December 30th, 2011 → 8:16 am
“But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!” – Othello
Happy New Year everyone! Here’s wishing a good next year with many loving moments, and many happy comforts.
December 28th, 2011 → 8:19 am
“Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue. … Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand thus, but use all gently… Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor. For anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is to hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature.” – Hamlet
I received the Playing Shakespeare video release from Athena studios for Hanukkah, with legendary director John Barton of the Royal Shakespeare Company and astoundingly young appearances by Judi Dench, Patrick Steward, Ben Kingsley, and more. Bottom line: AMAZING! Truly, truly awesome acting and directing going on in those videos.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
December 26th, 2011 → 9:05 am
“O wonderful son, that can so astonish a mother!” – Hamlet
This holiday season was the first time many of my relatives got a chance to meet my newly adopted son. And it went swimmingly! My baby was friendly and cute and playful the entire time, even with all the new people, places, and smells. We couldn’t have shown off a better baby – I say this as I hear him crying a fit downstairs in the kitchen right now, but whatever…
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
December 24th, 2011 → 7:14 am
“I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind.” – Timon of Athens
Sometimes, I am just not into the holiday cheer.
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
December 22nd, 2011 → 7:18 am
“The end of war’s uncertain.” – Coriolanus
I’m glad it’s over, that’s for sure. Although I almost can’t quite believe it, we’ve been there so long. A heartfelt wish to the people of Iraq that they can make a go of it without us.
December 20th, 2011 → 6:58 am
“Though she be but little, she is fierce.” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
I’m hearing a lot of (positive) hype about the new (U.S.) version of the movie The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It may indeed be a good movie, but I know already that I am disappointed they did not cast Lisbeth as she is described in the book. In the book she is 4’10” tall – quite little, and quite fierce. I was sort of looking forward to a movie with a star character as little (and as fierce?) as me, but I guess not this time…
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
December 18th, 2011 → 6:08 am
“O ruined piece of nature, this great world
Shall so wear out to naught.” – King Lear
I keep reading that the U.N. climate talks in Durban, South Africa last week were a success. Really? So very little was accomplished regarding actually decreasing emissions that it doesn’t seem that way to me. The problem, of course, is that everyone is worried about the economy instead right now. Which is why I became an economist 15 years ago in the first place – because I saw how fundamental it was to so many other, more important issues. If only economics weren’t a social science, but a hard science, and we could jerry-rig things to work as we pleased…
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians
December 16th, 2011 → 6:10 am
“No more cakes and ale.” – Twelfth Night
They say the average person gains about five pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. I’ve still got a couple of weeks to go, but there are so many cookies in the house I may have reached my quota already. Ugh. I feel gross this morning…
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
December 15th, 2011 → 6:25 am
No quote today, but a friend turned me on to the following link, that I just had to share with everyone. It is to a bunch of letters to Santa written by Shakespeare characters. If you don’t find it hilarious, there’s no hope for you: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/letters-to-santa-written-by-shakespeare-characters
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
December 14th, 2011 → 8:15 am
“I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men.” – Henry IV, Part II
This pompous line was said by Falstaff, a comedic, rotund character who regularly thought far too highly of himself (remember that “wit” often referred to intelligence in Shakespeare’s day). Who doesn’t think Newt Gingrich is a modern day Falstaff?
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People