Breton

Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany, France. The language now has approximately 200,000 speakers. Breton is related to Irish and Welsh. Here is a list of the numbers in Breton from one to ten:

unan
daou
tri 
pevar
pemp
c'hewc'h
seizh
eizh
nav 
dek

From the list of numbers, we see that Breton bears little resemblance to French. The language is only spoken by about 5% of the population of Brittany. However, attempts have been made in recent years to encourage the growth of the language in order to ensure its survival.

Spaghetti in Red Wine

Spaghetti in red wine is tasty and easy to make. Though this isn't the most famous Italian spaghetti dish, it's well worth the effort. Here's the recipe:

250 grams spaghetti
1 cup red wine
olive oil
pepperoni, sliced
1 clove of garlic, chopped
salt
basil
grated parmesan

Put a bit of olive oil in a pan.
Add a clove of garlic and some pepperoni.
When the garlic starts to brown, add the wine.
Salt lightly and add the basil.
Now start to boil the spaghetti.
When the spaghetti is half-cooked (about 5 minutes), transfer to the pan with the red wine.
Add a bit of the liquid from the spaghetti.
Continue cooking until the liquid evaporates and the spaghetti is done.
Add the grated parmesan and serve.

This is a great way to cook spaghetti. Enjoy!

The Suffix -ship

The suffix -ship can be added to a number of nouns to create another class of nouns. It is less productive than the  very productive suffix -tion. In German the corresponding derivational suffix is -schaft, in Dutch -schap, in both Swedish and Norwegian -skap and in Danish -skab. Here is a list of ten common words with the suffix -ship:

censorship
championship
citizenship
dictatorship
fellowship
friendship
membership
ownership
scholarship
sportsmanship

The English suffix -ship attaches to nouns. Other Germanic languages have a similar suffix. In certain cases the noun is always singular as in censorship and in other cases the noun also has a plural form as in scholarship/scholarships.

Ten Popular Liqueurs

Liqueurs are liquors that have been flavoured and sweetened. Many different liquors are produced. Here is a list of ten popular ones:

Amaretto
Bailey's
Chambord
Creme de Cassis
Cherry Heering
Chartreuse
Frangelico
Grand Marnier
Sambuca
St. Germain

Amaretto is an almond-flavoured liquor from Italy. Bailey's is from Ireland, a whiskey-based cream liqueur. Chambord is from France and is flavoured with raspberry. Creme de Cassis is also from France and is flavoured with blackcurrant.  Cherry Heering is a cherry liqueur from Denmark. Chartreuse is from France and is a brandy-based liqueur with many herbs. Frangelico is from Italy and is flavoured with hazelnut. Grand Marnier is from France and is an orange liqueur. Sambuca is from Italy and is flavoured with licorice. Finally, St. Germain is from France and is flavoured with elderflower.

Sonnet 15

One of William Shakespeare's most famous sonnets is Sonnet 15. Here it is:

Sonnet 15

When I consider every thing that grows
Holds in perfection but a little moment,
That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;
When I perceive that men as plants increase,
Cheered and cheque'd by the self-same sky,
Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,
And wear their brave state out of memory;
Then the conceit of this inconstant stay
Sets you most rich in youth before my sight
Where wasteful Time debateth with Decay,
To change your day of youth to sullied night;
And all in war with Time for love of you,
As he takes from you, I engraft you new.

Sonnet 15 tells the reader that perfection is only temporary. Everything will decay over time. However, the poem has the power to immortalize the poet's friend and make him new again.

The rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg. The rhyming couplet at the end characterizes the Shakespearean sonnet.

Then and Now

Then and Now is a historical novel by William Somerset Maugham. The novel is mainly set in Imola, Italy. It focuses on three months in the life of Niccolo Macchiavelli, a Florentine diplomat and writer. The main characters are Caesar Borgia, Niccolo Machiavelli, Piero Giacomonini, Niccolo's aide, Bartolomeo Martinelli, a merchant, and his young wife Monna Aurelia.

Niccolo Macchiavelli meets Caesar Borgia, the Duke of Valentinois. The government of Florence wants to conclude an agreement with Cesare Borgia to guarantee that he won't attack their city. However, the negotiations are far from simple. The Duke has a powerful army and proves to be a formidable rival.

The novel is full of political intrigue, analysis of human frailty and wit. In the middle of his negotations with the Duke, Niccolo Machiavelli becomes interested in Monna Aurelia, the wife of Bartolomeo Martinelli, a wealthy merchant of Imola. Parts of the dialogue of the novel are authentic based on the records of the time.

Though Niccolo Machiavelli is a very clever diplomat, he fails to convince Caesar Borgia to sign a treaty with Florence. As a result of his lack of success, Florence decides to reassign him and send another diplomat in his place. Humiliated upon his return to Florence, Niccolo Machiavelli decides to write a novel to gain his revenge against the Duke and all those who humiliated him.

Then and Now reflects the thoughts and emotions of Niccolo Machiavelli. The novel is set during the Italian Renaissance and contains many historical details. Then and Now is a fascinating perspective of the rivalry between Niccolo Machiavelli and Caesar Borgia.

Cream of Spinach

Cream of spinach is a very tasty French soup. It doesn't take very long to prepare. Here's the recipe:

450 grams spinach
1 onion
2 potatoes
2 tablespoons butter
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2/3 cup cream
salt
pepper

Peel and chop the onion.
Peel and dice the potatoes.
Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat.
Add the onions and cook until soft.
Add the diced potatoes and broth.
Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
Cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Add the spinach and cook for 5 more minutes.
Use a blender to puree the soup and then return to the pot.
Stir in the cream and add the salt and pepper.
Heat and serve.