Yesterday, the opera was Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” in English, in an abridged version so kids are able to sit through it. The costumes and puppets (yes, puppets) were designed by Julie Taymor, who is probably most famous for having designed the live stage version of “The Lion King.” If you see pictures of the production, you don’t even have to know what’s going on to realize how appealing it would be to kids of all ages just visually. Sort of like Maurice Sendak on acid. The singer/actor playing the birdcatcher really got into the spirit, producing in addition to his lines a dizzying array of bird calls – including Woody Woodpecker’s laugh (I think we’re all old enough to remember that, though some kids might have wondered what was so funny to their parents… or grandparents.)
Cartoon – 19 1219Cartoon.jpg
Short Takes
Axios – Capitol rioter who threw fire extinguisher at police gets more than 5 years in prison
Quote – “It has to be made clear … trying to stop the peaceful transition of power and assaulting law enforcement officers is going to be met with certain punishment,” said [U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan]. “There are going to be consequences. I’m not making an example of you. I’m sentencing you for the conduct you did.”
Click through for a little more. I have seen a claim (in at least one place that should know better) that it was a “hydrant” he threw. It wasn’t There is a difference.
Crooks and Liars – Chauvin Pleads Guilty To Federal Civil Rights Charge
Quote – [R]eporter Julia Jenaé… tweeted: “#DerekChauvin agrees to the plea details just read in open court. Max sentence of 300 months = 25 yrs. He’s already serving 22.5 year sentence for 2nd degree murder. These would run simultaneous, fed case adds 2.5 years. He faced life in prison but for the plea agreement”
Click through for details. That puts him behind bars until he is seventy. There may be some life left in hom, but no police department is going to hire a 70-year-old.
The New Yorker – A Person of the Year: Jamie Raskin [hanky alert]
Quote – This bloody assault, which threatened constitutional democracy and the nation’s democratically elected leaders, came just one day after the burial of Thomas Bloom Raskin, the congressman’s beloved twenty-five-year-old son. At the Capitol, Raskin told me, he could still hear the sounds of the day before: the prayers of mourning, the clods of dirt shovelled onto the casket. Meanwhile, maniacs shouting deranged slogans and threats were storming down the hallways of Congress in search of enemies.
Click through for story. If paywalled out, let me know and I will send a PDF. Rep. Raskin has been going through what I canonly describe as trial by fire … and he is passing the test. Not without pain.
Food For Thought:
7 Responses to “Open Thread for December 19, 2021”
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What a wonderful day to listen and see the Opera. Beautiful sounds…and wonderful about the Magic Flute., one can only imagine the great music to one’s ears. (Reminds me of Jethro Tull in concert, back in the 70’s with his band and flute. Remarkable. Went to see him in concert twice.)
Cartoon: I remember this. “After nearly 14 hours of debate, the House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, charging him with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice.” *history
Axios: So glad to read that the wheels of Lady Justice is meting out sentences. They (all) deserve it.
C&L: He murdered Mr. Floyd, how despicable and evil. He deserves the time.
NYer: Such tragedy. Yes…it’s a hanky alert. The death of his son, and then the insurrection the next day. How horribly sad for Congressman Jamie Raskin.
FFT: Who would have thought? Even back then….
TJI : “Jim Jordan is a traitor over Mark Meadows text(s).” ~ Ruben Gallego ~
2. “With Chris Wallace leaving, Homer Simpson is now the smartest person on Fox News.” ~ Jack Durin ~
3. “I want to wake up in America where: Donald Trump is in jail, Stacey Abrams is Governor of Georgia, and Democrat’s pass President Biden’s entire Agenda.” ~ CTA ~ *Call to Action
4. “This battle’s not over. We must pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. We must.” ~ President @JoeBiden~
5. “Mark Meadows continues to defy the Jan. 6 committee’s subpoena and the House voted this week to hold him in contempt.”@MichaelCohen212 has a simple message for him: “Hey stupid, you put out a book. They have the right to ask you about that.” ~ Ali Velshi ~
The other thing I remember about Jamie Raskin on the day of the insurrection waas that he had broughtone or two of his younger children to DC to watch the certification (which eventually did happen) and then of course there was the insurrection. When he said, “Next time you come it won’t be like this,” they responded they were not interested in a next time. A small thing – but another crack in his heart. None of it prevented him from pursuing his duty. Reminds me of Biden. Raskin would also be a great President some day.
TJI #1 – I don’t think I used that clip, but I did see it. Yes. True that.
TJI #2 – Mmmm – right show, wrong person. Both Bart and Lisa are smarter than Homer. I don’t watch, but I read about the show from time to time, and I gather Lisa is smarter than Bart, but I could be wrong on that.
TJI #3 – I do too. (sniff.)
TJI #4 – Amen! (How many Senators would have to be testifying before the House COmmittee, or the DC District Grand Jury, or the New York Grand Jury, or just maybe the Grand Jury, if there is one yet, in Georgia, all at the same time, to get those bills through the Senate? It’s just a thought.)
TJI #5 – That sounds exctly like Cohen. I’m glad he’s now on our side. I have a lot of respect for people who can admit they were wrong (since that’s not as easy as it sounds) and even more when they actually do something to attempt to correct their mistakes. John Dean is another.
Comment from Mitch –
‘Toon: Old style GOP “We do not care about governing, just stopping ‘those’ guys.”Axios: It was an extinguisher, and it was deadly, and part of an unmistakable insurrection.
C&L: And this bastard thought he was some kind of “Hot shot, big man.”
NYer: Good for them, and him.
FFT: It’s dem dam libruls what has been in the lead all along!
Mitch
Cartoon: I remember the day well. Shameful knowing that others like tRump and some of the other rotten R’s are and still are getting away with doing evil.
Axios: Happy to see them finally getting more prison time for their part.
C&L: Good, tack on more time for killing Mr. Floyd for no flipping reason.
NY: Sad and so tragic what happened to Congress Jamie Raskin, with his son’s death and then facing the insurrection. Appreciate that he still continued with his daily responsibilities.
Food for Thought: 1776…Who would of ever thought?
Glad you were able to enjoy another day of the opera. Sounds like it was a real charming one with the puppets, bird calls too.
Take care. Thanks Joanne
Thanks Joanne. First, I am thrilled with the opera option you got and that that company made such a marvelous choice for the holidays that is great for the whole family! Making memories is part of the season for families and over the decades so many cities limit the possibilities to the ballet company doing Nutcracker or a theater company doing A Christmas Carol every year and nothing else for families for years.
I’ve wondered if there weren’t the Clinton example, and perhaps Hilary being who Trump defeated, whether the current GOP in Congress would have taken his impeachment offenses more seriously.
In the Jan. 6th trials, more and more cases are including judges making statements of how serious the conduct was–finding myself wishing more in Congress would make similar statements so the media would be repeating how it affects our democracy, etc. so more people would keep taking it seriously.
Thanks for doing the Chavin math. I suspect his initial plea went with the belief he wouldn’t get convicted in MN. That conviction made the federal case a slam dunk and also meant he no longer would get union attorneys to represent him. He’s lucky he got a plea offer so light.
Rankin is certainly far more deserving of such a title than Musk. I seem to recall reading about him sheltering with his children instead of other members of the House and reports of their trauma.
Should Turncoat be the new name for a Redcoat?
The Met is pretty good at looking for not just ioliday things, (that are different) but also other things that can easily be presented to kids. During the pandemic, while they were strea,ing for adults, they also provided on a daily basis, they were simultaneously streaming and providing teacher resources on a weekly basis.That link is gone, but I remember they included Hansel and Gretel, Carmen, Daughter of the Regiment, Madama Butterfly, Girl of the Golden West, The Flying Ditchman (which surprised me), and of course Cinderells (the Massenet version) – which they will also be audio only streaming Wednesday the 22nd bgiinning at 3:55 PST (5 minutes early to they can stream the announcers and not statrt late for the live audience.) That’s another outrageous production (this one by Laurent Pelly)) – here’s a trailer (though pf curse one won’t be able to see anything in an autio stream.) I personally prefer the Rossini, but it really isn’t possible tostage it ffor kids, although they might appreciate the character Aldoro actualy having golden wings (which is what “alidoro ” means in Italian.)
Thanks yet again! That is truly a great schedule for families!