A few years ago, looking out of my Boston suburban office window across a rainy, street-lit 128, I caught a glimpse of a strangely familiar dark shape, out of c

A few years ago, looking out of my Boston suburban office window across a rainy, street-lit 128, I caught a glimpse of a strangely familiar dark shape, out of context. Something from my past. Something I hadn’t seen in a long time, and never expected to see again... It looked for all the world like.. a large, black dog. The mental connections of the symbolism rattled through my mind - folkloric tales of deathly omens, Conan-Doyle’s hound, Harry Potter’s uncle, Churchill’s dark companion... Through the rain, my eyes focused and it became clear: LYCOS. Apparently they’d leased some space in the MGH building, and enough funding to spring for a rooftop sign. They’re not there any more - moved into a small Waltham Main Street office in 2015 I believe. But, as with this article, they keep showing up.. that black dog... reminding us of... something. Why have they turned up, here, now? What could it mean?