Our Beautiful Apocalypse

A glacial whirlpool, beautiful but deadly. A living dagger to a glacier as its life force is drained away. Happening every day, across the planet.

Methane bubbles waiting to break the ice. Once we get a bit warmer, all sorts of gasses will be released and tipping points reached across the board. Our end will be collective.

Greenland and the clouds around her. Which will change every day it gets warmer and warmer, and more ice melts into the sea, until another tipping point is reached.

We walk on thin ice, loudly.

Born Again

Congrats! We all survived the apocalypse and now reside in a higher vibrational reality - can you feel these good vibes? Try - you can make it so.

Any idea when our next apocalypse is scheduled? My calendar is wide open.


Above, from bottom - Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter at dawn. Loverly.

One Possible End

If a substantial solar flare (like the one pictured above) headed our way, woe be upon us. Our modern society of electronics would fry away in an instant, replaced by the jungle, red in tooth and claw. It's not only possible, but inevitable. The sun will burp out a heaping of space gas directly towards us one of these days - tomorrow, or a thousand years from now, who's to say? And when it comes, all our circuits will melt.

There are steps we could take to prepare, but given the state of the world today, preparation for future calamities ain't happening. Instead, just hope that you, yours, and theirs(children), and maybe even theirs(grandchildren) too, will see a sunny day, free of doomsday rays.

But don't bet on it.

New Year's Eve in the Dawn of Apocalypse

Happy New Years! One of my favorite holidays, tainted only by the fact it's based on a Christian calendar. But I can rise above that. Of all the holidays, people are most open and friendly on this night, willing to kiss strangers in the Common - when else does that happen? Mardi Gras in New Orleans, perhaps. The best night - Halloween might run some competition, but it gets a little too serious and demanding. New Year's is all about the part-aying. But don't drink and drive kids! Except on rural country roads, then it's cool.

And why not drink and drive? We've got less than a year left before the dreaded MAYAN APOCALYPSE! December 21, 2012, and the World ends, by some means which is not clear. But there's a cosmic alignment involved for sure. So feast and and be merry while ye can, for surely DOOM is nigh.

I'll admit I used to half believe in this Mayan Apocalypse bullshit - but it was a long time ago, 1998 or so, and I happened upon a Weekly World News article that was quite convincing. After further research, it seemed likely the world would end in 2012, due to a MAGNETIC POLAR SHIFT.  Because it's true, the magnetic poles on Earth do shift on semi-regular schedules, with North becoming South and South North. Think what that would do to our electronics were it to happen? Frazizzled.

There are lots of ways, in fact, our World (that being our human existence, and not the World itself) could easily end, tomorrow in fact. Herewith is REDSHIRTS TOP TEN APOCALYPSES (not in order):

1. Asteroid Impact. This is inevitable. It will happen at some point, the only question is when. Tomorrow? A million years? Sometime in between? Who knows. We might have years of warning, or, even with our awesome technology, a killer asteroid could sneak up on us unawares and be on our doorstep in days.
2. Super Volcano. Also inevitable. There are a dozen or so super volcanoes on Earth that when they explode, are powerful enough to darken the skies with ash for years. Can you imagine how tough it would be to live on this planet without sunlight for 10 years? We'd starve.
3. Nuclear War. The most likely doomsday scenario. All it takes is some dumb Repuglican with his/her finger on the button and we're all doomed.
4. Solar storm. Also inevitable. Our reliance on electronics would cripple most of so called "modern" society. If strong enough, could toast most living things.
5. Gamma Ray Burst. If a star of certain mass goes supernova and happens to have one of its poles pointed directly at us, we could be in the line of a sight of a high mass, super powerful gamma ray burst that would fry most life on Earth.
6. Global Warming. Happening right now. The real deal and we'll find out how well we can deal with Change - no thanks, once again, to Repuglicans, the crazy fucks.
7. Magnetic Polar Shift. Also inevitable. An event that would have zero impact on a tribe living in the Amazonian rainforest, but which would devastate "modern" society.
8. Ice Age. One of the consequences of global warming could be a new ice age, ironically. Snowball Earth would freeze most life to death.
9. Geologic Instability. Also inevitable. Imagine all the plates of Earth undergoing a vibratory effect that levels anything over 30 feet tall.
10. Super Virus. A bacteria that proves lethal to any human that comes into contact. Easily enough to conceive of, and gosh darn we've got people researching the subject worldwide.

Scared? You should be (but of course shouldn't be). Life is a tenuous proposition on this planet, and we could be shaken off like so much lice. And so, take nothing for granted! There is nothing permanent here at all, in the least bit. Every moment is a gift and you should treat it that way. Let us pray:

Dear ambiguous New Age God, give my Chakras the Crystaline Energy to survive the coming Tribulation.

I don't believe in a prophesied apocalypse at all anymore, in case you can't tell. I worship Science now and believe you me, it's the only Faith that delivers.

Requiem for Voyager

It wasn't the best Trek, I think we can all agree, but it was Trek, and somewhat true to the ideals as set forth in TOS and TNG. Peace. Exploration. Weird ass "what if" sci-fi episodes. I quibble with many of the details, but what do quibbles matter? In the end. So let's say goodbye to Voyager with a photo series.


Also, did people really look like this in the 90's? My color pattern was much more flannel.

O, Ensign Kim. 7 years serving as Operations officer in one deadly mission after another, and never a promotion. What were you doing wrong on Janeway's ship, man? Did Chakotay hate you? Crikey! Pretty boy Paris was a convicted criminal and he got a promotion. Shit ain't fair.

Janeway was a good captain. Not great. Better than Archer - but then, so was the EMH. This, however, violates many rules of fictional time travel. But violating rules is what you gotta do on the other side of the Galaxy, amirite?

Such as - you can't go faster than Warp 10! This is what happens! You get turned into a giant space salamander - true fact. You don't want that, do you? Obey the Warp limit then.

I think the joke here is that no one had a end of Voyager party, right? Or, perhaps, that the Doctor would hang out with these lower class degenerates - Barney's just above grade level "Street Bum". Either way, I can't blame you, Voyager, for contributing to the near destruction of the Trek franchise. You were just a fictional tv show! The real villains - like, worse than many of the Huns (not Attila though, dude was a badass) - were the Producers, Berman and Braga. I think they've since been shunned to remote Arctic islands, never to Produce (or Executive Produce) again. Hurrah!

But the damage has already been done....

?

Fleeced (Lambs and Conlions)

Hmm. If you're asking the question, I bet I can guess the answer: No? After all, Heaven is whatever you want it to be, and only the people you approve of get access. Ultimately, there is only one Scotsman who gets to go - being the True Scotsman, of course.

Speaking of: Hey! World still here. What a shock! But failed prophecies of DOOM are nothing new. Here's a blast from the past - world's gonna end in 1843 brah:

The Bible guarantees it! Or not. We're all imperfect sinners, after all - so check your math.

I must say, this whole 052111 phenomena has been incredibly interesting to me - I first heard of it 4-5 months ago, when I came across a picture of a foolish billboard foretelling end times - I took it as a local loon with a couple of hundred bucks to spend. But then I heard more and more about it, till it broke out into widespread culture. This depressed me at first, mildly, lamenting the ignorance of my Fellow Sheep - why do they fall for this crap? No idea. But then, I can't fathom how anyone with half a brain and a drop of compassion can vote Republican.

Overlapping demographics! I bet 95% of the folks who got sucked up into this 052111 con are also Republicans, Tea Baggers and Wingnuts the lot of them. Folks hooked on dogma, a small, small percentage of the overall population but their screeches are given global megaphones - for some reason!

Anyways, at first depressed at the fools; yet, over the past couple of weeks, I've turned 180 on the whole matter, as the mockery of 052111 also became widespread in mainstream culture. The Boston Phoenix dedicated their last issue to an awesome mockery; it's become the goto late night talkshow joke. Listening to the radio the last few days, rock and sports dj's  alike have been ruthless in their sarcasm. It's been wonderful to see skepticism so strongly displayed - hope, yet!

Maybe, just maybe, the utter and complete joke that was this latest End Times proclamation, and the widespread mockery of it, will be enough to convince some of these sheep - some, not all, mind you - that indeed, blindly following dogma is stupid. Get it? How much money do you have to lose before you stop getting conned (I heard Camping's group has raked in some 100 million over the last couple of years)? Get a brain, morans!

 (FYI: This is a rare alternate angle to the "Get a Brain, Morans!" photo we've all come to love.)

Some, not all.

Brainwashing, tradition, intimidation, etc, will ensure the dogma rolls on. But if with every year, every generation, the ranks of the skeptics grow, and the blind zealots lessen, than that, friends, is progress. I pray to FSM this joke we just lived through - just fine, thanks! - can pull some from one group to the other. For all our benefit.

Awesome News (Almost Here)!

Such a strange, sad psychology - actively excited at the thought of the death of billions of people. Consider that fully.

Well, the day is here. END TIMES! And yet, it's a bit worrisome that we've not yet heard of killer monster earthquakes in New Zealand and Australia - since the Rapture is supposed to start at 6PM local time, today. Maybe there's no Chosen in Christchurch? Still, as God's Preferred Timezone - EDT, baby! - I'll wait till 6 here before I rest easy.

I mean, how could so many sincere people be so wrong?

See you on the other side, sinners.

Apocalypse Sooner or Later

See if you can spot the Wingnut clues!

Only 3 days away! So few will be so happy when so many wicked burn. Yay!

Also, one of these times, just due to the law of averages, one of these apocalypse cons will turn out to be correct - much to the prophet's surprise/chagrin.

Also:

Did you see this? Do so, if you can. Hilarious.

The Passion of The Sisko

Take your time. There's lots to absorb.

Have you watched Star Trek:Deep Space Nine? I know of many Trekkies who have not - and I did not, at first, when it originally aired, thinking it a crass knockoff by assumption alone (I was, and am, a Fool). But lo, was I wrong. Verily. I watched the entire show greedily in 2001 and was blown away. I've never watched it since, and am a bit afraid to do so, actually, since I'm fairly certain it won't live up to my memories of it, and thus, another totem, fallen. I've only got a few left, so I've started to cherish them.

For instance:

Nah. I've got no point here. I just wanted to post this wicked cool drawing. Art!

I have no idea who either artist is, but I am confident the same person did not draw both of these. So, to the 2 folks out there in this beautiful, terrible world, thanks! You rock. These are awesome.

Especially of The Sisko, hallowed be the Prophets (Wormhole Aliens).

Also too: Wolf 359 Never Forget

Mayday! 3 Weeks Left for Sinnin'

Less than three weeks, actually. So get it now while you can, repent at the last minute, and then get raptured alongside all those Saintly suckers who've been living the Holy life their whole lives... fools! Last minute is the best minute.

I've been following this 05/21/11 apocalypse cult a bit more, and was surprised to learn this is a nationwide, maybe even international movement. Not just some crazy church and a billboard. I'd link you to some of their sites, but frankly I don't want to give the wackos any extra energy.

All you really need to know is for no obvious reason, these Fundie Wackjobs think Jesus will be back on 5/21, with The Rapture - never mentioned in the Bible, by the way - and then 6 months or so of terror and horror as demons and evil runs rampant across the land, with the world being utterly destroyed in October - apparently, there's still a chance to get into Heaven after this period if you were not at first Raptured.

There's little chance the arrival of 5/22 and no Jesus will convince these fools to abandon their various insanities, so might as well mock them, right? I mean, look at these vehicles:

Surprisingly, it goes on and on like this. Who knew?

Well, I'm off to sin. Back in a while.

Please make a note of it

I'm impressed they would be so bold with their prediction. I'll try and remember to post an update on May 22nd.

If you are a believer, I suspect this gives you another month of so of sinnin', then you better get to the atonin'.

We Are Defined by What We Throw Away

Since I first entertained apocalyptic notions (thank you Terminator!), I've long held this "dual thought" - I define "Dual Thought" as entertaining two distinct notions about the same thing, and each is in balance with the other. For an example, ever visit an area, get an impression of it, then actually move there some time after? Guaranteed you will have two (at least) distinct impressions of the place, each in harmony with the other because they are filed by time, but the actual impressions might be completely contradictory.

Time. And so, since it dawned on me that all of this could end, like, right this minute, I've held two (at least) distinctive time perspectives on everything: The Now, and the Then. The Then is the End, and it's filled with killer robots and smoking craters and any and all sorts of Mayan doomsayings come to life; the Now is the Now. Yeah?


And so, looking at the picture above - gosh! Don't the 70's look pretty? And when we're being hunted down by Kilbots in the End Times to come, won't the trash we so casually throw away now turn miraculous, then? That we could simply throw out a can, rather than re-use it, will seem like the height of foolish luxury. What Golden Imperial times we lived in, we'll say, in between picking lice out of a friend's hair for supper.


Appreciate it while you can!

Some say in ice

Our brains are hard wired to see patterns, shapes, faces. What did you see here, the first time you looked at it?

How about here?

But then sometimes our brains, via our eyes, are presented with something that makes no sense, too abstract, too absurd, and it bypasses that identification channel:

And the absurd is a liberation.  Or a fortress, of solitude (yes, the google's source for Superman puns!).

Or a theory turned into visual metaphor:

This is Freudian, literally, to the Extreme. Not sure if it's correct, or even close to correct. Yet, there's something here that makes sense to me - do you have another voice in your head? One which often says things like "I'm not sure that's a good idea", or "Maybe we should sleep for a couple of hours before driving" or "Maybe you shouldn't eat that piece of cheese on the floor". Etc. I believe - hope! - we all do, and if so, I ask you: What is that voice? Or who?

Are we all schizophrenics? Or, is the idea of different personalities, different perspectives within the same "individual", the truth? Or a closer approximation thereof.

So it goes

I liked it. A lot. Here's the last shot - thematically bringing it all back to the beginning, and I believe the writers when they say they had this final shot planned from the beginning.

To summarize (Spoilers!): The Alt universe was purgatory; it's timeless, so people can die at different times and still be there together. This purgatory was created by the collective survivors, or maybe just Jack.

Everything we saw on the Island happened, and the Alt Universe was the heavenly coda, occurring perhaps long, long after the actual events depicted (consider that Hurley might remain Island protector for thousands of years, with Ben as his faithful number 2).  

On the Island, as per the Alt reality scene between Sawyer and Juliet (she tells him to unplug the machine then plug it back in to get his candy bar), Jack reboots the island. It was only during the reboot that Smokey could be, and was, killed. Thus, no more Smoke Monster. I think.

I've got a lot to say about this episode, but not much time now. I found it very emotional, and I very much like the fact the story goes on - Sawyer and Kate (and Lapidus! And Alpert!) escaped the Island (probably because the rules about leaving were gone), Hurley and Ben are the Guardians, Desmond is still on Island but one assumes he gets to leave and reunite with Penny.

Jack's dead, but he died nobly - and is that not reward in itself?

Finally, as I've been hypothesizing all along, Vincent was the key to everything:

And even though I was emotionally invested in this show, it was still a fictional dog that got me worst of all. Good boy. 

Kate Smoke

Terrifying, is it not?


I've come to like Kate this season, as her motivation for coming back to the Island was quite powerful (to save Claire), and the way this quest has played out (Claire's crazy) has been dramatic  - I sympathize with Kate's torn emotions. To give up her child to save the real Mother only to find her crazy and controlled by the Devil.... it's a dilly of a pickle.


That said, the Kate Hate is still strong on the interweb. Many are hoping for:

But I suspect she'll somehow survive the inevitable slaughter to come. Odds on Kate surviving: 60%. I can't imagine there will be many survivors however - I don't think we're getting a happy ending on the Island. The sideways world, maybe.


Countdown is on! Happy Lostmas!