October 23rd, 2011 → 7:16 am
“In case of defense, ’tis best to weigh
The enemy more mighty than he seems.” – Henry V
I’m not much of a baseball fan, but when your home team makes the World Series and people everywhere from the grocery store to the gas station are wearing red Cardinals t-shirts, it’s hard not to get into the spirit. And thank goodness I watched the game last night! Albert Pujols was amazing! He’s now in a league with just 2 other players in history – Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson. It’s even more neat because the Cardinals were seen as the underdog in this World Series, as having barely made the playoffs. Which proves the point that you should never underestimate your opponent.
October 9th, 2011 → 6:33 am
“You alone are you.” – Sonnet 84
I couldn’t decide this morning whether to add yet another encomium to the mountain of praise already out there on Steve Jobs, or, to write about my birthday which also happened this weekend. In the end, the above quote seemed to fit my sentiments about both. Steve Jobs was clearly a unique visionary, alone in his creativity and spark. And this weekend I was reminded again that I alone am myself; I alone am responsible for my foibles, I alone am responsible for my happiness, I alone am responsible for my life. Amen.
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
October 7th, 2011 → 7:14 am
“From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive:
They sparkle still the right Promethean fire;
They are the books, the arts, the academes,
They show, contain, and nourish all the world.” – Love’s Labor’s Lost
The Nobel Peace Prize went to Ellen Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakkul Karman today, three women involved in the “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights.” I couldn’t be prouder.
October 5th, 2011 → 6:24 am
“Our country sinks beneath the yoke;
It weeps, it bleeds; and each new day a gash
Is added to her wounds.” – Macbeth
I’ve been reading how the Arctic sea ice is melting even faster than initial models predicted. It’s really rather frightening to contemplate. Along with unemployment, the debt, and presidential primary jockeying, we also need to worry about global climate change. No wonder it’s too hard to focus action on any one thing – there’s too much to contemplate!
Filed under: Blog & Other & Politics/Politicians
October 3rd, 2011 → 7:59 am
“A stirring dwarf we do allowance give before a sleeping giant.” – Troilus and Cressida
Why is it that we seem more concerned about Demi and Ashton’s breakup, then about the threat of global warming? About non-existent inflation, then the very real high unemployment rate? About Chaz Bono on Dancing with the Stars, rather than death and the war in Afghanistan? I’m not blaming anybody because it seems to be a universal, nonpartisan phenomenon, but why is it that we get so distracted by stirring dwarfs when there are so many larger sleeping giants about?
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Other & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
September 29th, 2011 → 8:49 am
“In religion,
What damned error but some sober brow
Will bless it, and approve it with a text?” – Merchant of Venice
Happy New Year all you Jews out there! On this Day of Judgment here’s hoping your bad deeds get absolved and your name is written for another year in the Book of Life.
September 27th, 2011 → 7:51 am
“Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.” – As You Like It
This morning the New York Times has a tear-jerking op-ed about a man named Energy Maburutse who was born with the bone disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta, but despite his handicap has made it all the way from a poor village in Zimbabwe to a decent college in America. I love stories like this. This one especially because I happen to have Osteogenesis Imperfecta myself.
Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life
September 23rd, 2011 → 3:19 am
“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” – Sonnet 18
I had to wear a jacket yesterday, for the first time in months. It is definitely getting cold out. Bummer.
September 21st, 2011 → 6:37 am
“I love long life better than figs.” – Antony and Cleopatra
This quote seems a little odd, until you realize that in ancient times “fig” had a sexual connotation. Aristophanes, for example, in Peace wrote: “Pick your figs. May his be large and hard. May hers be sweet.” On that note, the choice between a long life and figs can indeed seem like something of a toss-up.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Other
September 11th, 2011 → 7:55 am
“One for all or all for one we gage.” – Lucrece
On this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy I feel a strong comradery with my fellow Americans. One for all and all for one! – if we can just stick together, work together, and look out for each other, we can do anything. I know it.