Brief, and to the point.
Where did Moammar Gadhafi, the brutal dictator of Libya, get the money to pay the foreign mercenaries who are butchering his people? How did he pay for those French-made fighter jets strafing protesters?
Europe, mainly. Europe buys 80% of Libya’s oil. Other than terrorism, that’s pretty much the only thing Libya exports.
The rest is better...
HT Donald Sensing at Sense of Events.
Monday, February 28, 2011
On The One Hand, More Of The Same. On The Other, A Sane Proposal For Symphony Orchestras In The US
With the world seeming to burn down, it seems silly for OS to spend any energy on a seemingly minor subject.
Point taken. But, OS calls your attention to the masthead, his premise behind his scribbles.
It is important that this country have really good orchestras, operas, ballets, music schools, and the like. Music is important, and instrumental classical music is a big part of that.
The whole enterprise is on shaky ground these days, though. Many of the 'big' orchestras are running deficits, which cannot be sustained for the long term. Detroit has shut down, since the musicians decided to reject the latest offer. Louisville almost did, but the judge has demanded that management spend the endowment on the payroll. Good luck with that, ya'll. Charleston Symphony simply turned out the lights and shut the door last spring, and just restarted in December 2010.
Unionized orchestra musicians, like some others in the culture, have this unshakable belief that goes like this: I can do things like play the bassoon parts to all the Strauss tone-poems, perfectly, every time, come what may. I therefore should have a gig with an orchestra that will pay me a respectable income to do just that sort of thing. The orchestra gets its money from TheGreatMoneyTree, that endless flow of cash that emerges from the bottomless well of wealth in the government, and the other bottomless wells of wealth located in the corporate sector, and the concert-going public, who gratefully purchase tickets to hear me play the Strauss tone-poems. I have no other obligation to the city in which I live than to play my bassoon. The city is obliged to support me.
There was a day, say fifty years ago, when that model more-or-less held true.
It does not apply now.
This on musician troubles at the NYC Ballet:
Two performers' unions have teamed up to fight what they call "unacceptable labor relations policy" at the New York City Ballet.
The American Guild of Musical Artists and Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians announced Thursday that their respective negotiating committees met on Jan. 24 to discuss ways to combat the ballet's "unacceptable approach to contract negotiations." AGMA represents dancers; Local 802 represents orchestra musicians. Members of both unions are working under contracts that expired in August.
In a joint statement, the unions said that they agreed to wage freezes last year "despite the fact that NYCB's fiscal problems seem to be caused by questionable artistic and administrative planning, by a development department that isn't raising enough money, and a publicity department that isn't selling enough tickets." The unions went on to call for a wage increase, describing a further freeze as "unacceptable" and saying that the two negotiating committees will meet again "to consider joint actions to compel City Ballet to address their respective members' needs in a more positive, acceptable manner."
Really, ya'll. Just can't make this stuff up. It's like we don't have a functional 20% unemployment rate, and management has its own Fed in the back office to go print it up sum moh' munny, hunny.
On the other hand, there is a voice of sanity out there, a most credible one at that:
Tony Woodcock, President of New England Conservatory.
Instead of over-specialization and the exclusive pursuit of perfection dictated by the demands of the recording industry, let us instead strive for excellence, a broader set of skills for our musicians, and a new responsibility by our musicians to the community. Instead of musical technicians, let us mold what the founder of “El Sistema” calls “apostles to society.” Let’s release our musicians’ creative potential in a directed and synergistic way for a whole community. Musicians are brilliant and wonderful people and can do anything; we need to trust their judgment and direction and creativity. Music schools have begun taking steps to prepare young musicians for such a future. Excellent musicianship continues, of course, to be a given and students graduate with ever more impressive chops.
I cannot think of another industry where there is no relationship between the employers and the trainers. For the future, this really needs to change and I believe the key words are “partnerships” and “collaborations”—orchestral partnerships with music schools, and orchestral collaborations within the community. To facilitate these, we need to tear up all those restrictive collective bargaining agreements and create a context of flexibility and trust. This has never previously been possible between musicians, management and boards, but the new model would not be based on confrontation and dysfunction. It would be about a shared vision, ownership, and musician empowerment. Orchestras could then focus upon community interaction with an educational bias. Musicians would have multiple functions and responsibilities, many of which would be self-managed and created in the community.
It's a great article, and deserves to be considered.
Point taken. But, OS calls your attention to the masthead, his premise behind his scribbles.
It is important that this country have really good orchestras, operas, ballets, music schools, and the like. Music is important, and instrumental classical music is a big part of that.
The whole enterprise is on shaky ground these days, though. Many of the 'big' orchestras are running deficits, which cannot be sustained for the long term. Detroit has shut down, since the musicians decided to reject the latest offer. Louisville almost did, but the judge has demanded that management spend the endowment on the payroll. Good luck with that, ya'll. Charleston Symphony simply turned out the lights and shut the door last spring, and just restarted in December 2010.
Unionized orchestra musicians, like some others in the culture, have this unshakable belief that goes like this: I can do things like play the bassoon parts to all the Strauss tone-poems, perfectly, every time, come what may. I therefore should have a gig with an orchestra that will pay me a respectable income to do just that sort of thing. The orchestra gets its money from TheGreatMoneyTree, that endless flow of cash that emerges from the bottomless well of wealth in the government, and the other bottomless wells of wealth located in the corporate sector, and the concert-going public, who gratefully purchase tickets to hear me play the Strauss tone-poems. I have no other obligation to the city in which I live than to play my bassoon. The city is obliged to support me.
There was a day, say fifty years ago, when that model more-or-less held true.
It does not apply now.
This on musician troubles at the NYC Ballet:
Two performers' unions have teamed up to fight what they call "unacceptable labor relations policy" at the New York City Ballet.
The American Guild of Musical Artists and Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians announced Thursday that their respective negotiating committees met on Jan. 24 to discuss ways to combat the ballet's "unacceptable approach to contract negotiations." AGMA represents dancers; Local 802 represents orchestra musicians. Members of both unions are working under contracts that expired in August.
In a joint statement, the unions said that they agreed to wage freezes last year "despite the fact that NYCB's fiscal problems seem to be caused by questionable artistic and administrative planning, by a development department that isn't raising enough money, and a publicity department that isn't selling enough tickets." The unions went on to call for a wage increase, describing a further freeze as "unacceptable" and saying that the two negotiating committees will meet again "to consider joint actions to compel City Ballet to address their respective members' needs in a more positive, acceptable manner."
Really, ya'll. Just can't make this stuff up. It's like we don't have a functional 20% unemployment rate, and management has its own Fed in the back office to go print it up sum moh' munny, hunny.
On the other hand, there is a voice of sanity out there, a most credible one at that:
Tony Woodcock, President of New England Conservatory.
Instead of over-specialization and the exclusive pursuit of perfection dictated by the demands of the recording industry, let us instead strive for excellence, a broader set of skills for our musicians, and a new responsibility by our musicians to the community. Instead of musical technicians, let us mold what the founder of “El Sistema” calls “apostles to society.” Let’s release our musicians’ creative potential in a directed and synergistic way for a whole community. Musicians are brilliant and wonderful people and can do anything; we need to trust their judgment and direction and creativity. Music schools have begun taking steps to prepare young musicians for such a future. Excellent musicianship continues, of course, to be a given and students graduate with ever more impressive chops.
I cannot think of another industry where there is no relationship between the employers and the trainers. For the future, this really needs to change and I believe the key words are “partnerships” and “collaborations”—orchestral partnerships with music schools, and orchestral collaborations within the community. To facilitate these, we need to tear up all those restrictive collective bargaining agreements and create a context of flexibility and trust. This has never previously been possible between musicians, management and boards, but the new model would not be based on confrontation and dysfunction. It would be about a shared vision, ownership, and musician empowerment. Orchestras could then focus upon community interaction with an educational bias. Musicians would have multiple functions and responsibilities, many of which would be self-managed and created in the community.
It's a great article, and deserves to be considered.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Libya: Reports Of Mutinies Within Government Ranks
This website recently set up by someone sympathetic to the Libyan insurgents--no way of judging its veracity, however.
News has reached us via email that a security battalion commander in az Zawiya was killed by a soldier in the battalion. Soldiers refused orders to shoot and the commander was determined on the implementation of the orders of Khoweildy. One of the solders stepped forwards and rendered him dead with a bullet to the head. The soldier then said: It’s better that you die rather than the victims be tens of youth.
Again, no way of knowing the truth of the tale.
However, when a country ends up with 40+ years of dictatorial rule, sooner or later, it blows sky-high.
And then the darkness descends...
Just a note for future political leadership, when they decide to get in bed with characters like Gadafi, or Mubarak, or the Iranians, or the House of Saud.
News has reached us via email that a security battalion commander in az Zawiya was killed by a soldier in the battalion. Soldiers refused orders to shoot and the commander was determined on the implementation of the orders of Khoweildy. One of the solders stepped forwards and rendered him dead with a bullet to the head. The soldier then said: It’s better that you die rather than the victims be tens of youth.
Again, no way of knowing the truth of the tale.
However, when a country ends up with 40+ years of dictatorial rule, sooner or later, it blows sky-high.
And then the darkness descends...
Just a note for future political leadership, when they decide to get in bed with characters like Gadafi, or Mubarak, or the Iranians, or the House of Saud.
Just Because It's Friday: KJV Reading Of The Week
OK, OK, OK--it's Sunday. But OS was hip-deep in TheProjectThatWouldNotEnd, and Saturday was off for brunch with the Sainted Mrs. OS and golf. Moh' about that day later.
So for today, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, a Pauline passage from Colossians--one of the defining statements his Christology:
Colossians, Chapter 2:
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
So for today, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, a Pauline passage from Colossians--one of the defining statements his Christology:
Colossians, Chapter 2:
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Gaddafi: Going Out In A Sea Of Blood, Which He Considers A Blaze Of Glory
The France 24 live blog link is here.
In the meantime, the fallout seems to be spreading from the North African meltdown, including the sudden resignation of the French foreign minister.
The British, with what remains of their military, demonstrated their grit and pluck by extracting 150 of their countrymen from the desert yesterday. Wonder if someone in London regrets decommissioning that aircraft carrier and abandoning all those Harriers yet?
The Canadians, on the other hand, sent a plane to the airport for their people, and took off with the plane still empty. Oh, Canada!
Gaddafi has taken a page from Castro's and Arafat's playbook: When the going gets tough, create chaos. A full-blown refugee crisis is in the making, food distribution is breaking down, and the harbor and airport are full of ships and planes trying to get their foreign nationals the hell out of Dodge City while they still can. Chaos provides cover if one is determined to win at all costs, or barring that, get out with one's skin and a few billion and the harem to keep one warm.
Also interesting to see just how many people, beginning with Chavez and Gordon Brown, have been in bed with this monster for how many years. More on that latuh, ya'll...
In the meantime, Gadafi's world seems to be getting smaller by the day.
However, he could still book it to the southern regions, with plenty of cash, arms and mercenaries, and create chaos as a warlord.
Now, OS will spend some time heading down Memory Lane this week, looking for all those 'statesmen' who condemned Reagan for sending the US Navy after this monster in the 80's. How many lives would have been saved, had our boys managed to knock him off?
In the meantime, the fallout seems to be spreading from the North African meltdown, including the sudden resignation of the French foreign minister.
The British, with what remains of their military, demonstrated their grit and pluck by extracting 150 of their countrymen from the desert yesterday. Wonder if someone in London regrets decommissioning that aircraft carrier and abandoning all those Harriers yet?
The Canadians, on the other hand, sent a plane to the airport for their people, and took off with the plane still empty. Oh, Canada!
Gaddafi has taken a page from Castro's and Arafat's playbook: When the going gets tough, create chaos. A full-blown refugee crisis is in the making, food distribution is breaking down, and the harbor and airport are full of ships and planes trying to get their foreign nationals the hell out of Dodge City while they still can. Chaos provides cover if one is determined to win at all costs, or barring that, get out with one's skin and a few billion and the harem to keep one warm.
Also interesting to see just how many people, beginning with Chavez and Gordon Brown, have been in bed with this monster for how many years. More on that latuh, ya'll...
In the meantime, Gadafi's world seems to be getting smaller by the day.
However, he could still book it to the southern regions, with plenty of cash, arms and mercenaries, and create chaos as a warlord.
Now, OS will spend some time heading down Memory Lane this week, looking for all those 'statesmen' who condemned Reagan for sending the US Navy after this monster in the 80's. How many lives would have been saved, had our boys managed to knock him off?
Friday, February 25, 2011
Venezuela Tidings: Blogger 'Diablo' (The Devil's Excrement) Relocates
It is a bittersweet essay, the lament of the exile.
Thirty three years ago I came back to Venezuela fresh from a Ph.D. in Physics from well-known US University. It was an exciting time, Venezuela was moving forward, we all felt we were ready to take the country to the next stage of development, you could get research funding and lots of people were either leaving to study abroad or coming back with degrees in many fields. The first few years were exciting, things went well, I came back to Venezuela to work in a lab which already had good equipment and I was able to get more, got grants in Venezuela and abroad, my career took off. I also helped start an engineering research institute.
Then came “El Viernes Negro” (Black Friday), when the country’s economy had its first large devaluation in decades. This was February 18th. 1983. Within months the Venezuelan currency had lost almost 60% of its value, things got more difficult. It was a sign of things to come.
Things began to oscillate a lot. There were good years and bad years. Not much new funding. I was working in a field that required ever more sophisticated equipment, lots of running expenses. It was hard to stay at the edge, but I gave it my best try for quite a while.
and later...
There were two main reasons for this tough decision, one that came from the mind, not the heart: Crime and the absence of the rule of law. I stared at both of these in the face and it is something I don’t wish on anyone. You feel like you are not playing on a level field. If the crooks don’t get you, the other “crooks” will and you have no way to defend yourself. There are no instances, no appeals, you have no rights. Time to leave.
OS's heart goes out to this gent. What would it feel like to have to leave a lifetime behind, in order to secure the future of your family and children?
The United States has always been one of the few safe places for people like Dr. Diablo. OS keeps typing away, pleading with one and all that we remain that place: A place with a rule of law, opportunity to prosper, freedom to associate, speak, work, vote, and worship.
OS hopes his readers read Dr. Diablo's essay, and take his words to heart.
Blessings on him.
Thirty three years ago I came back to Venezuela fresh from a Ph.D. in Physics from well-known US University. It was an exciting time, Venezuela was moving forward, we all felt we were ready to take the country to the next stage of development, you could get research funding and lots of people were either leaving to study abroad or coming back with degrees in many fields. The first few years were exciting, things went well, I came back to Venezuela to work in a lab which already had good equipment and I was able to get more, got grants in Venezuela and abroad, my career took off. I also helped start an engineering research institute.
Then came “El Viernes Negro” (Black Friday), when the country’s economy had its first large devaluation in decades. This was February 18th. 1983. Within months the Venezuelan currency had lost almost 60% of its value, things got more difficult. It was a sign of things to come.
Things began to oscillate a lot. There were good years and bad years. Not much new funding. I was working in a field that required ever more sophisticated equipment, lots of running expenses. It was hard to stay at the edge, but I gave it my best try for quite a while.
and later...
There were two main reasons for this tough decision, one that came from the mind, not the heart: Crime and the absence of the rule of law. I stared at both of these in the face and it is something I don’t wish on anyone. You feel like you are not playing on a level field. If the crooks don’t get you, the other “crooks” will and you have no way to defend yourself. There are no instances, no appeals, you have no rights. Time to leave.
OS's heart goes out to this gent. What would it feel like to have to leave a lifetime behind, in order to secure the future of your family and children?
The United States has always been one of the few safe places for people like Dr. Diablo. OS keeps typing away, pleading with one and all that we remain that place: A place with a rule of law, opportunity to prosper, freedom to associate, speak, work, vote, and worship.
OS hopes his readers read Dr. Diablo's essay, and take his words to heart.
Blessings on him.
Freddie Mac Just Keeps On Losing, And We Just Keep Sending It Cash
Why we do this, OS doesn't begin to understand.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government-controlled mortgage buyer Freddie Mac managed a narrower loss of $1.7 billion for the October-December quarter of last year. But it has asked for an additional $500 million in federal aid - up from the $100 million it sought in the previous quarter.
Freddie Mac also posted a $19.8 billion loss for all of 2010.
Meanwhile, back at AIG...
American International Group Inc., the bailed-out insurer, said it faces increased risk of losses on its $46.6 billion municipal bond portfolio and that defaults could pressure the company’s liquidity.
“Because of the budget deficits that most states and many municipalities are continuing to incur in the current economic environment, the risks associated with this portfolio have increased,” New York-based AIG said yesterday in its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
AIG said that “several” issuers of bonds it holds have been downgraded, amid budget pressures. As of Dec. 31, the company had more than $700 million of state general-obligation bonds from California, which has the lowest Standard & Poor’s credit rating of any U.S. state. It also held more than $200 million in the bonds from Illinois.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government-controlled mortgage buyer Freddie Mac managed a narrower loss of $1.7 billion for the October-December quarter of last year. But it has asked for an additional $500 million in federal aid - up from the $100 million it sought in the previous quarter.
Freddie Mac also posted a $19.8 billion loss for all of 2010.
Meanwhile, back at AIG...
American International Group Inc., the bailed-out insurer, said it faces increased risk of losses on its $46.6 billion municipal bond portfolio and that defaults could pressure the company’s liquidity.
“Because of the budget deficits that most states and many municipalities are continuing to incur in the current economic environment, the risks associated with this portfolio have increased,” New York-based AIG said yesterday in its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
AIG said that “several” issuers of bonds it holds have been downgraded, amid budget pressures. As of Dec. 31, the company had more than $700 million of state general-obligation bonds from California, which has the lowest Standard & Poor’s credit rating of any U.S. state. It also held more than $200 million in the bonds from Illinois.
Gaddafi Gears Up To Fight
This from today's Financial Times.
Muammer Gaddafi, Libyan leader, seems to have the military and economic ability to defend his 41-year rule, raising the prospect of the political revolt against him developing into civil war.
Analysts said the colonel could call on a ragtag collection of forces – including mercenaries, fighters trained since youth, and a militia run by his son Khamis – to fight for control of enough of his country and its oilfields to keep a grip on power.
The assessment suggests that, while the leader’s sudden overthrow cannot be ruled out, deposing him may require an even bigger effort than the weeks of protest that have this year forced the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents from office.
Libya experts said the colonel also had citizens’ militias and African mercenaries, which have long been a plank of his security strategy.
He has been closely involved with the politics of a number of conflict-ridden sub-Saharan African nations over the years; Libya has served as a training ground for rebels such as Charles Taylor, the Liberian warlord and former president now being tried for war crimes.
So, he's got troops, weapons, cash, an absolute commitment to power, and absolutely no conscience.
Guess he's not planning on using that Gulfstream, after all...
HT Financial Times, ya'll:
Please respect FT.com's ts&cs and copyright policy which allow you to: share links; copy content for personal use; & redistribute limited extracts. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights or use this link to reference the article - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/37d3c100-404d-11e0-9140-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1EvxjNU6w
Muammer Gaddafi, Libyan leader, seems to have the military and economic ability to defend his 41-year rule, raising the prospect of the political revolt against him developing into civil war.
Analysts said the colonel could call on a ragtag collection of forces – including mercenaries, fighters trained since youth, and a militia run by his son Khamis – to fight for control of enough of his country and its oilfields to keep a grip on power.
The assessment suggests that, while the leader’s sudden overthrow cannot be ruled out, deposing him may require an even bigger effort than the weeks of protest that have this year forced the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents from office.
Libya experts said the colonel also had citizens’ militias and African mercenaries, which have long been a plank of his security strategy.
He has been closely involved with the politics of a number of conflict-ridden sub-Saharan African nations over the years; Libya has served as a training ground for rebels such as Charles Taylor, the Liberian warlord and former president now being tried for war crimes.
So, he's got troops, weapons, cash, an absolute commitment to power, and absolutely no conscience.
Guess he's not planning on using that Gulfstream, after all...
HT Financial Times, ya'll:
Please respect FT.com's ts&cs and copyright policy which allow you to: share links; copy content for personal use; & redistribute limited extracts. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights or use this link to reference the article - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/37d3c100-404d-11e0-9140-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1EvxjNU6w
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Gaddafi's Gulfstream Moment May Be Slipping Away
In order to have that Magic Gulfstream Moment, a despot needs three essentials:
1. A Gulfstream
2. A pilot
3. A place to land
This nugget just discovered in today's Telegraph live-blog of events in Libya:
14.10 The pilot of Col Gaddafi's private jet, who is Norwegian, has fled Libya, reports have claimed. Odd Birger Johansen, 57, flew to Vienna with his wife and daughter after fearing for their lives in Libya, the BBC reported. Mr Johansen is reportedly one of four personal pilots used by the long-standing Libyan leader.
Oops.
And, as to that place to land: One wonders if even Chavez or Castro would be able to provide safe haven.
Chad, anyone?
The live blog does a good job giving a sense of the chaos that has descended.
1. A Gulfstream
2. A pilot
3. A place to land
This nugget just discovered in today's Telegraph live-blog of events in Libya:
14.10 The pilot of Col Gaddafi's private jet, who is Norwegian, has fled Libya, reports have claimed. Odd Birger Johansen, 57, flew to Vienna with his wife and daughter after fearing for their lives in Libya, the BBC reported. Mr Johansen is reportedly one of four personal pilots used by the long-standing Libyan leader.
Oops.
And, as to that place to land: One wonders if even Chavez or Castro would be able to provide safe haven.
Chad, anyone?
The live blog does a good job giving a sense of the chaos that has descended.
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