Poem: Headstrong

O golden robed Moses, divinity-defier, is that you levitating in a wavering nimbus under an absent moon?
Where do your open soled sandals of glory fly tonight?
Come black-bearded shepherd, passionate prophet of awesome consequences,
Come perambulate among the remnants of your descendants in their stateless state, a dead line drawn from your flame-haloed bushtop to decades of dispute.

Come tap your magic staff on children tussling in the dirt you were denied, earthen and iron idols in their hands, hunting for virtual gods. Their leathered footsteps have trod every centimeter of this land.

We built your broken tablets into silicon halls, shopping malls, and supermarkets. Come walk the aisles of our exile, where artificial orange heads push cartons of crembos, occlusions of cantaloupes, cheese loaves and labane for Friday night beach blankets. Your stiff-necked people heed scribbled signs about 10 items or less as surely as they heed your engravements about 10 commandments.

We built your pitched basket of tar and reeds into roads that would amaze you, but we drove out the white haired goats and dripping honey dates. Come argue with our reckless chariot drivers who peel sunfruit by the yard, mustaches spitting stolen olive pits and politics. We plastered those gossiping spies carrying grapes and bemoaning the inhabitants onto every brochure as our national symbol for welcome.

If you are wondering what happened to your omnipresent ever-protective clouds of smoke and fire, they are still belching as the sun burns red-orange over Haifa bay.

Did the leaders you so carefully picked to minister to the hundreds, the fifties, and the tens sell their favors for hundreds, fifties, and tens?

Come swing your compelling compass needle to the backgammon players, sunflower seeded sabras and saviors, baby angels learning all night instead of living all day. Here the Arabs dance as Jews, the Jews dance as Christians, and the atheists patrol the watchtowers.

Here knives stab without hands (apparently), bullets spring miraculously from bodies (allegedly), Midianite spears pierce the wombs and genitals of righteous zealots, and hatred is the cream in our morning coffee.

How quickly can we rush to birth to offset our rush to death? Bodies struck down and buried in the sand don't stay buried here for long.

(I take your hand and pat a jagged stone wall, wet with blood and papers and thorny brush falling to a discordant dissolution. Your sister's tambourine was knocked out of her hand by a folding chair.)

Dear introvert, shy shepherd, wolf-tamer, what do your circumcised lips utter so softly in your trembling lisp? Is this the vision of the borders of Israel that the Almighty showed you as He cupped you in His palm and raised you over the majestic mountains of Gilead?

Copyright 2016 Yehuda (Jonathan) Berlinger

Poetry and the Road

We just hosted our initial "Word of the Week", a weekday evening meeting over poetry and wine, something I would like to do regularly far into the future. This week's word of the week was "transition", and all the poems had to be about the word. I read from an Emerson essay (paragraph 29). Next week's word (actually, it will be in a month from now) is "temptation".

Rachel and I will be away for the weekend, only to be heard from again Sunday afternoon when I drop by my work to clarify a few issues; we'll be passing by the office as we return, anyway.

Shabbat Shalom.

Yehuda

Have a Meaningful Fast

Part Four: Time and Eternity

LXXX

I THINK just how my shape will rise
When I shall be forgiven,
Till hair and eyes and timid head
Are out of sight, in heaven.

I think just how my lips will weigh
With shapeless, quivering prayer
That you, so late, consider me,
The sparrow of your care.

I mind me that of anguish sent,
Some drifts were moved away
Before my simple bosom broke,—
And why not this, if they?

And so, until delirious borne
I con that thing,—"forgiven,"—
Till with long fright and longer trust
I drop my heart, unshriven!

Emily Dickinson

Just Imagine

Just imagine.

Imagine that you didn't live in darkness. Imagine that you had organs to sense colors and light, distance, beauty, ugliness. Imagine that you had eyes. Imagine that you could see.

Imagine what you would do with them. Would you waste them? Or would you use them to see the vibrant beauty of the world? Imagine that you could see rich colors of the people around you. The flush of skin. The crisp green and brown woods, and indigo mountains. Imagine that you could see the towering wood, earthy bricks, and straight steel beams of our cities. What could you do with eyes? What would you do with them?

Imagine that you didn't live in silence. Imagine that you had organs to sense vibrations and sound, music and wind, distance, beauty, ugliness. Imagine that you had ears. Imagine that you could hear.

Imagine what you would do with them. Would you waste them? Or would you use them to hear beauty all around you? Imagine that you could hear brooks, trees, sounds of love and anger, hopes and passion, laughter and despair. Imagine what sweet music could do to your heart. What could you do with ears? What would you do with them?

Imagine that you didn't live unvoiced. Imagine that you had organs to speak, sing, call, love, sway, calm, and comfort. Imagine that you had a mouth, tongue, and teeth. Imagine that you could speak.

Imagine what you would do with them. Would you waste them? Or would you use them to create beauty around you? Imagine that you could give pleasure, love, comfort, assistance. Imagine that you could make others feel loved, understood, touched, or believed, or guided, or happy. Imagine that you could create sweet song. What could you do with a mouth? What would you do with one?

Imagine that you didn't live stationary. Imagine that you could move about, run, bend, jump, dance. Imagine that you had legs. Imagine that you could walk.

Imagine what you could do with them. Would you waste them? Or would you use them to find beauty? Imagine that you could make others laugh or feel through dance, or you could travel to places with joy, beauty, or awe. Imagine that you could bring these to other people, or feel your body swaying. What could you do with them? What would you do with them?

Imagine that you didn't live separated. Imagine that you could feel, hold, embrace, scratch, carry, caress, and tantalize. Imagine that you had skin and hands. Imagine that you could touch.

Imagine what you could do with them. Would you waste them? Or would you touch beauty, create happiness, and hold, comfort, and connect? Imagine that you could feel things smooth, supple, rough, and ragged, skin, food, cloth, leaves, and rocks. Water and ice. Heat and hair. Imagine that you could enfold and hold, carry, reach, and move. What could you do with hands? What would you do with them?

Imagine that you didn't live purposeless. Imagine that you could sense right from wrong, better from worse, less loved from more loved, less helpful from more helpful. Imagine that you had a heart. Imagine that you had a conscience.

Imagine what you could do with them. Would you waste them? Or would you see, hear, speak, walk, and touch everything that you could to make the world a better place? Imagine that you could help, show love, give happiness, give comfort, see needs, correct wrongs, hear cries, make things better, foster understanding, build a community, gather friends, erase loneliness, feed the hungry, clothe the needy, offer rest, judge kindly, feel, do, and be in this world. Imagine you could make one or more lives better today. What could you do with this power? What would you do with this power?

Song: Lucky Penny

As I was walking down the road, the day both bright and sunny
I saw a shining in the grass, it was a lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
I saw a shining in the grass, it was a lucky penny

I shouted out, all full of glee, with chortles deep and many
Oh happy day, I did declare, to find a lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Oh happy day, I did declare, to find a lucky penny

It was so sweet, to find it there, twas oh so sweet as honey,
That I began to sing and dance about my lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
That I began to sing and dance about my lucky penny

I sung and danced the day away, 'til I fell on my fanny
And all because it was so dear to find a lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
And all because it was so dear to find a lucky penny

When I was done, I caught my breath, and reached to take my penny
But when I looked, to my surprise, I found there wasn't any
Wasn't any, wasn't any,
Wasn't any, wasn't any,
But when I looked, to my surprise, I found there wasn't any

I searched the ground, and all around, in every nook and cranny,
It seems while I was singing, someone took my lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
It seems while I was singing, someone took my lucky penny

Since then I've learned that when you find a penny, do be canny,
And don't go singing on and on about your lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
And don't go singing on and on about your lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
And don't go singing on and on about your lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
And don't go singing on and on about your lucky penny
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
Lucky penny, lucky penny,
And don't go singing on and on about your lucky penny

Yehuda Berlinger

The Blog Post

Some days the rice is dry and burnt
The chicken is gummy
The soup is soupy
The house smells like smoke

Every errand I try to get done
I left something home
Or the bank was closed
Or it wasn't in stock

My shaver simply pulled at my beard
And I didn't cut straight
And I lost a shoe
And I didn't have lunch

And the dog wants to go out for
The fifth time today
And all I have left
Is this blog post

Yehuda

My Dog is Not a Dog

My dog is a deer.

We finally get to the grass and she begins to lope. After three bounds she leaps. I wracked my brains trying to figure out why she would do that. It's not stretching. It's not instinct. The only reason I can think of is that it's fun.

My dog is a cat.

She stretches in the sun, yawning. Then she climbs around me on the couch and curls up next to my leg. I swear I can hear her purring.

My dog is a lizard.

When she thinks she's done something wrong, down she falls, two front legs crawling, belly to the ground, slithering forward. Trying to camouflage herself.

My dog is a mouse.

If a cat turns its back, my dog chases it. If a cat turns and faces her, even if it's just a kitten, she runs away, barking. It's like the children's game: red light green light, where the children run forward only when the caller's back is turned.

My dog is a wolf.

She circles, she pants. She sniffs, she crouches. She tests, she eyes guardedly. She stalks, she edges. She leaps, she clutches. She throttles, she dismembers. And her prey, a discarded tissue, lies dead at her feet, never to move again.

Yehuda

Wake Me If I Ever Get Dugg

I been Boing Boing'd, Engageted, Gizmodo'd, and Kos'd,
Volokh'd, Lifehacker'd, and Fugged,
I've even been huffed by the Huffington Post
So how come I've never been Dugg?

I been Overheard in New York in my time
Listed Apart and Treehugged,
'Stapundited, Googled, and on Powerline
But somehow I've never been Dugg

I been Lessig'd and Problogged, and once I was dooced
I'm a cartoon by Hugh Macleod
The NY Times called me the year's biggest news
Yet still I have never been Dugg

Techdirt thinks that I'm terribly hot
Cute Overload's featured my mug
I'm best friends with Scoble and Rubel and Scott
So when will I ever get Dugg?

Joystiq and Joel get their blog posts from me
Kotaku calls me its bud
Sierra and Malkin invite me for tea
You think that I might once get Dugg

I can't any longer hold back all these tears
I'm crawling back under my rug
I won't post again for another ten years
Wake me if I ever get Dugg

Yehuda

The Gamer's Wife

Once upon a midnight highway, while I wandered on in my way
Over many a potholed street in darkness near the Jersey shore,
I was nodding, nearly napping, when there came a raucous rapping,
Like ten rusted steel bars slapping, shaking both windows and doors
"'Tis the radio," I murmured, "playing music I abhor -
Only this, and nothing more."

Turning off the screeching noises, with its damned discordant voices,
Wasn't one of my top choices, though they made my head quite sore,
For I'd nearly finished driving, and to keep myself surviving
I would need to keep on striving not to lay down on the floor
And to sleep and find my dress all covered with a bloody gore -
Which I'd washed the night before.

Finally, I reached my own street, all the lawns cut clean and grown neat -
All except my own, of course, for I'd neglected late that chore -
Stumbling from my metal carriage, I was thankful for my marriage
Knowing that I'd not disparage finding my man's swept the floor,
Done the dishes, maybe even put the silver in the drawer;
And look, he's met me at the door!

Keeping my eyes open, barely, I plain fell upon him, squarely,
Knocking both of us into a heap upon the hallway floor;
Then I said, "Just drag me gently to my bed, and incidentally,
If you'd take my clothes off on the way, I promise to adore
You for it in the morning, but now please don't mind me while I snore."
Only this, and nothing more.

Maybe I was sore projecting; not, I must admit, expecting
Him to calmly roll me off and pick himself up off the floor;
Off'ring me his outstretched hand, he, in manner spry and grand,
Indicated I should stand and turn and look the table o'er
I did arch an eyebrow at him as he pointed and implored,
Speaking "Look!" and nothing more.

Moaning, I stood up and glanced then, wondering what had more entranced him
Than his poor and tired wife who wanted sleep and nothing more;
There, upon the kitchen table, as I stood and swayed, unstable,
My eyesight was blurred but able now to tally up the score
There was box and board and rules and dice and plastic men galore,
His birthday present: BattleLore

"What about it?" I retorted, looking at the dishes, sordid
Still unwashed and heaped unsorted as they were the night before;
Well, at least the floor I stepped upon appeared to have been swept
I figured, seeing how inept the broom was hung from closet door;
Then I felt more shock then I had ever thought I could endure -
Asked my husband: "BattleLore?"

"Oh my God! You must be joking! What the Hell have you been smoking?
I am faint and fairly croaking here upon the kitchen floor!"
Set on his unholy mission, I could see he didn't listen,
I could see his eyeballs glisten and into my own did bore,
An aching started in my head and quickly did become a roar;
Asked my husband: "BattleLore?"

"Go away, you rotten creep! I am sore in need of sleep
And to bed I now retreat, if I can find the bedroom door.
You can stay and get your jollies playing with your plastic dollies
Just be quiet playing, please. Oh, one thing more I must implore:
Please try not to wake me when you come to bed at half past four."
Asked my husband: "BattleLore?"

"Ah! You most obnoxious husband! Midnight games are not what I planned;
Even your brain, made of quicksand, must about this point be sure ...
Anyway, this game's annoying, not the sort that I'm enjoying,
Too much repetition, fiddly rules, and luck, which I abhor,
Come, let's play a hand of Gin and then I'll sleep forevermore."
Asked my husband: "BattleLore?"

"Ah! You masochistic cretin! Don't you know you'll just get beaten
Once again you'll be retreatin' while I kill your troops galore.
What a foul and tedious present that I gave you, how I relent!
Seeing as you're now all Hell bent set on even'ing up the score;
What's our record now? Oh, yes. I've beat you twenty-three to four."
Murmured hubbie: "Twenty-four."

So coerced again, unwilling, into wholesale carnage, killing
All his troops - oh joy, how thrilling - in - I'll charitably call - a war,
My head nods upon my forearm, as he tries to save from more harm
His remaining legions now surrounded and trapped on the shore;
I think fondly, "Idiot, but my idiot which I do adore."
While he plays, I soundly snore.

Yehuda

Passover Story: Lord of the Reed Sea

My last story was written for my step-son, and is based on the classic The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien. I'm sure this author and his series need no introduction here.

It is the least successful of my stories, I feel, because Tolkien is a hard author to emulate, particularly his constant references to ancient songs.

This story is based on the midrash that the waters to the Reed Sea didn't open until Nachshon jumped in as a show of faith. My poor poem, such as it is, is based on the final song in the Hagaddah, "Had Gadya".

Lord of the Reed Sea

Before them lay the great swirling waters of the Great Reed Sea, known in the Hebrew language as Yam Suf, Sea of Ends. It's waters crashed against the shore of dark rock they were standing on. Behind them, the endless hosts of Pharaoh, King of the Mitzrim, came shrieking and gibbering. They were still an hour's distance, but Joshua thought he could already smell their foul stench.

"We can't go forward!" he cried. "Moshe, what can we do?"

"Half a moment, half a moment! I must rest!" he declared, and sat himself down against a jutting black admantite rock.

Joshua, only son of Nun, threw himself down on the wide expanse of ground, exhausted. Moshe sat with his back against the large rock, mumbling to himself and blowing blue smoke rings that drifted lazily above his head. Nachshon, son of Aminadav, dropped his heavy sack, swung his cedar bow off of his shoulder and began polishing it with mirkwood oil. He cast worried glances at the wizard, and glanced at Joshua. The stout warrior just shrugged his shoulders in reply.

Joshua spoke, "It seems as if I have been running since Abraham, Patriarch of Canaan, first chased the hosts of the five kings through the valley of Sodom. How did I ever let you drag me into this, Nachshon? I wish I were back in my little house in Mitzrayim, eating celery and cucumber sandwiches, the teapot just beginning to boil." It was not the last time that he wished for that!

"Your home is likely taken by the Mitzrim now, Joshua. You must keep up your courage, for we still have a long way to travel." The skilled archer put away his oil, and studied his bowstring, trying to judge if the string was still sound.

"Why is this burden laid upon our backs?" exclaimed the warrior. "I wish it were someone else!"

Then Moshe spoke, "So do all who live to see such times. It is not up to us to decide in which age we live, but to make the best with what time we have been given. And now, I think I have remembered the way through."

He stood with his face towards the sea. Raising his powerful arms, he held aloft his staff Emunat-El. The staff flashed a brilliant blue, and blue fire raced up and down the sides. "Teyn lanu la-avor!" he yelled. "B'vakashah! P'tach lanu derech!"

Moshe tried those and other words of power, his face beginning to sweat. Nothing appeared to happen. He threw his staff down in disgust.

Joshua began to sing an ancient Hebrew song. The words rang out softly, to the rhythm of the surf. The words were sung in Hebrew, but a fair translation was provided to me after the events by a Hebrew poet, and it goes something like this in our language:

 One kid, one kid,
  In the land of milk and honey,
 My father bid,
  And it was bought with little money,
 Then came the cat,
  His slashing claws, his sweeping paw,
 And after that,
  The bloodied coat was all we saw,
 Then came the dog,
  His fearsome bite, his frothing jaw,
 Like a balrog,
  And bloodied fur was all we saw,
 Then came the stick,
  The striking blows, the fierce attack,
 The blows were thick,
  The bloodied cur lie dead and black,
 Then came the fire,
  The searing spark, the ravenous lick,
 The flames rose higher,
  Eating up the blackened stick,
 Then came the rain,
  The drowning waves, the quenching hood,
 And once again,
  'Twas all consumed, for woe or good,
 Then came the bull,
  The scalding breath, the striking toe,
 And with one pull,
  The rain consumed, for good or woe,
 Then came the man,
  The sharpened knife, the bloodstained skirt,
 A thought, a plan,
  And downed the bull, slain in the dirt,
 Then came the war,
  The screaming hordes, the dying hosts,
 And by the score,
  Men shed skins, and walked as ghosts,
 Then came the Lord,
  The gathering touch, the healing word,
 The flaming sword,
  The sheltering wings of the noble bird,
 The nourishing gourd,
  The holy song forever heard.

Meanwhile, Nachshon leaned over the red boulder he was standing on. He tossed a fist sized rock into the shallow surf. The rock turned over once, before splashing in the water. Water sprayed onto the sand at Moshe's feet. "Nachshon," exclaimed the old wizard, "throw yourself in next time, rather than disturb my thoughts!" Chagrined, Nachshon stood up on the boulder looking out over the blue-green face of the great Reed Sea, and then turned around.

"Ho!" yelled Joshua. "Here they come!" Joshua jumped up, drawing Yehudi, his great Hebrew sword from it's scabbard. The metal blade was glowing blue, which meant that Mitzrim were near. "Moshe!" yelled Nachshon, starting toward the great wizard, when he suddenly stepped on a wet patch, and slipped, falling down into the Great Sea.

"Nachshon!" Yelled Moshe, starting forward. He suddenly stopped, his eyes widening. In front of him the Reed Sea was surging and boiling where Nachshon had fallen in. The water shot up in a large column, forming a head and face. The mouth of the face spoke, "Moshe, I have been waiting for one of you to enter into the sea, for only by taking the first step can I intervene on your behalf. Well do I remember the service of your people. Raise your staff and come forward." The head disappeared in a wash of salt water, and the water began to split. It rushed up into great walls, to the left and right. When it was done, where once stood the Great Reed Sea, there was now a corridor of dry land. Nachshon lay strewn across it. He slowly pulled himself to his feet.

"What happened?" he asked, in perplexity.

"It seems I was right, after all, dear Nachshon. The Lord needed one of us to step forward before he would respond to our request. I am happy that you have found the step to take, although, next time, you may want to make it more deliberate."

"What is this place?" asked the bowman.

"This is the ancient bridge of the Philistine caravans, called the Dry Land Bridge, or, in Hebrew, Gesher B'toch Hayam. It was destroyed during the second age, when the Lord sought fit to cover it up with Yam Suf, but knowledge of it has been passed down to me through the ancient writings of the Lord. But come now, no more time for explanations. The Mitzrim come. Hurry!"

Stopping only to pick up their packs, the three men hurried down the queer passage, only minutes ahead of the mad pack of Mitzrim.

Yehuda Berlinger

The Rime of the Youthful Passenger

On this day of Purim, please be extra careful on the roads. Drinking and driving do not mix. Which inspires me to dig up this little ditty I wrote over ten years ago.

It is a youthful passenger,
And he stoppeth one of four.
"By your unkempt hair, now let me pass
Into this liquor store!

"Now let me pass, you have no right
In this entrance to stand!"
He began to shout, when hast held out
The youth his youthful hand.

"I drove one day," the youth does say,
To yonder college hall
For I had planned to see a band
I'd first heard in the fall.

The rainy road was wet and glowed
With rain's descending whims
And molten drops dripped off the rocks
And bent the trees strong limbs

I drove that day upon my way
To yonder college tower
With time to kill for I was still
Too soon by half an hour

Along with me companions three
Did travel for the ride
And while we smoked, we drank and joked
And leaned out of the side

The roads were clear til we drew near
A frown came to my face
For in a pinch, now inch by inch
We moved a slow snails pace

A distance on, now here, now gone
We saw a black dog bound
And side to side, the cars all tried
to sneak their way around

With curses loud, our angry crowd
Did boil in the car and fume.
All for this were we to miss
Our concert starting soon?

And often we would roll our length
And just as often stop
And while we joked and drank and smoked
A passage opened up

Alcohol surging, companions urging
For me to race ahead
With panicked thrill, intent and will
I shot out like a sled

My right foot tapped, through narrow gap
My car slid through with roaring sound
Slid through and past, barreling fast
Into the street beyond'

The man said thus, 'Twas dangerous
To drive in such a state
And such narrow space, and in such haste
And on such slippery street

But here you are away from your car
Apparently safe and sound
So tell me now what weighs your brow?'
And he said, 'I killed the hound'

At first my mates did grandly state
That I had done no wrong
When to my shock the engine stopped
And traffic grew more strong

And then my friends did spite contend
That I had been at fault
A sudden sight did sap my might
And to eyes assault

The world turned dead, I felt my head
Begin to spin and fall
Each car stood painted on the road
Like nails stuck in a wall

Automobiles everywhere
And not a sound was heard
Endless miles of fenders and tires
As dead as a skewered bird

Above me clouds like funeral shrouds
Did part with silent scorn
Unholy lights like barrow wights
Pierced me like a thorn

Blood red cars as if from Mars
Came hurtling down at me
As they fell down they whirled around
And struck cars next to me

Every car in twenty three
Exploded in a fury
Each one picked out as if a shout
Of guilty from a jury

One in twenty three did die
From this unholy death
And wafting to my senses
Came the alcohol on their breath

And through all this I almost missed
Just one policeman walking
He wandered through the avenue
Ticketing cars for parking

My vision blurred my senses slurred
I felt my body falling
And as I dimmed my ears were brimmed
With cries of children calling

The next I knew when I came to
The world seemed straight again
I saw looks of uneasiness
On the faces of my friends

It seems that I had almost died
From jumping from the car
I closed my eyes and tried to rise
With pounding in my heart

As I grew calm I raised my palm
And told my friends to go
But not to drive if they alive
Would wish to return home

For I have learned that drinking earned
My fate upon that ride
And I have vowed to preach aloud
And swallow youthful pride

That if you wish your life to live
And if you wish to walk
If you have legs and arms and head
And if you wish to talk

And if you wish to walk this world
Straight and true, alive
I must dispense this common sense:
Don't ever drink and drive"

And saying thus, the youthful lad
Did wander down the street
I stood and watched him limping
Through the lonely crowded street.

Yehuda Berlinger

Session Report Up, in which I get better at Netrunner

The latest Jerusalem Strategy Gaming Group session report is up here. Games played: Netrunner, Zertz, Boggle, Louis XIV, Power Grid, Puerto Rico, Zendo, The Menorah Game, San Juan, Bridge, Go, Cosmic Encounter.

Josh and Idit inform us that they are engaged. Mazal Tov!

Game News

Le Petit Ney is a literary café in Paris, France, which organizes an evening of board game fun on the 1st Saturday of each month.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, even a play about the game Monopoly suffers from bad mechanics, overly long game-play, and weak decisions.

Reuters troubles to tell us that an obese 26-year old man died of a heart attack "after a 'marathon' online gaming session".

Xu Yan, a local teacher, said the "dull life" during the holiday prompted many people to turn to computer games for entertainment.

"There are only two options. TV or computer. What else can I do in the holiday as all markets, KTV and cafeterias are shut down?" the paper quoted Xu as saying.

Gosh, only two options. Of course, all the other obese people dying of heart attacks don't make the news because they weren't playing computer games at the time. (also mentioned in Abbagav)

This kind of dumbing down is well-reflected in a new television quiz game show, Is America Smarter Than a 5th Grader.

During last night's game session, I observed all the players with wrinkled brows, thumping their heads, or doing all sorts of adding or planning, and I mentioned to David that a group of people who liked party games would have no idea why we were enjoying this game club. He laughed and said that that was probably why these games would never make it really big.

On the other hand, with Microsoft embracing Euro-games, such as Settlers, Carcassonne, and Alhambra, and now possibly Puerto Rico, there is still reason to hope.

Lastly, a bill introduced in Minnesota to create a poet-laureate was submitted in verse format:

Section 1. [138.99] POET LAUREATE

Subdivision 1. Appointment.

The Gov' shall appoint a state poet laureate,
Who shall serve for a four-year term.
Because this appointment will always be great,
There's no need for the Senate to confirm.
In appointing a poet for the public good,
And to ensure there's no unjust omission,
The governor shall consider, if he would
Thoughts of the Humanities Commission.

Subd. 2. Removal.

The poet will be free to write rhyming lines,
With removal only for cause,
But we trust that the bard will promptly resign,
If the verse reads as badly as laws.

Subd. 3. Compensation.

'Twould be fair to provide some just recompense
As reward for the poet's tribulations,
But because at this time we haven't the cents
We're afraid there is no compensation.
But we ask as the poet travels the state,
And the people their ears they lend,
That our learned Commission take the position
To provide the poor poet a stipend.

Subd. 4. Gifts and grants.

To provide the support that needs to come
To support our new laureate,
Gifts and grants received of a generous sum,
We hereby appropriate.

(source)

Yehuda

P.S. Oh yes, another subject line from the local Jerusalem email group:

FORSALE: Babies and childrens clothing for Pesach from the u.s.

I ordered a boy and a girl.

Yehuda

Canadian Copyright Code, in Verse

U.S. Copyright Code | U.S. Patent Code | U.S. Trademark Code | U.S. Armed Forces Code

These verses contain
The copyright code
Of Canada written
Down as an ode

If you think you'll learn
Any useful advice
From reading these verses,
You ought to think twice

As some of you know
I've done this before
For the U. S. of A.
If you're keeping score

So what is the difference
Between these two codes?
You might think not much
But actually, loads

Canada's Board
Posts every rule
In the "Canada Gazette"
Which I think is cool

That way you know when
A law has been altered,
A process about which
The U.S. has faltered

Infringement in Canada
Depends on the context
Whether for profit
And what was the pretext

And whether made only
For personal use,
Which leads to less legal
And criminal abuse

It also writes here
In language courageous
That judges can improvise
When fines are outrageous

"Fair Dealing" in Canada's
A bit more constrained
Than U. S. "Fair Use"
As will be explained

In ranking the two
As to which I like more
I think that Canadian
Code gets top score

1

This section reports,
As a matter of fact,
That you can call this
"The Copyright Act"

2

It starts with a glossary
Of some terms within
Sensibly put where
Discussion begins

2.1

A work compilation
Of two or more kinds
Is considered the type
Most prominently defined

2.11

This little section
Clarifies the word
"Maker" in all of
The places it's heard

2.2

"Publication"'s printing
Or copying, not display
Or performance, which doesn't
Mean so doing's ok

Also note: works
Performed unauthorized,
Aren't "performed"
As far as the law applies

2.3

An author who reads from
A book on the radio
Isn't "performing"
Or letting others do so

2.4

Even more specs about
What means "perform"
And whether you're liable
For providing platform

2.5

"Renting" out media
Is only when gain
Of doing so outweighs
All of the pain

2.6

"Exclusive distributor"
Isn't defined
Possible definitions
Are still kept in mind

2.7

If you've got exclusive
License, then smirk -
Even the creator
Can't use his own work

Part I

3

Here it's decided
What copying means:
Producing or copying
By any machine,

Publishing, converting
From audio to text,
Or text into audio,
As well as what's next:

Deriving from one thing
And making another,
Filming, broadcasting,
Exhibiting (other

Than maps, or for selling),
Renting out audio,
Copying software,
Except when designed so

5

Gloriously obscure
Paragraphs detail
When copyright will
Succeed or will fail

Citizens or companies
Joined by the Berne
Convention, gain all
Protection they've earned

Or, failing that,
If published in quantity
So as, for the public,
Their interest to satisfy

Or whenever a relevant
Minister notes
In the "Canada Gazette"
(And please heed the quotes)

That a certain country
Respects Canada's
Copyrights, then Big C
Will do as those guys does

6

Copyright lasts
Until you have died,
And then fifty years
After that, beside

6.1

For unknown authors
It's still fifty years,
Thought why even one is
Something quite queer

6.2

For multiple authors,
It works as expected -
All of their rights
Aren't neglected

7

Something about
Works that were published
I think that this section
Could be better Englished

9

This just repeats
What verse 6.2 wrote
Also, section 8 was
Repealed, do take note

10

This section covers
Companies and pics
In terms of how shareholders
Enter the mix

11.1

Apparently, some kinds
Of movies are not so
Dramatic, and this verse
Takes pains to say so

12

Government works, or
Works by the "Crown",
Are also protected
Which might make you frown

13

Unless paid for work
In dollars or yen,
The copyright owner's
The one with the pen

14

Sec six said fifty years,
This sec says half,
I'm now so confused that
I just have to laugh

14.1

Regardless of who owns
A work's copyright,
The author retains
A few moral rights

Including integrity
And work attribution
To protect the author's
Name and reputation

Though no one can license
Moral rights to art
They still can be waived
In whole or in part

14.2

Moral rights exist for
As long as copyright -
Long after the author's gone
"Unto that good night"

Part II

15

Performers own rights
To all of their sounds
Even if illegal
Copies abound

16

But they still can enter
Licensing deals
To broadcast their music
Whenever they feels

17

So if they do license
Their work to a movie
They give up these rights;
Isn't that groovy?

18

Record-maker's rights
Always include free:
To publish, rent, or repro-
Duce (but not lewdly)

19

This little section
Says moneys collected
For broadcasts are split
After they are inspected

Half to the publisher and
Half to the artist
It doesn't matter which of
The two is the smartest

20

Remember that all rights
Written herein
Only apply to a
Canadian

21

Broadcasters only
Own their own signal
Regardless of whether it's
Analog or dig'tal

22

If a country respects
The rights of Canadians,
Canada will reciprocate
For that country's citizens

23

Protection for broadcast
And also performance
Is fifty years after
Fixing in permanence

24

Performers own concerts,
Makers own records,
Broadcasters claim what
They air as their rewards

25

All of it's subject
To licensing rules -
This section's repeated
From earlier, fools

26

How can performers
Own a "performance"
If it's not given
Some kind of permanence?

Strangely enough
Performers do own them,
Whether recorded
On vinyl or platinum

Part III

27

Don't go infringing
On these copyrights
Doing so won't be
Considered polite

Sometimes you may get
Away with intention
Sometimes you won't,
So please pay attention

Even possessing
A copying doodad
May cause you trouble
Which would be too bad

27.1

Copyright law now
Tackles exclusive
Distribution. Why?
The answer's elusive

Why would "copyrights"
Deal with the import
Of legally made copies
Regardless of what sort,

Just to enforce some
Licensing deal?
Something about this
Is not right, I feel

Anyhow, only books,
(I guess I should mention)
Are covered by laws written
Here in this section

28.1

*Scritch* *scratch* and *hmmm*
This section explains
That moral rights are moral
Rights, as they're named

28.2

"Integrity" of works
Is only violated
If linked to a product,
Changed, or mutilated

Changing it's venue or
Hanging it elsewhere,
Is not problematic if
Handled with good care

29

Just when you thought
All copying's wrong
Sections that detail
Exemptions come along

Copying for research
Or private study
Is not called infringement
So cool it there, buddy

29.1

Copying for criticism's
Also fair game
When mentioning the source
And the artist's name

29.2

Same goes for journalism
It's within the line
Making fun of a product
On CBC is fine

29.3

Actions that follow
In sections remaining
Are ok if not done
For monetary gaining

29.4

Teachers can copy
For testing or training,
If copies from Loblaw's
Are no longer remaining

29.5

Student productions
Of music or plays
Are also permitted
And nobody pays

29.6

Teachers can also
Record all the news
And for up to one year
In class may reuse

After the year's up
They must destroy it
Or pay a royalty
To still enjoy it

29.7

Teachers can record for
Up to thirty days
While deciding whether
Performing it pays

28.8

All these activities
Are only permitted
When copied from sources
Lawfully transmitted

29.9

Schools that make copies
Must keep proper count
Of copies they make
To make an account

30

This section describes
The school newsletter
(From what I could gather,
Maybe you could do better)

Limiting quoting from
Authors, it appears,
To two passages only
Every five years

It doesn't define what
Is meant by a "passage" -
A paragraph or two
Seems like the message

But also, why bother?
Is not really clear
When terms of "fair dealing"
Should also work here

30.1

Libraries copy
For various reasons
If originals needed
Are no longer in season

30.2

Libraries also
Can copy, as service,
For those that may do so -
They need not be nervous

30.21

"Archives" may also
Backup their stuff
Unless the rights holder
Thinks one is enough

30.3

Warnings hung next to
Copy machines,
Exempt from infringement
Public places, it seems

30.4

The National Archives
Can copy recordings
After broadcasting
For saving and sorting

30.6

You not only can copy
For backups your software
But also adapt it
To use on your hardware

30.7

If you capture something
While filming a movie
When not done deliberately
You don't have to worry

30.8

You can copy ephemerally
When broadcasting live,
And newsworthy works
May sometimes survive

30.9

Ephemeral copies
May also be made
When broadcasting works
For which you have paid

31

Similarly, signals
Can be retransmitted
By those who are licensed
And when it's permitted

32

If someone complains
Pay them no mind
When copying for
The deaf or the blind

32.1

Governments pass
Many strange Acts
'Bout fishes and freeways
Tarmacs and tax

Canadian ones
Aren't immune
They pass 'em all year round
July until June

For some of these Acts
Listed herein
Copying objects
Isn't a sin

32.2

This section is full
Of laws miscellaneous
About situations
Sometimes spontaneous

An author can reuse
His studies and molds
Even if copyright
He no longer holds

Anyone can draw
Or take photographs
Of buildings or permanent
Statues, for laughs

You can also report
About lectures given,
Read aloud books
In order to enliven

Report on the nature
Of political speeches
Regardless of whether
In town halls or beaches

Performers at any
Agricultural events
Can sing any song
Present or past tense

And churches and charities
And most organizations
Are pretty much protected
From most litigation

32.3

All of these acts
Considered fair dealing
Are free for the doer
And in no way stealing

32.4

There's too many "later of"s
And "notwithstandings"
Written in this section
For my understanding

32.5

Also in this one,
Too bad, I should tell
That up until now
They were doing quite well

33

All of these last three
Sections are lawses
'Bout countries with treaties
And grandfather clauses

Part IV

34

In any real cases
Of copyright fooling
The owner can take you
To court for a ruling

34.1

Copyright ownership,
When in confusion,
Is whoever's name
Appears in profusion

35

The fine for infringement
Is only the damage
And any more profits
Defendant has managed (but see 42)

36

The copyright owner
Must do all the suing
When bothered by something
Some yokel is doing

37

Any court, whether
Provincial or federal,
Has jurisdiction
For all cases, general

38

Equipment that's used for
Copy infringing
May soon be relieved
Or may get a singeing

38.1

Instead of determining
How much was lost
The owner can ask for
Statutory cost

For willful infringing,
Up to 20k
And no less than five hundred
Dollars to pay

If not done deliberately
Penalty may be
Only two hundred
Dollars in fee

In all the above
If these sums are silly
The court can determine
A fine willy-nilly

38.2

Those who may archive,
But not in this case,
Only pay royalties
Just to save face

39

You cannot collect
Any remedy
Unless you have registered
Your copyright, you see

39.1

Otherwise, injunction
Is all the respect
A courtroom will grant you
Is what I expect

40

For infringing buildings,
Even in construction,
You only get damages
And can't seek destruction

41

You've only got three years
To file your suit
After which, complaining
Is basically moot

42

Criminal damages
Are more of a downer
Than what you will pay to
The copyright owner

For summary offenses
You may have to pay
A harsh fine of up to
Twenty-five k

But if you're indicted
(Thou it doesn't say how)
The fine is a million
Which is just ... wow!

By the way, to be charged
There's limited time
It must be within
Two years of the crime

And also I might just
Remember to mention
Along with the fine
Is six months in prison

43

Performing for profit
Without permission
Nets you a small fine
And possibly prison

And changing the content
Or name of a play
Is twice as expensive
So could ruin your day

44

Don't bring to Canada
Infringing stuff
What they have now is
More than enough

44.1

Customs are able to
Check at the border
If they have a reason
Or given an order

44.2

Again with the books?
Dear readers, I must
Tell you I don't think
These sections are just

Giving protection
For distribution
Which violates no copyright
Is not contribution

To benefit the public,
So why have these laws?
The government's throat is
In business' jaws

44.3

I'm not sure I got this
But as it appears
Two exclusive distributors
Shouldn't have fears

Of suing each other,
Though how this could be
Doesn't make very much
Sense unto me

44.4

This section continues,
As if it were wise,
And says: to recordings
All this applies

45

Oh whew, thank goodness
For personal use
And other exceptions
They drop this abuse

Part V

46

Copyright workers
Have to find space
To sit in the Patent
Office's place

47

"The Commissioner or Patents"
Sounds very officious
And shouldn't be filled by
Someone suspicious

The Commissioner of Patents
Does a few things
Like taking this Act
Under his wings

48

A Copyright Registrar
Also exists
Or so this here section
Plainly insists

49

Either the Registrar,
Commissioner, or Office
Signs the certificates
As soon as they notice

50

The Copyright Registrar
Also must do
Whatever the Commissioner
Orders them to

52

The CoP also
Generally directs
The Copyright Office
In all its aspects

53

Registering copyrights
Will serve you quite well,
Certificates are evidence
As any court would tell

54

The copyright office
Keeps all the records
Of copyrights registered
On papers and postcards

55

The owner can register
Copyright there,
As can anyone
Who pretends to care

56

Not only works, but
Things insubstantial,
Like a performance
For profit financial

56.1

Fake registration is
Not a good move
You'll have to pay up
When damage is proved

57

Registering's finished
When all fees are paid
But even then sometimes
Corrections are made

58

All registrations
Are now international,
That's not an accident
It's quite intentional

59

The Governor Council
Can charge extra dimes
Or change the fee schedule
To after tea-times

Part VI

60

Eighty years ago
People had rights;
Read this if this fact
Keeps you up nights

61

Errors are made -
So the world goes,
They can be corrected
As everyone knows

62

The Governor Council
Makes regulations
Whenever he's suffering
Intoxication

64

Items with designs
Integral to function
Are generally copyable
Without compunction

64.1

You can draw these designs,
Or add to these items
Levers, or zippers,
Or handles to right 'em

64.2

You probably should know
The last two sections
Don't apply to circuits
On further inspection

Part VII

66

A Copyright Board
Is used to apply
To behinds of those
Who infringe and then lie

Just kidding, it's called that
'Cause all of its members
Must sit still for so long
Like pieces of lumber

66.1

The board has a chairman
And vice-chairman, too
Who do all those things
That chairmen must do

66.2

For time that they spend
They will get paid a lot -
Assuming "a lot" means
Something it's not

66.3

For conflicts of interest
They don't turn their cheeks:
The conflict is limited
To seventeen weeks

66.4

The Board gives a welcome
That's open and broad
For workers and specialists
To come on aboard

66.5

Board members finish
All jobs they were tasked,
Majority vote decides
All questions asked

66.51

Where difficult answers
Might need a revision
The members may reach an
Interim decision

66.52

Royalty decisions
Might sometimes be changed
If situation warrants
And someone gets blamed

66.6

After the Board makes
Any decision
They head to a bar with
Unfailing precision

66.7

Stuff they decide
Has force of the courts
For matters related to
Copyrights, all sorts

66.71

The Board can print up
Decisions it's written
And stick them on houses,
Billboards, and kittens

66.8

The members make studies
Whenever they're told -
They have to put all of
Their Quake games on hold

66.9

They do all these things
And write them all down
To give to the Minister
When summer comes round

66.91

The Governor Council
Can chastise the Board -
Five years of hard work
And that's the reward?

67

Whoever keeps track of
Performance rights
Must answer all questions
Without any fights

67.1

This body reports on
Tariffs and such,
And when they are missing
Decides on how much

68

The Copyright Board is
Where tariffs are set
And published forthrightly
In the Canada Gazette

68.1

From what I can tell
This section's advising
On tariffs on income
From advertising

68.2

Tariffs and royalties ...
I'm starting to twitch
It seems I've forgotten now
Which one is which

69

When people perform
Concerts outside
People with radios
Don't have to hide

Only broadcasters
Pay for transmission
And must ensure they have
Proper permission

70.1

These sections apply
To license collectives
Who own all the media,
From public perspective

70.11

Collectives must answer
All licensing questions
But don't need to take any
Public suggestions

70.12

Collectives will sometimes
Discuss with the Board
Or public about all
The works that they hoard

70.13

Collectives must file
Before it is Spring
Licenses they charge
For everything

70.14

There's nothing to see
Inside of this section
Just references and numbers
In one small collection

70.15

The Board can make changes
And then certify
The tariffs as valid,
And then they apply

70.16

The Board then makes public
All of these fees
While those who must pay them
Collectively wheeze

70.17

For anyone willing
To pay the set fee,
From any form of
Litigation is free

70.18

You must pay the fees
Even if they're proposed
So long as the fee infor-
Mation's disclosed

70.19

Private agreements
Trump any tariff
And keep far away
The copyright sheriff

70.191

In this sort of case
The tariff is mute
And you'll have no fear of
A copyright suit

70.2

If you are stuck haggling
The licensing feeses
The Board may decide for
Whomever it pleases

70.3

But if, while they're thinking,
Agreement is reached,
The Board will pretend
It was never beseeched

70.4

Any agreement is
Enacted both ways:
Who can use what rights
And which party pays

70.5

Agreements are filed
And after submission
Reviewed by Commissioner
Of Competition

If not satisfied,
He gives it back to
The Board, and asks them
To make a review

70.6

The Board then reviews
And might change some clauses
Telling the parties the
Whys and Becauses

71

I don't understand -
I'm not trying to be mean -
But this section repeats
Seventy-thirteen

72

The Board takes objections
To its proposed fees
So file a complaint
If you are displeased

73

After the fees
Have all been approved,
Chance for objection
Has been removed

74

Small retransmission
Systems get preference
On all of the fees
Previously referenced

75

In case it's not obvious
Collectives may go
Out to collect all the
Fees that you owe

76

If you are an artist
You don't have to ask;
Your friendly collective
Will take up the task

77

If you tried to locate
A copyright owner
And couldn't find him,
It's not such a downer

Whichever collective
To whom he'd belong
Can give you a license
For movie or song

78

The Board may decide,
When all's in dispute,
A sum, unless someone
In court filed suit

Until it's decided,
The Board may prevent
Use of the items
In any event

Part VIII

79

The next sections here,
Numbering nine,
Levies for private
Copying define

Which means that they'd rather
Tax blank CDs,
And blank tapes indis-
Criminately

Rather than chase every
Tom, Dick, and Harry
Personally copying on
Stereos they carry

80

Copying for personal
Use in permitted
And no form of payment
Need be remitted

81

Instead they get taxes
On every blank media
A practice which some folks
Consider much seedier

(Little of it gets to
The artist themselves
Most of it sits on the
Collective's shelves)

82

Makers of audio
Recording devices
Must pay collectives
A fixed set of prices

83

Collectives make claims for
What artists should get
According to sums
In the Canada Gazette

84

Whoever collects all
The fees then gives out
The sums to collectives
Without any doubt

(But note that the gravy train
Ends over here;
How money gets to the
Artists ain't clear)

85

The Minister also
Sometimes agrees
To pass on to foreigners
Similar fees

86

Retailers selling
Recording devices
To deaf or to blind people
Don't pay these prices

87

The Governor Council
Fixes these laws
Ensuring that everyone
Follows each clause

88

Those device makers
Who fail to pay fees
Could get in trouble
Up to their knees

Part IX

89

No one can make
A copyright claim
Except as the laws in
This document frame

90

Nothing herein
Has set any fees
Or specified values
For any royalties

91

The Governor Council
Works to ensure
That all international
Laws are secure

92

They re-checked this Act
For any type of flaw
After they passed it
And it became law


That's all she wrote
Now I can rest
And yes, this material
Will be on the test

Yehuda


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License.
Attribution should include a live link to this blog post, whenever possible; text link otherwise. License for commercial usage also available from the owner.

Twenty Things I Did For You That You Didn't Know, and Never Will

Bought from you something that I didn't need, because you needed to sell it

Listened to you express something I didn't care to hear, because you needed to express it

Moved my car over and slowed down while driving past you, to avoid startling you, hitting you with wind or exhaust, or splashing you with a curbside puddle

Recycled, reused, didn't litter, and otherwise left the world as I found it, or better

Turned lights or water off again after using them because I knew you would complain if I didn't

Cleaned up something I noticed before you could

Washed or wiped properly before shaking your hand or touching your food

Tightened a screw, bottle cover, or something else so that it would have less chance of falling apart when you used it

Convinced you that a mistake you made or accident you caused couldn't be avoided or wasn't your fault

Silently forgave you for something that you never noticed that you did, like stepping on my foot

Declined to do something that I may have enjoyed in order to spent time with you

Didn't tell you about something mean that someone said about you

Didn't repeat something about you to others which I think is cute but others would gossip about

Responded to the inherent message you were trying to convey, rather than attack the way that you said it or logical fallacies that you invoked

Resisted belittling you or using a sarcastic tone of voice

Lied to you when asked my opinion, when the truth would have served no constructive purpose

Ensured that work that I did for you was more than simply enough to receive payment, but would last beyond its expected lifetime

Never turned up the volume loud enough for you to have to ask me to turn it down

Donated or gave charity that somehow found its way to you

Thought about you lovingly or generously


Shhhh. It was my pleasure.

Yehuda

When is it Good Enough?

There is a complicated dance between good and good enough.

We used to tell children that 'trying' was irrelevant; what mattered was 'responsibility'. Then we told our children that making an effort was enough, and that results didn't matter. Nowadays, people seem to think that even effort isn't important, and that children should be praised simply for existing.

Both effort and results are important. The effort we make is a moral responsibility. The priority we make on achieving the results is also a moral responsibility. The end results matter significantly for all but our moral sense.

If we try to feed our family, 100% effort is morally worthwhile, even if we fail. And 100% priority is a requirement of 100% effort. In the end, if our family starves, the effort and priority that we gave matters to our moral conscience. But we still take seriously the 100% importance of our success.

Teaching children that effort doesn't matter, or that results don't matter, is a crime.

On the other hand, we say that not everyone can be good at everything, no matter hard they try. Your best is not always going to be good enough. But if you fail to be a successful pop-singer, did you lack 100% effort, 100% priority, or simply 100% success?

In the real world we give lip service to the idea that not everyone is good at everything. But we chuckle when someone is good at a word game but bad at Chess, or vice versa. Or when someone loses their keys, or can't seem to dress the children in coordinated clothing. We conveniently ignore the various things that we don't do well at that time.

There are some things that we have never been able to forgive other humans for not being good at; one of these is 'being on the ball'.

We must expect no less than 100% effort and priority from every human being to not murder (barring exceptions such as right-to-die, abortion, or what have you), not rape, not steal in a harmful manner, not destroy things in a wanton manner. We expect no less than 100% effort and priority from every human being to protect their children, earn a living, respect highway laws.

The important list goes on for a long time. I wouldn't deny any of it; no less than civilization hangs on our joint compliance.

But while we don't expect 100% abilities in math, verbal, engineering, vocal, etc. - less important things - from everyone, we do expect 100% effort from everyone for other less important things - like 100% effort and cognizance, all the time.

You're not excused until you've made 100% effort. You can do anything if you'd only just put your mind to it. You're just not trying. You can't give up. You can solve this if you give it more time. You have to watch what you're doing at all times. You're not fulfilling your full potential.

We expect 100% competency in almost every non-specific discipline, even when it is perfectly obvious that no one is. Or maybe it's not so obvious? Is everyone so self-deceptive?

How many times do you think of an action as stupid? He's stupid for saying that. That was a stupid thing to do. If we all do things like this, isn't it a standard part of even a smart person? What, exactly, are we expecting?

How many times do you forget something "obvious"? How many times do you overlook something obvious, or forget to do something, or break something, carelessly? You can train yourself to get better in some things, if you give them priority; but in everything, all the time?

How easy is it to destroy twenty years of friendship with a careless slip of the tongue in the wrong place? For twenty years you thought she was fat, and if you once say it aloud, now she can't be friends with you because she knows what you "really think"? And how were you able to be friends for twenty years? A deception? Must something like "Wow! Your daughter's really developing!" spell the end of a relationship? [No, I didn't, but I almost did, once. I didn't say it to your daughter, so you can laugh; but what if I had?]

100% effort all the time, for everything, is hard. We are always so guarded, so tense. It's wearying. Sometimes, we break in a moment of confusion or inconsiderateness. Unless you are someone who makes inconsiderate into a lifestyle choice, the guard will go up again. Are we human enough to allow someone to collect themselves and move on?

When is 'good' good enough? Does it have to be 100%? All the time? Is there room for forgiveness, when we, also, might do the same thing someday, or may have done the same thing once?

Consider answering a slip - something careless, letting you down, something rude, etc.. - with tolerance. Give the other person a chance to see that you don't believe that that is the real potential of the person; that he or she is simply letting down a momentary guard.

Believe that people needs time to collect themselves. Return your words or actions as if what you heard or what happened was understandable, not something that 'no one in their right mind' would do. Assume that, together with your understanding, they will now try to fix what they did or move on. Allow them time without withdrawing love.

I wrote the following song more than ten years ago; it wants some music. Please consider it under creative commons.

GOOD ENOUGH MAN

Now I know I'm a decent fellow intellectually
But every time you talk you say there's something wrong with me
I'm aware that I have problems and they bother me as well
Though I think you still want me around, it's getting hard to tell

Chorus: So tell me right now that I'm your good enough man
Tell me right now that you can love me as I am
I know I've got my faults, honey, I'll fix them when I can
But tell me right now that I'm your good enough man

When you seldom say you love me but you often say what's wrong
The "love me" comes in weakly and the "wrong" comes in so strong
It may be that in your head what you feel is very clear
But my head can believe only what comes in through my ear

Everyone's got things about them that they need to change
Everyone's got pieces that need to rearrange
You may keep yours hidden and deny them, all the same
I just can't keep on running and I'm tired of this game

All of us need moments when there's nothing to decide
And all of us need times when we don't hang our heads and hide
And all of us need days without more criticizing words
When "You're good enough for me" is the only thing that's heard.

Yehuda

'Twas the Month of Bad Poetry

'Twas the month before Christmas, in all cyberspace
This poem was being abused every place
From new-moms to gaming, blog advice to sports,
Writers and bloggers adapted it for all sorts

Of really bad poetry, trying to be cute
And others then meme'd it, following suit.
Even the media, though usually staid,
Referenced this poem in headlines they made:

"'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the mall"
Farmington's Daily recited with gall
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Iraq
The Huffington huffed on the latest attack

"All through the net", or "All had the flu"
"The stores were all closed", "Through the hotel", too,
"All through the Alps", "the tube" got some space
As did "Ramadaan", and "All through the base"

I'm not the only one tired of this joke
(Here is another quite frustrated bloke)
So please cut it out, and don't be a pest,
It's time that we gave this poem a rest.

Bah Humbug,
Yehuda

Life Exists in Comments

Hidden in the corners of the web ...

Hunukkah Gaming 1

There are two shabbat Hanukkah's this year. I was lucky enough to get in two games of The Menorah Game on the first night of Hanukkah with our two guests.

They were total non-gamers and played very stone faced. I was assuming they were going to say some nice things and then leave after the first game, but they said it was great and asked to play again. Then they lauded the game a few more times.

They couldn't believe that I had designed the game by myself, apparently assuming that games must spring out of nowhere, or at least out of nameless faceless game corporations.

The first game was the basic game, and the second the advanced game. I won both, even though I wasn't the one who went out in the advanced game. I did have two wild candles however.

I've begun analyzing the mathematics of the advanced game.

A little spice: Peter Olotka, designer of Cosmic Encounter, does Christmas Cosmic Encounter poetry.

Yehuda

Poem

I wrote this on-the-fly for a poetry contest on BGG:

I live a secret life
Angelic and terrifying
Earth-free and edifying

Springboard of paper
Skyward and vertigous
Starbound and nebulous

Comet tail of cubes
Spiraling to territory
Weaving a living story

Feathers of cards
Swirlings of dusty motes
Etchings of player's notes

Songs of instruction
Meanings in composition
Foundations of position

Rapturing to light
Racing mechanics' weather
Crossing the lines together

Bourne on a golden wing
Into a setting day
As the game is put away

Yehuda

Mainstream press love: Lancaster, and The Pheonix.

U. S. Armed Forces Code, in Verse: Chapters 75-77, 79-81, 83, 87, 88

Chapter 75

1471

In cases of death
Evidence is collected
So that any foul play
Can be rejected

1475

Gratuity upon death
Is paid, though it's hard
To understand why not
For the Coast Guard

1476

Even after separated
Within a time frame
If you die, a gratuity
Is paid, just the same

1477

With today's modern
Family relations
Determining beneficiaries
Is full-time occupation

1478

The gratuity for death
Is twelve-thousand K
Where they came up with
This, they don't say

1479

Who is authorized
To send that there check
I'm sure the survivors
Don't give a heck

1480

If killed by the state,
Discharged dishonorably,
Or not following orders,
Pity the beneficiary

1481

Someone looks after
The body, usually,
Although I thought sometimes
They're buried at sea

1482

The mil then covers
Expenses, incidental
Depending on all of
The rules, departmental

1482a

Civilian employees
Might also be covered
But less than for members
I have discovered

1483

They also pay for
Prisoners of war
Who die while in custody,
'Cause what are friends for?

1484

Others who die
On military grounds
Might also be buried
If someone's around

1485

They also might pay
To cover expenses
For dependents of soldiers
Now in past tenses

1486

In places remote
For situations few
They might help you bury
And charge for it, too

1487

Land may be bought using
Methods extemporary
In order to inter on
Bases temporary

1488

Remains may sometimes
Be moved from graves
If the current cemetery
Cannot be saved

1489

Relatives of spies
Killed while on duty
Get a year's pay
As a gratuity

1490

Some pretty dumb rules
About measuring distance
When transporting bodies
Are here by insistence

1491

Funeral honors
Are described herein
Applying to any
True veteran

Chapter 76

1501

A department for missing
Person's was founded -
It's kind of ironic
How that sounded

1502

If someone involun-
Tarily goes missing
A commander will assess and
Then maybe do something

1503

He'll notify the Sec
Who springs into action
Forming a committee to
His satisfaction

1504

On behalf of the missing
Things are done, gratis
They'll call your name, loudly,
And then change your status

1505

They'll even look under
The desks and the chairs
And write a report on
The state of affairs

1506

The report may be missing
Some classified info
So long as it's noted
That somebody said so

1507

At some point, you might
Get listed as dead
If someone else wants
Your desk or your bed

1508

It may be appealed
By your next-of-kin
Who think you're hiding
In the kitchen

1509

The cases are closed
For missing from Korea,
The Cold War, and also
From Indochina

1510

Do they always pick on
The Coast Guard like this?
The main office won't deal
With Coast Guard cases

1511

If you're then found alive
O frabjous day!
They might still back-pay you
Callooh! Callay!

1512

But the State might not care -
"You're still dead", they'll say,
If your rescue interferes
With politics they play

1513

Only after finishing
Reading these sections
Do they then include
The reading directions

Chapter 77

1521

After you're dead, you
Still get promoted
Which doesn't surprise me
Look who's gotten voted

1522

You can even get Warranted
This section claims ...
You know? What a warrant is
Is still not explained

1523

If promoted while dead
You don't get a raise
And it's too late to ask
What the job pays

1524

Another short section
It simply describes
What date to use for
When you have died

Chapter 79

1551

Two types of people
Use assumed names
One out of modesty
One out of shame

1552

They corrects records
That are found flawed
And fix inconveniences
If they are caused

1553

Discharge or dismissal
Records are kept
And for fifteen years
Are dusted and swept

1554

Also for separation
Due to disability
Is examined on requests
Made with civility

1555

The staff of review
Consists of at least
A doc and a lawyer
Who are not deceased

1556

Reviews are made public
To those who request
Except when conflicting
With national interest

1557

They try to respond
Within a good time
But if they are late
It isn't a crime

Chapter 80

1561

Complaints about sexual
Harassment are serious
And examined to see if
The actions were grievous

1561a

Civilians are also
Protected by this one
So no hanky panky
Unless both think it's fun

1562

They also check into
Domestic violence
Assuming the families are
Under their providence

1563

Members of congress
Can make a request
To promote posthumously
At someone's behest

1564

Security clearance
Is granted, and hastily
For critical research
Like better puff pastry

1564a

Anyone with access to
Secret info's subject
To a lie detector,
Although they're not perfect

1565

A soldier convicted
For egregious crime
Has his DNA sample
Kept for all time

1565a

These DNA samples
Are made available
For investigations
When legal and warrantable

1566

This section adds rules
Meant for promoting
Knowledge and assistance
To make sure you're voting

Chapter 81

The next three dull chapters
I'm also ignoring
This one on civilian
Employees is boring

Chapter 83

This chapter describes
Intelligence jobs
These guys get code names
Like "Screwball" and "Hobbes"

Chapter 87

This chapter describes
Work in acquisitions
And responsibilities that
Come with these positions

Chapter 88

1781

Policy planners - they
Need at least five of these -
Get to plan policy
For military families

1782

They put out some surveys
And may get some answers
On how well they're doing
As programmers, not dancers

1783

Nothing to see here
Something bureaucratic
My eyes just glossed over
These, automatic

1784

They try to provide
Jobs for the spouses
Close to the place
Their actual house is

1785

They also run youth programs
Right on the bases
So that every child
Can meet friendly faces

1786

Funds made available
For overseas travel
Are also for road trips
On concrete or gravel

1787

Any abusing
Of children's reported
And any instance
Of neglect is recorded

1788

For members on contingency
Operations (which is?)
Their kids get additional
Assistances

1789

This section supports
Faith based activities
In order to "build and
Maintain strong families"

1791

I don't know what a
Child care receipt is
But the DoD's supply
Determines expenses

1792

Employees assigned to
Take care of kids
Must learn not to lock them
In boxes with lids

1793

Parents pay money
To send their kids there
So they can go shopping
And color their hair ...
Just kidding, they go fall
Asleep in their chair

1794

A hot-line is published
For child abuse
If you abuse children
You've got a screw loose

1795

Parents are invited
To air their concerns
Like what kind of swear words
Their child now learns

1796

Aside from on-base care
They also can give
Other assistance
For where you might live

1797

Programs developed
For early childhood
Must be accredited
Which is understood

1798

Rather than create them
They can also assist
Youth programs that may
Already exist

1799

Regular children
Not from mil families
Can also attend
To strengthen communities

1800

As usual, definitions
Which should have come earlier
Are only done now
Which just made me surlier


As you can see,
From chapters I skipped
At this point most of
My interest had slipped

If you want to give me
Some motivation
To finish the rest
I'll take compensation

A dollar a section
Seems about fair
My email's on Paypal
If you will look there

Otherwise, I will be
Moving along
Starting to work on
My next legal song

I hope you enjoyed
My posting in verse
It could have been better
And could have been worse

Please do check out
Other posts on my blog
Happy holidays to each of
You, and to your dog

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