Happy Halloween

Last summer featured a production of the new play R&J&Z (Romeo and Juliet and Zombies) purporting to show what happens after Shakespeare gave up once his protagonists died.

http://cultureshock.bangordailynews.com/2014/07/11/rockin-out/bangor-native-gets-bloody-in-romeo-juliet-zombies-at-stonington-opera-house/

Zombies are the monsters du jour

Invading Shakesperean literature

- Romeo and Juliet -

Not Macbeth or Hamlet

Does undying love still endure?

If Jane Austen were alive today would she be writing about Zombies?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies

Zombies now haunt Pemberly!

Incongruity to the highest degree!

The undead have been tossed in

The world of Jane Austen

Of etiquette and lively repartee.

$30 per Vote?  You Get What You Pay For.

Apparently in this election over $4 billion will be spent to influence votes, that’s not counting ‘dark money‘ that isn’t tracked.  In 2012 fewer than 120 million people voted.

Supreme Court decisions enhance

The power of surreptitious finance

But cash calls the tunes

The justices are buffoons

If they don’t see the candidates dance.

Clean campaigns are a joke

Transparency has gone up in smoke

Though on each side

Donors may hide

The right wing’s addicted to Koch.

So we get the best representatives money can buy?  In a recent vote on a bill that would ensure that in some cases women would be paid at the same rate as men,  ALL Republican women voted against it.  Did they also agree to take a 20 to 30% cut in pay?  If not, why not?

Paying them less isn’t right

You’d think women would stand up and fight

But they all voted nay

On a law for equal pay

Republican Women Unite!

I’m Working on a Title for This One

It’s a powerful, natural force

Physicists are seeking its source

Their lack of progress

Could be expected, I guess

They’re studying procrastination of course.

This weekend I finally started getting the sailboat ready to be hauled out of the water, even though I had only used it once this summer.  Next year ...

It was  job I could no longer postpone

I sought no help, I just did it alone

But I really don’t mind

Working solo I find

More leeway to gripe, bitch and moan.

Omitted by Design?

When Opera House Arts announced their expansion plans with a press release last spring, they gave themselves credit for an image I created, and neglected to mention Eric A Chase, Architecture (for whom I work) as their Architect.  In their latest newsletter publicizing the new lobby and scenery shop they again neglected to name their architect, though they mentioned others involved in the project.  

In promoting their new facility

The owners gave donors publicity

They thanked the builder as well

The architect’s name was withheld

Thus preserving my anonymity.

They gave another architect credit

For a quick little sketch that he did

The builder-to-be

Got promotion - for free

But the project’s architect? Fuhgedit!

Click on the title Other Stuff (at right) to read more.

Less Than a Month to Election Day

If we don’t like the current Congress members and think they are doing a lousy job, why do we re-elect them?

Many cry ‘trow da bums out’

But the outcome is rarely in doubt

Unless someone retools

Congressional districting rules
Most incumbents will win in a rout.

Among the many reasons to thank the military is their contribution to the American / English language.  A glossary is printed below.

Congress is a major SNAFU

This session it’s even FUMTU

Compromise is AWOL

The COA is stall

It’s FUBAR all the way through.

SANFU - Pronounced sna-fu - Situation Normal All Fouled Up

FUMTU - Pronounced fum -tu - Frigged Up More Than Usual

AWOL - pronounced a- wall - Absent With Out Leave

COA - pronounced See Oh Ay - Course of Action

FUBAR - pronounced fu-bar - Fricked Up Beyond All Recognition

Got Any Enthusiasm to Spare?

I don’t feel like working today

I’d like to stay home and play

Relax and have fun,

There’s too much to get done

I’d just work around the house for no pay.

I try to rekindle the fire

Some mornings I lack the desire

I need something new

A different point of view

Perhaps it’s time to retire.

Reunion Muse

Every 5 years my college class puts together a report from - very to not so - brief summaries of our activities for the last few years.

In the reunion report one reads

Of many classmates’ notable deeds

What is not evident

Is the bios not sent;

How well the silent half succeeds.

Many classmates write a modest report (a well known movie star, a wealthy software tycoon, a Nobel Prize winner), many don’t respond at all (a well known composer, a Nobel prize winner, and who knows who else?).  Some (see below) seem to be practicing the art of humblebragging (new entry in the OED).

Many classmates say they feel blessed.

The source of that blessing? My Guess?

In the glowing reports

Of wise choices and efforts

The gratitude seems self addressed.