I love the holidays not for the usual crap that people love them for but rather for the quiet. When the day of and the day after the holiday in question hits calmness prevails out there and the regular insane rhythm of America falls away. There are less cars on the road, work turns from maddening to peaceful, and a world is displayed that could have been, or could be. Where we do not purposefully push ourselves to insanity just because we can.....or because we are told to. Where we can breath. These days exist between Thanksgiving and January 4th. They are slipped into the holiday system not on purpose but by accident---hallmark doesn't have a card for these days. They are valuable to me. Much, much more so than the holidays themselves.

Perhaps the upcoming year will be the one---The year our government comes to it's senses and legalizes Weed. Not for the economic advantages---but because it is the right thing to do...Perhaps this year, perhaps, our society will cease destroying lives simply because people want to get high in their own home and watch a movie. Maybe--hopefully---I'd hate to die thinking this stupidity would continue onward forever. One has to start the New Year off with hope no matter what---we can't continue on letting shits like Nancy Regan decide how our world works....ruining the lives of millions. Legalize Now!

I will be spending the next week considering and philosophizing on the upcoming new year--the year of the Tiger. What I need and want to accomplish---what changes i need to try and make to my bizarre personality for my own good. The new year has always been much more important to me than Christmas-----I consider myself one lucky human unit---in a wondrous relationship--a secure job (true I can't wait to retire from it but still....) a snug little house and a happy world once I am home. Overall I'm a lucky bastard, and I know it.

A few items that perked my interest this week---

How bizarre are we that we need a Federal Law to prohibit big business from holding us against our will?

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/BusinessTraveler/dot-imposes-limits-airport-delays/story?id=9390492&page=1

A DUH? item reporting that Americans are moving from expensive, economically depressed areas instead of moving to them? That's mighty good social science there Lou.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/real_estate/0912/gallery.State_population_migration__The_biggest_losers/index.html

The maker of Ghost in the Shell has a new movie "THE SKY CRAWLERS" I have it on order from netflicks.

http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2009/04/the-sky-crawlers-review.php

I am physically unable to go anywhere without a messenger bag filled with my personal vital needs. net book, water, food, phones, moleskin notebook and pens, areonometer---The other day at lunch I was so happy, it was cold and raining, and I was snug in my favorite coffee-shop, wirelessly prowling the Internet eating a cranberry muffin and drinking a damn good cup of coffee. That was my personal best time in a long time and if it wasn't for my messenger bag-----there would have been no chance of enjoying that moment.

I'm beginning to develop a huge collection of bags and in reality, I don't care.

I just got a new bag a Tenba small messenger.

http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger-Large-Photo-Laptop-Bag.aspx

I already love this bag even tho I have not even carried it yet. It is half messenger--computer bag and half photojournalist bag. It has a removable internal camera organizer that works most excellent for separating and organizing my little---cannot live without items. The new year starts with a new bag and reogranization of my personal requirements---I put up this link every once in awhile to the best photo group on the web---what's in your bag on flickr. If you have not been there go now---very cool.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/whats_in_your_bag/

"And, for an instant, she stared directly into those soft blue eyes and knew, with an instinctive mammalian certainty, that the exceedingly rich were no longer even remotely human."
William Gibson

A standard issue week. Work work-sleep sleep--wake up---and start again. The reason why we buy so much stuff is the only way to change things or bring a small amount of light into our lives within the time we are allowed is through the little things we buy. We are not allowed enough time to make, create, or appreciate so we buy all those elements of life. This sucks of course but what alternative is there?

Excellent Prius gas mileage figures continue---snow is gone--and by noon it is nice. Everything is disorganized and needs cleaning in the bungalow.

Religious lunatics cracked me up--that is until they rule the world by overpopulating it----The Duggar Penis Cup race continues the insanity with a 19th kid for these people---mom's innerds and dad's little swimmers must be getting worn out tho----cause surprise---this new kid weighs in at 1--yes one pound and some very small change. Of course if we all believed their religious bullshit like they do the Science applied to help them overpopulate the world would go something like----the Doctor would bleed mom and the kid would be considered cursed. Plus 5 or 6 of their brood would be dead from smallpox and plague but it would be God's wishes you know? Of course they want to believe their shit and use all the pagan lifestyle help they can git....Are these guys still on TV? (since I don't have one I don't know?) Will they get cancelled when her Uterus blows the fuck up?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/18/duggar.baby.update/index.html

What a surprise----A recent study advises that the overall angriest, at anything, Americans are

Underthirty,Uneducated, Unemployed and overly pregnant. I am shocked!

http://www.livescience.com/health/091203-angry-young.html

This is what we are becoming---Laredo Texas is now offically, the largest city in the United States WITHOUT A BOOKSTORE...there are no bookstores within something like 200 God Damn miles of the place! I realize this is Texas the the citizens in Laredo are Texans and all but still.....Jesus Christ people...how can you live without books? I'd expect you Texicans to at least ways want to buy Sara Palin's piece of shit book---or big bible coloring books----something kind of shit like that! I'm sure that there are two or three people there that read and they can use the Godless, Democratic riddled internet to get their books----but a city's livable index to any thinking person is based on the number of bookstores in town! I suppose I should have seen this coming`--as America turns into a nation of monster trucks, D students, who grow up to be bible thumpers and snake dancers......what good are bookstores anyway---they just make you think and we don't need that kinda thing around here----

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=9355560&page=1

I'm finished with my ASUS daily carry netbook. The battery was crapping out---Lynx was ok for web-surfing and email but that was it. I could not make downloads or supplemental hardware work at all---video wise you tube worked but that was it----and overall it was a tremendously frustrating system for me compared to what i wanted to do and be. So I purchased a new Samsung GO netbook. This is the first time I have owned a Samsung product and I am looking forward to changing my mobile computing processes.

I decided to constructed a logical system in the replacement of my ASUS netbook by obtaining a matching, recommended Samsung usb disc drive at the same time as I purchased my GO netbook. One of my additional major problems with the ASUS was matching components to it for increase capability with my limited computer capability. My hope is that by matching all necessary equipment during this upgrade my new system should work together flawlessly.

The Samsung GO weighs in at 2.9 pounds and has a 9 hour battery life and runs windows XP. Rubber textured exterior and a pebble textured keyboard assists in my demands for computer capability anywhere. The 10.1 inch screen's video play back function has received excellent reviews and my hope is to be able to tap into my netflicks account from anywhere. Netflicks coupled with the USB disc player I purchased in combination with this netbook should allow me independent movie capability anywhere--anytime.

http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/office/mobile-computing/netbooks/NP-N310-KA05US/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail

I digitally purchased a Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner for operation in the nerd cave followed by the rest of the bungalow if possible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba

There is something intriguing in having a self-directing, robotic vacuum cleaner in operation---Since I am disappointed so by our present future---no jetpacks, no driving to London in a plastic tube beneath the Atlantic Ocean, no Mars colonies---the one item we baby boomers actually accomplished in the supposed tomorrow-tomorrow land projected for my personal future by scientists of the 1950's--- is the robotic vacuum cleaner and I want one!

The Roomba model I have picked is the workshop Robot--according to the reviews this model cleans better, works on hardwood floors, is good at dog hair, and is the cheapest model in the line. Apparently you find this rascal up--it first memorizes your floor plan and furniture placement and then goes to vacuuming free of human guidance. There maybe no commuting to work by jetpack for me....but our house will be maintained by a robot staff.

This material will without a doubt contribute to my rather unique.... hermit-geek-bizarre little world I create for myself...of which in some ways I am very proud. If the world does not fit you..re-manufacture it to do so.

From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own.
Carl Schurz

Cold this week in New Mexico--Snow, ice---like everywhere else in the US apparently. Luckily by this weekend it's gone and daytime temps are in the 40's again. Nothing huge going on in my world--small troubles and small solutions. I am working on my photography both for my art and for this blog---i need to learn to stop and take that picture that strikes me at the moment, rather than driving on with business or whatever. I had one of my best MPG PRIUS days ever Friday at 57.2 mpg on my commute home---well then onward..

You must go here---a photographic site call "There, I fixed it."

http://thereifixedit.com/

If you have ever stood in awe of your own genius in making things work via cheap inspiration this is the site for you.

No words necessary............

LOST season five is out on streaming and DVD. JoJo and I watched 17 episodes, in one week. I cannot imagine how people can watch this show on network television and enjoy it. The show during network broadcasting has 18 minutes of commericals apparently...coupled with the demand of waiting a week for the next episode I don't know how you do it....Although being broadcastless we are forced to wait a year between season DVD releases I would rather do than lose my train of thought through interruptions. The final season is out there so the end is near for this most excellent concept. I am going to miss this.

Since JoJo and I have been lost in the frenzy of viewing the 5th season of LOST on DVD I decided to make one more hunt for an affordable John Locke figure. The price of this specific figure (photography below) pushed up to 4 times it's release price lately..and production of the LOST figures has stopped. This was one of those "I knew I should have" times. I waited on purchasing this figure and then the price jumped. This week tho I discovered a seller at a reasonable, (but still way higher than release) price and jumped on it. Locke is the only 'old guy' true action figure available----which makes this piece even more valuable to me....old guys deserved action figures too. This piece is in route to my collection and I am very happy to have been able to pick up one of these before they disappear.

I received my ROCKETEER version 2.5 12" Action figure by MEDICOM this week and it is excellent! I could not have asked for a better figure...perfect in every way. The photo below is literally how it looks on my desk real cloth and leather and beautifully manufactured almost museum quality. The ROCKETEER figure is the most expensive in my collection so far and the most wonderful--you get what you pay for I suppose. I am happy with my leap of faith into more expensive figures.

I am enjoying this new addiction I have developed late in life for action figure collecting. There are area's I need to improve in. First I need to plan out my purchases based on building a collection...then plan out ad control display conditions. Right now I am displaying my relatively small collection of figures the way most people do....on my desk and shelves. I have to plan out, and develop a methodology for displaying these figures in some sort of specialized shelving system. I am working on this but have not yet discovered the correct item(s) but I am still on the hunt.

Planning future figure purchases is the easy part--the next figure on my list is by the same company as the ROCKETEER Medicom, and is John Conner from Terminator Salvation displayed in the photograph below.

We can speak of second childhood all we want----I have discovered something I really enjoy doing and was denied of as a youth....now I'm old and I have money and the desire so what....

I have wondered how Amazon does it...I buy almost everything interesting in my life now from them and they have NEVER, NEVER yet screwed it up---in today's world of shrugged shoulders and no help on the help line how can this be? Here are inside photographs of two of Amazon's secret warehouses somewhere in the world. I salivate at their organization..and this is why they never screw up.

http://gizmodo.com/5422694/santas-real-workshop-amazons-gargantuan-distro-centers

Civilization is unbearable, but it is less unbearable at the top.
Timothy Leary

I am treading water lately.....awaiting something to happen....but I do not know what event that might be. Or if it will happen. So i run in the hamster wheel of life. Don't get me wrong I enjoy life--I just have these internal processing glitches that occur at random moments such as right now. I try to overcome by reading, doing art, studying music---and finding something new to focus my attention. I am disconnected right at the moment and this will be as well.

THE ROCKETEER is an all time favorite film of mine. A cult classic. I have a Netflicks DVD copy of it sitting on my player right now and I am awaiting the perfect, undisturbed moment to view it. What is there not to like...incredible art deco styling, rocket packs, Nazi stormtroopers in Los Angeles, Howard Hughes, gangsters, garage inventors, 1930's airplane racing, Mauser Broomhandle pistols and best of all-------- Nazi airships. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocketeer_(film)

If you have never viewed THE ROCKETEER you are missing something very,very special. Disney corporation spared no expense with this film planning on several spin offs for their company...including additional films beyond the first. Unfortunately the film must have demanded something way above the average American viewer and the film was never the success demanded in the United States, the concept of the Rocketeer died a sudden and complete death. A tremendous hit in Japan.....Luckily.

When the film failed to American studio executives standards the follow up merchandising mass production such as film related action figures was cancelled....But the Japanese firm Medicom produces a 1/6th scale highly detailed Rocketeer action figure in very small quantities. OK so all this build up gets to the point that I found one of these figures today on Amazon and bought it.

I simply could not help myself. It will be the most expensive figure in my small, nerd cave collection and one of my most desired.

I came to wanting action figures so late in life---I am culturally the 50 year old virgin when it comes to these things...but i do not collect figures based on future value---they are art to me---I open the boxes and collect what i want to based on personal value...so that I can sit and look and see the character in my head and escape. Desire is tough and this time I gave in.

I've been spending much time this week randomly thinking---it's not that i can't focus...or that I am unhappy with the process. This random thinking process is more as if that my mind has independently decided to put my thoughts on uncontrolled "shuffle". I have been off work sick for two days, which has allowed me to sort of roam free through my head. These sick day thoughts resemble Randy Newman songs--that's an obscure reference which if you don't get---you don't. We have also had a two day snowstorm while I have been off--quieting the world..I was lucky in being sick...snowfall is one of those things best enjoyed when you have no requirements otherwise the daily protocol is severely disrupted. During this snowed in, sick time period I have been doing a small amount of art--I have been using my Blackbird fly camera---that came in last week.

http://blackbirdflycamera.com/

Loaded with black and white film and set on the sprocket to sprocket print setting I've taken a few photo's so far just to warm up to the camera. I want to seriously start looking for shots that I can include in my drawings. Or those bizarre things that catch my eye. I appreciate the idea of being both analog and digital photography capable at any moment. Photography is the art I turn to when I am sad for reasons unknown to me....I do equate photographs to sad moments......even if they appear not to be.

Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them.

I have just been putting my head down and existing....seemingly without purpose. There has been nothing produced that I wish to be a part of lately. It may be the result of fall and winter.

I am doing internal things---art, photography, writing, organizing.....but in a way to what end?

I am planning on modifying my Prius for additional mileage---but I am considered a wacko at work for conserving while surrounded by huge pick-up trucks and SUV's. I do not require the accolades of others but leave me alone at least. I cannot get a response from the local power company on their phony solar panel plan....no one answers the phone or their emails. So I create power for my use but cannot contribute...Phony is the basis of everything now......Society is as repressive as ever--possibly more--in the drive to create income. To put off the changes that must be made.

It must be the winter---it must be.

I recently discovered the film "Legion". I can barely wait for it's DVD release. It appears as if it is a sort of Prophecy with guns, lots of guns, lots of demons, and angry angels. All due to a pregnant waitress in a desert diner.... The cast seems to be made up of actors you have seen dozens of times in strong supporting performances in other movies...... The link below takes you to the movie site where the trailer is absolutely excellent...the first time I viewed the trailer I simply sat and made Wow sounds. This will definitely be one of those movies I must buy on DVD to watch repeatedly if the film follows true on the trailer. I must admit there are times where my No movie theater rule bums me out but.....too bad. This looks excellent.

http://www.legionmovie.com/

" That's mighty good police work there Lou..."

if this guy actually did this he hated his job worse that I hate mine...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/24/kentucky.census.worker.death/index.html

I told you they would be coming for you----first smokers then fat----------

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8376858.stm

Is that the war against weed will end.

There is always a karmic truth to things.

The current depression and the changes to our society that our economic self destruction has created (that everyone knows is coming...except for our politicians) will END Marijuana prohibition. The largest cash crop in the United States is now Marijuana. It amazes me that people still get caught at the border trying to bring weed in....why? Too stupid to grow I presume. The economy is and will be in the toilet--which means more people will be turning to growing than buying and brewing rather than buying......what about the 78 MILLION baby boomers, my personal special interest group, is up for retirement which means no more Job demanded urine tests and it's time to fire up once again...how many tens of million wrinkled old asses will the government then put in jail....because let's face it---getting old stoned is way better than just getting old. 80 years of societal stupidity is nearly over---and Republican wall street bankers will have been the cause of it------funny eh?

http://reason.com/blog/2009/11/19/reasontv-buy-american-pot

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."
Napoleon Bonaparte

I have purposefully kept myself isolated from our sad excuse for a culture recently.

Being isolated from the ship of fools our nation has become is good for me, good for my mind.

I have tried to stay within routines I can control----having a consistent routine assists your body and mind in coping with the world out there and staying healthy. The mind and body need anchor points to rely on...a favorite coffee shop for lunch where you are known and can get a rest stop of quiet in the middle of the workday....moments to write in personal notebooks---Good books to read-------personal experiments to work on with no time limits. Organized---clean space both at work and at home...

These and many more small anchor points I am attempting to pay attention to on a daily basis regardless of what confusion and dirt the world may throw at me. Fuck the rest of the world.

but------

I currently have three books in the process of being read, the latest added being "The Math Book" by Clifford A. Pickover. Excellent! a compilation of the greatest Math theories by timeline through human history.

http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/math-book.html

and-----------

tonight is classic Science fiction night, the planned viewing is the movie THEM ------not the John Carpenter them, but the original 1950's giant ants from New Mexico attack the world THEM...... http://www.bmoviecentral.com/bmc/reviews/34-duanes-reviews/78-them-1954-92-minutes.html

I do create my own world and enjoy it----------

Fall and winter makes everything fall apart and become disorganized and ugly................

I hate the dead brown plants, arriving home in the dark from work, the cold and dirty automobiles in the morning. Everywhere I look the world appears like a scene from the movie The Road......I never realized how much I dislike this time of year until we had our gardens---I miss them. I can see now why farmers and gardeners live for spring. I don't have the holiday hang myself mental problem---I could care about the holiday season---its just that I've just discovered that this time of year lacks beauty and organization----and there is nothing that I can really do about it other than wait----

I have random attacks of wanting to do art....this is just personal for me----I do not walk around introducing myself as the "artiste" or anything---I hang around with some "art" people but it is by accident and because I like them----not because they do bad art you know? I just do my own stuff that I hang up in my nerd cave---drawing with manga markers and some odd photography---like the header for this blog. Sometime I like to combine photography with my little drawings---During an attack of art last week I ordered a Blackbird Fly, twin lens reflex camera.

http://blackbirdflycamera.com/

I have always wanted a twin lens reflex but the good ones were out of my price range until this camera. Analog using standard 35mm film the blackbird allows you to take sprocket to sprocket photos as displayed. I ordered five rolls of black and white film along with the camera cause my plan is to do a few things with a b&w photo surrounded by my weird stick figure drawings.....anyway I am looking forward to seeing the world through a new camera---

"I'm not insane -- my mother had me tested."

Dr. Sheldon Cooper

This week was filled with visiting, reading, receiving my ordered books and action figure computing, art and of course the never ending working. All in all not a bad week---immune from the family requirements of the holiday season is wondrous--

No family=No complications.

The entire next month should be even more excellent--those that make my life miserable at work are at home making their relatives and families miserable and I am free to enjoy having no drama at work, and no requirements of my own---like a Buddhist hermit i will drift pleasantly.....till everyone comes back!

This is somewhat interesting-----an article in the Huffington Post on 18---yes-------

The 18 biggest proven lies in Sarah Palin's book---Eighteen---18 just the biggest mind you.... Now the proof is not a he said she said thing....these 18 Stories---- were in direct contrast with her previously recorded statements. So this is very interesting, either she was lying then or is she lying now. Which is it? This evidence will of course make no difference to the white trash that will buy her book---fortunately many of them are now unemployed because of republican policy they will have to wait until the book is discounted down in the dollar store. What have we come to when this pos is any kind of a public figure......

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/17/going-rogue-the-18-bigges_n_359837.html

This may be old news to some but quite the discovery for me.... a film called "THE OBJECTIVE". Recommended by a friend I watched this film this past week on DVD. Your enjoyment of the film will be dependent on the condition that you are willing to overlook the ending. My belief is that the film is excellent the ending does not bother me.

Here is the basic premise. A special forces team lead by a CIA operative enters an area in Afghanistan where there has been unusual radioactive signatures detected by satellite surveillance----although it is not weapons of mass destruction and the CIA knows that it is not.......great acting, tremendous backgrounds since it was filmed in Morocco, perfect firefights and representations of an sf team in motion, the movie should be watched just for the naturalness of the actors and their characters. Find this movie and watch it if you enjoyed "Tears of the Sun" you'll like this.

http://www.objectivemovie.com/

My weekly averages this fall are running consistently over 50 miles per gallon. This is up from last year. Usually when the weather turns colder my Prius gets worse mileage. Due to the stupid requirement to heat the catalytic converter and the change in wind direction on my commuting path with the change of the seasons. This year the reduction in mileage has not shown up yet. I've been maintaining anywhere from 50.7 to 54.7 miles per gallon without fail and without a change in driving technique? My 2007 prius has now a total of 41,117 miles on it without a problem. All parts remain original and my only complaint is that the Plexiglas headlight covers are becoming scratched and dull from road wear and tear. Once again i can tell the Bush's and the Saudi princes to bite me.

"You know, it’s amazing how many super villains have advanced degrees. Graduate schools should probably do a better job at screening those people out."

Dr. Sheldon Cooper