A better measure of the human condition. (inclusive)
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Last year my pool turned green. I kept adding hypochlorite, but whatever was growing in it seemed to be mutating with every bucket I added. I attempted to 'shock' the system, as every web site on pool maintenance suggested, so I added about 15 gallons of bleach. That not only shocked the pool, but the chlorine fumes forced me to keep the windows on my house closed for two days. The neighbors gave me dirty looks, both when the poo, turned green, and then when the chlorine fumes hit their barbeque. This year I'm selling my pool. I'm sure there's still some residual alien life in it, as the chlorine never did kill whatever it was, it just turned a brighter green, almost flourescent. So the things will move to a different part of town, and terrorize another neighborhood. I'm sure in time it will turn out like that movie .. Bodysnatchers ... that was it! and the kids in school next fall will all have blank stares by second semester.
Even 50 million years ago, the little guy knew what it took to get ahead. Hard work, intellect, and virtuous behaviour, just don't pay off as well as who you know, how personable you are, and how manipulative you can be. Darwin was right.
This is a transparent ruse to lure people into this alley. With winter coming on, who could resist the thought of spiced apple cider, or mulled wine, in front of a crackling fireplace? Isn't that a cozy mental picture? ... a cold wind blowing outside, snowflakes starting to fall, news of yet another hurricane in places you'd expect to vacation when it does get cold. But no, you're sitting in front of those toasty flames, with that comfort drink, curled up against another warm body, with grandmother's quilt wrapped around your shoulders. With that in mind, you think to yourself, now totally distracted in your own thoughts... 'I need a fireplace, and this is just the place to get one'. You wander into the alley.
If you look closely at the picture, you will see a row of body-sized garbage containers lined up in a row against the wall.
So often people are presented a context which is so far from reality, but rooted in some basic need, that they fail to recognize false intentions and manipulation. Your local crack dealer, corporate America, religious leaders ... on common ground. Think about what people ask you to do.
Here is a construction site that I passed recently, which frankly baffled me. A scaffold was built to replace the roof on the building, but what reasoning or other influence caused the carpenters to build the scaffolding three times higher than the building itself? Was it a) the thrill of using an air-powered nail gun b) just plain enthusiasm c) one of them found plans for the Tower of Babel on the internet d) the joy of work e) inbreeding with resultant low IQ, f) crack. If you can think of other possibilities, please let me know so that I can sleep at night.
For most people, the grass is always greener. Whether it's job or location or relationship, something seems to be missing, and the attraction of some ideal leads to unrest. As you can see from this road sign, the place where I live has a lot to offer. Within a ten minute drive, I can have sex, sports, and the great outdoors. I live in paradise!
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. The girls that manage these 'massage' businesses, obviously do not have spelling as their forte. I imagine they are good at other things. Business seems to be thriving, based on the recent renovations done to the buildings that they operate in. Obviously, good English skills are not essential when you have a product that is in demand.
Here's a roadside sign for an organic products outlet. Sometimes, the natural remedy for problems, like the forest fire behind this sign, does not seem to be the best alternative. Like getting fat ... the natural remedy is to stop eating so damn much ... but hey, why deprive yourself of a bucket of blueberry cheesecake ice cream every day, when liposuction is available? Or too much sunshine, for example. The natural response to too much sunshine is skin cancer, but who can resist the attractive look of well-browned skin, when you can stave off the cancer with UV-absorbing photochemicals? Thank god for science.. I'm sure he's proud that we've used our brain capacity for useful inventions.
Some people have a very limited perspective of the world. Here's a meat store owner, who sees the world as a collection of sausages. Maybe it's a subliminal wish of his, that the universe embraces his passion, and that evolution will eventually result in the conversion of homo sapiens to sausages. When you think that through, it's a self-defeating desire, as a world populated with sausages would ruin his business. Wouldn't sausages eating other sausages be ... canniballistic?
Holiday scare! Recently I opted to take a peaceful outdoor vacation in Cuba. At the hotel, a variety of tours were available, and I decided on a boat cruise that stopped at an iguana colony. After an hour on the water, the boat pulled up to a weathered wooden dock on an isolated promontory, mostly bare volcanic rock. The tour giude suggested the best place to see the iguanas was near the feeding stations. A number of us departed the boat, and continued on foot through difficult terrain to the tip of the peninsula, following a barely visible path. The feeding stations were empty, which seemed strange, but there were a number of unusually large iguanas lounging in the sun. I crouched down with my camera and shimmied up to this one as slowly as I could. As I got closer, I realized how large this thing actually was .. as long as I was! Then, as I was about to take the shot, I noticed a ragged pair of underwear hanging on a leafless bush in the background. What were these animals being fed? I had visions of my Rolex sliding past its tongue, as my fingers said goodbye to the world. Tourists disappear in third world countries every day. I made it back, and have a cupboard full of rum to prove it. I drink some when I think back on this close encounter.
There seems to be a disconnect here. The fence is substantial, and nobody would end up in the water unless a) they got thrown in, in which case the thrower would be unlikely to use the life preserver b) a wilful attempt was made to enter the water, in complete disregard for the No Swimming sign, in which case you would think the person could swim and was in no danger. If a passerby used the life preserver to save someone that had broken the bylaw and was swimming, would they be fined $300 for misuse? Maybe better not to get involved, it could cost you! In any case, anyone with intelligence would not be swimming in water this close in proximity to the industrial wasteland of the Detroit skyline, and does not need a No Swimming reminder. All others, jump in and apply for the Darwin award.
