Life

 Life

So, Life is over.  Or, more likely Life never was. I think of something. And then I imagine that it never existed. But maybe it exists, and it is I who never existed.  How would I know? And would it make any difference either way?

Will my great granddaughter awaken someday, and ask, did I have a great grandfather named Richard? And if so, why? Or why not?

I think of India. Why? Because I lived there. Or did I? Does that place exist, or did my mind simply invent it?

And then I think of Donald Trump. Surely he exists, does he not? Well, does he? Ummm, maybe . . . maybe not. Does a squirrel wandering alone in the forest know of that Donald Trump? And if not, why not?

We went to our Farmers’ Market this morning. And folks wandered about, some even spoke to me, or about me.  And did that matter? Why would it? Some laughed at me, with me, about me. And then they went off without me, to spend the rest of their lives without me.

Why am I writing this squirrely piece? Because I do not any longer exist in any meaningful way?

But tomorrow, will I awaken and understand that life  is but a brief moment, and then it is gone, as though it never existed.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow. Will they arrive on schedule, and then go away, as does everything called life? I stare out at existence. Will that Donald creature still be here tomorrow? Or will he too disappear as though he never existed? That would be nice.

Tomorrow. Yes. Do arrive.                              

Hitler is Alive And Well

So what, now we are acting as literal pirates, seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker, and vowing to keep the oil? Is that not the literal definition of a global pirate? And that act falls on the heels of murder, when we killed two men hanging onto the side of a boat we had bombed. We said they were narco-terrorists, but in reality the two men were in the act of drowning, when we killed them. Some label those killings as War crimes, but in fact we are not at War with Venezuela or anyone else.  So, killing them was simply murder, carried out by a direct order of the US Secretary of Defense (likely instigated by Trump).

And nobody within the American government is calling for anyone’s immediate arrest.  And that defines the entire Trump Administration.  I would call it “Anarchy”, but apparently we have something different. Anarchy, simply put, is the absence of government or ruling authority, meaning no rulers or leaders, and can refer to either total chaos and lawlessness or a society organized by voluntary cooperation and freedom without coercion. And we have a “ruling authority”—the US Government, as defined and run by Donald Trump. Our government is now moving towards . . . towards, what . . . Nazism? And what is that? Nazism is totalitarian principle of government, predominance of especially Germanic groups assumed to be racially superior. Sounds vaguely like Trump, but he is moving towards his own definition of a Supreme Government Authority. Partly, he has brought into his government people who seem quite unskilled, ignorant even, of the jobs to which they were appointed. Mainly, their job is to carry out whatever Acts by Government that Trump dictates, whether those acts are  defined as “legal” or “Illegal”.  That was the essence of Nazi Germany. Whatever Hitler said or dictated, his followers were obliged to implement.

And oddly, Trump has removed all checks on him, through his republican Congress and his appointment of empty-headed Supreme Court justices (SCOTUS is dead: RIP).  I am pushing onto 91 and have never observed anything like this kind of authoritarian rulership.  In my dim past, I had always thought that Reagan, or maybe Bush II were awful, but they seem saints by comparison.

So, now, with two years to go, America is stuck with a full Nazi-like government that thinks it can kill anyone it wants and act as The Pirate of the Seas whenever it suits them. And because SCOTUS is dead, there seems no one to stop them. Imagine that?

So World, I do not know whether you have the Chutzpah to step in and say, “OK, Donald, No More!” See, that might mean a literal war, and then all those Nukies might become a threat to the world.

Where is AI when it is really needed?

Bye bye World.

Heaven & Hell

 

I finally figured it out. Why do so few people enter heaven, whereas almost everyone heads into Hell, after you know, that Death Thingie.  WHY?

Cuz you need a User ID and a Password to get into Heaven. See, for some long time, God was allowing all kinds of dudes into Heaven. And the folks residing up there began complaining –“Oh no, you allowed Harry in here? What kind of Fake place is this? Are there no standards for Heaven?” Then, finally,  one of the residing angels got God’s attention. “Um, Sir, do you really think Adolph there deserves to be here, as opposed to, well, you know, the other place?”

And God thought about Adolph and finally concluded, “Dear, I think you may be right. Perhaps I have been a bit too easy-going on my entry decisions. But, what to do, what to do?” And his angel guardian said, “well why don’t we require a password to get into Heaven? That way, we can block all the ne’er-do-wells, none of whom will have a password.” And God thought a bit and then said, “My dear, that is a brilliant suggestion. From now on, we will issue a user ID and a Password to all the good folks who croak, and refuse same for all the baddies, you know like Hitler and Miller and Trump. They can take the down elevator to our friend below. Great thinking. I will get to work on it immediately.”

And so a new system of transition entered the game of Death, Heaven and Hell. To enter Heaven, a new prospect had to produce a user ID and a Password for the Guardian Angels to review.  If they pass, then the doors will be opened for them. Otherwise, they are directed to the Down Elevators.

Now God was not too well versed in this hi-tech stuff, and so he turned to his BFF down below, You know, Mr. Satan. And he said, “Hey Bud, I need some tech help here. Are you willing?” And Satan said, “Sure what’cha need”?

“Well,” said God, “ I need a new system to allow the goodies, while denying the baddies (you know, your folks) entry to Heaven. We are thinking that everyone who departs and heads to the Pearly Gates will be asked to present a User ID and a Password to the Guardians. If they look legit, then and only then will the Guardians open the Pearly Gates and allow entry. Otherwise they are directed back downstairs to you. So, what do you think?  Oh, and I would love it were you to design the system by which User IDs and Passwords are issued. That is, what do folks seeking entry have to demonstrate in order to get an official entry pass?”

And then Satan, Laughed quietly, and said, “Oh I think I can help you there. I have some great ideas.”

And so the system by which folks gain entry to Heaven or Hell was born. When one croaks and then shows up at the Pearly Gates, the Guardian Angels produce a body of questions about your origins, what you did for a living, where you went to school, who you married and other personal life items.  Only if you pass that test, will you be issued a new User ID and Password.  And then you will be asked to sleep on it for a few hours, then return when you will be asked to produce your Used ID and Password. And no writing it down. You’re in Heaven remember, Pens and paper are not allowed in.  So, keep that memory sharp.

And so the new system began. And that system was greeted by a sharp fall-off in new entrants. And Satan was really happy. And he was in such a good mood, that he came up with a brilliant new Idea. Satan called up one of his Earthling BFFs in the Hi-Tech industry down below. He explained this concept of User IDs and Passwords to inhibit people from gaining access to Hi-tech systems. And the Dudes laughed hilariously and decried, “Woe, what a brilliant plan. We will have so much fun.”

And so the new system began taking roots on Earth. And everyone was happy. Well, the ultimate users were not so happy, but they don’t matter to anyone, do they?

Death?

 We watched Stephen Colbert interview Anthony Hopkins the other night.  Stephen referred to Hopkins as “Tony”. Tony??? Anthony Hopkins??? Wow. And nobody laughed.

Oh well. But the interview was fascinating, because Hopkins is fascinating.

During the interview, it was revealed that Hopkins is 87 years old. I’m 90, so “Tony” fits right in. And they spoke of aging and how one copes. Hopkins at one point said that he is not frightened by his age.  And I thought, “well I am not frightened either . . . sort of”.  But I do find myself fearful of what Death actually means.  I was reading about some woman the other day. The article said that she had “died” for 7 hours I think. And then recovered. And I thought, “Huh, well no she didn’t DIE. Her heart apparently stopped beating for 7 hours, but then I guess it began again. And she “recovered”.  But see, you aren’t DEAD when your heart stops beating. You are dead when your brain ceases to function permanently.  As I best understand it (and I am NOT a DOCTOR!) your heart feeds your brain blood and oxygen. I assume it is mainly the oxygen the brain needs to continue functioning.

But back to that frightening thing. I wonder what was going on with that woman. If her brain was not yet dead, did she continue “knowing” stuff?  And that is the thing that frightens me. I think now about my brain functioning. But suppose my brain finally STOPS. That is, my brain no longer functions. Now, I am officially DEAD, BUT, I do not know I am DEAD, because I do not know anything.  And then, I look out the window and I see the sky, or maybe a tree line. And I think, well, without my brain I would not see that sky, because I would not “SEE” anything. BUT, and here is the scary part. I would no longer know that I could not see that sky, because I would not “KNOW” anything, including that fact that I did not know anything.  Now that is scary.

See, Organized Religion has treated us all to the utter absence of true Death. If Death means you cannot see anything, AND you do not know that you cannot see anything because you do not know anything, then religion has broken down.  See, in Religion, when you die, you simply acquire a different vision. You are now looking down from above. See, you know you are dead, but you are looking down on all your relatives, and watching them do stupid things. That’s what religion promises. But because religion is a fraud, that isn’t actually what happens when you die.  When you die, you no longer exist, because your brain no longer exists. You’re dead, but you don’t know that.

And that is really scary . . . at least to me.

So, “Tony” does that part scare you, or are you truly immune to being scared?  Talk to me Tony. Tell me how you really feel. Ot tell Stephen and he can tell me.

Turning 90

I was doing just fine, thanks. And then, last December, I turned 90. At the time, I thought, Oh, how nice. And they are throwing me a nice party. “Drinks all around. Richard has turned 90.”

And then, life went on.  And then, guess what? That following July 2^nd, we celebrated our 70^th anniversary. Now, not many people celebrate turning 90 . . . but 70 years of marriage? And a Happy 70? Even fewer.

And then, we kept on truck’n.

But, for reasons I fail to understand, I have become aware of why relatively few turn 90 successfully, and then keep on truck’n. Nothing dramatic happened. Yeah, Carol has had  her chemo infusions and they are unhappy events. The first 7 seven days now of each month (Monday – Friday and then Monday and Tuesday) she receives two shots of a chemo in her belly.  And they are beyond annoying for her. They hurt. They tire her. But she is a tough cookie and keeps on truck’n. Yep, she continues quilting for those sick kids at the hospital, keeps on fixing me wonderful meals daily, and we even go on our datenites each Thursday at the Brewery. So, our lives together continue.

But I have begun experiencing sleep difficulties (as does Carol). In part, I have begun thinking more about the inevitable consequences of this aging thing.  Which is that, at some stage, you stop living.  Yeah, partly, I now keep seeing postings on social media about folks of whom I am aware, who just died. Most are well known actors, but I also learn about people I actually know who just croaked.

And then I notice little things. I used to walk confidently, even run confidently. Now I walk carefully. I am not exactly unsteady on my feet. But confidently is not how I might describe my style.

And, although I routinely see folks who are well into their 90s, seemingly alive and well, I am not really seeing myself with them. And then, the more religious among us, including those few within the family, talk about the recently departed as “looking down on us from that heavenly place up above.” But I am thinking, “well no, THEY simply no longer exist.” We listen to Stephen Colbert routinely. He often asks a guest what happens when we die. And their responses always seem to at least touch on that afterlife thing, although most are tentative. But my brain keeps thinking, “Well, what happens, is that your brain ceases to operate, and you no longer know anything, including the fact that you are dead.” Yeah, you are dead, but YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT.” Why, well because you have no brain.  And YOU were always simply your brain.  So, there is no AFTER Thingie.  And that’s where my actual alive brain ceases to imagine. Happily, we have no way of knowing when that will happen. AND, we will never know when it actually happens, cuz then, we will no longer know anything. And that fact now keeps me thinking.  Yesterday, I looked out across the street and viewed the house over there, Then I looked just beyond and saw the remains of the sun--some clouds, brightening. And then I thought, well one day that will still be there, but I will no longer know it. Nope. My brain will be gone--well technically not gone, but ceased, no longer operating. And so I will not look out any longer, because I won't be doing anything any longer. And that is really hard to imagine. Me no longer an active me.  And see, if you are religious, then you begin imagining looking down from up above. But if you do not believe in an afterlife, then you have to think of NOTHING. What the Hell is NOTHING like? Well, I won't know, will I. Because I will no longer know anything. And even that awful prospect cannot get me to that Disney channel where I imagine myself sitting on a cloud. Nope, there are indeed clouds, but no misty folks up there.  Makes me half wish I did believe. But I don't, and so . . . sigh.

So, keep on truck’n folks, cuz this is all we have. Make the most of your time, cuz there ain’t any other time. Think about what you are doing. Try always to make the folks around you happier than they might otherwise be.  Smile if you can, especially when you are looking directly into someone’s eyes. They may smile in return. 

Charlie Kirk: A Dilemma

So, Charlie Kirk was shot and done in. And the responses have been  . . . “Yay” . . . to, “Oh My God, how awful”. See, it all depends on your view of Charlie’s past utterings.  Yeah, Charlie was a profound Utterer, and pretty much to one side of the Utterance Social Channel. See Charlie was pretty much way over there, on that side where Hitler, had he still been in our midst, would have been applauding loudly. Charlie seems to have been:

A Racist, a homophobe, an anti-Latino, Anti-LGBTQ rights. He was a Christian Nationalist, and perhaps the farthest right wing of any of the folks in MAGALand.

So, does that mean he should have been a target of a shooter? Well, No, but it depends on where your brain takes you when confronting PoliticaLand.  See, suppose Charlie was not Racist, or  homophobic, and really just disagreed with most Latino politicians. Would he still have been a likely target? Hmmm, likely Not.

But see, the real bottom line here is that none of our politicians—Right or Left—should be targets, and that of course includes Donald Trump.  Why??? Well, we live theoretically in a country where we settle our disputes at the Ballot Box, rather than through the barrel of a gun.  So, in America, the Charlie Kirk’s of the world should be safe from targeted assassination. 

I admit that every time I see an ICE Gangsta, my first thought is, “will someone shoot him?” They all look like some foreign intruders, Gangsters really, with their masks, and camo garb. They seem like evil creatures in and from a foreign land—an evil foreign land.  Now, to be fair, Charlie Kirk never dressed up like an ICE Gangsta. He always looked normal. But whenever he opened his mouth, he seemed, well not quite American. Again, to be fair, MAGA folks don’t really seem American either, but still not worthy of assassination.  Now the January 6^th MAGAs were every bit worthy of assassination, especially as some of them were in fact killing police. So, a Trump pardon seems way extreme, on the other side.

And if he continues down his chosen path of using our military to force his will on American cities, I fear that we may be headed for something way beyond Charlie Kirk. One can almost smell that CIVIL WAR thing.  And the MAGA crowd is likely heavily armed. We’ll see about the American electorate.

So, keep an eye peeled folks, for the drumbeats of Right Wing Warriors.  I think you can almost see them coming sooner rather than later.

 

Life's a Bitch

I’m 90, as you likely know. So, periodically, my thoughts turn to . . . Death. Yeah, I know. Bummer, huh? But not just Death. Rather, What is Death? And I have concluded that Death is a peculiar state. It is a state, when I do not just lose consciousness. Or I just lose “awareness”. No, I no longer “Know” anything, because my brain no longer functions. I don’t know if you have thought about such a state . . . when your brain no longer works. You are dead, but you no longer know you are dead . . . because you no longer “KNOW” anything. You do not even know that your brain does not work. Nope. YOU are gone. And, you are not GONE into that Heavenly space where you meet your grandfolks. Or maybe that hot place where you meet Satan. No. You simply no longer exist, and you do not know that, because you have no brain.

It’s hard to comprehend such a state of nothingness . . . a state where you no longer are aware that you are not aware. Try thinking about such a state. It ain’t easy.

Yeah, but I’m 90 and you’re not, so you may not be having such exotic thoughts. UNLESS . . . yeah, I’m thinking about the parents of those little kids who were shot AND killed in that school in Minnesota, The mom, who’s grieving now, may well be thinking about all the years her little one will not experience.  See, parents don’t think about such things normally. Instead, they think about what their little ones are having for lunch, or maybe what they are learning that day at school.  See, thinking about a state of Nothingness is not on her mind.  Or at least, we hope it is not.  We hope she is having Happy Thoughts about what she will do when her little ones return from school, and maybe, what she may fix them for dinner.

See, that young man who got out his guns and went over to that school he once attended and then began shooting at the place, was also not thinking about the possible states of non-being he might be imposing on some very young kids who had most of their lives in front of them.  See, he was unlikely to even be aware of the Death State, and what it really means.  See the young ones he killed were not thinking of that state, and now are not thinking anything. He took that away from them. Killing someone is a weird thing to do. Most people who do the killing have no idea what they are doing, because their brains are malfunctioning when they are in that act of killing.  Maybe it’s a good thing that young man was killed in the act. Now he cannot think about what he did. We might prefer it were he able to think. But his brain was malfunctioning anyway. No normal functioning brain would allow such a cruel act. And it makes me wonder what his Mother is now thinking. But more, it makes me wonder about the Mothers, and the fathers, of those dead children and what they are thinking.  “Life’s a bitch, but then you die”. Yeah, but NOT THAT WAY.   NO. Parents are supposed to be thinking about their kids graduating from school, and maybe even college someday.  They are not supposed to be preparing a Gravestone for their kids.  That’s just wrong.  So, what do we think about guns, and about malfunctioning kids having possession of guns? Not such a hot idea huh?

Well, let us all think about those parents of the little dead kids.  Send them your thoughts and prayers, even though they won’t bring back their kids.