Comments on Sonnet 351

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Overall, I think things have gradually changed for the better.T
With all the media emphasis on gloom and doom and other negatives, however, it's easy to think just the opposite is true.  Near instantaneous communication has one very big drawback.  Bad news travels faster than ever.

posted by notapoet on August 24, 2007 at 10:50 PM | link to this | reply

Mariaki - very true!
But we need to address the overpopualtion problem and also find meaningful work for people.

posted by Antonionioni on August 22, 2007 at 2:48 PM | link to this | reply

Dave, no I didn't but that age is becoming more and more common.

posted by Antonionioni on August 22, 2007 at 2:46 PM | link to this | reply

I tend to believe we are living in the best moment of time
its our attitudes that need changing and that can be the hardest thing to do

posted by mariaki on August 22, 2007 at 5:51 AM | link to this | reply

Tony, did you see the prog about the 100+ people the other night. I was telling my mum on the phone about the 105-year-old who was so sad because not only had all her generation of friends died, but also her children too.

posted by _dave_says_ack_ on August 22, 2007 at 4:55 AM | link to this | reply

Hi everyone - thanks for a great response.
I agree with some of you who express reservations about progress, but taking the long view, I personally still think that clear progress is still being made. Ironically the downside of this progress is the sheer number of long-living people, which is ironically one of the main causes of problems to society, ecology and economy, both now and even more in the future. You could almost say success has backfired!

posted by Antonionioni on August 22, 2007 at 3:45 AM | link to this | reply

My favourite bit was 'Mums who knit'. I think things do improve through time. Just realised I've not replied to your email, but will do soon.

posted by _dave_says_ack_ on August 22, 2007 at 2:55 AM | link to this | reply

posted by teddypoet_TheGoodByeFade on August 22, 2007 at 1:18 AM | link to this | reply

antonionioni
It seems that all of the steps we have taken forward have really set us back

posted by Tattered_Knight on August 21, 2007 at 11:07 PM | link to this | reply

Excellent and thought inducing, Tony...I think both - better and worse
Feels as though many advances fast forward us too blurring-ly (don't think that's a proper word, lol); living in the moment, for the moment is a lost art.

posted by Katray2 on August 21, 2007 at 8:48 PM | link to this | reply

Antonio....
You never fail to stimulate thought!

posted by Soul_Builder101 on August 21, 2007 at 8:39 PM | link to this | reply

Antonionio
Great fun to read this one...and remember. 

posted by TAPS. on August 21, 2007 at 7:34 PM | link to this | reply

I remember the reason behind the ATM
It was so the banks could fire the tellers they had working the evening hours.  Somehow they later convinced people that for this reduction of service and potential losses from not having a teller to whom they handed their deposits and from whom they received their withdrawals, they should pay a transaction fee on withdrawals.

Pardon my cynicism, but in the area of business, I think we have only progressed in the shafting of regular folk.

Carl Peter

posted by cpklapper on August 21, 2007 at 7:26 PM | link to this | reply

WE are progressing indeed !

posted by afzal50 on August 21, 2007 at 6:23 PM | link to this | reply

Antonioreminiscingonio, usual great poem, and yes the world sure changes
I remember my dear father trying to work an ATM machine with a great line up of people building behind him.

posted by Kabu on August 21, 2007 at 5:46 PM | link to this | reply

Hi guys and gals - thanks for your much appreciated comments.
Good to know the old womanly arts are still alive, Mary. Me, I haven't seen a pair of knitting needles since I left the family home in 1983.

posted by Antonionioni on August 21, 2007 at 2:17 PM | link to this | reply

Hi Tony-well written! Down in the Cambridge area we are NOT supposed to
give coins to beggars now--but take our money to Council Offices and buy food vouchers instead for them!(This is supposed to stop drug dealing/alcoholism in the streets.)The world is changing too fast for me.Chris.

posted by Scramble on August 21, 2007 at 1:38 PM | link to this | reply

Antonio-yo-yo - I knit. And crochet. And quilt. Not all at once though.
Lovely sonnet, Tony.  Love the pink, no matter what you attribute to it as it's my favourite colour.

posted by FoliageGold on August 21, 2007 at 1:31 PM | link to this | reply

beautiful subject tony , as you said up and down ,trying to recall and maintain some of the past warmth .may be it comes again as the  fake things will never last

posted by drohan254 on August 21, 2007 at 12:58 PM | link to this | reply

spinner
things are what they are and thats what they are, are'nt they good read thank you /spinner

posted by spinner on August 21, 2007 at 12:18 PM | link to this | reply

i suppose this is all a matter of perspective tony. Things are getting better for the fulfilment of the desires of humans, but all the rest is completly screwed... & humans lost the basic needs they once had & that did not hurt as much as today

Another great sonnet tony, your words are good to read.


posted by pelagus on August 21, 2007 at 12:00 PM | link to this | reply