the paradox of our age
By: Dr. Bob Moorehead (1995)
“We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less; we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we fly in faster planes to arrive there quicker, to do less and return sooner; we sign more contracts only to realize fewer profits; we talk too much, love too seldom, and lie too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We’ve conquered outer space but not inner space; we’ve done larger things, but not better things; we’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less; we make faster planes, but longer lines; we learned to rush, but not to wait; we have more weapons, but less peace; higher incomes, but lower morals; more parties, but less fun; more food, but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but less success. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; drive smaller cars that have bigger problems; build larger factories that produce less. We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, but short character; steep in profits, but shallow relationships. These are times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; higher postage, but slower mail; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; these are times of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, cartridge living, throw-away morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to prevent, quiet or kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. Indeed, these are the times! “
The irony of this piece is the underlying paradox of the author himself; a pastor. Naturally we would assume his life was a dedication to religion, to goodness, to love. In fact, he was a sexual molester of the members of his own congregation. As someone said before, it is quite fitting that this very honest piece was written by a man who lived a life of deceit.
“There’s nobody that’s ever really been able to take care of me. Johnny did for a bit.” - Kate Moss
boston: my views
To cut it short, being manipulated by the media is not an avenue I like to walk on. I’m no conspiracy theorist.. but so many things don’t sit right with what occurred on the 15th of April. I could sit here and post the numerous articles, videos, and pictures which I’ve compiled but i’ll save that for another day and time.
What I want to address for the moment is Dzhokhar’s extraordinary ability to “speak” in hospital today. We were told he “shot himself” in the throat (how convenient). Ordinarily, this would result in instant death. Dzhokhar managed to survive, but whether his speech or memory remain intact is doubtful. So naturally, the “court hearing” in hospital consisted of him “writing” and “nodding” his head because he could not speak. And yet most media outlets have reported how he miraculously said ”no” in response to “can you afford a defense attorney” (whilst being on a ventilator of course let’s not forget).
Meanwhile, I hope every victim of this tragedy rests in peace.
when you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe then you’ll be successful
the world needs dreamers and the world needs doers, but above all the world needs dreamers who do
—Sarah Ban Breathnach
sleeping
“People say, ‘I’m going to sleep now,’ as if it were nothing. But it’s really a bizarre activity. ‘For the next several hours, while the sun is gone, I’m going to become unconscious, temporarily losing command over everything I know and understand. When the sun returns, I will resume my life.’
If you didn’t know what sleep was, and you had only seen it in a science fiction movie, you would think it was weird and tell all your friends about the movie you’d seen.
They had these people, you know? And they would walk around all day and be OK? And then, once a day, usually after dark, they would lie down on these special platforms and become unconscious. They would stop functioning almost completely, except deep in their minds they would have adventures and experiences that were completely impossible in real life. As they lay there, completely vulnerable to their enemies, their only movements were to occasionally shift from one position to another; or, if one of the ‘mind adventures’ got too real, they would sit up and scream and be glad they weren’t unconscious anymore. Then they would drink a lot of coffee.’
So, next time you see someone sleeping, make believe you’re in a science fiction movie. And whisper, ‘The creature is regenerating itself.”
― George Carlin, Brain Droppings
