Bashar al-Assad & the Massacre at Houla

May 30th, 2012 → 7:40 am

“There is no sure foundation set on blood,
No certain life achieved by others’ death.” – King John

Last time I wrote about Assad and the seige of Hama; this time about Assad and the massacre at Houla.  As Shakespeare so aptly phrased it, you do not secure your throne by killing your people.

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Memorial Day

May 28th, 2012 → 8:30 am

“I summon up remembrance of things past.” – Sonnet 30

On this Memorial Day I take a minute to remember those that have passed away, both in war and simply in general.  Sonnet 30 is, of course, a perennial favorite of Shakespeare’s, perhaps because while it contemplates loss and sad things past, it also ends on a hopeful note of friendship.  I love this sonnet, so, I just can’t help it, I’m going to paste the entire thing below:

“When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time’s waste;
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night,
And weep afresh love’s long since canceled woe,
And moan th’ expense of many a vanished sight.
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o’er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
   But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
   All losses are restored and sorrows end.”

Filed under: Blog & Other

Politics

May 26th, 2012 → 6:58 am

“Civil dissension is a viperous worm
That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.” – Henry VI

This quote seemed apt to the runoff elections that will now take place in Egypt, as well as to the U.S. presidential elections taking place this year.  In both countries the campaigns seem particularly venomous, with really isn’t good for the body politic overall.

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians

Sex Trafficking

May 24th, 2012 → 8:15 am

“Mistress, know yourself.  Down on your knees
And thank heaven, fasting, for a good man’s love;
For I must tell you friendly in your ear,
Sell when you can, you are not for all markets.” – As You Like It

It’s scary how much Shakespeare sounds like an actual pimp there, isn’t it?  Did they have sex trafficking in 16th century England?  Sadly, probably….  Lately I’ve been hearing a lot about sex trafficking here in the U.S.  It’s unbelievable in this day and age.  Absolutely unbelievable.  And, frankly, infuriating.

Filed under: Blog & Other

Egyptian Elections

May 22nd, 2012 → 7:01 am

“…suffer not dishonor to approach The imperial seat,
to virtue consecrate, To justice, continence and nobility;
…let desert in pure election shine,
And, [Egyptians], fight for freedom in your choice.” – Titus Andronicus

Egyptians go to the polls tomorrow to elect their first president since Mubarak.  It should be interesting.  Three cheers for freedom of choice!

(Note: I’ve altered the line breaks in the above quote from the original in Shakespeare.  And also changed “Romans” to “Egyptians.”  This is the first time I’ve taken such liberties with the quotes used in this blog, but I may do so again in the future if it helps with readability, clarity, and application.)

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians

Kristen Wiig

May 20th, 2012 → 8:21 am

“Good night, ladies, good night.  Sweet ladies, good night, good night.” – Hamlet

Not to compare Kristen Wiig to Ophelia (who said the above lines), but Kristen did have her own sad farewell last night on Saturday Night Live.  In truth, I don’t watch SNL much anymore, so maybe this will be good for me if it means Kristen will start writing more movies like Bridesmaids now.  That was funny!

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art

Bullying

May 18th, 2012 → 8:16 am

“Commit
The oldest sins the newest kind of ways?” – Henry IV

I’m starting to freak out as a mother.  Lately I’ve been reading a bunch of articles about how hard it is to protect your children nowadays, mainly due to the ubiquitous internet.  Kids can bully eachother 24/7 now with facebook and instant messaging; porn is nearly impossble to screen on mobiles and home computers.  Bullying and porn are old sins, of course, but now being performed in new virtual ways.  It’s kind of making me freak out a little bit.  How will I protect my baby as he gets older?!?!?!?

Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life

Jamie Dimon

May 16th, 2012 → 8:01 am

“The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt.” – Love’s Labor’s Lost

Shakespeare couldn’t have more poetically set up the most outspoken critic of banking regulation, to subsequently suffer a $2-$4 billion loss from lack of banking regulation.  Thank goodness this happened before the federal banking rules were finalized; perhaps now they won’t be completely gutted.

Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money

Insult

May 14th, 2012 → 8:23 am

“…that trunk of humours, that bolting-hutch of beastliness, that swollen parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of sack, that stuffed cloak-bag of guts, that roasted Manningtree ox with pudding in his belly, that reverend vice, that grey Iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity in years.” – Henry IV

Oddly enough, I’m not annoyed at anyone right now – not my husband, not my boss, not any of my friends… Which is too bad because Shakespeare has so many good insults I could quote! Rather than wait until somebody pisses me off, I thought I’d quote one today anyway, maybe somebody out there can use it for someboy that’s annoying them at the moment.

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Commencement

May 12th, 2012 → 7:50 am

“Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest.” – King Lear

Barry Edelstein, a theater director who has staged more than half of Shakespeae’s plays, asserts that the quote above is an ideal commencement quote.  So, in honor of commencements everywhere (and in particular at the University of Missouri-St. Louis this weekend), don’t ever bet all your chips on one roll of the dice (i.e. a paraphrase of the last line of the above quote).

Filed under: Blog & Other