In not so loving Memory...

I'm kind of shocked... I mean, why would you talk something down that you used to love? In this particular car, I'm talking about books. The headline "What Books Make You Cringe To Remember?" is pretty harsh, too. I mean, probably everybody gets their point, but that doesn't justify this, I think. I would not run around and tell about my back-then-favorite book either (just four you to know, it's Star Wars: Republic Commando, Order 66). But still, I like top hold it in loving memory. [Via BoingBoing]

Our minds on complex ideas

Tolstoy's Words on difficulty are truely timeless.

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him.

Leon Tolstoy – 1897

And it's true: prejudices make nearly everything impossible and this holds for intellectuals and academics as well. Too bad, that people do not even realize how blind they are at times...

Tagged

I seriously love graffiti! I consider it one of the most elemental aspects of urban living. I know that it does not belong everywhere, but that's no reason to try banning it in general. Just imagine the Berlin Wall without any graffiti at all...
I took this picture on my way to college and I was surprised to see something like this on a not-abandoned car (I mean we live in Germany, they normally avoid putting this to the public).

Forget Photoshop

It's Mother Nature who blesses us with the most beautiful and breathtaking impressions. Not that I dislike digital art, but sometimes I just have the impression that people forget how to appreciate our surrounding nature.
This new found form of clouds is called Undulatus Asperatus and just have a look at this amazing view:

7 Billion!

It just took us 12 years to go from 6 to 7 billion people.
This is just insane, considering that our known resources and current technology only allow for about 10 billion, which is expected around the year 2050, according to this infographic: "Population of the Dead"

Breaking Habits

About two weeks ago, I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab. Not the newest one, which I cannot afford that easily but also because I like the original much better.
So, I know for myself that I did not bought this particular gadget because of a hype or a trend or something. But I would have bought some gadget for sure, even if I may not necessarily need it... and that's the worst part!
Our habits, especially concerning comsumption and convenience, are what will drive this world to an early end... and I'm part of reason, so is everyone of us.
The consumer's responsibility is obvious. But on the other hand, many gagdets and computer or all other electronics just won't last too long. That for itself generates enough demand for new products which the industry hopes for in order to increase the profit and all that stuff that comes with the money. And that's the main point: it's not about making money anymore...  it's about making even more money while employees of independent contracters hardly gain enough money to feed a family.
And I'm saying all this being fully aware of how fast technology gets obsolete these days. But then again: if we're all would be honest about it, we hardly need most of the stuff we buy so frequently, at least not with such little time in between.
Let's just try a bit harder and break a few habit for good!

Communicating (with a Handicap)

I was helping out in my parents' bakery the other day when a customer came in and pointed to a certain type of bread role and raised three fingers with the other hand. I then asked "Three pieces of this one?"
But then I realized that I would not get an answer... this particular customer was deaf-mute. I suddenly felt so guilty not being able to grasp her handicap, even worse: I would continue to talk to her even though I was fully aware of it by now... that just shows me how stupid normal  people actually can be, not being able to adapt to individual needs and even being overstrained with the situation.
I just think that this could teach all of us how lucky we are and that we should appreciate the simple things in life.

What's actually worse is when people without such a handicap are just not able to communicate with each other... be it due to a lack of interest or just the lack of social skills. This might be the cause for most of our problems concerning our extended family, our circle of friends and our coworkers as well, and maybe even  greater society.
Maybe I'm not even making sense...