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Steve Duffy --- Poetics derived of Batmemes most bizarre. Could've used your help when editor of zine asked for positive piece in support of randomization software. As stands jumbled wordblots under nose makes writers dizzy. Like those who wear unattractive neckties or polka dot socks. The piece follows --- Text randomization programs have increasingly becoming popular among poets. The craft of writing poetry may lend itself to stimulation by a computer application tireless and nimble random association. Indeed, from my own experience, the technique of pasting blocks of text into random text program often leads to unexpected and mixed results. The text randomization applications have multiple features which can be adjusted to one's needs. Jumble by verbs only, or nouns or adjective transmutation. Many text randomization programs are available free or shareware for download on the internet such as the ones listed here. Download sites: Batmemes.zip http://www.winsite.com/info/pc/win3/misc/batmemes.zip Babble http://www.azstarnet.com/~opus/ Though early returns would indicate Batmemes wins the race, with its better graphic interface. Babble is an old stand-by. Either way one can easily imagine how randomization programs could assist by breaking one's writing routine. Free association, boon to new phrase making. The simple point being that one can take, for example, a book or music review or literary essay and insert it into the randomizer. The random text program jumbles the text. Then by free association one can make new and unexpected associations, meaning, strange things once invisible suddenly may pop up. The mind perhaps moved in new directions. A new spin. One pastes or types text into its window and then the text can be randomized completely, or jumbled partially by highlighting a section. There are often usually a variety of types of randomization. Or transmutation types. Offering more unusual derivations of thought and substance. The ability to select more parts of speech, allowing to operate on more of your original text. Ideally a text randomizer would increase facility, as well as vocabulary. What frees the mind moves the spirit. Could be fun. As Rorschach inkblot test are used to stimulate psychology patients to speak their minds. Word perception analogous perhaps to inkblot. That dark amorphous cloud that brings forth perhaps creative spirit. A touch of the inner child and the inner cry. Inkblots or wordblots being those meaningless blobs of ink (words) that stir the imagination. The wordblots not really doing anything. Though something occurs, some transaction between the perception of wordblots and what's on the writer's mind. Thus, a projective technique by word association and storytelling or poem-making. The wordblot drawing on previously inhibited impulses, encouraging by ambiguity, complexity, or downright meaninglessness the creative gift. The dreamstate invoked, as one cannot readily make sense of darkness, though by dreaming one does take the upperhand. The wordblot perhaps opening a door to the private world of ideas, fears and wishes. The suggestive quality of wordblots lending to possible interpretations. A multidimensional construction which fills the void of the empty page. Ernest Slyman HomePage www.geocities.com/soho/7514 email: [log in to unmask] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%