A few years ago, some of the Dental students on the Nicaragua trip began sporting these little white plastic machines with ear plugs. "Haven't you heard of an IPod??" Will asked incredulously. "Oh... that is one of those things..." I said, "how does it work?"
Will explained you downloaded music to these things and carried it along with you. You could copy an album, or a few songs, the early IPods could not hold much. Interesting, I thought.
Technology comes to me slowly. I usually develop a wait and see attitude. Usually the early versions are obsolete quickly and are expensive. I remember the $225 calculator my dad bought that performed the 4 basic math functions and that was it. A year later one that could do everything but calculate in Blugonian math cost $50. He was always hacked about that.
So, it was with trepidation that I bought an IPod to take to Nicaragua. A cute small silver Nano. It seemed to be all that I needed. I took it home, got it set up and it loaded all the music I had stored on the computer, which immediately overwhelmed the capacity. I think it was going to be too small. I played with it a bit, getting familiar with its functions and quirks. It seemed easy enough, albeit a bit touchy...sometimes doing things I did not want it to do.
I was told it had to be charged and hooked up to connect with the Itunes system so that it would play and I could download music. The screen had this huge DO NOT DISCONNECT sign on it as it whirled and did its thing. I would still be waiting for it, had I not just got impatient and decided to click on the little arrow to disconnect. I thought I had killed it, but it seemed to be ok. After a bit of getting to know you time, I dubbed the little machine "Nano Nano" (with apologies to Mork and Mindy.
I was so thrilled to finally be able to listen to some music on the plane down, rather than the short, scratchy selections they play on coach airline programs. All plugged in and ready to go, it turned on and got stuck. Would not do a thing. Turn on, off, play nothing. Just lit up and was stuck on the main menu. I put it in its box and hoped it would wear out and turn off. A peek inside my carry on revealed Nano Nano happily glowing away.
With all the warnings about turning off such devices, I was concerned that Nano Nano would cause our plane to crash, causing the autopilot to think a swamp in Belize was actually Managua Airport. Luckily, the little malfunctioning machine did not interfere with the navigation system and we landed ok.... the little beast still glowing bright but refusing to budge. Only after totally discharging did it reset itself and seemed to be ok. It was fun to plug into Nano Nano and listen to music while I basked in the sun, sipping a sweet mojito.
A couple of days later, the menu scrolled along by itself for about 4-5 hours, never stopping, just shuffling along. Then the earplugs quit. Nano Nano was no longer my friend.
Yesterday, Nano Nano went back to Costco. "Our most returned item" said Dave, the guy in electronics. He suggested a bigger model, one that seemed to be more reliable. My friend Michael agreed it was a better model so now I have a full size Ipod, a sleek back one with a big screen and 30gb of storage instead of 2. It is still a tricky little thing, but I am getting used to its quirks and maybe we can be friends. After all, it took the end of LPs to get me to buy a CD player. With CDs still around, I am in on the ground floor with this contraption.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
McCaskill is Selling Out
I had high hopes for our newly elected Senator Claire McCaskill. But as reality sets in and the campaign promises fade, I am beginning to see that she is no better than other politicians who fail to deliver on their promises and back stab those who supported them.
Claire lobbied hard for the gay vote and by and large got it. Gays were also supportive of the raise in minimum wage and the stem cell initiative, issues that brought out large numbers of progressive voters. She was actively supported by the Human Rights Campaign
and local gay political groups. All the gays I know voted for her and repudiated the far right former Senator Jim "No" Talent.
BUT! It has been reported that Claire has told a TV interview that she is "ok" with the stupid "don't ask don't tell" policy that had undermined military effectiveness, led to massive discharges of key military minds (god knows they need all they can get)and rampant homophobia. It is like a white politician working for the black vote and then saying that separate but equal is ok by them.
Claire, we expected more..... please do not let us down.
Claire lobbied hard for the gay vote and by and large got it. Gays were also supportive of the raise in minimum wage and the stem cell initiative, issues that brought out large numbers of progressive voters. She was actively supported by the Human Rights Campaign
and local gay political groups. All the gays I know voted for her and repudiated the far right former Senator Jim "No" Talent.
BUT! It has been reported that Claire has told a TV interview that she is "ok" with the stupid "don't ask don't tell" policy that had undermined military effectiveness, led to massive discharges of key military minds (god knows they need all they can get)and rampant homophobia. It is like a white politician working for the black vote and then saying that separate but equal is ok by them.
Claire, we expected more..... please do not let us down.
Monday, November 27, 2006
They Took the Fun Out of Flying
Sometimes I really wish I were a "pato" and had my own set of wings. I hate flying these days. The long lines, the security BS, Customs, rude passengers, smaller cramped and downright uncomfortable seats it is more of a hassle than a pleasure.
It didn't used to be that way. I used to love to get on a plane and go all over. Small puddle jumpers to jumbos, it mattered not. I enjoyed settling in, watching the world go by. Checking in was pretty painless, the seats not bad and even the food was ok sometimes. I remember a steak dinner in coach on a Denver-St Louis Ozark DC-9 flight, now they are the cramped regional jets, turbofan powered tubes and all you get is peanuts...if lucky.
As you can surmise, I am back from Nicaragua. The flight back was functional..it got me here. But good god, all the damn rules, and lines and searches and the overall sense of paranoia...it is nerve racking. I know not what is worse, the rules, the damn Transportation Insecurity Administration or the stupid public... maybe all of the above. I got through ok as I packed no liquids, no electronics but the small Ipod in its original box, no toothpaste or any sharp objects. All my metal was removed, shoes, wallet, and just about everything else. I breezed through. But my companions, who obviously are not as aware as I, screwed everything up by carrying toothpaste, water, computers, nail files and other essentials along. It made me weary.
The lines are sooooo long, and what pisses me is that the TSA people seem to have an attitude that we are the enemy. I guess maybe some are, but I think the people bound to blow up a plane are going to do it no matter what. I just hope they don't use their eyeglasses or underwear. We'll have to give those up next. They herd you along like cattle, and do not dare look annoyed or nervous or speak out of turn. You get "the treatment". Pulled aside, double checked, baggage checked. It can take you hours. They may even make you drink your breast milk like they made a lady do once, or turn on all your electronics, or even strip search.
I was in a long ass line in Houston one time with the stupid TSA flack checking everyone's ID. He'd look at it, look at you, look at the ID again, read it front and back and then do it all again. Some one asked him to speed it up they had a plane to catch. "Arrive earlier" he said with a smug arrogance and proceeded to quadruple check that lady's ID.
I could go on.. but you get the drift. All the bitching in the world would not change it. It is now more of a hassle than convenience to fly. If I ever win the big prize, trust me, I'll charter a jet.
It didn't used to be that way. I used to love to get on a plane and go all over. Small puddle jumpers to jumbos, it mattered not. I enjoyed settling in, watching the world go by. Checking in was pretty painless, the seats not bad and even the food was ok sometimes. I remember a steak dinner in coach on a Denver-St Louis Ozark DC-9 flight, now they are the cramped regional jets, turbofan powered tubes and all you get is peanuts...if lucky.
As you can surmise, I am back from Nicaragua. The flight back was functional..it got me here. But good god, all the damn rules, and lines and searches and the overall sense of paranoia...it is nerve racking. I know not what is worse, the rules, the damn Transportation Insecurity Administration or the stupid public... maybe all of the above. I got through ok as I packed no liquids, no electronics but the small Ipod in its original box, no toothpaste or any sharp objects. All my metal was removed, shoes, wallet, and just about everything else. I breezed through. But my companions, who obviously are not as aware as I, screwed everything up by carrying toothpaste, water, computers, nail files and other essentials along. It made me weary.
The lines are sooooo long, and what pisses me is that the TSA people seem to have an attitude that we are the enemy. I guess maybe some are, but I think the people bound to blow up a plane are going to do it no matter what. I just hope they don't use their eyeglasses or underwear. We'll have to give those up next. They herd you along like cattle, and do not dare look annoyed or nervous or speak out of turn. You get "the treatment". Pulled aside, double checked, baggage checked. It can take you hours. They may even make you drink your breast milk like they made a lady do once, or turn on all your electronics, or even strip search.
I was in a long ass line in Houston one time with the stupid TSA flack checking everyone's ID. He'd look at it, look at you, look at the ID again, read it front and back and then do it all again. Some one asked him to speed it up they had a plane to catch. "Arrive earlier" he said with a smug arrogance and proceeded to quadruple check that lady's ID.
I could go on.. but you get the drift. All the bitching in the world would not change it. It is now more of a hassle than convenience to fly. If I ever win the big prize, trust me, I'll charter a jet.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Working Life
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua 11/25/06
A few days ago, I spent an hour or so in the office of "La Prensa", one of two leading daily papers here in Nicaragua. Dan and Cesar are using them to print some postcards that will be sold at the hotel here in San Juan del Sur. It was an interesting glimpse into everyday Nicaraguan life.
The offices are on the busy Careterra Norte in Managua. Once we announced to the guard that we were here to see Carmen Moya we were ushered to the parking lot. We entered the building through the shabby door, up a sterile concrete stairs to a large office.
A lady asked to help us and Cesar said we had an appointment with the aforementioned Carmen. They went to work and I waited.
The office was clean as a whistle as usual. Despite a lot of garbage in the streets due to inadequate services, Nicas are personally among the cleanest people I have ever met. The office equipment was old but usable. I have seen worse in some of the offices I have had. The walls were scuffed and sloppily painted. Evidence of a recent paint job could be found on the fronds of the potted palm next to me.
Across the room was an office with 3 large windows and a door. Obviously the woman in it was important. Not as important as Carmen since Carmen's windows had blinds and the wood of her door matched the wood of the frame. The other lady's office had no blinds, and her door was lighter than her frame. She had the fax machine, a computer and lots of files so I assumed she was the office manager. All the employees came to her with the papers and issues. She answered the phone and ran interference for Carmen. She appeared to be an efficient employee.
The most amusing employee was the older man who occupied a space between the office manager and a low tangerine colored wall. He meticulously read a form, punched it on top with a two hole punch, placed it in a large bound ledger and then went on to another. Despite a computer near by, I assume most of the records are still paper. After doing this for about 30 minutes, he attempted to log in his computer. He was frustrated in his attempt, whether it was his or the computer's fault I could not tell. After 4 attempts, each about 2-3 minutes apart,he looked around as if to see if anyone was watching, clicked off the computer and went for coffee. A wall paper of a fully clothed glamor shot of a lady filled the computer screen. Could not get away with that in the States anymore. After a coffee break, he returned and the computer decided to co-operate. He spent the rest of the time typing some form in the computer.... slowly and deliberately, looking slightly bewildered the whole time.
That was the way I saw the whole office work... slow but deliberate. Like Nica life.
I was also fascinated in a totally different way with a young fellow who appeared to be a mid level functionary. He had a desk in between the two tangerine walls; his choice of color I wondered? He worked hard and was neatly dressed in a "La Prensa 80 Anos" (Nicaragua has a long history of freedom of the press, unparalleled in Latin America) polo shirt and clean, pressed khakis. Where did he live? In a nice house with a car, was he a a resident of one of the poor dirty streets or did he make enough to live in a nice barrio with a house and AC? Did his whole family live in one small house and all sleep together in one room, did they have a tv... cable? How much does someone like him make?
He was obviously educated and a bit above average. In the States, he might own a small house or rent a nice apartment with a pool and fitness center, have money for a car and maybe a 401k. But average here is dirt poor in the states. I wished more for him, and the others in the office.. but somehow I imagine it is still a deep, frustrating poverty that we, in the US, can barely imagine.
A few days ago, I spent an hour or so in the office of "La Prensa", one of two leading daily papers here in Nicaragua. Dan and Cesar are using them to print some postcards that will be sold at the hotel here in San Juan del Sur. It was an interesting glimpse into everyday Nicaraguan life.
The offices are on the busy Careterra Norte in Managua. Once we announced to the guard that we were here to see Carmen Moya we were ushered to the parking lot. We entered the building through the shabby door, up a sterile concrete stairs to a large office.
A lady asked to help us and Cesar said we had an appointment with the aforementioned Carmen. They went to work and I waited.
The office was clean as a whistle as usual. Despite a lot of garbage in the streets due to inadequate services, Nicas are personally among the cleanest people I have ever met. The office equipment was old but usable. I have seen worse in some of the offices I have had. The walls were scuffed and sloppily painted. Evidence of a recent paint job could be found on the fronds of the potted palm next to me.
Across the room was an office with 3 large windows and a door. Obviously the woman in it was important. Not as important as Carmen since Carmen's windows had blinds and the wood of her door matched the wood of the frame. The other lady's office had no blinds, and her door was lighter than her frame. She had the fax machine, a computer and lots of files so I assumed she was the office manager. All the employees came to her with the papers and issues. She answered the phone and ran interference for Carmen. She appeared to be an efficient employee.
The most amusing employee was the older man who occupied a space between the office manager and a low tangerine colored wall. He meticulously read a form, punched it on top with a two hole punch, placed it in a large bound ledger and then went on to another. Despite a computer near by, I assume most of the records are still paper. After doing this for about 30 minutes, he attempted to log in his computer. He was frustrated in his attempt, whether it was his or the computer's fault I could not tell. After 4 attempts, each about 2-3 minutes apart,he looked around as if to see if anyone was watching, clicked off the computer and went for coffee. A wall paper of a fully clothed glamor shot of a lady filled the computer screen. Could not get away with that in the States anymore. After a coffee break, he returned and the computer decided to co-operate. He spent the rest of the time typing some form in the computer.... slowly and deliberately, looking slightly bewildered the whole time.
That was the way I saw the whole office work... slow but deliberate. Like Nica life.
I was also fascinated in a totally different way with a young fellow who appeared to be a mid level functionary. He had a desk in between the two tangerine walls; his choice of color I wondered? He worked hard and was neatly dressed in a "La Prensa 80 Anos" (Nicaragua has a long history of freedom of the press, unparalleled in Latin America) polo shirt and clean, pressed khakis. Where did he live? In a nice house with a car, was he a a resident of one of the poor dirty streets or did he make enough to live in a nice barrio with a house and AC? Did his whole family live in one small house and all sleep together in one room, did they have a tv... cable? How much does someone like him make?
He was obviously educated and a bit above average. In the States, he might own a small house or rent a nice apartment with a pool and fitness center, have money for a car and maybe a 401k. But average here is dirt poor in the states. I wished more for him, and the others in the office.. but somehow I imagine it is still a deep, frustrating poverty that we, in the US, can barely imagine.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Dia de gracia
Thanksgiving Day in Nicaragua. We'll have Turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, brussels sprouts (YUM) and assorted other delights...all with a Central American twist. 14 of us for dinner tonite at 6:30. Should be fun.
Going off to Rivas with Dan for a bit to run around. I am thinking of heading off to Masaya for shopping on Fri. It will piss Greg off, but I am wanting to shop and go off on my own agenda and such. We'll see.
Check out Dan Cesar for pics of yesterday's adventure and lunch at "La Hora Taco".
Feliz Dia de Gracia!
Going off to Rivas with Dan for a bit to run around. I am thinking of heading off to Masaya for shopping on Fri. It will piss Greg off, but I am wanting to shop and go off on my own agenda and such. We'll see.
Check out Dan Cesar for pics of yesterday's adventure and lunch at "La Hora Taco".
Feliz Dia de Gracia!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Cold Front
(I did something wrong so click above for the pic)
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua 11/22/06
This storm brought some wind and a little rain and some cool weather. It was only 75 here today... people are wearing sweaters. Spent most of the day in Managua. It was warmer there.
There are some people here behind me now talking of investment and making money...they miss what Nicaragua is really all about.
Today we (Dan, Cesar and I) took 3 older gringos out for lunch in Managua. These folks fight for the poor, live simple lives and are not concerned about their investments.. they are my heros.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Managua Nicaragua
I was a bit disappointed today. I thought we were going to Managua, but due to some issues with a project they are working on, Dan and Cesar are not going until tomorrow.
Everyone here thinks I am nuts. I like Managua. Crazy, sprawling, wild, dirty, noisy, vibrant, active, musical, historic, frustrating, it has a charm and viva. That is unlike San Juan del Sur which is for the most part and despite the efforts of the invading gringos ricos still a small town. I feel claustrophobic here after a few days.
Everyone here knows everyone, but me of course. The gringos talk of investments and land and houses. Some don't speak to others due to long held grudges real or imagined. Most here at Pelican Eyes rarely descend down the hill to the village. There is dirt down there...there is life too.
This is the down side to this place. I thought I wanted to live here, but not so sure now. I hate to think I have descended to the "let's go watch the sunset crowd."
Now if a place in Managua would open up......
Interesting fact about Managua. Few of the streets have names in a city of almost 2 million. The vast majority of the place was never rebuilt after the earthquake and civil war of the 70s and 80s. Anything that was built was haphazard and without any plan. So, you give directions to a place using a system of directions and landmarks.
Arriba is up or east, as in the sun up in the east.
Al Lago is towards the lake or to the north
Abajo is down or to the west, as the sun setting
a las montagnes is south or towards the mountains of Masaya and Mombacho
So my friend Grant's address is Telcor Monsignor Lescano (the Mgr Lescano District post office)una quadra arriba (one block east) and media quadro al lago (1/2 block north.)
Gotta love it....
Everyone here thinks I am nuts. I like Managua. Crazy, sprawling, wild, dirty, noisy, vibrant, active, musical, historic, frustrating, it has a charm and viva. That is unlike San Juan del Sur which is for the most part and despite the efforts of the invading gringos ricos still a small town. I feel claustrophobic here after a few days.
Everyone here knows everyone, but me of course. The gringos talk of investments and land and houses. Some don't speak to others due to long held grudges real or imagined. Most here at Pelican Eyes rarely descend down the hill to the village. There is dirt down there...there is life too.
This is the down side to this place. I thought I wanted to live here, but not so sure now. I hate to think I have descended to the "let's go watch the sunset crowd."
Now if a place in Managua would open up......
Interesting fact about Managua. Few of the streets have names in a city of almost 2 million. The vast majority of the place was never rebuilt after the earthquake and civil war of the 70s and 80s. Anything that was built was haphazard and without any plan. So, you give directions to a place using a system of directions and landmarks.
Arriba is up or east, as in the sun up in the east.
Al Lago is towards the lake or to the north
Abajo is down or to the west, as the sun setting
a las montagnes is south or towards the mountains of Masaya and Mombacho
So my friend Grant's address is Telcor Monsignor Lescano (the Mgr Lescano District post office)una quadra arriba (one block east) and media quadro al lago (1/2 block north.)
Gotta love it....
Monday, November 20, 2006
Forecast
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua...11/20/06
Forecast today is much of the same as the last two days. Poor me......
Forecast today is much of the same as the last two days. Poor me......
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Sunday in the Pool with Pato
Sunday, November 19th...San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua at the bar at "La Cascada"
Arturo, my favorite bartender, has just made me a wonderful mojito. I am happy.
Accomplishments for the day: ate breakfast, swam all day, lunch, more swimming, visited with the Williams who just arrived for the week, Dan made spaghetti at the house, watched TV. Taught Juan Carlos how to make a "slow comfortable screw up against the wall" Sloe gin, vodka, orange juice, southern comfort, galliano. Used to get drunk on them in college. I am now famous for the drink which is sweeping the place.
Got to be famous for something....
Arturo, my favorite bartender, has just made me a wonderful mojito. I am happy.
Accomplishments for the day: ate breakfast, swam all day, lunch, more swimming, visited with the Williams who just arrived for the week, Dan made spaghetti at the house, watched TV. Taught Juan Carlos how to make a "slow comfortable screw up against the wall" Sloe gin, vodka, orange juice, southern comfort, galliano. Used to get drunk on them in college. I am now famous for the drink which is sweeping the place.
Got to be famous for something....
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Vacation
San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua 11/18/06
Vacation, what a concept. I have not had a real one in a looooooong time. For the next ten days, no watch, no cell phone, no reality. I even had to ask the waiter here for the date. My adjenda for the day.... swim.... drink, maybe lunch, swim and lay by the pool, swim some more, drink... and then dinner. May go to a party for the local fishing tournament that is held here.
Trip down was good. Delta airlines took good care of us, made good connections and no lost luggage. The pain in the ass security was a pain in the ass and I am certain it will not do much except annoy people... but I complied with their demands and got through ok.
Weather here, upper 80s.. humidity is not bad and there is a breeze.
Well, the pool is calling me.... and a mojito is in order soon. I am too lazy about putting batteries in the camera so look at
DanCeasar.com
Piedras Y Olas
For pictres of where Pato has landed and what I am doing.
Hasta Luego!
Vacation, what a concept. I have not had a real one in a looooooong time. For the next ten days, no watch, no cell phone, no reality. I even had to ask the waiter here for the date. My adjenda for the day.... swim.... drink, maybe lunch, swim and lay by the pool, swim some more, drink... and then dinner. May go to a party for the local fishing tournament that is held here.
Trip down was good. Delta airlines took good care of us, made good connections and no lost luggage. The pain in the ass security was a pain in the ass and I am certain it will not do much except annoy people... but I complied with their demands and got through ok.
Weather here, upper 80s.. humidity is not bad and there is a breeze.
Well, the pool is calling me.... and a mojito is in order soon. I am too lazy about putting batteries in the camera so look at
DanCeasar.com
Piedras Y Olas
For pictres of where Pato has landed and what I am doing.
Hasta Luego!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Flying South
Pato is flying south with all the other ducks... do ducks fly south?? I guess some do. Anyway, this duck is heading for Nicaragua for a few days to rest, visit friends and soak some sun. Unfortunately, the first order of business will be to get a tooth polled. ARRRRRGH... it came loose this PM and too late to do anything here. What a pain.
I may be able to blog a bit there, depending on the availability of a computer. So stay tuned, otherwise I return on 11/27.
Hasta Luego!
I may be able to blog a bit there, depending on the availability of a computer. So stay tuned, otherwise I return on 11/27.
Hasta Luego!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Inmate No. 27593-112
The Us Bureau of Prisons got a new inmate today. Jack Abramoff, inmate No. 27593-112 began serving his 6 year sentence in a relatively cushy, as far as prisons go, center in Maryland. He sent the following email to his friends, likely his last for a while:
"Unfortunately, things are going to get worse (starting today no doubt) before they get better, but I am confident that ultimately the turmoil will subside and we will have our lives back." Now that your friends have been voted out of office, we can have ours back too.
Like all federal inmates, Abramoff will have a prison job. Unlike his previous work, which involved chartering jets for exotic excursions and making huge campaign donations, he will make between 12 and 40 cents an hour. New inmates typically start in lower-paying food service jobs and move up to more desirable jobs. Hopefully he will not get special privileges.
He joins Adam Taff of Kansas another greedy Republican in Federal Prison. Both deserving of their fate.
"Unfortunately, things are going to get worse (starting today no doubt) before they get better, but I am confident that ultimately the turmoil will subside and we will have our lives back." Now that your friends have been voted out of office, we can have ours back too.
Like all federal inmates, Abramoff will have a prison job. Unlike his previous work, which involved chartering jets for exotic excursions and making huge campaign donations, he will make between 12 and 40 cents an hour. New inmates typically start in lower-paying food service jobs and move up to more desirable jobs. Hopefully he will not get special privileges.
He joins Adam Taff of Kansas another greedy Republican in Federal Prison. Both deserving of their fate.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
A Liberal's Pledge
Michael Moore is at it again!
A Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives
November 14th, 2006
To My Conservative Brothers and Sisters,
I know you are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week's election. You're worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place you don't want it to go. Your 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. You are in a funk, and I understand.
Well, cheer up, my friends! Do not despair. I have good news for you. I, and the millions of others who are now in charge with our Democratic Congress, have a pledge we would like to make to you, a list of promises that we offer you because we value you as our fellow Americans. You deserve to know what we plan to do with our newfound power -- and, to be specific, what we will do to you and for you.
Thus, here is our Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives:
Dear Conservatives and Republicans,
I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:
1. We will always respect you for your conservative beliefs. We will never, ever, call you "unpatriotic" simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us.
2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be "different" or "immoral." Who you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love -- it's a wonderful gift.
3. We will not spend your grandchildren's money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It's your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.
4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.
5. When we make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we'll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too.
6. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.
7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you.
8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived.
9. We will not take away your hunting guns. If you need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren't much of a hunter and you should, perhaps, pick up another sport. We will make our streets and schools as free as we can from these weapons and we will protect your children just as we would protect ours.
10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you -- and your employees -- that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative women that wage, too.
11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don't put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your most radical religious beliefs ("Blessed are the poor," "Blessed are the peacemakers," "Love your enemies," "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."). We will let people in other countries know that God doesn't just bless America, he blesses everyone. We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism -- starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.
12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And we promise you we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.
I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans -- and for the rest of the world.
Signed,
Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
www.michaelmoore.com
P.S. Please feel free to pass this on.
A Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives
November 14th, 2006
To My Conservative Brothers and Sisters,
I know you are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week's election. You're worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place you don't want it to go. Your 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. You are in a funk, and I understand.
Well, cheer up, my friends! Do not despair. I have good news for you. I, and the millions of others who are now in charge with our Democratic Congress, have a pledge we would like to make to you, a list of promises that we offer you because we value you as our fellow Americans. You deserve to know what we plan to do with our newfound power -- and, to be specific, what we will do to you and for you.
Thus, here is our Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives:
Dear Conservatives and Republicans,
I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:
1. We will always respect you for your conservative beliefs. We will never, ever, call you "unpatriotic" simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us.
2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be "different" or "immoral." Who you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love -- it's a wonderful gift.
3. We will not spend your grandchildren's money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It's your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.
4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.
5. When we make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we'll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too.
6. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.
7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you.
8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived.
9. We will not take away your hunting guns. If you need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren't much of a hunter and you should, perhaps, pick up another sport. We will make our streets and schools as free as we can from these weapons and we will protect your children just as we would protect ours.
10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you -- and your employees -- that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative women that wage, too.
11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don't put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your most radical religious beliefs ("Blessed are the poor," "Blessed are the peacemakers," "Love your enemies," "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," and "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."). We will let people in other countries know that God doesn't just bless America, he blesses everyone. We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism -- starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.
12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And we promise you we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.
I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans -- and for the rest of the world.
Signed,
Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
www.michaelmoore.com
P.S. Please feel free to pass this on.
Monday, November 13, 2006
La Vie en Rose
I remember it clearly albeit the exact date is lost, it was sometime in 1973.. I was 16. The commercials had billed it as a lifetime event. Curious I watched, and was mesmerized. A slim, sequined lady, old, singing unfamiliar songs of a bygone era. She did not have a strong lyrical voice like Barbra or Judy, but she had a way of communicating. Almost speech singing...remember George Burns in his last years? Words spoken more than sung.. a hint of a melody here and there.
An Evening With Marlene Dietrich. That CBS special ignited my now 33 year passion for this unique singer and actress. Finally, it is available on DVD with the German songs and several songs from the live concert in London that were not televised.
She was born Maria Magdalene Dietrich in Berlin, Germany on December 27, 1901. Marlene made her film debut in 1923. In 1929, she was given the role of "Lola" in "The Blue Angel", which was one of the first European sound films. Dietrich sang in several of her films including The Blue Angel, in which she sings "Falling In Love Again", along with "Lili Marlene" can be considered her theme song. During WWII she sang for Allied troops and was outspoken in her hatred of Hitler, despite his admiration for her.
From the 1950s to the mid-1970s Dietrich toured internationally as a successful cabaret performer. Her repertoire included songs from her films as well as popular songs of the day.
With Bert Bachrach as her arranger, her limited vocal range was enhanced to maximum dramatic effect. Spectacular gowns, tight fitting,slinky dresses, careful stage lighting and temporary mini-facelifts helped to preserve Dietrich's glamorous image well into old age. Later she began including a version of Pete Seeger's anti-war anthem Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, reigniting her anti war activities
This concert is tremendous. Even after 33 years it is amazing, moving and wonderful. Marlene shines, she is subtle, fragile beautiful.
However at 72 her timing and voice are not as strong as in many of her recordings. As I mentioned earlier, many of the songs are almost spoken. Yet, there are no performers like this anymore, and we are lesser people for it.
It was like being introduced to her magic all over again.
An Evening With Marlene Dietrich is available through Amazon.com and other DVD retailers.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Moscow State Symphony Concert
One of the true jewels of the Kansas City arts scene is the Harriman-Jewell Series sponsored by William Jewell College. For 42 years, the series has brought many top names to the area including Luciano Pavarotti and Jan Peerce who made their professional recital debuts here. Not only top singers, but dancers, dance ensembles, orchestras and soloists are presented in concert.
On Fri Nov 10 the series presented the Moscow State Symphony in concert at the Folly Theatre. Pavel Kogin led the orchestra with soloist Stephan Jackiw as soloist. The program was solid, East European and Russian favorites: Smetana "Vltava", Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Dvorak Symphony # 9.
Unfortunately, the concert was held at the smallish Folly Theatre as the Lyric was occupied with the current production of Thomas' "Hamlet" and the Music Hall is undergoing reconstruction. The Folly is great for chamber and solo concerts but is a stretch for a full orchestra. It was obvious the orchestra was crammed on stage. The brass and basses were almost off the stage in back. This contributed to a bit of a constricted, hard sound.
Perhaps being so crowded contributed to the extraordinarily fast tempi in every piece. Kogan led a technically brilliant "Vltava", but I missed the atmosphere, especially in the "Moonlight: Dance of the Water Nymphs". Perhaps they were trying to stay afloat in the turbulent waters, as "The Moldau" flowed rapidly past Prague, sweeping all before it.
The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto is of course one of the giants of the genre. Similar in scope and form to the First Piano Concerto, it literally pours forth themes and melodies, many appearing once never to be developed or heard again. Also, as in the Piano Concerto, its first movement is a grand allegro with a broad sweeping principal melody. The "Canzonetta" and Finale pale in scope but together perfectly balance the grandeur of the Allegro.
Stephan Jackiw is all but 20 yrs old and I predict will be a talent to watch. Again a brisk performance, I would have loved a bit of lingering over some of the lyrical passages, a bit less tension in the Canzonetta, and the cadenza was bit too showy and self-indulgent. But when he was allowed to linger a bit, a rich, sweet tone emerged from both the instrument and the performer's soul. Fiery, impassioned, technically brilliant and communicative, he made quite an impressive local debut.
The audience was mesmerized by his performance and even broke all decorum by giving him a standing ovation after the first movement Allegro. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic but indicative of his incredible technical ability and rapport with the audience. Not just a mere note spinner, I think with some seasoning, he will be a major figure in the violin world for the next generation. With his lean, gutsy playing I would love to hear him in the Bartok or Stravinsky Concertos. With a little more polish, the Beethoven or Dvorak would be in stellar hands.
The large orchestra was more than up to the spirited performance, yet kept its distance, letting the violin be the star.
The last half was the familiar Dvorak 9th. Again the brisk tempi ruined some of the more contemplative and atmospheric sections and smeared the tempo relationships of the movements. When the opening movement's "allegro molto" section is taken at the speed of light, where can you go with the even faster "molto vivace" scherzo? The Largo was more of an Allegretto (I kid you not) but did feature a lyrical and solid English horn solo. I may be spoiled, growing up as I did with the incomparable Kertesz performances, which in my opinion get everything right. Everything else pales in comparison.
The audience was rewarded with a Dvorak Slavonic Dance #2 (e-minor op 46) again played with technical brilliance. My ride was leaving so I missed the second encore, which I believe was by Glazunov.
Pavel Kogan (son of Leonid Kogan and Elizaveta Gilels sister of pianist Emil Gilels) has led the Moscow State Symphony since 1989 and has developed the ensemble in to a technically superb orchestra. It would be wonderful to have this same group record the Tchaikovsky with Jackiw, it would certainly be worth hearing again. Would not replace the Heifitz or early Perlman with Leinsdorf (which has some similarities to Jackiw's performance) in my collection but would certainly demonstrate the Concerto's future is in good hands.
On Fri Nov 10 the series presented the Moscow State Symphony in concert at the Folly Theatre. Pavel Kogin led the orchestra with soloist Stephan Jackiw as soloist. The program was solid, East European and Russian favorites: Smetana "Vltava", Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Dvorak Symphony # 9.
Unfortunately, the concert was held at the smallish Folly Theatre as the Lyric was occupied with the current production of Thomas' "Hamlet" and the Music Hall is undergoing reconstruction. The Folly is great for chamber and solo concerts but is a stretch for a full orchestra. It was obvious the orchestra was crammed on stage. The brass and basses were almost off the stage in back. This contributed to a bit of a constricted, hard sound.
Perhaps being so crowded contributed to the extraordinarily fast tempi in every piece. Kogan led a technically brilliant "Vltava", but I missed the atmosphere, especially in the "Moonlight: Dance of the Water Nymphs". Perhaps they were trying to stay afloat in the turbulent waters, as "The Moldau" flowed rapidly past Prague, sweeping all before it.
The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto is of course one of the giants of the genre. Similar in scope and form to the First Piano Concerto, it literally pours forth themes and melodies, many appearing once never to be developed or heard again. Also, as in the Piano Concerto, its first movement is a grand allegro with a broad sweeping principal melody. The "Canzonetta" and Finale pale in scope but together perfectly balance the grandeur of the Allegro.
Stephan Jackiw is all but 20 yrs old and I predict will be a talent to watch. Again a brisk performance, I would have loved a bit of lingering over some of the lyrical passages, a bit less tension in the Canzonetta, and the cadenza was bit too showy and self-indulgent. But when he was allowed to linger a bit, a rich, sweet tone emerged from both the instrument and the performer's soul. Fiery, impassioned, technically brilliant and communicative, he made quite an impressive local debut.
The audience was mesmerized by his performance and even broke all decorum by giving him a standing ovation after the first movement Allegro. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic but indicative of his incredible technical ability and rapport with the audience. Not just a mere note spinner, I think with some seasoning, he will be a major figure in the violin world for the next generation. With his lean, gutsy playing I would love to hear him in the Bartok or Stravinsky Concertos. With a little more polish, the Beethoven or Dvorak would be in stellar hands.
The large orchestra was more than up to the spirited performance, yet kept its distance, letting the violin be the star.
The last half was the familiar Dvorak 9th. Again the brisk tempi ruined some of the more contemplative and atmospheric sections and smeared the tempo relationships of the movements. When the opening movement's "allegro molto" section is taken at the speed of light, where can you go with the even faster "molto vivace" scherzo? The Largo was more of an Allegretto (I kid you not) but did feature a lyrical and solid English horn solo. I may be spoiled, growing up as I did with the incomparable Kertesz performances, which in my opinion get everything right. Everything else pales in comparison.
The audience was rewarded with a Dvorak Slavonic Dance #2 (e-minor op 46) again played with technical brilliance. My ride was leaving so I missed the second encore, which I believe was by Glazunov.
Pavel Kogan (son of Leonid Kogan and Elizaveta Gilels sister of pianist Emil Gilels) has led the Moscow State Symphony since 1989 and has developed the ensemble in to a technically superb orchestra. It would be wonderful to have this same group record the Tchaikovsky with Jackiw, it would certainly be worth hearing again. Would not replace the Heifitz or early Perlman with Leinsdorf (which has some similarities to Jackiw's performance) in my collection but would certainly demonstrate the Concerto's future is in good hands.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Thank you, America
I could not resist posting this email I received from my friend Pat. Sums everything up nicely in my opinon. ~ Pato
Leader
Thursday November 9, 2006
The Guardian
For six years, latterly with the backing of both houses of a markedly conservative Republican Congress, George Bush has led an American administration that has played an unprecedentedly negative and polarizing role in the world's affairs. On Tuesday, in the midterm US congressional elections, American voters rebuffed Mr Bush in spectacular style and with both instant and lasting political consequences. By large numbers and across almost every state of the union, the voters defeated Republican candidates and put the opposition Democrats back in charge of the House of Representatives for the first time in a dozen years.
When the remaining recounts and legal challenges are over, the Democrats may even have narrowly won control of the Senate too. Either way, the results change the political landscape in Washington for the final two years of this now thankfully diminished presidency. They also reassert a different and better United States that can again offer hope instead of despair to the world. Donald Rumsfeld's resignation last night was a fitting climax to the voters' verdict. Thank you, America.
In US domestic terms, the 2006 midterms bring to an end the 12 intensely divisive years of Republican House rule that began under Newt Gingrich in 1994. These have been years of zealously and confrontational conservative politics that have shocked the world and, under Mr Bush, have sent America's global standing plummeting. That long political hurricane has now at last blown itself out for a while, but not before leaving America with a terrible legacy that includes climate-change denial, the end of biological stem-cell research, an aid programme tied to abortion bans, a shockingly permissive gun culture, an embrace of capital punishment equaled only by some of the world's worst tyrannies, the impeachment of Bill Clinton and his replacement by a president who does not believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. The approval by voters in at least five more states of same-sex marriage bans - on top of 13 similar votes in 2004 - shows that culture-war politics are far from over.
Exit polls suggest that four issues counted most in these elections - corruption scandals, the economy, terrorism and Iraq. In the end, though, it was the continuing failure of the war in Iraq that has galvanized many Americans to do what much of the rest of the world had longed for them to do much earlier. It is too soon to say whether 2006 now marks a decisive rejection of the rest of the conservative agenda as well. Only those who do not know America well will imagine that it does.
The Democratic victory was very tight in many places, but its size should not be underestimated. November 7 was a decisive nationwide win for the progressive and moderate traditions in US political life. The final majority in the House will be at least 18. The recapture of the Senate, if it happens, will involve captures from the Republicans in the north-east, the north-west, the midwest and the south. The Democrats won seven new state governorships on Tuesday, including New York and Ohio, and now control a majority nationwide. Republican governors who held on, like Arnold Schwarzenegger in California and Charlie Crist in Florida, only did so by distancing themselves from Mr Bush. The statewide Democratic wins in Ohio give their 2008 presidential candidate a platform for doing what John Kerry failed to do in this crucial state in 2004.
Claire McCaskill's win in the Missouri Senate race showed that Democrats can win a state which almost always votes for the winning presidential candidate. If Jim Webb has won the recounting Virginia Senate seat, Democrats will have gone another step towards re-establishing themselves in a changing part of the south. In almost every one of these cases, as in the Connecticut contest won by Joe Lieberman running as an independent, the Democrats have won by cleaving to the centre and winning the support of independent voters. The new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be the Armani-clad San Francisco leftwinger of the caricaturists' dreams but she heads a caucus that will demand caution on some of the baby-boomer liberal generation's pet subjects.
The big questions under the new Congress will be the way that Mr Bush responds to this unfamiliar reduction in his authority and whether the Democratic win will push the president into a new Iraq policy. At his White House press conference yesterday, Mr Bush inevitably made plenty of suitably bipartisan and common-ground noises. He had little alternative. But they rang hollow from such a tarnished and partisan leader. It will take more than warm words in the immediate aftermath of an election reverse to prove that Mr Bush is now capable of working in a new way.
The departure of the disastrous Mr Rumsfeld has come at least three years too late. But it shows that Mr Bush has finally been forced to face the reality of the Iraq disaster for which his defence secretary bears so much responsibility. As the smoke rose over the Pentagon on 9/11, Mr Rumsfeld was already writing a memo that wrongly pointed the finger at Saddam Hussein. He more than anyone beat the drum for the long-held neoconservative obsession with invading Iraq. It was he who insisted, over the advice of all his senior generals, that the invasion required only a third of the forces that the military said they needed. He more than anyone else is the architect of America's humiliations in Iraq. It was truly an outrage that he remained in office for so long.
But at least the passing of Mr Rumsfeld shows that someone in the White House now recognises that things cannot go on as before. Business as usual will not do, either in general or over Iraq. Mr Bush's remarks last night showed that on Iraq he has now put himself in the hands of the Iraq Study Group, chaired by his father's consigliere James Baker, one of whose members, Robert Gates, an ex-CIA chief, was last night appointed to succeed the unlamented Mr Rumsfeld. Maybe the more pragmatic Republican old guard can come to the rescue of this disastrous presidency in its most catastrophic adventure. But it has been the American voters who have at last made this possible. For that alone the entire world owes them its deep gratitude today.
Leader
Thursday November 9, 2006
The Guardian
For six years, latterly with the backing of both houses of a markedly conservative Republican Congress, George Bush has led an American administration that has played an unprecedentedly negative and polarizing role in the world's affairs. On Tuesday, in the midterm US congressional elections, American voters rebuffed Mr Bush in spectacular style and with both instant and lasting political consequences. By large numbers and across almost every state of the union, the voters defeated Republican candidates and put the opposition Democrats back in charge of the House of Representatives for the first time in a dozen years.
When the remaining recounts and legal challenges are over, the Democrats may even have narrowly won control of the Senate too. Either way, the results change the political landscape in Washington for the final two years of this now thankfully diminished presidency. They also reassert a different and better United States that can again offer hope instead of despair to the world. Donald Rumsfeld's resignation last night was a fitting climax to the voters' verdict. Thank you, America.
In US domestic terms, the 2006 midterms bring to an end the 12 intensely divisive years of Republican House rule that began under Newt Gingrich in 1994. These have been years of zealously and confrontational conservative politics that have shocked the world and, under Mr Bush, have sent America's global standing plummeting. That long political hurricane has now at last blown itself out for a while, but not before leaving America with a terrible legacy that includes climate-change denial, the end of biological stem-cell research, an aid programme tied to abortion bans, a shockingly permissive gun culture, an embrace of capital punishment equaled only by some of the world's worst tyrannies, the impeachment of Bill Clinton and his replacement by a president who does not believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. The approval by voters in at least five more states of same-sex marriage bans - on top of 13 similar votes in 2004 - shows that culture-war politics are far from over.
Exit polls suggest that four issues counted most in these elections - corruption scandals, the economy, terrorism and Iraq. In the end, though, it was the continuing failure of the war in Iraq that has galvanized many Americans to do what much of the rest of the world had longed for them to do much earlier. It is too soon to say whether 2006 now marks a decisive rejection of the rest of the conservative agenda as well. Only those who do not know America well will imagine that it does.
The Democratic victory was very tight in many places, but its size should not be underestimated. November 7 was a decisive nationwide win for the progressive and moderate traditions in US political life. The final majority in the House will be at least 18. The recapture of the Senate, if it happens, will involve captures from the Republicans in the north-east, the north-west, the midwest and the south. The Democrats won seven new state governorships on Tuesday, including New York and Ohio, and now control a majority nationwide. Republican governors who held on, like Arnold Schwarzenegger in California and Charlie Crist in Florida, only did so by distancing themselves from Mr Bush. The statewide Democratic wins in Ohio give their 2008 presidential candidate a platform for doing what John Kerry failed to do in this crucial state in 2004.
Claire McCaskill's win in the Missouri Senate race showed that Democrats can win a state which almost always votes for the winning presidential candidate. If Jim Webb has won the recounting Virginia Senate seat, Democrats will have gone another step towards re-establishing themselves in a changing part of the south. In almost every one of these cases, as in the Connecticut contest won by Joe Lieberman running as an independent, the Democrats have won by cleaving to the centre and winning the support of independent voters. The new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be the Armani-clad San Francisco leftwinger of the caricaturists' dreams but she heads a caucus that will demand caution on some of the baby-boomer liberal generation's pet subjects.
The big questions under the new Congress will be the way that Mr Bush responds to this unfamiliar reduction in his authority and whether the Democratic win will push the president into a new Iraq policy. At his White House press conference yesterday, Mr Bush inevitably made plenty of suitably bipartisan and common-ground noises. He had little alternative. But they rang hollow from such a tarnished and partisan leader. It will take more than warm words in the immediate aftermath of an election reverse to prove that Mr Bush is now capable of working in a new way.
The departure of the disastrous Mr Rumsfeld has come at least three years too late. But it shows that Mr Bush has finally been forced to face the reality of the Iraq disaster for which his defence secretary bears so much responsibility. As the smoke rose over the Pentagon on 9/11, Mr Rumsfeld was already writing a memo that wrongly pointed the finger at Saddam Hussein. He more than anyone beat the drum for the long-held neoconservative obsession with invading Iraq. It was he who insisted, over the advice of all his senior generals, that the invasion required only a third of the forces that the military said they needed. He more than anyone else is the architect of America's humiliations in Iraq. It was truly an outrage that he remained in office for so long.
But at least the passing of Mr Rumsfeld shows that someone in the White House now recognises that things cannot go on as before. Business as usual will not do, either in general or over Iraq. Mr Bush's remarks last night showed that on Iraq he has now put himself in the hands of the Iraq Study Group, chaired by his father's consigliere James Baker, one of whose members, Robert Gates, an ex-CIA chief, was last night appointed to succeed the unlamented Mr Rumsfeld. Maybe the more pragmatic Republican old guard can come to the rescue of this disastrous presidency in its most catastrophic adventure. But it has been the American voters who have at last made this possible. For that alone the entire world owes them its deep gratitude today.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
A Turn in the Road
Maybe we are on the way to getting our country back. Stopping the gravy train for those who are only looking out for themselves and their narrow interests. Wrenching power from those who want to foist their radical beliefs on everyone. Maybe the poor, the minorities, the gays and lesbians can regain a voice in what is going on. A Democratic House will but the breaks on all the giveaways for the rich and powerful. Maybe now we can have a civilized, rational debate on Iraq, not a slandering of anyone who dares to differ with Bush.
The emperor got his wings clipped. In his press conference today, he sounded flustered, angry and resentful. He has no class, so I did not expect anything else.
The architect of the disaster in Iraq Donald Rumsfeld was the first victim of the post defeat White House. I wonder if more purges are coming... Karl Rove will be there to the bitter end, as will Cheney... Bush can't survive without them.
Here in MO, Jim "No" Talent got his ass kicked, we got stem cell research protection, light rail in KC and a Lesbian in the State Senate. I am proud that the state came to its senses.
My faithful reader Zaine said it with more enthusiasm than I have at the moment, so I'll let him speak for me:
"2004 has been avenged, oh hell yeah! The message of this election is: George Bush, SHUT THE FUCK UP. You're stupid, you're a hateful evangelical nutcase, and everything you've done since 2001 has been wrong. Every single goddamned thing! So sit down, shut the fuck up, and sign whatever Nancy Pelosi puts in front you, bitch!"
My sentiments exactly.
The emperor got his wings clipped. In his press conference today, he sounded flustered, angry and resentful. He has no class, so I did not expect anything else.
The architect of the disaster in Iraq Donald Rumsfeld was the first victim of the post defeat White House. I wonder if more purges are coming... Karl Rove will be there to the bitter end, as will Cheney... Bush can't survive without them.
Here in MO, Jim "No" Talent got his ass kicked, we got stem cell research protection, light rail in KC and a Lesbian in the State Senate. I am proud that the state came to its senses.
My faithful reader Zaine said it with more enthusiasm than I have at the moment, so I'll let him speak for me:
"2004 has been avenged, oh hell yeah! The message of this election is: George Bush, SHUT THE FUCK UP. You're stupid, you're a hateful evangelical nutcase, and everything you've done since 2001 has been wrong. Every single goddamned thing! So sit down, shut the fuck up, and sign whatever Nancy Pelosi puts in front you, bitch!"
My sentiments exactly.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
An Open Letter to Ted
I am torn, should we as gay men welcome Ted Haggard to the brotherhood?
You all know who he is right? He's the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals and the big mega-church in Colorado. Ted got outed it seems by an escort he paid for sex, drugs and massages over the last 3 years. First denying it, then admitting to buying drugs but never using them...(yeah right)then he finally had the balls to admit, "I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life."
I can only assume he means he is gay.
Part of me wants to say, "hey Ted.. brother... we know how you feel. But it is ok. It is really ok to be gay, you are not alone. It is not repulsive and dark, you only are indoctrinated that it is. Gay sexuality is a great a gift from whoever or whatever created us as heterosexuality is. I am glad, Ted, you lifted this awful deception from your shoulders, it is a killer. Many gay men in your position have decided they were so awful and undeserving that they took their own lives in fear and shame. Many live on eggshells, like you did for years... a lot of us know that, and like most of us, we break one and get caught. But together and proud of ourselves and our brothers we can move beyond that... that is what Gay Pride means. Come on Ted, the hand is open, we forgive you, come...."
Part of me wants to say: "hey Ted, asshole...why have you spent time, energy and money destroying the lives and jobs and relationships of your brothers? Why stand in hypocrisy and vilify yourself? Why?? Why hide??.. are you afraid of the monster you created, the anti-gay legislation and backlash you fostered? Are you afraid GW won't speak to you anymore. He won't no matter what, he is only for himself. By your vocal support of making gays less than second class citizens, you hurt me, Ted, and that is hard to forget. You made my life and others' miserable, destroyed relationships and true families, made people ashamed of themselves, twisted sacred words to support your radical agenda, you have put people in prison by making it ok to hate us. Matthew Shepard's blood is on your hands. What the fuck were you thinking? If you were Jewish in the 30s would you have been a Nazi to make yourself feel better and to survive due to the deaths of your brothers?? Is that the bible you read?"
I hope he is headed towards reconciliation and light. But I can see that he is not quite ready. I fear he will get sucked into the vortex of the Ex-Gay movement and become its new poster boy. Continue to be a pawn in a sick and twisted world. Ted even admits it didn't work: "For extended periods of time," he states in his letter to his congregation, "I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom. Then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach. Through the years, I've sought assistance in a variety of ways, with none of them proving to be effective in me."
My wish for you Ted is acceptance. Accept who you are, that gay sexuality is real. Admit that the evangelical church can not "cure" for sexual addiction, or being gay.
Continue to go to church if you want. But read your Bible closely, see that forgiveness and acceptance is the message of Jesus.
Come home Ted. I think you maybe surprised at your welcome.
You all know who he is right? He's the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals and the big mega-church in Colorado. Ted got outed it seems by an escort he paid for sex, drugs and massages over the last 3 years. First denying it, then admitting to buying drugs but never using them...(yeah right)then he finally had the balls to admit, "I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life."
I can only assume he means he is gay.
Part of me wants to say, "hey Ted.. brother... we know how you feel. But it is ok. It is really ok to be gay, you are not alone. It is not repulsive and dark, you only are indoctrinated that it is. Gay sexuality is a great a gift from whoever or whatever created us as heterosexuality is. I am glad, Ted, you lifted this awful deception from your shoulders, it is a killer. Many gay men in your position have decided they were so awful and undeserving that they took their own lives in fear and shame. Many live on eggshells, like you did for years... a lot of us know that, and like most of us, we break one and get caught. But together and proud of ourselves and our brothers we can move beyond that... that is what Gay Pride means. Come on Ted, the hand is open, we forgive you, come...."
Part of me wants to say: "hey Ted, asshole...why have you spent time, energy and money destroying the lives and jobs and relationships of your brothers? Why stand in hypocrisy and vilify yourself? Why?? Why hide??.. are you afraid of the monster you created, the anti-gay legislation and backlash you fostered? Are you afraid GW won't speak to you anymore. He won't no matter what, he is only for himself. By your vocal support of making gays less than second class citizens, you hurt me, Ted, and that is hard to forget. You made my life and others' miserable, destroyed relationships and true families, made people ashamed of themselves, twisted sacred words to support your radical agenda, you have put people in prison by making it ok to hate us. Matthew Shepard's blood is on your hands. What the fuck were you thinking? If you were Jewish in the 30s would you have been a Nazi to make yourself feel better and to survive due to the deaths of your brothers?? Is that the bible you read?"
I hope he is headed towards reconciliation and light. But I can see that he is not quite ready. I fear he will get sucked into the vortex of the Ex-Gay movement and become its new poster boy. Continue to be a pawn in a sick and twisted world. Ted even admits it didn't work: "For extended periods of time," he states in his letter to his congregation, "I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom. Then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach. Through the years, I've sought assistance in a variety of ways, with none of them proving to be effective in me."
My wish for you Ted is acceptance. Accept who you are, that gay sexuality is real. Admit that the evangelical church can not "cure" for sexual addiction, or being gay.
Continue to go to church if you want. But read your Bible closely, see that forgiveness and acceptance is the message of Jesus.
Come home Ted. I think you maybe surprised at your welcome.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
God Save the Queen from Herself
One of this year's most talked about films, and sure Oscar nominee (and winner if the Academy decides it didn't "peak early", the excuse given for Brokeback Mountain's failure to garner an Oscar)is Stephen Frears' "The Queen," a subtle, often funny, yet ultimately tragic study of royal manners and duty above self.
The film takes place in the Summer of 1997, beginning the day Tony Blair and the Labour Party wins the national elections in Great Britain and culminating in the days surrounding the death of Princess Diana. Combining vintage photos and films (Diana is not portrayed but is always seen in media photos, aptly illustrating her role as a media darling) and blending fact and fiction, "The Queen" gives a wonderful, wickedly voyeuristic view into the private world of the Windsors.
The purely fictional parts are so natural and well crafted you just want them to be true. We want to believe that Prince Philip (James Cromwell) looked at news footage Diana at her wedding to Prince Charles and grumbled, "She was a nice girl. Then..." Or that Cherie Blair (Helen Mc Crory) called the Windsors "emotionally retarded nutters" and finally Blair himself stating "Will someone please save these people from themselves?" Blair will soon realize that the someone will have to be him.
The crown jewel in this film is the incredible performance by Helen Mirren as HRM Queen Elizabeth II. She looks remarkably like The Queen, and has captured her manners and presence perfectly. Cold, precise, and regal; yet beneath we see the young princess who, like her father, really did not want the job she inherited.
Ultimately, it is a sympathetic portrait. If you look and listen closely, the Queen is as much a trapped victim of the Royal tradition, protocol and duty as Diana was.
To Queen Elizabeth, Diana was a shameless, annoying ex-daughter-in-law and thus no longer a member of the royal family. Diana is not entitled to a state funeral, any royal tributes and thus should have a quiet, private funeral with dignity and a stiff upper lip. What gives the film its dramatic impact is how Elizabeth II comes to understand this massive error in judgment in the face of mounting indignation of the people and how it shakes her to her very core. "I've never been hated like that before," she says after reading the news and hearing the people speak of the shame they have in their monarch. It shocks her into making some precedent breaking decisions, pushed on by Blair. I, for one, remember watching the funeral when the casket came by the gate at Buckingham Palace and The Queen bowed to Diana. I am sure I was not the only one who gasped at that tradition breaking moment.
Tied in a nice neat package and running for a reasonable 1 1/2 hours, the film rarely misses. The background characters such as Alex Jennings as sly but well-meaning Prince Charles, and the half dead Queen Mum (Sylvia Syms)add a depth and never get in the way.
I do predict an Oscar for this film, at least for Mirren. Definitely worth checking out.
The film takes place in the Summer of 1997, beginning the day Tony Blair and the Labour Party wins the national elections in Great Britain and culminating in the days surrounding the death of Princess Diana. Combining vintage photos and films (Diana is not portrayed but is always seen in media photos, aptly illustrating her role as a media darling) and blending fact and fiction, "The Queen" gives a wonderful, wickedly voyeuristic view into the private world of the Windsors.
The purely fictional parts are so natural and well crafted you just want them to be true. We want to believe that Prince Philip (James Cromwell) looked at news footage Diana at her wedding to Prince Charles and grumbled, "She was a nice girl. Then..." Or that Cherie Blair (Helen Mc Crory) called the Windsors "emotionally retarded nutters" and finally Blair himself stating "Will someone please save these people from themselves?" Blair will soon realize that the someone will have to be him.
The crown jewel in this film is the incredible performance by Helen Mirren as HRM Queen Elizabeth II. She looks remarkably like The Queen, and has captured her manners and presence perfectly. Cold, precise, and regal; yet beneath we see the young princess who, like her father, really did not want the job she inherited.
Ultimately, it is a sympathetic portrait. If you look and listen closely, the Queen is as much a trapped victim of the Royal tradition, protocol and duty as Diana was.
To Queen Elizabeth, Diana was a shameless, annoying ex-daughter-in-law and thus no longer a member of the royal family. Diana is not entitled to a state funeral, any royal tributes and thus should have a quiet, private funeral with dignity and a stiff upper lip. What gives the film its dramatic impact is how Elizabeth II comes to understand this massive error in judgment in the face of mounting indignation of the people and how it shakes her to her very core. "I've never been hated like that before," she says after reading the news and hearing the people speak of the shame they have in their monarch. It shocks her into making some precedent breaking decisions, pushed on by Blair. I, for one, remember watching the funeral when the casket came by the gate at Buckingham Palace and The Queen bowed to Diana. I am sure I was not the only one who gasped at that tradition breaking moment.
Tied in a nice neat package and running for a reasonable 1 1/2 hours, the film rarely misses. The background characters such as Alex Jennings as sly but well-meaning Prince Charles, and the half dead Queen Mum (Sylvia Syms)add a depth and never get in the way.
I do predict an Oscar for this film, at least for Mirren. Definitely worth checking out.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Vote
On Tuesday, we will head to the polls in an important exercise in democracy. School board and city council members, dog catchers and judges, to Governors and members of Congress, we have an opportunity to make our voices heard.
Elections are choices, in a representative democracy we choose who will represent us in the thousands of decisions our leaders make on a daily basis. I for one care deeply about gay rights, national security, health care, the right to choose, the environment, education, and more. The choices we make Tuesday will be among the most important in history. Will we continue on the path we have been on for the last 8 years, or begin a rethinking of our policies and place in the world stage. Will our votes count, or will they be thrown out like in the last two elections. Weill we make stupid decision like one gay fellow who voted for our worthless boy-Gov and rationalized it by saying "they all screw us, might as well be a cute one doing it."
That crap results in the clowns we have in office.
Think carefully about your choice and consider which candidates will help your hometown and this country become great again.
Elections are choices, in a representative democracy we choose who will represent us in the thousands of decisions our leaders make on a daily basis. I for one care deeply about gay rights, national security, health care, the right to choose, the environment, education, and more. The choices we make Tuesday will be among the most important in history. Will we continue on the path we have been on for the last 8 years, or begin a rethinking of our policies and place in the world stage. Will our votes count, or will they be thrown out like in the last two elections. Weill we make stupid decision like one gay fellow who voted for our worthless boy-Gov and rationalized it by saying "they all screw us, might as well be a cute one doing it."
That crap results in the clowns we have in office.
Think carefully about your choice and consider which candidates will help your hometown and this country become great again.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Ted Pays for It
Oh will the hypocrisy of the far right wing evangelical "Christians" ever end?? Now it seems that evangelist Ted Haggard an out spoken proponent of a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Colorado, has stepped down from the ministry of his church and resigned from the National Association of Evangelicals after a male escort alleged he had a three year gay affair with Haggard.
But while Haggard denies having a gay affair, the man who alleges the pastor paid him for sex is sticking by his statements. The paid "Escort" broke his story on TV and then repeated them on a Denver talk radio show Thursday. He defined his relationship with Haggard as a "sexual business relationship". The escort was motivated by Haggard's support of an initiative from the hyper-right "Focus on the Family" group to ban Gay Marriage and his opposition to a proposal to allow civil unions. "People may look at me and think what I've done is immoral, but I think I had to do the moral thing in my mind and that is expose someone who is preaching one thing and doing the opposite behind everybody's back". The escort states he had gay sex with Haggard and also had voice mails and a letter from him.
Focus on the Family Nazi James Dobson defended Haggard:
"It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media would report a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation.."
So why did Haggard immediately resign, Jimmy? Guilt??? This can't set well with GW, Haggard supposedly talks to Bush frequently. Haggard has bragged that the only disagreement between himself and the leader of the Western world is automotive: Bush drives a Ford pickup, whereas he prefers a Chevy. Good god, we are doomed if this is our "leadership".
Will be interesting to watch over the coming days.
By the way, the male escort is no kid, he is supposedly 49yrs old.
But while Haggard denies having a gay affair, the man who alleges the pastor paid him for sex is sticking by his statements. The paid "Escort" broke his story on TV and then repeated them on a Denver talk radio show Thursday. He defined his relationship with Haggard as a "sexual business relationship". The escort was motivated by Haggard's support of an initiative from the hyper-right "Focus on the Family" group to ban Gay Marriage and his opposition to a proposal to allow civil unions. "People may look at me and think what I've done is immoral, but I think I had to do the moral thing in my mind and that is expose someone who is preaching one thing and doing the opposite behind everybody's back". The escort states he had gay sex with Haggard and also had voice mails and a letter from him.
Focus on the Family Nazi James Dobson defended Haggard:
"It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media would report a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation.."
So why did Haggard immediately resign, Jimmy? Guilt??? This can't set well with GW, Haggard supposedly talks to Bush frequently. Haggard has bragged that the only disagreement between himself and the leader of the Western world is automotive: Bush drives a Ford pickup, whereas he prefers a Chevy. Good god, we are doomed if this is our "leadership".
Will be interesting to watch over the coming days.
By the way, the male escort is no kid, he is supposedly 49yrs old.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Looking for Work
The US workplace is seriously fucked up. Trying to promote a family friendly (gag) atmosphere here, I tried to tone down the language. I could not, I can think of no other word to describe it.
I got out of corporate America in 2003, not willingly but ultimately for the best and the inevitable. I worked for a company that was seriously fucked up. I had a name for them: The CATS which stood for Crazy Ass Texans. Their antics were comical if not for the fact a lot of people got hurt. People came and went, we had no autonomy, the boss was an egotistical ex-Military fellow who still thought he was the arrogant officer. He had an undistinguished career but still wallowed in his imagined glory years later. They lied, cheated and stole, and still seem to not get caught.
I did HR for the region. Since almost my whole career had been in Long Term Care I knew a bit about it. They ignored me, didn't want me (I came as a package deal with my former boss who had already resigned, she had kinda screwed me once before so I should have known)and finally hired a manager over me who clashed immediately. She was the most stupid person I had ever met, but since she showed her legs and talked shit to the big boy, she was god. I worked for her 6 weeks and all she did was send over 400 emails to me. They thought that was cool. I was made redundant, as the English say, she tried to hire her little girl friend for my job but was stopped and she, to my ever lasting amusement, was eventually canned. This, dear readers, is all too common in the workplace.
It is as if corporate America wants to self destruct. Manufacturing has been turned over to the Japanese and Asians, management is going there as well. Jobs are cut, people are screwed with, managers lack basic skills, revolving doors abound, loyalty is nothing on either side. Top management thinks workers are liabilities and workers feel companies just want to screw them. The only concern of the corporate big wigs: Fatten the pockets of investors who would sell their own mother to make a profit.
There are more unemployed out there than it seems. Along with that we are becoming a nation of underemployed. I am a perfect example. I am doing a job a trained monkey could likely do. But I enjoy it. I have a free apartment, no utilities, no corporate bullshit (I have BS of another kind, but I stay out of it), easy work, and a salary I use as almost 100% discretionary income. I have more to spend on crap than someone making 5 times what I make. My car is paid for, I have a house I could live in paid for if I want to move back to my home town, I owe no one.
But I am lucky. Many in my position want to get back into the work world. They have tons to offer. They could solve some of our workplace problems. But no one wants them, this article in the KC Star (HR Keeping the Skilled Locked Out) shows how deeply messed up the hiring process is. Why people are giving up, why corporations are dying (Ford, GM, Delta Airlines) Wal-Mart is sliding, retail is a shambles, healthcare is bleeding and so on. The talent to do the job is there. The companies are so focused on BS and making $$ for shareholders that they do not care.
The house of cards this country's economy is built on will collapse. Enron will look like a mom and pop shop closing up.
I shudder to think.....
I got out of corporate America in 2003, not willingly but ultimately for the best and the inevitable. I worked for a company that was seriously fucked up. I had a name for them: The CATS which stood for Crazy Ass Texans. Their antics were comical if not for the fact a lot of people got hurt. People came and went, we had no autonomy, the boss was an egotistical ex-Military fellow who still thought he was the arrogant officer. He had an undistinguished career but still wallowed in his imagined glory years later. They lied, cheated and stole, and still seem to not get caught.
I did HR for the region. Since almost my whole career had been in Long Term Care I knew a bit about it. They ignored me, didn't want me (I came as a package deal with my former boss who had already resigned, she had kinda screwed me once before so I should have known)and finally hired a manager over me who clashed immediately. She was the most stupid person I had ever met, but since she showed her legs and talked shit to the big boy, she was god. I worked for her 6 weeks and all she did was send over 400 emails to me. They thought that was cool. I was made redundant, as the English say, she tried to hire her little girl friend for my job but was stopped and she, to my ever lasting amusement, was eventually canned. This, dear readers, is all too common in the workplace.
It is as if corporate America wants to self destruct. Manufacturing has been turned over to the Japanese and Asians, management is going there as well. Jobs are cut, people are screwed with, managers lack basic skills, revolving doors abound, loyalty is nothing on either side. Top management thinks workers are liabilities and workers feel companies just want to screw them. The only concern of the corporate big wigs: Fatten the pockets of investors who would sell their own mother to make a profit.
There are more unemployed out there than it seems. Along with that we are becoming a nation of underemployed. I am a perfect example. I am doing a job a trained monkey could likely do. But I enjoy it. I have a free apartment, no utilities, no corporate bullshit (I have BS of another kind, but I stay out of it), easy work, and a salary I use as almost 100% discretionary income. I have more to spend on crap than someone making 5 times what I make. My car is paid for, I have a house I could live in paid for if I want to move back to my home town, I owe no one.
But I am lucky. Many in my position want to get back into the work world. They have tons to offer. They could solve some of our workplace problems. But no one wants them, this article in the KC Star (HR Keeping the Skilled Locked Out) shows how deeply messed up the hiring process is. Why people are giving up, why corporations are dying (Ford, GM, Delta Airlines) Wal-Mart is sliding, retail is a shambles, healthcare is bleeding and so on. The talent to do the job is there. The companies are so focused on BS and making $$ for shareholders that they do not care.
The house of cards this country's economy is built on will collapse. Enron will look like a mom and pop shop closing up.
I shudder to think.....
Monday, October 30, 2006
Light and Dark
Be it hereby declared: I hate Daylight Saving Time changes. I am more sensitive to the old internal clock than I realize. I now go to bed at 10:30 instead of 11:30 or so, and am up at 5AM. And this getting dark at 5pm is for the birds. But them, I am told it does have its uses and advantages that make the annoyance worth the effort.
Since 1966, most of the United States has observed Daylight Saving Time from at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of April to 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. Beginning in 2007, most of the U.S. will begin Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and revert to standard time on the first Sunday in November. This is the best news I have heard in a long time and the only thing GW Bush has ever done right.
We still get extra daylight in the summer which is good but then the dreaded early sundown in the winter is shortened a bit. Supposedly there is a little energy savings to this as well.
As my friend Connie says "Get over it doll face, ASAP." I will dear, next March when the longer summer period goes in effect. Meanwhile it is nap time. Or is it really just 9:16AM instead of 10:16AM? If so, then it is breakfast time..
Since 1966, most of the United States has observed Daylight Saving Time from at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of April to 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. Beginning in 2007, most of the U.S. will begin Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and revert to standard time on the first Sunday in November. This is the best news I have heard in a long time and the only thing GW Bush has ever done right.
We still get extra daylight in the summer which is good but then the dreaded early sundown in the winter is shortened a bit. Supposedly there is a little energy savings to this as well.
As my friend Connie says "Get over it doll face, ASAP." I will dear, next March when the longer summer period goes in effect. Meanwhile it is nap time. Or is it really just 9:16AM instead of 10:16AM? If so, then it is breakfast time..
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Lies, Lies, Lies....
"Michael J. Fox is faking his illness."
"John Murtha is not a real Marine."
"John Kerry faked his heroism"
"Bill Clinton caused 9/11"
"Global Warming doesn't exist"
"Iraq really did have WMDs"
"Katrina victims were better off in the Astrodome"
"Clinton left FEMA the way it is"
"Liberals hate America"
"Bill Clinton is to blame for the poor economy"
"Liberals don't support the troops"
"Immigrants are ruining our economy"
"Cindy Sheehan hates our military"
"Protesters deserve to be shot by police"
"The Geneva Convention is unclear when it comes to interrogation"
"Missouri women will be forced to donate their eggs to stem cell research."
All lies Republicans have perpetrated in the past few years.
Vote em OUT!
On a more happier note congrats to 12.213.80. who at 3:38:14 pm became the 2000th recorded visitor to Pato News! 12.213.80 hails from Syracuse, NY.
Whoever you are THANKS FOR BEING A READER!!!
Oh yes, set your clocks back and CONGRATS ST LOUIS CARDINALS, WORLD CHAMPIONS!
"John Murtha is not a real Marine."
"John Kerry faked his heroism"
"Bill Clinton caused 9/11"
"Global Warming doesn't exist"
"Iraq really did have WMDs"
"Katrina victims were better off in the Astrodome"
"Clinton left FEMA the way it is"
"Liberals hate America"
"Bill Clinton is to blame for the poor economy"
"Liberals don't support the troops"
"Immigrants are ruining our economy"
"Cindy Sheehan hates our military"
"Protesters deserve to be shot by police"
"The Geneva Convention is unclear when it comes to interrogation"
"Missouri women will be forced to donate their eggs to stem cell research."
All lies Republicans have perpetrated in the past few years.
Vote em OUT!
On a more happier note congrats to 12.213.80. who at 3:38:14 pm became the 2000th recorded visitor to Pato News! 12.213.80 hails from Syracuse, NY.
Whoever you are THANKS FOR BEING A READER!!!
Oh yes, set your clocks back and CONGRATS ST LOUIS CARDINALS, WORLD CHAMPIONS!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Dreary Day Musings
Yawwwwwwwwwwwwn! Long, dreary day. Finally the clouds are lifting. I am not inspired to write much so just a couple tidbits.
I love the new Firefox 2.0 browser. Easy, fast, safe and a built in spell checker for most web forms. Can't beat it! Mozilla Firefox
Who is going to be the 2,000th visitor to Pato News???? Just 4 more to go.
3 weeks to my Nicaragua vacation. I hope their election on Nov 5 goes well. A return to power by Daniel Ortega would be a disaster. Polls show he is leading but Nicas are famous for "El Güegüense" referring to a national dance and theatre piece. In Nicaraguan culture, to Güegüense someone is to outwardly appear to comply with authority while working subtly to undermine it. It is how Nicas survive. There are some who believe the people are playing Güegüense with the polls. We can hope!
I love the new Firefox 2.0 browser. Easy, fast, safe and a built in spell checker for most web forms. Can't beat it! Mozilla Firefox
Who is going to be the 2,000th visitor to Pato News???? Just 4 more to go.
3 weeks to my Nicaragua vacation. I hope their election on Nov 5 goes well. A return to power by Daniel Ortega would be a disaster. Polls show he is leading but Nicas are famous for "El Güegüense" referring to a national dance and theatre piece. In Nicaraguan culture, to Güegüense someone is to outwardly appear to comply with authority while working subtly to undermine it. It is how Nicas survive. There are some who believe the people are playing Güegüense with the polls. We can hope!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
A Diva's Birthday
Happy Birthday to a true Diva and someone who I am pleased to say I have met and even sang with (ok, she was the solo diva and I was just a chorus boy...) but if I didn't tell you that, who would have known??
Christine Brewer is a great singer, one of the most sought after soprano soloists of our time and an all around nice person. Check out her website, hear her live in concert or buy a disc with her recordings. You will experience some great singing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS CHRISTINE!
www.Christinebrewer.com
Christine Brewer is a great singer, one of the most sought after soprano soloists of our time and an all around nice person. Check out her website, hear her live in concert or buy a disc with her recordings. You will experience some great singing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS CHRISTINE!
www.Christinebrewer.com
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Gore Vidal: Still a Thorn in the Side of Convention
The November 7th issue of The Advocate contains a short but typically pithy interview with literary icon Gore Vidal. Of course Vidal was immortalized by Ernestine the Telephone Operator in the classic variety show "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in" as "MMMMMM Mister Veedal". Still a thorn in the side of all who profess to be conservative, he offers some biting and perceptive commentary.
Unfortunately, the interview is not online so go buy a copy or read at your library. Here is a sample:
Advocate: Why is the American Public so Ignorant?
Vidal: The god awful public education system. They don't really learn much of anything and seem to have built in resistance to finding out. People graduate from High School and know nothing about the New Deal,don't know about the Depression. Teachers are underpaid, terrorized by school boards, by public opinion, spied upon to see if they are distributing ideas that are "not acceptable" to the far right wing and to Lord Jesus. Come on, this is the most ignorant public of any First World country."
Preach it MMMMMMMM Mr. Veedal!
Unfortunately, the interview is not online so go buy a copy or read at your library. Here is a sample:
Advocate: Why is the American Public so Ignorant?
Vidal: The god awful public education system. They don't really learn much of anything and seem to have built in resistance to finding out. People graduate from High School and know nothing about the New Deal,don't know about the Depression. Teachers are underpaid, terrorized by school boards, by public opinion, spied upon to see if they are distributing ideas that are "not acceptable" to the far right wing and to Lord Jesus. Come on, this is the most ignorant public of any First World country."
Preach it MMMMMMMM Mr. Veedal!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Kansas City Symphony: Mozart and Messiaen
Music Director Michael Stern returned to KC along with his wife and new baby (she is adorable and both Shelly and Michael are adoring parents) to conduct his first concert this season with the KC Symphony. He was scheduled to conduct the opening concert in September but Miss Hannon’s late arrival made that impossible.
This past weekend’s concert was billed as the finale to the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. Earlier concerts featured the Symphonies. This one celebrated the late choral masterpieces Ave Verum Corpus K 618 and the final great work the Requiem K 626 in the new Levin edition. Sandwiched in between was L'Ascension, Four Symphonic Meditations by Oliver Messiaen.
Ave Verum is a simple piece; short, sweet and direct and was written as a favor for a small church chorus director who looked after Mozart’s wife while she was resting in the small village of Baden near Vienna. He asked for a Eucharistic hymn for the feast of Corpus Christi. Thus the motet “Hail, true flesh, born of the Virgin Mary” was born. Although simple and not adventurous at all, it is a masterpiece of atmosphere and pure beauty. The performance was great, asking only for a bit more diction from the chorus.
Interestingly, albeit liturgically logical, Stern launched directly in to L’Ascension. This is one of my favorite Messiaen pieces. Full of atmosphere, intriguing harmonies and instrumentation and his requisite bird call themes, L’Ascension is a bit more approachable than say “Turangalila” Symphony or “Eclairs a sur Dela”. It is not often played. After the concert on Friday, I went to a party where I told a friend I had been to the symphony and told him the program. “The KC Symphony played Messiaen??? Damn!”
The Friday performance was very good but not great. The brass, especially the trumpets, had a hard time with the demands of the intonation in the more exposed passages of the brass and wind only first movement Majesty of Christ Beseeching His Glory of the Father. The English Horn solo in the second movement Serene Alleluias of a Soul Yearning for Heaven was atmospheric and lyrical. The woodwinds in general were spectacular, and the string only final mediation Prayer of Christ Ascending to His Father, was a pure and sincere study of serene ecstasy. I am happy to report that the performance on Sunday was much better with vastly improved intonation and a bit tighter 3rd mediation Alleluias on the Trumpets, Alleluias on the Cymbals. With a bit more rehearsal and experience under Stern, the KC Symphony could be a force to be reckoned with in Messiaen.
Few works are as controversial yet so beloved as Mozart’s Requiem in D minor K 626. Its story and Mozart’s last days has been the subject of plays, movies (Amadeus) and even an opera. What is known for sure is that Mozart did not live to complete the work. So as not to lose the substantial sum the “unknown stranger” paid in full for the work, his widow had Mozart’s friend and pupil Franz Sussmyer complete the Requiem. It is assumed that Mozart completed only the Requiem and Kyrie sections of the work, but left sketches for voices and indications for scoring for the Dies irae through the Hostias. Sussmyer and another pupil Joseph Eybler scored filled in parts and even wrote out the last parts the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei.
It has long been the opinion of musicians, musicologists and audiences alike that the quality of the requiem declines as it progresses. Sussmyer was no Mozart thus the scoring became labored, more conventional, and less idiomatic of Mozart. The new (1993) edition by Robert Levin aimed to improve the work by lightening textures in spots, correcting errors in keys and rhythms, adding a fugal Amen to the Lacrimosa and regrouping the movements in to 5 larger sections I Introit II Sequence ( from the Dies Irae and Tuba Mirum through the Lacrimosa) III Offertory IV Sanctus-Benedictus V Agnus Dei-Communion. Frankly, I think it is a tremendous improvement from the turgid and uninspired Sussmyer version, but still we long for the impossible; how Mozart would have completed this incredible piece.
The performance on both Fri and Sunday was inspired. Perfectly paced, it seemed a bit shorter than the old version. Possibly because the work does not get as bogged down as it progresses. The chorus never failed and was totally up to the demands of the fugal passages. The fabulous Tuba Mirum (in my opinion the one of the most inspired musical utterances in all of music) was perfect, the bass soloist intoning the fateful lines: Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulchra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum. (The trumpet, sending its wondrous sound across the graves of all lands, shall drive everyone before the throne.) with all the power and majesty required. All the soloists, students of the Curtis Institute of Music, were uniformly good. The soprano tended to have her nose buried in the score, lessening her ability to communicate her lines and to drag a bit. The penultimate movement the Lux Aeterna was a bet slow and tepid. A couple minor quibbles in an overall excellent and well received performance.
We can hope that the Levin edition will inspire those who have avoided the work (I being one of them) to appreciate its glories anew. It did me. A wonderful recording of the Levin edition is available on Telarc CD 80636 with Runnicles and Atlanta.
This past weekend’s concert was billed as the finale to the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. Earlier concerts featured the Symphonies. This one celebrated the late choral masterpieces Ave Verum Corpus K 618 and the final great work the Requiem K 626 in the new Levin edition. Sandwiched in between was L'Ascension, Four Symphonic Meditations by Oliver Messiaen.
Ave Verum is a simple piece; short, sweet and direct and was written as a favor for a small church chorus director who looked after Mozart’s wife while she was resting in the small village of Baden near Vienna. He asked for a Eucharistic hymn for the feast of Corpus Christi. Thus the motet “Hail, true flesh, born of the Virgin Mary” was born. Although simple and not adventurous at all, it is a masterpiece of atmosphere and pure beauty. The performance was great, asking only for a bit more diction from the chorus.
Interestingly, albeit liturgically logical, Stern launched directly in to L’Ascension. This is one of my favorite Messiaen pieces. Full of atmosphere, intriguing harmonies and instrumentation and his requisite bird call themes, L’Ascension is a bit more approachable than say “Turangalila” Symphony or “Eclairs a sur Dela”. It is not often played. After the concert on Friday, I went to a party where I told a friend I had been to the symphony and told him the program. “The KC Symphony played Messiaen??? Damn!”
The Friday performance was very good but not great. The brass, especially the trumpets, had a hard time with the demands of the intonation in the more exposed passages of the brass and wind only first movement Majesty of Christ Beseeching His Glory of the Father. The English Horn solo in the second movement Serene Alleluias of a Soul Yearning for Heaven was atmospheric and lyrical. The woodwinds in general were spectacular, and the string only final mediation Prayer of Christ Ascending to His Father, was a pure and sincere study of serene ecstasy. I am happy to report that the performance on Sunday was much better with vastly improved intonation and a bit tighter 3rd mediation Alleluias on the Trumpets, Alleluias on the Cymbals. With a bit more rehearsal and experience under Stern, the KC Symphony could be a force to be reckoned with in Messiaen.
Few works are as controversial yet so beloved as Mozart’s Requiem in D minor K 626. Its story and Mozart’s last days has been the subject of plays, movies (Amadeus) and even an opera. What is known for sure is that Mozart did not live to complete the work. So as not to lose the substantial sum the “unknown stranger” paid in full for the work, his widow had Mozart’s friend and pupil Franz Sussmyer complete the Requiem. It is assumed that Mozart completed only the Requiem and Kyrie sections of the work, but left sketches for voices and indications for scoring for the Dies irae through the Hostias. Sussmyer and another pupil Joseph Eybler scored filled in parts and even wrote out the last parts the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei.
It has long been the opinion of musicians, musicologists and audiences alike that the quality of the requiem declines as it progresses. Sussmyer was no Mozart thus the scoring became labored, more conventional, and less idiomatic of Mozart. The new (1993) edition by Robert Levin aimed to improve the work by lightening textures in spots, correcting errors in keys and rhythms, adding a fugal Amen to the Lacrimosa and regrouping the movements in to 5 larger sections I Introit II Sequence ( from the Dies Irae and Tuba Mirum through the Lacrimosa) III Offertory IV Sanctus-Benedictus V Agnus Dei-Communion. Frankly, I think it is a tremendous improvement from the turgid and uninspired Sussmyer version, but still we long for the impossible; how Mozart would have completed this incredible piece.
The performance on both Fri and Sunday was inspired. Perfectly paced, it seemed a bit shorter than the old version. Possibly because the work does not get as bogged down as it progresses. The chorus never failed and was totally up to the demands of the fugal passages. The fabulous Tuba Mirum (in my opinion the one of the most inspired musical utterances in all of music) was perfect, the bass soloist intoning the fateful lines: Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulchra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum. (The trumpet, sending its wondrous sound across the graves of all lands, shall drive everyone before the throne.) with all the power and majesty required. All the soloists, students of the Curtis Institute of Music, were uniformly good. The soprano tended to have her nose buried in the score, lessening her ability to communicate her lines and to drag a bit. The penultimate movement the Lux Aeterna was a bet slow and tepid. A couple minor quibbles in an overall excellent and well received performance.
We can hope that the Levin edition will inspire those who have avoided the work (I being one of them) to appreciate its glories anew. It did me. A wonderful recording of the Levin edition is available on Telarc CD 80636 with Runnicles and Atlanta.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Saturday Pancake Musings
1) Cold and rainy fall Saturday AM here in KC. Trees are rapidly losing their leaves, making a slippery mess on the sidewalks. Our lawn and plants are still green here at the Towers, but not for long I am sure. Has not been terribly cold yet, the killing frost has so far avoided us. Each day without it means one less day of cold and possible snow to worry about.
2) RIP Anna Russell: Anna Russell, the inimitable classical music comedienne who charmed the world with her comic yet always spot-on spoofs, died on the 18th in her home in Australia, she was 94.
Russell was a trained but decidedly untalented singer. She described her voice as "sounding like shattering glass or a cracked temple bell". Russell found fame in music comedy, her albums being perennial best sellers.
While performing "Cavalleria Rusticana," Anna was supposed to be shoved to the floor in one scene by one of the tenors who was rather small in stature. Anna was not a small lady, so he had a little trouble pushing Anna over. The act caused her to stumble across the stage crashing headlong in to some scenery, sending it tumbling down around her. The audience and orchestra laughed so hard that the performance came to a halt, and thus Anna's career as an opera singer as well.
Almost. Anna soon realized she could take this incident and make a career in comedy. She began to write and perform musical spoofs that gained a wide following among both musicians and the public. From the 1950s to the 1980s, she made best-selling recordings, appeared on television and performed in sold-out concerts around the world.
Her spoof of Wagner's Ring is priceless. About the Valkyries: "They are the noisiest people. They're all of them virgins, and I'm not the least bit surprised." She wrote mock German Lieder such as "Schlumpf" by Blotz. Her signature line: "I am not making this up you know". I never saw her live but her recordings and TV appearances are priceless memories. Thanks Anna! The Anna Russell Album is available on DVD.
3)Do you know why Republicans don't use book marks? No need to, they just bend over the pages. ^* Rim shot!
2) RIP Anna Russell: Anna Russell, the inimitable classical music comedienne who charmed the world with her comic yet always spot-on spoofs, died on the 18th in her home in Australia, she was 94.
Russell was a trained but decidedly untalented singer. She described her voice as "sounding like shattering glass or a cracked temple bell". Russell found fame in music comedy, her albums being perennial best sellers.
While performing "Cavalleria Rusticana," Anna was supposed to be shoved to the floor in one scene by one of the tenors who was rather small in stature. Anna was not a small lady, so he had a little trouble pushing Anna over. The act caused her to stumble across the stage crashing headlong in to some scenery, sending it tumbling down around her. The audience and orchestra laughed so hard that the performance came to a halt, and thus Anna's career as an opera singer as well.
Almost. Anna soon realized she could take this incident and make a career in comedy. She began to write and perform musical spoofs that gained a wide following among both musicians and the public. From the 1950s to the 1980s, she made best-selling recordings, appeared on television and performed in sold-out concerts around the world.
Her spoof of Wagner's Ring is priceless. About the Valkyries: "They are the noisiest people. They're all of them virgins, and I'm not the least bit surprised." She wrote mock German Lieder such as "Schlumpf" by Blotz. Her signature line: "I am not making this up you know". I never saw her live but her recordings and TV appearances are priceless memories. Thanks Anna! The Anna Russell Album is available on DVD.
3)Do you know why Republicans don't use book marks? No need to, they just bend over the pages. ^* Rim shot!
Friday, October 20, 2006
Crimes Against Humanity
Read this: Missouri Medicaid cuts stall recovery
Crimes against humaninty. We are becoming a Third World nation when it comes to healthcare. Bomb the fuck out of Iraq. Money for Halliburton, no money for basic health and catastrophic care. And note, this guy had insurance.
SHAME!
Crimes against humaninty. We are becoming a Third World nation when it comes to healthcare. Bomb the fuck out of Iraq. Money for Halliburton, no money for basic health and catastrophic care. And note, this guy had insurance.
SHAME!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Desperate Republicans
How low can you go? Hypocrisy in extremis:
State investigators have linked a Republican campaign to letters sent to thousands of Southern California Hispanics warning them they could go to jail or be deported if they vote next month, a spokesman for the attorney general said.
"We have identified where we believe the mailing list was obtained," said Nathan Barankin, spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer.
He declined to identify the specific Republican campaign Wednesday, citing the ongoing investigation. The Los Angeles Times and The Orange County Register both reported Thursday that the investigation appeared to be focused on the campaign of Tan D. Nguyen, a Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez.
JOIN ME AND VOTE ALL THE RIGHT WING JERKS OUT!!
State investigators have linked a Republican campaign to letters sent to thousands of Southern California Hispanics warning them they could go to jail or be deported if they vote next month, a spokesman for the attorney general said.
"We have identified where we believe the mailing list was obtained," said Nathan Barankin, spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer.
He declined to identify the specific Republican campaign Wednesday, citing the ongoing investigation. The Los Angeles Times and The Orange County Register both reported Thursday that the investigation appeared to be focused on the campaign of Tan D. Nguyen, a Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez.
JOIN ME AND VOTE ALL THE RIGHT WING JERKS OUT!!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Porn Stars and Drag Queens
Want to break the ice at your next party? Here is a fun albeit slightly naughty ice breaker:
Find your Porn Star name:
Take the name of your first pet, preferably a dog or cat, as your first name and then the street you grew up on as your last name.
If I were a porn star, I’d be Mr. K Gregory. Not bad, I guess I’d be a big leather daddy or something like that, maybe a pornographic Mr. T.
It doesn’t always work, like if your first pet was Winkie and you grew up on 12th Street. Winkie 12th would not make us drool in sexual arousal.
I like to make up drag names. I have never done drag; I rarely have even donned a costume for Halloween. But the fun of making a drag name can help while away boredom and sometimes can come up in the strangest places, causing a sly chuckle.
“Bess Western” is one of my favorites. I imagine an Annie Oakley or a little western tart in fish net hose.
A sultry, French Caribbean chanteuse could be “Campho Phenique”
Need a nurse? “Anna Septic” or “Anna Phylactic” would come to your aide with a big rectal thermometer.
An ad for linen provided “Queen Duvet”. “Chenille Duvet” could be her cousin.
So what is your drag name or porn name? Pato wants to know!
Find your Porn Star name:
Take the name of your first pet, preferably a dog or cat, as your first name and then the street you grew up on as your last name.
If I were a porn star, I’d be Mr. K Gregory. Not bad, I guess I’d be a big leather daddy or something like that, maybe a pornographic Mr. T.
It doesn’t always work, like if your first pet was Winkie and you grew up on 12th Street. Winkie 12th would not make us drool in sexual arousal.
I like to make up drag names. I have never done drag; I rarely have even donned a costume for Halloween. But the fun of making a drag name can help while away boredom and sometimes can come up in the strangest places, causing a sly chuckle.
“Bess Western” is one of my favorites. I imagine an Annie Oakley or a little western tart in fish net hose.
A sultry, French Caribbean chanteuse could be “Campho Phenique”
Need a nurse? “Anna Septic” or “Anna Phylactic” would come to your aide with a big rectal thermometer.
An ad for linen provided “Queen Duvet”. “Chenille Duvet” could be her cousin.
So what is your drag name or porn name? Pato wants to know!
Monday, October 16, 2006
John Ashcroft Called on the Carpet
Back a few years ago, I was a fresh faced kid working for the Missouri Department of Mental Health in the Personnel Office (yes still called Personnel) in Jefferson City. We were all a-twitter, the Governor was touring our agency and would visit each of us. Woo Hoo!
We waited patiently for his arrival. Now, my little cube was a little more decorated and neater than most (imagine that). At the entrance, I had a nice blue faux oriental rug that broke up the endless expanse of office grey and orange that gave away the decor's 70s origins. The little rug was the endless topic of discussion, like no one had ever done such a thing before.
Anyway, duly the Governor and his entourage, including my boss who had worked for him while the Gov was Attorney General, arrived and of course commented on my carpet as I was introduced to him. "Now you can say you called the Governor on the carpet!", he laughed. We all laughed, exchanged pleasantries and he moved on.
Damn right, Governor, I am calling you on the carpet, lo these many years later. The Governor was John Ashcroft.
Unfortunately not having been whisked away by my carpet a la Aladdin, Ashcroft went on to be the darling of the right as Senator, bound and determined to destroy Bill Clinton, and then as Bush's Attorney General after losing the senate election to a dead man. He resigned a while back and has laid pretty low. Until his new book "Never Again" (can we hope this is his philosophy on public office) appeared. This piece of hack work has even pissed off Republicans.
In "Never Again" Ashcroft accuses the 9/11 Commission of a partisan effort aimed at "assessing blame and grandstanding" instead of finding the truth and protecting Americans. He alleges that the hearings "disintegrated into show trials" and that the Republican-chaired panel was "dangerously out of control" and "obsessed" with blaming President George W. Bush for not preventing the terrorist attacks while "absolving" President Bill Clinton's administration.
But listen to what even fellow Repubs have to say. They are calling him on the carpet for his words and actions now and then. Ashcroft's behavior is "underhanded" and "outrageous," they say.
Senator Slade Gorton of Washington was quoted: "John was the least cooperative of all the witnesses we had. He was the only one who refused to submit his written testimony in advance, he probably came with the largest entourage of any of the people we talked to, and he engaged in a disingenuous and partisan attack" on the committee.
Former Gov. Jim Thompson, R-Illinois,(another Governor I met, my ex wife even gave his kid a library fine for not returning a book)called Ashcroft's criticism of the panel "outrageous, because it's not true. None of that is true."
Ashcroft's behavior was so bad, Thompson said, that Bush privately apologized to commission members. "Ashcroft tried to put us on trial and it backfired. The president of the United States apologized to us in the Oval Office for his conduct, which is kind of embarrassing," Thompson said.
John Ashcroft, you should be ashamed. This is reprehensible behavior for even a Republican. You are an embarrassment. You even smear the name of Mel Carnahan, the dead man (he was killed in a plane crash while running against Ashcroft for Senate, he won and his wife Jean was appointed in his place) that beat you. Christian values my ass. If you are a Christian, then I want no part of the religion.
Consider yourself called on the carpet, Governor.
We waited patiently for his arrival. Now, my little cube was a little more decorated and neater than most (imagine that). At the entrance, I had a nice blue faux oriental rug that broke up the endless expanse of office grey and orange that gave away the decor's 70s origins. The little rug was the endless topic of discussion, like no one had ever done such a thing before.
Anyway, duly the Governor and his entourage, including my boss who had worked for him while the Gov was Attorney General, arrived and of course commented on my carpet as I was introduced to him. "Now you can say you called the Governor on the carpet!", he laughed. We all laughed, exchanged pleasantries and he moved on.
Damn right, Governor, I am calling you on the carpet, lo these many years later. The Governor was John Ashcroft.
Unfortunately not having been whisked away by my carpet a la Aladdin, Ashcroft went on to be the darling of the right as Senator, bound and determined to destroy Bill Clinton, and then as Bush's Attorney General after losing the senate election to a dead man. He resigned a while back and has laid pretty low. Until his new book "Never Again" (can we hope this is his philosophy on public office) appeared. This piece of hack work has even pissed off Republicans.
In "Never Again" Ashcroft accuses the 9/11 Commission of a partisan effort aimed at "assessing blame and grandstanding" instead of finding the truth and protecting Americans. He alleges that the hearings "disintegrated into show trials" and that the Republican-chaired panel was "dangerously out of control" and "obsessed" with blaming President George W. Bush for not preventing the terrorist attacks while "absolving" President Bill Clinton's administration.
But listen to what even fellow Repubs have to say. They are calling him on the carpet for his words and actions now and then. Ashcroft's behavior is "underhanded" and "outrageous," they say.
Senator Slade Gorton of Washington was quoted: "John was the least cooperative of all the witnesses we had. He was the only one who refused to submit his written testimony in advance, he probably came with the largest entourage of any of the people we talked to, and he engaged in a disingenuous and partisan attack" on the committee.
Former Gov. Jim Thompson, R-Illinois,(another Governor I met, my ex wife even gave his kid a library fine for not returning a book)called Ashcroft's criticism of the panel "outrageous, because it's not true. None of that is true."
Ashcroft's behavior was so bad, Thompson said, that Bush privately apologized to commission members. "Ashcroft tried to put us on trial and it backfired. The president of the United States apologized to us in the Oval Office for his conduct, which is kind of embarrassing," Thompson said.
John Ashcroft, you should be ashamed. This is reprehensible behavior for even a Republican. You are an embarrassment. You even smear the name of Mel Carnahan, the dead man (he was killed in a plane crash while running against Ashcroft for Senate, he won and his wife Jean was appointed in his place) that beat you. Christian values my ass. If you are a Christian, then I want no part of the religion.
Consider yourself called on the carpet, Governor.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
When We No Longer Touch: The Concert
Finally it was Sunday, the day of the concert. We were off until 5pm for call at the Meyerson. M and I took Pat out to breakfast and I took Shadow for a walk. Pat, being 85 is not able to take him for a long walk so he was thrilled to explore his neighborhood for a bit. As it was a lovely day and the neighborhood safe and nice, it was a pleasure.
Michael wanted to visit the grave site of his late partner Rick. I knew Rick and found him charming. He died a year ago July of a heart attack at 37; he had been in ill health. Being a gay couple without any rights (see the heartache you cause right wing bigots, but of course being heartless, you don't care) Rick was buried by his mother; the very same woman who threw him out at 19 when he came out. She was still so ashamed that she buried him, against his wishes, in a small, pitiful cemetery in the next town over from theirs. A mother's love..... We got him flowers, and in the Jewish custom, but rocks on his stone to mark our visit.
Upon arriving at the Meyerson, we still found John Tesch's crap all over the stage, so we had to wait while it was removed. We finally got to go through our pieces on stage. Fingers crossed, we waited for the performance to begin.
We filed out on stage to the applause of the 1500 people in attendance. It was clear this was a special evening. Many had heard the piece 15 years ago; some in the audience were HIV+ and were here as guests of the Chorale and some area AIDS agencies. Many were regular patrons.
We began with the combined anthem "Behold Man" a cryptic creation anthem that is very declamatory and thus an excellent opener. HMC Music Director Joe Nadeau conducted the combined forces. TMC was in the aisles to make it a true surround sound experience.
The HMC set was next. We did some of our recent favorites, 3 with solos which I think diminished the impact we could have as a group, although the solos were fine. It made us more of a back up rather than an ensemble. "Circle of Life" from Lion King, "They Sang to Me", a coming out at the chorus piece, "Mama's Letter to Michael" again a coming out piece and maybe a bit lost with out the context of the song, and "Razzle Dazzle" from Chicago from our Kander/Ebb show. Well received and we did ourselves proud.
I caught some of TCC set including the thrilling "Everyone Sang" with words of Sigfried Sassoon, a moving "Dona Nobis Pacem" and a piece by their composer in residence "Creator of the Universe". They ended with the juicy and funny "Insalata Italiana" a parody of everything operatic.
Finally, we got to "When We No Longer Touch" as the last 1/2 of the concert.
Here is the text of the piece so you can see the progression:
Prologue
The fear that I would
come home one day and find you gone has turned
into the pain of the reality.
What will I do if it happens?
What will I do now that it has?
Latin Text: Requiem Aeternam
Denial
I know our time together is no more.
Then why do words come to mind that call you back?
Why do I plan lifetimes that include you?
Why do I torture myself with love
I never felt while you were here?
Isolation
The layers I have put
around the pain of your going are thin.
I walk softly through life, adding thickness each day.
A thought or a feeling
of you cracks the surface;
a call to you shatters it all.
I spend that night in death
and spin the first layer of life
with the sunrise.
Latin Text: Exaudi orationem meam
Anger
I'm past the point of going quietly insane.
I'm getting quite noisy about it.
The neighbors must think I'm mad.
The neighbors, for once, think right.
Latin Text: Dies irae
Bargaining
I know, I know it was time for us to part
but today?
I know I had much pain to go through,
but tonight?
Latin Text: Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Depression
I am missing you
far better than
I ever loved you.
Latin Text: Lacrimosa
Acceptance
I shall miss loving you.
I shall miss the Comfort of your embrace.
I shall miss the
Loneliness of waiting for the
calls that never came.
I shall miss the Joy of your comings,
and the Pain of your goings
and, after a time,
I shall miss missing, loving, you.
Latin Text: agnus dei
Hope
And through all the tears
and the sadness
and the pain
comes the one thought
that can make me
internally smile again:
I have loved.
Latin Text: Requiem Aeternam
The emotion was heavy for all involved. We sang our hearts out, the audience pissed their pants at the Dies irae, the lovely "I Shall Miss Loving You", sweet, sentimental yet never cloying. Our encore was the popular "One Voice: I Will Not be Silent" from "Sing for the Cure". A fitting piece to show that we have not won the battle against AIDS or Breast Cancer.
The solo soprano, Tiffany Roberts, was just incredible, a creamy, smooth soprano with great diction and an ability to foat and to also show her incredible power.
I was exhausted, drained and just fucking pleased and proud. I didn't want to mingle around with the guys and go out, I was too drained. Pat highly enjoyed the experience, Michael looked a little bored. He did annoy me when he bitched about the HMC set was stuff he had heard before and we need to get new material. It hurt a bit, but is typical of him. Men.....
We got home, the return highly uneventful. Top was up due to a cold front and some rain.
I was glad I took the time to go, the time to learn the music and the extra rehearsals. I am a better singer for it, and 1000 times richer for the experience.
Thank you Dr Seelig, Joe, TCC, Pat, Michael, Dallas and even the Okies. It was fabulous!
Michael wanted to visit the grave site of his late partner Rick. I knew Rick and found him charming. He died a year ago July of a heart attack at 37; he had been in ill health. Being a gay couple without any rights (see the heartache you cause right wing bigots, but of course being heartless, you don't care) Rick was buried by his mother; the very same woman who threw him out at 19 when he came out. She was still so ashamed that she buried him, against his wishes, in a small, pitiful cemetery in the next town over from theirs. A mother's love..... We got him flowers, and in the Jewish custom, but rocks on his stone to mark our visit.
Upon arriving at the Meyerson, we still found John Tesch's crap all over the stage, so we had to wait while it was removed. We finally got to go through our pieces on stage. Fingers crossed, we waited for the performance to begin.
We filed out on stage to the applause of the 1500 people in attendance. It was clear this was a special evening. Many had heard the piece 15 years ago; some in the audience were HIV+ and were here as guests of the Chorale and some area AIDS agencies. Many were regular patrons.
We began with the combined anthem "Behold Man" a cryptic creation anthem that is very declamatory and thus an excellent opener. HMC Music Director Joe Nadeau conducted the combined forces. TMC was in the aisles to make it a true surround sound experience.
The HMC set was next. We did some of our recent favorites, 3 with solos which I think diminished the impact we could have as a group, although the solos were fine. It made us more of a back up rather than an ensemble. "Circle of Life" from Lion King, "They Sang to Me", a coming out at the chorus piece, "Mama's Letter to Michael" again a coming out piece and maybe a bit lost with out the context of the song, and "Razzle Dazzle" from Chicago from our Kander/Ebb show. Well received and we did ourselves proud.
I caught some of TCC set including the thrilling "Everyone Sang" with words of Sigfried Sassoon, a moving "Dona Nobis Pacem" and a piece by their composer in residence "Creator of the Universe". They ended with the juicy and funny "Insalata Italiana" a parody of everything operatic.
Finally, we got to "When We No Longer Touch" as the last 1/2 of the concert.
Here is the text of the piece so you can see the progression:
Prologue
The fear that I would
come home one day and find you gone has turned
into the pain of the reality.
What will I do if it happens?
What will I do now that it has?
Latin Text: Requiem Aeternam
Denial
I know our time together is no more.
Then why do words come to mind that call you back?
Why do I plan lifetimes that include you?
Why do I torture myself with love
I never felt while you were here?
Isolation
The layers I have put
around the pain of your going are thin.
I walk softly through life, adding thickness each day.
A thought or a feeling
of you cracks the surface;
a call to you shatters it all.
I spend that night in death
and spin the first layer of life
with the sunrise.
Latin Text: Exaudi orationem meam
Anger
I'm past the point of going quietly insane.
I'm getting quite noisy about it.
The neighbors must think I'm mad.
The neighbors, for once, think right.
Latin Text: Dies irae
Bargaining
I know, I know it was time for us to part
but today?
I know I had much pain to go through,
but tonight?
Latin Text: Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Depression
I am missing you
far better than
I ever loved you.
Latin Text: Lacrimosa
Acceptance
I shall miss loving you.
I shall miss the Comfort of your embrace.
I shall miss the
Loneliness of waiting for the
calls that never came.
I shall miss the Joy of your comings,
and the Pain of your goings
and, after a time,
I shall miss missing, loving, you.
Latin Text: agnus dei
Hope
And through all the tears
and the sadness
and the pain
comes the one thought
that can make me
internally smile again:
I have loved.
Latin Text: Requiem Aeternam
The emotion was heavy for all involved. We sang our hearts out, the audience pissed their pants at the Dies irae, the lovely "I Shall Miss Loving You", sweet, sentimental yet never cloying. Our encore was the popular "One Voice: I Will Not be Silent" from "Sing for the Cure". A fitting piece to show that we have not won the battle against AIDS or Breast Cancer.
The solo soprano, Tiffany Roberts, was just incredible, a creamy, smooth soprano with great diction and an ability to foat and to also show her incredible power.
I was exhausted, drained and just fucking pleased and proud. I didn't want to mingle around with the guys and go out, I was too drained. Pat highly enjoyed the experience, Michael looked a little bored. He did annoy me when he bitched about the HMC set was stuff he had heard before and we need to get new material. It hurt a bit, but is typical of him. Men.....
We got home, the return highly uneventful. Top was up due to a cold front and some rain.
I was glad I took the time to go, the time to learn the music and the extra rehearsals. I am a better singer for it, and 1000 times richer for the experience.
Thank you Dr Seelig, Joe, TCC, Pat, Michael, Dallas and even the Okies. It was fabulous!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Rehearsal at the Meyerson
The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center was opened in September of 1989 and has been hailed as one of the world foremost concert halls. "The Meyerson" as it is called is home for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Turtle Creek Chorale, the Dallas Wind Symphony, and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. It was designed by the celebrated architect I. M. Pei, who has designed everything from airports to the new entrance to the Louvre in Paris.
According to its website, the Meyerson has:
• 260,000 square feet above ground space
• 225,000 square feet below ground space
• 30,000 square feet of Italian travertine marble
• 22,000 pieces of Indiana limestone
• 4,535 organ pipes
• 2,062 seats
• 918 square panels of African (Makore) cherrywood
• 216 square panels of American cherrywood
• 211 glass panels (no two alike) comprising the conoid windows
• 85 foot high ceiling in the concert hall
• 74 concrete reverberation chamber doors, each weighing as much as 2.5 tons
• 56 acoustical curtains
• 50 restrooms
As the stage was set up for John Tesch (to the roll of everyone’s eyes) we first had to meet in the choral rehearsal hall deep in the bowels of the building.
Dr Tim Seelig, for 20 years the TCC music director, is a hoot. Out, somewhat flamboyant and with a needle sharp wit (and evil eye), he is a master communicator. I learned so much from the 3 hours he spent with us in KC and the 3 hour Master Class he gave on Sat. "Sing 'tits up', he would exclaim, "that allows you to show off what a stud you are and also, and more important to me, allows you to support the column of air needed to support your note." Earthy, yes, brilliant, even more so. He demonstrated how we could make and support a cleaner, more even and on-pitch sound. The difference was amazing. Singing is all about how you breathe. Tits up, chin down, lets the air move and allows you to support it. If you were not in that position, you'd get that cutting evil eye. But always a smile lurking behind it.
We finally got to get in the main hall. A huge horseshoe shaped hall, stage not overly large and a nice choral terrace above. As John Tesch's junk was still on stage, we could not use the stage so we were part in the terrace part in the audience seats. Not the best situation, but what could you do, it was John Tesh for god's sake.
The sound of 300 men singing is breathtaking. I am prejudiced I know, but I would listen to a male choir all day rather than a female one. Men have a huge range of voices, and a thrilling sound. It sent chills up my spine.
Our main purpose was to sing "When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival". TCC commissioned the work in 1991 from their late composer-in-residence, Kristopher Jon Anthony, who died of AIDS in 1992.
The piece touches on grief, despair, regret, denial and anger, and also hope, acceptance and salvation. The mediations on the stages of grief are interwoven with the text of the Latin Requiem. One movement especially, "I Shall Miss Loving You," has become a staple of gay men's choruses around the world.
I was overwhelmed. The sound was exceptional, even with John Tesch's piano separating us. Seelig was so inspirational.
"Grab your nuts!", he yelled. We looked stunned. "Damnit, sing like you have them", he said of the Dies Irae movement, "I want the audience to piss their pants in fear. This is the day of wrath and death and calamity, not the "Dies Ehhhh", as he shook his hand in a whishy-washy gesture. We scared them for sure.
We got to go thru the piece, each of us did one piece of our set and then it was time for Texas BBQ.
The TCC set up a nice BBQ for all of us and we had a grand time. The TCC members were so friendly, so glad we were here and made sure we all were treated like royalty. A comedian performed a great routine to top the evening off.
M and I went to meet some friends of his at a nice piano bar. It was a nice quiet end to a strenuous day. Most of the HMC boys were out partying hard at the big noisy bars. I can't do that anymore. This was fine with me.
Tomorrow: The Final Chapter, When We No Longer Touch
According to its website, the Meyerson has:
• 260,000 square feet above ground space
• 225,000 square feet below ground space
• 30,000 square feet of Italian travertine marble
• 22,000 pieces of Indiana limestone
• 4,535 organ pipes
• 2,062 seats
• 918 square panels of African (Makore) cherrywood
• 216 square panels of American cherrywood
• 211 glass panels (no two alike) comprising the conoid windows
• 85 foot high ceiling in the concert hall
• 74 concrete reverberation chamber doors, each weighing as much as 2.5 tons
• 56 acoustical curtains
• 50 restrooms
As the stage was set up for John Tesch (to the roll of everyone’s eyes) we first had to meet in the choral rehearsal hall deep in the bowels of the building.
Dr Tim Seelig, for 20 years the TCC music director, is a hoot. Out, somewhat flamboyant and with a needle sharp wit (and evil eye), he is a master communicator. I learned so much from the 3 hours he spent with us in KC and the 3 hour Master Class he gave on Sat. "Sing 'tits up', he would exclaim, "that allows you to show off what a stud you are and also, and more important to me, allows you to support the column of air needed to support your note." Earthy, yes, brilliant, even more so. He demonstrated how we could make and support a cleaner, more even and on-pitch sound. The difference was amazing. Singing is all about how you breathe. Tits up, chin down, lets the air move and allows you to support it. If you were not in that position, you'd get that cutting evil eye. But always a smile lurking behind it.
We finally got to get in the main hall. A huge horseshoe shaped hall, stage not overly large and a nice choral terrace above. As John Tesch's junk was still on stage, we could not use the stage so we were part in the terrace part in the audience seats. Not the best situation, but what could you do, it was John Tesh for god's sake.
The sound of 300 men singing is breathtaking. I am prejudiced I know, but I would listen to a male choir all day rather than a female one. Men have a huge range of voices, and a thrilling sound. It sent chills up my spine.
Our main purpose was to sing "When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival". TCC commissioned the work in 1991 from their late composer-in-residence, Kristopher Jon Anthony, who died of AIDS in 1992.
The piece touches on grief, despair, regret, denial and anger, and also hope, acceptance and salvation. The mediations on the stages of grief are interwoven with the text of the Latin Requiem. One movement especially, "I Shall Miss Loving You," has become a staple of gay men's choruses around the world.
I was overwhelmed. The sound was exceptional, even with John Tesch's piano separating us. Seelig was so inspirational.
"Grab your nuts!", he yelled. We looked stunned. "Damnit, sing like you have them", he said of the Dies Irae movement, "I want the audience to piss their pants in fear. This is the day of wrath and death and calamity, not the "Dies Ehhhh", as he shook his hand in a whishy-washy gesture. We scared them for sure.
We got to go thru the piece, each of us did one piece of our set and then it was time for Texas BBQ.
The TCC set up a nice BBQ for all of us and we had a grand time. The TCC members were so friendly, so glad we were here and made sure we all were treated like royalty. A comedian performed a great routine to top the evening off.
M and I went to meet some friends of his at a nice piano bar. It was a nice quiet end to a strenuous day. Most of the HMC boys were out partying hard at the big noisy bars. I can't do that anymore. This was fine with me.
Tomorrow: The Final Chapter, When We No Longer Touch
Friday, October 13, 2006
Dallas We are Here!
10/6-10/7
Instead of a hotel, which were in short supply, Michael and I stayed with an old friend of his Pat Gordon. Miss Pat is a wonderful lady, 85 with a mind like a steel trap. Witty, intelligent, charming, she immediately stole my heart. The fact that she makes a fabulous dirty martini also added to the attraction. She lives in a sprawling ranch style house in NE Dallas, having moved to the house with her late husband Stewart in 1966. Stewart died a few years ago. A Scottish-Canadian, he was a wonderful man according to Michael. It was clear Pat still adored him and cherished every moment she had with him.
Pat had a career as a nurse, and functioned as a Director of Nurses at several hospitals in Dallas. She has had the opportunity to travel all over the world as well. Now retired of course, she has many friends and is active in bridge clubs and service organizations. Her man of the moment is Shadow, a 7 yr old mix of Pekinese and Lhasa and something else. As Pat described him, his mom was a streetwalker and daddy was a traveling man. She lives for him.
Upon settling in, M and I went down to Cedar Springs St and to a coffee cafe to meet and greet the other HMC members and the TCC members (HMC=Heartland Men's Chorus and TCC=Turtle Creek Chorale, I am tired of typing the names.) It was not a a real organized welcome and although billed to begin at 6PM, by 7Pm few were there. Slowly the KC boys filtered in and the party began. Not really, pretty low key affair actually. M and I had promised to take Pat out and so we left early and went to a nice place that Pat likes to dine at called Natalie's. I was tired anyway and my well known lack of social skills was evident, so a quiet dinner was fine with me.
I do say the TCC boys were wonderful in their welcome. They went out of their way to make sure we were welcomed, entertained and appreciated. I never failed to mention that we were honored to be there and thanked them for their invitation.
On Sat, I had to be at the Meyerson Symphony Hall at 1 so there was time to go booze shopping! Dallas has a larger population than KC thus more drinkers, even though parts of the city and surrounding counties dry. There is a strip of liquor stores in Addison TX, just north of Dallas that makes up for the lack of liquor stores elsewhere It is an alcoholic's paradise.
We found all the wonderful things I wanted and could not find in KC:
Glayva:
A spiced scotch somewhat like drambuie but with a touch of citrus. Glayva uses an Islay scotch rather than a highland or Skye scotch. A sweet, yet strong aparatif or night cap. Real hard to find and about $30 a bottle.
Amarula Cream:
A Bailey's-like sweet cream from the African marula fruit. Unique flavor somewhat like Bailey's but with the unique fruit aftertaste. Hard to find as well but about $20/bottle. Good info website: Amarula
Finlandia Mango Vodka:
Not as hard to find and about $20/bottle. Great ice cold straight up or as I first had it; chop open a fresh coconut and add a bit of the mango vodka to the fresh coconut milk and drink from hull.
And one I have loved for years:
Flor di Cana Centenario Rum:
The pride of Nicaragua. More like a brandy than a rum. Smooth as silk. DO NOT combine with Coke, that is why God created Bacardi. Best in a brandy snifter. 12 years old about $50/bottle if you can even find it. I get it for $10 in Nicaragua The glorious 18yr old Centenario Gold is not imported. But I get it for about $18 in Managua!
I had to be at the center soon and Michael wanted to pick up more Glayva so "The Mercedes" dropped me off ceremoniously in front of the Meyerson. He roared away...
"She likes to make sure everyone knows it goes fast", I remarked to the others waiting, "ummm hummm she does!" was the reply.
Tomorrow: The Meyerson and our first combined rehearsal!
Instead of a hotel, which were in short supply, Michael and I stayed with an old friend of his Pat Gordon. Miss Pat is a wonderful lady, 85 with a mind like a steel trap. Witty, intelligent, charming, she immediately stole my heart. The fact that she makes a fabulous dirty martini also added to the attraction. She lives in a sprawling ranch style house in NE Dallas, having moved to the house with her late husband Stewart in 1966. Stewart died a few years ago. A Scottish-Canadian, he was a wonderful man according to Michael. It was clear Pat still adored him and cherished every moment she had with him.
Pat had a career as a nurse, and functioned as a Director of Nurses at several hospitals in Dallas. She has had the opportunity to travel all over the world as well. Now retired of course, she has many friends and is active in bridge clubs and service organizations. Her man of the moment is Shadow, a 7 yr old mix of Pekinese and Lhasa and something else. As Pat described him, his mom was a streetwalker and daddy was a traveling man. She lives for him.
Upon settling in, M and I went down to Cedar Springs St and to a coffee cafe to meet and greet the other HMC members and the TCC members (HMC=Heartland Men's Chorus and TCC=Turtle Creek Chorale, I am tired of typing the names.) It was not a a real organized welcome and although billed to begin at 6PM, by 7Pm few were there. Slowly the KC boys filtered in and the party began. Not really, pretty low key affair actually. M and I had promised to take Pat out and so we left early and went to a nice place that Pat likes to dine at called Natalie's. I was tired anyway and my well known lack of social skills was evident, so a quiet dinner was fine with me.
I do say the TCC boys were wonderful in their welcome. They went out of their way to make sure we were welcomed, entertained and appreciated. I never failed to mention that we were honored to be there and thanked them for their invitation.
On Sat, I had to be at the Meyerson Symphony Hall at 1 so there was time to go booze shopping! Dallas has a larger population than KC thus more drinkers, even though parts of the city and surrounding counties dry. There is a strip of liquor stores in Addison TX, just north of Dallas that makes up for the lack of liquor stores elsewhere It is an alcoholic's paradise.
We found all the wonderful things I wanted and could not find in KC:
Glayva:
A spiced scotch somewhat like drambuie but with a touch of citrus. Glayva uses an Islay scotch rather than a highland or Skye scotch. A sweet, yet strong aparatif or night cap. Real hard to find and about $30 a bottle.
Amarula Cream:
A Bailey's-like sweet cream from the African marula fruit. Unique flavor somewhat like Bailey's but with the unique fruit aftertaste. Hard to find as well but about $20/bottle. Good info website: Amarula
Finlandia Mango Vodka:
Not as hard to find and about $20/bottle. Great ice cold straight up or as I first had it; chop open a fresh coconut and add a bit of the mango vodka to the fresh coconut milk and drink from hull.
And one I have loved for years:
Flor di Cana Centenario Rum:
The pride of Nicaragua. More like a brandy than a rum. Smooth as silk. DO NOT combine with Coke, that is why God created Bacardi. Best in a brandy snifter. 12 years old about $50/bottle if you can even find it. I get it for $10 in Nicaragua The glorious 18yr old Centenario Gold is not imported. But I get it for about $18 in Managua!
I had to be at the center soon and Michael wanted to pick up more Glayva so "The Mercedes" dropped me off ceremoniously in front of the Meyerson. He roared away...
"She likes to make sure everyone knows it goes fast", I remarked to the others waiting, "ummm hummm she does!" was the reply.
Tomorrow: The Meyerson and our first combined rehearsal!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
OKC-Dallas: Caught in the Red Tide of OU/Texas Weekend
10/6
After successfully negotiating our way out of the OKC metro area, we continued relentlessly southward. Top still down, the day getting warmer. It was Friday afternoon now and those getting an early start on the weekend began to clog the roads. Many of the cars were flying flags and festooned with all sorts of University of Oklahoma logs and such. Red, assumedly the school colors, was everywhere; like the red tide of the sea. "It looks like the Okies are invading Texas", I remarked while passing a van flying several OU flags, everyone inside dressed in some sort of red. "Damn!" Michael exclaimed, "it must be OU/Texas weekend." I felt a chill in the warm open air... this must be serious.
Every year rival college football teams Oklahoma University and University of Texas play an important game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The game has been held in Dallas since 1937 traditionally on the second Saturday of October. Dallas is somewhat neutral territory being between UT in Austin and OU in Norman. Without exception it has been a complete sell-out every year since 1945 thus tickets are not easy to get. The seats are split between the two schools, but with total seating of only about 75,000 in the Cotton Bowl, each school has only about 35,000 tickets available, some are held out for VIPs and such. Since both schools regularly have sell-outs (Texas seats about 80,000 and OU about 72,000) there is far more demand than available tickets.
That did not stop the Okies, it seemed the whole state was going.
The weekend is billed as the World's Largest Beer Bust. YEE HA! I hope no where near me. College rah rah-ism is so annoying. Get a life folks. But in this case, it is their life. Football is big business in both Texas and Oklahoma. The game brings in multi-millions for Dallas restaurants and hotels. It is also said the fans can damage that much if their team loses. I say play the game in an open field somewhere north of Denton.
Traffic slammed to a halt just north of Denton and Michael said a normal 20 minute drive was now over 1 1/2 hours. I was not amused. My butt hurt. "The Mercedes" has orthopedically designed seats. The orthopod was a sadist. If I had a Mercedes, the seats from the Queen Mary would be installed immediately. My butt never hurts after a long cushy ride in the QM.
Everything is big in Texas except this highway, which inexplicably had only two lanes and a shoulder wide enough for a truck or two. The new interchanges however are temples in the sky. They pile the lanes higher and higher to impress I suppose. Higher than a 5-10 story building, the lanes criss-cross over the highway below, I wonder if they have warning lights for aircraft?
We finally wheeled our way to our destination. Michael was using "The Mercedes'" GPS system and she talked us to Pat's house, even announcing that we had arrived. Arrived indeed. Pat was waiting with a dirty martini for us and I was relieved to exit and get on dry land. The fun was only beginning.
Tomorrow: Turtle Creek Chorale welcomes the Heartland Men's Chorus
After successfully negotiating our way out of the OKC metro area, we continued relentlessly southward. Top still down, the day getting warmer. It was Friday afternoon now and those getting an early start on the weekend began to clog the roads. Many of the cars were flying flags and festooned with all sorts of University of Oklahoma logs and such. Red, assumedly the school colors, was everywhere; like the red tide of the sea. "It looks like the Okies are invading Texas", I remarked while passing a van flying several OU flags, everyone inside dressed in some sort of red. "Damn!" Michael exclaimed, "it must be OU/Texas weekend." I felt a chill in the warm open air... this must be serious.
Every year rival college football teams Oklahoma University and University of Texas play an important game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The game has been held in Dallas since 1937 traditionally on the second Saturday of October. Dallas is somewhat neutral territory being between UT in Austin and OU in Norman. Without exception it has been a complete sell-out every year since 1945 thus tickets are not easy to get. The seats are split between the two schools, but with total seating of only about 75,000 in the Cotton Bowl, each school has only about 35,000 tickets available, some are held out for VIPs and such. Since both schools regularly have sell-outs (Texas seats about 80,000 and OU about 72,000) there is far more demand than available tickets.
That did not stop the Okies, it seemed the whole state was going.
The weekend is billed as the World's Largest Beer Bust. YEE HA! I hope no where near me. College rah rah-ism is so annoying. Get a life folks. But in this case, it is their life. Football is big business in both Texas and Oklahoma. The game brings in multi-millions for Dallas restaurants and hotels. It is also said the fans can damage that much if their team loses. I say play the game in an open field somewhere north of Denton.
Traffic slammed to a halt just north of Denton and Michael said a normal 20 minute drive was now over 1 1/2 hours. I was not amused. My butt hurt. "The Mercedes" has orthopedically designed seats. The orthopod was a sadist. If I had a Mercedes, the seats from the Queen Mary would be installed immediately. My butt never hurts after a long cushy ride in the QM.
Everything is big in Texas except this highway, which inexplicably had only two lanes and a shoulder wide enough for a truck or two. The new interchanges however are temples in the sky. They pile the lanes higher and higher to impress I suppose. Higher than a 5-10 story building, the lanes criss-cross over the highway below, I wonder if they have warning lights for aircraft?
We finally wheeled our way to our destination. Michael was using "The Mercedes'" GPS system and she talked us to Pat's house, even announcing that we had arrived. Arrived indeed. Pat was waiting with a dirty martini for us and I was relieved to exit and get on dry land. The fun was only beginning.
Tomorrow: Turtle Creek Chorale welcomes the Heartland Men's Chorus
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Dallas Bound: KC to OKC
Friday October 6th dawned bright and warm, unseasonable. I was not complaining, as Michael and I were off to Dallas. We were travelling in "the Mercedes" as he always says, making sure everyone knows it is more than just a car. Being a convertible one, the weather was most appreciated.
The morning was also a bit strange. I had taken Puggles to the kennel..I mean the Royal Limo had taken her to the spa for the weekend; a nail job was in order. It seemed spooky without her around. I packed, checked thrice for "Tix, Tux and Black shoes" the three required items, anything else could be compromised.
We loaded up the Mercedes and off we went topless, the car that is. It was a bit cool for my taste but I enjoyed the open air as we quickly crossed in to Kansas and headed south on I-35.
I had taken that road many times, and it had not changed much. Soon we were to Emporia, the last civilization in the Flint Hills. Sparce, lonely and treeless, the Flint Hills are spectacular in their desolation. Undulating treeless hills, vast vistas, distant herds of cattle were the norm for many miles. We soon found ourselves passing by a lonely spot where in 1931, football legend Knute Rockne died in a plane crash; the wooden Fokker F10 Super Universal breaking up and hurtling to the ground in Chase County. Remenants of the plane are still there. There is no public monument, but I had a Chase Countian show me the spot a few years ago. You have to know where you are going.
Wichita zoomed by, we did not stop. Wichita had a contest years ago for a city song. The "Wichita Lineman" song was not about the city at all so it was not useful to them. Unfortunately, like Orange, nothing much rhymes with Wichita. Thus no song was selected. A couple unsuccessful entries leaked out such as:
"I Lost my Pa so I Went to Look for Him in Wichita"
and my personal favorite:
"Come on Down to Wichita, Where Folks Don't Bitch-At-Ah'"
Oklahoma soon appeared, looking little different than Kansas. Oklahoma City was the next civilization. I was last in OKC on May 3 1999. Also driving to Dallas with a colleague from Beverly, we stopped for gas in Moore, OK on the south side of town. I told Ron then that the clouds looked like a storm was brewing. 45 minutes later the station and most of Moore was obliterated by an F5 tornado. I did not want a repeat and we safely passed. The spot was marked by a new shopping development.
The weather was fine, the top still down and I had not killed Michael. So far so good!
Tomorrow: OKC to Dallas: The Okies Invade
The morning was also a bit strange. I had taken Puggles to the kennel..I mean the Royal Limo had taken her to the spa for the weekend; a nail job was in order. It seemed spooky without her around. I packed, checked thrice for "Tix, Tux and Black shoes" the three required items, anything else could be compromised.
We loaded up the Mercedes and off we went topless, the car that is. It was a bit cool for my taste but I enjoyed the open air as we quickly crossed in to Kansas and headed south on I-35.
I had taken that road many times, and it had not changed much. Soon we were to Emporia, the last civilization in the Flint Hills. Sparce, lonely and treeless, the Flint Hills are spectacular in their desolation. Undulating treeless hills, vast vistas, distant herds of cattle were the norm for many miles. We soon found ourselves passing by a lonely spot where in 1931, football legend Knute Rockne died in a plane crash; the wooden Fokker F10 Super Universal breaking up and hurtling to the ground in Chase County. Remenants of the plane are still there. There is no public monument, but I had a Chase Countian show me the spot a few years ago. You have to know where you are going.
Wichita zoomed by, we did not stop. Wichita had a contest years ago for a city song. The "Wichita Lineman" song was not about the city at all so it was not useful to them. Unfortunately, like Orange, nothing much rhymes with Wichita. Thus no song was selected. A couple unsuccessful entries leaked out such as:
"I Lost my Pa so I Went to Look for Him in Wichita"
and my personal favorite:
"Come on Down to Wichita, Where Folks Don't Bitch-At-Ah'"
Oklahoma soon appeared, looking little different than Kansas. Oklahoma City was the next civilization. I was last in OKC on May 3 1999. Also driving to Dallas with a colleague from Beverly, we stopped for gas in Moore, OK on the south side of town. I told Ron then that the clouds looked like a storm was brewing. 45 minutes later the station and most of Moore was obliterated by an F5 tornado. I did not want a repeat and we safely passed. The spot was marked by a new shopping development.
The weather was fine, the top still down and I had not killed Michael. So far so good!
Tomorrow: OKC to Dallas: The Okies Invade
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Time of My Life: Dallas Here I Come
Gentle Readers, Greetings! I arrived back from the weekend in Dallas and am still recovering. I had a fabulous time in many ways. The concert was an incredible experience, I am glad I went and spent the time learning the material. The Myerson Symphony Center is a wonderful venue.
I learned a ton from the Turtle Creek Chorale's director, Tim Seelig. He is highly dynamic, communicative and inpirational, far from what we have here. I'll tell more about his rehearsals and direction. I am still amazed.
This was like being invited to play at Carnegie Hall. Dallas' Turtle Creek Chorale is the premiere Gay Men's chorus in the world. Sorry Seattle and San Fransisco, there is no better. Emmy award documentary, Billboard Classical CD top ten seller, Grammy award nominations... they are fabulous. And welcoming and friendly. They thanked us for coming, we thanked them greatly for letting us come. I was greeted far better than anyone in my own chorus, we have a lot to learn.
I wish I could have taken my fair readers with me. You would have loved it.
Note to that I have been messing with the blog!
I learned a ton from the Turtle Creek Chorale's director, Tim Seelig. He is highly dynamic, communicative and inpirational, far from what we have here. I'll tell more about his rehearsals and direction. I am still amazed.
This was like being invited to play at Carnegie Hall. Dallas' Turtle Creek Chorale is the premiere Gay Men's chorus in the world. Sorry Seattle and San Fransisco, there is no better. Emmy award documentary, Billboard Classical CD top ten seller, Grammy award nominations... they are fabulous. And welcoming and friendly. They thanked us for coming, we thanked them greatly for letting us come. I was greeted far better than anyone in my own chorus, we have a lot to learn.
I wish I could have taken my fair readers with me. You would have loved it.
Note to that I have been messing with the blog!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Road Trip
I am off for Dallas until Monday. The Heartland Men's Chorus is combining with the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas for a special one time concert on Sunday. Michael and I are driving to Dallas and staying with a friend of his. Pat is 85 and sounds like a hoot. Sat is rehearsals, master class with Dr Seelig and a party. Sunday I am going to tour Dallas and then the call for the theatre is 5PM. Monday drive home!
Links for the concert:
Turtle Creek Chorale
Heartland Men's Chorus
Pato will have all sorts of stories to tell when he waddles home!
See ya!
Links for the concert:
Turtle Creek Chorale
Heartland Men's Chorus
Pato will have all sorts of stories to tell when he waddles home!
See ya!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Jasper's Restaurant, Kansas City: That's Italian!
There is nothing like a great dining experience and I had one tonight. After our regular Wednesday night happy hour, Michael and I decided we were hungry for some good Italian. There was no hesitation, Jasper's was the only choice. Not that it is the only one in town, God knows there are hundreds. But Jasper's is special. Family owned, been in business 52 years and look at the awards:
Emeril Lagasse of TV fame has included one of Jasper's recipes in his show, a pumpkin ravioli. I am not a fan of pumpkin so I did not try it, I am sure for pumpkin fans it is heaven.
In 1954, Leonardo Mirabile and his son Jasper opened a small neighborhood Italian restaurant and bar named Jasper's. It soon became a popular dining spot. Jasper's gradually expanded its menu and remodeled the restaurant as it evolved into one of America's premiere locations for gourmet Italian food. In 1997, they closed the original location and moved to 103rd and State Line.
Without a doubt this was the best dining experience I have had in a long time. Impeccible service, incredible food. Reasonable but not cheap, the dishes are well proportioned and quite tasty.
I had two desires, both fullfilled. A true anti-pasta with salami and cheese, olives and crostini, some pepperocini and roasted pepper and a beef carpaccio. No problem said Jasper Mirable, Jr. Both were wonderful. The beef carpaccio was not even on the menu. When a restaurant will do that, they have my business for-fucking- ever! My rigatoni with the salsa modo mio was to die for. The pasta was al dente to perfection, the sausage in the light tomato-basil sauce was spicy/sweet and just ...perfection. Michael had Vitello alla Valdostana Veal filled with Prosciutto di Parma, capers and Fontina cheese in a lemon piquant sauce. It was tender and delicious.
I had a wonderful canolli for dessert and expresso and Michael had cappuccino with a coconut cake. Both just perfect.
Damn, I am happy.
Jasper's Restaurant and Marco Polo Italian Market
1201 W. 103rd St KCMO 64114
Can't be beat.
- "Best Italian Restaurant in Kansas City" Zagat
- "Top Ten Italian Restaurant in America" East-West Network
- "Distinguished Restaurants of North America" DiRona Award
- "Most Satisfying Dish of the Year" USA Today
- "Four Stars" Kansas City Star
- "Four Diamonds" AAA
- "One of America's Most Honored Restaurants" Bob Lape, WCBS Radio New York City
- "A Culinary Delight" Rave reviews for the first chef from Kansas City to the prestigious James Beard House
- "Silver Spoon Award" Ingram's Magazine
- "One of America's Top Italian Restaurants"Calvin Trillin-Time Magazine
Emeril Lagasse of TV fame has included one of Jasper's recipes in his show, a pumpkin ravioli. I am not a fan of pumpkin so I did not try it, I am sure for pumpkin fans it is heaven.
In 1954, Leonardo Mirabile and his son Jasper opened a small neighborhood Italian restaurant and bar named Jasper's. It soon became a popular dining spot. Jasper's gradually expanded its menu and remodeled the restaurant as it evolved into one of America's premiere locations for gourmet Italian food. In 1997, they closed the original location and moved to 103rd and State Line.
Without a doubt this was the best dining experience I have had in a long time. Impeccible service, incredible food. Reasonable but not cheap, the dishes are well proportioned and quite tasty.
I had two desires, both fullfilled. A true anti-pasta with salami and cheese, olives and crostini, some pepperocini and roasted pepper and a beef carpaccio. No problem said Jasper Mirable, Jr. Both were wonderful. The beef carpaccio was not even on the menu. When a restaurant will do that, they have my business for-fucking- ever! My rigatoni with the salsa modo mio was to die for. The pasta was al dente to perfection, the sausage in the light tomato-basil sauce was spicy/sweet and just ...perfection. Michael had Vitello alla Valdostana Veal filled with Prosciutto di Parma, capers and Fontina cheese in a lemon piquant sauce. It was tender and delicious.
I had a wonderful canolli for dessert and expresso and Michael had cappuccino with a coconut cake. Both just perfect.
Damn, I am happy.
Jasper's Restaurant and Marco Polo Italian Market
1201 W. 103rd St KCMO 64114
Can't be beat.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Self Destructing Republicans
I love the sight of Republicans self destructing.
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice (I am looking for a good recipe for Condoleeza Rice) accused Watergate journalist Bob Woodward Monday of inventing a terror warning she got just before 9-11 but the State Department appeared to contradict her.
Senate Majority leader Frist said he learned from briefings that Taliban fighters were too numerous and had too much popular support to be defeated on the battlefield. Huh??? Aren't they the enemy, are we conceding defeat? Talk about "Cut and Run".
The reality of Mark Foley scandal is that it is clear now that every issue in the Bush administration is partisan politics - even the safety of children. Bush loyalists worked to protect Republicans and make Democrats look bad. Sadly no one who had the opportunity and access to evidence ever acted upon it and risk the upcoming elections. To protect Congressional pages from the inappropriate advances of former Rep. Mark Foley was not important.
By the way, it is reported that former Congressman Mark Foley's campaign committee, Friends of Mark Foley, contributed $1,000 to Boy Gov Blunt's campaign in 2004. Blunt was quick to "donate the money to charity".
Keep on self destructing....
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice (I am looking for a good recipe for Condoleeza Rice) accused Watergate journalist Bob Woodward Monday of inventing a terror warning she got just before 9-11 but the State Department appeared to contradict her.
Senate Majority leader Frist said he learned from briefings that Taliban fighters were too numerous and had too much popular support to be defeated on the battlefield. Huh??? Aren't they the enemy, are we conceding defeat? Talk about "Cut and Run".
The reality of Mark Foley scandal is that it is clear now that every issue in the Bush administration is partisan politics - even the safety of children. Bush loyalists worked to protect Republicans and make Democrats look bad. Sadly no one who had the opportunity and access to evidence ever acted upon it and risk the upcoming elections. To protect Congressional pages from the inappropriate advances of former Rep. Mark Foley was not important.
By the way, it is reported that former Congressman Mark Foley's campaign committee, Friends of Mark Foley, contributed $1,000 to Boy Gov Blunt's campaign in 2004. Blunt was quick to "donate the money to charity".
Keep on self destructing....
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly, Puccini's masterpiece, is the most performed opera in North America and likely 2nd or 3rd in the world. It is easy to understand why. Soaring melodies, a compelling and believable story (a somewhat rare thing in opera), and exotic locale (Japan in 1904)combine to create perfect theatre.
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City had not mounted a Butterfly in a while so the new production was a welcome season opener. A traditional production, with simple unchanging sets of a small Japanese house with garden and moving soji walls, the opening night performance was met with well deserved bravos.
The plot is well known Wickipedia has a nice synopsis. MADAMA BUTTERFLY What was so outstanding was the incredible voices of the performers. Uniformly good from the imposing Bonze sung by Matthew Arnold to the incredible, world class Butterfly of Barbara Divis and Pinkerton of David Pomeroy. Not a note missed, clear ringing diction (another rarity, even with my elemental Italian, I could understand what they were singing) and excellent acting ability. The pace was excellent and even the long-ish second act breezed by.
Pinkerton was not a sympathetic character, but exposed as the uncaring, swaggering bore he is. The blame is put on him and this his last minute attempt to repent is made even more pathetic. Pomeroy looked and acted the part of Pinkerton to perfection, using glances, expressions and moods to convey his swaggering power. He hit every high note with ease, his voice never failing.
If Pomeroy was good, Divis as Butterfly was sheer operatic delight. This is what opera is all about. Communicating a role through looks, acting and singing. "Un bel di vedremo" was met with ringing bravas and show stopping applause. My friends who accompanied me to this performance have seen Butterfly all over the world, including La Scala and the Met and were profuse in the praise of this young lady. And trust me, they are usually stingy with their praise.
Lori-Kaye Miller was a strong, supportive Suzuki, and Bradley Garvin likewise as Sharpless.
The story is timeless, Butterfly is all things good, and kind and selfless. A paragon of unconditional love and loyalty, she comes across as naive and childish. Pinkerton, as power, imperialism, materialism and machismo destroys the fragile Butterfly. Simple, still powerful today.
(Pomeroy has upcoming Butterfly performances in Fort Worth and St Louis and Divis has performances scheduled with Arizona Opera and Hawaii Opera, worth watching for).
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City had not mounted a Butterfly in a while so the new production was a welcome season opener. A traditional production, with simple unchanging sets of a small Japanese house with garden and moving soji walls, the opening night performance was met with well deserved bravos.
The plot is well known Wickipedia has a nice synopsis. MADAMA BUTTERFLY What was so outstanding was the incredible voices of the performers. Uniformly good from the imposing Bonze sung by Matthew Arnold to the incredible, world class Butterfly of Barbara Divis and Pinkerton of David Pomeroy. Not a note missed, clear ringing diction (another rarity, even with my elemental Italian, I could understand what they were singing) and excellent acting ability. The pace was excellent and even the long-ish second act breezed by.
Pinkerton was not a sympathetic character, but exposed as the uncaring, swaggering bore he is. The blame is put on him and this his last minute attempt to repent is made even more pathetic. Pomeroy looked and acted the part of Pinkerton to perfection, using glances, expressions and moods to convey his swaggering power. He hit every high note with ease, his voice never failing.
If Pomeroy was good, Divis as Butterfly was sheer operatic delight. This is what opera is all about. Communicating a role through looks, acting and singing. "Un bel di vedremo" was met with ringing bravas and show stopping applause. My friends who accompanied me to this performance have seen Butterfly all over the world, including La Scala and the Met and were profuse in the praise of this young lady. And trust me, they are usually stingy with their praise.
Lori-Kaye Miller was a strong, supportive Suzuki, and Bradley Garvin likewise as Sharpless.
The story is timeless, Butterfly is all things good, and kind and selfless. A paragon of unconditional love and loyalty, she comes across as naive and childish. Pinkerton, as power, imperialism, materialism and machismo destroys the fragile Butterfly. Simple, still powerful today.
(Pomeroy has upcoming Butterfly performances in Fort Worth and St Louis and Divis has performances scheduled with Arizona Opera and Hawaii Opera, worth watching for).
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