Is the shoe horn going the way of the wash board?

Technology is a topic of great interest among tech professionals, scholars, and the general public. But usually the interest is only generated by the latest innovations or futuristic improbabilities.

What has begun to intrigue me is, how in the passage of time, low technologies tend to quietly fade away.

Take for example, the shoe horn.

Who remembers the shoe horn its appearance, history and eventual transformation from a physical manifestation into a metaphor?

Or the paper weight (in a "paperless" society).  Read George Orwell's comments in 1994 on the value(lessness) of a lone silvery glassed-in flower-globe displayed on an aging wooden table.

Wikipedia provides a concise history and explanation of the washboard (but to learn how first uses fade over time, read the disambiguation section).

All of which to say is while high technology, digitization, computerization, mobile devices, etc. and so forth attract far more than their share of attention, some basics should be thoughtfully considered as part of a fleeting way of life. How can we evaluate the impact of loss and change over the 32,000 years of our doggie-human cultural formation?

Thank you, my friends and fans, for any insights you may care to offer.

As always, your pal, Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir

Disgruntled

Sometimes a doggie is in the correct time and place to fulfill their fondest dreams and their rightful place in society. Other times, not so much. I fall in the latter category. 

My heart belongs in the film industry. Acting, directing and editing would have been my forte. Like my favorite star, Asta, I could have been a contender. Asta, star of, among other films, the Thin Man series, never won an Oscar (nor did his co- star, Myrna Loy). But his work has long been acknowledged as first-rate. He claimed his rightful place in the universe.

I am the third generation of the impact of what can only be called: devastatingly bad decisions. Sadly, my rightful place in the universe remains unfilled.

If Grandpere had followed his path, as stand up comedian, screen writer and director, Maman would now be a successful screen and TV writer. If Maman had been a successful screen writer, I doubtless would have become a star of big screen and small (and perhaps even made it to the Broadway stage).

But no. After Princeton, Grandpere attended Columbia Medical and became a physician. Maman earned a Ph.D. at University of Wisconsin. True, each had distinguished careers, Grandpere in academic medicine, Maman, a professor of media studies. 

But what about me? Without the Hollywood/show biz contacts, I've wallowed in an academic environment far distant from my true destiny. Their bad decisions and lack of foresight led to half-lives for them (but that's down to them) and devastating loss for me and for the dramatic arts.

I've made the best of things. I take vicarious pleasures where I can find them: I watch classic films on TCM, indie/ international films on Film Struck, Brit films/TV on AcornTV, TV and film on Hulu, independent productions on Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime. Enjoyable, yes. Suggestive, yes. Even inspiring, yes. 

But, yes I should have been a contributor.  I could've been a contender. 

Best regards to my faithful friends and followers, Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir

Christmas Letter and Gift List 2016

Dearest, darling Santa!

First, thank you for agreeing to meet with me last week. We had a rewarding conversation and I'll just reiterate the salient points and clarify a few others.

Please remember that I've been ever so good this year. Any minor offenses are attributed to irresistible impulse (that's actually a defense to murder under the law) so they're really not my fault (if indeed I did them after all).

Also, take into consideration the wear and tear wrought by an extremely stressful election with dubious outcomes, hence the long list. I shall say no more about that.

With all due respect, love, and hope, my List:

---PetChatz:  a complete interactive and engagement audio/visual system that would let me press a button to ring Maman on her iphone so she can dispense treats and calming scents from wherever she might be (as well as engage in some idle chat)

---an iphone of my very own (I'm willing to take a 6S)

--Feliz Navidog Dog Tee (red)

--Burberry sweaters (2), a Burberry winter coat and a faux fur "puppy and me" scarf for dogs

--L.A. Dog Chevron Faux Fur Cuddle Donut Dog Bed

 --personalized Santa-belly gourmet cookie box

--Hugglehounds candy cane cuddle tuffet toy (the small size) & Hugglefleece Ball dog toy (small)

--2 Fiesta Petware bowls, one cobalt, one turquoise plus a Dog Bone Water Guard Rim place-mat (preferably personalized)

As you know, my friend, I always include a few requests for Maman et Papa. At this Noel, I shall keep those lists brief.

-------------------------------------

*Papa:

a set of real chef's knives

Maman:

iphone 7 (pink finish)

ipad Pro (9.7 inches, gold finish) & a Smart Cover (the Product (Red) color)

Woven Nylon Apple Watch band (the pink & gray color)

---------------------------------

Finally, my best pal, Santa, I hope you've rested well (and eaten and exercised properly) all year long so that your global quest to assure that all good boys and girls receive their gifts is not impeded by ill-health or exhaustion. To that end, I promise to leave some tasty treats for you (water to drink, you must stay hydrated).

As a special bonus this year---and in light of our misunderstanding in the previous year---I have a special gift for you. (it's a surprise -- open it only after you've delivered all the other gifts in every land in the world)

Again, with all due respect, love, and hope, your very best friend in the whole wide universe,

Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir

* This year papa graciously acceded to the girls of the household's many wishes, feeling that the only recently-past political season has been particularly hard on women; he asked me to make it crystal clear that he'll be completely satisfied with the requested set of real chef's knives.

I'm still here, Santa ;-)

Dear darling pal, Santa,

It's only 3 months 'til your big night. I've missed you ever so much over the last 9 months. Have you missed me too?

Here's a photo to remind you of me. Please take special note of my Christmas scarf and the halo of light surrounding me. 

I'll write again soon but, in the meantime, I hope you're well and happy. 

Love from your best friend, Mercury 

Home is where her heart is...

...and fortunately Maman's heart is with me. This photo,taken by Kelly of Doggie Styles, was for Maman when she was far away. As she is tonight. But tomorrow we'll be reunited.

We love each other so much, Maman and I. She tells me I'm the best creature in the whole wide universe (not just the galaxy or the solar system).  I throw my arms around her and lick and wag and lick some more whether she's away from me for 2 weeks or twenty minutes. 

Maman and I are pals and comrades. 

Cheers to Maman with the greatest live. xoxox

Light(s)

Springtime light seems quickly changing to summer. And for my scholarly friends that means light at the end of term's tunnel. ;-)

Rejoicing

Dearest Santa, I'm happy and proud that our friendship has been rejuvenated and, in fact, cemented by my (and your) successful Christmas season. Thank you ever so much for carefully studying my Christmas gift list and complying with my requests. You're my best pal ever and I love you, dear friend. Ever your appreciative and well behaved buddy, Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir. (& thanks to Holly Brown for our portrait) 🎄😇🎅