https://suno.com/song/f1c67c4b-51b0-40dc-9c18-0310bb9ed7ac
Sunday
ORIENTATION
It was 5 AM on Black Friday when a 15-year-old memory hit me like a wave of nostalgia. I found myself grinning in the dark, remembering the day I became a manager at Chili's in Waikiki at the ripe age of 30.
They called one day, offering the position. The next day, I showed up dressed to impress. Tracy gave me a whirlwind five-minute rundown, handed me the keys, and boom - I was management. Just as I'd always planned.
My first crisis as manager? A brown sugar shortage. As I stood in line at the food pantry, I noticed this Adonis of a surfer dude. His name was Mercury - fitting for someone so quicksilver charming. We chatted, and when he mentioned job hunting, I realized I might be the exact person he needed to talk to. Within minutes of getting those manager keys, I was basically hiring eye candy.
One thing led to another, and soon we were making out on his studio apartment floor. It wasn't a grand romance - he had a girlfriend back in California and some weird superhero alter-ego fantasy. He was convinced he dressed up in spandex and "hid in the bushes" until an opportunity to fight crime arose. Then some ninja shit was supposed to happen. There were a few like him, in secret, in shadows, a lot like a League if you will.
Mercury even tried to initiate a threesome with a hot bartender - I mean, hardcore, dick out tried. While that particular threesome didn't happen, I did end up in a sort of three-way with her and a HOT Turkish Prince. After she left the next morning, me and the Royal Turk had a Thanksgiving type feast - turkey and stuffing, ya know. Never told her that part.
She bought me flowers the next day to apologize if it bothered me, and that's when we established the "crazy shit when wasted" clause. Five years later, I found out everyone knew and it labeled me quite the sex symbol - still not about the morning though.
I tore my meniscus because of Mercury - skipping to tell a friend about him. Thirty is too old to be skipping over boys, but there I was, on crutches for weeks. Chili's was awesome about working with me through that. After almost a month, I got drunk enough one night to toss the crutches in the ocean when me and that hot Micronesian guy were doing whatever on the beach.
Waikiki in the early 2000s was a hot scene - college-age surfers and military dudes everywhere. I acclimated flawlessly, becoming the go-to guy for straight-curious experiments. Make good friends, have some fun, no strings attached - that was my M.O. I've always been just the guy to help them figure their shit out. And I love it.
It never crossed my mind that my first act as a manager might be seen as unprofessional. But that's the beauty of memories - they glow brighter with time. So here's to 30-year-old me, with your new manager keys and questionable hiring practices. You might not have been the most professional, but you sure knew how to live.
Looking back, I realize this experience shaped my view on management and life. It's funny how things work out - you think you're on one path, and suddenly you're skipping down another, quite literally in my case. But those missteps and adventures? They're what make life rich and worth remembering. And hey, if you're going to have an epiphany about your past, 5 AM on Black Friday seems as good a time as any.
L. Ron Hubbard's DISTURBING Last Interview Within "Church of Scientology"
**Detailed Summary:**
- **Philosophical Views:**
- Hubbard believed that humans were placed on Earth by a higher force and were meant to navigate their own path. He described human consciousness as being manipulated and hypnotized, with Scientology aiming to awaken individuals from this state of mental suppression.
- **Early Life and Education:**
- Born on March 13, 1911, in Tien, Nebraska, to Harry Ross Hubbard and Ladora May Hubbard. His father’s naval career led to frequent relocations, influencing Hubbard’s worldview and creativity. Attended various schools and briefly studied engineering at George Washington University, but dropped out after two years.
- **Career Beginnings:**
- Hubbard's writing career began in adolescence, with his first significant publication in 1934. He gained prominence in the pulp fiction industry, known for his imaginative and adventurous tales. His early works reflected a fascination with exploration and science fiction.
- **Development of Dianetics:**
- In 1950, Hubbard published "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health," which proposed a method for clearing negative past influences through auditing. This book laid the foundation for Scientology, focusing initially on mental health.
- **Creation of Scientology:**
- Scientology was officially established in 1953, expanding on Dianetics by introducing the concept of the Thetan, an immortal spiritual being. The church offered spiritual enlightenment through practices like auditing and the use of the e-meter, a device intended to measure mental states.
- **Controversies and Criticisms:**
- Scientology faced significant criticism from the scientific and medical communities, particularly concerning the lack of empirical support for its methods. The church’s practices, including the e-meter and auditing, were contested as pseudoscientific.
- **Legal Issues:**
- Hubbard and the Church of Scientology encountered numerous legal battles, including the infamous Operation Snow White, which involved infiltration of government agencies and resulted in convictions for several church members. The church’s fight for tax-exempt status and its financial dealings, including allegations of exploitation and abuse, have been a persistent source of controversy.
- **Aggressive Tactics Against Critics:**
- Scientology has a history of targeting critics and defectors through harassment, legal threats, and surveillance. Notable cases include Paulette Cooper and Mike Rinder, who faced severe repercussions for their criticisms.
- **Hubbard’s Personal Life:**
- Hubbard’s personal life was marked by controversy, including allegations of abuse and manipulation. His claims about his experiences and achievements, such as being a war hero, were often exaggerated or unsubstantiated. His complex relationships and erratic behavior contributed to a tumultuous personal and professional legacy.
- **Legacy and Influence:**
- Despite ongoing controversies, Scientology remains influential and financially strong, partly due to high-profile endorsements from celebrities. Hubbard’s writings continue to shape the church’s teachings, but his legacy is overshadowed by the church’s contentious history and the practices it employs to maintain control and manage its public image.
**Simplified Essay:**
L. Ron Hubbard's last interview within the Church of Scientology reveals a complex and controversial figure whose impact extends far beyond his imaginative fiction. Hubbard's philosophical views posited that humans were placed on Earth by a higher force and needed to awaken from mental manipulation, a theme central to his teachings in Scientology. His transition from a pulp fiction writer to a religious leader was marked by ambitious and groundbreaking ideas, but also by significant controversies. Scientology's rise was accompanied by accusations of pseudoscience, financial exploitation, and aggressive tactics against critics. Hubbard’s personal life, characterized by contradictions and allegations of abuse, further complicates his legacy. Despite the church's ongoing financial success and influence, the shadows of its contentious history and Hubbard's problematic practices continue to shape perceptions of Scientology.
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