Arthur C. Clarke - a limerick remembrance

Arthur C. Clarke gave us stories.
With science facts and fictional mores.
So when we do build our Hal,
(that uncooperative pal)
We should put him in geosynchronous orbit.


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Inspired by a Twitter from Jim Benson this morning. I'd like better, but am going for immediacy.

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It was a quiet and stormy day.

Yesterday was an unusual day. The weather was stormy and changable. Air pressure was quite low, winds were brisk, rain showers came through quickly, and the sky successively cleared and clouded. Fortunately, the worst of the wind, rain, and tornado activity missed us. You would think that the raw energy of the weather would energize the day, but, in fact, something else happened. Our seven-month old puppy (who is full of energy and enthusiasm) pretty much took the day off. She slept, and didn't eat or drink much. Very different behavior. My weekly call with my good friend Dennis was also unusual. It's common for us to be forceful and verbal, eager to share stories and discuss whatever this week's topics might be, and fly off on the many tangents that arise. Yesterday was different. Our conversation was quiet, there were pauses between our exchanges. It wasn't a low energy call, but it was subdued in some way. I had the feeling that if we were face-to-face we would have sipped our coffees and been quiet ... together. Quiet, in the way close friends can be. But it's strange to be silent on a phone call. That's like dead-time on the radio -- a no-no. Or so it seems.

I wonder if we can be together in quiet ways online. I think it has something to do with intimacy. What do you think?

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