Politics Plus

Yesterday, the radio opera was “Hemlet.” But I should be more precise, since this is a 21st century opera, and not the first based on Shakespeare’s play. The composer is Brett Dean, an Australian composer whose work is new to me, and who appears to have been influenced by Thomas Ades.Among the personae, I’m only familiar with those songing Ophelia, Polonius, and the ghost (who doubles as the Gravedigger), but those three are singers I know and like. The libretto is almost all Hamlet, although the lines may not be assigned to the characters Shakespeare gave them to, and it’s been hinted a few lines are from other plays.Two of the singers are counter-tenors (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern), and I’m glad to see contemporary composers writing for counter-tenors – provided they also write juicy roles for mezzo-sopranos (and this opera does – Hamlet’s mother Gertrude.) I’d very much like to see it – for me, it works well to hear an opera I’m familiar with, but until I have seen one that’s new, I miss things. I should get a chance though – it’s being shown in theaters, which means it’s being recorded, and should be available eventually for streaming from the Met’s website.

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Short Takes –

Democratic Underground – “Democrats officially have more seats on the congressional map than Republicans”
Quote – Y’all, with our win in court in New Hampshire this week, the 50th state is officially done with map drawing, the congressional redistricting landscape is clear – and Democrats and #FairMaps supporters have a lot to celebrate!… Democrats officially have more seats on the congressional map than Republicans – there are now 226 Biden seats to just 209 Trump seats. (This is +1 in Biden seats compared to 2020 and a vast improvement over 2012.)
Click through for details. This is a good news story which however does NOT mean we can relax. Democratic majorities for the midterms are not useful if Democrats don’t get out and vote – and we are notorious for that.

The Daily Beast – Utah County Gripped by Bizarre Accusations of Murder and Cannibalization of Kids
Quote – Utah County Attorney David Leavitt, who is running for re-election, is calling for the immediate removal of the county sheriff, Mike Smith, over a bizarre report implicating Leavitt in a “ritualistic” sex ring known for “cannibalizing young children.” The 151-page report, which was released by the sheriff Wednesday among law enforcement but has not been made public, is said to name Leavitt and his wife as integral figures in the trumped up conspiracy. The report claims the abuse took place between 1990 and 2010 and was carried out in three Utah counties.
Click through for story. Because this is why this stuff upsets me so. Anyone and everyone is vulnerable. the next pseron to get accused could be me. It could be you.

Letters from an America – June 2, 2022
Quote – U.S. District Court Judge David Carter reviewed a number of documents. In March, he concluded that one particular memo must be released under the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege, a rule that shields communications between lawyers and their clients. That memo was perhaps “the first time members of President Trump’s team transformed a legal interpretation of the Electoral Count Act into a day-by-day plan of action,” Carter wrote. He said that the memo “knowingly violated the Electoral Count Act,” the 1887 law that establishes clear procedures for states to certify their electoral votes and assigns to the Vice President the role of opening the certified electoral votes. Carter continued that the memo “likely furthered the crimes of obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States.” Last week, the January 6 committee made the memo public in its ongoing legal fight with Eastman.
Click through – there’s lots more about the memo – and more about the implications of their plans.

Food For Thought