
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
Macbeth, 1. 7
We watched Catfish unfolding, huddled together for comfort, bracing against what we knew would be the inevitable outcome of an Idealized dream ne’er-cum-true. Suspense hitching our weight, ratcheting tension, like the slow cranking of a roller coaster to its initial and highest peak, knowing that soon, with the protagonist, we would be spiraling downward at a breakneck speed.
The masks behind the masks - always prepared with another story to support the last fabrication - were all too familiar. How could we not relate, when this experience so paralleled our own? Although our empathy quickly evaporated, turning away when the protagonists didn’t realize their own rationalizations - their own pride was the mask for their faults. For our own sakes, however, this lesson would not go unlearned.
We returned to where we had began our evening - our place of quiet, of sanctuary, and feeling quite agitated, I knew that sleep would elude me lest I shift my focus. I gazed longingly at my love, her small hands gently stroking the scrabble on my cheek she so adores, and I knew that this was the place of fullness, completion and circularity: in her arms. And so as I allowed sleep to take me, we ended the evening as we began - a lover’s embrace and this time, my arms filled her body, my lungs filled with her scent, and my heart filled with an unearthly gratitude knowing I had more to be thankful for than I could ever truly express.
He gift wraps his insults
with a know-it-all grin
My steadfast refusal
spurs his chagrin
Round and round
they stumble
they mumble
all over again
He misses the point,
but blithely sails on
He argues minutiae,
all reason withdrawn
Anecdotes and distractions
Conclusions forgone.
Toss up, if you must
yer verbal sperm frivol
Asshat or Troll,
of Lowly Worm drivel
I’ll cudgel yer mouth
on my cloven cunt pistol.
*Lia growls low*
Do not let their tiny eyes bore into you
Nor mind their tiny brains
trying to understand what they cannot.
They only hate what they fear
And fear what they can never be.
More’s the pity-
and left for you and me.
Let us put on the costume
And play the parts
So that the world might think
We belong.
I’ll say the right words
as you stand resolute
hiding behind our masks.
But only we know
how truly bizarre we are
having taken the chance
to be different
together.
They had gathered together to protect the village from the bullying marauders.
After their last encounter, only two samurai had remained, Takao (“Noble Hero”) and Shinzuko (“Spirit”). They had left the village to perhaps spend the rest of their lives peacefully. But when you follow Bushido (“way of the warrior”), sometimes troubles follow you.
In the smallish town of Yabun Gairo, another bullying marauder, Aku had emerged. This one, however, held such a stranglehold on the people that even the worthless town Mayor was held in his sway. The Council of Elders colluded to protect and preserve the way of Aku, the marauder.
Takao and Shinzuko were seasoned veterans of many encounters. This, however, was the first time they had to fight the very people they were there to protect.
Shinzu, the more direct of the two, wanted to end the battle quickly and decisively. She was inclined to charge in, sword stained with blood, showing neither pause nor mercy.
Takao, the yin to her yang, was the strategist. In his mind, the war was fought over many smaller battles and on many fronts. An all out frontal assault was sometimes best. Other times, it required more subtlety of movement. In the end, they compromised and came together.
Takao began to enlist the aid of other samurai. There were ex-officials, current regular Army, current Yabun army, and other ex-patriots whom he would enlist. Each officer assigned a different formation to protect and attack. Meanwhile, Shinzuko taught the villagers how to protect themselves as best as possible, using her formidable persuasive skills to win over other allies.
The memory of their battle would inspire many iterations, and the Sting of their victory would soon be set to song.
The outcome was predictable; the Banditos were despicable. Of blood they lost a dozen litres, a small price to pay for the Even-Streeters. The town mayor was happy but his face was glum - the mistake he made numbered only one: Do not underestimate Samurai Seven - lest you and your ilk be crying from Heaven.

Lon Zhen Hu Dou
Shinzuko found shan-tze (patience / endurance) to weather the storm in her mind for the night. On the following morning, she ritualistically calmed herself before the final confrontation. Ready for battle, she entered the Yobun Dojo.
As fate would have it, she never even had to draw her sword. The worthless town mayor had thrown away his scabbard; the match was won before it was fought. The villagers were saved from themselves, and Aku was banished. In time, should Aku return, it would be an easy task to deal. (Even still, sworn allies of Takao’s were reporting in, gripping time-honed steel and ready to come to the fight.)
“Unless there is an opposing wind,” Shinzuko thought, “a kite cannot rise,” settling down for the night and writing her experiences to share with those who would follow.
Now it was time for some sake, for the sake of all that is niúbī.
When Takao met up with her, they feasted on their beloved Mongolian beef with rice noodles. The two warriors were weary from the day, although it had not been physically demanding. This was because the truest battles were all in the mind - that victory over the long haul in life is won more from your mental and spiritual stance.
Rest now, for further adversity would surely arise… it followed the warriors, as they in turn followed the Bushido.
But for now, it was time to celebrate.
Bangladeshi Poet Taslima:
AGGRESSION
“Human nature is such
That if you sit, they’ll say, “No, don’t sit.”
If you stand, “What’s the matter? Walk!
And if you walk, “Shame on you, sit down.!
If you so much as lie down, they’ll order, “Get up.”
If you don’t lie down, no respite, ” Lie down.”
I’m wasting my days getting up and sitting down.
If I’m dying right now, they speak up, “Live.”
If they see me living, who knows when
they’ll say, “Shame on you. Die!”
In fear, I secretly go on living. “
What immediately comes to mind is that people strike where they are weakest. Those who cannot cope with rejection try to heap it on others.
MY conclusion: Fuck it, then.
I’m going to live my life happily and how I want, and if you don’t like it, then fuck you. And hey, I’m sorry your life sucks so much - but taking it out on me by telling me how to live mine will do nothing to improve your station.
Don’t like it? Get used to it.
Now go afar and find someone else to bother.
From my Stumble Blog - an example of the stupids - or How Not To Interact with Shao Chi, American Warrior.
Below are past messages from a typical internet dood (just another Needy-Greedy). This is the silly crap that I put up with every ding dong day - some feeb guy who just refuses to accept the reality that I am simply not interested in having any kind of communication. Finally I put my foot down and squished his rotten little balls.
Below is my final response. Enough already.
We-were-wolf: I find there is only one universal truth: Some people are too stupid for words and one should never underestimate that.
Case in point: Despite repeated attempts at inane attention-clamoring disguised as some ridiculous sort of communication that have been ignored, you have shown that you are clearly too stupid to take a hint.
Consider this our first and final communication and if you take only one thing from it, know this: nobody cares about responding to you. You are like a chimpanzee with a keyboard banging away and thinking it the words of Shakespeare.
Do the online community a favor and take up masturbating with sandpaper.
1:56pm
Shawnhambler: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. That was a quote from thing thing I stumbeled upoin this mornign - have a great day!:)
11:53am
Shawnhambler: What have you been doing? Cripresx - yeah so how is everything going what are you doing now? I don’t know if I am going to work tomorrow or just golfing…………..Walked away from work yesterday - Boss what being a dink so I walked and came home and never went back today - seem him as I was riding my bike to the Golf Course. I never went out just to the range and drank beer between buckets …..
Mar 31, 8:05pm
Shawnhambler: Bonjour
Mar 31, 7:46pm
Shawnhambler: how’s the weather your way sweetheart? very cold here -22c
Dec 15, 2008 7:27pm
Shawnhambler: hey beautiful how have you been keeping yourself? Good here just goping to get the dog and walk him and stuff -ttyl yes please…
Sep 6, 2008 4:54pm
Shawnhambler: well hello there how have you been?
Aug 2, 2008 11:59pm
Shawnhambler: hi, how’s everything going these days? the summer has been great here and the sun uis shinning today
Jul 19, 2008 11:51am
Shawnhambler: howdy - how have ya been doing? Good here - the sun has been comming out lately - kinda weird with the spring being late - so what’s new wqith you ? I am sure you have a story to tell me yeah eh
Jun 12, 2008 9:12pm
Shawnhambler: hey lasy how are things going for yuou these days? thihngs are good here - warming up alot and the plants are growing up - Have ya been writitng much latlely? cioa for now eh
shawn.
Jun 1, 2008 11:01am
Shawnhambler: howdy there crazy - so what’s new? I have been doing yeard work so I am just going to clean myself up now - ttyl eh!
shawn.
May 1, 2008 5:31pm
Shawnhambler: your geat I like everything that you write makes my day thankyou hunny love
Apr 23, 2008 11:55pm
Shawnhambler: yup uh h huh turning 33 tomorrow wooohoo
Apr 21, 2008 10:52am
Mar 21, 2008 5:03pm
Shawnhambler: yeah everything isd going good - back at workm now and everything - so what are you writting? yeah my back is gone - don;t know what on earth is going on 3with that - talkibng with my friend and she says a back massage wo4rks wonders - how are you at back massaging? Just heading out to walk a dog that I really like - cripes the old lady had a dong that died and she is o0ld a too and somebody up the lake gave her another dog - a 3month old black lab - she dopesn;t bother walking it that much so I volenttered to do that for her - ttyl
shawn Mar 21, 2008 5:03pm
Jan 21, 2008 4:51pm
Jan 21, 2008 4:40pm
Dec 23, 2007 10:43pm

There was always another demand -
a knock on the door
the ring of the phone
the incessantly blinking stumble icon-
the flag up on the mailbox icon-
the friendly reminders of
the overflowing in-box.
File under C for:
coercion
cajoling
childish
cries
claims
commands
compulsions
claim-staking
creeps.
The online community creating its own electronic shop of horrors -
FEED ME! they demanded.
(Cyber-stalking is so much easier than following people at the mall…)
And what shall we use to
fill the empty spaces?
And how does one respond
To the endless clamoring for one’s attention?

What occurs when infinite need meets endless opportunity?
One begins to think ceaselessly of oblivion-
Perhaps non-existence would be less painful
than another needy greedy
with a high demand
and a low threshold for rejection
too easily insulted
braced for affront
and ready for outrage …

They assault blindly and quickly -
almost without thought -
and blame it on you
for not following the script
(which you never got… )
Well, I’m sorry you’re alone.
Perhaps it’s not an accident.
Maybe you are complicit in your isolation.
You might be somewhat to blame for your companion-less cloistering.

Or perhaps it’s all just a big misunderstanding.
And if people only took to time to know you -
they would love you as you so richly deserve…
The point is …
it’s not my problem either way.
I am not a part of your drama
or trauma
or hassle.

I merely exist…
somewhere in the ether
eternally out of reach
And for today
and the rest of your life
I will be nothing more than an idea in your head
to do with as you like,
(so long as you)
Leave Me Alone.