PolarCap's comment on my last entry was interesting,…

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Posted by: lube Original: 8/19/2003 1:20 PM Comments: 16 eProps: 26 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

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2 eProps from: craktpot Chris284 TammyD lesley_redd winniezpoo Pammy DieselCowman HiC Sassette hot_buttered_steve Cko_chan moosemarmalade freeballer

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Tuesday, August 19, 2003

PolarCap's comment on my last entry was interesting, "Paradoxically, all Americans have a distinct need for simplicity and technology." Or, I feel, at least an inherent desire for both. That is a paradox because the two are converse. If you take note on sci-fi films and TV shows there is a portrayal of a transparent cohesion between the simple and the high-tech. Take Luke Skywalker's habitation with his aunt and uncle on Tatooine. It was a blend of subsistence living and tech tools that seemed, at first blush, a workable combination. This theme is evident in most of the Star Wars films. And look at the Matrix. Again this depiction of the crude essentials integrated with advanced technology. But my premise is that this state cannot sustain because of the paradox. High-tech drives us further and further along it's course towards some imaginary holy grail of the easy life while in fact we are moving in the opposite direction of the much sought simplicity we desire. And now, how can we deviate from this course? I think we can't. But perhaps a change of course might be forced upon us from the outside. Maybe a war? Maybe a cataclysmic event? It would come as a massive disruption, and I'm sure it would be viewed as such, but wouldn't we be better off?

Posted 8/19/2003 1:20 PM - 16 comments

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16 Comments

I also think of the idea that many people believe that culturally and technologically we are "ascending" to some utopic state, when in fact, the reason we need all of the ammenities is we no longer comprehend how to survive without them.

Answer as to whether we are ascending or descending (which agrees with the 2nd Law of thermodynamics: entropy, innate decay, everything that is nailed down is coming updone.) Take a look at the Garden of Eden and then NYC and you tell me! Of course, you initially have to believe that the Garden of Eden existed.

Posted 8/19/2003 2:38 PM by craktpot - reply

simplicity in life is hard to find. True as we strive to use technology to make our life simpler, we are becoming too dependent on it. When the city went blackout, WE learn to survive with out electricity and realize how much of our life has been stripped away. It is hard to say. life is full of contradictions and oxymorons. We dunt kno it but actually everyone is greedy for one thing or another. When one reaches their goal, they want more. We want simple life, when life gets simple, we want convenience. Striving for technooology, instead of the natural life, we were able to make things convenient forr us. WE then want mass production for profit and benefit, and so on. We tend to go for higher goals but what is the point?

Posted 8/19/2003 2:46 PM by Chris284 - reply

nice to see ya posting again.

Posted 8/19/2003 2:51 PM by TammyD - reply

We've grown to used to taking the easy way out. Another word is lazy.

Posted 8/20/2003 5:02 AM by lesley_redd

- reply

We were supposed to come in to help one another. We have gotten far afield from that premise, haven't we? If every religion has a tenet that reminds you about the Golden Rule, then why don't we do it?

Posted 8/20/2003 7:40 AM by winniezpoo

- reply

I hear what you are saying. I look at the way that I lived as a child. Very seldom did we have electricty and city water. Water came from a well. We had a gas stove and we lived that way fine and happy. I know if some sort of event pushed our lives back into simplicity, I would be able to cope. However, I don't think my husband and children would. FYI: I am only 31 not 60 like most people would think having to live that way as a child. In the '70s the recession hit many families from my area hard.

Posted 8/20/2003 12:10 PM by Pammy - reply

I could argue that point, but I refuse to do so because I'm so tired right now my brain refuses to think. But hey man, whats up, and how have you been?

Posted 8/20/2003 12:43 PM by DieselCowman - reply

I found that I fell into that trap as well. When we had the blackout I was lost without my phones! Go figure!

Posted 8/20/2003 12:43 PM by HiC - reply

and how the hell did I italicize my text?

Posted 8/20/2003 12:43 PM by DieselCowman - reply

welcome back to the world of xanga! I, too, was lost without power...not having technology takes us back to the simpler times in life...We have to entertain ourselves without the conveniences of tv, vcr, or dvd players...Easier said than done with a 3 y/o and a 2 y/o (no they're not mine..they're my sisters) that only like to watch movies. We survived, though, and it got me back into reading.

Posted 8/22/2003 1:59 PM by Sassette - reply

sheesh 8 months, don't ever take that long of a break away from xanga again otherwise i'll have to drive by and shoot out your porch light.

Posted 8/24/2003 3:11 PM by hot_buttered_steve - reply

Heheh, Wow.

Posted 8/25/2003 12:43 AM by Cko_chan - reply

Brad.. you are a Star Wars Geek!!!! Love, Poohy

Posted 8/25/2003 12:14 PM by moosemarmalade - reply

This is a great site. Next time I am in the mood for some serious pondering, I shall come here.

Keep up the great work

Curious G

Posted 8/27/2003 8:19 PM by freeballer - reply

ONE WORD: McDONALDIZATION

Posted 9/12/2005 4:49 PM by MichaelBaker - reply

"But what you need to remember is that in corporate America anybody you deal with in a big company is virtually powerless to do anything about anything. It's a big machine a corporate behemoth that gives no real authority to anyone."

Menards isn't a corporation, they are a family owned and run company and your experience was on behalf of your own ignorance. Study before you blab. Get your facts striaght. Everyone that reads your blog will only realize how unimportant your message is when it is void of facts. Menards is a guest based company and if you wouldn't have gone in with the attitude that you wouldn't get good guest service you would have been satified. Boo to you for trying to rip off a company. MI is one of very few states with such a sorry pricing law, try that in IL or OH, good luck, they'll laugh in your face. Boo hoo.

Posted 5/19/2007 12:36 AM by photophish - reply

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