July 16th, 2011 → 6:54 am
“A thought which, quarter’d, hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward.” – Hamlet
I hear that President Obama is taking Mitch McConnell’s back-up plan for raising the debt ceiling seriously. Bummer. The plan is only one part wisdom (the avoiding default part), and three parts coward by the Republicans.
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians
July 15th, 2011 → 6:43 am
“Now stand you on the top of happy hours.” – Sonnet
My friend from out of town is here, my baby’s first birthday party is this weekend, there are dinners planned and parties to attend. As I’ve been telling my husband, now begins the Weekend of Fun!
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
July 14th, 2011 → 6:54 am
“Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” – Comedy of Errors
An old friend of mine from my Michigan days is flying in today for a visit. Yeah to old friends, great welcomes, and merry feasts all weekend long!!
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
July 12th, 2011 → 7:16 am
“Talkers are no good doers.” – Richard III
Last night I watched a great documentary by Al Pacino on playing Shakespeare’s Richard III. It was great fun watching him dissect some of the famous lines and scenes, as well as try to get teenagers in Central Park to go and see a Shakespeare play. I was watching it, thinking, what quote could I use for today’s blog post?  And then, lo and behold, this one came up, which also perfectly described the posturing budget talks currently taking place in Washington, D.C. If all the craziness on Capitol Hill is driving you insane, rent Pacino’s movie, it’ll at least take your mind off things for a little while…
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Politics/Politicians
July 11th, 2011 → 7:56 am
“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines.” – Sonnet 18
There is an extreme heat advisory in St. Louis today. It is supposed to top 100 degrees, with a heat index approaching 117. I noticed last night, at around 10:30 p.m. it was 95 degrees! At 10:30 p.m.!  Stay cool everyone…
July 9th, 2011 → 9:07 am
“But soft, methinks I scent the morning air.” – Hamlet
A little late for me this morning, but it does seem like its going to be a sweet, fresh-smelling day…
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
July 8th, 2011 → 6:39 am
“If it were done, when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly.” – Macbeth
Analogizing raising the debt ceiling to commiting murder is probably not the best way to go here, but the underlying sentiment is still accurate. We need to raise the debt ceiling, so just get it done already, and quickly! My favorite media comment on this came from NPR the other day, where Jim Kessler said: “You can cheat on your spouse and maybe your marriage will survive, but your marriage will never be the same again. And you can default on your debts as a nation and your country will survive. But the way your country is viewed will never be the same again.”
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money
July 7th, 2011 → 6:57 am
“Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod.” – King Henry V
A former student of mine from the Economics Department at UMSL has been unemployed for over a year. But he kept trying, kept himself busy, kept up his contacts with his former professors at UMSL, and yesterday he got a job! And a good job too, at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. I was really happy to put in a good word for him at the Fed and now I feel so proud of him for getting the job! Like I felt when another former student of mine got a top job with the Hillary Clinton campaign (when that was still a viable campaign), and when a couple of my former students got into excellent Ph.D. programs around the country. One of the best things about my day job is the personal satisfaction I get seeing my little kiddos do so well. 🙂
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
July 5th, 2011 → 7:57 am
I’ve been listening to the radio show This American Life since it began in 1995. With the podcast now, I believe I have never missed an episode. Before the podcast I used to schedule my weekly house cleaning around the time the show aired so I could listen to it while I dusted and swept. Anyhow, this week they are re-playing my favorite episode of all time, Act V, about a production of Hamlet put on in a high-security prison. A show that contemplates murder, acted out by murderers. It makes me well up in tears every time.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art
July 4th, 2011 → 7:11 am
“Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!” – Julius Caesar
I’ve been rather negative in this blog so far, on politicians, the economy, people. So I decided it was about time to show a little positivity! America does a lot of things wrong – and god knows I’ll continue commenting on them in future blog posts - but in truth, it does even more right. Happy 4th of July everyone! Whoop Whoop!