Thursday, November 30th, 2006 Born Free.

Born Free. Or written for free.
And then sold, traded, restricted, and sold, sold, and resold.

45 Singles, 33 1/3 LP Records, 8-track tapes, cassettes, CD's, DAT tapes.
How many times must we be expected to purchase the same music over?

Remember that we bought the MUSIC, NOT a piece of vinyl, or acetate.
When we went to the music store, we were told
tha we had an UNLIMITED right to listen to that single, record, or tape
as much as we wanted, or until we damaged, scratched, or destroyed the record/tape/cd.

So now what gives?
Free my music™! I didn't steal it.
I own the right to listen to it.
In my house, in my car, in my Ipod, and in my computer.

And yes, I don't see why not in ALL those places. I bought it.
I didn't create a fake distribution network to avoid paying for it.

Do you really think it's FAIR to squeeze your customers
multiple times - multiple times - multiple times - for the same product?

Come. Let's play, "Let's make a Deal".
Deal#1. Let me trade in my vinyl for the SAME album on CD.
I'll even pay a service charge, and won't ask for the art or inserts.

Deal #2. Lets work out a fair licensing agreement. If you change formats again, I won't pay
100% for the same songs AGAIN!
Let's pretend, you can get the right to play the same song in any different formats
(current, or future formats) for a 15% premium over the cost of the item.

Let's make a deal and make our music free again.
Free from greed.
Free from pirates.
Free from controversy.

Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 Television Kill.

Road Kill. Couch Potatoes. Television.
Road Kill is good.

Vultures can dine on road kill.
Domesticated animals avoid road kill.
Scavengers strip and remove most usable parts from a carcass.

Television will remove the brains of most Television-aholics.
What? You've never heard of a TV-aholic?
Oh no, You're infected you may (be).

Welcome to our country's number one chronic disease.
Television caused TV-aholics.

TV rots the minds of our country.
TV used as a babysitter, affects how toddlers act and perceive others.
You say, you need the time away from the kid? Playgrounds are great!

TV without parental involvement lets our kids absorb the wrong social values.
You mean, my three year olds:
Don't need to wear a bikini swim suit? or a halter top?

TV commercials affect our children's values, and destroy all our hard work.
You mean by teaching them that junk food, empty calorie cereals, and massive
consumptions of stuff is supposed to be GOOD?

Lax ethical standards as shown on TV, affect EVERYONE who watches these shows.
Despite their age, all are affected by the contents of TV programs.

Doh. Jane, his wife. Jane, you ignorant Slut. Meathead.

Me?
Give me Road Kill instead of Television.
At least I could eat around the bones,
the
bad parts,
and
possibly get something nutritious out of it.

Tuesday, November 28th, 2006. Waiting.

Waiting can be the hardest part.
Waiting for a bus.
Waiting for a train.
Waiting for a friend.

Waiting for rain to water the crops after a drought.
Waiting for the Snow to stop, so you can shovel...

Waiting for Godot.
Waiting.
Waiting by the door.
Waiting for the door.
Waiting.

Monday, November 27th, 2006 Friendship is.

Friendship is
finding out someone you've just met feels
like you've know them forever.

Friendship is knowing that
your spouse is forever your friend.

Friendship is
helping out in that unexpected way
that just makes you smile.

Friendship is never having to say you're sorry.
Oops. That's love, not friendship!
Friendship is knowing WHEN to say you're sorry.

Friendship can be very special.
Don't take it for granted.
Wasting it can be one of life's big regrets.

Sunday, November 26th Work Calls

Work calls.

Did you know?
Work is a four letter word.

Play is a four letter word
Why are four letter words so popular?

Sucks is also a four letter word
"Work Sucks" is a phrase familiar to many people.

Many people are not lucky enough to
REALLY enjoy going to work Every day.

I like my job. I am a computer nut.
I enjoy working with computers.

But some people love their jobs.
Some people love work better then their real lives.

I feel sorry for those lost souls.
Family always comes before work.

But. Work Calls.
Time to go to work.

Sat Nov 25th 2006 Schluffy Calling

Schluffy Calling
A nice fluffy pillow.

Schluffy Calling
A place to lie down.

Schluffy Calling
Time to be sleeping.

Schluffy Calling
I'm coming, I'm coming.

Schluffy Calling
Goodnite.

Friday, November 24th, Black Friday

Black Friday?
Why Black?

Black Friday is the Retailer's BEST FRIEND.
So, why is it BLACK?
Why not RED Friday, or my favorite
GREEN FRIDAY
green IS money!

Busiest Shopping day of the Year.
Why?
Don't most of us now use the internet?
I don't know.

But. I need peace, and I need space.
Please Don't bother me today.
I am on line for a new laptop --
seemingly fallen off the back of a truck.

Poem-Store Update: First input/output

The first input/output has FINALLY been processed over at the Poem-store.
Go here to read about the poem-store..


GO HERE to read the first Poem from the poem-store.


Mark b
Thanks for the input

Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006 Thanksgiving

Thanks-Giving

A time to give thanks.
A time to stop
and think.
A time to travel, both near
and far.
A time to be with friends
and relatives.

Football?
Anti-Social.
Cigars?
Anti-Lungs.
Big Screen TV?
Too divisive. (and sexist too!)
Politics?
Too Depressing for some.

A time for thanks
A time to try and be open minded.
A time to remember
A time to cry
A time for rememberance of those
defending our country, far, far from home.

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006 Stupid is

Stupid is as Stupid does.
Signs seen on two tee-shirts
I'm with Stupid -->
I'm with Stupid <--

Bubba Gump's Shrimp Factory
Stupid is as stupid does.
Shit Happens.
Stupid is as stupid does.

Children are stupid
Parents are stupid(er)
Teachers are stupid
Grownups are stupid

Has all life gotten stupid?
used to be, people were smart
enough to READ between the lines
And sense what was necessary to see,
and DO what was needed, without words.

Television has destroyed us.
Television is STUPID
Couch Potatoes * are STUPIDER
Life is now all about "Stupid is as Stupid Does"


* in (memory) of Dan Quale...

Comment(s) Welcome

Hey guys. Go HERE and re-read this.

I would appreciate it if you would feed this machine, by leaving a comment with the requested information in it.

The poem machine will respond, and the Poem machine will give you output.

Thanks

Tuesday, Nov 21 Childhood

Did you know?

Childhood is wasted on children.

Children go to school. A very small number of children are lucky enough to LIKE going to school.

Children sit in organized classrooms,

and have special times to do each subject.

Some children like reading. Some children like Social Studies. Some children like Gym. And some children are lucky enough to like math. And some children just like recess.

Being outside. Being the last one chosen for the baseball or basketball game.

Grownups have to go to work. A very small number of grownups are lucky enough to LIKE (or sometimes even LOVE) the work they do. Lucky them.

Some grownups work in stores. Some grownups work inside. Some grownups work outside all year long. And some grownups go to meetings for a living. But the one thing that grownups don’t do at work is have recess.

Some grownups even decide to devote their lives to children, and become teachers. We have a word for those types. Deviants. No, really grownups become teachers because they want to help children grow up.

But. Grownups don't have recess. Grownups who aren't teachers don't get two month vacations. Grownups don't have time to sit in wonder at the world.

What a shame. We need to trade places with our kids, so they can go and have the privileges of being grown ups, and we can go and have the fun that they think they're not having.

Monday 11/20 I Don't Like Mondays either!

I Don't Like Mondays, Either.

Unlike teenagers
Grownups have reasons to
Really hate Mondays.

However, most express their displeasure
in less extreme ways.

Hate their jobs
Hate their wife
Hate their life

Lucky for us
Except for postal workers
Few workers pack loaded pistols

And me?
Today I’m free.
No work, all play
And too pleasure, wife is here;
Absolutely making MY day!

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVThe original boomtown ratsVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
(written by [Sir] Bob Geldof...)
_________________________________________________
I Don't Like Mondays, The Boomtown Rats, 11/1979

The silicon chip inside her head

Gets switched to overload.

And nobody's gonna go to school today,

She's going to make them stay at home.

And daddy doesn't understand it,

He always said she was as good as gold.

And he can see no reason

'Cause there are no reasons

What reason do you need to be shown?

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

I want to shoot

The whole day down.

The telex machine is kept so clean

As it types to a waiting world.

And mother feels so shocked,

Father's world is rocked,

And their thoughts turn to

Their own little girl.

Sweet 16 ain't so peachy keen,

No, it ain't so neat to admit defeat.

They can see no reasons

'Cause there are no reasons

What reason do you need to be shown?

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

I want to shoot

The whole day down.

All the playing's stopped in the playground now

She wants to play with her toys a while.

And school's out early and soon we'll be learning

And the lesson today is how to die.

And then the bullhorn crackles,

And the captain crackles,

With the problems and the how's and why's.

And he can see no reasons

'Cause there are no reasons

What reason do you need to die?

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

Tell me why?

I don't like Mondays.

I want to shoot

The whole day down.

Sunday 11/19/2006 Depression Sucks!

Depression is misnamed.

Clinical Depression isn't clinical.

Clinical is clean, sterile and neat

Depression isn't.

Depression tears families apart. It doesn't discriminate.

It can creep up on the young or old, or even the rest of us.

It feels like, "why bother?" It’s not sadness or even euphoria.

It's not knowing what happened, or even why.

Clinical sadness?

But just knowing that help exists

Can help you through the abyss.

Medication isn’t cheating.

It's just helping re-define the paths and pathways,

so you feel something less stressful

But most important, is friends and family that

offer guidance, nurturing, and love.

Instead of catcalls, and being told to "get off the pity pot"

Saturday 11/18/2006 Worship.

People worship God in different ways.

People worship different Gods in the same way.

Different people worship God in different ways.

Two people could be worshiping the same God, in the same room, yet differently.

Two people could be thousands of miles apart, yet saying the exact same prayer

at exactly the same time.

The same book can mean different things to different people.

The same book can say different things to all people.

The same book can say the same thing to all people.

God is like a roof in a building with many rooms.

You are in one of the rooms, and pray to your God that you see above you.

You pray in your language, with your specific rituals.

But I, who may be in the room next to you, pray to my God, above me, in my

Language, and with my rituals.

It's the same God. God is One. Or. God is three?

But. It's still the same entity, all hovering above us, yet supporting us all.

Friday 11/17/06 The Boy

The Boy is stubborn.

The Boy is wrong.

The Boy doesn't like to be told NO!

Peaceful. Playing the forbidden Game boy, he stares in rapt attention at the screen.

The boy is at peace, despite himself

Noise Thursday 11/16/06

Note ( I have shown my writing conversions here from prose to (what I call) poetry)

As I sit here at home

I am surrounded by noise.

Water splashing off wall of fish tank

Cat's feet plodding on the table, looking to be pet.

Hmmmmm,- Hmmmmmm, Hmmmmmm Cat humming in ear, purring contentedly.

Swish, swish, swish, Plat. Goes the bricklayer fixing the steps across the street.

Aruuum- Aruuum- Aruuum-Aruuum The truck mounted vacuum cleaner sucking the leaves from the street.

Slap, slap, slap. The helpers slapping their rakes, to push leaves into the vacuum.

Ah-ooooooooooo-OUCH. Cat scratches against skin. Back to reality.

Children Optional 11/15/06

Two types of couples. Those who want children, and those that don't.

The third type is the couple who HAVE children

Yet realize they need to return them to the factory.

Adorable, and helpless at birth.

Slowly grow to notice you, learn to smile.

Crying. Responses.

Running. Talking. Talking Back.

Mouth. Lips. Brains. Teenager-hood.

"Fergit" your brains age until mid twenties.

And we wonder about those in the third category?

The Poem Store

Insert Time, Receive Poem

We've opened a new store for your convenience.

Just like an Automated Teller Machine.

We've named this our Automated Poem Generator.

Won't you put a time token into the slot?

Once we receive your time,

We will ask the machine to generate poetic verse just for you.

The Machine asks you for several inputs, similar to the word game

"Mad-Libs", You are asked for:

* A Name

* A topic

and

* A mood

The only question you are asked after that is whether we can show your poem to others, or is it an exclusive creation.

Try it. We have a special introductory offer this week. No time required.

Just insert information in comments section below.

Monday, Nov. 13th , 2006. Time

Time Keeps on Slipping. Into the Future.
Working half a day has its pitfalls.
Sleep. Rise. Drive. Work. Drive. Sleep.
(Repeat four times/week)

Work is life. Life is work.
Eat. Sleep. Breathe Computers. Work.
Boredom at 2:30 in the AM.
Leo Tolstoy the antidote to sleep.

Tolstoy in the wee hours can challenge even the pros.
Writing is amazingly crisp, since originally in the Russian.
Such style, grace and prose is to only be dreamed of.

Yet, Writing is always a challenge.
And Reading, capitalized, is just as challenging.
Next on the list: War and Peace!

Markb in NJ

11/12/2007

Work IS Life

Freedom equals overrated concept.

Life is work
Life should be family.
Family should be happy
Happy is as happy does.

Work makes one happy for family.
Family gives one opportunity to escape to work.

Dig, Dig, Dig; we must.
We must, must increase our output.
Work, work, work 14 hour days.
sleep, play, eat, and then work again.

Ah, but the cherished seventh day.
Rest. Rejuvenate, and Recharge.
All to get ready to continue the pursuits.

Man and the constant struggle to climb up the ladder.

11/11/07 Anniversary

Anniversary.

It's really hard to see how time has passed.
Has it really been almost a score (and a half)?
Time has hardly seemed to pass when you're around.
Except that the kids are now almost all grown.

Year after year, I look into your eyes
and am grateful that you've kept me alive.

It's a beautiful web made of gossamer strings
butterfly wings and other nice things.

And, as we said over dinner tonight
I'm ready to re-up my commitment for another 28
since I have no thoughts of flight.

Welcome to my poem-a-day

I was listening to WNYC yesterday when I heard Leonard Lopate talking to playwright "Suzan-Lori Parks" (Listen to the interview here) about her huge venture in 2002, when she commited to writing one play a day for 365 days.
For more details about the project go to its home at the Public Theater (in NYC)

Now reality hits. This started 7 months AFTER she was awarded the Pulitzer prize for her previous work.
I am not a playwright, but I think I can attempt to write a poem a day for a year.

Here Goes!
MarkB