RHETORICAL VERSE /
SEVEN (software-verifiable) SHAKESPEAREAN-FORM SONNETS
and ONE HAIKU
{ACS.084_01} AS GOOGLE'S IPO "dutch auction" ends
{ACS.084_02} (which claimed "the process" they'd democratize
{ACS.084_03} though some contend that Google just pretends),
{ACS.084_04} IT'S TIME TO BRING TO LIGHT a sad surprise ...
{ACS.084_05} ... for all who've posted speech on Showtime's board:
{ACS.084_06} YOUR WORDS DO NOT EXIST in Google-land.
{ACS.084_07} Search engine bots are banned. All sweat you've poured
{ACS.084_08} into composing messages is canned:
{ACS.084_09} Sealed off from common discourse. None will find
{ACS.084_10} the word's you've written there if they should search
{ACS.084_11} by Google-Yahoo!-MSN combined.
{ACS.084_12} They're private window-dressing. Can't besmirch ...
{ACS.084_13} ... the Showtime brand if someone ever looks
{ACS.084_14} for phrases you have uttered in its nooks.
{ACS.085_01} That's why I've pulled Jim Strock's words from that void
{ACS.085_02} of nonexistence into Googled light.
{ACS.085_03} The strategies of silencing deployed
{ACS.085_04} by corporations is worth time to fight ...
{ACS.085_05} ... at least by making clear that they exist.
{ACS.085_06} The problem is democracy sounds good
{ACS.085_07} and shutting people up can make them pissed.
{ACS.085_08} And corporations sure much rather would ...
{ACS.085_09} ... like not to look like they won't let you speak.
{ACS.085_10} But neither do they want your speech to hurt
{ACS.085_11} their brand. One strategy, don't let it leak
{ACS.085_12} out of a sealed container -- let it spurt ...
{ACS.085_13} ... into the global conversation flow.
{ACS.085_14} The best of both worlds if you never know.
{ACS.086_01} PERHAPS IT'S FITTING that a show not watched
{ACS.086_02} has message boards the world will never see.
{ACS.086_03} Yes, reading from all other nation's scotched.
{ACS.086_04} NO ONE in Mexico or Italy ...
{ACS.086_05} ... or China or Japan could read Struck's speech
{ACS.086_06} UNTIL I moved it here. (See that white box).
{ACS.086_07} Both Google-bots and Arabs out of reach
{ACS.086_08} of what Jim said. The Showtime network blocks ...
{ACS.086_09} ... all public conversation from escape
{ACS.086_10} if it's been spoken in the Showtime mall.
{ACS.086_11} Illusion of free speech, but no red tape:
{ACS.086_12} Just hide whatever's said behind a wall.
{ACS.086_13} I've mixed the blocking problem. There are two.
{ACS.086_14} The Google-blocks the one that's worse to chew.
{ACS.087_01} NOW MOVING ON to Strock's insightful lines
{ACS.087_02} (now open to the world because they're here).
{ACS.087_03} In well-wrought rhetoric, Jim Struck defines
{ACS.087_04} the AmCan case (as well as us, I fear).
{ACS.087_05} He summarizes well the errors made
{ACS.087_06} by Cutler -- who maintained the status quo
{ACS.087_07} by following the tracks already laid
{ACS.087_08} in framing up this television show.
{ACS.087_09} Jim Strock is quite effective in his move.
{ACS.087_10} Carves gracious context for his harshest plays:
{ACS.087_11} The failure of imagination groove
{ACS.087_12} is cut within a matrix of high praise.
{ACS.087_13} He's thankful for this opportunity.
{ACS.087_14} But that won't silence him. Not one degree.
{ACS.088_01} I HAVE NO QUIBBLES with what Strock reports.
{ACS.088_02} THERE IS NO BULLSHIT that needs canc'lling out.
{ACS.088_03} No lazy journalist who oft resorts
{ACS.088_04} to repetition of a PR shout.
{ACS.088_05} Strock knows at firsthand what we do not see
{ACS.088_06} when Amcan's edited to fit the form
{ACS.088_07} of preconception-locked reality.
{ACS.088_08} He's speaking from a point inside the storm.
{ACS.088_09} AND based upon our reading he's correct.
{ACS.088_10} The writers of this blog confirm his facts
{ACS.088_11} and his opinions have our full respect
{ACS.088_12} regarding AmCan. (Not his other tracts.
{ACS.088_13} We think Republicans will burn in hell.
{ACS.088_14} But in this case, Strock has no sulphur smell.)
{ACS.089_01} DID STROCK use our reporting to construct
{ACS.089_02} his own "self-serving" statement? If he did
{ACS.089_03} it's only 'cause we have completely mucked
{ACS.089_04} through all the facts and made an honest bid ...
{ACS.089_05} ... to tell the truest tale of this we can.
{ACS.089_06} What is our motive? "Sour grapes" because
{ACS.089_07} BOKE was not chosen as a better man
{ACS.089_08} than those selected to play for applause?
{ACS.089_09} Believe me I'd have never played along
{ACS.089_10} with this game as designed. I would have yelled
{ACS.089_11} until they did it right. They did it wrong.
{ACS.089_12} The bottom line is that I am compelled ...
{ACS.089_13} ... to go against the grain, if there's some chance
{ACS.089_14} to cut a better path with truthful rants.
{ACS.090_01} NOW, since the world's tuned out, what can be won?
{ACS.090_02} What battle can be fought that's worth the time?
{ACS.090_03} And isn't it too late -- the starting gun
{ACS.090_04} was fired in the wrong place. What good will rhyme ...
{ACS.090_05} ... or any rhetoric constructed yield?
{ACS.090_06} SOMETIMES IT'S WORTH IT just to guard the truth.
{ACS.090_07} Iraq's a mess 'cause we let power wield
{ACS.090_08} uncountered bullshit. It's bad if our youth ...
{ACS.090_09} ... see bullshit win the day. They'll learn to let
{ACS.090_10} the feeling of the truth just slip away
{ACS.090_11} if everyone's too scared to place a bet
{ACS.090_12} that honesty just won't get in the way.
{ACS.090_13} That no one can stand up to all the crap
{ACS.090_14} when "everyone" is hanging by it's strap.
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