07-01-2016, 07:45 AM
@ellajam and @ambrosial revelation - Yes, this was an attempt at senryu, and "Those" in the first line is weak and shapeless. Aside from "kids" (which doesn't work - the kids hired to drop them off don't really care) the better replacements have more syllables, e.g. "printers," "agents," "distributors." The change must be made since "those" ain't working, but there will be a cascade including at least the second line.
Glad the ironic humor got through, though.
@justlikeyou - Since Google (I was thinking of titling the poem "Google") local phone books come up very short on usefulness (value) - they're an inconvenient shape for doorstops, and as boat anchors offer inadequate weight, no place to attach the line, and get very soggy. Not to belabor the obvious (which also did in the Sears catalog) but purpose-made bathroom tissue is also commonly available today.
(Ex parte: In my neck of the woods, cover and internal advertising on free phone books is almost entirely devoted to plaintiff lawyers. Champerty and barratry have somehow morphed from crimes to a high-volume business so desperate to purchase causes of action, however foolish and dishonest, that its business model includes advertising on media which are often recycled directly back to the pulp mills... to be made into more free phone books with plaintiff-bar ads on the covers. Apparently it's cheaper than billboards or late-night TV ads... or just reaches a different demographic.)
Glad the ironic humor got through, though.
@justlikeyou - Since Google (I was thinking of titling the poem "Google") local phone books come up very short on usefulness (value) - they're an inconvenient shape for doorstops, and as boat anchors offer inadequate weight, no place to attach the line, and get very soggy. Not to belabor the obvious (which also did in the Sears catalog) but purpose-made bathroom tissue is also commonly available today.
(Ex parte: In my neck of the woods, cover and internal advertising on free phone books is almost entirely devoted to plaintiff lawyers. Champerty and barratry have somehow morphed from crimes to a high-volume business so desperate to purchase causes of action, however foolish and dishonest, that its business model includes advertising on media which are often recycled directly back to the pulp mills... to be made into more free phone books with plaintiff-bar ads on the covers. Apparently it's cheaper than billboards or late-night TV ads... or just reaches a different demographic.)
Non-practicing atheist