July 30th, 2012 → 8:05 am
“Thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry
And lose the name of action.” – Hamlet
Last week there were more rumblings from Europe that the Euro will be saved! (This time from European Central Bank president Mario Draghi). All well and good, but to be honest, I kind of doubt it. I’ve already written a few blog posts about the poor handling of the Greek debt situation. Along with that goes a poor understanding of what it takes to really make the Euro work. If the singe currency doesn’t break apart in the next couple of years – and no reforms are done to better unify the European economies – then there will be more troubles in the years ahead and eventually the Euro will break down. Repeated “announcements” with no firm action are worse than useless.
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians
July 28th, 2012 → 6:02 am
“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices,
That, if I then had waked after long sleep
Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again.” – The Tempest
The above quote is the excerpt Kenneth Branagh gave at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last night. It seemed a good quote to use this morning, for two reasons. One, it introduces the pageantry of the upcoming games well, and two, it ends by wishing a return to one’s dreams. I stayed up too late last night watching the opening ceremonies after the kid went to bed, thus, I could sooo use a return to sleep and my dreams right now…
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
July 26th, 2012 → 6:32 am
“Glittering in golden coats like images;
As full of spirit as the month of May
And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer.” – Henry IV, Part I
The opening ceremonies for the London Olympics 2012 are tomorrow night, and I can’t wait. My favorite part of every Olympics is the opening ceremony, where all the athletes from the various countries in their distinctive matching outfits march past. I was in Bulgaria once watching the Olympics with a group of friends and we tallied the countries at least one of us had been to as they came across the screen – it was pretty impressive. I still remember that at age 16 my friend Annelise had already been to Togo. I don’t know about the rest of you out there, but I’ll be watching tomorrow night!
July 25th, 2012 → 8:09 am
Just wanted to say I’m back! Will post again very soon… stay tuned…
Filed under: Blog
July 18th, 2012 → 6:22 am
“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” – Hamlet
I’m traveling right now so it’s hard to put a lot of time or thought into these posts at the moment…thus, instead of something pithy, I thought I’d just put up something true. And hopeful (if read the right way). Who couldn’t use a positive thought and a little encouragement now and again? I sure could….
July 16th, 2012 → 8:30 am
“Eye of newt and toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dog.” – Macbeth
I’m traveling right now and stuck in airports…and the above curse just felt right right now.
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
July 14th, 2012 → 8:16 am
“This is the time that the unjust man doth thrive.” – Winter’s Tale
The scandals concerning bankers and Wall Street just keep coming. From Enron to Madoff and now to Barclay’s and the LIBOR manipulations. To be honest, Wall Street messing up and doing stupid things now and again doesn’t bother me as much as the rewards that these people continue to get. Inequality is a real problem in the U.S., in a way it hasn’t been since the 1920s. Extreme inequality isn’t just unjust, as I’ve stated in earlier posts, it is actually harmful to overall economic health. Bankers, who do not produce much of fundamental value and who keep making mistakes to boot, in particular simply get paid too much (i.e. “inefficient amounts” of) money. It does appear that this is the time that the unjust man (for let’s face it, they are also mostly men) doth thrive.
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Stupid/Evil People
July 12th, 2012 → 6:55 am
“Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises.” – All’s Well That Ends Well
After more than a year of trying, it appears that my dream of finding a killer agent to sell my novel is nearly dead. The industry is changing. Agents are being squeezed out. But more than that, I am told that my Shakespeare-Virginia Woolf audience is too selective a niche. Well, I knew it never had Hunger Games mass appeal or anything, but still.
*sigh*
This is life, right? You do what gives you pleasure. You work your hardest. You don’t give up. And on a day to day level? …you admire your snoozing baby’s curled-up toes while savoring exquisitely hot coffee in the morning…
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
July 10th, 2012 → 7:45 am
“‘Tis gold
Which buys admittance.” – Cymbeline
It’s stunning the amount of money being raised by the presidential candidates right now. I don’t think totals will win or lose this election, but they do still matter marginally. And the amounts are just eye-popping. I guess what’s bothersome about it all is that it seems as though the little donor just doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all a big guys game now.
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians
July 8th, 2012 → 6:15 am
“Good company, good wine, good welcome
Can make good people.” – Henry VIII
It definitely feels like summer now. With all the birthday parties, holidays, and in-law visits, it’s been weeks of picnics, barbeques, parades, and light beer in the sun. This is exactly what summer should feel like.
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life