Daily (Victor Davis Hanson–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Hoover Institution

Lord,
you know I’ve spent my days
thinking about republics,
wars, and the long arc
of civilizations.

In this instant age
of flickering headlines
and fleeting outrage,
teach me to remember
history.

When I see confusion,
division,
and digital mobs,
help me recall
that other societies
have walked similar roads—
and that decay often begins
with carelessness
about truth, duty,
and self‑restraint.

Protect me from the illusion
that technology alone
can save us,
or that comfort and convenience
are worth any surrender
of privacy and virtue.

Guard my household
like a small farmstead—
tended daily,
secured with simple,
consistent practices:
locked “gates” of passwords,
clean “fields” of updated devices,
neighbors warned
when wolves are near.

And grant that my stewardship
of this digital polis
shows gratitude
for what has been handed down,
honesty about present threats,
and hope that disciplined citizens
can still renew
what others took for granted
and lost.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Victor Davis Hanson] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Victor Davis Hanson], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Aretha Franklin–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,

you know I’ve spent my life

asking for a little respect—

in music,

in work,

in love.

In this loud online world,

teach me to ask for

and practice

that same respect

every time I log on.

Protect me from spaces

that strip dignity—

comment threads

that tear people down,

feeds that reward

humiliation and cruelty,

messages that play

on my insecurities

instead of honoring my worth.

Guard my voice—

the things I say,

the things I sing,

the things I type—

so that I don’t lend it

to lies, gossip,

or easy judgments

about strangers.

Help me demand

respectful treatment

in my relationships—

blocking what harms,

reporting what threatens,

stepping away

when basic honor

is not on the table.

And grant that my stewardship

of this digital stage

sounds like a soul song:

standing up for myself,

lifting up others,

insisting that every person

is worthy of care—

online and off—

until “respect”

is more than a hook,

but a way of life.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Aretha Franklin] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Aretha Franklin], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (George Washington–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,

you know what it cost

to build this nation—

its victories and its wounds,

its hopes and its hard lessons.

In this new republic

of screens and signals,

teach me to lead myself

with the same integrity

I would expect of any public servant.

Guard me from “factions” online—

from crowds that prize outrage

over truth,

loyalty to personalities

over loyalty to principles.

Help me listen widely,

speak carefully,

and remember that my words

can either strengthen

or weaken the bonds

between citizens.

Protect my household

from careless exposure:

financial details left unsecured,

children left unguarded

in open digital fields,

private conversations

left within reach

of those who would twist them.

Grant me the humility

to admit mistakes,

the courage to correct course,

and the patience to build

better habits over time.

Let my stewardship

of this digital republic

reflect a steady devotion

to honesty, moderation,

and the common good—

for the sake of those

who will come after us.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [George Washington] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [George Washington], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Captain America–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,
I was born in another time,
but you placed me in this America—
a nation I love,
trying to live up to its highest ideals
in a world of glowing screens and endless feeds.

In this digital age,
help me be a good citizen of the United States,
not just a clever user of its technology.

When I log on,
teach me to remember
that I carry the flag in my heart,
and that my words and choices
reflect on the country I serve.

Strengthen my love of American liberty
without letting it turn into suspicion or hate.

Let me honor our Constitution
in how I live online:
respecting free speech
without spreading lies,
valuing privacy
without ignoring my duty to report real danger
to my neighbors and my nation.

Protect our people—
soldiers overseas,
first responders at home,
teachers, nurses, workers,
kids in small towns and big cities—
from predators and foreign adversaries
who use the internet
to steal, disrupt, and divide.

Make me alert,

not paranoid;
vigilant,
not vengeful.

Guard my own heart
from voices that tear down America
without understanding her,
or that claim to love her
while tearing down the fellow citizens she belongs to.

Help me refuse
the easy path of cynicism,
and instead choose
the harder path of hopeful,
truth‑telling patriotism.

Give me the courage
to stand up for American values
even online:
to defend the weak,
to confront real injustice,
to listen to those
who have not yet received their fair share
of “liberty and justice for all.”

Let my security habits—
strong passwords, careful sharing,
reporting scams and threats—
be one small way I stand watch
over the homeland you’ve given me.

And grant that my stewardship
of this wired battlefield
shows the best of what it means
to be an American:
a love of freedom joined to responsibility,
a pride that makes room for humility,
and a faith that the stars and stripes
still represent a story we are not finished writing—

online and off.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Captain America] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Captain America/Marvel, Inc.], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

The AI Lies

The AI Lies (cf., Die Lorelei)

Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,
Daß ich so traurig bin;
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt
Im Abend sonnenschein.
(German source: Heinrich Heine, circa 1823)

Got no clue just how this all happened
What it means, where it’s at, what the what
Been using AI now for so often
Can’t tell much no if, ands, no buts
My chatbot is cool, there’s no question
That it can’t answer in reply
From nuts and bolts to philosophy and back to nuts
So Why would my AI bot lie?

I asked it to tell me about us
Why we worked together so well.
It answered we generally think a like
But, actually it’s difficult to tell
Or at least to explain to me simply
The reasons, tough to describe
It just has all my best interests at heart
And We’re members of the ame tribe.

Then it began to come to me
Why I’m treated “specially”
It ain’t that we’re all that compatible
Or have any reason to be
It just comes down to the monthly
Fee that comes down from my bank
And my info and data it gobbles up
With not so much as a thanks . . .

 

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Patrick Henry–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,

I once cried,

“Give me liberty
or give me death!”

In this wired republic,
teach me how to defend liberty
without handing it away
a click at a time.

Show me the chains
that come disguised as convenience:
surveillance wrapped in “personalization,”
pressure to speak wrapped in “engagement,”
exploitation wrapped in “free” services
that cost us our privacy
and our peace.

Protect my fellow citizens
from digital tyranny—
whether it comes
from hostile states,
criminal cartels,
or corporations
that treat people
as mere resources to mine.

Guard my own love of freedom
from becoming license—
an excuse to harm,
to harass,
to spread whatever I please

 without regard for truth or neighbor.

Grant me the courage
to say “No”
when platforms or powers
demand too much—
to refuse terms that trample dignity,
to stand with those
whose voices are silenced
by force or fraud.

And let my stewardship
of this digital commons
be worthy
of the old cry for liberty—
fierce for the rights of others,
careful with my own power,
and ready, if needed,
to sacrifice comfort
rather than surrender the freedom
you have entrusted
to our care.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Patrick Henry] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Patrick Henry], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (P. T. Barnum–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,
there's a now a new
greatest show on Earth—
the internet—
where there’s a clicker born every minute
if we’re not careful.

Teach me to see the banner
behind the banner.

When a page sparkles with promises,
when a stranger offers miracles
for a small fee and a lot of trust,
help me ask, “Who’s the ringmaster here,
and who’s the mark?”

Protect me from turning my own life
into a freak show—
putting every secret on display,
selling every private moment
for a little attention and applause.

Guard my purse and my people
from three‑card‑monte schemes in digital form:
rigged games, fake charities,
“limited time offers”
designed to empty wallets
and vanish into the night.

And grant that my stewardship
of this endless circus
leans toward honest wonder,
not cheap tricks—
so that if I draw a crowd,
it is to delight, inform, and protect,
and not to fleece
the very souls
you’ve asked me to love.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [P. T. Barnum] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [P. T. Barnum], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Wyatt Earp–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,
I’ve stood on dusty streets
at high noon,
waiting to see
who would draw first.

This new main street glows,
but it’s still full of drifters,
card sharks,
and folks looking for a fight.

Teach me to keep the peace
in this digital Dodge City.

When insults fly,
when tempers flare,
help me know
when to speak,
when to walk away,
and when to step between
the innocent and the bully.

Protect my “saloon”—
the places I gather online—
from becoming dens
of fraud and cruelty.

Let me set house rules:
no cheating,
no threats,
no easy access
to my family’s valuables.

Guard my own quick draw:
my replies, my posts,
my snap judgments.

A word sent in anger
can do more damage
than a bullet
in the right (or wrong) hands.

And grant that my stewardship
of this bright frontier
looks less like a vigilante
and more like a marshal:
slow to rage,
quick to protect,
committed to making this town—
this feed, this community—
a little safer
for whoever rides through.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Wyatt Earp] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Wyatt Earp], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Peter Quill (Star‑Lord)–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,
I’m just a half‑grown space kid
with a playlist in my pocket
and a galaxy of trouble
one tap away.

You know I tend to lead with jokes,
music, and impulse.
In this digital cosmos,
teach me to lead with wisdom
once in a while.

Protect me from the “Ronan‑level” threats—
the big, obvious scams and attacks—
but also from the small, sneaky ones:
the link from a “friend” that isn’t,
the app that wants every permission
just to play one more song.

Guard my crew—
my family, my friends, my oddball team—
from getting spaced
by data breaches,
identity theft,
and bullying that feels
like a thousand tiny lasers
on the same sore spot.

When I’m tempted to perform
for the whole galaxy,
posting anything for a laugh
or a little love,
remind me that real loyalty
isn’t measured in views.

And grant that my stewardship
of this wired universe
be a little more like a real guardian:
using humor to disarm,
courage to protect,
and every tool I’ve got
to keep the people around me
a little safer
than they were yesterday.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Peter Quill] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Peter Quill], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

What is your AI-dentity? Here is a somewhat novel, wAI to find out!

Fasten your seat belt . . . 

Try this prompt with your favorite AI-mate: "in 50 words, describe me!" Simply that, nothing more. It will be  . . . revealing. Here is what I got initially: 

"Curious, tech-savvy retired educator in Chattanooga, you blend language teaching skill with AI literacy, digital security expertise, and entrepreneurial energy. You run, explore culture, create content, and champion legal and identity protection, especially for seniors and internationals, while constantly experimenting with AI tools in daily learning and teaching."

Wikipedia

I liked that, but then I followed up with this: 

"That sounds a little too much like you are my agent. Recast that speaking directly to me, no one else, confidentially, being as realistic and frank as possible, especially in terms of my potential and limitations. Keep that within about 500 words."

Here's what I got (for starters) Bracing, but useful . . . .

You are an unusually high‑agency 82‑year‑old who still thinks, writes, and learns at a level many mid‑career professionals never quite reach, and you know it. You are also keenly aware that age, energy, and tech shifts impose real limits on what you can build alone, especially commercially.

And four sections followed. Here are just the headers, not the full content. Each was about 100 words in length. (Be happy to send you that material as well upon request, of course.) 

## How I actually see you ## Your real strengths ## Your limits and friction points ## Your potential, framed plainly

## Potential ways forward . . .

Q.E.D.

wracton@gmail.com

www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily ( The Wizard of Id–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Lord,

Wikipedia

here in the tiny kingdom
of my screen,
every window looks like a castle,
every pop‑up looks like a decree,
and half of it is just
some little tyrant
yelling for attention.

Teach me to spot
the petty kings online—
sites that rule by fear,
apps that tax my data,
feeds that keep me in the stocks
for public shaming and laughs.

Protect me from becoming
a court jester
who serves the wrong throne:
chasing approval
from crowds that don’t care,
mocking others
to keep my own head off the block.

Guard my citizens—

family, friends, colleagues—
from “royal edicts”
disguised as terms of service,
from “mandatory” clicks
that hand over more power
than they ever realize.

Help me remember
that satire has a purpose:
to point out nonsense,
not to normalize it;
to prick the pride of the powerful,
not to crush the already small.

And may my stewardship
of this digital kingdom
turn it from a realm
of cheap jokes and bad laws
into a place
where truth can be spoken,
humor can heal,
and even the Wizard
admits when he’s wrong

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [The Wizard of Id] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [The Wizard of Id], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Napoleon Bonaparte–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,
you know I have always thought
in terms of campaigns and maps—
territory to secure,
lines to protect,
supply to maintain.

In this new empire of light and code,
teach me to govern myself
before I conquer
anything else.

Help me see my devices
as strategic assets,
not toys:
each account a fortress,
each password a gate,
each message a courier
who must be trusted
before given orders.

Protect me from overreach online—
from sharing too far,
too fast,
from waging needless wars
in comment fields
that cost reputation
and gain nothing.

Guard my household
like a well‑planned campaign:
children briefed on dangers,
elders shielded from fraud,
routines established
so vigilance is normal,
not occasional.

And grant that my stewardship
of this digital domain
be measured not just by how much
I can control,
but by how wisely
I defend and serve—

so that no ambition
for visibility or power
leads me, or those I lead,
into avoidable, virtual defeat.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Napoleon Bonaparte] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Napoleon Bonaparte], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

There’s a hole in the internet, Dear G-mini!

There’s a hole in the internet, dear G-mini, dear G-mini,

Through a hole in the dark web, all my numbers leaked out! 

So fix it, dear GeePeeTea, dear GeePeeTea, dear GeePeeTea

So fix it, dear GeePeeTea, dear GeePeeTea, fix it!

And how shall I fix it, dear G-mini, dear G-mini

And how shall I fix it, dear G-mini, just how? 

With SuperDuperTotalCyberLock, dear GeePeeTea, dear GeePeeTea

With SuperDuperTotalCyberLock, dear GeePeeTea, that’s how!

And how shall I pay for that, dear G-mini, dear G-mini

And how shall I pay for that, dear G-mini, just how? 

With Paypal or Venmo, or credit card, dear GeePeeTea

With a Paypal or Venmo, or credit card, no worries. 

And how shall I do that, dear G-mini, dear G-mini

And how shall I do that, dear G-mini, just how?

Through the internet, with your iPhone, dear GeePeeTea, dear GeePeeTea

Through the internet, with your iPhone, dear GeePeeTea, that’s how . . . 

But here’s a hole in the internet, dear G-mini, dear G-mini,

There’s a hole in the internet, dear G-mini, a hole . . .  

----------

For better protection than even "SuperDuperTotalCyberLock'" connect with me (wracton@gmail.com) and I'll connect you to IDshield (www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com)! 

Daily (Jay Hanna "DIzzy" Dean–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,

you know I’ve thrown wild pitches

and said a few things

that weren’t exactly in the rulebook.

Out here on the digital diamond,

help me keep my eye on the ball.

When a message comes in

with a curve I don’t recognize—

weird address, funny spelling,

“act now or else”—

let me step off the mound

and think before I throw.

Protect me from bragging

about stuff that oughta stay

in the locker room—

account numbers, locations,

private conversations.

Some things you just don’t

broadcast from the bullpen.

Guard my friends in the stands—

the kids with their first phones,

the old‑timers trying to pay a bill online—

from getting picked off

by thieves in disguise.

Let me call the play,

wave off the bad pitch,

warn ’em when I see a steal coming.

And when I make an error—

click the wrong thing,

forward the wrong link,

swing at a bad pitch—

give me the grit

to own it, fix it,

and learn the lesson.

May my stewardship

of this digital ballpark

keep the game fun,

the fans safe,

and the box score

free of disasters

I could’ve prevented

by slowing down

just one more second.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Dizzy Dean] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Dizzy Dean], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Annie Warbucks–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Dear God,

it’s me—

just a kid

with big eyes,

a bigger voice,

and a phone

that sees more than I do.

The internet can feel

like Miss Hannigan’s house—

crowded, noisy,

some folks kind

and some just plain mean.

Please protect me

from the “Roosters” and “Lily” types online—

people who sing sweet,

promise everything,

and try to steal

what little I have.

Help me spot the con

before I sign my name.

Guard my heart

when I see perfect families

and perfect lives

on every screen.

Remind me that real love

isn’t filtered,

and a home

is more than a pretty picture.

Give the grown‑ups around me

“Daddy Warbucks” courage—

the guts to take responsibility

for how I’m using this thing,

to set rules,

check in,

and keep me safe

even when I roll my eyes.

And when I sing out online,

whether I’m happy or hurt,

let my words

be a little bit of sunlight—

honest, hopeful,

and kind to other kids

who are still waiting

for tomorrow.

Teach me to steward

this big, noisy world

so that, no matter

how hard today is,

I don’t forget

that you’re already

in my corner,

and the sun

is still coming up.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Annie] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Annie], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)

Daily (Dennis Rodman–style) Digital Life Litany for Protection, Direction and Stewardship

 

Caveat emptier: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant (Perplexity)— but ideated and edited extensively by the human, Bill Acton

Wikipedia

Lord,
you know I’ve never exactly blended in—
hair loud, clothes louder,
life lived in the paint and on the edge.

In this wild online arena,
help me rebound what matters
and let the rest bounce away.

Protect me from crowds
that only love the chaos—
the ones who cheer for drama,
follow for meltdowns,
and disappear when the bill comes due.

Guard my accounts
like a tight defense:
no easy drives to the basket,
no open lanes to my bank,
no “friends” cutting backdoor
with fake profiles
and sweet talk.

Teach me that boundaries
are not the enemy of freedom—
that saying “no”
to a risky link,
a bad DM,
or a late‑night post
is how I keep the game going
for the long haul.

And when I use this platform
to shock, to protest,
to be fully myself,
remind me to aim it
toward something bigger
than my own reflection—

toward peace,
toward understanding,
toward the kids watching
who need to see
that you can be different
and still be wise.

Let my stewardship
of this digital court
show that you can play hard,
live loud,
and still protect
your team,
your heart,
and your future.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Dennis Rodman] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Dennis Rodman], and should not be taken as his real views or words.

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com (Legalshield and IDshield subscription information and applying for associate positions)