Melanie's Final Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut_cWFrR8b0 YouTube video showing Melanie's final art project from the Moore College of Art. May 18, 2008.

The Paradox: by George Carlin

Every now and then Carlin is so right! One of his more thought provoking works as sent to me by my good friend Appolos. ___________________________________________________

The paradox of our time in history is that we have:

• taller buildings but shorter tempers,


• wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints.


• We spend more, but have less,


• we buy more, but enjoy less.


• We have bigger houses and smaller families,


• more conveniences, but 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 drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate 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 a new neighbor. We 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 conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancierhouses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stock room.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.Give time to love, give time to speak!

And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Why is gasoline so cheap in the US?

Interesting read from CNN Money about just how cheap gasoline really is in the US.

Why companys fail at customer service - an Interview with Jeff Bezos in BusinessWeek

BusinessWeek has a great article and interview with Jeff Bezos on innovation and putting customers first. Below is just one of the great answers offered up. Much to learn.



Q: Every company claims to be customer-focused. Why do you think so few are able to pull it off?



A: Companies get skills-focused, instead of customer-needs focused.



When [companies] think about extending their business into some new area, the first question is "why should we do that—we don't have any skills in that area." That approach puts a finite lifetime on a company, because the world changes, and what used to be cutting-edge skills have turned into something your customers may not need anymore. A much more stable strategy is to start with "what do my customers need?" Then do an inventory of the gaps in your skills. Kindle is a great example. If we set our strategy by what our skills happen to be rather than by what our customers need, we never would have done it. We had to go out and hire people who know how to build hardware devices and create a whole new competency for the company.