"from a BOAT (1)" by Jackal
"from a BOAT (2)" by Jackal
"from a BOAT (3)" by Jackal
"from a BOAT (4)" by Jackal
"from a BOAT (5)" by Jackal
"from a BOAT (6)" by Jackal
I think I have finally found a corner of my own here, deep in the privacy of my cabin. The hour is close to midnight but it feels like an unearthly time. The sea is calm, like a sleeping baby; there’s just the occasional tossing and turning or little splashes on the side of the boat. The constant humming of the engine is becoming a part of me. It does give a sense of continuity but hell it is still annoying. Looking outside, it’s hard to find a direction without the blinding flash of all the lights. Even the sea surface is bright white. I tried to go outside the living quarters to sit down for a moment and… flipping safety regulations don’t allow me to light up a frigging fag. So I come back here to switch all lights off and stare into nowhere. A few minutes before I was looking at the subsea camera screens; just to see some little fish flapping around, looking so shiny and white under the projectors that I couldn’t even tell their color. Too much light doesn’t even let the poor fish rest in peace, nor does it let me. But I suppose they are luckier than I am. They will have the dark, still, and comforting bottom of the sea for the rest of the year. Would it not be cool if I was a little fish? No, on a second thought, perhaps rather a big fish. Something worth catching. God I wish I was close to you in the dark…
Showing posts with label Jackal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jackal. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
"Me, You, and Everyone" by Jackal
There's something - a question actually, my dear reader, that has been lurking on the back of my mind, grown, and at many instances seriously engaged my thoughts over the past few years. I have discussed it with a number of people, tried to read about and have contemplated on; yet it remains unanswered to me.
Apart from the usual philosophical motives (philosophy is about asking questions after all), the discovery of the remains of a human hobbit in a remote Indonesian island last year, was very intriguing.
The question is “Me, You, and Everybody else”. Allow me to explain a bit. When I think of an average human, the first thing that comes to my mind is ME; or perhaps someone like me without a face. A general "idea" of ME. However, this does not proper like a precise definition. For everybody is different from another person and if everyone thought of himself as a representation or an "idea" of an average human being, there would be a different definition from everyone's perspective. So comes the question of how one should define a human being? and along are many more; how to categorize the question? is it, for example, a matter of zoology, or anthropology, or perhaps even psychology?
Let’s go back to that "idea" of me, it's not so simple you know. I assumed that is associated with one's level of intelligence and sense of self-consciousness. What puzzled me was whether the strength or weakness of these senses could affect one's degree of humanity. In other words, could I define a man by measuring his degree of self-consciousness and draw the line somewhere?! If that is the case, there is a possibility that certain anomalies could be the grounds for disqualification and a person may suddenly cease to be a "person". A very common example is BRAIN DEATH. At this day and age, that's where we draw the line, though other organs could be functioning.
As I said this was just an example and I have a broader notion here. I wanted to figure out when I come across an unknown animal, should I hunt it or invite him for the afternoon tea? Homo-sapiens is a much studied animal, but what makes this animal a human? perhaps I should test him first and gauge his intelligence and social skills with that of my own and then either bestow upon him the crown of humanity or sell it to a Chinese restaurant? Well of course, I'm talking about the 'hobbit' of the Indonesian jungles!
There are still more issues in this regard. A very controversial one is cloning. I'm sure you know all about it and could have asked the same question, what if at some point in the future humans were cloned? How would we rate them? And again, hypothetically speaking, if one came across an alien entity?! Scientists believe that the probability of the existence of some form of life in the whole world beyond us, is fairly high; close to 100%.
I suppose, if we go back and consider the most important and primal capabilities in the wide spectrum of all species, it makes one wonder how similar the humans are to other animals and even aliens from different aspects. From the chemicals and vital systems of the physiology, and all the way to sociological characteristics, self-consciousness and intelligence. And not very surprisingly, humans don't always take up the top place in the list. I concede that perhaps there is no real border to separate my realm as a modern man, from that hobbit of 30 thousand years ago. Evolution often works in mysterious ways.
Apart from the usual philosophical motives (philosophy is about asking questions after all), the discovery of the remains of a human hobbit in a remote Indonesian island last year, was very intriguing.
The question is “Me, You, and Everybody else”. Allow me to explain a bit. When I think of an average human, the first thing that comes to my mind is ME; or perhaps someone like me without a face. A general "idea" of ME. However, this does not proper like a precise definition. For everybody is different from another person and if everyone thought of himself as a representation or an "idea" of an average human being, there would be a different definition from everyone's perspective. So comes the question of how one should define a human being? and along are many more; how to categorize the question? is it, for example, a matter of zoology, or anthropology, or perhaps even psychology?
Let’s go back to that "idea" of me, it's not so simple you know. I assumed that is associated with one's level of intelligence and sense of self-consciousness. What puzzled me was whether the strength or weakness of these senses could affect one's degree of humanity. In other words, could I define a man by measuring his degree of self-consciousness and draw the line somewhere?! If that is the case, there is a possibility that certain anomalies could be the grounds for disqualification and a person may suddenly cease to be a "person". A very common example is BRAIN DEATH. At this day and age, that's where we draw the line, though other organs could be functioning.
As I said this was just an example and I have a broader notion here. I wanted to figure out when I come across an unknown animal, should I hunt it or invite him for the afternoon tea? Homo-sapiens is a much studied animal, but what makes this animal a human? perhaps I should test him first and gauge his intelligence and social skills with that of my own and then either bestow upon him the crown of humanity or sell it to a Chinese restaurant? Well of course, I'm talking about the 'hobbit' of the Indonesian jungles!
There are still more issues in this regard. A very controversial one is cloning. I'm sure you know all about it and could have asked the same question, what if at some point in the future humans were cloned? How would we rate them? And again, hypothetically speaking, if one came across an alien entity?! Scientists believe that the probability of the existence of some form of life in the whole world beyond us, is fairly high; close to 100%.
I suppose, if we go back and consider the most important and primal capabilities in the wide spectrum of all species, it makes one wonder how similar the humans are to other animals and even aliens from different aspects. From the chemicals and vital systems of the physiology, and all the way to sociological characteristics, self-consciousness and intelligence. And not very surprisingly, humans don't always take up the top place in the list. I concede that perhaps there is no real border to separate my realm as a modern man, from that hobbit of 30 thousand years ago. Evolution often works in mysterious ways.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
from a BOAT (5)
1300 hrs Saturday 12th:
Outside is pretty gloomy and wet and I’m writing from the comfort of my cabin here. There’s something about the colour grey that I find difficult to describe. It feels somehow dreary and cold; yet it’s very real.
I don’t know if you have ever experienced this, but when I come across all the bright and lively colours of red and orange, all the bubbly things, the excitements and amusements, all the happiness and joy that matters; there I sense an element of being momentary and untrue withinside, the feeling of something being deceivingly fabricated to briefly distract me from all the unpleasant reality woven into the very fabric of the existence – like a cheap and trivial conspiracy. Do other people think like that or it’s only me having this phobia for all the earthly pleasures? Is it the result of pessimism and cultural submissiveness that I have accumulated in myself from my people’s heritage of hundreds of years? Is it because I belong in a desert where everybody’s been waiting for the rain (and the light) that never came? Is that why I lost faith?
Outside is pretty gloomy and wet and I’m writing from the comfort of my cabin here. There’s something about the colour grey that I find difficult to describe. It feels somehow dreary and cold; yet it’s very real.
I don’t know if you have ever experienced this, but when I come across all the bright and lively colours of red and orange, all the bubbly things, the excitements and amusements, all the happiness and joy that matters; there I sense an element of being momentary and untrue withinside, the feeling of something being deceivingly fabricated to briefly distract me from all the unpleasant reality woven into the very fabric of the existence – like a cheap and trivial conspiracy. Do other people think like that or it’s only me having this phobia for all the earthly pleasures? Is it the result of pessimism and cultural submissiveness that I have accumulated in myself from my people’s heritage of hundreds of years? Is it because I belong in a desert where everybody’s been waiting for the rain (and the light) that never came? Is that why I lost faith?
Thursday, August 10, 2006
from a BOAT (4)
1600 hrs Thursday 10th:
Ah, today’s a typical boring day. There’s nothing particular about it to tell. Just the routine daily duties and other subsistence essentials. I’ve also started to make arrangements to leave the boat in a few days. Quite possibly, I’ll have to wait for a chopper to come and pick me up or otherwise take the crew-change boat which is meant to come around sometime next week. You see, when you’re on the sea, the notion of time is a wee bit different from shore. Let’s see what the weather would be like and where will we be then.
However, let me go back to last night. Looking out over the sea from one of the highest walkways, upon the very first glance, there was something that hooked up my eyes for a good one or two minute. Watching from the starboard side, there was THE MOST AMAZING sight you might imagine. It was so simple, and yet so grand; utterly breathtaking!
T’was the reflection of the full moon lighting up the water surface with an unconceivable brightness and majesty; through which went countless little ripples up-and-down, up-and-down, as if an enormous mirror had fallen off, shattered into a thousand pieces, and floating on the water, in a stone-throw distance over there!
Ah, today’s a typical boring day. There’s nothing particular about it to tell. Just the routine daily duties and other subsistence essentials. I’ve also started to make arrangements to leave the boat in a few days. Quite possibly, I’ll have to wait for a chopper to come and pick me up or otherwise take the crew-change boat which is meant to come around sometime next week. You see, when you’re on the sea, the notion of time is a wee bit different from shore. Let’s see what the weather would be like and where will we be then.
However, let me go back to last night. Looking out over the sea from one of the highest walkways, upon the very first glance, there was something that hooked up my eyes for a good one or two minute. Watching from the starboard side, there was THE MOST AMAZING sight you might imagine. It was so simple, and yet so grand; utterly breathtaking!
T’was the reflection of the full moon lighting up the water surface with an unconceivable brightness and majesty; through which went countless little ripples up-and-down, up-and-down, as if an enormous mirror had fallen off, shattered into a thousand pieces, and floating on the water, in a stone-throw distance over there!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
from a BOAT (3)
1300 hrs Wednesday 9th:
Good day folks! Today’s all cheery and jolly. You know why? The sea is calm. You see, only 4 days on the sea and I already know who the master is. The crew tell me that I looked quite pale and ill for a middle eastern; almost looking like a Scotsman (is there any irony here?). Keeping on telling you about the crew and what they say, it appears to me that they have certain qualities that you’d expect to see in pagan people of 4 millennia before. It’s as if men of sea have all been well isolated from waves of intellect flourishing on the land. While we, the people living in non-floating houses, have been going through all varieties of beliefs, religions, philosophy, art, ideologies and politics, cherished them, suffered from them, and abandoned them all; seamen have been immune. As if they still think much like the old Phoenician sailors on the little wooden boats taking merchandise through the city-states of ancient Mediterranean and Aegean, as if they’re still praying to the God of the Sea and take sacrifices to please sea-monsters, they keep telling you: “It can only get better!”
Good day folks! Today’s all cheery and jolly. You know why? The sea is calm. You see, only 4 days on the sea and I already know who the master is. The crew tell me that I looked quite pale and ill for a middle eastern; almost looking like a Scotsman (is there any irony here?). Keeping on telling you about the crew and what they say, it appears to me that they have certain qualities that you’d expect to see in pagan people of 4 millennia before. It’s as if men of sea have all been well isolated from waves of intellect flourishing on the land. While we, the people living in non-floating houses, have been going through all varieties of beliefs, religions, philosophy, art, ideologies and politics, cherished them, suffered from them, and abandoned them all; seamen have been immune. As if they still think much like the old Phoenician sailors on the little wooden boats taking merchandise through the city-states of ancient Mediterranean and Aegean, as if they’re still praying to the God of the Sea and take sacrifices to please sea-monsters, they keep telling you: “It can only get better!”
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
from a BOAT (2)
0200 hrs Wednesday 09th:
I said I’ll write more often, I know I didn’t. I woke up very early in the morning on Monday 7th and found myself rocking up and down very harshly. It wasn’t only me; the boat was. Managed to get myself to the window of the cabin just to see that, “oh shoot, high waves!”. Turns out maximum predicted wave height is about 3.5m. And if you think that the weather forecast is wrong as usual, or even “what the heck, I’ll go home if the weather was bad”, you’re sadly mistaken. There’s no where to run. So went back upstairs and got my seasickness pills, and although I’ve been taking them so far, I couldn’t muster enough attention to draw me back to my pen & paper and writing. Well until around now that the seastate is significantly lower (I guess around 1m).
I haven’t been talking to a lot of people lately, but I’ve watched some news and all. Something caught my eyes amongst the reports from Edinburgh festival. Something about some young actors that have taken some personal diaries & journals to the stage and performed them and as the journal is being written everyday, the play changes. Frankly, I initially thought it wasn’t something I would have wanted to go and see and would have rather read it myself if I was interested. On a second thought, well why not?!
I said I’ll write more often, I know I didn’t. I woke up very early in the morning on Monday 7th and found myself rocking up and down very harshly. It wasn’t only me; the boat was. Managed to get myself to the window of the cabin just to see that, “oh shoot, high waves!”. Turns out maximum predicted wave height is about 3.5m. And if you think that the weather forecast is wrong as usual, or even “what the heck, I’ll go home if the weather was bad”, you’re sadly mistaken. There’s no where to run. So went back upstairs and got my seasickness pills, and although I’ve been taking them so far, I couldn’t muster enough attention to draw me back to my pen & paper and writing. Well until around now that the seastate is significantly lower (I guess around 1m).
I haven’t been talking to a lot of people lately, but I’ve watched some news and all. Something caught my eyes amongst the reports from Edinburgh festival. Something about some young actors that have taken some personal diaries & journals to the stage and performed them and as the journal is being written everyday, the play changes. Frankly, I initially thought it wasn’t something I would have wanted to go and see and would have rather read it myself if I was interested. On a second thought, well why not?!
from a BOAT (1)
I’m afraid folks; the following is not about, sex or politics, violence or death & life; or anything controversial at all. This quite simply is a:
Journal of the Voyage
1800 hrs, Sunday 06th:
My dear reader, you have found this virtual bottle, cast off the window of my cabin with my daily journal inside. I will try to send a bottle for you everyday or otherwise every other day as daily engagements may allow.
I’m board a supply boat with British flag now. We have set sail from the east coast of Scotland heading for Denmark. Fortunately, the sea is calm and the wind is low.
Please, don’t get me wrong folks, I’m no seaman, nor am I seeking adventure or a voyage full of excitements and peculiarities as such. Well to be honest, I thought it’d be interesting as my first real sea voyage, and knowing it is going to take quite a few days, I was expecting, hoping for a lot of or perhaps some new experiences. You know, the type of things that makes people write about their trips. So I decided to write my journal, nothing fancy in it as such, and post it for you good fellas.
Let me tell you about this vessel a bit. It’s not a big boat, about 200 feet long, (more?) and my cabin’s also very nice with a window opening to the back deck and another one to the port side. I met the captain, elderly chap perhaps in his 60s; he greeted me warmly and took me to the bridge and showed me everything, the compass, and all. The view of the sea from the bridge is breathtaking, specially when you turn your head and you see distancing from the shore.
I was expecting to get seasick and all, so I went to the first officer for medicine. He laughed at me and said I’ll be fine. I thought he was waiting to see me get sick and make a fool of myself, but amazingly, I’m good. I confess I had a “funny feeling” at some point, but I’m getting used to it. One of the crew saw me eating in the galley and mentioned that I must be alright if I could eat.
Talking about the crew, they appear to be somewhat weird. I don’t know what makes a man give up land and go to sea. Why should someone choose a life of not having a home? What is it out there that draws their souls? I suspect it’s like a deficiency or the lack of ability to perform in normal condition that makes sailors retreat to the solitude of the endless waters and horror of the abyss. They really make me wonder! They appear to be polite and helpful at times, yet there’s still a strange quality in their manners. One might think they have evolved and adapted to the sea; part of the sea.
I was having a conversation with a gentleman on board a while ago. He wasn’t a sailor either and shared some of my views, though he’d been around boats a bit more and things appear to not surprise him any longer, as such.
Journal of the Voyage
1800 hrs, Sunday 06th:
My dear reader, you have found this virtual bottle, cast off the window of my cabin with my daily journal inside. I will try to send a bottle for you everyday or otherwise every other day as daily engagements may allow.
I’m board a supply boat with British flag now. We have set sail from the east coast of Scotland heading for Denmark. Fortunately, the sea is calm and the wind is low.
Please, don’t get me wrong folks, I’m no seaman, nor am I seeking adventure or a voyage full of excitements and peculiarities as such. Well to be honest, I thought it’d be interesting as my first real sea voyage, and knowing it is going to take quite a few days, I was expecting, hoping for a lot of or perhaps some new experiences. You know, the type of things that makes people write about their trips. So I decided to write my journal, nothing fancy in it as such, and post it for you good fellas.
Let me tell you about this vessel a bit. It’s not a big boat, about 200 feet long, (more?) and my cabin’s also very nice with a window opening to the back deck and another one to the port side. I met the captain, elderly chap perhaps in his 60s; he greeted me warmly and took me to the bridge and showed me everything, the compass, and all. The view of the sea from the bridge is breathtaking, specially when you turn your head and you see distancing from the shore.
I was expecting to get seasick and all, so I went to the first officer for medicine. He laughed at me and said I’ll be fine. I thought he was waiting to see me get sick and make a fool of myself, but amazingly, I’m good. I confess I had a “funny feeling” at some point, but I’m getting used to it. One of the crew saw me eating in the galley and mentioned that I must be alright if I could eat.
Talking about the crew, they appear to be somewhat weird. I don’t know what makes a man give up land and go to sea. Why should someone choose a life of not having a home? What is it out there that draws their souls? I suspect it’s like a deficiency or the lack of ability to perform in normal condition that makes sailors retreat to the solitude of the endless waters and horror of the abyss. They really make me wonder! They appear to be polite and helpful at times, yet there’s still a strange quality in their manners. One might think they have evolved and adapted to the sea; part of the sea.
I was having a conversation with a gentleman on board a while ago. He wasn’t a sailor either and shared some of my views, though he’d been around boats a bit more and things appear to not surprise him any longer, as such.
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