Chit Chat

By Ted Belman

From now on comments on every post must relate to the content of the post.

Comments that don’t relate to the post must go here.

Any person who contravenes this demand will be put on moderation. Also their offending comment will be trashed.

The reason for this demand is so that people who want to read comments which pertain to the post, don’t have to wade through the chatter.

Everyone will be happier.

April 16, 2020 | 7,784 Comments »

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  4. I have written to Ms Allbright prior to her wishing to join the Jihadists- she was at that time a proponent and sponsor of the now criminally formed PNAC , ” a composite of war criminals” Ms Bialik ought to be careful as to the elelment she choses to join, if she continues , I can send her a ‘HABIB” @ Sebastien Zorn:

  5. Will President Trump’s new rules restricting lobbying make it harder for classical musicians to make a living? There’s a lot of work at Christmas time playing in lobbies. And, you know, I think people need cheering up.

  6. “Israel moves to decriminalize cannabis use”
    http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=39909

    Now, if they had done this in 1993 or in 2005, I could understand.

    Actually there was a very funny movie that used this as the reason for detente with China

    “Dick” (1999) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144168/

    President Nixon takes pity on two ditzy teenage fans and hires them as the White House Dog Walkers.They inadvertently become responsible for some of the major catastrophes of the Nixon Presidency.

  7. “Madeleine Albright and Mayim Bialik vow to join Trump Muslim registry” Great! The more the merrier. Liberals and Leftists deserve watching, too.

    http://www.jta.org/2017/01/26/news-opinion/politics/madeleine-albright-and-mayim-bialik-vow-to-join-trump-muslim-registry

    Israel moves to decriminalize cannabis use
    http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=39909

    If they had done this in 1993 or 2005, I could understand. Not an original idea.

    This fictional satire credited detente with China to Nixon and his Chinese counterparts innocently consuming pot brownies as they were negotiating.

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144168/

  8. Wow! This Lapid is dangerous! These “Generals” are more worried about saving soldiers lives by avoiding battle than protecting their country, and Lapid supports them.

    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4913158,00.html

    “Lapid admonishes Bennett during Protective Edge: ‘Stop playing with the generals’
    Newly released transcripts of cabinet deliberations during the 2014 war show discord between the two former allies and the arguments over whether to accept ceasefire proposals.
    Yossi Yehoshua|Published: 26.01.17 , ”

    “”I demand a plan for the tunnels,” Bennett said.

    “The tunnel problem is new and we have no response,” Prime Minister Netanyahu noted.

    “We are ready with plans,” Ya’alon clarified.

    “I don’t see a necessity for a Gaza operation,” Gantz asserted.

    “The debate about neutralizing the tunnel threat is not for the cabinet,” Lapid told Bennett. “This isn’t a battalion commanders’ forum.”

    “This is really not for battalion commanders, this is for the cabinet,” Bennett insisted.

    “Stop playing with the generals,” Lapid retorted.

    About four weeks later, on July 27, after dozens of soldiers had been killed during the ground offensive in Gaza, Ya’alon accused Bennett of contacting senior field officers behind his back and undermining him.

    “You will not run my army, you will not come from the field and tell me, ‘we should do this, we shouldn’t do this,’ you hear?” the engraged defense minster said.”

    Wow. “My army?” Remember when Truman fired Gen. McCarthur for that?

    These old soldiers seriously need to do some fading away.

    “…Earlier in the war, Secretary Stanton had barred even the President from seeing telegrams from the front. One dispatch never reached either Stanton or Mr. Lincoln although it was received in the telegraph office. At the conclusion of the Seven days Battles in July 1862, General McClellan telegraphed: “If I save this Army I tell you plainly that I owe no thanks to you or any other persons in Washington – you have done your best to sacrifice this Army.” The statement scandalized Colonel Edward S. Sanford and he censored the line before the rest of the telegram was given to Stanton…”

    http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/washington/the-war-effort/war-effort-telegraph-office/

    McClellan was the losing general Lincoln replaced with Grant. McClellan was a Democrat.

  12. @ mar55:
    sorry, I just saw your post accidentally when I upscrolled, not sure it I read it yet, but from my current knowledge I agree with your conclusions… it was deceitful, crooked, illegal and yes he should be in jail. I was hoping that Trump would begin investigations on all the areas they covered up with their corrupt appointees… and get them jailed.

  14. German journalist: Assassination of Trump would end ‘tragedy’
    Editor of German newspaper says murder a quick method to remove President Trump from the White House.
    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/223969

    in the comments section it states that the editor joffe is a Jew born in Lodz… if this is so it is one more example of leftist jews putting target on the back of all Jews. Leftist jews who support the muslim invasions are already causing a spike in anti semitism among ordinary folks concerned with the security of their nation.
    Here are more traitor Jews

    ‘Germany dishonoring the memory of the murdered Six Million’
    German government funding radical anti-Israel group, report reveals.

    Zochrot chief Eitan Bronstein and other group officials participated in the production of a video which dubbed the Holocaust “the best thing that ever happened” to the Jewish people.

    But despite the group’s radical anti-Israel positions, the Im Tirtzu report reveals the German government is one of Zochrot’s biggest financial backers.

    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/223966

    Leftist Israeli Jewish nazis partnering with the leftist euronazis and muslims to destroy Israel. Although Germany must be blamed for funding these terrorists Israel cannot complain if it does nothing to incarcerate in admin detention the leftist foreign paid seditious terror moles in Israel. As usual we see Israel whining yet leaving them alone at home.
    Leftist Jewish nazis must be locked up to protect all Jews.
    Germany is blamed in both cases but the blame must also be shared by the Jewish left and the Israeli gov who allows them to fester and endanger all Jews.

  15. Economist: Stock Market Gained $2T in Wealth Since Trump Elected
    http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/01/25/stock-market-gains-2-trillion-trump-elected-steve-moore
    U.S. Rally Is the Envy of Stock Markets Worldwide
    In contrast to U.S. stocks, most major stock markets around the globe haven’t enjoyed the same postelection bump, and many remain far below their record levels
    http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-rally-is-the-envy-of-stock-markets-worldwide-1485378847

  27. @ mar55:
    I think he is a Communist Muslim agent like his father’s family, the Luo tribe in Kenya, and like his mother’s influence, and all of the people around him his whole life, including his earliest school in America which was affiliated with SDS, either Communists, Muslims, or both. I think he has been brilliantly successful as President. Weakening us and our allies is all an enemy can do. Our checks and balances as set up by our founding fathers are that good.

    http://www.nysun.com/opinion/kenya-connection/69273/

    http://www.wnd.com/2009/06/101566/

    Oh, this is rich, Obama’s parents met in a Russian language class in 1961. Just to refresh our memories — I was one and a half years old when JFK was inaugurated –, I googled: what was happening in 1961 and got:
    “In 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th president of the United States, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to fly in space, Freedom Riders took buses into the South to bravely challenge segregation, and East Germany began construction of the Berlin Wall.Oct 19, 2011
    50 Years Ago: The World in 1961 – The Atlantic
    http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/50-years-ago-the-world-in-1961/100172/“. So, Obama’s parents, themselves red diaper babies, met in a Russian language class at the height of the cold war. Naaaah. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. I’m just being paranoid. Obama was just a typical American kid.)

    http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Ann_Dunham_Soetoro

    I think Obama is great. “Wickedly great.” Ha Ha. If you get the reference.

    Fun movie. Fiction, but on topic. Sort of.

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095532/

  28. @ Edgar G.:
    @ mar55:

    All of the singers you named have multiple recordings in youtube. just type the name of the singer plus youtube in the address bar, hit enter, and select videos filter at top.

    Marston Records — which I enclosed a link to in an earlier post — reissues the earliest opera and classical recordings. Select Opera under catalogue and you will be amazed. I first learned of them from a documentary on public television years ago about their reissuing of the original edison recordings. You know, they also re-issued recordings that were made by a Russian classical musical enthusiast — a businessman who owned a bicycle shop in 1870’s or ’80s Russia, who recorded music at parties by Tchaikovsky himself among others. Great gifts. You can call them up and purchase over the phone and ask them to wrap and mail and put a card.

  29. @ Sebastien Zorn:
    I’m sorry I did not include your name besides Bernard. Please read the above article.
    Obama is like a child lying constantly to accomplish what he wants without any regard of the consequences. Except he is not a child but an adult doing everything on purpose. He hates the American people. He should be in jail.

  32. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/223441

    I think this is great! Golf clubs are places that politicians, business people and celebrities network informally. Policy gets made in golf clubs. If the club doesn’t invite Obama and a Jewish democrat resigns in protest that’s a win-win situation. What I call killing two birds with one stone. I hope the club doesn’t invite Obama and that all the liberals resign. Liberals are such liars. They annoy me. How many have said they would leave the country, if Trump (and before that Bush, Reagan, Nixon, etc.) got elected. WHY ARE THEY STILL HERE! These people do not keep their word.

  34. @ Sebastien Zorn:
    The DVD is selling the DVD and the book. Yes, I have Prime membership.
    An uncle in the family was a tenor. I have been listening to Opera since I was an infant. An old lady like me has listened to enough music in her lifetime to know what I’m listening as soon as I hear a voice.
    I enjoy the Opera for the sake of the music. You do seem to enjoy the arts. It is something that comes from within and makes me happy. I wish I had a voice but, an operation left me without the small voice I had. Purely for pleasure. Young man, enjoy music as long as you can
    get around because: Getting old is not for sissies.
    BTW Do you like Audra Mc.Donald? I saw her in Broadway and was surprised at the size of her voice. She was trained as an Opera singer but her voice is a delight.
    Never thought it was so powerful. Beautiful.
    Old age has its limitations but still get around.
    I’m praying to see the American Embassy in Jerusalem.
    Wish I had enough life in me to see the rebuilding of our Temple.
    Good night. Shalom.

  36. @ mar55:
    Yes, I have it. Wonderful story well told. Amazon has the book in paper or ebook form and the movie. If you download the Kindle (ebook) version, it is cheaper and instant. You can download to any internet connected electronic advice. The app is free. And you can adjust brightness, font, columns, size, etc. Takes up no space. Sometimes for a small fee you can get an audio version as well. Also at audible.com.
    https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=orchestra+of+exiles

    If you have a Prime membership, you can get free two day shipping on the book and you can watch the movie for free (instead of a small rental fee) on Amazon Instant Video on your computer, tablet, or phone. With the right cable and adapter you can also stream to your tv. This is why all or most of the book, and video stores as well as movie theaters went out of business. Little reason to leave home anymore. Unless it’s to see/hear a live performance or visit a real bookstore like the Strand or an antiquarian book store. Not sure if there are Barnes and Nobles everywhere. In Manhattan, they have free same day delivery of books to your door. Books that wouldn’t be in stock in the store. I know of at least one church that converted its bookstore into a starbucks like capuccino shop since they read all their bibles on tablets now. Funny thought, from stone tablets to electronic tablets. Full circle in only four thousand years. College textbooks as well. Some change-resistant or Luddite-oriented people might find it highly appropriate that aspirin comes in tablets, too.
    L’esprit d’escalier thought on another post. I wonder if Zubin Mehta’s name is derived from that same Metta of the Buddhist Metta Meditation which means loving kindness in Pali.

  38. @ Sebastien Zorn:
    A baritone with an extension as Domingo or a baritone like Hampson?
    Today we had a presentation at the Shul “ORCHESTRA OF EXILES”
    presented by Hadassah and The Sisterhood.
    The story is of how one man helped save Europe’s premiere Jewish musicians from obliteration by the Nazis.
    How these great musicians were moved to Palestine and
    formed a symphony that would become Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
    I’ll try to get a copy. It is a beautiful story.

  39. @ Sebastien Zorn:
    During the years when my children were growing up I was a hands on Mom. That means I was checking homework’s. Teaching Math and taking them to extra curricular activities. I took them the Philharmonic and the Opera, Museums and different exhibits. New York s a dream for cultural opportunities for children and grown ups. Summer Camp and vacations are left for school brakes.
    As soon as the youngest was in boarding school instead of going to occasional performances I got subscriptions to the Philharmonic plus extra performances and, first subscribed to the Met moving up the subscription until becoming a Patron.
    As a Patron as you mentioned I got four dress rehearsals ending having six. They did assigned seats that everyone had a sit around the auditorium.
    Certain days of the week a knowledgeable audience makes the majority of the audience. Others…You know that the prime parterre boxes are some people who leave after the first act.
    Stayed as a Patron for the first three years of Peter Gelb.
    Quit right after three years because I do not like Gelb’s
    presentations or choice of singers.
    John Volpi was an excellent manager with lots of common sense.
    Gelb likes to waste money and I knew he would go through the Met’s endowment until it went bankrupt. The Met’s board thinks that you need and advance College degree to manage an organization like the Met. Volpi’s creativity saved lots of
    money for the institution and did not put up with nonsense.
    A soprano with a beautiful voice and some good acting could work for Volpi. Gelb goes for physical beauty instead of the voice.
    Of the contemporary sopranos Ana Netrebko not only can she sing but I have see her making a back flip on stage.
    There are excellent singers nowadays and many others like Kathleen Battle and Roberto Asagna whose ego precedes his stupidity have been let back to sing at the Met.
    The politics at the Met and at the NY Philharmonic should be left out of these institutions. Cultural institutions managed by people with lots of money but not love for the arts. Love the power but that is all.
    During the years I was attending I had a great time. Several times due to sickness the main tenor or soprano had to be substituted by the understudy and at least two times the
    substitute was better than the schedule performer.
    The Met Council in the spring is another treat where you meet
    the future.
    It was good while it lasted. Now I have medical problems and life is a lot different.

  43. @ mar55:
    Durbin was also a brilliant comedienne. In this clip from her last film, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040364/ she sings the tenor aria from Figaro and then falls into a pool of water backwards on the final cadence. The plot of the film is delightfully silly too. She’s a white house switchboard operator and everybody from the President on down is trying to get her a date. That’s it. Seriously. But, somehow, it works.

    https://youtu.be/Mol_ttm6uVI

  45. @ mar55:
    Can you guess how much the cheapest tickets were in the early 70’s? Standing room was $1.75 and $2.75. Now it’s a little over $20. We used to buy the cheapest standing room and then sneak into empty seats during the intermissions playing tag with the elderly usher who would have thrown us out. One time, I was dressed so outrageously — I was about eleven or 12, I think, and by myself. As a member of the Met opera association, I was allowed to attend so many Dress rehearsals, almost nobody was there, but the seats were way back. It was a production of Peleas. I snuck into a seat in the orchestra dead center. I was wearing blue jeans, a blue beret with a red pom pom and moccassins, no socks. My hair was just a little long, almost shoulder length. The elderly ogre of an usher came around and I said to myself, Oh well, this is it. He went up to the handsome, well-dressed couple at the other end of the aisle. And threw them out! Reminds me of this great film which has a couple of scenes sort of like that. One of the those classic Hollywood films which couldn’t be more G rated but have titles that to our jaded sensibilities couldn’t sound more X rated. They used to show all of these films on TV all the time when I was a kid. And there were only, what, 6 or 7 channels. No cable. One of the reasons nothing is “before my time.”

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029347/

    https://youtu.be/UfcFMv8DWAc

    She was the Number One Box Office Teenage Singing Star in the Movies in the thirties, singing Opera and Jazz in every film (and a Chinese Song in one), Judy Garland was number two and only sang Jazz standards. But she left the business in the forties and is now mostly forgotten. Times change but a jewel remains a jewel. Here’s another forgotten gem: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025094/

    https://youtu.be/03I8hWhsO1k

  47. @ mar55:
    No, though sometimes I play operas (smaller companies.) I was a big fan when I was about 12 (and a member of the Metropolitan Opera Association or whatever it was called). Now, I just like playing them and listening to the arias. Tastes change. Though not my eclectic favorites: Kodaly and Bernstein.