Wounded Trump

June 23rd, 2017 → 6:39 am

“Ye blew the fire that burns ye.” – Henry VIII

He is his own worst enemy.

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

Manic Trump

June 20th, 2017 → 5:29 am

“My lord, we have
Stood here observing him.  Some strange commotion
Is in his brain.  He bites his lip, and starts,
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple; straight
Springs out into fast gait, then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts
His eye against the moon.  In most strange postures
We have seen him set himself.” – Henry VIII

Trump is unhinged, to say the least.

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

Trump Heartburn

June 17th, 2017 → 5:31 am

“How tartly that gentleman looks!  I never can
see him but I am heartburned an hour after.” – Much Ado About Nothing

Two upfront apologies:  1) I’ve begun reading Much Ado About Nothing this week, so I may have a plethora of quotes from just that one play in coming posts,  2) I’ve showed restraint up until now, but there really are a ton of Shakespeare quotes that could apply to Donald Trump.  I may just give in in future weeks and start publishing them one after the other.  Leave it to Beatrice in Much Ado to start us off – I love that woman!

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

ShakeDic: quean

June 13th, 2017 → 5:57 am

“‘Tis strange.  A threepence bowed would hire me,
Old as I am, to queen it.” – Henry VIII

So Shakespeare didn’t actually write the word “quean” here – meaning a prostitute or an ill-behaved girl – but my Shakespeare text (David Bevington, 4th edition) notes that speakers of this passage would imply “quean” where “queen” is written, in a kind of wink-wink to the audience.  (“bowed” could also be pronounced as “bawd”).  Now I’m wondering how many other times in Shakespeare when I see the word “queen,” might an actor pronounce it to imply prostitute!
(I’m also thinking how sad it is there is no parallel for “king.”)

Filed under: Blog & Other

ShakeDic: vainglory

June 9th, 2017 → 2:51 pm

“Have I lived thus long…
A woman, I dare say without vainglory…” – Henry VIII

vainglory – inordinate pride in oneself or one’s achievements; excessive vanity

I love this word – so many gems out there that have gone out of use!  Too bad!  I can think of at least one orange-haired dude to whom this word could be applied every single day.

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

One Love Manchester

June 5th, 2017 → 10:44 am

“Once I sat upon a promontory,
And heard a mermaid, on a dolphin’s back,
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath,
That the rude sea grew civil at her song,
And certain stars shot madly from their spheres,
To hear the sea maid’s music.” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A shout out to Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Liam Gallagher, and all the other musicians (and fans!) who came out for One Love Manchester.  The terrorists will never win.

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art