ShakeDic: niggard

April 28th, 2017 → 5:08 am

“…the devil is a niggard.”  – Henry VIII

If you type “niggard” into Google, it auto-corrects into “niggardly,” neither word of which has anything to do with blackamoores (the primary term for Blacks in Tudor England).  It means, simply, a stingy person.

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

April 24th, 2017 → 6:07 am

“Who is it that can tell me who I am?” – King Lear

No one, but since I’m not one for unfounded conspiracy theories, I’ll just assume Shakespeare was Shakespeare and celebrate the joy of his birth (which was sometime this week).  Happy birthday Shakespeare and thanks for the beautiful literature!

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Other

Easter

April 16th, 2017 → 5:34 am

“God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!”  – Henry VI, Part II

Happy spring holiday everyone, be it Easter, Passover, Ramanavami, or any of the others I’m forgetting to name.

Filed under: Blog & Other

Dutch Schooling

April 12th, 2017 → 5:30 am

“Those that do teach young babes
Do it with gentle means and easy tasks.”  – Othello

A Dutch friend of mine forwarded me this article on Dutch schoolchildren.  Apparently they rank #1 in well-being, while American children rank #26 (out of 29 rich industrialized countries studied).  I’m not surprised, nor am I surprised by the general recommendation to ease up on young kids.  What I was surprised about was the lack of regular homework Dutch children are assigned until their early teens.  Their early teens!  My son would die of joy – too bad we’re not Dutch.

Filed under: Blog & Other