| Macbeth - Act I, scene i First Witch Where the place? Second Witch Upon the heath. Third Witch There to meet with Macbeth. First Witch I come, Graymalkin! Second Witch Paddock calls. .
In misty legends that William Shakespeare clearly knew about, witches customarily had animate companions or "familiars". The first witch's familiar was a cat called Graymalkin. The second witch had a toad... called Paddock.
 |
Your literature is showing!
ReplyDeleteIt's a tragedy beyond Shakespearean proportions.
That's true. I cannot imagine what it was like for the innocent victims.
DeleteAn insult to toads.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's true too.
DeleteVery clever. We may as well try to make any sense of the horrific crime with some historical humour.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't trying to be funny Andrew.
DeleteThey also used animals in their spells... "eye of newt and wing of bat" I seem to recall from my O-Level days.
ReplyDeletePaddock didn't need animal parts to create his particular evil potion.
DeleteIt's just all too horrible. I got emotional watching the news last night, which is rare for me. But we're not safe anywhere in this country anymore.
ReplyDeleteYou would think we'd become become immune to shock and disgust as we have witnessed so many terrible things.
DeleteYou try and tell Americans that owning a gun can only result in one thing and they tell you it's their right to bear arms...
DeleteBear arms? I can't bear arms!...Not all Americans think that way Terry.
DeleteYes they do.
DeleteThe news from Las Vegas makes me so tired of life and people. Nothing will change. The National Rifle Association will claim the story is fake. And some right wing pundit just said that having 58 killed at a music festival is "the price of freedom". Just typing those stupid, hateful, idiotic words exhausts me and makes me want to cry.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama tried to find a way forward with regard to gun control but he was beaten back. I share your despair Vivian.
DeleteThe fear that many people in war-torn countries experience in daily life for years on end is now being felt by those in countries where there is, nominally at least, peace. The difference, in my opinion, is the culture of gun ownership in the U.S. This is not war, with a purpose no matter how twisted that purpose is; this is avoidable tragedy caused by too many firearms in circulation and too many who see that as okay.
ReplyDeleteYour observation is spot on Jenny.
DeleteSo what is the name of your companion?
ReplyDeleteCo-incidentally, it's a stick insect called Graham.
DeleteAt 61kg you're probably correct.
DeleteDo you eat privet leaves?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh! Come on, America!!! Not for God's sake; not for Heaven's sake; not for goodness sake...for your own sake. The enemy lies within.
DeleteGun control is out of control...people with guns are out of control!!
How the hell was Stephen Paddock allowed to get hold of the 23 firearms found in the hotel room, as well as a further 19 firearms and several thousand rounds of ammunition at his home in Mesquite, Nevada??????. No private citizen needs that!!!!
The horse has long bolted. The only hope is that future generations are brought to the understanding of gun control....as it's too late currently...it would be impossible to round all the personal weapons held.
It is a sick, crazy world we live in...because it's rife with sick, crazy people!
The gun situation in America reminds me of Pandora's box. The evil sprites are out of the box and it's just about impossible to get them back in that box. NRA supporters use the most spurious arguments you could ever imagine to justify their weaponry.
DeleteThe Macbeth reference is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThe automatic weapons (machine guns) Paddock used have been illegal in the U.S. since 1934, cannot be purchased at gun shops or gun shows, and have been responsible for only three deaths in the U.S. since 1934. The issue is not how to prevent people who want to be able to defend themselves and their families against intruders, the issue is how to prevent criminals who break laws, obtain or build illegal weapons, and commit violence against the innocent from doing so.
Well said, rhymeswithplague.
DeleteDear Bob,
DeleteHere in Yorkshire we don't know anybody who owns a gun. Nobody. When I was a boy, I knew a local farmer who did have a gun that he used for shooting pigeons and rabbits. We don't feel any need whatsoever to possess guns here and long may that be true!
Yours in peace,
Neil
Is that Paddock? I have avoided news etc., and didn't know who it was. Sad troubling times.
ReplyDeleteYes. That's Paddock.
DeleteYet Trump and all his Trumplodytes keep trumpeting (no pun intended), "Now is not the time to talk about gun control".
ReplyDeleteExcuse ME, but to me it seems obvious that this is the PERFECT time to talk about gun control! Trump cannot or will not do so because the NRA have him by the short and curlies. Aaand he has no balls. At all. God I hate that man. Which is interesting, because I have never felt hatred for a living human before.
When there is a terrorist outrage, nobody says "This is not the time to talk about terrorism" or when there is an earthquake..."This is not the time to talk about earthquakes".
Delete