Technology.....Who can keep up with it?!

Technology....I just don't get it!! It's seems to be warping more and more into something unrecognizable with each passing day! What happened to the good ol'd days when there was a specific purpose and use for everything?! Seems to me like companies are now running out of ideas and they're coming up with weird combos to compete with each other.
Here's a typical scenario that was enacted recently: So I get a call from my cell-phone company today. (Btw. I've been trying to avoid their call for a while now...everytime they called, I'd say I wasn't home and was gone for a long long trip out of town!) ;-) But they managed to catch me unawares today. You know you can always figure out when it's going to be a marketing spheal. The minute you hear someone fumble with your name and say: "Can I - uh- speak to a - uh- ...Ms..Uh" you know its time to hang up.
Anyways, so the person goes "Ms...we have this exciting new upgrade offer for you - its a fantastic new phone with all latest features". So I say "thankyou, but no thankyou...I'm happy with my current phone". But Ms.. this new phone offers a whole lot of comprehensive features at your fingertips. Like what, i ask? "well, for starters it lets you: 1. it gives you 1gb space to take, download and store pictures. "But isn't that what my camera is for?" I ask perplexed. Why on earth would i want to store so many grainy, minute pictures on my cell phone for?" Well, because you can play around with it and send them to your friends and family. "Tempting!" I say, "but not quite". I don't think my friends and family really care to see pixel size pictures of yours truly mailed to them on their phone!" next...
I have to hand it to the phone marketer....he had a lot of patience and just wouldn't give up.
2. The phone also offers music download of your favorite songs and tunes. You can store upto 150 of your favorite songs on the phone. "But...isn't that what my "MP3/Ipod player and music system at home are for? Why would i want to listen to songs on my phone an use up battery life when i could be listening to music in the relaxing ambience of my apartment?" "Correct me if I'm wrong", I say, "but wasn't/isn't a cellphone supposed to be used primarily for calling purposes?" :)
3. The person pretends not to hear or understand me and goes: "well, there's also Google maps, google earth and a GPS functionality type feature incase you're ever lost somewhere". I say, "Hon! don't take this personally....but I WON'T/DON'T intend to get lost in any such place where i need to use any of these functionalities...besides i don't want to make myself cross-eyed trying to access these features on the tiny screen of my phone!
By now, I could sense the marketer's irritation at my ignoramus logic! :) "Ms..You have to 'get-with-the times'!!! This phone is the latest gadget that you simply want to be seen with!! It offers a host of other cutting-edge features like PDA capabilities, video downloads, internet browsing and advanced gaming options. It's sort of like the "IPOD-Picture-Phone" combined in-one! Besides we'll throw in a 2 months's free long distance and download options for you if you sign up for a new 2 year plan.
"Listen Pal!" I say...."I hear ya...but here's the deal...I still haven't figured out how to use all the "advanced" features on my current phone (its only been a year and half!) and now you want me to upgrade to a newer one with more features. I don't wish to download and install pictures on my phone nor do i want to listen to blasting music resonating from it. I'm happy with my old technology!!! Comprendez??! So leave me alone!!! I don't want a "Pho-pod"!
The marketer snaps: "Well, thankyou for your time Ms. Sorry that you won't be taking advantage of this new offer! (*Read that to mean*: What a "loser you are!!)"
God..phew!!! Wonder how soon I'll have to do that again??? Hmmm...perhaps someone's going to be calling me about "new" hairdryer next?! ;-)

Pondering life 

Where's the Love y'all?!

I was reading Anderson Cooper's blog on CNN recently and something touched a chord.

He talks about how someone asked him whether his heart bleeds every time he covered one human tragedy after another. His answer was "yes". He said that he lay awake many nights trying to find answers to seemingly intractable questions -- "Why have we become so cruel to ourselves? What makes us revert to our basic "animal" instincts of killing our own without guilt or remorse? Why, in the 21st century, are so many of us living like our medieval ancestors?"

I often ponder similar questions myself! For all the advances that have been made in technology, science, healthcare and innovation etc, one would think we'd be moving towards a more productive, peaceful, civilized and tolerant soceity. More frequently it feels though, like we've taken giant steps back!! The bombings, religious killings, militia atrocities, even abhorrent acts of abuse guised under the tag of "protecting freedom and democracy" are resulting in nothing but more hatred around the world. At a more local and city level, what about the increase in gun and gang violence, misuse of the internet by psychos, increased drug useage among teens...the list goes on!!

Its an open secret that Political greed and hidden interests of different groups lie behind these all...but its like a vicious circle! Seems to be no way to break out it. Governments and leaders swear action against the "terrorists", the terrorists in turn justify their actions based on the fact that their people are terrorized and marginalized, and so it goes on! Who suffers in the end....its the common man who really has nothing to do with nor wants any part of this tragedy! It is the men and women trying to provide food on the table for their families and the kids trying to lead a normal childhood who are scarred in the process .

I know this sounds weird but sometimes I wish i had magic powers or something? Or that I was God for a day! :) I have my own designs on what I'd like to do to rid society across the globe of groups of rapists, murderers and pedophiles. Get rid of terrorists, radicals, religious fanatics as well as people who are racists in any way!

But yikes!!! Then that makes me just as bad as any of them, doesn't it?! Like Anderson Cooper comments on his log/report: "it's not for us to decide their fate. That would make us like them -- animals that kill for the sake of killing". We each have our views on an ideal "utopia", of equality, justice and benefit.... and its when each of us tries to implement it that clashes occur!

So the question is what can we do? yeah, i probably sound naiive writing this...but i seriously feel our society has become way too materialistic and individualistic. What we need is more lovin', more understanding and more compassion towards each other! :)

As the Black Eyed Peas song goes: Where is the Love?!

What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin' Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above'
Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love The love, the love