Nov 032024
 

Well, it’s the time of year for the radio operas to be productions from Beijing. This year there are four of them; two are Italian , one is German, and one is a new commission from a Chinese composer (and librettist. Yesterday was the first, “La Sonnambula” by Bellini. This may be the only opera which has a farther-fetched plot than Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” but to make up for it, it at least has a happy ending. Europe in the early 19th century was fascinated by sleepwalking, and medicine was in the stage of starting to look fo causes of and treatments for phenomena which were just beginning to be understood as medical conditions. By 1831, the villagers, who at first have thought the “lady in white” to be a ghost, have learned enough about sleepwalking (actually from the local count, who has been traveling and learning stuff and has just returned home) to know they need to save her first (as she sleepwalks across the framework of the village’s water mill – or across local rooftops, depending on the staging – it could also be the edge of a steep cliff, I suppose) and wake her afterwards, or it would have been a tragedy. A line from her last aria about the flower (of her love) which she did not expect to have faded so soon (having been set up by a rival using her sleepwalking to convince her fiancé that she has been unfaithful) was inscribed on Bellini’s tomb in reference to his having died so young (at 34.) Anyway, the music is gorgeous, as is all of Bellini’s work – there’s a reason he was known as “The Swan of Catania.” This opera was one of many “Bel Canto” operas championed by Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge, and has not fallen out of the repertory since.  Also, I’d like to apologize for being late for Diwali (I didn’t get the email until it was already over.)  Now I’m off to visit Virgil, and will check in in the comments.

Well, the Reich on the left is most assuredly right this time. Not that we needed one, but this is certainly another reason to be voting for Harris-Walz. Lina Khan is doing her job, using but not exceeding her authority, and long may she continue!

This from Crooks and Liars is not as good as it could be – but at least it’s honest and as something to be played at a citizenship ceremony, it beats the holy crap outof “God Bless the USA.” (Not that that is difficult. We actually have had for decades something better than either – the second verse of “This is My Country.” You know, the first verse starts “This is my country, land of my birth,” and the second starts “This is my country, land of my choice.” Both end “This is my country, to have and to hold.”)

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Sep 022023
 

Glenn Kirschner – Disgraced lawyer & RICO defendant Sidney Powell files an ABSURD “legal brief” in her Georgia case

Farron Balanced – Lauren Boebert In Trouble As Poll Proves Her District Hates Her

Joe Biden – Catch A Break

Liberal Redneck – Trump’s Big Week

The Telegraph – Howdy Doody: Police pull over man carrying enormous bull in his car

Beau – Let’s talk about a question of accuracy and dissonance….

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Jun 202023
 

Glenn Kirschner – Republican witnesses like Barr, Esper, Bolton & others will SINK Donald Trump at trial

MSNBC – Atlanta area law enforcement preparing for possible Trump indictment in Georgia

The Lincoln Project – The Breakdown – No Labels Elects Trump**

Armageddon Update – Top Secret Moron

Cop Spends 8 MONTHS Trying To Catch An Escaped Beefalo

Beau – Let’s talk about questions on Trump’s other cases….

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Jun 162023
 

Glenn Kirschner – NY AG James says NY civil case may take a back seat to Trump’s federal case; what about other cases?

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party – June 13, 2023

Robert Reich – Busting the “Paid What You’re Worth” Myth

Parody Project – Whn Will He Ever Learn?

No One Wanted To Be This Baby Mini Cow’s Friend Until…❤️

Beau – Let’s talk about a european cop asking about black Americans….

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