Italy’s Election

February 28th, 2013 → 6:10 am

“Here comes a pair of very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools.” – As You Like It

Italy had a national election this past weekend, that resulted in a stalemate.  Apparently two of the biggest winners were Silvio Berlusconi, a corrupt, misogynistic, zombie-like fool, and Beppe Grillo, a comedian and actual fool.  All I can think to say is:  thank you Italy, for making us look not half so bad in comparison.

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People

My Little Boy

February 25th, 2013 → 5:17 am

“He’s all my exercise, my mirth, my matter;
Now my sworn friend, and then mine enemy;
My parasite, my soldier, my statesman, all.
He makes a July’s day short as December,
And with his varying childness cures in me
Thoughts that would thick my blood.”  – The Winter’s Tale

It was a weekend of fun with my son, Vincent!  We had birthday parties to go to, Magic Houses to visit, Purim carnivals to attend.  Phew!  We even built two snowmen in the back yard – one more of a snow monster, but that’s ok, he only scared away the rabbits.

Vincent Mommy and the Snow Monster

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life

Oscar Pistorius

February 23rd, 2013 → 5:25 am

“It is a damned and a bloody work;
The graceless action of a heavy hand.”  – King John

Not knowing all the facts and going completely on instinct, I think the guy is guilty of murdering his girlfriend.  I mean, even if she was just going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, why would she lock the door?  But, I’ll try to reserve my immediate defense of the victim and wait and watch how this thing plays out…

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Insult of the Day

February 21st, 2013 → 6:14 am

“I do desire we may be better strangers.” – As You Like It

Wouldn’t this just be the best insult to give to someone you didn’t like?  Not that I’d ever remember it in the moment, or have the courage to actually say it if I did.  But here’s to one of my favorite subtle, yet withering, Shakespearean insults.

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

The Feminine Mystique

February 19th, 2013 → 8:29 am

“Do you not know I am a woman?  When I think I must speak.” – As You Like It

Today is the 50th anniversary of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique.  I have to admit, I haven’t read it (and I’m trying to decide if I should), but it did make a significant impact in its day.  Whatever the merits of the book itself, two thumbs up for women speaking up, even when it creates waves.

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art

My Mother’s Birthday

February 16th, 2013 → 8:41 am

“My heart
Leaps to be gone into my mother’s bosom.”  – Pericles

Today is my mother’s birthday and, 14 years after her death, I still wake up thinking about her on this day.  She would have been 64 years old today.  Happy Birthday Mom!  Sometimes, when I am cuddling my son in the early hours of the morning and he has his warm, sleepy face pressed into my breast, I imagine he is me and I am you and we are clasped in a loving embrace like I remember, and treasure, from many, many years ago…

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life

Love

February 14th, 2013 → 5:54 am

“Thinking of nothing else, putting all affairs else in oblivion, as if there were nothing else to be done but to see him.” – Henry IV, Part II

Remember new love?  When it was all you could do not to obsess about the object of your affection all day long?  Ah, those days were fun…  In remembrance of them, Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Filed under: Blog & Other

Pope Benedict XVI’s Resignation

February 12th, 2013 → 6:51 am

“Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world.”  – Titus Andronicus

There are a few topics which Shakespeare seems to have written about a lot.  Love is one, of course.  War another.  But perhaps surprisingly, old age is a third.  There were a plethora of quotes I could have picked this morning to relate to Pope Benedict’s resignation due to old age.  I finally chose the one that seemed most apt to this situation (if not the most recognizable, or from the most popular play).  It relates the desire at a certain point in life to be honored, but at the same time relieved of responsibility.  Even people I don’t particularly like (as in this Pope), probably deserve that.

Filed under: Blog & Other

Winter Storm

February 9th, 2013 → 7:48 am

“Winter tames man, woman, and beast.” – Taming of the Shrew

A winter storm is battering the Northeastern United States right now.  I’ve read that thousands of flights are canceled, roads are closed, power outages are developing.  All that is bad, of course, yet I still can’t help feeling a little jealous.  We haven’t had a good winter storm here in St. Louis in years.  It’s cold, I’ll give you that, but not snowy.  And I really wish I had some thick, powdery snow to play in with my little boy.  Here’s wishing we have a terrible winter storm headed our way!

Filed under: Blog & Other

Sequestration

February 7th, 2013 → 7:50 am

“How i’th’ name of thrift
Do [they] rake this together?”  – Henry VIII

The sequestration date is fast approaching (March 1) and it makes one wonder, what are they thinking?  Obama’s latest proposal appears to kick the can down the road yet again, but the Republicans are being as intractable as ever.  How in the name of thrift and good governance do they keep getting away with this stuff?

Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians