The Free Market Won't Help You

Hope yesterday's post provided some food for thought in starving minds.  Hey, I made it to Friday, and instead of getting my week off next week, I'll still have to work part of the week before I can take some time off.  But it's not like it's going to be a holiday, I'm going to be in a lot of pain.  But being at home in bed with a nice book will provide some welcome relief from the grind of day to day living which has consumed me at the moment.

What annoys me about society these days is that the consumer barely has any rights.  There's a whole load of legislation and other laws to help protect consumer rights, but big retailers and sellers rarely inform customers of their rights.  On top of that, they create their own terms and conditions to get around laws and make you think you're not entitled to things when you are.  A denial of rights.  What's more is that when you complain, they know they don't have to do anything.  They prefer to think they're right and that you're in the wrong.  This leaves you with no choice but to complain to the authorities to lean on them until you get what you're legally entitled to.  That's not on.  They should adhere to the laws, and I don't think any level of Government has done enough to levy penalties on businesses that operate under this model.  I don't think any consumer should give up when faced with that sort of situation.  It's happened to me twice now.

The thing about the free market is that it doesn't make any sense.  The price of property generally increases, but other items like cars reduce in value.  Then other things also increase like antiques, but other items go down, like clothing!  Tell me if there's any sense in that.  Yet it's a system that so many worship and don't question.  To me, that's not really a free market, because external forces set prices and expectations.  It's not a true, fool-proof system.

What I find hilarious about my own life is that in hindsight, snap decisions which may have seemed irrational at the time, are actually incredibly rational and appear to be the 'right' choice when considered in their totality.  The problem is that I never took the decision, and now I am paying the price for it.  How do you know what's right vs wrong?  It was right, and I should have known.  Or I should have been impulsive.  I'm in a vexed situation, where I can't quite reconcile whether what's in front of me is a red herring, or if I'm just reading too much into things.  Who knows.  The past holds answers, but the future only has questions.

Guitar is going nicely.  Got back into scale practice last night and I was in form.  Look forward to playing some more. 

I'm going to leave this one here. 

Joaquin out.

What's Wrong With Australia...?

I really hate having my time wasted.  I'm usually pretty time poor when it comes to my evenings on weekdays, so any interruption or distraction is typically not welcome.  So when you're left to carry out a task for several hours which ends up being a huge waste of time, I don't view it too kindly.  Didn't even end up getting to play guitar properly.  Just messing about, more noodling and unstructured ideas.  Haha, maybe I should take up free jazz.

The big problem with my blogging is that I get really fantastic ideas at inopportune times.  Usually when I'm in the shower, or about to drift off to sleep.  Of course I'll then forget what I wanted to say.  The problem is that I can't write things down!  I haven't kept blognotes since I left university.  I really only use it to maintain my Joaquin Rate List (JRL) so that I can have the names in front of me when I update the JRL.  But besides that, everything else is improvised on the spot by me.  It could potentially explain the declining quality of the posts, but also is responsible for the increased output compared to previous years.  So it's a double edged sword, really.

There is a massive problem in Australia at the moment.  Here is the simple truth - 99% of the people in Australia are illegal immigrants.  Australia belongs to the indigenous Aboriginal population.  The first white settlers came here illegally, and promptly took over the land under the mistaken belief it was unsettled.  This was a fact they knew not to be true, because they considered the original inhabitants to not be civilised or human enough.  They then took the land and killed the native people and throughout hundreds of years disenfranchised them and discriminated against them.  In fact, Aboriginals only received the right to vote well within the space of a lifetime ago.  The Australian High Court realised that the land wasn't unsettled when the white settlers first came, but there has been no restitution or reparations since then.

Now we have this (not so) new thing where politicians have capitalised on the fear of everything ethnic to win votes.  Xenophobia is the order of the day, as fears of an Asian invasion have given way slightly to fears of boat people or refugees seeking asylum from war torn nations.  Both sides of government have labelled these people as queue jumpers, illegals, potential terrorists and criminals.  It is under this basis that anyone caught making the dangerous trek to Australia by boat are usually taken by our navy at gunpoint and herded into detention centres in isolated parts of the country.  Or at least they used to, until offshore processing occurred.  Now they are shipped off to overseas places and placed in centres which resemble concentration camps.  They are kept behind razor wire, with abusive security guards, with inadequate facilities.  A lot of them develop psychological trauma and resort to hunger strikes, rioting and what not to be heard.  They are essentially treated as criminals for the right to seek asylum in another country.  That's simply not right.  It's hypocritical!  Australians are surrounded by so much space and natural resources, they really don't want to share it with anyone else, and that's a fact.  There's a belief that if you're not white, you're the 'other'.  You're not one of them.  They believe in treating everyone 'fairly' but that is all just for show.  The hostility and hatred is all there, just wait to keep your ears open behind closed doors.

An asylum seeker was killed just last week in a detention centre overseas.  And the government seems to be involved in cover ups and lies about the situation.  They've engaged in censorship and a lack of transparency that just typifies all governments, but is exemplary of the conservative style of government.  Aren't all the young liberals/republicans (for my US friends) all just a bunch of whingers and whiney bastards?  These are the people who become your government when you vote them in.  Always quick to criticise, but never provide solutions or alternatives.  The worst part?  The public doesn't even really care.  They are apathetic because both governments have done such a supreme job of dehumanising immigrants, even the ones who arrive by plane, merely because they look different.  Such hypocrisy and thuggery.  We don't deserve any goodness.  We don't deserve mercy.  To future waves of asylum seekers, I'd say don't even bother.  Go somewhere else, a place that will celebrate your talents and welcome you with open arms, because it won't happen in Australia.  We are a tarnished people consumed by hatred and greed.  We are the epitome of what's wrong with western society.  Become intelligent, become leaders, and then immigrants should take over the land, even illegally.  Even if not seeking asylum.  That is the Australian way.  Then kill the natives, disenfranchise us.  Discriminate against us.  That is the Australian way.  Take our land from right under us.  That is all we know.  To our Asian neighbours who watch as we thumb our noses at everyone else, when the missiles must be launched, target us first.  We don't deserve what we have if we're not willing to share it.  We don't deserve it if we can't help others.  The clock is ticking.  We will not change the tide of time.  The inevitable happens.  We get swamped.  The Australian way of life is nothing but a mirror to the people who happen to be living in it at the time.  It is not static.  It is ever changing.  We will be gone, and hopefully it will be back in the hands of those who really deserve it.

Ahhh rescheduling is a bitch.  Throws away your best laid plans.  I just want to lie down with a good book, but I guess I have to wait.  Anticipation is wonderful.  I have some sort of idea, but I could be wrong.  Who knows?  Only facts can change what I think.  Only facts can confirm what I know.

I'll keep this one there.

Joaquin out.

Social Cues, Personal Blues

Get back to work and everything, and most of it is done.  I'm looking at my task list and there's not really anything that needs to be done right now.  So on that basis, I'm gonna get back to some good old fashioned blogging.  It's also good to be back, you know!  Got into my warm ups for guitar last night and I sucked terribly.  I don't know why there was such a big difference between playing on Monday and last night, but I suppose it's just cause I was just mucking around on the first night, but actually using some structure on the second night.  Perhaps I just need a little time to redevelop my muscle memory.  I'll get there, it'll just take some effort.

Getting a procedure done on Friday, which means I get the week off after.  I'm not quite looking forward to it.  But time off work is always welcome.  I need to catch up on a lot of tv shows and movies.  I'm just gonna lay in bed or on the couch. 

Life is an interesting beast isn't it?  The people you grew up with, essentially children when you were one too, they all grow up.  The adults of today were yesterday's children.  It's hard to believe, isn't it?  They have their own children and the cycle of life continues.  When you're young, you feel invincible.  You cannot die.  But that's not the case.  You will grow old, your body will fail you.  You will die.  And it's just hard to wrap your head around the fact that this is something everyone has to go through.  My mind feels fine.  I feel the same as I ever did, but it is this mortal coil which is not permanent.  Does it just sneak up on you, or is it gradual?  That's all assuming you live a normal, natural lifespan.  A lot of people aren't that lucky.  Think about it, you will be dead someday.  You, reading this.  Everyone reading this.  Wow, what a revelation.  Do our lives even matter?  Is there any relevancy in what we do?  Think about what you're doing now, is it of any good impact on the world?  You probably have a positive impact on other people just by being alive, in ways you probably don't even know.  But is there a wider, global perspective?  If you're not making a positive impact on the majority, why are we even here?  I'm reminded of a plot from Red Dwarf, where a regulator travels back from the end of time after ascertaining there is no point to life, and puts everyone on trial.  If you've lived a worthy life, you get to live, if not, you get erased from existence.  Where do we fit in the cycle of existence?  More people are dead than are alive.  At some point, that may change, but it's a very long time away.

Why do we do this?  Why do we just go about our lives without regard to the end?  To the finality of everything?  Is it because we believe there is something else after?  To compensate for the wasted days, hours, years, lives?  Life as a unit of measurement, what does it entail?  All the ups and downs?  There is just so much we don't know.  From both a broader, world view perspective (science and what not), and on a personal level.  How do people feel when they can't understand something that I know?  How do I feel when I can't understand something other people do?  Is it a gnawing point?  Or is it just ignored?  We are a flawed species.  It's time to speak up.  Shout it out from the top of my lungs. 

There are way too many variables, and what I thought I had grasped may not even be in my hands at all.  That's the greatest illusion of all.  Nobody knows anything.  Or perhaps it can all be extrapolated.  Nobody tells you what you need to know.  Why is that?  Do we not understand each other?  The showdown is where it's at.  There is no preparation, everything is just organic.  But the question is if I even have the rage to maintain anymore.  I've only got 2 hours until I'm out of here and I can't wait.  There should be more to come tomorrow.

Joaquin out.

Oddities & Rarities

Is it weird that in a male dominated society, females get odd perks?  Like women get drinks bought for them at bars - but this is obviously a case of quid pro quo.  A lot of guys think that if you buy someone a drink, they owe you some sex.  But I'm thinking about other perks.  Like when women use pedestrian or zebra crossings.  Normally, traffic gets as close as possible if you're a guy or a larger female, before stopping.  But when you're an attractive female in a figure hugging dress, traffic slows down well before the crossing and waits for you to cross all the way.  How weird and grose!  Hahaha!  But I guess that's a form of quid pro quo, because they just want to stop and stare.

Isn't it strange when you see a guy checking out a woman?  They look so guilty and ashamed.  It's actually a personal hobby of mine!  Hahah!  I'm terrible.  If I see an attractive female, I will immediately scan for a guy in the vicinity so that I can catch him in the act of perving.  Hahaha, oh man I have a problem!  Okay I've been lazy with blogging today, but I have been actively typing throughout the day. 

I need to work on improving my memory.  I think within the last couple of years, things have definitely taken a dive.  My short term memory has never been good, but my long term memory has been reliable.  But lately, that too has been failing.  I need to learn new skills and get other parts of my brain working.  I'll get there.

More to come tomorrow, hoepfully.

Joaquin out.

Pre-Recovery Phase

It's the unsettling period before you know something is going to happen.  Whether it's positive or negative remains to be seen.  Sorry it's been so long, my life has been taking a crazy path lately.  But hopefully things are back on track from this week.  Back in the office, I can blog and get some work done.  But at least I get another short week and an entire week off next week.  I'll try to blog more in that space if I can.

For some ridiculous reason, even though it's been like 3 weeks since I've touched a guitar, I have really enjoyed playing lately.  Cut my nails and I'm just roaring.  I'm sure I've missed it.  It's nice coming home.  It's nice being home and just relaxing.

But I feel like it's about to be spoiled.  Made a return to the gym today, after about 3 weeks off, and damn, I was hurting.  But I'll try to remain motivated.

Hopefully more stuff to come out of the woodwork throughout the week as I get back into proper blogging mode.

Take care.

Joaquin out.

This Isn't Fun Anymore

But the key question that comes after it is whether it was any fun before? I don't think so. It has been a very long coma. The stuff of waking nightmares. What fresh hell is this? I believe I already know the answer.

Do you keep the memories alive or let them die a weird, unnatural death? Everything gets sullied by the end of it. Nothing remains untouched.

I still have those dreams, they're great. But everything is so far removed from reality, that by the time you are awake you know all that is lost and the spectre of the corporeal was a lie.

It was all there, I realised after the fact (hint hint) that it was a full 3 hours without thinking about it. And that's de me happy. So much made sense. Some of it? No, all of it. And I don't mind.

Sorry for not blogging while away. Everything is failing me, my body, my mind, and even wireless access, haha! More to come from me from later on I hope. Or it may be safe to assume I'm dead, and that's ok by me.

Anyway, I better leave it there for now.

Take care everyone. There needs to be some words. More words. There are just so many.

Joaquin out.

A Blog Like This

Heading off tomorrow.

I'll do my best to get some blogging in while I'm gone.  Thank god for blogger+, what a handy little program that is.  I'm glad I purchased it when I did.

In case I don't make it back, it's been good.  Sorry I never finished the JRL, but that's life.  I guess most of us depart with unfinished business.

Here's to you, and to whoever else reads this.

Joaquin out.

Fires For Days, All That's Left Are The Strays

Can you feel it in your bones?  Does it strike you down wherever you go?  Does it make you feel sick?  Only a few hours left until I'm done, but still so much to do.  It's been a busy day.  What can I say, it's been a busy few months.  It would be nice to just ease back into things, but that's not how things go, ever.  But I note the date, and how it can change things.  Maybe even for the worse.  No matter, it's all about the medium being the message.  That's what we can all determine.  Well that's what I learned anyway.

Just going to try and relax this weekend.  Not concerned with anything else really.  I just want to be gone and out of here and not caring about what's behind me.  I've just been so freakin' tired lately.  I need one good night of sleep just to get back into the swing of things. 

Here's hoping.

Joaquin out.

Race Bait = Race Hate?

We don't even deserve the chance.  I'm in such a bad mood.  I'm beyond tired.  I'm utterly exhausted, I don't even know how the hell I'm still functioning.  Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday, it was so busy that I didn't have a chance to write anything down for a blog post.  Came in late, was in meetings all day and had no time to get some actual work done.  Meetings are overrated.  That's something you will learn in time.  Nothing is happening.  I can't remember ever feeling this dead before.  Not as in tired, but as in zombie-fied and just not really engaging with the world.

Again, I'm perplexed.  On all fronts.  On all behinds, too, haha.  For whatever that's worth.  Hey, only one more day to go until I'm done.  I can't wait.  Although I do plan to spend the weekend packing and sleeping and not much else, really.

So today let's talk about racial dynamics.  If you look at places such as the bastion of stupidity, known as youtube or yahoo comments, you can see that there's a lot of repressed racism in the world, coming from mostly white middle class people.  Why is the world so out of whack?  They complain about black people, they complain about asians, they complain about hispanics.  They even complain about other white people!  Gimme a break!  There was an article the other day which said racism comes about due to fear of non-inclusion, therefore the only way to retaliate is by belittling other races.  I guess that could be true to some extent.  But racism is prevalent in pretty much every society.  But I don't think it's as insidious as it is with white cultures.  With whites, they supplanted and enslaved whole peoples and nations, yet in the 21st century, they are turning around and cursing immigrants who are taking their land, their houses, their jobs, their women.  The hypocrisy makes me laugh.  I think everyone needs to travel overseas, and get a perspective for things outside of their country.  You'll be surprised how it works wonders for people's presumptions and attitudes.

Before I go overseas, I should probably update the Joaquin Rate List (JRL) available HERE.  I think it'll be my last update for a while.  There just aren't that many hotties anymore!  Haha it's probably cause I'm getting older and more cynical.  I've also gotta get around to putting pics up of each person.  What's interesting is that as of last year, that particular post is no longer the highest viewed post on this blog!  How interesting!  Hahaha, I can't remember what is, but that post has way more views now.  Not bad at all.

The whispers start, and then they gather momentum.

I'm done with today, I hope I have something for tomorrow.

Joaquin out.

The Craptacular Crapopoly

Hahaha, this title hit me early this morning and luckily enough, I was able to remember it to use now.  It's been a weird day, and it's only 9:30 in the morning!  I felt strange, so I looked at my phone and realised I was in bed 6 minutes past my regular wake up time.  What happened?!  I assume I must have heard my alarm initially and then pressed snooze.  But I don't even recall that.  Maybe I even dreamed it?  Doesn't matter.  I made it to the gym, and had to skip a rep of weights so I could make it back home in time to get ready for work. 

The temperature has dropped 10 degrees overnight, and today feels so very strange.  It must have rained, it's overcast and dark and ominous.  What a beautiful day for a showdown.  It should really be Friday, like the ones I used to enjoy.  Maybe at that point I should have known that things weren't going to work out.  It's like the world holds its own secrets.  And we're not even witnesses to it.  It's like the end of the world today, and I for one just can't wait!  Yay!  I don't know what it is, I felt inspired to write today.  What do these people think of me?  Is everybody laughing at me?  I swear it's true.  Where do things stand in relation to each other?  Well, I suppose I better try to get at least some work done today.  Ahh, and just when I think things are ok, they blow up in my face and things get exciting and troublesome again.

This is all just random, sinister and confusing.  Something is up.  It's piqued my curiousity.  There is meaning in everything.  I will find it, and I will keep searching.

At the moment I'm reading Seinfeld and Philosophy.  It's a great book, and I'm enjoying the comparisons to Plato and Socrates.  Is there point in living a life that's unexamined?  Are these seemingly innane questions we ask ourselves everyday actually a lot deeper than on first inspection?  Maybe this is why I'm so introspective on here.  I don't get enough stimulation in my own life outside of this blogging world. 

Why aren't more people angry?  Why isn't there more resentment in the world?  The current system is so unfair.  The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, nobody cares.  There's just so much injustice, and what's worse is that we're now groomed to look away or ignore it, or worse, chastise those who are in trouble.  It's a sad state of affairs.  What makes me really sick is that these modern day conservative morons - you know, the hysterical hypercritical sort that seem to get trumpeted by FOX (and those currently forming our Government in Australia) are the complete opposite of what good, revolutionary and evolutionary governance should be about.  Take the American example - if the conservatives of today were in charge hundreds of years ago, America would still be under british rule.  Slavery would still exist.  Things would not have moved on and changed, and I can tell you in the mind of a conservative, they would be saying that things were better when those things existed.  And that is incredibly wrong. 

Nobody can be helped.

Joaquin out.

Parade Of Rejections

What is this evergoing world?  It's all so fickle.  Even existence itself.  And do we fight to cling on?  Or are we just doomed into thinking there's even a remote possibility of something more?  Got so much to do today ahhhh! 

At least I'm still coming up with new and exciting ideas on guitar!  It's time to put some of those ideas to use.  I'm surprised that I can still surprise myself!  New chords, new progressions, even different strumming patterns.  My brain training is paying off in spades.  The creativity is being unleashed here. 

Joaquin out.