Stella Tse:   This is a master piece - Paradox of Our Time. Please take some time to read it. If you have read it before, take time to read it again! How true is it!

Bob Choi:    I found the introductory comment "..amazing that a comedian...could write something so eloquent, so appropriate..." truly amazing! Where did this commentator come from? He/She must be holding a pretty dim view of comedians in general. Some of the best writing came from comedians: Woody Allen, George Burns, Bob Hope and Bob Choi, just to name a few. Comedians make us laugh precisely because of their eloquency and their ability to expose life's ironies and idiosyncracies. No, i am not a bit surprised that George Carlin could write something like that.

Stella Tse:   Me either.

Metis Hon:  It isn't a bad piece of writing but these days you've to be vigilant reading things going around on the internet! Read the link below about "Paradox of Our Time".  http://bit.ly/1nEWQ21

  There're lots of bogus pieces going around claimed to be written by Bill Gates,

  Hilary Clinton & Gary Locke etc especially those translated into Chinese! 

Stella Tse:   I guess to some extend it does not matter who wrote it, it's what is written that touched my heart.

Bob Choi:   A lot has been said on what china would need to have in order to continue to develop and to strike the right balance between socio-economic growth and political/cultural enlightenment. So i hope what i am going to say will not sound mundane or old hat: what china needs are more comedians. I understand they are an endangered species in china and the few of them who survived are kept behind bars. What a shame!

Dr. Lin:       What you stated about the lack of comedians in mainland China is NOT TRUE. Apparently, you have not watched China Central TV (CCTV) Channels. There are many excellent Chinese comedians in the CCTV (about 15 TV channels) programs joking about the current problems in mainland China such as corruption, food safety and many other problems in China in front of large live audience which you can access free of charge anywhere in the world using the following web site: http://hao123.com.

                   I found the current CCTV channels (including the English-based CCTV-9), which employ many professional foreign nationals as reporters, anchor persons and program producers, attain high international news standard. CCTV has many high quality TV programs such as investigative reporting program similar to the US CBS "60 Minutes" candidly exposing all types of problems in the current mainland Chinese society.

                   Consequently, Mr. Bob Choi, if you still do not like mainland China or its Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, conceivably with your US Passport, you can move back to your "beloved" USA facing high inflation, cost of living and health care cost as well as constant "political infighting" between politicians from the 2 main political parties. However, please DO NOT even DREAM about being elected "President of USA" as you were born in HK SAR of PR China!

Another not so funny "one-cent" comment from C. C. Lin.

- To be Continued -

GEORGE CARLIN (His wife had recently died...)

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

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, fancier houses, 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 stockroom. 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