(Repost) The Shakespearean Chinese Zodiac

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! I’m still here, staggering gamely into the Year of the Tiger! May it be better than the years of the Rat and the Ox, that’s all I’m going to say. To celebrate, here’s a comic I did a couple years and/or a lifetime ago:

I’ve covered the basics of Chinese New Year before, but this year I thought it would be fun to run through the Chinese Zodiac and give each animal sign a Shakespearean equivalent based on that sign’s supposed characteristics. (Don’t argue with me about any of them. Like astrology, this is entirely arbitrary and for entertainment purposes only.)

Don’t know your animal sign? Find the one that lists your birth year. Shakespeare was born in 1564, so he’s definitely a Rat.

I’m hoping that, with the inspiration and can-do attitude that will come in the year of Richard III, I will be able to figure out how to achieve the goal I have set for myself. Fortunately for everyone involved, that goal is “resume posting fun Shakespearean comics on a sustainable schedule that doesn’t completely burn out my sad and tired little brain” and not “murder most of my immediate family in order to become king of England.”.

Gong xi fa cai!

Popular Shakespeare Quotes You Might Want To Think Twice About Using This Thanksgiving

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Shakespeare-related organization in possession of a social media account must be in want of a Shakespeare quote to suit the current occasion.

It is ALSO a truth universally acknowledged that most quotes selected by said organizations are A TINY BIT PROBLEMATIC if you examine the original contexts of them. Don’t fall into these common traps this Thanksgiving!

Consulting pocket dramaturg: Kate Pitt

You can check out my exposé of the “and ever thanks” quote debacle, or a look at some practical Thanksgiving feast-related quotes. Either way, have a great Thanksgiving, regardless of your geographical location!

November?!?

Hey! Sorry for the radio silence. I’m still here. I’ve just been struggling with *vague gesture encompassing multitudes* stuff. I’m going to try to get Good Tickle Brain back up and running, but probably will only be posting one comic a week for a while as I get my feet back under me. Thanks for your patience.

(Repost) Honorificabilitudinitatibus

This last week kind of got away from me, so while I get my act back together let’s dip into the archives and learn more about one of my favorite words!

Being able to say “honorificabilitudinitatibus” is one of my party trick.

Being able to say it BACKWARDS (“subitatinidutilibacifironoh”) is another one.

Being able to recite the Salic Law speech is a third.

I’m a lot of fun at parties.