Images of Our Time: Paintings

By Robert Skaf

Images of our time is a combination of poetry short stories and paintings.
For decades I have been observing the developments around the world that would ultimately affect our survival as a species. As a grocer, I would have been more than happy just to take care of my business and my family. The least of my worries should have been the survival of the human race. Like most people in the west, I felt confident and optimistic about the future. This confidence grew stronger in particular after the dismemberment of the Soviet Union.
Slowly, however, I began to realize that as a civilization, the west is at risk of facing a major economic meltdown.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514489567

Robert Skaf

Robert Skaf has been an experienced entrepreneur and businessman for years. Robert is also a published writer and a poet. In 1988 a fictional book called The Story of the Planet Candy was published. The novel foresaw how robots would be replacing humans and how stem cell technology would evolve to impact every aspect of our lives. A book called Functional Society, highlighting the important role entrepreneurs play in our society, followed in 1995. He has also published an e-book titled Survival: The Ultimate Mission. As well as being a businessman and writer, Robert also spends some of his time working on his inventions. He has already patented one electricity-generating device that harnesses the energy of waves to produce clean energy. Other devices are in the works. Robert has also started the Job Provider in Chief movement. Robert feels that a job provider in chief is just as important as the commander in chief. With the Job Provider in Chief movement, Robert hopes to spark innovation when it comes to creating quality, strategic jobs for our economy. Finally, Robert is also a husband to his wife, Jeanie, and father to his two children, Joseph and Jennifer. Robert’s family has always been very important to him.

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Copyright © 2016 by ROBERT SKAF. 734064

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016906992

ISBN:   Softcover           978-1-5144-8957-4

             Hardcover          978-1-5144-8958-1

             EBook                978-1-5144-8956-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 08/26/2016

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This book is dedicated to:

To the visionaries who are always thinking ahead of their time

To the brilliant minds whose work and influence have made our lives better.

To the risk takers who are not afraid to promote their daring and bold ideas.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

THE NEVER-ENDING WAR

THE AIMLESS SHIP

G 2015

FAIR DEAL

OUR BRIGHT SIDE

OUR DARK SIDE

DEATH IN THE PARK

PARTY ON A YACHT

SLEEPING BEAUTY

HEAVENLY SOUNDS

MIDDLE EAST MAZE

ISIS

DEBATING ROBOTS

THE LECTURE

FOREVER EXPLORERS

MS WEST

TABLETS OF OUR TIME

RULER OF THE WORLD

THE KING AND THE PRESIDENT

THE MACHINE GODDESS

OBELISKS OF OUR TIME

INTRODUCTION

Images of Our Time is a collection of poetry, short stories, and paintings. For decades, I have been observing the developments around the world that would ultimately affect our survival as a species. As a grocer, I would have been more than happy just to take care of my business and my family. The least of my worries should have been the survival of the human race. Like most people in the West, I felt confident and optimistic about the future. This confidence grew stronger in particular after the dismemberment of the Soviet Union.

Slowly, however, I began to realize that as a civilization, the West is at risk of facing a major economic meltdown.

This assessment is not based on sentiments and emotions. It is based on facts. In the last three decades, many developments have taken place. The most important of which is the rise of China and India as superpowers in every sense of the word.

In less than four decades, China has become the largest world economy. Her leaders are also determined to make their nation the leading military superpower. India is a different story. While she has a great potential, she still lags some distance behind China.

Most experts and almost all politicians still consider the United States as the top superpower. However, I happen to disagree. To begin with, it all depends on what you are comparing. Yes, the United States can still rank as the largest economy when the comparison is based on a dollar amount. However, the picture is completely different when the comparisons are made in terms of real economic and industrial output.

The next thing to consider is the composition of the GDP. This index