spirit of Xmas future!

Subject: spirit of Xmas future!
From: harvey andrews
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 08:28 AM

Just got this. Hope no else has posted it. Thought you might like it.


The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached. When it came near
him, Blair bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which
this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.
"Ghost of the Future!" he exclaimed. "I fear you more than any
Spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and
as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to
bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak
to me?" It gave him no reply.
The hand was pointed straight before them. Blair followed the
Phantom and they came into an obscure part of town, where the ways
were foul and narrow, and here they approached a wretched tavern.
Entering this low-browed place, they saw a half dozen or so grey and
elderly men sitting around a table, with tankards of ale before them.
Though they held their mugs, they refrained from quaffing from them,
and for the most part, they sat silently. Every once in a while one
of them would start a song of some sort, singing a line or two in a
rough and quavering voice, then he would break off, and they would
all fall silent again.
"Spirit, what are they doing?" asked Blair, and the Spirit motioned
him to come closer. Now he could make out a few words as one old man
began to sing,
"The mayor of Bayswater, has got a pretty daughter..."
then he ended his song as uncertainly as he had begun.
"Spirit, what is the meaning of this? I implore you to tell me",
said Blair. "Why do they not finish the song, nor sing all together
in harmony as is their wont in these parts?"
"Alas", replied the Spirit, long ago they once sang lustily at every
opportunity, and were known to be a convivial and musical nation, but
then there came a great blight upon them, and singing was made
illegal upon pain of exile. Many were transported to Somerset and to
Milton Keynes. Now only a few remain that remember any of the old
songs, yet each of them remembers a few lines only, and soon, all
will be gone, and the songs will be known no more".
"Spirit", said Blair imploringly, "let me now leave this place, I can
stand it no more".
The Spectre indicated that he should follow him further, and at that
the scene changed instantly, and they came to a house in what
appeared to be a better part of town. Entering, they saw a young man
sitting in front of a computer screen. For several minutes, he did
not move.
"What is he doing?" whispered Blair. The Spirit indicated that they
should draw closer, and Blair could then see that the young man was
downloading music files by someone called Viscount John of Elton.
"This is now the only music that they are allowed to listen to",
explained the Spirit, "they may do so only in their own house without
company, and they may not play or sing it themselves lest the purity
and beauty of the original text should become corrupted by their
bitter and cynical minds. Anyone breaking the law in this respect is
condemned to listen without respite to the speeches of Lord Howells
of Kim, until they break down and sign a confession that has been
prepared for them, and divulge the names of all their collaborators
to the musical thought police".
"Spirit", said Blair, "who is the man that has brought such despair
on this place?"
The Spectre slowly raised his arm until it pointed accusingly at his
companion, who now fell to the ground, and with copious sobs implored
the Spirit to have his fate reversed. The Phantom however now began
to melt away, dwindling down until it was no more than a yellowing
and tattered copy of Hansard, illuminated only by the light of an
almost expended candle...........

Subject: RE: spirit of Xmas future!
From: JennyO
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 08:34 AM

Sounds like the great blight was PEL?

Subject: RE: spirit of Xmas future!
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 23 Dec 02 - 02:04 AM

Pointless entertainment laws?

Subject: RE: spirit of Xmas future!
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Dec 02 - 10:25 AM

Something like that.

Subject: RE: spirit of Xmas future!
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Dec 02 - 10:32 AM

11912 Total Signatures to petition at www.musiclovers.ukart.com

Will they take any notice?

Subject: RE: spirit of Xmas future!
From: smallpiper
Date: 23 Dec 02 - 12:53 PM

probably not but hell we gotta try and keep trying then break the law anyway we've had to do it befoe and we'll do it again and bugger the law makers! (I say!)

Subject: RE: spirit of Xmas future!
From: pattyClink
Date: 23 Dec 02 - 01:58 PM

Great post, Harvey. I didn't know it was about PEL til the end. It's also about our civilization in general-- gradually turning into a few professional players, with everyone else a passive listener to electronic music. Well told!