Sonnet 18 in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’

Have you ever watched Star Trek? It was such a nice TV episodes, right? What more interesting about this TV episode was it applied the artistic value in the show and storyline. I was so impressed when the episode that related to the starship style could ever use a poem as apart of the storyline. 

“The Schizoid Man” 

By Tracy Torme and Gene Roddenberry. Perf. Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, and Brent Spiner. Dir. Les Landau. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2, episode 6. 

Syndicated television. 23 January 1989. DVD. Paramount, 2002.

Shakespeare's sonnets appear in Star Trek episodes with startling frequency. Captain Picard freely delivers the last couplet of Sonnet 18; Captain Kirk was obliged to recite Sonnet 57. In the episode, he does so to express his knowledge that someone else's brain has been downloaded into Data's head (Data's head will give life to that second brain as long as it lives). Yes, I am aware. Weird.

But that is simply the couplet's outward meaning in this situation. The most important portion (and the part that's becoming an overarching thesis about Shakespeare's use in Star Trek) is that Shakespeare's words assist humanity to better comprehend itself. "So long lives this," in this imagined science fiction setting, is wrapped up with the futuristic setting. Shakespeare's words have stood the test of time, and humanity will stand the test of time as well.

Here's the full sonnet follows it.

XVIII - Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;

Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Sonnet 18 is a poem in which Shakespeare praises his beloved's beauty and describes all the ways in which it is better than a summer day. The overriding topic of this poem is love's stability and its potential to immortalise someone.

"Sonnet 18" is one of the most well-known of the 154 sonnets written by William Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet.

In the sonnet, the speaker wonders if he should compare the young man to a summer's day, but then adds that the young man possesses traits that are superior to those of a summer's day. He also points out that the characteristics of a summer day are prone to change and will fade over time. The speaker goes on to say that the young man will live on in the poem's verses for as long as it can be read. This sonnet has an irony: it is the description of the young man contained in the poem that will be immortalised, and the poem offers scarce or no descriptions of the young man, instead vivid and lasting descriptions of a summer day, which the young man is meant to outlive. 

Little did I know here is that William Shakespeare produced many beloved writings, including Sonnet 18 in which he compared his love to a summer's day. Now I realised how rich he was with his artistic talent. 

To our knowledge of this popular culture topic, 'Sonnet' 18 had been included in English Language Syllabus in Malaysia Secondary School around year 2000. Cool, isn't it? 😎😎

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 141 in '10 Things I Hate About You'

For this entry, I have another highlight on the popular culture of Sonnet by William Shakespeare. This time the one of his poems was presented in one of my favourite movie entitled "10 Things I Hate About You'. I'd watched this and so in love with the story. But I'm not going to talk about the film. It is the poem presented here that I want to share about. 

 "Ten Things I Hate About You"

Dir. Gil Junger. Perf. Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. 1999. 

DVD. Walt Disney Video, 1999.

The aspect of the film that I liked the most this time around was the way it cast practically everyone in it as a caricature, emphasising how Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew plays with stereotypes. Padua, like Padua High, is riddled with misconceptions that are (for the most part) debunked during the play.

I noticed the use of sonnets this time around, probably because I've been blogging about sonnets on Bardfilm recently. Before giving his students an assignment, the teacher reads the first four lines of Sonnet 141 ("In faith, I do not adore thee with mine eyes") in the video below. Kat (Julia Stiles) is known for giving the teacher a hard time, which is why he reacts the way he does. After Heath Ledger's deception (which he now regrets) is revealed, the clip transitions to the completion of the task. The film's title appears to be derived from the poem (which appears to list thirteen things the narrator despises about the addressee):

Here are the two versions of the poem:

Sonnet 141 (Derivative Version)

I hate the way you talk to me,

And the way you cut your hair.

I hate the way you drive my car.

I hate it when you stare.

I hate your big dumb combat boots,

And the way you read my mind.

I hate you so much it makes me sick.

(It even makes me rhyme.)

I hate the way you’re always right.

I hate it when you lie.

I hate it when you make me laugh—

Even worse when you make me cry.

I hate it when you’re not around, and the fact that you didn’t call.

But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you—not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.

Sonnet 141

In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,

For they in thee a thousand errors note;

But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise,

Who in despite of view is pleased to dote;

Nor are mine ears with thy tongue's tune delighted,

Nor tender feeling, to base touches prone,

Nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited

To any sensual feast with thee alone:

But my five wits nor my five senses can

Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee,

Who leaves unsway'd the likeness of a man,

Thy proud heart's slave and vassal wretch to be:

Only my plague thus far I count my gain,

That she that makes me sin awards me pain.

The 141st of William Shakespeare's 154 sonnets is referred to as Sonnet 141. The poet's physical senses and brains (intellect) on the one hand, and his heart on the other, are the sonnet's central focus. The mental faculties of common sense, imagination, fantasy, instinct, and memory are referred to as the "five wits." The sonnet is one of those in which the poet's heart is enamored with something despite what his eyes see.

Shakespeare explores his aspirations for the woman in Sonnet 141, which are at odds with what his senses tell him. Despite the fact that he is aware of her physical defects and dislikes her voice, smell, or touch, his heart is entirely charmed by her. In the poem, his attention on sense is excessive, but his senses can't keep him from loving her. He feels that he is a slave to the misery he experiences as a result of loving her.

I love the way people put the poem into culture make it popular in present. 😉😉

Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 in 'My So-Called Life' series

I love to watch TV and movie. I enjoy watching any kind of TV series and films but I could be more interested when the production of it related to our daily life. The things that caught I eyes and attention now are the Shakespeare's poems that had been published on TV and movie. 

One of them is the Sonnet 130 which was published in TV series entitled My So-Called Life. 

“Self-Esteem.” 

By Winnie Holzman. Perf. Bess Armstrong, Wilson Cruz, and Claire Danes. Dir. Michael Engler. 

My So-Called Life. Season 1, episode 12. 

ABC. 17 November 1994. DVD. Bmg Special Product, 2002.

The usage of a Shakespeare sonnet in the Shakespeare Retold's Much Ado About Nothing to stress and analyse themes in an already-Shakespearean plot reminded me of similar uses of sonnets in other situations.

My So-Called Life left a generation of viewers wanting more after only 19 episodes. However, the characters cover a lot of emotional terrain in the first season, which is sombre and moving. We see young people navigate the truth of the flawed self in Episode 12, "Self-Esteem," using a renowned poem as a guide.

In this way, Sonnet 130 ("My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun") is applied to the storey structures of My So-Called Life. I don't claim to understand the complexities of the Jordan/Brian/Angela love triangle. However, it is evident from the video that the two guys recognise something about the woman they have been idealising.

While it's not precisely accurate to argue that Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 is "about" a "gross" lady, a part of me cringes when Jordan realises he's in love with Angela because of this sonnet. Leto does a superb job of telegraphing Catalano's slow comprehension of what the poem signifies as well as his inability to completely express it in the Episode 12 sequence where the class meets Sonnet 130.

The major point of Sonnet 130 is to criticise poets who employ excessive hyperbole in their descriptions of love. The use of hyperbole and cliché may be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman poetry. In both literature and art, it was a convention during the Elizabethan age — and the royal court.

Here is the sonnet in question and the dialogue that follows its reading:

Sonnet 130

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips' red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

I grant I never saw a goddess go;

My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

As any she belied with false compare.

Here's the discussion from the scene:

Mr. Katimski: What kind of girl is Shakespeare describing here? Is . . is she the most beautiful girl?

Brian: No.

Mr. Katimski: Is she a goddess? Mmm? Physically perfect? The kind of girl who stops traffic when she walks down the street?

Brian [with a slight chuckle]: No.

Mr. Katimski: So he's not in love with her?

Jordan [barely audible]: Yeah. [Then louder:] He is.

Mr. Katimski: Well, and why is that? Why is he in love with her? What is it? What is it? What is it about her?

Brian: She's not just a fantasy. She's got . . . like . . . flaws. She's real.

Mr. Katimski: Thank you.

It seems to be a popular culture, right? 😊😊

WAYS TO EDIT THE CASHFLOW

Hi! Assalamualaikum.

Having trouble to set up a budget? Do not worry. We will do it slowly but surely okay. 

This time, I will share about the steps to set up our household budget.

When I say it's household budget, just let our spouse get involved with it. It will bring the merrier, yet the better family goals to achieve. 

EASY WAYS TO EDIT THE CASHFLOW

So, the steps are: 👇👇👇

1. Set-up a monthly budget party.

Is there a budget party? For real? Basically, it's a regular meeting with our spouse to talk about a household budget. Let's start with 1 family meeting per month. 

Just make it a party where we do what we need to do to make it fun. 

We can discuss the next month’s budget and also discuss how last month went. We can also talk about current goals, upcoming extra expenses like birthdays, any wins from last month and any areas of tension or frustration.

Don’t drag it on, we can try to keep it less than 30 minutes if possible. That's it!

2. Reward ourselves for sticking to it.

I consider this is a new habit. As I learned from the Power of Habit that to really make a habit stick, we should have a new reward to ourselves for completing a new habit.

If budgeting, frugal living, and saving money are new to us, then plan some simple, fun rewards!

It could be a fun family reward by simply going out to get ice cream with the kids. 🍦 Yummy!

3. Put our goals where we can see them.

Once we and our spouse have settled on family goals – post them out in the public. No, we don’t have to put them on Facebook. But we should put it somewhere we can see every day.

Use our goals as a daily reminder and encouragement of WHY we are doing what we’re doing.

This will motivate us to make choices that better align with where we want our family to go!

4. Track our spending habits.

I’m kind of a budget nerd and started tracking my expenses since January and haven’t stopped since. I went through ALL of our statements for five months.

While I don’t think all of us HAVE to do this, it is good to start tracking them from now going forward. I use a workbook to track mine. 

The CASHFLOW EDIT workbook allows me to write down all my transactions and categorize them based on my paycheck or salary earned. It is easy to see them on papers or book. Plus, I can see how much money is left in each budget category (and so can my husband!) in real time! 

5. Use the envelope system.

It’s proven that people are willing to spend more when they use their credit card instead of cash.

That’s why if we really want to crack down on our savings, grab these envelopes with Nafisah Amran catalogue, and head to the ATM. I'm sure we’ll be ready in no time.

I like that there are 48 envelopes in this bunch because I think the more detailed we can be on categories, the better we will be able to save money. 

For those who are about to begin, we could simply use 'sampul raya' as to create this new habit. But I started this with some zipper bags, which are also practical!

6. Create a budget binder.

For me, paper can really help us get organized initially. And many people THRIVE with this because they get away from their phones.

We can even throw our budget binder in the car, so after a purchase, all we have to do is log the purchase on our log and then add the receipt to the zipper bag in the binder! Done!

7. Log expenses daily.

The ONE habit that really made a difference for me when we first started budgeting was logging my expenses daily. Since I used the workbook and the budget binder, it was super easy to do because I could log my expenses right after leaving the store and it would auto-sync with my budget.

It only takes a few minutes every day if we spread-out! Once again, give ourselves a reward when we do this for a week straight.

8. Set-up auto draft.

When doing a budget, the banks are our friends. I love auto-payment and auto-draft. I don’t have to worry about paying any of my bills on-time. I simply make sure there’s enough money in my account to cover the bill and then I don’t have to worry about a thing!

I have set-up a few auto-payment for my insurance, loan repayment, mortgage, car loan and investment. It would be easy!

9. Brainstorm ways to save money.

In this case, it's quite hard for me at the first place. I considered myself as a big spender before. What I earn every month is what I can totally spend on. I never think of keeping some money for my future or unexpected things that might happen. 

But my husband is some kind of thrifty. He is able to save some money monthly in his account. As I got a bit envy with how much money he could keep in his account, I know I should do the same thing. 

My mistake was I let myself in for spending as self-reward. Especially new pair of shoes and handbag. 😅 That's why I then decided not to spend more on me, but to save more for my future. I allocate some money as my savings and start to have “no spend” days in my financial planner. 

We might find saving money is a bit challenging when we love shopping, right? But let's just think about our future first okay. I'm sure we can do this! 💪 

10. Meal-plan before we grocery shop.

The groceries and food can eat up a huge portion of the budget. I struggle enough to save SOOO much money each month when I actually meal plan and ONLY buy what’s on my list.

I end up bringing coupons, planning around sale items, and using up leftovers that are in my fridge when I actually meal plan.

11. Create a vision board

This is also a fun activity to do with the kids! Grab a poster board and some magazines. Think about what life would be like when we are debt free, not worried about money, and meeting our financial goals.

Now, look through the magazine and pick out all the pictures that have to do with this. Create a collage on our poster board as a family. Post this board somewhere to remind us of what we’re dreaming of!

12. Try to make a little extra money on the side.

If we’ve squeezed every last penny out of our income and it’s still tough to make ends meet without using a credit card, then consider trying to make a little extra side income each month. We can try one of these side hustle ideas: start a blog, resell items online, become an influencer or find freelance job.

Well, ready to start setting up the budget now? Just don't afraid to take the beginning steps. I'm sure we are able to work for it. 

Wallahu'alam. 

WHY WE TRACK SPENDING?

Hi! Assalamualaikum. 

I never realized that tracking my spending helps me a lot with my monthly budget until I started doing it.

THINKING BEFORE WE SPEND THE MONEY

At first, it's really difficult for me to track my spending. But, as I put in into my new habit, it's getting better.

"The person who doesn't know where his next dollar is coming from usually doesn't know where his last dollar went." - Unknown

SPEND THE MONEY WISELY 

It is really good for us to write down where our money is gone. Where it has been spent on? What we spent it for? 

Here are some reasons why we should track our spending:

It helps define our financial reality. Actually, we will never know how much we really have to save and spend unless we write it down. I like the concept of 'paper and pen' in writing down the spending. Tracking our spending puts our money on record so we know where we stand in our finances. When we’re financially aware, bringing out the budget planner in us becomes easier. After all, it’s hard to budget what we don’t know.

It identifies our spending habits. Basically, there are things we buy to make us happy, sometimes to relieve our stress. It could also be a reward for a month’s hard work or a small thing we have successfully achieved. Those things aren’t necessarily bad, but there is a fine line between rewarding and splurging. So when we track your expenses, we get a reality check to help us adjust for wiser spending!

It teaches us to prioritize. We’ll never run out of things to spend on. Think whether we really need that thing or we just want to have it. As we track our expenses, we get a clear picture of things that need to stay, and those we can do away (or at least, put on hold). Just remember our priorities!

Source: Google image

It forces us to save. When we track our expenses, we get a good, hard look where our money goes. And so it reminds us also when we exceed our budget. Although overspending isn’t exactly good news to celebrate, it’s an opportunity to re-align our lifestyle to our budget. So, just review our list, and learn to say NO to those impulse buys. It always pays to save, save, save!

It helps us protect our money. When we track our expenses, we become aware of suspicious financial concerns like money fraud that we don’t easily notice when we don’t track our expenses. We can be proactive and start doing something about it. Just be alert with our money so that we might not lost it for something that isn't necessary.  

Source: Google image

I tried to do the tracking from here. Just click and watch okay.

Waallahu'alam. 

SETTING A BUDGET

Hi! Assalamualaikum.

Sometimes, we can feel overwhelming when we think about the idea of budgeting.   

It just feels like the thought restricting our spending may be the last thing we want to do, right?

‘But a good budget isn’t about restriction or doing without. It’s about freedom.’ – well-said by Kumiko, the blogger of The Budget Mom.

Actually we manage to afford the things that matter most to us by doing a well-planned budget. So, let’s find out on how to start doing it. 

HOW TO START A BUDGET? THE BASIC STEPS:

We can increase our income

Even though we’re restricted by our income limits at this moment in time, it doesn’t mean we have to earn the same income level forever.

Each one of us has the potential to earn extra money. We just should ask ourselves if we’re willing to make the changes to our life that earning more money will require.

To earn more money, we can try getting a second job or pick up side hustles. Yes, there's sacrifice to be made for that choice. We may have to give up time doing something else we want to do in order to make the time earning more money.

We can decrease our spending and expenses

Another way we can do to improve our finances is to decrease the spending. I think this is where most people need to start. Honestly, I choose this option too.

We can only cut spending so much. Take that into account. We’ll still need the necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. No matter how tight our income is, there are often ways to find hidden money in our budget. 

Making the Choice

Decreasing spending or increasing income, which one would be the best option? Both work to help us create extra money in our budget. It depends on us to start with a choice.

Just ask ourselves. Are we going to try to cut spending and expenses? Do increasing our income will be a better fit for us?

As for me, I chose to decrease my spending. I don't have much time to come with committing a second job as I'm struggling with my main career and postgraduate study. So the second one is the best choice for me. 

Yes, it is quite hard at the beginning of decreasing the spending. I had to cut off buying my favourite stuffs and doing things I like to do. It is considered the sacrifice I made to live within my means. Actually, I'm also thinking about doing a side hustle but I just don't know what is the best thing to do. To own a small business, or become a freelancer? I still don't decide it. I hope there's a great decision to come. (Wish me luck, okay.)

Increasing our income may be the best choice if we truly don’t have any money left over after paying our essential bills (housing, transportation, food, etc.) and existing debts. However, most people can benefit from taking control of their spending as well.

If we are capable enough, some combination of the two strategies combined works best.

So, let's have a look on what financial situation we’re in currently. I believe there’s a way to make it better. Just bare in mind that improving our finances requires change, which isn’t usually comfortable.

Financial change, in particular, requires hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of determination. Plus, we may be faced with financial challenges that make the process harder or slower to get started. 

Wallahu'alam. 

START BUDGETING BY PAYCHECK

Hi! Assalamualaikum. 

As working mothers, we do earn money. We can bring extra income to the table. But at what cost? Our money is being wiped out by high working-mom expenses like daycare, groceries, dining out and even laundry.  

That's why we should have a clear understanding of the money coming and going from our bank account. And BUDGETING is the best solution. 

To be honest, it is difficult to tell which budgeting method is right for us. I also had a big trouble with it at the beginning. But I think that creating a budget by paycheck is a good baby-step. I mean...yes, since the paycheck is the main source of our income right? So, we should start from there. 

Ready to start budgeting by paycheck? Here are the 5 steps to follow:

1. Grab a blank calendar

We can use a calendar printable, a monthly planner, or even a digital calendar. We  can also use a spreadsheet. 

This is the calendar I use to do my budgeting by paycheck

.

Another sheet I use to jot down the details. 

2. Add our paychecks and bills to our calendar

Add all of our paychecks to the appropriate date on the calendar, along with the specific paycheck amount. Next, add our regular monthly bills to their due date on the calendar. Regular monthly bills include our fixed expenses such as rent, insurance, debt payments, etc.

Not all amounts were written here. The details go to another sheet. 

Jot down the amounts of all incomes depending on how often we're paid monthly. 

3. Tally up our total expenses

Calculate our monthly variable expenses such as groceries, eating out, gas, and entertainment. If we aren’t sure how much we normally spend, go through our last few months of bank statements and find an average.

We can also divide our variable spending up into multiple expenses. If we normally grocery shop once per week, we can add grocery spending to our calendar as a weekly expense rather than accounting for the whole month at once.

This is an easier sheet to  make sure we write all expenses in a month.

4. Include savings and sinking funds

Ideally, we’d be putting money aside each month to fund an emergency fund and also, sinking funds. There’s no specific date that we have to fund these, but choosing a consistent date can help us stick to our savings habit. We can even use an automatic transfer to really commit.

This simple table will help us to have savings.

5. Assign each expense to a particular paycheck

We can use multiple highlighters to color code our calendar. Highlight each expense in the same color as the paycheck we’ll use to fund it. 

Mine is not so colourful and packed. I'm not too creative. Hah!

These two basic worksheets really help me a lot with my budgeting by paycheck. It is either we're paid once a month, weekly or biweekly, paycheck budgeting can be a good way to stay involved with our finances. 

So, let's do this! To know more about this, just click here. 

Wallahu'alam. 

SHOULD WE MANAGE A BUDGET?

Hi! Assalamualaikum.

Before we start doing the budget, first thing first that cross our mind is the wonder of doing it, right? Should we manage a budget? Or should we not? Hmm.

Let put this into a situation on the day we earn our salary.

Tools we may use for budgeting.       

THE BUDGET!

Source: Google

Hi! Assalamualaikum. 

I never thought that I would keep on running out of cash every month ever since I had my baby boys!

I couldn't believe I survived. But without any savings at all! How can it be? What if there's something unexpected happen that requires me to pay for that? Where can I find the money to pay for it? 

Yes! I finally decided to work on it. The BUDGET. I think it's definitely the best solution. 

I'm inspired to do this as I believe it would change my life. That's why I would like to write  about this awesome matter and come up with some sort of entries related to it. 

It's not just my life that would change because of 'THE BUDGET'. I hope it will change yours too. 

So let's get started! 😊

INTRO

 Hi! 

Assalamualaikum and good day. I guess this is the right time for me to write again in a blog. I used to do blogging before. But then I stopped since I couldn't come out with a good content. Hopefully, this time I'm able to write better with this digital platform. So, this is about me and the Writing for Digital Media course. Let's do this! -Raihan