a long complicated process

Life. Simple concepts.

Endless permutations.

Familiar paths.

A million more options than we need.

All colliding together in predictable ways, that we cannot see.

We cannot see, and we suffer.

A reminder.

Target: 1500 words
Written: 1353 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, Tom Wolfe And Word Salad
Comics: Gen 13 v2 76-77, Gen 13 v3 0-1
Music: Fear Of A Black Planet, Public Enemy

can i just point out

That the idea that somehow the market will fix things has to be one of the stupidest and most persistent lies of the past couple of centuries?

I mean, why anyone in their right mind would think that a system primarily based on a system of consumers and predators would ultimately end up being beneficial for the masses of humanity is beyond me?

The idea that a system of human interaction centered around greed and selfishness will somehow, though the magic of the invisible hand of the market somehow result in benevolence toward society and people as a whole is naive at best, and criminally stupid at worst.

And yet, supposedly higher functioning human beings, president, lawyers, Ivy league alum, they all pray to this deity called market, as though it’s God or something, instead of a collection of sociopathic hoarders who would cut their own mother for a dime.

I mean, what the fuck is that about?

Are these people so brainwashed or stupid as to actually believe that, or is it, as is much more likely, that they’re benefiting from it, so it’s worthwhile to them to continue to perpetrate the lie?

I strongly suspect the latter.

Target: 1500 words
Written: 1454 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Code And Other Laws Of Cyberspace, Lawrence Lessig (who inspired this post with an assuming that the market is magic and all-seeing, and somehow, not every bit as susceptible to corruption as government, particularly when it's in bed with the government, or the government is in bed with it - I agree with a separation of business and state, but for entirely different reasons than deregulation somehow being beneficial, and not an excuse for crass exploitation.  Theft is still theft, especially when it's called Wall Street or Silicon Valley, and that should be policed)
Comics: Gen 13 v2 72-75
Music: Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, The Soundtrack

i probably shouldn’t be this angry

Ironically, this whole Father Lightning is supposed to be teaching me about kindness.

I don’t think it’s working.

Target: 1500 words
Written: 1975 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Code And Other Laws Of Cyberspace, Lawrence Lessig
Comics: Gen 13: Science Friction 1, Gen 13 v2 63-64, GenActive 5
Music: Fat Music, Vol. 5: Live Fat Die Young, Anti-Flag

building a path

I mean, I’m a bit off today because yesterday was St. Patrick’s and I have to get right in there and get back to work, but I’m starting to think of possibilities that might help me move forward.

I’m thinking of possibilities that might break me free of this dreary life.

This bland and weary work.

This modern malaise.

I am planning.

Picking a way forward.

Target: 1500 words
Written: 2163 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Code And Other Laws Of Cyberspace, Lawrence Lessig
Comics: Superman/Gen 13 2-3, Gen 13 v2 54, GenActive 2
Music: Family Tree, Bjork

it just occurred to me

Is Jonathan Franzen going to someday read this, and call every publisher out there to blackball me?

I’m sorry, Mr. Franzen.

I take it back. It was wonderful and not at all poorly structured and written with underdeveloped characters, meaningless storylines and a deeply unsatisfying ending that inspired apathy instead of thought or emotion.

Of course, this is what apathy looks like. He might even call it a win for provoking a reaction, but I’ll tell you – this is the same reaction I had after my old roommate dragged me to both Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and the first Fast & Furious movie.

I was livid with him.

We have such short lives – why waste it on bad art?

Target: 1500 words
Written: 1549 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
Comics: Gen 13 v2 48-51
Music: Family Man, Black Flag

sorry, jonathan

I mean, my opinion on The Twenty-Seventh City stands, but yeah, there’s no need to denigrate other people. Maybe he’s a nice guy.

Maybe not.

Sorry, either way. I am trying to be kinder, and again, while I won’t apologize for thinking the book was garbage, I probably didn’t need to make it sound like Franzen was a piece of shit.

Unless he is.

Target: 1500 words
Written: 2525 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison (oh thank god, something decent)
Comics: Gen 13 vs 42-44, Wild Times: Gen 13 1
Music: Fake Plastic Trees, Radiohead

march eleven

I have a lot to say on kindness, capitalism, Donald Trump, and the true new order that needs to emerge if humanity is to survive.

Unfortunately, it’s a Wednesday and there’s book club.

Not my book club. A book being used as a club.

I have a lot to say on Jonathan Franzen.

Target: 1500 words
Written: 1567 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Twenty-Seventh City, Jonathan Franzen
Comics: Gen 13 35-36, Gen 13: Magical Dream Queen Roxy 2-3
Music: Factory Showroom, They Might Be Giants

does it count?

If all of my kindness goes towards my cats and dogs?

I mean, that’s kindness, right?

Even if I’m an absolute misanthrope to everyone else?

Is that the way it works?

Target: 1500 words
Written: 2015 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Twenty-Seventh City, Jonathan Franzen
Comics: Gen 12 4, Gen 13 v2 30, Gen 13 Bootleg 19, Gen 13/Monkeyman & O'Brien 1
Music: Facelift, Alice In Chains

cinco de marcho

I’m thinking about kindness today. It’s because I’m writing a book where it’s a large part of it, and while I need kindness to play a large role in my life and my person, I find I’m having difficulty tapping into it.

I think the past two-plus years of wallowing and anger have dulled my sense of compassion. I am an empathic being; I feel everything intensely. I am highly affected by other people’s moods.

But that makes me want to withdraw, not connect.

And what I need is connect.

Target: 1500 words
Written: 324 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Twenty-Seventh City, Jonathan Franzen
Comics: Gen 13 v2 26, Gen 13 Bootleg 16, Gen 12 1, Gen 13 Bootleg Annual 1
Music: February 26, 1994, Milan, Nirvana (the last of the bootlegs, I swear.  I think.  For now, anyway.)