A True Miracle
July 1, 2009 by GradingGirl
Filed under Extra Credit
14 year-old survivor of Yemini plane crash
Extra credit most definitely goes to the 14 year old girl who survived the plane crash of the Yemeni plane that went down into the Indian Ocean yesterday. Apparently, she clung to the wreckage of the plane for more than 13 hours (from 1:30 am to 3:00pm) before rescuers found her floating in the Indian Ocean. It was later learned by her father that she could barely swim. How brave and courageous is this girl for literally holding on for her dear life in the middle of a dark, deep ocean!?! As of this post, no other survivors of the 153 passengers have been found including her mother. This is a true miracle girl. The world bows to her!
Along with rejoicing in true miracles like this one, we need to take time to stop and acknowledge the little miracles that occur throughout our day. They happen to each of us every day, only we don’t necessarily count our blessings as we should . . . running unexpectedly into a friend as we’re running errands, snatching the last copy of the book we really wanted at the book store, finding an old beloved sweater thought to be long gone, getting that telephone call or text at a needed moment . . . occurences as small as these are little miracles of life . . . just you wait, you’ll have your share today.
Speak the Speech
April 20, 2009 by GradingGirl
Filed under Extra Credit
Extra credit points go out to Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley for declaring April 23rd as “Talk Like Shakespeare” day! Thursday marks the bard’s 445th birthday and what better way to celebrate this wordsmith’s life. FRUGAL = used for the first time in Merry Wives of Windsor in 1600.
LONELY = used for the first time in Coriolanus in 1608.
ANIMAL = used for the first time in Richard II in 1595.
PREMEDITATED = used for the first time in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1595.
The list could go on and on.
Interesting, too, are Shakespeare-created words that have not lasted. Here are a few:
SMILET = a little smile 
GG loves this one!
DISCANDY = melt
RAZORABLE = adjective for a boy about ready to be shaved
Perhaps some of them can still become part of our language. Wouldn’t it be fun to notice a SMILET on someone’s face, or to note (with a smirk) that young Jimmy is almost RAZORABLE?
So remember, on April 23rd . . . . . Speak the speech, I pray thee.
and
Swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon!
