
This is from Joe Mirando, a displaced Atari computer user who has
come online with the Sun evening conference group and fits right
in with the rest of us.  They are also an orphaned group.


I happened to mention this poem to Sysop PJ, who asked that, if I
ever found it, I post it in the ADAM area.
 
Late in December of 1995, it was announced that ASCII access of
CompuServe was coming to an end and that HMI (CompuServe's
proprietary format) would become the standard. Remember, this was
shortly before Project Red Dog, which will provide HTML access) was
announced. Red Dog is coming closer to completion as you read this,
so pay attention! <g> I know that it's not even close to the holidays,
but if I wait another three months to post this, I'll loose it.

   Originally posted in the Atari Computing Forum
   on Sunday December 24, 1995
   Re-posted with the permission of the author

          
                  The Day Before Christmas
                       by Joe Mirando
    
    Twas the day before Christmas and all through the Forum
    We all wanted to stay here, we had us a quorum.
    But the man at the top said "It's just too much work.
    You'll just have to leave us. You can't even lurk.
    It doesn't make sense now, to support the ST,
    Amiga, or UNIX, it's the numbers, you see.
    Go get a machine that runs Windows, DOS, or Sys Seven.
    Then you can join us in digital heaven."
    But a man with a beard and a UNIX machine
    Told the guy in the boardroom "You're just being mean!
    There's no reason at all that we can't get this done
    There's lots of us folks that are in this for fun.
    We won't buy a computer, just to stay here online,
    That's just plain silly, ours do everything fine.
    I've been watching you now for many a year,
    And I've given you presents when shouldn't, I fear.
    You've forgotten the rule that makes this place work:
    Each user is special, you pig-headed Jerk!
    I'm putting my foot down!  No more presents for you!"
    And then he re-booted, and to the North Pole he flew.
    Well the short-sighted guy, still in shock from the sight,
    Yelled out after the spectre "I still think I'm right!
    I'm out of here now, I've now seen it all!
    A digital Santa in our digital mall!"
    The digital Santa gave a digital wink
    And he said to his elves "This is better, I think.
    An online provider should support those who cruise
    This electronic highway, not the machines that they use."
    Then he went to his sleigh and he called to the bunch
    "Let's load up and move out, we've no time for lunch!"
    "Get the bags filled with presents" he yelled out with soul
    "All the holiday trimmings.... AND ONE BAG OF COAL!"
    And I heard him exclaim from his cellular modem
    "That surely was close, but I guess that we showed 'em."


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