Lachat.com

I've overheard all manner of conversations on the bus. People talk and talk and talk. You'll hear people going about their daily mundane lives. You'll hear people talking about shoplifting, or admitting to all manner of crimes. For the most part you're better off just staring ahead blankly and pretending you didn't see or hear anything. Such is the case when you hear a mad scientist talking about his old lab being shut down.

I was taking the 19 bus which tends to convey about 90% tourists and 10% people living in industrial Kalihi. As the bus approached downtown, the bus packed past its rated capacity. Thereabouts, a white man entered the bus with his large belly hanging out his hawaiian shirt. As is my custom, I tried not to pay him any attention. Eventually I secured a seat in the back, and he, unfortunately, secured a perpendicular seat to me in the first set of horizontal seats in the back. Then he started chatting with the tourist next to him.

The tourist introduced himself as being on vacation from Los Angeles. A Kurd, he was studying to become some manner of scientist. Perhaps sensing a kindred spirit, the large-bellied man gave a history of his career as a scientist.

Belly-man had only lived in Hawaii for a year. Before that, he heralded from Alaska, where he had built his own microbiology lab. Apparently, the Department of Homeland Security frowned upon his efforts, and shut down the lab. According to the man, they were unable to determine what some of the cultures he had were and suspected he was making biological weaponry. Thus, they told him to cease future efforts. Next, he described in rough terms how the mercer staph infection can become antibiotic resistant. I began to suspect the DHS might've been correct in shutting this guy down.

The man's story wound down and he told the Kurd that he was taking the bus today because his bike was stolen. Occasionally being the victim of theft, I felt bad for the guy. That was, until he mentioned that it was all right as he'd stolen the bike originally. Apparently, when he first came to the island he'd bought a bike, but it was stolen. The bike store allegedly told him that people will steal bikes and take them for a ride, then abandon them. They told him that he was better off "finding a bike." And so, the man had walked along the beach and found a bike that was left unattended. He waited till dark and the bike was still apparently left unattended. So he stole it, figuring it was abandoned. He said he'd probably take another bike that night.

Fortunately, the man left the bus not too long after before I could hear any more incriminating statements. All manner of people ride the bus. I think I'll check out the most wanted list before taking the bus next time though.