Lately I have been awfully distressed by a string of notices posted on my iPad informing me that my village was being raided by bands of marauders more menacing even than Tolkien’s Dark Lord of Mordon. More upsetting, though, was the villagers’ urgent appeal for me to return and help them repel these dark forces.

My granddaughter, Gabriela had downloaded “Clash of Clans” on my tablet during our last visit to New York. Gabriela, who often spends the hour or two between the end of her school day and a busy schedule of extra-mural activities with us, like most nine year-olds would relax amusing herself listening to pop music, reading her kindle or playing games on my tablet.