Yesterday, the radio opera was Mozart’s “Idomeneo” from 1986, chosen by Joyce Di Donato because of Frederica von Stade. I have a von Stade story from many years ago which appeared in Cat Fancy magazine, submitted by a vocal coach about the first time von Stade (“Flicka”) came to learn from her. At one point the coach’s cat threw up o Flicka’s foot. The coach thought she’d lost a student forever. But Flicka just deadpanned, “I hope it wasn’t my singing,” and stayed with the coach. She is a class act in every way. It’s interesting to me (if no one else) that every time an “Artist’s Choice” is picked by someone I really like, that their choice is based on someone in a previous generation I also really, really like.
I would call this “mixed” rather than “good.” But for decades we have been thinking “doomed,” and “mixed” is definitely an improvement over that.
Now this is sportsmanship. This is how sports are supposed to work (and sadly often don’t.)
It’s always good news when someone gets to live his or her dream. And it’s always especially good when it’s a child, and particularly a child who’s experienced an illness that no one, and especially no child, should have to cope with.
Yesterday, for a change, SCROTUS ruled against the Mango Monster 6-3 for a change in Trump v. Illinois – a case Harry Litman has been saying since it was filed would be its moment of truth. Because had it gone the other way, the Monster would have had free rein to act on any lies he could dream up. Harry Litman invited Leah Litman (mp relation) to discuss it with him on Substack Live. Both were so excited they were interrupting each other. I’ll provide the link anyway, difficult as it is to listen to (actually the video seems to be one and done, but the transcript is there), but a key factor was that one amicus brief was incredibly important. One amicus brief which was saying something no one else was saying, but which was right. So if you ever discounted the effect of amicus briefs – it’s time to rethink that.
CPR News referred me to this. Between this and a related story about Colorado losing FEMA funds which are now tied to immigration policy, I decided this one would affect a whole lot more people in a whole lot more places.
I’ve written previously about Lone Star ticks, and IIRC at that time there were already a few other ticks who carried this trait, but apparently, according to The Conversation, it’s getting worse. I don’t, thank the universe, have this particular food allergy, but I do have a couple which are almost equally crippling, such as wheat and soy, and frankly, you don’t want to have any food allergy ever, and especially when grocery prices are out of control.
I’m sure everyone is aware about how the short (for a documentary) documentary about CECOT had been scheduled to air on 60 minutes but was yanked by Bari Weiss. But she either forgot or didn’t know that 60 minutes also plays on Global TV in Canada. By the time she realized it, Canada had already seen about 13.5 minutes of it. That 13.5 (13.35 to be precise) was all over the internet. By yesterday, it had been taken down from most of those places. But it it viewable here. If you haven’t already seen it, you might want to watch it, if only because so many people worked so hard to prevent you from seeing it.
Yesterday, I learned that Steve Schmidt has added an “ugly Christmas sweater” to his merch. I don’t think most “ugly Christmas sweaters” are all that ugly – but this one is – on purpose (and it’s not actually a sweater but a sweatshirt.) In its own way, though, it is humorous. You can see it here. Also, the radio opera was Wagner’s “Lohengrin”, also beautiful, also long, also from Bayreuth. Of the three from there, this was the only one whose starts were big names in the U.S. (I’m pretty sure that some of the stars in the other two were big names in Europe, but not well known here.) The tenor is from Poland and the soprano from South Africa (which I can forgive her as long as she doesn’t spout racist stuff, and she hasn’t so far.) I’m off to see Virgil now and will check in on return.
From The 19th. Like every human institution, the Catholic Church throughout history has often been wrong – and sometimes very wrong. So it’s good to see any representative of the church making amends for that – even small ones (I would call two acres small. On the other hand, it is all they had.)
The Smile referred me to this story, which is nothing if not touching. I’m afraid it’s video only (and I needed to unmute the sound, though that may be just me).
From Colorado Public Radio. I missed this on Tuesday and I don’t think it happened Wednesday. And I’m not sure it’s good news (what does it say about climate change? No one is addressing that.) But it certainly is pretty to look at.
This is certainly good news for those who love animals – especially those who would like to know what they are thinking. It’s from a site called “reasons to be cheerful.”
Yesterday, the radio opera was “The Pearl Fishers” by Bizet (who is more famous for “Carmen”). Carmen overshadows it, but it is performed occasionally. It contains an absolutely gorgeous duet for the tenor and the baritone which is frequently recorded and sung in concert, though. When the Met presented it on a Saturday with Matthew Polenzani (a tenor who is very popular and therefore had sung the duet a fair amount prior to playing the role) and the host asked him about the duet, he pointed out that until doing the full opera he had no idea that everything he was singing in it was a lie (and he is correct in that. But it’s still gorgeous.) The plot relies heavily on coincidence (not unusual in opera) and ends with massive destruction of property but no loss of life (both unusual in opera.) Not much of it rises to the standard of the duet, but it is still all very listenable. It’s also pretty short – barely two hours. I think I mentioned that my local station, which is public radio but not affiliated with NPR, couldn’t afford the second half of the summer broadcasts – especially after the federal funding loss – but what they decided to do was to play a recorded complete opera every week until the Met starts again. The announcer who owns a huge collection of recordings is not as old as I am, but is old enough that they may, like mine, all be on vinyl. Because The Pearl Fishers is short, when it was over and I went back to local, the opera he picked for today was still going – and I didn’t recognize it. Heck, I didn’t even recognize the language at first. My first guess was Russian, but I couldn’t exclude Czech – enough popular operas were written by Czech composers that it’s not all that unlikely. But as I heard more, I realized it was German and almost certainly Wagner; I thought I recognized the sword motif from the Ring Cycle. But when did a tenor have such a long monologue, followed by input from a bass and maybe a mezzo soprano? Maybe Lohengrin? And then I heard the tenor address the soprano as “Elsa.” Yup. It was Lohengrin. Sorry/not sorry about the “stream of consciousness” there. It seemed like a good opportunity to demonstrate that not only do I not know everything, I don’t even know as much as I think I know. The WFMT will be broadcasting Lohengrin from Bayreuth in three weeks, so I’ll get my chance to hear the whole thing (not for the first time either.)
I saved this from Democratic Underground for Sunday, so it’s not brand new. But it’s definitely good. I hope it catches on elsewhere.
This from The 19th is about a good response to a very bad situation. I’m sorry about the situation – but glad that at least something is being done.
This is from Wonkette Thursday, which I thought close enough to Sunday to hold. Even my Mom bought into the theory that if you tax rich people “too much” they’ll just move away. I guess this tax isn’t “too much” – whatever that means. (My feeling about that theory was always “Good riddance” anyway.)
Yes, four links. But can we ever have too much good news? This is from Wolves and Sheep and was written by Chris Bowers. It is neither complete not graven in stone, but as far as it goes, it looks good.
Yesterday, I received an email about an upcoming demonstration, not sprcifically on electoral politic, but on climate, called Sun Day. It’s scheduled for September 21. They havealready scheduled over 350 events in 46 states – fewer that, for instabnce, No Kings, but very large for a climate demonstration. And they’d be happy to add more if there’s not one near you. For anyone interested, here’s the link.
As if the murder of Charlie Kirk wasn’t enough, we had another school shooting in Colorado on Wednesday. Colorado Public Radio reports.
It’s been a week with lots of news – and too much of it important for me to be able to begin to share it. But this by Robert Reich, which came out Tuesday has to be shared. We can’t afford not to. Reich is a specialist in labor, and from that place also an economist. He knows it will hurt. He also knows that any other course of action will hurt worse in the long run.
This is long for a Borowitz Report (at least it is for a free one) and it’s not terribly funny (although it is cute in its way). But it may come in very useful.
Yesterday, Trinette came by after her work day ended. She works at home, for the state of Colorado, on a program which was new last year to assist mothers and children. If it were for the Federal Government, she would be out of work now, you betcha. I am SO grateful she is working where she is! Also yesterday, I got the first fundraising email from the first candidate for one of California’s new provisional Congressional districts. She is a federal labor attorney and will run against Darrell Issa. She previously flipped a city council seat within the new district. You go, girl! Also, the press conference with Epstein survivors was recorded on video (by PBS News) and is available here. it’s almost an hour and a half but I really don’t know how it could have been much shorter. (you can always skip the introductions – although heaven knows it’s remarkable to hear MTG make sense. And all of them together only come up to about 18 minutes. Questions begin at about 52 minutes)
You may have read about this incident – I did – but I didn’t have the analysis then. Talking Points Memo is generally pretty good at that.
I drink coffee again, after I don’t know how many years not doing so. And I have to say I’m glad the EU is doing this, because we certainly won’t. Yes, it will affect prices. But too many people have somehow convinced themselves and others that there is no price to pay for keeping our planet livable. Or, for that matter, for doing right by others on a daily basis. And that just isn’t so.
It’s no secret that I’m big on analysis. Sometimes without good analysis (and occasionally even with it) it’s tough to tell whether news or potential news is good or bad. Take, for example, the possibility of the Mango Monster dying. Many people are all for it. I, o the other hand (and along with John Pavlovitz, among a few others) am terrified by the possibility. But I digress. The Brennan Center, which is also keen an analysis, is addressing “the shape of the big showdown on presidential power” in an article titled “Appeals Courts Rule Against Trump on Tariffs and Deportations.” Brennan doesn’t always link to specific articles, but I think I found a direct link to this one.
Yesterday, my exterminator came by. There’s slow progress – but it is progress.
I don’t suppose anyone here doesn’t know this is happening. (‘m glad Howard from Aurora was there – a reminder people can live in war zones and still be decent people.
Action Network is declaring the week of August 21-27 ” People vs Billionaires Week of Action”, and has plans, and is making more plans. And also looking for more ideas. At least I can provide more notice time for this one.
Talking Feds Harry Litman is well aware about how dangerous and serious all the crap from this administration is. But this seems to me more of a sounding the alarm than his usual style. You won’t be able to see the whole thing, but there’s plenty in what we can see
Yesterday, the ACLU announced in an email that it had quickly refiled to block the executive order against birthright citizenship as a class action, allowing a federal judge to block it nation wide. Also, I got my blood test results and none of my meds is changing this time – a welcome first. Also, the 19th advised me that the first Barbie doll to have Type 1 diabetes is here. This is what she looks like. If it seems weird to you to se something so comparatively “normal” in the news, you are not alone.
This from the F* News is brilliantly framed and might possibly even suck MAGA into reading it, though they might not get the point.
Press Watch with Dan Froomkin – who does know what journalism is, and also what it isn’t. If you claim to be a journalist, and have “a strong belief and passion” in anything other than truth and accuracy – you are nor a journalist. Period. (And the New York Times is just as bad and getting worse by the day.)
It’s hardly news that Republicans lie. Some of us who have been saying they lie like Democrats breath are now starting to re-evaluate that, because they lie so much more than Democrats breathe. It should be no surprise that Heather Cox Richardson has their number.
possibly even suck MAGA into reading it, though they might not get the point.