June 29th, 2013 → 6:08 am
“His own opinion was his law.” – Henry VIII
The US Supreme Court has come out with so many rulings lately I don’t know which one to focus on – gutting of the Voting Right’s Act? elimination of DOMA? the constitutionality of Affirmative Action? What I can say is that the older I get, the less deference I afford decisions by the Court. When I was younger I really believed the Court was composed of impartial judges who did their best to make informed decisions according to the law. I guess I also used to believe in the Tooth Fairy. Whether you agree or disagree with the recent rulings handed down (and I agree with some, disagree with others), in the end, they’re all opinions.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
June 27th, 2013 → 8:08 am
“There was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently.” – Much Ado About Nothing
It started Saturday evening when my son, whom I was cuddling nicely on the couch, pushed himself up off my chest and barfed all over me. (I notice whenever he’s most warm and cuddly, that’s the time to watch out. Nothing is ever as risk-free as it seems. 😉 ) By Monday I was ill. Our house is currently infected with an awful flu and we’re not bearing it patiently. Ugh.
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
June 25th, 2013 → 6:56 am
“Your dishonour
Mangles true judgement, and bereaves the state
Of that integrity which should become it.” – Coriolanus
I didn’t write about Edward Snowden when his NSA leaking activities first came to light a couple of weeks ago, because I wasn’t sure what to make of it. But the more I read, the more angered I get. What gives him the right to breach national security for an entire country? How pompous of him. He’s put my, and all my fellow Americans, security at risk, and for what exactly? I hope they catch and prosecute the guy.
Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People
June 23rd, 2013 → 6:45 am
“the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.” – Macbeth
We’ve begun potty training our two, almost three year old. And as his teachers at school suggested, we bought a timer and set it to go off every hour or so. That way, it’s the timer making him go to the toilet all the time, not us. Little guy sits on the bowl looking kinda uncertain, but when something comes out, it’s like heaven all the praise he gets! When nothing comes out, it’s kind of a bummer…
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
June 21st, 2013 → 5:51 am
“Open locks,
Whoever knocks!” – Macbeth
I first heard about Shakespeare classes in prison facilities on the radio program This American Life (Episode 218 – I broke down in tears the first time I listened to it). I recently came across Dr. Laura Bates and her work teaching the bard in maximum security prisons. I’m really not sure why, but these stories just break my heart and then lift me up all at the same time. Something about people making the effort to open locks – into others’ lives, into mysterious literature, into a world of empathy, redemption, and kindness. For me, life doesn’t get more vibrant than this.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
June 18th, 2013 → 6:02 am
“Let thy tongue tang arguments of state.” – Twelfth Night
Hassan Rouhani, described as a moderate cleric, has won Iran’s recent presidential election. I have no idea how moderate he really is, but let’s hope he uses his new platform to tang (~pierce) old arguments of state. We could use a bit of fresh air in the region.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
June 16th, 2013 → 6:11 am
“For [us] the foolish over-careful fathers
Have broke their sleep with thoughts,
Their brains with care, their bones with industry.” – Henry IV, Part II
To caring fathers everywhere, who worry, work, and love their children. Happy Father’s Day.
June 14th, 2013 → 8:23 am
“Be it thy course to busy giddy minds
With foreign quarrels.” – Henry IV, Part II
Why is it that any time a Middle Eastern country experiences popular dissent, their leaders blame it on foreigners? Syria, Egypt, Iran, now even Turkey. Turkey? How Erdogan can justify blaming his current troubles on foreign influence is beyond me. Stop evading responsibility and accountability guys, and look inward.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
June 12th, 2013 → 6:19 am
“My [sons] lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” – Romeo and Juliet
Putting my son to bed the other night he asked about his grandma, my mother. I had to admit that she wasn’t around anymore; that he wouldn’t be able to meet her or kiss her good night. Then I had to confess that the same was true about his grandfather, my father. My son looked sad, a little thoughtful. When we were done talking I asked him for a kiss good night and, to my surprise, he gave me three! When I asked why he told me that one was for me, one for grandma, and one for grandpa too. Since our talk he’s been giving me three kisses every night now. And always they’re one for me, one for grandma, and one for grandpa too.
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
June 10th, 2013 → 6:33 am
“Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never.” – Much Ado About Nothing
A Hollywood screenwriter, producer, director, etc. decided on his two week vacation two years ago to make an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing on the fly, and in his kitchen. It came out in select theatres this past Friday. As St. Louis isn’t very select we didn’t get it, and I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard so much about the darn thing on the news and from friends that I thought I’d just blog today with one of my favorite quotes from the play. This quote got me through years of college dating.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art