Applechords

In the beginning was the 30-pin dock connector,

And the 30-pin dock connector was Apple.

And the the 30-pin dock connector was with Apple.

A voluminous tangle of long, white cords,

Many with the common touch,

A standard USB, as such,

Ubiquitous, across the boards,

And at the other, a miniscule misnomer,

Not to be found in the days of Homer on the wine dark sea: 

A lightning connector, 

But prone to disconnection from detritus in my pocket,

As mud and crud and dirt and dust deposit in the socket.

USB-A was the old USB,

Now it’s been replaced by USB-C

And the lightning connector, it has gone as well,

But only on the IPad, or so I hear tell.

And what is the consequence of all this innovation?

Confusion, bewilderment, and massive frustration!

Accoutrements to past pods, pads and mobile phones 

Arriving in the flat white box.

Your familiar and fully functional devices

The open sesame to all life’s spices

Rendered obsolete by the Corporate Machine

Unable to receive IOS Umpteen,

Nor alas, the very latest versions of your apps,

“We really had to do it.  So very sorry, chaps.”

———

I migrated from a Microsoft computer to Apple, many years ago, persuaded by many that it was better. And it was. And then came the iPod, and the iPod touch, the early iPhone, and the iPad, all with the 30-pin dock connector. But then, with the iPad mini, and later iPads and iPhones, came the lightning connector, and all of these, from first to last, with a USB at the other end of the chord. All was well. Stability and interchangeability!

But recently I bought a new IPhone SE and an IPad mini, because my old ones no longer accepted the latest versions of things. And the old cords and chargers no longer work with new devices. Frustration!

Shakespeare

 

I wonder how many listeners recognized the Shakespearean line in the King’s moving tribute to his mother. The line is so beautiful it brings tears to the eyes. My generation would likely have recognized it, for in those days, studying Shakespeare was a part of going to school.

Not so, for the current generation of graduates, it seems. Recently I heard tell of an English teacher who declined to teach Shakespeare because she thought that teaching an indigenous novel was more important. Surely one can teach Shakespeare as well as the indigenous novel: to deprive students of exposure to the greatest writer of all is to miss the purpose of education.

Fortunate are those students whose teachers lead them not only to books with a moral or political message, but to the great works of poetry as well.

May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Senior’s Residences

 

I feel so sorry for the fellow who lives here , all alone in not one but several residences. This is hardly in keeping with the City’s new infill housing policy, which seeks to increase population density. The sign appeared at least a year ago, so he’s been by himself for a while now. Does he long for companions? He may have a lady friend who would like to join him, but that is clearly against the rules. Only one senior is allowed. So sad!