Open Thread March 8 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 082026
 

Yesterday, much of the snow was gone. It took longer in my back yard, which is on the west side of the house. The radio opera was the second half of Les Troyens, about the Trojans’ time in Carthage before they made it to Italy so (in the myth) their descendants could found Rome. Although the inly singer in both parts was John Vickers, as in the first half, all the solo singers were people I remember fondly, including Judith Blegen, with whom I shared a violin teacher – not at the same time, but later, after the teacher had taken a job at the college (now a university) in Alamosa, where I moved after leaving the USMC. She was as fine a violinist as she was a soprano. (I should say is, actually, since she’s still living, only four years older than I am, but she’s no longer singing in public.) Our mutual teacher is not mentioned in the Wikipedia article, but pretty much all professional musicians have more teaches and coaches than could possibly fit into a brief article. He taught her while she was in Montana. There may still be a debate as to whether or not Menotti wrote “Help, Help, The Globolinks” for her – Menotti denied it – nut there just aren’t very many operatic sopranos who can play the violin at a professional level, so his denial is a bit hard to believe. Off to see Virgil now; will check in.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/family-reunites-with-dog-lincoln-park/
OK, this story starts with a stupid mistake. But it gets better – and then just keeps getting better.

https://www.witn.com/2026/02/23/pactolus-global-school-principal-greets-students-daily-with-music-grooves/
This story – is a lot of fun. And about how fun can help kids learning.

https://www.cpr.org/2026/03/04/alzheimers-disease-misdiagnosed-rebecca-chopp-former-du-chancellor/
This is long for a Sunday – I try to keep them short and bright – but it is astonishing, at least to me. really though that if we knew how to diagnose anything, it would be this. Obviously I was wrong.

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Open Thread March 1 2026

 Posted by at 5:57 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 012026
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” – just the first half. It was recorded in 1974, so all the stars are singers whom I remember vividly. It’s a beast to stage, and in fact was not staged in Berlioz’s lifetime. It’s in two acts, and we’ll hear the second act next week. It tells the story of the first four “books” of the Aeneid well – including Laocoon and his sons – which is probably the hardest to stage. The only character who is in both acts is Aeneas, so it’s also expensive to cast. But, if you like Berlioz, and I do, it is gorgeous. I’m not ignoring the fact that the Apricot Antichrist bombed Iran in the middle of the night Friday, and I’ll address that tomorrow. Today is a day of rest – and I’ll need time to go through multiple reports and decide what to stress and why. I did hear the Ayatollah has been confirmed to be dead, but as I type, I can’t vouch for it.

Sharing a story about the demand for tattoos rising as good news was never on my Bingo card. But I find the increasing demand for these specific tattoos both interesting – and encouraging that so many people care that much. Also, I’m impressed at how the owner of the shop is dedicating the increased revenue.

You may have to unmute this (I did), but it’s under 2 minutes, and it’s on loop so you won’t miss anything.

Building community is always good news (well, maybe not if it’s a “Christian Nationalist” community. But most are better than that.) This one sounds like fun – and is reaching more than just its members.

NM Granny

Cats

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Open Thread February 22 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 222026
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was “Manon Lescaut” by Puccini – his first big hit, actually. I always struggle not to laugh when she ends up dying in “the deserts of Louisiana”, but – since it’s set in the 18th century, when French-owned Louisiana stretched much farther west even than the Louisiana Purchase – it’s not nearly as silly as it sounds today. This performance was chosen by soprano Asmik Grigorian, a big fan of Mirella Freni (who was born in the same tiny little town where Luciano Pavarotti was born – there must have been something in the water.) Off to see Virgil now – will check in upon return..

This is kind of sweet. (You will likely need to unmute it)

It always warms my heart to see Joe Biden get any credit at all. He deserves so much better.

I do realize some people have difficulty with bats – and that most people are not aware how much bats do for the environment. But how can anyone not find flying foxes adorable?

Rocky Mountain Mike

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Open Thread February 15 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 152026
 

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.

Cat

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Open Thread February 8 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 082026
 

To the left is King Owlbert, an Alaskan Pygmy Owl who arrived at the rescue center with a drooping wing – hence the strip of red which is supporting it while he heals. He would fit in your hand. There are multiple species of very small owls up around the Arctic Circle, a\such as the Northern Pygmy Owl. But this little man is obviously Superb. Yesterday, the radio opera was Massenet’s “Werther.” It was based on “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” a novel written by Goethe when he was 24. It was first published in 1772, and there were incels then too. However, it was more difficult then to blame women, since they really didn’t have the power to choose whom they married, and at least some of them killed themselves instead of just whining. I’m not saying that was better, just that it happened, as it does in this opera. And it gives Massenet the opening for a really bang-up aria for the tenor – and, yes, it’s a whine, but today’s incels would get more sympathy if they whined like it. OK, off to see Virgil, will check in upon return.

It had not occurred to me that this was a possibility. I hope that other states will follow.

I’m not a dog person – I’ve known a couple I have liked, but I’m basically a cat person. But I am also a person who understands that dog people feel about their dogs the way I feel about my cats. I’ve had cats missing for periods up to a week and then show up. I’ve had cats missing that never showed up. I get the heartbreak. And I get the relief and the joy too.

You kind of have to scroll down here before you can see all the donated art. I consider it good news that so many contributed, and IMO the quality is high.

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Open Thread February 1 2026

 Posted by at 11:41 am  Politics
Feb 012026
 

Yesterday, it didn’t snow (it hasn’t since Monday) and the snow we did have is virtually gone. The radio opera was Arabella by Richard Strauss, which the last summer season also included, so it’s way to soon to say anything else about it. Mostly, I just cleaned out my inbox and committed knitting. I have three projects going, which is rare for me – usually I just work on one till it’s finished.

This doesn’t sound like good news rom the headline. You need to read the story. Then it’s good news.

Veterans. And kids. If you get newsletters from “Read the Smile” and saw this, you might have guessed I would share it.

I am not in the least worried about the birth rate – well, maybe that it’s too high – but this is just sweet.

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Open Thread January 30 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 302026
 

Yesterday, Bruce Springsteen. And MayDay has an action going for tomorrow.

Medical professionals are well aware of this. When I was checking in to rehab in ’23 and was asked whether I had “Advantage,” I said something like “I wouldn’t have Advantage if they paid me to take it,” And the response was “Oh, you’re smart.”

ICE and CBP are just the tip of the iceberg in Minnesota. MAGA has always been full of vigilantes. Does anyone besides me wonder why, if they actually believe and trust the Saffron Sauron’s Keystone Cops, they think they have to handle it themselves?

I wholeheartedly agree with the business owner who says the “law and order” is not what is happening. But I disagree that it isn’t politics, because all politics is moral (or immoral.)

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Open Thread January 25 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 252026
 

Yesterday, another day, another death at the hands of (presumably) ICE (CBP is also out and equally lawless.) At least it appears to have turned many Dems away from voting for the appropriation bill which funds ICE. The radio opera was “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.” The Met always refers to it that way, though if there’s another one, I’m not aware of it. I expect everyone has heard something from it – the most likely thing would be “Summertime.” Others often excerpted include “A Woman Is a Sometime Thing,” “My Man’s Gone Now,” “I got plenty of Nothin'” “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” The Gershwins were adamant that it should never be performed unless the cast was 100% black – although I assume that would not include the ICE agents Detective and Policemen, who only have very short spoken parts – just long enough to make the racism clear. (They didn’t specify a black conductor, but today we had that too.) This performance was even more bittersweet that usual – Ryan Speedo Green, a bass-baritone who is still young and on the way up, was in it, and so was Denyce Graves, a diva who has been singing opera for decades and is retiring – this is her last performance -was also in it. During her career, she inspired so many young black singers to consider opera that it is possible – even probable – that without her we would never have heard Speedo either. If that sounds irrelevant, consider how many entertainers in movies and popular music have drawn attention not just for their professional activity, but for their activity in the community – George Clooney, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, and so many more. And that, for good or ill, becomes part of their persona. It’s the same with opera singers. Renee Fleming working with veterans with PTSD and physical injuries through music therapy. Joyce di Donato doing the same in prisons. I’d love all these singers just for their work in opera – but their other activities make it personal for me. They honored her at the end of intermission – with a speech, a facsimile of a plaque which is going up in the Opera House to honor her forever, and a piece of the iconic crystal chandelier (because, like her, it lights up the House.) I can’t say, I wasn’t crying – but I can say she was too. Off to see Virgil now – will check in upon return

I mentioned music therapy in connection with the opera. Bot any and everything that has to do with art and creativity can make a huge difference for veterans – or anyone, really. But I can see why Rocky Mountain PBS featured this from the Denver Art Museum.

This from CBSNews Atlanta is just plain sweet.

I had no idea that this was even possible. Virgil has a form of red/green color blindness – he can see true red (crayon red) and reds that are on the blue side. But the more brown there is in something that is rea, the more green it looks to him, and all browns look green. And greens look brown. Not that it would have helped to know about it – it’s clearly pretty pricey. And it’s too late now – even if I could get one, it would be illegal to send it to him.

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