Poison Paradise

California has been called the Poison Paradise, precariously poised on micro-thin lines which intersect good and evil, fantasy and reality, decadence and destitution, male and female, life and death --- and all or nothing.

Populations around the world know exactly what California "is" according to a universally conglomerate image comprised, itself, of images.

Californians, however, have a different corporate perspective as a society.  With 40 million Californians, though, there are 40 million unique perspectives on what, exactly, California is all about.

Ask a 40-year resident of the Golden State for their take on California, and you'll get a multiplicity of perspectives all rolled into a general philosophy which steps outside established American norms.

Ask someone who has been here that long, but has also wandered in California's ethereal wilderness, sleepless and starving, for 40 days and 40 nights --- and you'll get some penetrating insights which the rest of the Internet cannot and will not offer.

Poison Paradise

Most people attracted to California are obsessed with the concept of a personal, highly-individualized, custom-designed, liberated, limitless lifestyle.

In California, you can legally change your marital status, nose, boobs, religion, hair color, culture, name, sexual preference, career, gender, income level, philosophy, reputation, ideals and morals.

In the Golden State, you can be as anonymous or globally famous as you wish.  You can fulfill your wildest fantasies, pursue your boldest visions and reinvent yourself to the zenith of insane extremes.

Success, happiness and fulfillment are all possible here --- though none are guaranteed.

As far as those you might see on television, who say "I love what I do, and I can't believe I get paid all this money to do it," most of them are in California, that's true.  What they won't tell you is everything it took to get there, which is an awful lot.

Life is a journey; an adventure; a series of ups and downs.  In California, many things seem to manifest in extremes --- unfathomable extremes, in fact.

Now, you may be reading this and thinking, "Well, maybe all this might be true about L.A. or Hollywood, but certainly not the whole state."

Don't kid yourself.  Even in the forests, the desert and the mountains, Californians know they're Californians.  Something rather unique comes with a California driver's license.

Call it a status; a special right; a unique place in world society.  Whatever it is, it's real --- or at least it feels real, and that's what seems to matter.

Some Californians just feel entitled.

California is a heavily emotional state, loaded with sensitivities, feelings and creative urges, all of which are respected and protected --- many of which are even protected by law.

Some impulses here have contributed to the welfare of all; the betterment of planet Earth; the forward advancement of humanity.  Other impulses have led mankind down to the depths of depravity.

California is, after all, the serial killer capitol of the world, as well as the child porn capitol and the cult capitol.  Just sayin'.

You are reading this article on the Internet, though, which would not have been possible but for the thousands of technology geeks who live in California.  More fantastic things than not come from the Golden State.

To be truly honest, you have to take the good with the bad.  It helps, though to keep your eyes open in order to recognize the good and the evil.  In California, both grow wild and free.

In the Garden of Eden, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the option chosen, which led to excommunication and a dramatic wilderness experience.

Outside the Garden, there was nothing but Joshua Trees, desert sand, dust, heat, drought, fires and nakedness --- like Los Angeles a thousand years ago, actually.

Today, California sells eternal life through the human cloning perfected by the state's biotech industry --- and what better place to live out the centuries than a man-made Garden of Eden, complete with millions of planted palm trees and water pumped in from other states?

Eureka, baby. We have found it.  Totally.

As the most famous society on earth, California is so confident in its ability to forever survive and thrive that special attention can be given to passing state laws based on what sex organs individuals have and whatever alternative lifestyle provides the strongest orgasm.

It simply is not enough for us to exercise our free choice.  Evidently, we must legislate both morality and immorality --- equally, though, and with the utmost emphasis on political correctness.

The rest of the world thinks we've gone crazy, but they just can't stop staring.

No worries, though.  When things get too confusing, Californians always have the freedom to escape through addictions, toxic relationships and narcissistic expression.

Those who know California best will attest that I'm being very candid here, so don't be too shocked.  This stuff is daily business in the Golden State --- and quite profitable, apparently.

Did you think that the Eagles' songs, "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane" were just groovy songs written while high?  Upon arrival in California, the songwriters simply looked around and documented what they saw.  Easiest songwriting in the world, really.

California promises women that they can achieve independence, complete with the domination, money, power and balls of a man.  In fact, women can simply become men through gender reassignment.  No biggie.  California is, after all, the land of "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar."

California promises men beautiful "California girls" by the dozen, complete with access to the "sacred feminine" and all which embodies pink, fluffy beauty.  Some men, however, buy into the whole scene and internalize it as they go after other men.  Some others just become women with great boob jobs.

There are, perhaps, far too many folks in California who feel they have a right to instant mansions, swimming pools, million dollar cars and billion dollar bank accounts on-demand.

There's certainly nothing wrong with ambition, but demanding lazy wealth and global fame in 15 minutes is a little delusional.  Too many narcissistic visions while dancing naked in front of the mirror while high.

The land of "Free Love" and "If It Feels Good, Do It" continues to rage and reign as the world cheers on.

Oh, to be tan, blonde, rich, famous, beautiful, sexy, high and out of control --- and addicted to it all.  A toxic California Dream, but a dream nonetheless, sort of like the video below.

POISON PARADISE