Preface To All Yours: Everything I Own Is Digital

"What is 'cloud'?" asked the master.  "Have they tricked us into thinking what we own is in the air?"

The pupils looked amazed, & paid heed.

"Cloud," said the master, "is just a way for those who have to own the things they sell to those who have not."

The pupils puzzled over their master's provocative pronouncement.

"You!" said the master, pointing to a pupil, "you have bought a thing which you cannot hold in your hand!"

"It is true, master," said the pupil.  "Yet I hold its container in my hand."

He proudly displayed his cellular phone.

"Bah!" said the master.  "You do not even own that!"

The pupil looked ashamed, for it was true that he leased his phone.

"Indeed," said the master, "you should heed the words of the prophet Watterson: 'There is no cloud.  It's just someone else's computer.'"

The pupils were astonished, for the master had quoted a meme.  One pupil giggled.

"Oh stop being so juvenile," said the master.  "Like our ancestors in their dusty tomes would know a thing about computers!"

The pupils hung their heads in deference.

"All right, all right," said the master, testily.  "Go meditate or something.  Just leave me be!"