Daily (Janis Joplin–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

Oh Lord,

this online world can feel like 

a long, loud blues song

with too many verses 

and not enough truth.

I’m asking you,

won’t you guard my wild, wired heart?

Keep me from giving it away

to every sweet-talking stranger in my messages,

to every platform that wants my soul

for a little shot of attention.

Teach me to pour my voice out

without emptying my worth—

to share my art 

without signing away my rights,

to sing my truth

without being swallowed

by the noise and the numbers.

Protect me from digital heartbreak:

the scam dressed up as sympathy,

the “friend” who’s really a thief,

the bottle of endless scrolling

that numbs instead of heals.

Help me read the fine print

before I sign my name on any line,

and help me remember

that no number of likes

can ever replace 

real love,

real rest,

real grace.

Let my stewardship online

be raw but not reckless,

honest but not self-destructive—

so that my song in this wired world

sets somebody free,

starting with me.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [Janis Joplin] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [Janis Joplin] 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 (Al Capone–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 know a thing or two 
   about how operations run in the shadows—
and how fast they can burn down.

In this new world of codes

   instead of speakeasies,
teach me to stay on the right side of the ledger.

Guard my name so it isn’t used in fraud,
my bank 

   so it isn’t emptied by some smooth-talking hustler,

my family 

   so they don’t pay the price for somebody else’s scheme.

Help me recognize a racket when I see one:
   the “investment” that’s just extortion in a nice suit,
   the “opportunity” that smells like a shakedown,
   the data-harvest masquerading as a friendly “free service.”

Give me the sense to walk away
   from deals that need secrecy more than honesty,
   from messages that want obedience more than consent,
   from platforms that profit more from chaos than community.

And if I’m tempted to cut corners online—
   to share what isn’t mine,
   to twist the truth,
   to look the other way at a little wrongdoing—
remind me that a small compromise
   can open the door to big ruin.

Let my stewardship of this digital empire,
   such as it is,
be clean books, straight talk,
and protection for the vulnerable—

so the only thing with a price on it
   is the scammer’s next move,

not my soul.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Bilbo Baggins–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

Bilbo Baggins–style Digital Litany

Wikipedia

Dear Lord,

I am quite fond of my comfortable little routines,

even when they live inside a glowing screen.

Still, adventures seem to find me,

even in my inbox and browser.

So grant me hobbit-sense

 in this sprawling online Middle-earth.

Teach me not to wander too far

down dark tunnels of links

where trolls and tricksters wait.

Help me recognize 

when a “treasure” is cursed—

a deal too good, a story too wild,

a request too urgent.

Keep my passwords tucked away

like important papers in a locked chest,

my personal details hidden

like the exact location of Bag End.

When insistent messages come knocking

like dwarves at suppertime,

give me the freedom to say, 

“No, thank you,”

to shut the door on scams,

and to only open it 

for what is true and needful.

Guard the Shire of my family—

their savings, their reputations, their quiet joys—

from distant dangers that arrive 

with just one careless click.

And if I am called, now and then,

into brave acts online—

speaking up for someone, reporting a fraud,

warning a neighbor—

then give me courage for that, too.

So that when all is said and done,

and the screen goes dark,

I may sit with a simple cup of tea,

knowing I have stewarded this small, digital life

as faithfully as any hobbit can.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Julia Child–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

Bon appétit, dear Lord—

     and bless this curious kitchen of cables and clouds.

Teach me to handle the digital world

     the way I handle a good recipe:

          read it through before I start,

          measure carefully before I pour,

     and never turn the heat up so high

          that everything burns.

Let my passwords be like a fine soufflé—

     complex, carefully crafted,

          and never left unattended.

Keep my accounts as tidy as my mise en place,

     with everything in its proper place

     and nothing dangerous hiding in the clutter.

When a tempting link arrives like a rich dessert,

      help me ask, “Who baked this?”

and “What’s in it?”

Before I taste, click, or share,

     remind me that a little skepticism

         is as important as a little salt.

Guard the young cooks in this digital kitchen,

     so they do not mistake every shiny ad

    for good nourishment,

          nor every loud voice for true expertise.

And as I stir, chop, type, and post,

     help me season this online world

          with kindness, patience, and good humor—

    so that what I serve to others

          through each screen

              is as nourishing to the soul

        as a simple, well-made meal at the table.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Snow White–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 Lord of forests and fireflies,

     watch over me in this bright, enchanted web.

Teach me not to trust every shining thing—

     not every ad with rosy cheeks,

     not every “mirror” that shows me only what I want to see,

     not every stranger offering a sweet, convenient click.

Give me friends like wise dwarfs:

     alerts that warn me when danger comes close,

     updates that help me work safely,

     trusted helpers who share advice instead of poison.

Guard my house of data so that 

     no wicked code slips in disguised as a gift,

     no jealous algorithm whispers that I am “less than,”

     no huntsman of hatred harms those I love online.

Help me steward my kindness in comments and messages,

     singing encouragement instead of curses,

     welcoming the lonely without inviting the wolf to the door.

And when the screen lulls me into drowsy scrolling,

     wake me with the kiss of truth—

     reminding me that real life waits

         beyond the magic glass.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (R2-D2–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

Beep–whistle–click…

O Maker who wired the stars and circuits,

     keep my little systems safe.

Guard my ports from hostile code,
    my memory banks from silent corruption,
    my transmissions from those who would jam, trace, or twist them.

Give me protocols that are strong and clear,
     firewalls like deflector shields,
     backups like hidden holorecordings
          waiting to restore what was nearly lost.

When an unknown signal calls,
     teach me to scan first,
     verify the source,

and only then extend my connector arm.

Let my beeps be honest,
     my logs be accurate,
     my navigation true—

so that every route through this digital galaxy
     leads toward safety, service, and hope,
not toward the dark side.

AI‑assisted creative work: This litany is an imaginative parody pastiche using generative AI. It imitates the public persona of [R2-D2] for commentary and devotional reflection. It is not created by or affiliated with [R2-D2], and should not be taken as his real views or words.”


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Casanova–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

O Lord of hearts and hidden intentions,

guide me through this masquerade 

of glowing screens and secret messages.

Teach me that every profile is a mask,

every flattering word may hide a trap,

every sudden romance can be a carefully baited hook.

Grant me the wisdom to charm without deceiving,

to connect without exploiting,

to guard my own heart and data

as carefully as I would guard another’s trust.

Let my passwords be more faithful than fleeting vows,

my privacy settings higher than my impulses,

my promises online as sincere as those whispered in person.

Protect me from scammers dressed as lovers,

from catfish in borrowed faces,

from my own vanity when admiration comes too quickly.

And help me steward this digital dance

so that affection does not become addiction,

curiosity does not become carelessness,

and every message I send carries respect,

not regret.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Personal vulnerability to the potential impact of AI and Ai-enhanced scams

Most of us like to believe, “I’d never fall for a scam.” Yet every year, smart, careful people lose money, time, and peace of mind to fraud and identity theft. Older adults, in particular, often suffer the largest losses when something does go wrong. 

The problem isn’t intelligence; it’s primarily exposure. Our lives are now woven through phones, email, texts, online banking, health portals, subscriptions, and endless sign‑ups. Each point of contact is a potential doorway, an opportunity for criminals. 

That’s why I’m developing a simple, no‑cost Personal Vulnerability Profile (PVP) process. It's new, a blending together of best practices from several approaches. 

It can be used personally, or in a group or class setting. 

The idea is straightforward:  

- You answer a short set of questions in writing about how you use technology, how often you’re contacted, your habits, and your recent experiences.  

- Using those answers, you can hand score the checklist or I (with the help of AI) will estimate your current vulnerability level to fraud, scams, and identity theft—along with your likely need for legal support if something happens.  

You'll get a report which is pretty self-explanatory. or, in a Zoom session, I walk you through:  

1. What your score means.  

2. Places you’re most exposed.  

3. Practical steps you can take right away—whether or not you ever buy anything from anyone.

Important: This process does not require you to share sensitive personal data.  

No Social Security numbers. No full account numbers. No passwords. No private documents. The goal is to reduce your exposure, not add to it.

If you’d like to try this no‑charge PVP review, contact me and we’ll schedule a Zoom call. Together, we’ll make sure you understand your risks—and your options—before a scammer tries to exploit them.

Daily (Billie Eilish–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

God, this screen feels like a night light and a ghost.
     It knows my face, but not my heartbeat.

When the feed gets darker than my room,
      protect me from the quiet lies—
          the ads that sound like comfort,
          the strangers who talk like friends,
          the links that open traps instead of pages.

Teach me to move slow online,
     to hover before I click,
     to breathe before I post,
     to notice when my pulse spikes at a notification
          and ask why.

    
Guard my secrets like a locked journal,
     not a public playlist.

Let my data stay mine,
     my money stay in my account,
     my name stay unstolen.

When I feel like a glitch in my own story,
     remind me I’m not a product,
          not a profile,
          not a password to be cracked.

Help me find small, honest lights—
     a kind message, a real connection,
     a song that doesn’t lie—

and then help me shut it all down,
     so I remember how silence sounds
          when nothing is watching me back.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Clint Eastwood–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, this online world…

     sometimes it looks like a quiet street at midnight,

     sometimes like a bar fight about to start.

Give me that squint that sees trouble coming

     before it walks through the swinging doors of my inbox.

When a message says, “Trust me,”

     help me ask, “Why?”

When an offer looks too shiny,

     let me hear the rattle of the snake behind it.

Teach me to say less and mean more—

     to post with restraint,

     to argue only when it matters,

     to let fools shout into the void without my help.

Keep my temper holstered when trolls take aim.

Remind me that not every insult needs an answer,

     and not every fight is worth the bruises.

Guard my accounts like a small town I’ve sworn to protect,

     my reputation like a badge I don’t intend to tarnish,

     my time like the last daylight on the horizon.

And when the screen tries to own me,

     give me the grit to close it,

     step out into the real air,

and walk away knowing

I’m still the one holding the reins.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Steve Jobs–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

“Think Different (About Your Screen)”

Most people treat their phones
     like they’re in charge.

They aren’t.

They’re just tools.

Beautiful, powerful tools—
     but tools.

Here’s the question:

Are you designing your digital life,
     or letting someone else design it for you?

Simplicity is not just for hardware;
     it’s for habits.

Strip away the clutter:
     the pointless notifications,
     the apps you never use,
     the subscriptions you don’t remember starting.

Guard your identity 

     like you’d guard the source code to your best idea.

Guard your time
     like the runway for your next big thing.

Before you hit “agree,”
     understand what you’re agreeing to.

That’s not paranoia.
That’s design.

And remember:

Technology alone is not enough.

It’s technology married with
     human values,
     integrity,
     and care for the people you love
that makes something truly great.

Stay curious.

Stay intentional.
Stay in control.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Beyonce–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

Holy One, 

who sees me on mute 

and center stage,

stand by me in this digital world.

Cover my accounts like a fortress,

every password strong, 

every gate watched.

Let no thief, 

troll, 

or fraudster

profit from my image, 

my labor, 

or my name.

Teach me to move online 

with sovereignty:

to curate what I share,

to honor my body 

and my boundaries,

to refuse any algorithm 

that feeds on my fear.

When the noise gets loud,

remind me I was crafted 

in quiet greatness

before there were followers, 

streams, or charts.

Let my timeline reflect 

justice, 

joy, 

and generational strength,

not just distraction 

and performance.

Guide me to amplify the unheard,

to protect the vulnerable,

to build communities that sing truth to power

in every comment, 

post, 

and click.

And when I log off,

may I still know my worth,

still feel my calling,

still walk like I’m crowned—

even in the dark,

even off the grid.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Drake–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

God, you see my phone light up before I do.
You know every DM, 

     every text, every tab I don’t close.

Keep me safe when I’m moving reckless online,
     searching for love in notifications and blue bubbles.

Don’t let these scammers eat off my loneliness,
     or my ego make me post what should stay unspoken.

Teach me to flex with wisdom,
     to level up without selling out my soul,
     to keep receipts of grace, not grudges,
     to block what’s toxic and follow what’s true.

When I’m up late doom-scrolling,
     whisper, “Log off, it’s not that deep.”

When I’m counting likes like they’re oxygen,
     remind me I was counted loved before the internet.

Protect my data, my money, my name.

Guide my fingers before they tap “send,”
     my mind before it believes the hype,
     my heart before it confuses attention with affection.

And help me use this digital life
     to build, not break;
     to heal, not hurt;
     to share the story you’re writing in me,
          no cap.

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Yogi Berra–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, in this online life,
it gets dark early out there, 

even when the screen’s bright.

Help me remember:
it ain’t secure ’til it’s secure,
and it ain’t private if everybody can see it.

When I come to a fork in the internet,
help me not take both.

Keep me from making too many wrong mistakes
with clicks I can’t un-click
and posts I can’t un-post.

Teach me that half of cybersecurity is mental,
and the other half is common sense.
If it looks too good to be true,
let me know it’s even truer that it’s not good.

Guard my passwords, my bank, my good name.
If a stranger offers me free money,
remind me to hang up before I get taken down.

And when I’m lost in the web,
help me realize I’m not really lost—
I’m just somewhere I shouldn’t be.

Keep me safe, keep me honest,
and if I learn my lesson the hard way,
at least don’t let me forget it the easy way.

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




wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (E. E. Cummings–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

O my small bright screen

who art (somewhere) between
everywhere & nowhere—
bless
this fragile / flickering / self
logging in (again)

teach me to
un-click what harms
un-see what wounds
un-say what cannot be un-said

let passwords be
little secret prayers
difficult & tender
guarding the (quiet) rooms
of my soul

deliver me from
the easy scroll
the soft addiction of “just one more”
the crowded loneliness of being
always-connected-never-known

and grant me the courage
to power down
to look up
to remember that
I am more
than any profile
any feed
any glowing window

for in the end
when batteries die
and signals fall silent
love (still) signs in

with no need
of blue truth

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


wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Ainu culture–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. Lafcadio Hearn was my great grandfather's brother. One of the early interpreters of Japan to the West, he lived in Japan the last 14 years of his life, 1890~1904.

Wikipedia

Kamuy* who dwell in river and forest,

Kamuy of the wind that carries our words,

Kamuy of fire that glows in every home,

hear this small prayer from the world of wires.

Once, our messages traveled

on foot, by boat, by smoke in the sky.

Now they ride on invisible waves,

faster than hawk, farther than salmon.

Yet still, a heart is a heart

and a name is a name.

Guard my name in this new village of light.

Do not let thieves or tricksters

steal the signs that stand for me,

or the numbers that open my stores.

When a stranger’s voice appears on my screen,

let my eyes see clearly

whether it is friend, trader, or wolf.

Guide my hands when I sign my mark

to agreements I cannot hold in my fingers.

Let me not promise blindly

what will shame or bind my family.

Kamuy of wisdom, quiet my mind

when pictures and noises

pull me in many directions.

Teach me when to close the lid,

to step outside,

to feel real wind and see real sky,

so my spirit does not forget

the old paths and the living world.

I remember the children and elders

who walk in this digital forest 

with less knowledge.

Help me to walk beside them—

to warn of hidden pits,

to share good tools,

to keep them from harm.

May my words on every screen

be like good footprints in the snow—

clear, honest, leaving no hidden traps.

Kamuy who hear all things,

bless this day’s going online and coming offline,

that they may be part of a life

that honors people, land, and the unseen.

*('Kamuy' is the Ainu word for "spirit,"similar to the Japanese word, "kami," but somewhat broader in scope, more active, interactive)“

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

wracton@gmail.com
williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Oprah Winfrey–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

 “Owning Your Digital Life”

Before you pick up your phone in the morning,
take one breath and ask yourself:
“What kind of day am I inviting in?”

Your digital life is not separate from your real life.
Every click is a choice.
Every message is a seed.
Every agreement you sign is a chapter in your story.

You deserve a life that is intentional,
not one you sleepwalk through with a glowing screen.

Protect your name—
it carries your history, your integrity, your dreams.
Don’t trade it for a moment of attention
or a “deal” that doesn’t honor who you are.

Protect your time—
because time is your life.
If an app or a feed doesn’t serve your growth,
your healing, or your joy,
it doesn’t deserve your hours.

Protect your people—
the children watching you,
the elders trusting you,
the friends who believe your recommendations.

At the end of the day,
when you set your phone down,
ask:

“Did I use my digital power
to lift myself and others up—
or to numb, to compare, to escape?”

You are the author of your own life,
even in the smallest tap and swipe.
Own it.

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

wracton@gmail.com

williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Lafcadio Hearn–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. Lafcadio Hearn was my great grandfather's brother. One of the early interpreters of Japan to the West, he lived in Japan the last 14 years of his life, 1890~1904.

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

Wikipedia

 “The Lantern and the Net”

In old streets,
a paper lantern could draw the moth
to a circle of light—and to its own undoing.

In these new streets of glass and electricity,
we carry many lanterns in our hands.
They glow even in the deepest night.

Within these small rectangles,
voices from distant countries whisper,
markets open and close,
masks appear and vanish.

We forget that the light is not the world
but only a window.

There are kindly spirits here:
teachers, old friends found again,
communities that would never otherwise meet.

There are hungry spirits as well:
those who feed on trust,
on stolen numbers,
on the fragile vanity of a borrowed face.

So let us walk as one would in a strange quarter of a foreign city—
with curiosity,
with courtesy,
and with a hand on one’s purse.

Let us guard our names
as we would a family shrine,
not leaving them scrawled on every passing wall.

Let us speak as if our words
could take visible shape
and stand beside us in a quiet room—
for in a sense, they do.

And when the night is late
and the lantern’s light grows harsh to the eyes,
let us remember the older darkness—
the wind in real trees,
the breathing of those who sleep under the same roof,
the slow, unwired beat of the heart.

Then, gently,
we may fold the glowing net away
and step again into the simple mystery
of being here at all.

wracton@gmail.com

williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (John Lennon–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. 

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

Wikipedia.com

 “Imagine Your Online Life”

Imagine there’s no timeline

pushing you to fight,

nothing there to sell you

fear all day and night.

Imagine all the people

logging on in peace.

Imagine you protect your name,

your heart, your friends,

you don’t sign every contract

just ’cause someone sends.

Imagine all the people

sharing what is true.

You may say I’m a dreamer,

but I’m not the only one.

I hope someday you’ll join us,

and the web will live as one.

Imagine we remember

there’s a face behind each name,

we choose a kinder language,

we step out of the game.

Imagine we teach children

how to stand, not hide,

to see a trap for what it is,

with someone at their side.

You may say I’m a dreamer,

but I’m not the only one.

Click by click and word by word,

we make this better, better run.

wracton@gmail.com

williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Friedrich Nietzsche-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

      “Thus Clicked Zarathustra”

Beware of the glowing idols of the age:

    the false god of “going viral,”

        the golden calf of “followers,”

            the herd that scrolls and calls it life.

Ask yourself, when you reach for the screen:

Is this strengthening me,

    or weakening me?

Do I click from hunger for truth,

    or from the small addiction to distraction and outrage?

Let your will shape your digital world,

    not your digital world

       shape your will.

Do not speak in the anonymous mob’s voice.

Dare to own your words,

    or do not speak.

Have the courage to stand alone

    against lies, cruelty,

       and the cheap contempt that passes for wit.

Do not steal in the shadows—

     not money, not ideas, not reputation.

The one who hides behind a fake name

    slowly becomes fake, himself.

Strive to become the kind of person

     who could look back one day

         on every post, every comment,

 and not have to ask . . .

“How much the bigger, the greater,

I shall never be?"

wracton@gmail.com

williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Groucho Marx–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

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

Wikipedia

Look, I’ve had some bad contracts in my life, 

but even I’m shocked by what people click “I agree” to these days. 

They hand over their data, their money, their browsing history— 

for a dancing cat and 10% off. 

If that’s not a bad deal, I don’t know what is. 

I never forget a face, 

but the internet never forgets anything. 

So before you post, ask yourself: 

“Would I like this engraved on my tombstone?”

If not, maybe save it for your diary. 

Guard your passwords 

like they’re the last chocolate in the box. 

You don’t leave that lying around at a party, do you? 

And if you do, please invite me. 

Teach the kids and the grandparents. 

The kids think they’re too smart to be fooled, 

the grandparents think nobody would bother. 

The scammers love them both. 

And remember: 

A good reputation takes years to build, 

but you can lose it in one viral moment. 

Believe me, I’ve told enough jokes 

to know the difference between 

“funny” and “fired.”

wracton@gmail.com

williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com

Daily (Bob Dylan–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

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

Wikipedia

 “Glowin’ in the Why Fi”

There’s a highway of numbers

where ghosts of stories roam,

faces in the windows

can be anyone unknown.

You can trade your name for nothin’,

you can sell your soul for smoke,

you can sign away your future

with a joke.

    Chorus

     All the clicks you make become your road,

     lies you help carry, a deadly load.

     So before you follow somebody's desires

     ask what’s that glowin', glowin' in the Why Fi . .. 

There’s a salesman at your doorstep

you can’t see and can’t ignore,

he’s got contracts in his briefcase

slidin’ underneath your door.

There’s a kid who thinks the sunlight

comes from underneath a screen,

there’s an old man readin’ pop‑ups

like they’re letters from a queen.

At the end of every evenin’

when you drop your head and rest,

all the neon talkin’ pictures

fade like smoke across your chest.

What you gave away for nothin’,

or only left you cryin'

that’s your "Song of myself" 

glowin' in the Why Fi. .  . 

   Chorus

     All the clicks you make become your road,

     lies you help carry, a deadly load.

     So before you follow somebody's desires

     ask what’s that glowin, ’glowin' in the Why Fi . . 

wracton@gmail.com

williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com