Well, I learned to span the advent of electronics, tune transistor radios, pick up all kinds of Disneyland and similar clues from the Great Wasteland, but still appreciated a jolly turn of phrase from Midsummer's Night's Dream or Hamlet -- even took a few classic Greeks on board along the line, although nothing like the classics my grandfather had to learn. But at least I knew the references. Barky is smart as a whip but her "early history" references are mostly lines from Thirties torch songs.

A