February 20th, 2012 → 6:45 am
“He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends
The sanity and health of this whole state.” – Hamlet
Happy President’s Day everyone! I hope you have the day off. I don’t, but then again, at least I’m not president. 😉 It can’t be an easy job. While I like to make fun of some of our current presidential candidates, my kudos to anyone who is even willing to try…
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
February 18th, 2012 → 6:07 am
“The miserable have no other medicine, but only hope.” – Measure for Measure
I say this to the people of Greece, who are rioting in protest against greater austerity measures. I say this to the people of Syria, who are fighting for basic liberty and freedom. I say this to the citizens of the United States, who are desperate for a third party presidential candidate. I say this to myself, whenever things are bleak, because it is true.
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians & Self/My Life
February 9th, 2012 → 7:35 am
“I’ll so offend to make offense a skill,
Redeeeming time when men think least I will.” – Henry IV
In my day job I’m an economics professor, with a specialty in environmental and energy economics. My love of Shakespeare hardly ever crosses into this domain, so I was quite surprised when, sitting at my desk in my office yesterday, reading a technical industry publication, I came across the above quote used in reference to the Solyndra debacle and the federal government’s loan guarantee program for renewable energy. I actually don’t think this was the best use of a Shakespeare quote, because it requires knowing a bit about Prince Harry (think: wild child) and the context of his ascent to king as Henry V (think: reformed wild child) to fully understand the meaning here (and how many people reading technical energy publications know that??). But for me at least, this was fun to come across.
If anyone out there sees other uses of Shakespeare in odd contexts in their daily lives, please pass the quotes along! I’d love to hear them, and I may even start posting some of these “guest” quotes now and again on the website.
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians
February 1st, 2012 → 6:07 am
“Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere.” – Henry IV
It’s my understanding that the above quote means, essentially, that there isn’t room for two kings in one kingdom. Both Romney and Gingrich can’t be the Republican presidential nominee. And it is looking increasingly likely that the crown is going to go to Romney.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
January 22nd, 2012 → 10:58 am
“Be bloody, bold, and resolute!” – Macbeth
And ruthless, condescending, and petty, I might add. Look out, here comes Newt…
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
January 12th, 2012 → 6:41 am
“The patient dies while the physician sleeps;
The orphan pines while the oppressor feeds;
Justice is feasting while the widow weeps;
Advice is sporting while infection breeds.” – The Rape of Lucrece
The people of North Korea – the sick, the orphaned, the widowed – deserve more. There really isn’t much more to add.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
January 10th, 2012 → 8:42 am
“[He] speaks an infinite deal of nothing.” – The Merchant of Venice
There are so many Republican presidential debates this election year! And none of the candidates seem to say anything new or interesting…
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
January 8th, 2012 → 6:42 am
“The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make when all those legs and arms and heads chopped off in a battle shall join together at the latter day and cry all ‘We died at such a place.'” – Henry V
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to kill his people. The siege of Hama last July was the worst, in part because of the historical symbolism of the place, but these latest protests and deaths are pretty bad too because they indicate that Assad just isn’t getting the message. It is time for him to go!
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
January 2nd, 2012 → 7:11 am
“Men prize the thing ungained more than it is.” – Troilus and Cressida
It’s going to be interesting to see who wins on Tuesday, but in the end, it probably doesn’t matter much. I bet Mitt Romney will be the ultimate Republican nominee regardless.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
December 18th, 2011 → 6:08 am
“O ruined piece of nature, this great world
Shall so wear out to naught.” – King Lear
I keep reading that the U.N. climate talks in Durban, South Africa last week were a success. Really? So very little was accomplished regarding actually decreasing emissions that it doesn’t seem that way to me. The problem, of course, is that everyone is worried about the economy instead right now. Which is why I became an economist 15 years ago in the first place – because I saw how fundamental it was to so many other, more important issues. If only economics weren’t a social science, but a hard science, and we could jerry-rig things to work as we pleased…
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians