Rape

March 30th, 2016 → 5:29 am

“O unseen shame, invisible disgrace!” – The Rape of Lucrece

It’s been happening for ages.  They say prostitution is the world’s oldest profession.  Rape is likely its oldest shame.  Shakespeare centered a poem around it, and Jessica Knoll just admitted her best selling book, Luckiest Girl Alive, including a prominent rape was based not on fiction, but experience.  Will the violence ever end?

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art

Terrorists

March 25th, 2016 → 5:17 am

“Which is the villain?  Let me see his eyes,
That when I note another man like him
I may avoid him.”  – Much Ado About Nothing

I wish it were that easy.  To recognize a terrorist.  But they seem to defy easy categorization.

God help Belgium, and the next nation where a terrorist attack will take place before we know it…

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

Overeating

March 21st, 2016 → 5:44 am

“Appetite, an universal wolf.” – Troilus & Cressida

Just got back from a short trip to Cincinnati.  I way overate.  Darn hunger when you travel, and there’s no healthy food options available!

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life

Guest Post – Denmark

March 17th, 2016 → 6:04 am

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” – Hamlet

Or, as The New York Times noted this morning – NOT.  For yet another year Denmark has come in at No. 1 on the World Happiness Report.  In large part, apparently, because of a relative lack of inequality (at least as compared to much of the rest of the West).  Go Denmark!

Oh, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day ☘️

Filed under: Blog & Other

Donald Trump Rallies

March 13th, 2016 → 6:34 am

“He is come to open
The purple testament of bleeding war.”  – Richard II

Shakespeare often used “purple” where today we would use “red,” i.e. to mean bloody.  I wonder sometimes if that is because Shakespeare actually meant not just a bloody cut, but an internal organ evisceration-type injury, which in truth is more gross, more deadly, and more colorful – and likely purple, not red.  Either way, Trump does seem to have come to politics to open bloody warfare.  God help us.

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

Kim Kardashian Breaks the Internet?

March 9th, 2016 → 5:15 am

“The world is still deceived with ornament.” – Merchant of Venice

In celebration of International Women’s Day yesterday, Kim Kardashian posted a nude photo of herself on Instagram.  I’m not sure how to respond.  I’m glad she loves her body, sure, but doesn’t she have anything else to offer the world?  I’m sick of women focusing so much on their looks; it’s just such the wrong message about what’s important.  What about your mind Kim?????

Filed under: Blog & Other

Women’s History Month

March 4th, 2016 → 5:34 am

“A woman is a dish for the gods.” – Antony and Cleopatra

I guess March is Women’s History Month.  To be honest, I wasn’t even aware that March was supposed to be a celebration of women’s history; it certainly doesn’t get much play.  Anyhow, in honor of this, I tried to find an applicable quote from Shakespeare, but it was hard!  Shakespeare has a ton of quotes about women, of course, but most of them are actually rather degrading.  Even the one chosen above is sort of degrading.  I’d rather women be less a dish for the gods, then an admired member of human kind.  It’s 2016 already – let’s focus on women’s minds and not their looks please!

Filed under: Blog & Other