Open thread 8/25/21
There are many reasons the ballet “Swan Lake” has lasted so long – nearly 150 years (the music; for the choreography, about 125). But I bet this video offers some reasons you hadn’t thought of before:
NOTE: I’m not familiar with the dancers in all the clips used in that video. But some are of Fonteyn and Nureyev, and some are of Maya Plisetskaya, perhaps the greatest Odette/Odile of all. Some are even older clips than that. I believe that in the quick cuts at the very end (not of “Swan Lake”), there is even one of Karsavina, for example, who was born in 1885.
A call to action for Australia.
Mostly they show clips with highly credentialed medical people for the first 5 or 6 minutes. Then a focus on Oz in the final part.
Dramatic music, etc. But some real value. About 8 min.
https://www.brighteon.com/c39c458e-70f1-4bcf-9ae7-17e5e92bbd99
Another News of the Weird-type item: The current VP was delayed in going from Singapore to Vietnam yesterday because of an “anomalous health incident”– “According to Bloomberg News, ‘The State Department has frequently used the phrase “anomalous health incidents” to describe so-called Havana syndrome, which has afflicted dozens of U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials who describe feeling ill and other unusual physical sensations after hearing strange sounds.'”
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/matt-margolis/2021/08/24/kamala-harriss-trip-to-vietnam-delayed-over-anomalous-health-incident-n1472304
According to Wikipedia [yes, I know; consider the source], Havana syndrome was first reported in 2017 by American and Canadian embassy personnel in Cuba regarding health issues dating back to 2016. “The health problems typically had a sudden onset: the victim would suddenly begin hearing strange grating noises that they perceived as coming from a specific direction. Some of them experienced it as a pressure or a vibration; or as a sensation comparable to driving a car with the window partly rolled down. The duration of these noises ranged from 20 seconds to 30 minutes, and always happened while the diplomats were either at home or in hotel rooms. Other people nearby, family members and guests in neighboring rooms, did not report hearing anything. . . . In March 2018, MRI scans and other tests taken by a chief neurologist in Pittsburgh on an unspecified number of Canadian diplomats showed evidence of brain damage that mirrored the injuries some of their American counterparts had faced.”
Theories about the cause(s) of Havana syndrome (which has been reported by military and embassy personnel in Washington, D.C., Moscow, China, Australia, etc. as well as Cuba) range from microwave or ultrasound sonic attacks, crickets, and exposure to pesticides to mass hysteria and psychological stressors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana_syndrome
As might be expected, the CDC is on the case: here is a link to the CDC’s 2019 report on the syndrome [18-page PDF]: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/documents/cdc-report-havana-syndrome-medical-mystery-remains-unresolved/CDC%20%2320200983DOS255%20Final%20Report.pdf
To quote Yul Brynner in his role as the King of Siam: “Is a puzzlement.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/canadian-pastor-who-faces-4-year-jail-sentence-for-inciting-church-warns-americans-the-enemy-is-not-hiding-anymore
Havana syndrome.
In Singapore.
Right.
Great excuse, though.
Most likely had to meet with some (THE?) government bigwig who after the niceties were quickly over asked her WTF the administration she is supposedly part of is thinking?
She wasn’t amused by the dressing down she got, so she __________.
…so she got Havana syndrome?
Quick thinker, that one!
(More likely got herself a Singapore sling or three…)
Uh, oh.
Former State Sen. Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles), a prominent Democrat and the first woman ever to serve as Senate Majority Leader in California, has endorsed conservative radio host Larry Elder over incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).
Twitter:
Laurel Rosenhall
@LaurelRosenhall
·
Aug 24
Democrat Gloria Romero, a former CA legislator & longtime charter school advocate, cut an ad supporting GOP candidate Larry Elder in the #RecallElection.
Elder’s campaign tells me this ad will air “in nearly every major media market in the state”
… longtime charter school advocate, … Ah, ha, ha. Just another brown skinned “white supremacist” they’ll say.
Barry Meislin, I think I read that the possible Havana syndrome incident was in Hanoi, not in Singapore. She seems to be all right, or at least as all right as she can be.
I read that “Havana syndrome” thing a couple times. My take was that Harris’ advance team in Hanoi was experiencing it. Before Harris got there. It could be seen as a delaying, or time wasting gambit on Harris’ part. But who knows?
An interesting twist on the California recall: Sirhan Sirhan, RFK’s killer, faces the parole board on Friday, but no prosecutor will oppose his release this time. Newsom has unilaterally refused to enforce California’s death penalty against even the worst cases. Link probably behind a paywall:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/rfk-and-the-california-death-penalty-11629925897?mod=djemBestOfTheWeb
@Kate:
On the plus side he *did* indisputably kill a Kennedy. That’s got to be worth a full professorship at Bard.
Probably be Arkanicided shortly after walking free. I mean, why take a chance?
Was reading some Australian news yesterday about a gang who distributed hundreds of kg of amphetamines over several years. On average it seemed that the (only) 6 year sentences on average handed down were paroled after ~1.5 years. Can only imagine how many died and how many lives blighted because of this gang.
We may not be interested in sentencing and prison reform, but They are most definitely interested in Us.
Interesting if True:
https://gab.com/Breaking911/posts/106818206955368326
“JUST IN: NBC’s Lester Holt will have a sit-down interview Thursday with the U.S. Capitol Police officer responsible for shooting and killing Ashli Babbitt. The officer will reveal his identity, the network says.“
The great John Derbyshire:
https://vdare.com/radio-derb/biden-s-saigon-ruling-class-incompetence-leaky-air-security-another-9-11-and-the-world-of-null-t-etc#03
So fire up your Volksempfänger and get to it!
Link contains podcast audio + transcript.
Charlie Watts, drummer of the Rolling Stones, died yesterday at the age of 80. An irreplaceable guy in an irreplaceable band.
I have tried to figure out the Stones’ sound since I was a teenager, when I heard “The Last Time” for the first time. It’s like chocolate — you can say it’s sweet, bitter, musky, etc. but the whole comes together like a miracle.
Everyone notes that Watts isn’t a flashy drummer and he isn’t. He has his stand-out parts like on “Paint It Black,” but mostly he is deep down keeping the groove going to accompany the others. When interviewed, he says that’s his job.
Everyone says he is steady as a rock and that’s true, but I hasten to add it’s not at all mechanical. It’s a living, breathing beat, not quite right on the beat, which gives the others room to move and play.
Reading up on his drumming, I’m no closer to the answer. Even drumming greats can’t explain beyond he gets the job done. So I’ll leave it to Keith Richards:
_____________________________
To me, Charlie Watts was the secret essence of the whole thing.
_____________________________
Watts eschewed the drama in which the other Stones lived. He married in 1964 and stayed with his wife to the end. He dressed like a gentleman and felt out of place on that account with the others.
Who could have known fifty years ago that Charlie would finish as the Handsome Stone?
Here’s Rick Beato’s tribute to Charlie Watts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtmUFTr7Dpk
He played three or four Stones songs (all of “Angie”) and spoke a bit about them — mostly “So good, so good.”
However, he didn’t have much specific to say about Watts’ drumming either except that there was no way the Stones could have been the band they were with a different drummer.
Amen to that.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Movie.
Whoopi says, “Mick, Mick, Mick. Speak English!”
Here is that film clip,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyHNryKojDY
Nice job Penny Marshall.
TommyJay:
I’ve been wanting to see “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” again, though not for a $3.99 rental.
I’ve hardly paid any attention to Whoopi for years. I know she says stupid stuff, but I haven’t heard it personally so it doesn’t poison her old work.
Geez. Penny Marshall died a few years ago too.
Here’s one more on Charlie, from 2019 so it’s not part of the current outpouring. It’s from an interview with Mike Edison, on the occasion of his book: “Sympathy for the Drummer: Why Charlie Watts Matters.” (Great title!)
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Everyone said what Watts did was simple, but it was deceptive. There was no bullshit to it. Other guys played heavier, but no one swung harder. Even years later people were still blathering about these prog rock drummers who could play, but didn’t swing, didn’t rock or roll. I don’t feel like Charlie Watts needs defending, or needs me as a champion, but someone had to lay it down so the punters could understand. He’s the guy. He keeps the roll in the rock. He’s humble. He knows his job is to make the band sound great. He is the key, as much as anyone, to the Stones sound.
–“Charlie Watts: No One Dances To The Guitar Solo”
https://rockandrollglobe.com/music-journalism/charlie-watts-no-one-dances-to-the-guitar-solo/
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Something else I keep reading: Charlie knew what to play and he knew what NOT to play.
Rudolf Nureyev dances Swine Lake with Miss Piggy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE1PYCQ159k