come into play … lies. Life in empire is now based entirely on lies and fabrications. The few people who have courageously attempted to disseminate truth … Paul Craig Roberts, Brian Wilkins of The COVID Blog, Steve Kirsch et al. … have been systematically attacked by so-called “fact checkers” and bloviating “pundits.”

Being constantly bombarded with lies can result in various forms of psychopathology. In essence, the ability to determine reality becomes skewed. Of course, the fact that the rank-and-file peons regurgitate the lies ad nauseam increases the psychopathology. The result is an endless feedback loop, reminiscent of the swirling vortex of water in a flushed toilet bowl.

Well, the empire and collective “West” are a huge toilet with big globs of shit being deposited in the bowl in perpetuity. There’s nothing really left of “Western civilization,” which only reinforces the thesis of the failed “civilization” paradigm as detailed in the old “blog.”

With that said, this is the time to discuss an issue that has come to the forefront recently. In contemplation of the retrospective life, one conclusion can be made … that is, this particular personage’s life has been highly reliant on good fortune, fate, and “luck.” Every situation has turned out just fine, even in the “darkest hour.” A detailed analysis of the legacy journal and old “blog” would reveal such an outcome. In the era of Notes, there are many other “lucky” milestones and turning points of good fortune.

The latest, albeit superfluous, “lucky” event is the chance acquisition of the iPhone 14 Pro. Right now, orders for the device show deliveries exceeding six weeks. There’s no telling when the retail stores will have any stock on hand. Yeah, a foolish example, but one of many.

The greatest “stroke of luck” has been the avoidance of total dereliction, or what could be called the true loser’s life. There’s no doubt that, even in late adolescence, the trajectory toward failure was imminent. Scholastic performance was always mediocre, even in the university environment. Only during graduate school was a concerted effort made to succeed. Yet, upon graduation, no effort was made to enter professional wage slavery.

Overall, very few years were invested in actual employment. And, that only occurred after relocation to Hawai’i. Even then, the employment was marginal (i.e., pseudo-professor). The actual tenure of that career only spanned a decade. Then, retirement was declared at 52 years of age. This is “sloth” at its finest!

Yet, the meager amount of savings and the mendicant monk life-style allowed continued subsistence to this very day. Anyone else would have ended up on “Skid Row” or perished many moons ago.

Then, of course, there were the trials and tribulations during the “super-duper corona” plan-demic. Why was the decision to remain a “pureblood” (read: “unvaccinated”) made while the masses eagerly lined up for the bioweapon? Why was there a need to join the opposition?

This retrospective is a prelude to the expression of ultimate gratitude. Yet, who will this gratitude be addressed to?

Addendum: The conundrum concerning the disposition of Notes in on-going. Should it be mummified? Should it be replaced with much more terse social media? Who knows?

Miscellany: The iPhone 12 was a great device. It served well during the “super-duper corona” plan-demic, often being taxed beyond normal usage. Recall that the entire “blog” was cleaned up and reformatted using the device. And, it also served as the only conduit of entertainment during the Fascist lockdowns. The new iPhone 14 Pro will be fortunate enough to not go through that experience.

Haircut 100

Haircuts at the Institute of Hair Design are now scheduled for every two weeks or less. In the old days, haircuts were scheduled every three weeks. A brief chat ensued with Leo during the latest haircut. So, overall, the barber experience has been enjoyable.

Prices for various consumer products, including food, continue to shoot upward. Thus, there’s further proof that the interest rate hikes by the central bank of empire have nothing to do with inflation.

Personal state of mind has not improved. The consumption of cheap booze does nothing to alleviate the situation. In fact, the latter activity seems to increase the anxiety.

There’s no question that the number of deaths and MIAs amongst known acquaintances has been a cause for anxiety and melancholia. After all, these are the “twilight years.” Too many macabre reminders about mortality!

Here’s an interesting personal observation … the majority of the global population is comprised of:

• morons
• assholes.

Check that phenomenon out for yourselves. Perhaps the reason is the spike protein production from the bioweapon “vaccine.” Or, maybe, downward evolution is occurring.

On a side note, the “Safari Suggestions” option in Safari preferences was disabled by Apple® after many users reported that the browser was crashing when inputting certain combinations of three alphabetic characters. Yeah, that’s the same feature that all references to Russian media were removed. Well, “payback is a bitch.”

Insofar as the rigged (s)elections in empire … who knew? Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Miscellany: The reply from Visible finally arrived by e-mail. A procedure to properly download the e-SIM was provided, so the e-mail will be archived.

Postscript: The shocking revelations about the turmoil at America’s Frontline Doctors and the stunning allegation concerning Dr. Simone Gold has resulted in the deletion of mentions and videos in Notes of both entities. Sadly, the sordid tale appears to be factual. What a setback for the opposition!

High Anxiety 2022

The evening outing consisted of a quick jaunt on the bus to Ala Moana Center. A visit to Longs® was made to spend a small portion of the quarterly OTC Card allotment on toothpaste. There are now five tubes of toothpaste sitting in the queue. Then, a trip was made to town to procure a Curry Chicken Manapua at 7-Eleven®. Finally, a return trip to Waikiki with a stopover at the International Marketplace.

Anxiety continues to fester with no end in sight. At this point in time, identifying the focus is difficult. No doubt, the issue of death is at center of the psychological storm. Sadly, another big-ass can of Corona® cerveza was required to soothe the agitated psyche.

All issue are reported in Notes, even if it supersedes the minimalist posting policy. The primary purpose of Notes is to chronicle personal history. The internal search function allows for such historical data to be located, if necessary. The immediate concern is the use of cheap booze to placate the “soul.” This cannot and must not become a trend.

A secondary issue is the abundance of discretionary funds at this time. Spending, as an offset, has increased, but the latter is just “a drop in a bucket.” The bulk of the funds must be expended wisely during the last of the “good years.”

On a side note, the iPhone 14 Pro was definitely a nice acquisition even given the ridiculous course being pursued by the parent corporation. There was serious consideration given to procuring the Google® Pixel 7 device. However, that idea was quickly nixed.

Of corse, there is much bewilderment about the need to purchase an extravagant $1,100 device ($800 after trade-in) if none of the features are being exploited. The camera module, for example, is a huge monstrosity, but few photographs are ever taken. Oh well.

The current plan is to keep the device for two or three years. Then, it will be used as trade-in for a new, albeit basic, model. Well, that’s the plan anyway. Alas, the cerveza is working its magic!

Addendum: There are no third-party “apps” installed on the iPhone 14 Pro. Many of the system “apps” were also mummified. Therefore, the gimmicky “Dynamic Island” remains dormant most of the time.

Veterans Day 2022 Belated

On Thursday, a trip to Ala Moana Center in the afternoon was made to meet up with Lori. Dinner was courtesy Lahaina Chicken Company, with prime rib being the chosen fare. There have been similar meet-ups every few months, but not mentioned specifically in Notes. The stuff originally slated for donation to charity (Spri® exercise bands, Starbucks® coffee mug) was given to her, which is good.

By the way, Chick-fil-A® opened recently in the Makai Market food court. The waiting line has apparently been extremely long since the opening date, which has been specifically cordoned off for those hungry customers. Yet, why would people wait that long for a deep-fried chicken sandwich?

Veterans Day was uneventful until a casual perusal of the Apple® Store site during the cooldown at the gym. Three iPhone 14 Pro devices were available at Ala Moana Center, with different colors, sizes, and storage options. Only one met personal specifications, although it had more storage than desired. However, the option to wait until supplies return to normal most likely would run into the month of February next year.

iPhone 14 Pro Space Black

An attempt was made to order the chosen device on-line, but the credit card charge was rejected. So, a quick trip was made by bus to Ala Moana Center. The desired device was still available, so it was purchased along with an “official” case. The damage amounted to $1,200 and some change. The credit card was rejected on the first attempt, which then provided a clue that the card was going through the fraud protection protocol. An appointment was made to return at 6:30pm and perform the Visible device transfer to e-SIM.

A return trip to town was made to procure dinner at the favorite Subway®. A quick trip was made back to Waikiki to finally drop off the gym bag in the mausoleum at the “old folks home.” Then, back on the bus to Ala Moana Center.

At the Apple® Store, the preparation of the new device was made prior to the Visible SIM transfer process in the “app.” The process went smoothly and was completed fairly quickly. The iPhone 12 was then submitted for trade-in. After the usual diagnostics, the device was accepted and the trade-in value of $300 was credited.

On the way back to Waikiki, the discovery was made that there was no data connectivity on the new device. During the usual stopover at the International Marketplace, a chat was initiated with Visible “customer support.” The queue was over an hour. When contact was finally established, absolutely nothing was accomplished. A service ticket was allegedly sent up-line. Incidentally, everything that transpired, including the SIM transfer process, was rehearsed and anticipated prior, thanks to the Visible Reddit forum. The latter forum also insured that there was no surprise when Visible chat support proved to be completely useless.

Nevertheless, the need to procure a big-ass can of Corona® cerveza at the overpriced ABC Store was imperative to soothe the frazzled nerves. Once back in the mausoleum, the completion of the setup of the new device was accomplished sans a Net connection.

This morning, the gym was entered earlier than usual, specifically to use the free wireless network. The e-SIM on the iPhone was deleted, and the same transfer process was initiated without the old device. Technically, the procedure should have failed. The new e-SIM was installed successfully. Again, no data connectivity. After toggling airplane mode and the e-SIM switch, data suddenly was operational. The engineering background really has come in handy more often than not.

The new iPhone 14 Pro is an impressive device, but there’s not much of a difference from the iPhone 12 insofar as an old codger is concerned. “Dynamic Island” is simply ignored. Nearly all of the “features” have been turned off. Any system “app” featuring advertisements has been mummified. No third-party “apps” have been installed. So, the new device is a mirror image of the old device.

Addendum: Visible “customer support” did not respond as promised by e-mail within 24 hours about the status of the service ticket. Many users on the Reddit forum waited for days. Some never received any word at all. At that point, the only option is to finagle a solution.

Who Cares?

Well, today was (S)election 2022 in empire. Really, who even cares? If Republican candidates were to win the majority in the House and Senate, what difference would that make? Where were those Republicans during the whole “super-duper corona” hoax? Yeah, exactly.

A new Addidas® sackpack was procured at Ross® this morning for $10 with the lovely senior citizen discount. Nothing else of interest was found. Of course, with the upcoming Saturnalia shopping season, there’s likely to be nothing of interest available for the rest of the year.

An excursion was made to Ala Moana Center this evening, specifically to the Apple® Store. An attempt was made to order an iPhone 14 Pro device and have it delivered to the store. Unfortunately, if the product is not actually in stock, the delivery must be made directly to the purchaser. Delivery by UPS or FedEx will require someone to accept the delivery (at random times of the day, which is not workable). So, the order was cancelled. And, to add insult to injury, the trade-in values for older iPhones have decreased.

The whole iPhone 14 rollout was a fiasco. Certain models of that particular line have not been available in any of the retail stores since the introduction in September. Now, the onslaught of “super-duper corona” in Zhengzhou, China has shut down the main Apple® iPhone manufacturing facility. Long story short, there won’t be any of the devices stocked in the retail stores for a long time, probably not until March. By then, the device will be halfway though its lifecycle (the so-called “Pro” line is discontinued in September). If the device cannot be procured by mid-January, then the process will be aborted.

There is good reason to believe that China’s “Zero COVID” policy has been “weaponized” to counter the foolishness of the “West.” The Communist Party surely is aware that “super-duper corona” is a farce. Yet, the collective “West” cannot call China’s bluff. That would expose the same deadly fraud that was perpetrated in the entire “West.” The Communist Party in China is simply showing the “West” what will happen on a grand scale (i.e., supply chain disruptions) if more provocations (read: Taiwan) occur.

Given the aforementioned bullshit, the so-called “inflation” afflicting the “West” can be easily understood. The entire fiasco is the result of deliberate supply chain disruptions. When products are not available, then essentially those products now cost infinitely more. So, for example, $1,000,000 is worthless if it cannot purchase something that isn’t available. That’s the new definition of “hyperinflation.”

Incidentally, the central bank of empire is receiving much criticism concerning the short-term interest rate hikes that it professes to curb inflation. However, fighting inflation is not the real purpose of the current policy. Rather, the goal is to keep pension funds and insurance companies solvent. The real proof is that the highly overvalued stock market has not collapsed as was anticipated. So, asset price inflation is still rampant.

A stopover was made at the International Marketplace after the wasted time at Ala Moana Center. Then, another big-ass can of Corona® cerveza was procured at the despicable ABC Store in order to celebrate the perpetual “clusterfuck.” The central bank of empire is increasing personal wealth at a pace faster than what can be spent on non-existent goods. So, personal spending habits must be modified. So say we all!

Addendum: The on-going infestation of advertising in Apple system “apps,” the App Store, and even iOS itself can now be understood clearly. Lost revenue from zero product inventory must be offset by other sources such as cheesy advertisements placed everywhere.

Miscellany: The three gym acquaintances and the formerly-homeless buddy are still MIA. In addition, a former gym acquaintance (dissociated due to “silent treatment”) is now MIA for about two months.

Corona 2022

Corona 2022

The central bank of empire raised the short-term interest rate by 0.75 percent. The dividend distributions for all investment accounts last month amounted to $850 or so. Next month will obviously be higher.

There have been some attempts at spending more money on food. However, even with inflationary prices and more expensive (read: slightly healthier) food options, the increase in spending for the month didn’t even amount to a “c-note.” In other words, there’s no way to spend the extra money coming in. Other “stuff” on the wish list is just not available anywhere. Quite a conundrum, eh?

After the evening outing at the International Marketplace, a quick stop was made at the overpriced ABC Store. A big-ass can of Corona® cerveza was procured to quietly celebrate the end of “corona” and to soothe the frayed nerves. Right now, paying rip-off prices for products is inconsequential, even ludicrous to contemplate. These are the “twilight years” and “keeling over” can occur “suddenly” at any moment. Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Addendum: There’s no telling when the last celebration with a big-ass can of cheap brewski occurred, possibly several years ago. Such events are unlikely to become frequent.

Miscellany: The iOS 16.2 update coming in December will add an Apple® News feed to the weather “app” (translation: covert advertising infiltration). When confirmed, the “app” will be mummified.

Day of Samhain 2022

Keep trying, baby!

The Daily Stormer has been featuring a lot of commentary about the sad state of what was once known universally amongst the infamous B-Team as the “situation.” Nothing ever changes. Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

The return to the Institute of Hair Design in town for a haircut finally occurred. Even Leo was amused. There’s nothing like a real haircut. The self-barbering era is over. The Wahl® self-barbering kit has been cleaned and readied for donation to charity.

The evening outing at the International Marketplace was not canceled even though Day of Samhain revealers were running amuck. Of course, no attempt was made to venture out onto the main promenade. There was some kind of “trick or treat” event for the keiki, but participation was minimal.

The only spookiness going on is the increased episodes of anxiety. There has been some temptation to procure “cheap booze” as an adjunctive remedy. However, the option has yet to be exercised. Otherwise, an uneventful Day of Samhain.

Miscellany: The very odd event at the home of the Democrat (sic) Speaker of the House of empire, which involved the latter’s husband and another faggot, is obviously being covered up. The “conspiracy” version of the events appears to be the most plausible. No doubt, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping know exactly what happened through their own intelligence sources. The question is … what do the esteemed leaders think about the depraved state of empire?

Postscript: Lots of bullshit is being spewed by the lower level Fascists about “COVID-19 Amnesty.” Running scared, are they? Yeah, they are seeking protection from retribution. Notes suggests only one form of amnesty …

The Beloved “Chair”

As Stew Peters has stated on numerous occasions, “Indict, try, and fry.” Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

Preaching to the Choir

The acceptable reading list (links available in Notes) of factual on-line news has been pared down. The truth has been personally accepted. “Preaching to the choir” is not necessary. And, to reiterate, discussions of the latter are limited. Content in Notes will focus only on the mundane.

The latest version of iOS was downloaded and installed on the iPhone on Monday morning at 7:15am. Such foolishness! Of course, none of the new “feature drops” were of any interest, just more gimmicks. The sole reason to update is the bug and security patches.

The iPhone 12 was rejuvenated on Monday during the evening outing at the International Marketplace. The process, essentially “wiping” the device to its generic state and manually restoring all settings, was completed in 1.5 hours. Prior to the overhaul, some functions were not operational. Now, the iPhone 12 is almost like new. Yes, the iPhone is being prepared for longer service. Replacement may not be possible at all for months since Apple® Store inventories are non-existent.

The annual recertification for residency at the “old folks home” in Waikiki has commenced, although somewhat later than usual. Financial documents were downloaded and forwarded by e-mail to the management on Tuesday during the evening outing at the International Marketplace.

Sadly, the bouts of anxiety and melancholia have not abated. Perhaps the on-going, albeit slow, projects (e.g., terminating Post Office mailbox rental) are clearly obvious preparations for death. Certainly nothing to celebrate.

Addendum: As of this week, Apple® has increased the number of advertisements appearing in its App Store. The next system “app” to be saturated with advertising is Maps. No doubt, advertising infestation will include more and more system “apps.” Each of those “apps” will be mummified immediately, if possible, on the personal iPhone. Unfortunately, the App Store cannot be mummified.

Miscellany: The BQ.1, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1 “variants” of “super-duper corona” are allegedly spreading in the islands. That explains why full-time face mask usage has increased recently. Ho hum.

Postscript: There has been some kind of upheaval within the German Corona Investigative Committee which resulted in the departure of Dr. Reiner Füellmich. The whole affair has tarnished the good work of the committee. However, previous archived sessions will remain in Notes.

Swiffer®

Swiffer®

The “clusterfuck” just never ends, does it? In fact, the situation is just getting worse by the day. Having additional funds is of no utility at this point in time. The recent assessment that about $200 (originally $400) of “stuff” on the personal wish list needs to be downgraded again. Replacement blades for the Norelco® electric shaver cannot be found anywhere, even on-line. The clothing selection at Ross® (the senior citizen “go-to” source) has been completely depleted. So, there’s absolutely nothing to purchase.

Well, the only recent acquisition was a Swiffer® Starter Kit for $16 from Walmart®. The floors in the mausoleum at the “old folks home” in Waikiki have been cleaned for years by getting down on hands and knees, using paper towels (courtesy the gym). The less expensive generic version of the Swiffer® was not considered. Is a $4 difference in price really going to matter? So, that’s the only wish list fulfillment so far.

The so-called “Operation Clean Slate” has commenced with preparations to mummify the Post Office mailbox rental at the end of next month when the six-month term expires. The change of address form has already been submitted. Changing addresses on-line has been a “mixed bag” so far. The big problem will be the sole credit card. On-line sites used with the credit card will for purchases require deleting and replacing the credit card data because the address on file is used for verification. Well, the only problematic vendor is Visible. No surprise, eh?

Of course, Visible offers even more problems. The old credit card data cannot be deleted. So, any changes requires setting up the same credit card as a new one. There have been many reports that the new data cannot be set up as the default. So, the payment is rejected. Translated, that means a new Visible account must be established with a new phone number (unless ported out to another wireless provider and ported back into a new Visible account).

Then, there’s the iPhone … which may or may not be replaced soon. The only model worth purchasing is the iPhone 14 Pro which is currently unavailable anywhere. The trade-in credit for the iPhone 12 is very good, by the way. Unfortunately, the new iPhone line is eSIM only. If the current Visible account cannot be transferred using the unreliable “app,” then a new account must be established (with new phone number).

Apple® has been on a downhill slide. Perhaps, the recent emphasis on “woke” bullshit has simply been too much to maintain product quality. The iOS 16 upgrade is nearly worthless, the main focus being on customization (barely) of the lock screen. The eSIM exclusivity has also been plagued with a few software problems. The only selling point, which apparently seems to really appeal to the marginal mind, is the ludicrous “Dynamic Island.” Even the bogus name seems to suggest that Apple® has lost its way.

These are definitely the “twilight years,” and the entirety of “Western” civilization is in the “twilight zone.” Endless “clusterfucks” and more! Too bad there isn’t a big enough Swiffer® to really “wipe the slate clean.” Sheesh!

Addendum: The bed sheets from the Sand Island homeless shelter are still being deployed. The Nike® gym bag is well over 15 years old. Nothing is replaced unless some necessity is identified. Frugal or miserly?

Video — Delusions

A mini-documentary produced by Mike Adams of Brighteon. The message is clear.

Meme of Death

The previous Notes post is mostly “rubbish,” as it attempts to reduce the on-going anxiety to financial stress. The real issue is the “denial of death,” which was hinted upon in one of the paragraphs. These are the “twilight years,” the root cause of it all.

Most appropriate, the Great Prophet Ernest Becker insightfully observed:

On the one hand, we see a human animal who is partly dead to the world, who is most “dignified” when he shows a certain obliviousness to his fate, when he allows himself to be driven through life; who is most “free” when he lives in secure dependency on powers around him, when he is least in possession of himself. On the other hand, we get an image of a human animal who is overly sensitive to the world, who cannot shut it out, who is thrown back on his own meagre powers, and who seems least free to move and act, least in possession of himself, and most undignified. Which­ever image we choose to identify with depends in large part upon ourselves.

Clearly, the latter explains the psychological projection to financial stress or, frankly, any other seemingly tangible problem. The human life-span has clearly become identified with “immortality projects,” which tends to buffer the reality of imminent death. Becker describes a duality that exists in every human psyche.

All humans experience the duality (or paradox) of primal existence. As the individual duality clashes with the local collective duality and, eventually, the societal and global collective dualities, the outcome is a huge “clusterfuck.” What else can describe the state of current affairs?

Needless to say, the concept of entropy also comes into play. A “clusterfuck” is a high state of entropy and, of course, irreversible by natural means. Thus, there will be a temptation to use artificial means to reduce entropy. That’s the futile and destructive goal of the Fascists as described in Notes ad nauseam.

On a personal level, the high state of entropy created by individual duality can only be reduced by artificial means as well. Hence, the new proposal labeled, “Operation Clean Slate.” No doubt, it will be a futile attempt at deconstructing existing “immortality projects.” Or, perhaps it is another attempt at “obliviousness to fate.”

Addendum: Three senior citizen acquaintances at the gym have been full MIA for three months. And, the formerly-homeless buddy has not been seen or heard from for over nine months. All of them were most assuredly “vaccinated” and “boostered.”

Miscellany: Certain models of the new iPhone 14 (unlocked) line are currently not available at any of the Apple® Stores in Hawai’i or anywhere else.

Postscript: The proposed “Operation Clean Slate” is now operative. Its purpose is to complete the remaining mundane tasks mentioned in the previous post.

Insomnia

Tick Tock

Chronic insomnia continues unabated, now in its third consecutive week. Rooting out the cause seemed hopeless at first. Now, the issue has finally been identified … financial stress. Almost laughable, really, given the context.

There’s no need to rehash the antecedents of financial stress. The life savings were simply dwindling away from years of ZIRP and extreme mitigations were imposed to stop the financial hemorrhaging. The triage included the mendicant monk life-style and the miserly ways.

Now, with the central bank of empire raising short-term interest rates sharply and the newly acquired funds from Aunty Lyn’s annuity, the financial emergency has abated. Surely, sleepless nights would have faded away. Not so.

The Social Security Administration announced today that all current recipients will benefit from a 8.7% COLA increase commencing next year. For the lowly amount personally received, there will only be about $65 monthly increase. Still, that’s more money coming in.

In addition, the alleged high inflation figures have now suggested that the central bank of empire may increase the interest rate by 150 basis points by the end of the year. Translated, that means even more dividend income from personal investment accounts.

Why is this news causing sleepless nights? Essentially, there could be more money coming in than going out. Excellent, eh? Well, maybe for someone younger. For an old codger, more income is meaningless. Essentially, there’s a clash between the latter and mortality (and life-style). Translated, there’s nothing to spend any money on. The “stuff” on the personal wish list amounts to $200 or less. An old codger doesn’t need a full wardrobe. Nor does he need a lot of expensive and useless “toys.” These are the “twilight years.” No one notices or cares about old codgers, not even other old codgers. Sheesh!

The Medicare Advantage plan covers the gym membership. It also provides the health rewards (which may be a $140 gift card this year) and the OTC card ($200 for over-the-counter health and dental products). The senior citizen annual bus pass is $35 per year, but will go up to $45 on next renewal. And, the sole credit card provides 1% cash rewards, which is good since all purchases are made with the card.

The “super-duper corona” plan-demic was the impetus for more self-reliance. So, services such as haircuts were no longer sought. Mummifying the rental of the Post Office mailbox will remove the final superfluous expenditure. This is the full extent of the miserly ways. Money is only being paid out for rent at the “old folks home” in Waikiki, for food, and cellular phone service. That’s it.

The decision to not replace the iPhone 12 is now in question. It has a $320 trade-in value for a new iPhone, or up to $645 trade-in value for a new Pixel 7 device. In addition, the problems with Visible are moot. The remedies have already been described in a previous Notes post.

Noooo!

Well, all of the preceding bullshit just to declare that personal financial policies need to be revisited. The real test will occur during this coming holiday season. Will canned beans still be consumed for dinner on those major holidays?

Addendum: Much gratitude must be expressed for joining an excellent and stable Visible Party Pay group. The membership has always remained at four people, the minimum required for the maximum discount. As of October 28th, all members will be “grandfathered” in to the $25 per month rate (until the forced change next year). Oh, the miserly ways!