A Halloween Special from guess who!
Video
Supporting Ukraine
The Metropolitan Opera has remained steadfast in its support of Ukraine ever since Russia attacked, even going so far as firing several Russian artists because of their ties to Putin. After the current Republican in the White House signed another deal with Russia for oil, the Met’s General Manager Peter Gelb reaffirmed that support for … Continue reading Supporting Ukraine
The RFK Jr. Lament
Randy has a new one based on a Frank Loesser song from Guys and Dolls.
Battle of Queenston Heights
While the United Kingdom was engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, its Royal Navy had the bad habit of impressing United States citizens from vessels it encountered. So Congress threatened war. Not wanting to wage war on another front, Parliament agreed to concessions. Communications across the Atlantic being rather slow in those days, news of the … Continue reading Battle of Queenston Heights
Forget Me Not
Here’s a second Graham Norton post right after yesterday’s, but if you haven't listened to or watched this episode of Wanging On, I wanted to bring it to your attention. Now that his chat show has resumed, Maria asks him about it and he reveals that without the teleprompter he’s apt to forget the names … Continue reading Forget Me Not
John and Elia and Florence and Zoe
In 1952 John Steinbeck published his novel East of Eden, which became a huge bestseller, although critics were rather lukewarm on it. Then again, who cares what critics think? It’s a massive novel describing two families over multi-generations beginning during the Civil War, going through the end of the first World War, and with echos of … Continue reading John and Elia and Florence and Zoe
Those Were the Good Old Days
In the spring Broadway will see a new production of Damn Yankees, the first one in over 30 years, and not only that but the book will be revised to move the 1950s musical into the beginning of the 21st century. I guess that’s to make it more relevant? Whatever. As long as they don’t … Continue reading Those Were the Good Old Days
John Oliver Talks Ken Paxton
On Sunday evening John Oliver devoted most of his opening to a discussion of Ken Paxton as only John Oliver can. I couldn’t help but pass it along.
Capriccio Italien
When I was growing up, we had a record album from the Reader’s Digest called The Festival of Light Classical Music. It had pretty much what you might expect. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The 1812 Overture, Bolero, all the famous, easily digestible pieces. And it had Chaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien. Though, like nearly everyone else, it mis-transliterated Chaikovsky’s name. Chaikovsky had … Continue reading Capriccio Italien
The Day the Network Died
Have I ever told the story of what composer Max Reger wrote to a critic who gave him a negative review? He wrote: “Ich sitze in dem kleinsten Zimmer in meinem Hause. Ich habe Ihre Kritik vor mir. Im nächsten Augenblick wird sie hinter mir sein!” (“I am sitting in the smallest room of my … Continue reading The Day the Network Died