W = Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

Oscar Wilde was the son of Sir William Robert Wills Wilde MD and Lady Jane Francesca Agnes Elgee Wilde, a writer. The Wilde home was known for the intellectuals and nationalists who frequented Lady Jane’s parlor. In this stimulating environment young Oscar learned French and German.

He attended Oxford where he became involved with the philosophy aestheticism. Later, he wrote articles and toured America lecturing about the Aesthetic Movement.  

Ultimately, he became one of the best known playwrights and personalities of the Victorian Era.

Read more of the works of Oscar Wilde at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde_bibliography

Wanna Play?

Board games date back to ancient times with forms of chess and checker numbering among the oldest games played from the ancient world until today.

Checkers dates to the 12th century. The game evolved from the English game 'Draughts' and the French game 'Alquerque'.

Benefits of board games 

• Provide a leisure activity for adults, children or mixed age pairing or groups
• Provide competitive play
• Require hand-eye coordination 
• Require strategy 
• Provide a venue to develop and improve social skills 
• Improves memory 

Synopsis 

Checkers basic rules set opposing the pieces on the same color board squares in two rows. Alternating turns, players move pieces forward on similarly open spaces. A player must jump and take a piece when an open spot exists beyond the opponents piece. Pieces move in one direction. Reaching the far side, a piece is crowned creating a two piece stack. The 'king' may then move forward or backward on the board. Last player with pieces on the board wins. 

Average game time: 10 - 30 minutes 

For more information: 

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkers

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

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

Five Reasons to Go to the Theatre

Having the human experience over the centuries has changed technologically but to the core of our humanness, entertainment particularly plays about life and love haven't changed much since the ancient Greeks wrote drama & tragedy. 

As a writer who has dabbled as a playwright, the process of developing a story into a form actors can bring to life is of interest. However, to the person who is not a playwright, why would watching a play be important at all? Why go to the play? 

1) Going to plays at a local theater supports local artists, actors, tech people, playwrights, theater owners & managers. When artists and actors get money, we know that they spend it, so your money finds it way into the local economy for a quick turn around. It's a win-win. 

2) Having a local theater in your area, or better yet more than one theater for competition to create great shows, brings culture and creativity to your hometown. Why is creativity important? Honestly, most of the world is in need of some serious work. Many places are dilapidated. Artists think of create ways to fix problems. It's what they do. It's what we need. 

3) Watching plays speaks to the soul. Whether the play invokes tears or laughter, a well performed play can change your life & perspective forever. Emotionally engaging with the actors, music, and story can move the audience through experiences that simply can't happen while watching a screen. 

4) Have you ever watched the same play with the same actors in the same theater night after night? While you can watch the same elements night after night, it's impossible to see the same show. With life theater it's never the same twice. There is an element of spontaneity that changes the play into a unique experience each night. 

5)  Many people are couch potatoes. You'll recognize them by their conversation: Wasn't TV great last night? Did you see the same TV show I watched? The process of attending a play gives you a variety of conversational topics to share with friends & co-workers, not to mention posting on your social media. 

Take the time to make it a full experience: Dress up. Go with friends. Pick a play with local actors, you may be surprised who you see. Some playhouses offers several one-act plays for the price of one ticket. Go for coffee after the play to discuss it with your friends. By the end of the night you'll have your own story to tell. 

And of course, if you have interesting stories, everyone will love you. 

Additional reading: 

Ancient Greeks  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_ancient_Greece

How to Become a Successful Playwright http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Playwright

Reasons to Support Your Local Playhouse http://plays.about.com/od/playwrights/a/supportplays.htm

Playgrounds Build Character

Early 21st century playgrounds are full of safe brightly colored play equipment. Slides, Swings and soft cushioned material should a child stumble or fall. The slopes of the slides are designed for a smooth glide. Swings set in dirt covered with wood chips with shavings progressively lighter, finer… nearly fluff. Shade trees strategically planted for a light canopy, shading children’s delicate skin from the harsh sun.

Overall the playground leaves visitors with a feeling of ease and splendor. Oh the joys of outdoor time.


Contrast that with playgrounds of the 1960s-70s. Those playgrounds built character. Ten feet steel sheets at a sixty degree angle, stairs, no, ladder, no… those playground designers of yore made sure they welded a solid steel bar along the three upper sides of the perimeter so kids could pull themselves up to the top. Swings made of hard rubber attached to fifteen foot chains with the frame embedded in black top or concrete for durability. Blacktop on a summer day was an experience unto itself. Kids could watch the sizzling heat create vapors mirages of puddles across the playground. Run at your own risk because a fall would mean blacktop gravel burned and embedded in bloody wounds on knees and elbows.

Overall the playground left an entire generation wounded warriors before the end of elementary school. Oh the joys of outdoor time.