Saturday was lovely, and Mr. and Mrs. OS took the occasion to browse around our little town. Brunch at the diner, a bit of shopping, low-key. It is a blessing to live here.
There is a recovery of sorts underway here, evidenced by the fact that some young families are moving in, and back from other places, to raise their kids and start small businesses. The state, and this region in particular, has been a de facto plantation of the Democrat Party since the end of Reconstruction, which grip was finally broken last November. Elections matter, if for no other reason than the change of attitude that can flow from them.
The young restaurant owner offered a cogent observation--People have less money, so they will spend carefully, on good quality purchases. Perhaps the WalMart-fueled Race To The Bottom is about to end. The small gift shops and antique stores had some trade, although there are still empty storefronts aplenty. Again, good merch at good prices, very carefully purchased seems to be the rule. No one's blowing money, and no one's getting rich. But there is some optimism in the air.
On the other hand, the price of fuel and groceries is really beginning to hit hard on everyone. The hard winter clobbered the fruit and veg growers, more than tripling the price of tomatoes for the restaurant, for instance. Add to that the spike in diesel fuel, grains, etc. The latest pound of butter purchased was nearly twice the price of six months previous. Pet food prices are spiking. Clothing prices are expected to follow. The local men's store has beautiful stuff, but is holding modest inventories only.
The local athletic club parking lot was full yesterday afternoon, and the golf club has had a steady trade. Truck traffic is up on nearby I-40. A buddy who is a building contractor has booked four houses to build, after a frightening two years. He is relieved, to say the least.
Again, it is such a blessing to live here. Here's hoping the good trends continue.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Afternoon Tea With The Colonel: Christiane Amanpour In The Twilight Zone
Really, he sez. They all love me. Everything's fine.
It's Belshazzar at the feast, Der Fuhrer in the Berlin Bunker, ordering non-existent divisions to battle the Russian hordes, Mubarak on the TV declaring how his people love him and that he will never leave, on and on and on. The longer and more repressive the term in power, the more complete the break with reality.
'Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.'--Euripides.
It's Belshazzar at the feast, Der Fuhrer in the Berlin Bunker, ordering non-existent divisions to battle the Russian hordes, Mubarak on the TV declaring how his people love him and that he will never leave, on and on and on. The longer and more repressive the term in power, the more complete the break with reality.
'Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.'--Euripides.
I Zenga-Zenga, You Zenga-Zenga: Sometimes Only Laughter Will Do
People under his thumb have died like flies for some forty years, so this guy is not funny.
But he does deserve ridicule, before being hunted down and eliminated. Maybe, instead of a Gulftream Moment, he'll get his Mussolini Moment.
In the meantime, the viral video hit of North Africa and the Middle East.
javascript:void(0)
But he does deserve ridicule, before being hunted down and eliminated. Maybe, instead of a Gulftream Moment, he'll get his Mussolini Moment.
In the meantime, the viral video hit of North Africa and the Middle East.
javascript:void(0)
To Miss With Love Hits The Stores Today In The UK
To Miss With Love is on first-day sale today.
OS sends long-distance best wishes Ms. Birbalsingh's direction.
Here's hoping her book makes into many hands and hearts and minds, on both sides of the pond.
OS sends long-distance best wishes Ms. Birbalsingh's direction.
Here's hoping her book makes into many hands and hearts and minds, on both sides of the pond.
Monday, February 28, 2011
'Ethical Oil'--Ezra Levant, Toronto Sun
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.
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.
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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)