.....An ardent admirer of mine responded to my blog of yesterday wherein I claimed I am not electronically connected to the gadget world--I am not a "techie"--I'm a poet, thusly:
"There were poets of the industrial revolution and poets of the Civil War and poets of the open road. You could be a poet of electronic and ultra-connected world our children live in and that we are desperately trying to ignore. For you to reject modernity in the name of poetry is to deny poetry, itself, access to the 21st century."
.....I would respond to this poor, misguided soul that I do not generally care to purchase anything that I have to fix, and that my poetry has already entered the 21st century with the publication of my book, "Shadows in the Sunset." In addition, he also sent me a photo of himself, lounging luxuriously in bed while cruising the Carribbean on the monstrous ship, "Oasis" while listening to his iPod and reading the latest book on his Kindle. In addition, my friend and former colleague who is living the life of a Persian Prince, was awaiting a response to a text message on his Blackberry, while complaining that he does not have an iPad--as yet! Now, I do have the same book he is reading on his Kindle which I checked out of the local Library and which has pages to turn and which is how god intended reading to be read. (I did not capitalize "god" because I was referring to Zeus). No matter. Same thing.
.....Now, just to document my claim that I do not like to buy gadgets that I have to fix, this computer has even now become balky and behaving like a badly trained canine. I have been accustomed to using a "Chrome" browser (because that's how a techie installed it) and I've had no problems writing this blog in whatever colors I choose. Now suddenly when I finish posting my musings to this blog, it only prints in BLACK! DAMN! Now, for the purpose of this blog, I am at the moment using the "Explorer" browser, and after I am finished with this musing, I will await breathlessly after I post it to see if this color will print without turning all black. Then I will return to "Chrome" and check it out there. Dear reader, you and I will see together, whether I have succeeded in training this dog.
Any machine is a good servant but a a bad master. I think William Morris said that, but if he didn't, he certainly would have agreed with it. He was a poet, a great artist and craftsman, and a socialist thinker and activist of stature. Dear Cuz, you and your readers should go away and read him, or at any rate, Google him. Luvya all!!
ReplyDeleteMisguided? Me??? By your very words you prove my charge that you are trapped in another dimension. You claim that, "I do not generally care to purchase anything that I have to fix." In the modern world nothing is "fixed." It is replaced. You mearly have to determine what component has failed and replace it. "Fix," indeed!!! And you cannot prove your place in the 21st century by quoting yourself. This shameless promotion of ones own work should have been done via a tweet to your thousands -- perhaps millions -- of tweet friends. What's that you say? You don't "tweet." Game, set and match then old man trapped in the past.
ReplyDeleteNow we come to the Baron's use of Republican modus in trying to create an image of an Emrys rampant in a luxurious bed upon the "Monstrous Ship Oasis." Alas, the accusation is exactly what he, himself, was about. Ask him, kind readers, if HE was booked upon same ship, upon same cruise. Only ancient bone structure kept him from being pounded by yours truely in the great Senior Citizen Shuffle Board Tournament. A torn limb syberite, my Baron, is still a syberite.
But there is more to be said, sir. The Baron tries again, in another place, to create for Emrys the image of a luxury loving lolligag, "The life of a Persian Prince." It seems to me that in another note you showed me an image of the Baron, seated upon a pile of gold worthy of Smaug himself, a pile of gold, sir, that Scrooge McDuck would envey. All of this while I, a poor, retired school teacher of only limited means, has to sail upon deck 9 (very near steerage) of our mutual ship while you, Baron, were booked for many decks above.
ReplyDeleteI am saddened by your commitment to what your seem to think is a work of some male diety. In fact, the real first works of the sky gods were recorded ON SCROLLS. I can still hear the gnashing of teeth and the see the rending of garments that went with the replacement of that "divine" instrument of literacy with things called, "books." An earlier version of the Baron was stumped for two years trying to figure out how to role a book backwards. The damned thing just lay there like a lox. The reference to a parvenu like "Zeus" was another mark of the obsolecence of my beloved critic. Before the Olympians and the Aiser and Yahweh and the other sky gods usurped, for the moment, the cloak of god there was the Goddess. The Baron should be warned not to place any above the Goddess. As a nice Jewish boy, the Baron should remember that HE MUST ALWAYS LOVE HIS MOTHER. Zeus forgot and look where HE is now.
And, finally, a piece of advice from the 21st century to the Baron. Crome is not good. Google is a false god. Repent ye and return to the faith of Microsoft, enter the Gates of heaven and all will be forgiven.
A sybarite? The Baron categorically, if not sybaritically denies that he is a decadent, hedonistic, sensual, debauchee. Emry has to come to grips with the fact that before he,Emry, was born, The Baron was already intimately acquainted with progress when he discovered the book, the pencil, and the Papermate Ball Point Pen. And as a poor, Social Study's teacher, Emry was probably sitting on the john reading Marvel Comics while "Doc" Ross was in D.C. listening to Martin Luther King's tectonic event.
ReplyDeleteAlas old doc! I was in Washington listening to Martin Luther King and his dream. Based on hints you've given about your age, you were probably at Wittenberg listening to Martin Luther. In fact, didn't you once suggest that you copy read some of his 95 Theses?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I found your reference to my being "a poor social studies teacher" somewhat ambiguous. Were you referring to my economic status, seriously weakend, I must admit, by playing cards with card sharps or were you referring to my qualities as a teacher or were you feeling sorry for me because I only taught social studies instead of something more important? One would think that an English teacher could express himself more clearly.
Since it is now 0030 hours, I must to sleep, perchance to dream. Just be aware that I am going to be out of touch on Oct 13 to Oct. 18 and any lack of response from me during that period will be due to that and not surrender.
Baron did not start calling Emry a poor social studies teacher...it was he who started it, and I quote from his previous comment on this blog..."I, a poor, retired school teacher of only limited means...". Now I find that referring to himself as "poor" and of "limited means" to be somewhat ambiguous. By "poor" did he mean his quality as a teacher, or did he mean his economic status, or was he feeling sorry for himself for not teaching something more important than social studies? And by "limited means" was he referring to his economic status or to his mental capacities? In spite of the fact that he cannot make himself understood, I will not admire him any the less.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous: After 3 years of this blog, I never failed to publish a comment until today. Baron agrees with you; the "Doc" told me so, but he cautioned me not to be a basher in this case. So sorry, but thanks for the thought.
ReplyDeleteHey, now we all want to know what Anonymous was bashing. At least a hint.
ReplyDeleteWell, just think of all the people who deserve to be bashees and pick one. Anonymous picked the wrong one.
ReplyDeleteIt was the right one. Baron is too kind to one who does not deserve kindness.
ReplyDeleteIf Anonymous bashed "the wrong one" who "deserved to be bashee"... that confuses your readers even more. More hints, please. Hey, Anonymous: You give us a hint. If it's TOO obvious, maybe you'll be censored again, tightening your grip on the Guinness record.
ReplyDeleteIf you guys continue being obtuse and confusing, I will demand my subscription deposit back........Mike Herbstman
ReplyDeleteDear Cuz, at the risk of repeating myself, I would comment that your fan has a point. There has to be a middle way between using new technology mindlessly and not using it at all. Just answer me this - how would I have had access to your wisdom without access to your blog? I live in SHEFFIELD England, for God's sake. Luvya all, Cuz Ruth
ReplyDeleteDear Ruth: Baron says you could buy the published books of blogs . You could than read seven books and send comments across the sea by snail mail as nature meant it to be in order to provide jobs for postal workers.
ReplyDeleteEmrys is either a married woman or a wannabe. Em (M) R (R) ys (S). Equals Mrs. Good for her!
ReplyDeleteMy Dear Anonymous: About "Gone glimmering...etc.
ReplyDeleteThis is all I get with your comment; FIX IT!!
[url=http://oponymozgowe.pl]Opony Mozgowe[/url]
[url=http://pozycjonowanie.lagata.pl]Pozycjonowanie[/url]
[url=http://4seo.eu/opony_s3377.php]opony[/url]
"Either a married woman or a wannabe?" What is it you think I want to be, sir Annonymous: a woman or married or a woman who is married? Very unclear!
ReplyDeleteSince statistics indicate that married women live shorter lives than single women I certainly wouldn't want to curtail my life by entering THAT state.
Oh!! I am back from my visit to the outer provinces, Baron. I am happy to report that a good time was had by all -- or at least by me. I shouldn't speak for others. It's too bad that you never made that trip. The people who live there are very traditional and part of their culture is to respect their elders. You, sir, would have been deeply revered .
Your obediant servant,
Emrys