alexpgp | Data on cats... (Reply)

There must be something in the drinking water today, as I am noticing poetry all over the place.

Now I've run across the following verse - tacked up over a colleague's workstation - that has tickled my fancy, not as great poetry, but for the music in the language (okay, it's funny, too). Not surprisingly, the words can be found at many places around the Web.

ODE TO SPOT

by "Commander Data"

Felis Catus is your taxonomic nomenclature,
An endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature.
Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses
Contribute to your hunting skills and natural defences.
I find myself intrigued by your sub-vocal oscillations,
A singular development of cat communications
That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection.
A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents:
You would not be so agile if you lacked its counter-balance.
And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion
It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.
Oh Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display
Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array,
And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend
I none-the-less consider you a true and valued friend.

(from Star Trek: The Next Generation, episode "Schisms")

In other news, nothing has been received since this morning from the Russian side in terms of radiograms. Everyone is eagerly anticipating the "Form 24," including me, since I can't really go home until after that bad boy has been translated. Technically, this assignment doesn't end until all the translation is done, but if I end up staying past 5 pm, that will throw a wrench, a pair of pliers... in fact, the whole tool chest into my plans to grab a few hours of shuteye before coming back to support the Russian team tonight.

Nothing to do but wait, for now.

Cheers...