www.doge.nl/~hero/silence.html -> home.hccnet.nl/h.de.jong/silence.html
SILENT BEEP : the END of our High-Tech AGE INTRODUCTION : The book "Silent Spring" became a bestseller, but even so the great *SILENT BEEP* perhaps will become a top-reality of our millennium change. At this unforgettable day, everything went else as usual. Instead of the sound of his two alarm clocks, mister Bull awaked by voices. He took his watch from the bedside-table, and looked sleepy to both his alarm clocks. They indicated the same time as his watch : half past two. However, all hands stood still, and a bundle of weak sunlight fell between the curtains. His son was screaming that : the computer did not work, and his daughter was crying that : the telephone was dead. They both were making quarrels, while accusing each other. Mister Bull jumped into his clothes, and entered the living room. Just then, they heard some noise of the street - a group of neighbors was outside, talking. Our family became curious, and went outdoors to join the group. All neighbors in street seemed to have the same trouble. They were contributing their insights to a discussion in group, or were busy to solve their problem, assisted or hindered by some advisors. The owner of a shop was trying to start his wagen, because he must drive to his business for open it. But the electronic system, installed to prevent car-robbing, refused to cooperate this morning, and seemed to take its legal owner for a car-robber. A woman complained that her brand-new washing machine did not functioned. Another woman shouted : "bloody high-tech - back to the washtub - come to me with your smut - I have an oldie - works very nice, even on half the voltage". The paperboy was late, when he cycled through the street. He only distributed small pieces of paper with on it a small message. And then, mister Cohen went out his home, and he joined the group. He resumed : "there is enough water in the holy land, just for all my people and for the others, but no-one dares to drink it, because everybody fears the poison from the palestinians - the bad stuff resourced from Libya - the victims of it became totally disoriented and confused - the problem was to recognize these patients on time, before accidents". Again she came out, carrying something antique - she put it carefully down, and connected it to the long wire. But for all of them, it became clear that many things would change, forever. He went into his car, activated the motor without problems, and started driving, but seeing the group, he pulled up and opened his car-roof. And indeed, some streets away, a column of dark smoke arose. He started his wagen again, and drove to his board meeting. Our Bull family, and the neighbors, had to frontier a new way of life. However, they were luckey, because at some other places and aspecially in the large cities, the people revolted against their government, and disaster was ruling before it became piecefull again. But the neighbors in our street, they learned to communicate again, to take time and give attention to each other.
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