I'm almost certain this is not our local minister
PDR went well. Phew.
I am not impressed by the Budget or by the plans to halt the deficit by cutting all sorts of public spending. Unfortunately, I can't really wish an ignominious failure on plan and Tories alike, because that would mean problems for the country. I will settle for hoping that they do come to grief and get proved wrong in some way without actually doing too much damage in the process. (Or, I suppose, that they get proved right and we get hauled out of the recession. But I'm not convinced that will happen.
England is playing someone in the World Cup tomorrow -- Slovenia, I think. I believe this is one of those matches which will determine who gets to go forward for the group. As such, and since it will be taking place at around 3pm our time, it is inevitably going to be discussed all over the place at work. Even if we are supposed to be working. One of my coworkers has declared he's going to have it recorded for him at home and not watch it till he gets there. We were speculating on how he's going to stay happily ignorant and unspoilered all afternoon while working in the same (large) room as a lot of people who are bound to be discussing it. I think his solution involved his iPod and headphones. Good luck to him.
---
FAUST
Old Man Faust was verging on senility,
Long and lean and hoary were the whiskers that he wore.
"I'm getting old," he'd mutter as he mourned his lost virility,
"I'm not the gay young rascal that I was in days of yore."
"There was a time, alas now gone, when all the flappers fell for me.
My prowess was a legend and a source of local pride;
But now I'm known as Grandpa Faust which, honestly, is hell for me.
The embers of my flaming youth lamentably have died."
"A neat and well turned female form that once disturbed me fearfully
My aged eyes now look upon with retrospective gloom.
Could I regain my vanished youth my soul I'd part with cheerfully --"
A clap of thunder rent the air and sulphur filled the room.
Beside him stood a stranger diabolical and sinister.
A smile of grim malevolence was on his handsome phiz.
Said Faust, "I'm almost certain this is not our local minister,
But I hate to think this bird's the bird I really think he is."
"My name is Mephistopheles," the stranger murmured pleasantly,
"Though all my little playmates call me Lucifer or Nick.
The metamorphosis you ask I'll manage for you presently.
For one of my accomplishments it's quite a simple trick."
"Just kindly sign this document prepared by my solicitor.
These legal technicalities at times seem rather strange,
Right here upon the dotted line . . . Ah, thank you," said the visitor.
"Now gaze into that mirror - Yes, I thought you'd like the change."
Before him stood a paragon of virile masculinity.
"It's many years," Faust chuckled, "since I used to feel this way.
I know a dame named Marguerite who lives in this vicinity,
Let's drop around and visit her." The Devil said, "O.K."
With grim and tragic ruthlessness the plot moves forward hastily
As Faust, rejuvenated, makes amends for past delay;
Till Marguerite soon finds herself in what our parents tastily
With delicate periphrasis would call The Family Way.
A rather narrow prejudice prevailed in that locality,
Which indicates the queer naive conventions of the time,
For in that straitlaced atmosphere of primitive morality
Infanticide was looked upon as somewhat of a crime.
The poor unwanted infant there reclining by its mama's side,
To use a current metaphor, was put upon the spot;
And Marguerite quite promptly was arrested, charged with homicide,
And left to mourn her tragedy upon a prison cot.
And there, her reason tottering beneath the sharp impacts of life,
Poor Marguerite bemoans her sad and melancholy fate.
"Oh why did no one tell me anything about the facts of life,
And not to trust a city chap, before it was too late?"
With this she dies, and Faustus, too, conveniently perishes,
While Mephistopheles looks on with wild frustrated rage.
He says, "The next time any guy a notion like that cherishes
I'll simply say, 'Forget it, Kid, and try to be your age.'"
-- Newman Levy
I am not impressed by the Budget or by the plans to halt the deficit by cutting all sorts of public spending. Unfortunately, I can't really wish an ignominious failure on plan and Tories alike, because that would mean problems for the country. I will settle for hoping that they do come to grief and get proved wrong in some way without actually doing too much damage in the process. (Or, I suppose, that they get proved right and we get hauled out of the recession. But I'm not convinced that will happen.
England is playing someone in the World Cup tomorrow -- Slovenia, I think. I believe this is one of those matches which will determine who gets to go forward for the group. As such, and since it will be taking place at around 3pm our time, it is inevitably going to be discussed all over the place at work. Even if we are supposed to be working. One of my coworkers has declared he's going to have it recorded for him at home and not watch it till he gets there. We were speculating on how he's going to stay happily ignorant and unspoilered all afternoon while working in the same (large) room as a lot of people who are bound to be discussing it. I think his solution involved his iPod and headphones. Good luck to him.
---
FAUST
Old Man Faust was verging on senility,
Long and lean and hoary were the whiskers that he wore.
"I'm getting old," he'd mutter as he mourned his lost virility,
"I'm not the gay young rascal that I was in days of yore."
"There was a time, alas now gone, when all the flappers fell for me.
My prowess was a legend and a source of local pride;
But now I'm known as Grandpa Faust which, honestly, is hell for me.
The embers of my flaming youth lamentably have died."
"A neat and well turned female form that once disturbed me fearfully
My aged eyes now look upon with retrospective gloom.
Could I regain my vanished youth my soul I'd part with cheerfully --"
A clap of thunder rent the air and sulphur filled the room.
Beside him stood a stranger diabolical and sinister.
A smile of grim malevolence was on his handsome phiz.
Said Faust, "I'm almost certain this is not our local minister,
But I hate to think this bird's the bird I really think he is."
"My name is Mephistopheles," the stranger murmured pleasantly,
"Though all my little playmates call me Lucifer or Nick.
The metamorphosis you ask I'll manage for you presently.
For one of my accomplishments it's quite a simple trick."
"Just kindly sign this document prepared by my solicitor.
These legal technicalities at times seem rather strange,
Right here upon the dotted line . . . Ah, thank you," said the visitor.
"Now gaze into that mirror - Yes, I thought you'd like the change."
Before him stood a paragon of virile masculinity.
"It's many years," Faust chuckled, "since I used to feel this way.
I know a dame named Marguerite who lives in this vicinity,
Let's drop around and visit her." The Devil said, "O.K."
With grim and tragic ruthlessness the plot moves forward hastily
As Faust, rejuvenated, makes amends for past delay;
Till Marguerite soon finds herself in what our parents tastily
With delicate periphrasis would call The Family Way.
A rather narrow prejudice prevailed in that locality,
Which indicates the queer naive conventions of the time,
For in that straitlaced atmosphere of primitive morality
Infanticide was looked upon as somewhat of a crime.
The poor unwanted infant there reclining by its mama's side,
To use a current metaphor, was put upon the spot;
And Marguerite quite promptly was arrested, charged with homicide,
And left to mourn her tragedy upon a prison cot.
And there, her reason tottering beneath the sharp impacts of life,
Poor Marguerite bemoans her sad and melancholy fate.
"Oh why did no one tell me anything about the facts of life,
And not to trust a city chap, before it was too late?"
With this she dies, and Faustus, too, conveniently perishes,
While Mephistopheles looks on with wild frustrated rage.
He says, "The next time any guy a notion like that cherishes
I'll simply say, 'Forget it, Kid, and try to be your age.'"
-- Newman Levy