I wish this message will reach Mr. Bradbury through this forum.

I know how stupid what I'm about to say may sound, but I hope you can read it without any presumptions. And, I believe, of all people on earth, you're the one who can do it.

I believe something really, really wonderful is about to wake up. The best term I can think for it is collective, global consciousness. And I don't mean just people making decisions based on moral and ethical values, but something *completely* new, amazing and good.

I wouldn't be surprised if you already knew about it.

I think this may be the most important step human species has taken for a long, long time. It could be something that finally opens the skies for us.

Mr. Bradbury, thank you so much for being and creating such a huge part of what I am. I hope I can bring you back even just a small portion of the magic you've given to me.

-j.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jyri,

Well said, Jyri, and mieluinen!

I'm right there with you.

"Suomi, how I love ya, how I love ya, my dear old Suomi!"

(sorry)

Well, I have one Finnish friend who'd get it!

Anything is possible and let's all hope for things to transpire in a GOOD way!

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
Well said, Jyri, and mieluinen!

I'm right there with you.

Heh.

Well, I don't know about a global conciousness, but it is a time of awakening and we will have to make a decision soon.

DO we want to rise to the stars or remain in the cave for another thousand years? The choice seems simple, but it's not for many.

quote:

I believe something really, really wonderful is about to wake up. The best term I can think for it is collective, global consciousness.

Hey, why not? It's the Information Age. The internet, blogging, forums, email, searches of nearly unlimited databases via google...it's been made possible for man to come together more than ever before.
And man has responded enthusiastically. Bill Gates is the 21st Century equivelent of Thomas Edison.

I like a positive thread, but must remind that all new technologies are capable of perversion and distortion by forces of "evil". The power of the internet is amazing, but let's not be naive and pretend it has not been used to recruit terrorists and to repeatedly disply brutal beheadings, and that the scourge of child pornography has been geometrically worsened by the unbiqity of the internet. Bradbury, while a positive person and writer, recognizes the reality of evil, yet retains a positive and hopeful outlook. We need to influence for good. We can't wait around for some vague global consciousness to heal the world. If good is to happen, we need to take responsibility and take action ourselves.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mr. Dark,

Mr. Dark, In my work in publishing, I've had opportunity to talk with those buying and selling publications in the market. And it seems to be a consensus, that the driving force that brought the internet to its forefront, was, pornography. With all the magazine codes that kept the publisher and editors on watch, the internet erased all precautions and rules, because there were not any in place. It seems, in order to change everything, introduce a brand-new invention for which little regard was given in terms of its impact, and its pretty much a new ball game until the rules and laws are later implimented, if they ever are.

quote:

Originally posted by Robert M Blevins:
Bill Gates is the 21st Century equivelent of Thomas Edison.

Please - Steve Jobs!

quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Dark:
I like a positive thread, but must remind that all new technologies are capable of perversion and distortion by forces of "evil". The power of the internet is amazing, but let's not be naive and pretend it has not been used to recruit terrorists and to repeatedly disply brutal beheadings, and that the scourge of child pornography has been geometrically worsened by the unbiqity of the internet. Bradbury, while a positive person and writer, recognizes the reality of evil, yet retains a positive and hopeful outlook. We need to influence for good. We can't wait around for some vague global consciousness to heal the world. If good is to happen, we need to take responsibility and take action ourselves.

I agree with you 100%.

Doug says:

quote:

Please - Steve Jobs!

Ha ha...not a chance. I used to think that, too. Until I read 'The Road Ahead' by Gates and then heard Jobs was on the board at Disney.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Robert M Blevins,

quote:

Originally posted by Robert M Blevins:
Bill Gates is the 21st Century equivelent of Thomas Edison.

If you're talking collective consciousness then neither Jobs nor Gates can be seen as pioneers. Now the forefathers of the open source movement, which espouses freedom and sharing, such as Richard M Stallman (Free Software Foundation) Linus Torvalds (Linux Kernel Creator) are the men we should look up to.

And, with a more up to date reference, Mark Shuttleworth deserves a mention as the father of Ubuntu (Linux for Human Beings) an absolutely fantastic, free Operating System that is enabling all kinds of people the world over to use and participate in computing.

And this coming from an unashamed Apple Mac fanboy