Flummox 2026

On Sunday, an attempt was made to schedule an appointment for the renewal of the Hawai’i driver’s license before the expiration on Ol’ Lavahead Day. Alas, the earliest appointment is during the second week of January next year. Obviously, the license will have expired by then. What kind of chicanery is this?

Another atrial fibrillation (AFib) event occurred on Thursday at 12:25pm, right in the middle of the first part of the cardio workout at the gym. The chaotic heart rate was almost unnoticeable, so the cardio workout was actually completed. However, the second part of the cardio workout was scuttled. A quick return to Waikiki was made shortly afterward since there were no bus route cancellations. Peak heart rate was 139bpm.

The ordeal ended at 4:25pm, exactly four hours in duration, upon return to the mausoleum in the “old folks home” after the usual brief afternoon shopping outing to Target® in the International Marketplace. A bottle of BodyArmor® Lyte was procured and consumed during the trek. At this point in time, there is no reason to believe that the sport drink caused a return to normal heartbeats. In addition, there is no identifiable trigger. An AFib event is just a pathetic random occurrence.

New HRV Data Plot

Subsequent to the iOS 27 and WatchOS 27 updates, the HRV data in the Health “app” has changed significantly. Compare to the HRV data depicted in the Notes post titled, “Anatomy of Atrial Fibrillation.” How are all of those data points possible? The Watch Series 9 only samples heart rate (hence, HRV) every 15 minutes or so. Only the new Watch models are able to sample every six seconds. Perhaps the data will be resolved differently in the new Health “app” coming in the iOS 27.1 update.

The local bank is undergoing major changes, the majority of which will take effect late next month. The bank is losing its local flavor as evidenced by the fact that it now operates under the State of California legal regime. Many of the perks for the personal checking account are being rescinded. Time to transfer everything to a different bank?

The fire alarm systems in both buildings in the “old folks home” will be completely renovated next Monday. The false alarms that have occurred randomly for years were obviously triggered by faulty equipment.

The new Beats® 360 headphones debuted on Thursday. Many people were able to purchase the $350 headphones for $200 at Target® (allegedly a “glitch” in pricing). Many complaints have surfaced concerning a noticeable background hiss. There is no personal interest in acquiring the new headphones. The Studio Pro headphones in possession are currently getting more use anyway, and there’s no background hiss.

Addendum: The gym workouts, particularly the cardio segment, is proving to be quite fatiguing. Over-exertion may now be an issue.

Miscellany: The deranged Caligula-like performance in the United Nations this week by “Orange Bad Man” was an utter embarrassment. No comments are necessary. The grotesque spectacle is a testament unto itself.

5 Kawak 12 Ch’en

After a seven-week hiatus, a major atrial fibrillation (AFib) event occurred on Wednesday commencing at 5:15pm upon return to the mausoleum in the “old folks home” in Waikiki after the usual outing to Target® in the International Marketplace. The walk was nearly unbearable because of the current heatwave. Peak heart rate was 138bpm. No trigger has been identified, although dehydration is a distinct possibility. One of the emergency bottles of BodyArmor® Lyte was consumed to no avail. The duration of the event was 5.25 hours. Well, back to “Square One” with this latest setback.

The fire alarms in the building at the “old folks home” has gone rogue. Two instances occurred on Sunday, the latest being 9:30pm. On Monday, the alarm went off at 4am. On Tuesday, 4:30pm was the recorded time. The Fire Department usually arrives about 30 minutes after the alarm first sounds. In the past, the incidents were attributed to residents cooking (read: burning) food with their doors open. However, the latest incidents apparently implicated random residents on the fifth floor who not cooking or smoking cigarettes. Thus, the alarm system itself is malfunctioning. Well, at least the false alarms allowed for chats with neighbor Ignacio.

The mystery of the missing neighbor at the “old folks home” has been solved, but the story is somewhat tragic. According to Ignacio, the neighbor is apparently in the hospital and has been there for almost three months. He will not be returning to the “old folks home” upon release. Instead, he will be transported to an assisted care facility.

The workaround using Always On Display has been successful. The iPhone 16 Pro now responds properly. The problem with Dark Mode for the “app” icons was also solved. The only new issue is that system indexing has stalled at 33% since Tuesday. And, after some research, the discovery was made that most Apple® Intelligence features can be disabled in individual “app” settings. Siri AI features can be curtailed through Screen Time, or by not joining the current waitlist.

Well, the highlight of the week has been the free renewal of the Target® Circle 360® annual membership ($100 value). The offer appeared in the “app” (on-line account) just three days before the expiration. Wheee!

On a dark note, the “shock to the system” seems to be imminent. Diesel and aviation fuel prices have been rising significantly. There’s no telling when the “tipping point” will occur. Just bring it on already!

Miscellany: The only excitement in the mausoleum is surprising the cockroaches at night and shuffling the varmints into the garbage disposal for a grinding demise.

Addendum: The waitlist for Siri AI has been joined for both the iPhone 16 Pro and the MacBook Neo. The AI bullshit is already “baked in,” the decision is essentially moot.

Surprise & Shinola

All of the updates for Apple® products were made available on Monday morning. Needless to say, the whole day was spent downloading and installing iOS, MacOS, WatchOS, and new AirPods firmware. The iOS 27 update was mostly accomplished through iPhone cellular data. The MacOS 27 update for the MacBook Neo was initiated using the free wireless network in the Makai Market food court in Ala Moana Center. After an hour, only one-sixth of the huge file was downloaded. The WatchOS 27 update was partly downloaded there, and the remainder was downloaded during the workout at the gym.

The thought of having to transport the MacBook Neo to Ala Moana Center and carry it around all day for six consecutive days was regarded as foolish. So, a trip was made to the Apple® Store in Ala Moana Center on Monday afternoon. The MacOS update was downloaded within an hour, and the installation was performed upon arrival at the mausoleum in the “old folks home” in Waikiki. Serious consideration is being given to divest the Neo when the trade-in option becomes available early next year.

The iOS update appeared to be successful. However, later in the evening, a few “bugs” made themselves manifest. The dark mode for “app” icons is no longer functional. And, worse, Tap To Wake became sporadic. About half of the time, the iPhone 16 Pro would not respond. Pressing every button randomly for two or more minutes would finally revive the device. Even putting the device on charge did nothing. The only two possible workarounds were … one, disable the lock screen … or, two, enable Always On Display mode. In other words, the display cannot be allowed to sleep as the iPhone could easily be “bricked.” For security reasons, the latter option was chosen. Overall, a very pathetic situation.

To add insult to injury, the toggle to disable all Apple® Intelligence features was removed. The AI bullshit is now completely “baked in” for all devices. The only feature that can be disabled is Siri AI (for now) by not joining the wait list. Well, that’s the culmination of the Apple® “Surprise and Shine!” event. Very disappointing surprises. No shine.

Addendum: The new three-band equalizer for AirPods was auditioned. The goal was to simulate the “sizzle” of the Beats® Studio Pro headphones. The result? “Close, but no cigar.” Actually, the equalizer is just a more granular version of the Headphone Accommodations pre-set equalizations.

Postscript: The term, “ always on display,” is misleading. The display shuts off under certain conditions. However, some of the sensors remain active continuously. The tradeoff is battery drain of about 2% for every eight hours of inactivity.

Fuck It Friday - 37

Ansarallah

Fuck It Friday! Sporadic news and commentary of no interest to anyone ... September 11th edition. Yes, this is Fuck It Friday!

Well, September 11th is here. All of the alternative Web sites are publishing elaborate content about the deadly hoax that comprised the fateful day. The legacy journal discussed the issue ad nauseam, so there’s no need to rehash any personal opinion. Fuck it!

What is of relevant interest, though, is the strong offensive that was launched a couple of days ago by the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF, primarily Ansarallah) against the Saudi-backed proxy government forces (read: mercenaries). Ansarallah has now gained control over the city of Mokha and the Port of Al-Ardhi, effectively nullifying the Saudi naval blockade. The YAF has also seized Zuqar Island (and Mayyun Island amongst others), which means that Ansarallah now has total control over the Strait of Bab al-Mandab. The Saudi East-West oil pipeline has been shut down after the facility was targeted by multiple drone strikes. Currently, the source of those strikes is alleged to be the Iraqi Resistance. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabian oil exports are now close to zero. Fuck it!

The effects of the Ramadan War continue to ripple through the Levant. The foolish and illegal war launched by “Orange Bad Man” and Benzion “Butcher of Gaza” Mileikowsky has redrawn the map of the Levant, and has now effected the closures of the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Prior to the war, both were fully open to maritime traffic. What exactly were the two war criminals thinking? They really “fucked up.” Fuck it!

The Apple® “Surprise and Shine!” event has come and gone. There was little personal interest in the event or the new products. The price hikes alone made the event unpalatable. Of course, the iOS and MacOS updates are slated to arrive next Monday. Fuck it!

The heatwave continues in the islands with the trade winds returning on Friday. Humidity has been extremely high since the passing of the two hurricanes. The air conditioner in the mausoleum in the “old folks home” in Waikiki must be run continuously during occupancy. Fuck it!

All of the laundry rooms in both buildings of the “old folks home” now feature new washers and dryers. The appliances no longer accept coins. Several cashless payment methods will be available. Thus, the personal stash of quarters was deposited in the local bank account on Thursday. Fuck it!

The Cologuard® test results were negative. So, more good health news for now. Hopefully, the reduction in foods containing vegetable oil will yield many more positive health outcomes. Of course, no one believes the claim that vegetable oil is deadly. Discussing the latter with the usual rank-and-file peons will only result in “raised eyebrows.” Fuck it!

On the topic of vegetable oil, Karl Denninger claims that he no longer suffers from sunburn (when outside for an extended period of time) after completely removing vegetable oil from his diet. Although anecdotal, his claim is entirely credible. Fuck it!

Addendum: The best analysis of the extremely successful Ansarallah offensive appeared on the PressTV site. Note that the URL domain is different because the site certificate was revoked by certain “Western” regimes.

Slave Labor Day 2026

Waiting for Hurricane Lowell

The appointment at the dermatology clinic was scheduled for Wednesday last week (on the advice of the attending physician at the Ohua Clinic). Minor rain showers wreaked havoc with public transportation. Nonetheless, the trek was made to town with ample time to drop off the gym bag at the gym and alight the Route 4 bus to the Queen’s Hospital physicians’ office buildings complex at the top of the hill.

After completing the usual paperwork, about 30 minutes elapsed after the scheduled appointment time. The consultation with the dermatologist spanned about four minutes. He examined the (former) skin lesion and declared that it was benign. No full body inspection was offered. Medical “quackery,” you think? The appointment will have an out-of-pocket cost of $40 at the least. The brevity of the appointment did not warrant a dedicated Notes post.

The MacBook Neo was unboxed about a week ago to perform the latest MacOS updates. However, the Neo failed to list any updates and indicated that MacOS was up-to-date. Something was not right. So, on Friday of last week, the Neo was prepared for transport in the Under Armor® backpack (originally procured for the iPad Pro M4). The over at the Makai Market food court in Ala Moana Center was dedicated to exploiting the free wireless network to download the update. And, had the update fail again, a short walk to the Apple® Store to consult the Genius Bar was the planned contingency.

Fortunately, the update and installation was completed, albeit slowly, with no problems. Of course, the situation is quite fluid, given that future MacOS updates may require frequent transporting of the MacBook Neo to Ala Moana Center. There’s no indication about why the tethering to the iPhone 16 Pro no longer functions. Perhaps the divestiture of the iPad was a mistake. Is the time ripe to divest the Neo?

Gym workouts remain consistent. The focus on the cardio portion of the workout has been successful. Time on the elliptical machine has been currently set to a total of a 50 minute ceiling for both parts. An average of 120 strides per minute has been attained. The former lamentation about the inability to “break a sweat” is now moot.

Brief (i.e., 1.5 seconds or less) atrial fibrillation (AFib) and single instance notched T-wave events have been occurring more frequently and randomly. There have been no major AFib events since July 20th. Once again, the only change has been the steep reduction of foods containing vegetable oil.

There has been nothing to do and nowhere to go in the evenings. The idea of dining out was entertained, but reality quickly prevailed. There’s no way of knowing the actual ingredients of any menu selections. Most likely, there’s a lot of sodium, sugar, and vegetable oils. Sadly, the personal restrictions on those particular ingredients rules out dining at all establishments.

Bars, nightclubs, and theaters are of no interest. The associated costs are beyond the personal budget. That only leaves shopping. Well, there’s no more interest in wasting money on useless junk. There’s plenty of useless crap lying around in the mausoleum in the “old folks home” in Waikiki. Frankly, sitting in the Room Essentials® dish chair all night is akin to a slow death. Well, that’s modern life, eh?

The mausoleum is currently infested with small cockroaches. The roaches migrate from other units on the same floor. That’s why the varmints know the exact layout of the kitchen. The lights in the mausoleum are off all evening. Every hour or so, the light in the range hood is activated to surprise the roaches. The varmints are awkwardly shuffled into the garbage disposal in the sink. Roaches versus garbage disposal … guess who wins? Baha! Ha! Ha! Haaa!

The neighbor directly across the hallway from the mausoleum is still MIA. No one knows his whereabouts. One of the maintenance guys had entered the unit a few weeks ago to troubleshoot the fire alarm. Foul play is now suspected, even if self-inflicted.

The neighbor was a quiet man, a loner. He did not socialize with other tenants, and he was never accompanied by family or friends. Hmm, sounds familiar, eh? Perhaps he was disillusioned by having residence in the middle of a huge shopping mall. He may have chosen a hasty exodus (sans all personal possessions) to a new life in a new land.

Another no-holiday holiday, Slave Labor Day, has come and gone. The Summer season is officially over. Hurricane Lowell is moving Northward and will pass the West end of the Hawai’ian island chain without making landfall. Moderate rain is expected. Otherwise, same itinerary. Same ol’ shit. Could be worse, though.

Addendum: A pint of Häagen-Dazs® strawberry ice cream was purchased on Saturday, the first one in a very long time. Häagen-Dazs® is true ice cream, not a “frozen dessert.” It is also the only ice cream that does not list any vegetable oils in its ingredients. Saturated fat and sugar are not a problem in moderation.