Sunday, March 7, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Justification for High Taxation (maybe?)
This is not a poem to discuss budgetary concerns,
But rather one to embark on a social sojourn.
A humble attempt to perhaps justify
why we Montclairites pay taxes so high.
If it’s a crepe’s that you crave then open your door,
Take a walk to the Plaza and visit Bonjour.
You can shop on Church Street if your looking for fashion,
Or if it’s art’s your after, you’ll find it in Anderson.
If music’s your thing, catch a show at the Wellmont;
Or do some ice skating on the lake at Edgemont.
In my neighborhood, visitors marvel in awe
as artists, scientists, Spiderman, and attorneys at law,
Bang pots and pans at project Graduation,
And cruise in white limos and host weenie celebrations.
The parade and endless parties on the Fourth;
And impromptu dinners together on the Porch.
Journalists, professors, moms, and mimes,
And children running yard from yard, all the time.
Tenors, sopranos, musicians, and restaurateurs,
That’s what my taxes truly pay for.
And would I abscond if given the chance?
Perhaps, but only to a villa in the south of France.
So to my Midland Ave, and dear friends in Erwin Park,
(Please, insert the name of your favorite block),
With some conviction and contentment of heart,
Say with me proudly, Montclair Rocks! Montclair Rocks!
But rather one to embark on a social sojourn.
A humble attempt to perhaps justify
why we Montclairites pay taxes so high.
If it’s a crepe’s that you crave then open your door,
Take a walk to the Plaza and visit Bonjour.
You can shop on Church Street if your looking for fashion,
Or if it’s art’s your after, you’ll find it in Anderson.
If music’s your thing, catch a show at the Wellmont;
Or do some ice skating on the lake at Edgemont.
In my neighborhood, visitors marvel in awe
as artists, scientists, Spiderman, and attorneys at law,
Bang pots and pans at project Graduation,
And cruise in white limos and host weenie celebrations.
The parade and endless parties on the Fourth;
And impromptu dinners together on the Porch.
Journalists, professors, moms, and mimes,
And children running yard from yard, all the time.
Tenors, sopranos, musicians, and restaurateurs,
That’s what my taxes truly pay for.
And would I abscond if given the chance?
Perhaps, but only to a villa in the south of France.
So to my Midland Ave, and dear friends in Erwin Park,
(Please, insert the name of your favorite block),
With some conviction and contentment of heart,
Say with me proudly, Montclair Rocks! Montclair Rocks!
Drone Breeding Technology
I recently encountered a 3G Man, complete with Bluetooth device, at our local food market, who endeavored to strike up a conversation. “He’s got his DS,” he began as he motioned to the bottom of his shopping cart, “he’ll stay down there for hours.” I looked into his cart and packed into the bottom of it, something like a sardine, lay boy of about seven years old. Oblivious to activity beyond that on his 3 inch screen, the boy neither noticed me peering down at him, nor said hello, as he engaged exclusively and intensely with his new technological companion.
We could, I suppose, continue to lie to ourselves and believe that by providing our children with these technological “toys” we are spoiling them by giving them what they want. The more unpleasant truth may be that we are truly spoiling their social abilities by giving them what we want.
The adult form of such portable technology has already spawned a new, more rude citizen. It is hardly uncommon to be engaged in a conversation when suddenly a vibration is heard, and in a Pavlovian response the receiver springs into action, reads the message, assures you they are still listening, and texts the mysterious person at the other end. Though this technology may increase the scope of our communication, the quality of that communication is clearly being diminished. We no longer talk, we text; we don’t visit, we post pics; we don’t make people our friends, we “friend” people.
Generations of parents past managed to actively parent, socialize and, yes, even food shop without relying on drone breeding technology. Children need to be socialized when in society, not euthanized by portable technology each time we need to pick out unblemished bananas or perfect porterhouses.
We could, I suppose, continue to lie to ourselves and believe that by providing our children with these technological “toys” we are spoiling them by giving them what they want. The more unpleasant truth may be that we are truly spoiling their social abilities by giving them what we want.
The adult form of such portable technology has already spawned a new, more rude citizen. It is hardly uncommon to be engaged in a conversation when suddenly a vibration is heard, and in a Pavlovian response the receiver springs into action, reads the message, assures you they are still listening, and texts the mysterious person at the other end. Though this technology may increase the scope of our communication, the quality of that communication is clearly being diminished. We no longer talk, we text; we don’t visit, we post pics; we don’t make people our friends, we “friend” people.
Generations of parents past managed to actively parent, socialize and, yes, even food shop without relying on drone breeding technology. Children need to be socialized when in society, not euthanized by portable technology each time we need to pick out unblemished bananas or perfect porterhouses.
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