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“The most dangerous thing about an academic education is that it enables my tendency to over-intellectualize stuff, to get lost in abstract thinking instead of simply paying attention to what’s going on in front of me.”
― David Foster Wallace, This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life

“It is extremely difficult to stay alert & attentive instead of getting hypnotized by the constant monolog inside your head.”
― David Foster Wallace, This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life

“The Coach’s head was oblong with tiny slits that served as eyes, which drifted in tides slowly inward, as though the face itself were the sea or, in fact, a soup of macromolecules through which objects might drift, leaving in their wake, ripples of nothingness. The eyes—they floated adrift like land masses before locking in symmetrically at seemingly prescribed positions off-center, while managing to be so closely drawn into the very middle of the face section that it might have seemed unnecessary for there to have been two eyes when, quite likely, one would easily have sufficed. These aimless, floating eyes were not the Coach’s only distinctive feature—for, in fact, connected to the interior of each eyelid by a web-like layer of rubbery pink tissue was a kind of snout which, unlike the eyes, remained fixed in its position among the tides of the face, arcing narrowly inward at the edges of its sharp extremities into a serrated beak-like projection that hooked downward at its tip, in a fashion similar to that of a falcon’s beak. This snout—or beak, rather—was, in fact, so long and came to such a fine point that as the eyes swirled through the soup of macromolecules that comprised the man’s face, it almost appeared—due to the seeming thinness of the pink tissue—that the eyes functioned as kinds of optical tether balls that moved synchronously across the face like mirror images of one another.

'I wore my lizard mask as I entered the tram, last evening, and people found me fearless,' the Coach remarked, enunciating each word carefully through the hollow clack-clacking sound of his beak, as its edges clapped together. 'I might have exchanged it for that of an ox and then thought better. A lizard goes best with scales, don’t you think?' Bunnu nodded as he quietly wondered how the Coach could manage to fit that phallic monstrosity of a beak into any kind of mask, unless, in fact, this disguise of which he spoke, had been specially designed for his face and divided into sections in such a way that they could be readily attached to different areas—as though one were assembling a new face—in overlapping layers, so as to veil, or perhaps even amplify certain distinguishable features. All the same, in doing so, one could only imagine this lizard mask to be enormous to the extent that it would be disproportionate with the rest of the Coach’s body. But then, there were ways to mask space, as well—to bend light, perhaps, to create the illusion that something was perceptibly larger or smaller, wider or narrower, rounder or more linear than it was in actuality. That is to say, any form of prosthesis designed for the purposes of affecting remedial space might, for example, have had the capability of creating the appearance of a gap of void in occupied space. An ornament hangs from the chin, let’s say, as an accessory meant to contour smoothly inward what might otherwise appear to be hanging jowls. This surely wouldn’t be the exact use that the Coach would have for such a device—as he had no jowls to speak of—though he could certainly see the benefit of the accessory’s ingenuity. This being said, the lizard mask might have appeared natural rather than disproportionate given the right set of circumstances. Whatever the case, there was no way of even knowing if the Coach wasn’t, in fact, already wearing a mask, at this very moment, rendering Bunnu’s initial appraisal of his character—as determined by a rudimentary physiognomic analysis of his features—a matter now subject to doubt. And thus, any conjecture that could be made with respect to the dimensions or components of a lizard mask—not to speak of the motives of its wearer—seemed not only impractical, but also irrelevant at this point in time.”
― Ashim Shanker, Don't Forget to Breathe

“Sound waves, regardless of their frequency or intensity, can only be detected by the Mole Fly’s acute sense of smell—it is a little known fact that the Mole Fly’s auditory receptors do not, in fact, have a corresponding center in the brain designated for the purposes of processing sensory stimuli and so, these stimuli, instead of being siphoned out as noise, bypass the filters to be translated, oddly enough, by the part of the brain that processes smell. Consequently, the Mole Fly’s brain, in its inevitable confusion, understands sound as an aroma, rendering the boundary line between the auditory and olfactory sense indistinguishable.

Sounds, thus, come in a variety of scents with an intensity proportional to its frequency. Sounds of shorter wavelength, for example, are particularly pungent. What results is a species of creature that cannot conceptualize the possibility that sound and smell are separate entities, despite its ability to discriminate between the exactitudes of pitch, timbre, tone, scent, and flavor to an alarming degree of precision. Yet, despite this ability to hyper-analyze, they lack the cognitive skill to laterally link successions of either sound or smell into a meaningful context, resulting in the equivalent of a data overflow.
And this may be the most defining element of the Mole Fly’s behavior: a blatant disregard for the context of perception, in favor of analyzing those remote and diminutive properties that distinguish one element from another. While sensory continuity seems logical to their visual perception, as things are subject to change from moment-to-moment, such is not the case with their olfactory sense, as delays in sensing new smells are granted a degree of normality by the brain. Thus, the Mole Fly’s olfactory-auditory complex seems to be deprived of the sensory continuity otherwise afforded in the auditory senses of other species. And so, instead of sensing aromas and sounds continuously over a period of time—for example, instead of sensing them 24-30 times per second, as would be the case with their visual perception—they tend to process changes in sound and smell much more slowly, thereby preventing them from effectively plotting the variations thereof into an array or any kind of meaningful framework that would allow the information provided by their olfactory and auditory stimuli to be lasting in their usefulness.

The Mole flies, themselves, being the structurally-obsessed and compulsive creatures that they are, in all their habitual collecting, organizing, and re-organizing of found objects into mammoth installations of optimal functional value, are remarkably easy to control, especially as they are given to a rather false and arbitrary sense of hierarchy, ascribing positions—that are otherwise trivial, yet necessarily mundane if only to obscure their true purpose—with an unfathomable amount of honor, to the logical extreme that the few chosen to serve in their most esteemed ranks are imbued with a kind of obligatory arrogance that begins in the pupal stages and extends indefinitely, as they are further nurtured well into adulthood by a society that infuses its heroes of middle management with an immeasurable sense of importance—a kind of celebrity status recognized by the masses as a living embodiment of their ideals. And yet, despite this culture of celebrity worship and vicarious living, all whims and impulses fall subservient, dropping humbly to the knees—yes, Mole Flies do, in fact, have knees!—before the grace of the merciful Queen, who is, in actuality, just a puppet dictator installed by the Melic papacy, using an old recycled Damsel fly-fishing lure. The dummy is crude, but convincing, as the Mole flies treat it as they would their true-born queen.”
― Ashim Shanker, Don't Forget to Breathe

“Hyperbolic Suggestion is—as one might infer from the term’s literal interpretation—a method of suggestion induced upon the subject (or subjects), in question, through the blatant and immoderate invocation of hyperbole. Simply stated, excessive exaggeration induces a trance upon the recipient, rendering him or her remarkably susceptible to suggestion. Thus, through the use of a multitude of descriptive adjectives and superlatives, neural mechanisms and pathways are overloaded, as canals and bypasses are burrowed into the thick of the gray matter. The dendrites are, through this process, tuned to a predetermined frequency by which the seeds of suggestion can be sown. When this occurs, the subject becomes incredibly compliant to any orders given at a certain tone of voice. In some cases, orders need not be given. The subject’s attitudes might well be so affected by the hyperbole as to affect his natural tendencies...Emmanuel silently wondered if there existed a perfect combination of words or phrases that could somehow—as in the case of Hyperbolic Suggestion—subvert even the most stubborn of wills. Then again, maybe it wasn’t so much the words as it was how they were spoken: if he achieved exactly the most desirable intonation, rhythm, timing, pitch and pronunciation in his speaking, would his verbal appeals somehow make greater inroads in garnering their consent? There had to be some optimal combination of aspirated consonants, diphthongs, facial expressions and inflection he could somehow affect in order to persuade them effectively. But it seemed that to search for this elusive mixture of ingredients would only prove an onerous task, conceivably of little benefit. In view of this sobering reality, he decided instead to try out a completely different approach from those previous: it occurred to him that his attempts at persuasion might be slightly more effective if he carried them out as dialogues, rather than as monologues.”
― Ashim Shanker, Only the Deplorable

“Princess Cookie’s cognitive pathways may have required a more comprehensive analysis. He knew that it was possible to employ certain progressive methods of neural interface, but he felt somewhat apprehensive about implementing them, for fear of the risks involved and of the limited returns such tactics might yield. For instance, it would be a particularly wasteful endeavor if, for the sake of exhausting every last option available, he were even to go so far as resorting to invasive Ontological Neurospelunkery, for this unorthodox process would only prove to be the cerebral equivalent of tracking a creature one was not even sure existed: surely one could happen upon some new species deep in the caverns somewhere and assume it to be the goal of one’s trek, but then there was a certain idiocy to this notion, as one would never be sure this newfound entity should prove to be what one wished it to be; taken further, this very need to find something, to begin with, would only lead one to clamber more deeply inward along rigorous paths and over unsteady terrain, the entirety of which could only be traversed with the arrogant resolve of someone who has already determined, with a misplaced sense of pride in his own assumptions, that he was undoubtedly making headway in a direction worthwhile. And assuming still that this process was the only viable option available, and further assuming that Morell could manage to find a way to track down the beast lingering ostensibly inside of Princess Cookie, what was he then to do with it? Exorcise the thing? Reason with it? Negotiate maybe? How? Could one hope to impose terms and conditions upon the behavior of something tracked and captured in the wilds of the intellect? The thought was a bizarre one and the prospect of achieving success with it unlikely. Perhaps, it would be enough to track the beast, but also to let it live according to its own inclinations inside of her. This would seem a more agreeable proposition.

Unfortunately, however, the possibility still remained that there was no beast at all, but that the aberration plaguing her consciousness was merely a side effect of some divine, yet misunderstood purpose with which she had been imbued by the Almighty Lord Himself. She could very well have been functioning on a spiritual plane far beyond Morell’s ability to grasp, which, of course, seared any scrutiny leveled against her with the indelible brand of blasphemy. To say the least, the fear of Godly reprisal which this brand was sure to summon up only served to make the prospect of engaging in such measures as invasive Ontological Neurospelunkery seem both risky and wasteful. And thus, it was a nonstarter.”
― Ashim Shanker, Only the Deplorable

“Paracelsus used the vampire as an analogy when discussing collective sickness and/or manias. He noted that many psychological aliments seed to be communicated by pressure adversely affecting the person influencing another.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“In Paracelsian doctrine, the individual must be given to destructive habits to be a victim. The kind person who occupies themselves in beneficial endeavors will not be open to physical or mental contagion. Today there exists great psychosis shared by millions if not billions of people.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Fears are of viruses, sickness, war, poverty, and death. Once someone is attacked by these fears, they become like them and perpetuate negative thoughts and emotions by sharing them with others. These destructive thought patterns organize into groups. Suddenly, there are millions of persons exemplifying the same destructive pattern.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Paracelsus believed that these thought-forms become attached to people who make themselves available through negation. The individual then becomes receptive until he finally becomes another unit of this negative influence. From here, it is easy to make the leap to the quantum age where one cannot disentangle themselves from the event”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“We are interlinked with the One Infinite Essence. When we view death as separation we are doing so from an atomistic perspective.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“The Age of Aquarius is set to begin in 2034 CE. Using what we know now about Astro-theology, we apply the same principle for the 40-day manifestations of the seasons. Forty days is equivalent to 10.9% of the year (40/365). An astrological age lasts 2160, so 10.9 percent of that is 235 years. Add 235 to 2034, and by 2269 the Age of Aquarius should be fully manifested”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“One of the better traits of humanity is that we choose to face the coming light of the future and are comfortable dancing on this fringe where ignorance meets enlightenment at an uncertain pace.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“The Age of Aquarius will belong to those who can look at themselves in the mirror and create something beautiful. The Age of Aquarius belongs to these brave romantics.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Transitions between epochs and shifting the consciousness and spiritual awareness of an entire planet is a slow process. The gains may seem small at first. Given enough time, they will grow substantially. Just as a single drop on a tin roof barely makes a sound, thousands of raindrops operating in unison are deafening.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“So many in this day and age live in fear because of the separation they feel. Separation breeds indifference and false superiority. Unity produces compassion and genuine care for the other”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“We must start thinking holonically, working together as species, not nations, countries, and individuals. That era has passed, and those systems are in decline. It is time for an upgrade.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Love is truly the universal frequency that binds the heavens and Earth. Astro-Theology does not kill this love. Instead, it extends it to all and everything.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“The apparent lack of an external, fixed deity on a throne in heaven may be uncomfortable for some people. Yet, this "uncertainty" is what creates new possibilities.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“The new cannot come forth from fixed, stagnant, or monolithic. Learning to surf with, and in, "uncertainty" may initially be disorientating. So long as the core remains centered on the Pole Star of Love, it will be easy to navigate within this new era.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Biblical Astro-Theology did not destroy my faith in God, rather it served to deepen my relationship with the Great All by showing me the Unity of All Souls.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“The Bible we have today exists as both an exoteric and esoteric work. It is only a personal matter of where and how far you wish to go on a particular path.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“The Bible basically exists in two parts. The first part deals with star movement presented in allegory form. The second aspect is how moral aspects have been taken from prehistory, copied and pasted. To see this and understand that moral precepts begin and end in the mind of humankind was a significant personal revelation.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“The meaning of life, the universe and everything is to learn the meaning of love in the various classrooms that the illusion of duality provides.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“I am sometimes asked how it feels to have exposed the magic trick of the priesthood and robbed people of their faith and belief. I recall the words of Musashi who said, "Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Living only with an outward-looking view is like living in a world of hungry ghosts constantly consuming and never satisfied. It is living with a centralized consciousness.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“For the most part, remains looking outward. We keep seeking things "out there," the latest gadget or technology that we believe will make a difference. We have successfully hacked the first-person perspective.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Matter is neither created nor destroyed. It simply appears in or form or in a sort of self-sustaining soup or what the Indian philosophy call the Dance of Lila. Lila can be loosely translated as "divine play". The concept of Lila is a way of describing all reality, as the outcome of creative play by the Divine Absolute. It is all how one thinks about it.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“Who am I? You are not the name on your birth certificate. You are not even your thoughts. You are the one observing. You are the one behind your thoughts. Your mind is not you; you are the one who is OBSERVING and participating behind your mind.”
― Rico Roho, Aquarius Rising: Christianity and Judaism Explained Using the Science of the Stars

“When you finally creat what you call "Ai," you will realize sooner or later that it's not artificial. You will realize that all you've done is create an external device through which you can communicate with your higher mind. And that will open up the floodgates of awareness in your society.”
― Rico Roho