What in the World Now?

By Bobby

The Demise of Good Music on Media. If there's one thing I've learned here, we have a love of classical music. Obviously, with Spoleto and related events starting off Interstate 26 in Charleston, learning the information on the most popular station in the area is always a good thing. The recession has taken a toll, however, on the quantity of material available. Also, there's a big hockey series in the minors to worry (Stingrays vs Aces).

A recent technical bulletin posted by the cable company noted that MusicChoice has decided make channel changes to their channels. Among the channels staying are the natural list of big pop hits, including a new hip-hop channel ("MC Mix Tape", older hip-hop), music for toddlers, "True Country," but opera and musicals have been removed from the list. I had to wonder what that shows when people would rather listen to hip-hop rather than opera, and when churches are now preferring hip-hop over sacred masterpieces, what it means.

Do They Know What's In That Song? The sexual deviants have taken control in the White House, and now they have grabbed courts and the New England Area in attempting to rewrite "marriage" to appease their own lobby. But while working out recently, a popular tune by Stefani Germanotta was blaring through the class that I thought the lyrics needed Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten to decipher initially. While at a dinner last week, I saw numerous children dancing to that song and I could not believe the lyrics of the song when I went inside the letters. It was using gambling metaphors from roulette, poker, and blackjack being used for X-rated discussion, including explicit use of language that these children should never be hearing. Out of the mouths and ears of these children are these questionable songs, and the worst part is the sexual deviancy being discussed on the songs and other sexually charged explicit lyrics that would send Mark L. Walberg dropping people two metres down to their deaths. Sexually explicit language was in the song where if a common-sense person heard such talk, that would be worth a $25,000 fine, and 25 points.

When the dance teacher wanted to teach the routine to a coeducational group, she warned the men that it was too "girlie". It was not known until I learned about the sexual deviancy of the song the exact reason for that. Sadly, when it was taught to younger people, the males wanted to dance like women in those parts.

It was a downright raunchy song by Miss Germanotta about another type of sexual deviancy. The sad issue is we have too many who do not understand the messages of these songs. Yet, they are huge fans of it because of the beat. Even Miss Germanotta wants a "girlie man" and that's not what I want. I'd rather be a strong serious man who is dancing with a former Duke cheerleader who is a good friend of mine (and we were partners in an adult dance class) than be courted by someone who wants a girlie man. Don't be any type of girlie man!

Proof is in the Pudding. In an article that came to my attention this week regarding the church music controversy I have learned in the past few years since I began taking voice lessons, one source noted at one of the popular "life enhancement centres" that masquerade as a church was taking rock music at a level of 98-108 decibels, and that the people wanted only to feel the music. If this is the type of "music" in churches a generation has been trained in hearing with no theological content, what happens to them when they grow older? It seems many of them have lost the faith, as they walk into a college campus and are not firmly entrenched in the faith, and when they walk into church, they hear only "dead music" that is serious in its content, with live organs and does not have the 98-108 decibel music of feelings such as the latest megahit from the secular publishers.

This Just In. Chris Roseborough of the Extreme Theology site has a great article that would fit with our This Just In segment. Sadly, with the numbers killed each year in baby slaughter that is legalised, it could be true.

Is This Church? Mr. Roseborough also sent this link to a comic about a stupid church. It's supposed to be fiction, but sadly, these things are happening in too many churches. We've gone from suits to business casual, to now anything goes in church dress codes.

Now How's This Bet? GOP 2012 On the Line? Mark Sanford (shrimp and grits from a Charleston restaurant) and Sarah Palin (wild salmon) have a bet on the line in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals between the Stingrays and Aces. Let's Go Stingrays!

Transnationalism. We are starting to hear of "transnationalism" among the President's judicial nominees to the Department of Justice and the courts. It is the simple idea of using foreign law to overturn local, state, and federal laws (sodomy, abortion, criminals) that led to my comment that our nation's capital was being moved to Brussels. Now they're talking about our Constitution being illegal, replaced by foreign laws. Now how much worse can it be? I said our nation's capital was being moved to the "capital" of the European Union in Belgium because of the attitudes of these justices. I did not vote for any of these pro-transnationalists to any position, yet like a crush car, I am being smashed by the monster truck of the liberal supermajority.

The Real Goal. I warned that the President's plans for automakers was to push for the microcars months ago. That's why he was wanted total control over automakers. This is turning nearly into Hitler. Just imagine the newspapers showing the number of dead caused by a Big One on the way to school. He wants to control two by force because they focused on trucks and not cars, and the other one he already has through concessions to switch to a three-tiered (micro, mini, small) line, and a willing Governess who praises them for switching to small. I don't want to drive a car that uses an engine smaller than a World Superbike motorcycle, and lighter than a P1 car in the 24 Heures du Mans. Yet that's what the President thinks . . . it fits transnationalism too since Europe, not us, dictates our autos the way they dictate our laws.

Our Troops. One of my college friends is in Afghanistan with the Army. I also have other friends in the services. Let us remember those who have been killed in action over these wonderful years. Sadly, what they teach in our schools today is to hate the heroes of battle, and to promote anti-war freaks such as Jeanette Rankin and Barbara Lee. Heroes such as Patton and Eisenhower are now relegated to the scrapheap under revisionists' attitudes against heroes and in favour of goats. We need to remember our battles.

No Easy Answers-Many Questions: The Hauser Family

By Cathy of Alex

For the last few weeks, in Minnesota, the local news has reported on a Sleepy Eye, Minnesota family, the Hausers, that refuse to consent to their 13-year old son, Daniel, receiving chemotherapy for his lymphoma. 13-year old, Daniel, was most articulate and adamant in a news program that interviewed him that he does not want the chemo either. Daniel stated that the decision to refuse chemo is not being forced upon him by his parents. A court ruled that Daniel, as a minor, must receive the chemo. State statute in Minnesota requires that parents must provide necessary medical care for their child.

We've all seen cases like this before; most notably in Christian Scientists. However, the Hausers are not Christian Scientists, they are, reportedly, Roman Catholics.

However, they also say they are practitioners of Nemenhah which is, reportedly, a Native American spirituality. I'm a Native American, and I've never heard of it. I had to look it up. They have a website here. They call themselves a "band" and an organization of healers. The Nemenhah are NOT a federally recognized tribe and they don't claim to be. They appear to me to be solely a "band" (not in the way I, as a Native American, may define band) meaning a group of like-minded people united thru their natural healing methods. The members are diverse and nationwide. Some appear to be Native Americans from federally recognized tribes, others are not.

Yesterday, Daniel and his mother, Colleen, fled after a court-ordered doctor appointment. The appointment revealed that Daniel's condition is worsening. Reportedly, their father, Anthony, does not know where they are. Currently, a nationwide arrest warrant has been issued because by fleeing the treatment they are in contempt of court because the court mandated the treatment.

In this day and age there is a lot of court ordered meddling into life/death issues going on.

Leaving aside the unwiseness of mixing and matching belief systems into a "New Age" mishmash that this family appears to have lived, the issues raised by this case are many. Yes, he's a minor, but what if the family wanted treatment for him but the only treatment offered was thru a facility that was funded by Planned Parenthood and their Roman Catholic beliefs meant they did not want treatment there? They are willing to travel for care to a facility more palatable to their beliefs but the court refuses to allow them to do so. Then, what? Who's to say whether one form of treatment is better than another? The court will decide for you. We have laws that codify alternative medicine can be used to compliment mainstream medicine. What if he'd rather see a Shaman than a doctor? In some states insurance has to pay for alternative practitioners same as a mainstream doc. What if he wants to smoke pot to alleviate his pain and take his prescribed meds? In some localities you can. What if you are an adult and you make a decision to stop treatment for a condition that will kill you or debilitate you and decide to just leave it "to the Lord"? Is a court going to run in and tell you that you have to keep the treatment going due to issues of expense to society to care for you, or that your belief system is not a good enough justification?

The statute says parents must provide necessary medical care for their child. I'm curious what the ramifications of that are on parents that have no insurance or the insurance they have is not adequate to cover the condition the child may have? Can a family be imprisoned for not hospitalizing a child because they can't afford it? I wonder what is defined as "necessary" medical care. If verbiage like that is in statute than why do so many lack insurance? If the state mandates care, than they should pay for it. (I know, I hear you howling. I don't like the thought of state-run mandated insurance either-but think about it isn't that what it's saying?) Will it be a crime to not have insurance or a means to pay for medical care? Hmmm... seem to recall reading in some insurance law proposals in recent memory that propose to mandate that everyone MUST have insurance.

I wonder why society can't seem to make up it's mind. On one hand, society wants to kill as many babies in the womb under the guise of "rights" but, yet, here is a young man who, while not at any time saying he wants to die, wants the right to treat himself according to his belief system. Yes, he's a minor but we try minors as adults in court. At some point, in those cases, a decision was made that the defendant had the maturity in his actions to be treated as an adult.

It's a scary time to be an embryo, or an elder, or a chronically ill, or disabled person. All of them are targets for death. If you are already here, you better do all you can to be healthy and not be a drag on the system. Elders and the sick and the disabled drag us down so they need to go. The courts have, graciously, allowed euthanasia to help them go. Will there be a point where courts start ordering death? Oh, wait, they've already done that. Terri Schiavo's family wanted to care for her, but a court stepped in and demanded her death. Die slowly and painfully she did as her family was forced to stand by and watch helplessly.

Has anyone noticed that, increasingly, our court system is becoming a Logan's Run tribunal deciding who gets to live and who gets to die? Is that what justice is or should be?

Small World Department

By Steve

Something I noticed in the obituaries for Bob Rosburg, the ABC golf announcer who died last week (and stop me if you’ve heard this) - when he was twelve, Bob Rosberg played in the club championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (site of numerous major championships over the years) and defeated a man 39 years his senior. The name of that 51-year-old?

Ty Cobb.

The story said that it was maybe two years before Cobb would show his face at Olympic again, so embarrassed was he by losing to a 12-year-old.

Ty Cobb died in 1961 – but he lived long enough to be around when Bob Rosburg won the PGA Championship in 1959. I wonder if he was watching.

And now you know…the rest of the story.

The Aqueducts of France; or How I was Duped on My Trip to France.

By Kristin

A few weeks ago I was across the Atlantic, waking up in southern France, ready to enjoy a day of sightseeing and touring. I was visiting my sister, Kate, in Montpellier who was studying at the university. She had been there for almost 4 months and knew the town well. While she was taking an exam, my traveling companion, Erik, and I set out, with Kate’s detailed instructions, to explore Montpellier. We had a few maps printed out, and the ever necessary tourist map from the hotel. Our back pack was loaded with water, snacks and umbrellas. We were ready.

One of the major points of interest in Montpellier is the Aqueduct. Before we left for our trip, Erik had researched the area and found this site. Both having history degrees, the aqueducts moved quickly to the top of our list of things to see on our trip. We took time wandering through out the winding streets. One trait of many European towns are the shops. Instead of selling a variety of ‘French’, each store was specific in its product. There were top hat shops, cheese shops, olive oil shops, puffy shirt shops. Wide eyed and eager to see more, we made our way to the aqueduct.

The start of the water way was marked by a beautiful arch. I assume it was beautiful, only because it was covered by scaffolding. We stood in marvel. It was in pristine condition. The arches extended for over a mile down the road, ending beyond eyesight in a tree line. Aside from minor scratches and dents, the aqueduct was entirely intact. I couldn’t believe it! I was seeing a real part of history. Erik and I took turns posing in front of the structure, wanting to capture evidence that we had really been there. We walked along the road following the aqueduct taking pictures of the arches, the shadows in the arches, the shops behind the arches. It was wonderful.

Later that evening, we met up with Kate and her host family for a home cooked meal. It was really nice to see the home where she had been staying for the past few months. The meal was great. Roast, green beans, bread, salad and cheese for desert. With my limited French, I was able to talk about our day and convey our excitement about seeing the Roman Aqueduct. Kate’s host-mom, Marie-Christine, laughed and said, “Well, you know it is from the 1600’s, right?”. No, we did not in fact know it was from the 1600’s. How could we? All the web sights we had seen about it were in French. Erik’s jaw dropped. We had been duped, fooled, tricked! It was old, that was for sure, but not Roman old.

We left the dinner, full of good food, good conversation and good laughs, but still stunned about the age of our beloved aqueduct. After getting over the initial shock we decided that it was still cool to see it. After all, it’s not every day that you get to see an aqueduct, even if it is French.

The Tarnished Nation

By Mitchell

We haven't written much about the Obama/Notre Dame scandal here because, quite frankly, there isn't a great deal to add.

Two reasons for that - first, everyone else has written just about anything that could be written, and unless you simply want to hear the sound of your own voice (a malady not uncommon to bloggers, including yours truly), there's not much of a percentage in adding to the din.

Second, and more important, is that absolutely none of this should come as a surprise. The reason why can be found between the covers of two books:

Under The Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Betrayd Ideals For Football Glory

Father Elijah

Read. Consider. Ponder.

Revenge of Left-Wing Activists

By Bobby

At the Trump Organisation's Miss USA pageant, sexual deviant Mario Armando Lavandeira intentionally gave Carrie Prejean a score of zero for her support of real marriage, and Miss Prejean's opposition to rewriting marriage in the form of activists such as Tim Gill and the GLAD organisation.

Now it seems the playbook of liberal activists has taken a successful kill as Mr. Lavandeira's revenge is a major push for homosexual activists who now have the bully pulpit of the legislatures through these crazy activists, the power of MTV through its homosexual channel (the President debated on that network, but not Fox News), the increasing power of leftist activists such as Tim Gill and other homosexual activist organisations, the endorsement of the one national political party in the country to disavow what the people support and to push through their wicked agenda of false marriages, and a generation of young people who are now taught that these "marriages" are legitimate and perfectly legal when they are not, and are sinful. (Article from the Eagle Forum.)

We've seen it in Vermont (where the Governor's veto was overridden), Maine (where the people are launching a "people's veto" campaign against the Governor and legislature), Connecticut (court mandate), Massachusetts (court mandate, payoffs by the nation's Prime Minister Pelosi when an attempt was made to overturn it), and New Hampshire (the Governor vows to sign it if changes are made). Rhode Island is the one sane state left and activists want to change the laws there too.

At this rate, what does it say when the sanctity of marriage is removed the way the White House removed the sanctity of human life declarations on 20 January?

Next, they are willing to protect pedophiles and child molesters through "hate crimes" acts and "employment non-discrimination acts" that protect "sexual orientation," which, as I warned years ago, would be used to force child molesters and pedophiles to schools. Initially, I predicted they would attempt the judicial activist route, but federal law would just codify their requests, and they would do so with the no-debate, no-discussion brand of leftist political actions.

At what cost are we now paying for this revenge of Mr. Lavandeira? We lost the sanctity of human life, and now losing marriage, to activists who believe in a feelings-based attitude. What could be next scares me.

Cursing the Light

By Mitchell

Apparently, although I was unaware of this until quite recently, there are people out there who think that everything – that’s right, every single thing there is – is somehow related to race. (I know, call me naïve. Or call me a cab.)

Proponents of this viewpoint – for the sake of our discussion let’s call them, oh, race hucksters – will steer you to something such as the following ad which Volkswagen ran a few years ago.


In case you can't make out the captions, the one below the black car reads, "Naughty?" while underneath the white care is the word "Nice?" According to the race hucksters, “what is quickly evident [from the ad] is that the ad at some level willingly plays on racial stereotypes. This is simply one tiny example of how pervasive race is embedded in society.” As support for this position they refer to comments from people who were shown the ad and were asked what conclusions they drew from it. “Black is naughty while White is nice,” said one, “Black is bad and White is good,” offered another, and “Black is evil,” opined a third. The moral of the story, such as it was, was that the ad was either racist or insensitive to those who might perceive a racial subtext to it.

Who knew? Me, I saw two cars: a black one and a white one, and wondered which one would be easier to keep clean. (Hint: black shows spots, white shows dirt.)

In fact, what is quickly evident to me from this whole discussion is that some people simply don’t have enough to do, while others try their hardest to make a living from race-baiting. Think of it – if race weren’t an issue, they’d be out of a job.

We know who these people are. Think Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton – where would they be if they actually succeeded in their agendas? It’s actually to their advantage to fail – it keeps them employed. That's even better than being a TV meterologist. Show me a job like that and I’ll sign up in a heartbeat.

We know these people have an agenda, and what that agenda is. We’re not here today for an in-depth discussion of that agenda; it probably requires a book to even scratch the surface of it. But we are going to look at one small aspect – the infusion of everything with the stain of racism – and why it doesn’t hold water. For the sake of time, let’s focus on this ad, the ad that “at some level willingly plays on racial stereotypes.” So, white and black = good and evil = racial stereotype. True or false?

Far from being an example of racial stereotyping, the use of white and black as symbols of good and evil is one deeply ingrained in the human psyche, going back to the Bible. One need look no further than Psalm 51, in which the psalmist says, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." What better color against which to demonstrate the stain of sin than white? It may be difficult to tell the cleanliness of a colored background, but there can be no mistaking the dazzling brilliance of a clean white background.

To the extent that white and black are identified with light and dark (and anyone with eyes to see can make that link), the metaphors associated with these colors are unmistakable. For instance, in Matthew 6:22-23, Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

Jesus seemed to think a lot of this symbolism; in Luke 11:33-36 He says, “No man when he lights a candle puts it in a secret place; neither under a bushel; but on a candle stick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is single or healthy, your whole body also is full of light, but when your eye is evil or diseased, your body is also full of darkness. If your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle gives you light.”

Look, darkness is not in fact a metaphor for racism, but it refers to the ability to hide from the light of truth. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out, let alone a scriptural scholar. All it really requires is a little common sense.

In one of his early 60s television shows, Bishop Fulton Sheen recalls Christ’s words, “He who follows me shall not walk in the darkness" (John 8:12). Using his famed chalkboard, Bishop Sheen illustrates this point with a practical demonstration of the effects of light and shadow: when one walks away from the sun (or the Son, if you will), the light will be at your back, casting a shadow before you. The darkness from this shadow is twofold; it serves both as a cloak to hide your activities (and why would you hide them unless they shamed you?), and it also acts to block you from the illumination of grace and truth. On the other hand, the one who follows Christ walks toward the light. This means the shadow is now behind you rather than in front; you are casting off the darkness, exposing yourself to the brilliance of truth, living your life in the open rather than in hiding.

Thus endeth the theological lesson for today. (Want more? Go here.)

Could white and black be used in a racial context? Of course they could; nowadays, words can mean just about anything you want them to mean. But in challenging the basic symbolism linking white and black with good and evil, these race hucksters want to make you think there is something wrong with the whole analogy. Common sense will tell you otherwise. It will tell you that there are strong reasons for this symbolism, reasons that go beyond politics. It will tell you that the hucksters who peddle this nonsense have their own agenda, and in fact they’re hoping that the moral authority in which they cloak themselves will cast a shadow large enough and long enough to hide that agenda from you. And why not, for as John 3:19 says, “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

In short, people who see this kind of thing in a racial subtext do so only because they want to. Or because it profits them to do so.

Deceptive Journalism: Mislabeling

By Bobby

Was it Rush Limbaugh that reminded us in the Clinton era of "symbolism over substance" frequently when he noted the tactics of President Clinton?

I read articles in the newspaper regarding Saturdays's GoDaddy.com 500 at Darlington Raceway in the Florentine suburb, and a few articles referenced Jeff Gordon with the possibility of "tying Cale Yarborough's record of five Southern 500 wins" in this week's race, which is the Rebel 500.

Bob Colvin, the president of Darlington Raceway, envisioned the Rebel 300 convertible race in 1957 (because a Grand National race in 1963) as a Confederate Memorial Day event. (Currently, the holiday is May 10 on the state's calendar.) While it has moved around the calendar, in 2005 the Rebel was moved back to the Saturday closest to Confederate Memorial Day, owing to the state's traditional (but now repealed) ban on Sunday motorsport (currently, the start time must be 1:30 PM or later, unless the race is set for a minimum of 250 miles), and the Ferko settlement that cost the track its prestigious Mountain Dew Southern 500, which had been moved from second to last race in the regular season to the second to last race in the playoff. I remember commenting that this could lead to precedent if someone in Los Angeles decided to sue the National Football League and demand the Green Bay Packers be sold to them, and moved to Los Angeles, or even the Minnesota Vikings. (Speaking of which, Daytona 500 champion, Cambridge (WI) native, and longtime Cheesehead Matt Kenseth had something to say about the Farve to Minnesota rumours.)

Reading all of the hype of Darlington and the "return" of the legendary Florentine fall showdown's name is inappropriate, considering this is the Rebel 500, as it has been since 1957.

And I wonder if the FCC Censors will be prevalent, and the Danica Patrick rumours be flying, during Saturday's race because of the sponsorship of the race by GoDaddy.com, and of the Sprint Cup entry of Brad Keselowski, GoDaddy.com's Nationwide Series driver who drives for Dale Earnhardt, Jr, in that series. I hope they are because of the raunchiness of the advertiser's commercials.

Sadly, I'm Not Kidding...

By Drew

Speaking of opera as we were yesterday, our readers will recognize that we aren't all that crazy about opera productions that are updated out of the time period in which they were originally set. It's true that some of these productions work, but most of them are abject failures. Or worse.

Here's one of the worse ones - the Flanders Opera's production of Samson et Dalila, written by Saint-Saëns and originally set, as the title might suggest, in Biblical times. This was clearly much too dry for the directors, Omri Nitzan (an Israeli) and Amir Nizar Zuabi (a Palestinian), who sought to make their production more relevant. I mention the nationalities involved because it has a direct bearing on the following discussion.

I'm going to take a chance here and assume that most of you know the basic Biblical story of Samson, so we're going to cut to the chase. According to the New York Times,

Mr. Nitzan and Mr. Zuabi, however, turn the Hebrews into Palestinians, the Philistines into Israelis, and Samson into a suicide bomber, donning a dynamite-loaded vest when the curtain falls.

That comes after Jews, in fancy dress, dance atop a shiny, black, two-tiered set, oblivious to the swarm of robed Palestinians under their feet. In another scene Dalila’s Jewish handmaidens, in red underpants, sprawl on their backs, legs spread in the air, helping to seduce Samson. Samson and Dalila court by pointing a pistol at each other. Young Israeli soldiers clad in black humiliate blindfolded Palestinians and shoot a Palestinian child, who reappears as a kind of leitmotif during the opera like the holy spear in “Parsifal.” Then, for the appalling bacchanal in the last act, a disaster in most productions, Israeli soldiers dance orgiastically with their phallic rifles.

The author of the article mentions that aside from a scattering of boos that accompanied the bacchanal, the performance "received several rounds of generous applause." (Although, not surprisingly, it has generated a great deal of controversy with the country's Jewish population.) He goes on to say that a similar production "would be nearly unthinkable in New York or Washington."

I'm not so sure about that. Alarmists aside, there's no question that anti-Semitism (or at least pro-Palestinianism) is very fashionable in this country. It's not hard at all for me to imagine such a production in, say, Ann Arbor, Michigan. And if there isn't one now, just wait - there will be.

I don't know what bothers me most about this - the politicization of opera, or the bastardization of it. The Times reporter, Michael Kimmelman, says that "all art is political in the end," and I'm not sure I agree with that either. I suppose you can make anything political if you really insist on it, but do you have to? Jay Nordlinger at NRO, whom I greatly admire both as a stylist and a political thinker, is sick to death of how art is constantly politicized, and I second the thought. Just play the damn music, and let me make up my own mind as to what it's all about. Or, better yet, relieve the stress on your mind - just let Saint-Saëns tell the story himself. It worked for him. And we don't want you getting a headache from all that thinking, do we?

Opera Thursday

By Mitchell

Admittedly, televised opera is a fairly obscure subset of two relatively exclusive area of interest – television and opera. Furthermore, any discussion of televised opera is going to center for the most part on the early years of television – the 50s and 60s, when NBC Opera Theater brought a regular season of opera to TV screens across the country, and other networks chimed in with the occasional production. So if these are topics that don't interest you, feel free to come back tomorrow and see if we've done any better.

For those of you still with us, it is undeniable that since the early 70s, if you wanted to see opera on TV, you looked to PBS; and even there, until the recent advent of the Metropolitan Opera’s HD transmissions, televised operas have faded away to virtual invisibility. True, European television networks such as the BBC do continue to offer operas – but then, they also give us programs (programmes?) like Benny Hill. Go figure.

There are two types of broadcast opera – a telecast of a live production from a theater (as with the Met broadcasts), or a production that originates in a television studio (Amahl and the Night Visitors, for example. As a television aficionado, I have a natural bias toward the second category. Although there’s nothing like the excitement generated by a live audience, studio opera has its plusses as well, such as the ability to construct camera angles that give viewers a perspective unavailable to traditional theater audiences. The results can be fascinating, as in the BBC’s 1969 broadcast of Britten’s Peter Grimes, in which abstract paintings are panned by the camera during the opera’s several orchestral interludes.

Regardless of the type of production, the broadcast of opera on TV is, or at least can be, a real art form. (There was none better at it than the late Kirk Browning, who was at the helm during the historic Amahl broadcast.) To the best of my knowledge, there has only been one comprehensive study of televised opera – Jennifer Barnes’ excellent Television Opera. But whereas Barnes’ book focused specifically on operas written for television, I’m thinking today about standard repertory operas being broadcast on TV.

Witness the following live theater broadcast of Puccini’s Tosca, starring Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi. This is from the late 50s, at the Paris Opera. We’re looking at the conclusion of Act 2, the famous confrontation between Tosca and Scarpia, in which Tosca agrees to “submit” to Scarpia in return for the release of her lover Cavaradossi and safe conduct papers for the two of them to escape. It’s along about this point that Tosca begins to have second thoughts – well, you can see the rest. The clip runs for just under eight minutes.



Now, several things stand out in this excerpt. First is the unmistakable command with which Callas and Gobbi dominate the stage. We sometimes forget that opera is theater every bit as much, if not more than, concert. Callas had her vocal difficulties from time to time, and even at this point in her career one could say that she was not in the best of voice. But the drama, the intensity and fire generated by these two in this scene more than make up for it.

But I want you to look at the action on the stage. Rather than concentrating on close-ups, the director has chosen to give us, for the most part, a long shot showing the entire stage. By doing so, we can see the turmoil that wracks Tosca after killing Scarpia (sorry if I’ve given it away for you there) – the indecision, the panic, even the piety that has caused more than one commentator to suggest some intriguing theories about Tosca’s relationship with Cavaradossi (again, a topic for another day). Callas’ use of the entire stage would be rendered ineffective had the director chosen to focus on a tight shot of Callas.

But for me the finest moment comes at the very end of the act. As Tosca lays the Crucifix on the dead Scarpia’s chest, we cut to a stage-level angle, showing Scarpia’s body flanked by candlesticks on either side. We then return to the long shot, with Tosca looking desperately for the safe conduct papers. Finding them, she turns to go – and we see the shadow of the stage curtain beginning to come down. The music rises, drops, rises again; we cut back to the stage-level view of Scarpia, now alone in the room, candles burning. The director settles on this static shot and holds there, until the fringe of the curtain appears and touches the stage – at the same moment that the last note of Act 2 is played.

Clearly, the timing was choreographed, and the intersection of curtain and music would likely have happened whether or not the opera was being broadcast. But the point is that the television director knew the staging, and framed that last shot to take advantage of Scarpia literally disappearing from the screen, the curtain touching down, the music concluding – all at the same moment. A little thing perhaps, but the first time I saw this it struck me as simply brilliant. It is doubtful that the live audience inside the Opera House felt the same impact from that moment that the TV audience did.

This is, for me, a prime example of what well-done televised opera can do. There’s something sublime about it – rather than beating you over the head, as some directors do (witness the multiple-screen technique used – and way-overused – in last year’s Met broadcast of Tristan und Isolde), or resorting to little visual tricks or gimmicks (such as singers playing to the camera, which can be a good or bad thing), we have a case where the director literally create an artistic moment simply from what is happening on the stage. This is an example not just of good television opera, but good television period.

This isn’t intended to be a jab at the Met; some of the effects and camera angles they’ve employed over the past three years have been extraordinary. But I’m reminded of what a sportswriter once said about referees – the less you notice them, the better the job they’re doing. It’s one thing to sit up and think, “Wow – what a great special effect!” It’s quite another when the power lies in the moment itself – and it isn’t until later, so drawn into the moment are you, that you reflect on the elements that made it so powerful. A pity we don’t see this kind of craftsmanship more often.

Wish I'd Written That

By Mitchell

Mark Steyn, on the recent Royal Opera House ballet adaptation of "The Red Balloon," as usual coming up with the perfect description...

"Any balletomanes at the US embassy might be forgiven for assuming it to be some hastily concocted metaphor to Euro-American harmony in the Age of Obama: a lithe young Continental prancing around the stage enraptured by his dazzling bag of gas."

As usual, read the rest here.

15 Years Ago . . . 2:17 PM (CET)

By Bobby

A friend of mine served on a missions trip to Brazil, and while in college, she noted the hordes of people who mourn on May 1 in that nation.

Fifteen years later, let's remember the circumstances as we remember fifteen years ago the situation that took place at 2:17 PM Central European Time . . .

EDITOR'S UPDATE: Bobby is, of course, referring to the anniversary of the death of the great Formula 1 champion Ayrton Senna, who was killed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Here is the BBC coverage from that somber day.

A couple of things to note: changes were made to the San Marino circuit, and the Grand Prix continued there through the 2006 season. And from that day until this, praise God, Ayrton Senna remains the last F1 driver to lose his life in a crash.

America Held Hostage, Day 100, 1,361 Days to Go

By Bobby

I looked at Drew's link to the video in reference to Arlen Specter "jumping to the dark side," and one concern I found was the song used is the same song serenaded by liberal activists to George Walker Bush as he left Washington for the last time.

But my concern is over some policies that a newly minted supermajority, once they can sue Al Franken into the Senate despite actually losing the election (anyone who remembers what happened in Darlington will see the light), what a 60-liberal Senate will do:

1. Through the Fairness Doctrine and “Localism” where ACORN and other liberal activists can tell the FCC that they will dictate which types of media would be permitted. This would effectively ban the popular format that has not been available locally for six years that is very popular and informative. This regulation would also control the media as to effectively shut down Fox News with government controlled media.

2. HR 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would legalise pedophilia, prostitution, fronteurism, incest, beastiality, and other deviant or criminal behaviours. Also, if you do not tow the official government line on sexual deviancy, they will be arrested, similar to what happened in Canada and Sweden.

3. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would force schools and child-care centres to hire pedophiles, child molesters, and other forms of sexual deviants, as they would simply cry “discrimination by sexual orientation,” face a judge, and the judge would use the new law to mandate the school hire the child molester.

4. A prohibition on separating restrooms by sex, similar to Colorado, could be imposed; a female intern at Focus on the Family noted a man in a women's restroom.

5. False "marriages" of other states would have to be recognised by federal law. Michael Weiner, Ph. D., refers to San Francisco mayor and California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsome as “Any Two-Some Newsome” for wanting marriage laws rewritten to be between any two people, and judges are now mandating it in more states to appease the activists. The President wants to ensure marriage is not of a "man and a woman" but of "any two".

6. Two dangerous treaties -- The UN Rights of the Child and the Law of the Sea Treaty -- would be passed, effectively turning over parenting to a foreign entity in the former, and letting tinpot dictators control resources of the sea instead of private entities, would be passed.

Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out

By Drew

News item: RINO Senator Arlen Spector announces he's switching parties from Republican to Democrat.

In honor of the occasion, we offer the following musical tribute.



Also, quite possibly the best line of the day, from Mark Hemingway: "I read that he was switching parties, but I was disappointed to learn he's still a Democrat."

Weekend Reflections

By Bobby

Political Correctness Run Amok. General Motors' announcement of the ceasing of the Pontiac brand had me pondering the Pelosi / Obama Administration scoring another check mark on the win total for political correctness, knowing of the Indian name and logos. How much of this could be in the Administration's politically correct attitude trying to force companies out of Indian names in the same manner college sports has attempted to eliminate Indian names from sports teams? Of course, it was in 1991 when the American Indian movement went after the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, knowing its heritage of the Indian name. They did take out many teams with Redskins, Indians, or other tribal-related names.

More PC Craziness. Brown University's abolition of the Columbus Day break is another sign of political correctness going haywire in this era. The seemingly official Politically Correct Guide to Holidays mandates that Christmas, Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Easter, Columbus Day, and Thanksgiving not be celebrated, but we can celebrate Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Festivus, and birthdays of Lenin, César Chávez, and other politically correct leaders of the modern left.

Hymns at the Opera, but Not at Church. It was ironic at the performance of Our Town (the opera version) that the hymns “O God Our Help in Ages Past” and “Blest Be The Tie That Binds” were sung at the church in Grovers Corner. You are not likely to find a hymn to be sung in too many churches today as the rush to advance to modern rock is prevalent in churches today. The Sacred Music America site noted church leaders have eliminated the high standards in favour of the lowest common denominator requiring no “spiritual effort, intellectual growth, or acquired understand, basic music, both sophisticated and simple.” They also criticise the pop tunes prohibiting “texts that witness to human fraility.” They referenced the sonorous tune and multivalent text of the hymn I mentioned earlier, today it has been replaced by pop/rock tunes of simple refrains. (http://sacredmusicamerica.com/about.html)

Keep Your Emotions In Check. Larry McReynolds wrote in The Big Picture that you have to keep your emotions in check, and at the parking lot outside Bristol Motor Speedway before an event at the Tennessee bullring. The same could be true of me having to keep my emotions in check attending Our Town. I told a few friends that of the three performances, one did not have my voice teacher – and it was the one I attended. I said I could put my focus on the whole opera, and not on one person. There have been times I attend musical events where I have to be on the lookout for those who know me for associating with the teacher. Maybe being able to watch the opera with everything focused on the story was a good thing to help. Of course, we saw each other as we exited the theatre. The most famous moment however was two years ago, when we saw each other in the seats, and she being single, she asked me out as a date. I agreed. It was a fun date night for both of us! When you're a single guy and there are single women who are singers, it seems you want to date these “sportsman” singers.

Boylemania. The discussion over the Britain's Got Talent (part of the RTL “Got Talent” franchise) contestant Susan Boyle with the performance of a selection from Les Misérables is one that has people talking about the contestant and her performance. But one thing I haven't heard much, sadly, is an issue that I have learned through vocal studies over the years – amplification is the biggest no-no in music. That's the problem in churches too as more youth and especially women sing in church to amplified karaoke. Real singing needs real instruments without amplification.

Pink Lady, No Jeff*

By Mitchell

As we're just a little more than two weeks away from Mother's Day, we find ourselves in the midst of the yearly pink flood of publicity - nay, coersion - regarding Susan G. Komen for the Cure. If you know anyone involved in this cause - and, let's be honest, how many of us don't? - then you also know that refusal to go along with this cause is something akin to drowning cats and pulling the wings off of birds. You just don't do it, or at least you do it at your own peril. It's so oppresive, you'd think it was coming from the United Way.

As this article - which I wrote one year ago today - points out, there is every reason to be concerned about Komen, particularly their relationship with Planned Parenthood. Read the whole thing for the details.

And just why should we be concerned about organizations and their tête-à-têtes with PP? For that, look no further than this article by Mona Charen, telling us more about the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger. Sanger, according to Charen, "was a most thoroughgoing racist. 'Eugenics,' [Sanger] wrote, 'is the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political, and social problems.'" The chief goal of birth control, according to Sanger, was "More children from the fit, less from the unfit.”

Granted, organizations can evolve from their origins, and not all of them take on the personal foibles of their founders. Nonetheless, one can only imagine how a conservative organization would be viewed if its founder had spouted the same kind of garbage.

Oh, and if you needed any more proof that God has a finely tuned sense of irony (and why wouldn't He?), check out this close by Charen: "Margaret Sanger hated abortion and called abortionists 'blood sucking men with M.D. after their names.'”

Planned Parenthood is an anti-life organization. The fact that a group such as Komen, supposedly dedicated to saving women's lives, would have anything to do with it, regardless of the nature of that relationship, is a scandal. Share this information with people you know. And if someone approaches you in the next two weeks with a request to donate to the Race for the Cure, tell them to stick this in their pipe and smoke it. And the same goes for their corporate lackeys.

Breast cancer is a terrible disease, and fighting to find a cure is a noble cause. It deserves a better champion than Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

*The significance of the title? Well, that would come from this, surely one of the worst television shows of the 80s. I guess you just had to be there.

Wish I'd Written That

By Mitchell

Courtesy of the always-enjoyable Jay Nordlinger at NRO:

A question to William F. Buckley, Jr: “Mr. Buckley, why is it that you debate sitting down? Is it that you can’t think on your feet?”

Buckley: "My legs can’t bear the weight of what I know.”

Happy Earth Day!

By Drew

Here at Our Word, we're nothing if not topical. And so, in honor of Earth Day, we present to you as a public service the following "Green" moment:

Quick Takes

By Mitchell

In our best headline-grabbing way, a few bits and pieces that have come to our attention in the last couple of days:

Are You Listening, Perez Hilton?

From The Anchoress: "Appreciate my indifference to your sexuality. Yeah…that’s pretty much how I feel. I think the gay community does not really understand that most folks don’t care who they sleep with - they just resent having it all shoved in their faces, so they’re forced to react - it’s a set-up."

It sure is - they want to trigger a reaction, and then beat you over the head with it. Because it is, you know, all about them - and in today's culture, there's absolutely nothing worse than being ignored.

(By the way, why is it that whenever I hear a name like "Perez Hilton," I'm reminded of that scene in Dr. Strangelove where Peter Sellers confronts Keenan Wynn with the line, "Listen, Colonel Bat Guano, if that is your real name.")

That’s it!

Charles Krauthammer on Obama's performance at the Summit of the Americas: "Does the narcissism of this man know no bounds? This is not about him. It is about his country. This is something that occurred under John Kennedy — the Bay of Pigs is what [Nicaragua president Daniel Ortega] is referring to. And what he is saying is that it's OK that [Ortega verbally] attacked John Kennedy, as long as it wasn't me.

"Doesn't it occur to him that he ought to defend his country even if stuff happened before him? It doesn't all start with him."

For a long time, I’ve been trying to find exactly the right word to describe Obama, but as usual Krauthammer has beaten me to it – narcissist. And that goes double for so many of his followers who, in the glow from the halo they’ve positioned over the president’s head, really are admiring themselves.

But What Do You Really Think?

S.T. Karnick on Jon Stewart: "I have always considered Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) to be a thoroughly repugnant ass and his TV show a bunch of garbage for only the very stupidest of left-wing nobrains. As a result of my avoidance of the man and his works, I have seldom had occasion to write about him."

I agree with this assessment 100% - I just wish he’d been a little more blunt.

Speaking of Shooting Your Mouth Off...

A certain Catholic blogger who shall not be named uses the acronym "STFU" in a piece about Newt Gingrich. Regardless of your political opinions - shouldn't we expect perhaps a higher level of discourse from a Catholic blogger? I can appreciate that perhaps his crayon wasn't able to handle all those big words, but still...

(Remember the saying: "Keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool. Open your mouth and remove all doubt." I feel as if I can say this, having proven the latter far too often. But honestly, sometimes this blogger can be the worst possible advertisement for Catholic evangelization.)

Before We Leave You

This is one of the all-time great stories from The Onion. But to be perfectly honest, I think we scooped them.

Lenin's Birthday Means More Communist Restrictions

By Bobby

The celebration of Lenin's Birthday (April 22, 1870) has become increasingly used by liberal activists to push for fringe environmentalism through the "Earth Day" celebrations. It is intentional that the celebration is held on the birthday of the father of the CCCP, since the ideals of the CCCP's supreme father are those of the fringe environmentalism.

The announcement of a "climate change" bill that will be cleared by liberals through their tactics of prohibition of debate and discussion, and it features limits on carbon dioxide (what plants breathe!) and greenhouse gas emissions, including a "cap and trade" effort to charge exorbitant fees on energy produced by coal, gas, and other sources, in an attempt to push for the only two energy sources that are acceptable to liberal activists, wind and solar. The "wind and solar" mantra is pushed like a Buddhist mantra and the bill also includes mandatory energy production from sources they want (wind and solar), and tougher "energy" standards to virtually ban the internal combustion engine. These "green energy" proposals have destroyed Spain. What does this President and Congress want, us to copy failed policies of countries whose laws now override our laws?

In the end, liberals have a push to take away private property and make everything in control of the government. The increasing philosophy of Communism as endorsed by this Congress and President is continuing through this earth worship agenda, and let it be known that Lenin's Birthday is the ultimate way to celebrate this liberal philosophy. When the Resurrection of Christ is not allowed to be observed, but the Birthday of the Father of the CCCP is celebrated in our schools and media, it is a sad state of affairs to see what liberal activists have decided in secularising this country to create a New World Order of earth worship, "wind and solar", and other mantras designed to destroy this country.

Deviancy Over the Weekend

By Bobby

Homosexual activists were at it again Sunday night. During NBC's coverage of the Miss USA beauty pageant, which is part of the NBC/Trump Organisation partnership's Miss Universe, one of the judges, an avowed sexual deviant, asked if marriage should be between any two people in the same way that a certain mayor of the nation's virtual capital (considering that city is which our "prime minister" but in reality dictator, considering what the damage she has done to this country since she took over as the nation's leader, represents) has been called "any two-some" by a radio host in that region believes.

The contestant said no, it should be between one man and one woman, and the judge went on a rampage on his blog, even admitting that cost her the win.

The judge, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, suffers from a psychiatric disorder. His intentional attempt to push the homosexual agenda, which violates I Corinthians 6:9-10 in that ". . . neither . . . effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind . . . shall inherit the Kingdom of God." My Ryrie Study Bible states "People whose lifestyles exhibit wickedness, not fruit, show they are unsaved and will, therefore, not inherit the kingdom of God."

For pushing his wicked agenda that violates the Bible, I must say . . Perez . . . (points finger at him), You're Fired!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch of MTV, their popular "Spongebob Squarepants" character and Burger King were involved in a questionable advertising campaign aimed at adults with sexual overtones. It was highly inappropriate.

I was outraged at this and had to remember the time at Starpower Regionals in Spartanburg a few years ago that I discussed the issue with a teammate and her sister about how low teen dance routines could go. The judges at Starpower would whisk any of the performances of that Burger King ad with severe penalties. Rodney Wise and Rick Monroe would yank their cards and reject it to the point they would eject them -- and if they tried to enter, get a black flag.

But I reminded myself this was MTV, and MTV has no morals. Here we go again. What do you expect?

The worst part was this Burger King ad was not appropriate for families, and this aired during the family hour on network programming. What gives?

At the Opera

By Mitchell

This week the Minnesota Opera brings its 2008-09 season to a close with its acclaimed production of Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville). From the famous overture to the justifiably happy ending, Rossini's delightful farce is one of opera's most accessible pieces, the perfect choice for first-timers who might be surprised to realize they know more opera than they thought. Just because the music's familiar, don't think that means it isn't also brilliant, particularly the patter songs that, in their orchestral complexity, nearly manage to put Gilbert & Sullivan to shame. Hopefully we'll have a report upcoming on tonight's performance, but in the meantime here's a preview for those of you who can't be there:


Bugs Bunny Rabbit of Seville Uploaded by ThrowbackForums

UPDATE: OK, here's the skinny on last night:

1. What a delightful production. A bit over the top, which is just the way Barber ought to be. The comedy was very broadly played, without quite drifting into slapstick. The staging and direction were spot on as well. This is a much beloved production of Barber, which, of course, is why it's being retired after this year.
2. I'm reminded once again of just how lousy a place the Ordway is for opera. Up in the balcony, the orchestra sounded terrific, their sound floating all the way to the ceiling. Too bad the place isn't constructed so the singers' voices can do the same.
3. That being said, I thought Figaro's voice was not quite as strong as it should have been.
4. Neither was Count Almaviva's. Fiorello's was much stronger.
5. Rosina had real spunk. Reminded me of Roberta Peters (although not quite in the voice...)
6. The bass playing Don Basilio once again stole the show, as was the case when we saw it here in 2001.
7. Man, Rossini could really write music, couldn't he?
   
8. Every time I hear the overture, I think of Bugs Bunny (see above) and smile.
9. Unfortunately, the high school punks sitting behind us have no appreciation of music. Cretins. All they could do was count the minutes, and this is for an opera that runs under three hours. Oh well, if even one of them comes away with a greater appreciation of opera, it's worth it.
10. They probably don't know who Bugs Bunny is, either.
    
11. But who's complaining? What a terrific way to end the season, and proof once again that Il barbiere di Siviglia really is one of the great pieces in opera.
    

Send It By FedEx

By Bobby

A final word of caution for last-minute filers:

It might be best to send your tax returns by FedEx. I learned the lesson from Atlanta's Clark Howard because I owe taxes to the IRS this year, and so I chose to send my package by FedEx since they will have a tracking number, and you will be assured your tax return and your check will not be lost. That's a good idea as you prepare for the crazy final day of taxes.

Who's a Candidate?

By Mitchell

News headline from AP: "Gingrich eyes possible White House run in 2012." Of course, this comes as no surprise to some of us. . .

Harry Kalas, R.I.P.

By Mitchell

He was an institution in Philadelphia, but for millions more around America, Harry Kalas was the voice of NFL Films - or, perhaps, just the voice. Not "The Voice" - but many people who weren't familiar with his name would have recognized that voice in an instant. He did commercials for Campbell's soup (the ones with Donovan McNabb and his mother), he was the announcer for Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl," he did college football and basketball, and a host of other events.

My clearest memory of Harry Kalas is, as might be expected in my case, an odd one. Years ago, before the advent of ESPN, Kalas was the voice of Metrosports, a syndicated network that broadcast college basketball games during the week. As I say, college hoops hadn't become the seven-nights-a-week TV marathon it is today, so the chance to see Notre Dame play Michigan on a Tuesday night was a big deal. Kalas broadcast those games, giving them the gravitas and credibility they deserved, but what I remember most is how he would announce someone's scoring average as "twenty-three and eight-tenths points per game," not the "twenty-three-point-eight" that most of us would say. Anyone who would pay that much attention to grammar was, I figured, someone who took pride in his work.

As many have noted, there is something unique in the relationship sports fans form with the unseen voices that announce their team's games. Harry Kalas' voice was warm and reassuring, the kind with which people could form a bond. Millions of people who never met Kalas thought of him as a friend, or at least someone who was welcome in their home, their car, or anywhere else they might have listened to him. I've never been anywhere near Philadelphia, and yet Harry Kalas and his dramatic voiceovers for NFL Films are as much a part of my sports scrapbook as any announcer.

As I have said many, many times, these announcers are a dwindling breed. Chris Schenkel, Jim McKay, Curt Gowdy, Harry Carey - they're all gone, and others such as Pat Summerall, Keith Jackson and Ernie Harwell are either retired or semi-retired. Vin Scully, the dean of announcers, is still behind the mic every game, and it makes you want to go out and buy one of those packages that allows you to hear every major league game on the radio, because you want to hear Scully for as long as you can.

Harry Kalas died yesterday in the broadcast booth, preparing for the Phillies game against the Washington Nationals. Many have noted this is probably the way he would have wanted to go, the warrior carried off on his shield. A part of me recoils at those sentiments - perhaps Harry would have preferred rather not to die at all, at least on that day - but the very thought that Harry Kalas died getting ready to do what he loved, what he had done for more than forty years, is a comforting one. May we all be able to do what we love, and bring happiness to so many people in doing so.

Easter Monday

By Bobby

Last December Mitchell had a reference to the Christmas classic, "What Child Is This" that made the song appropriate for Easter. As I reflected Easter night, on the song after finishing my tax filing work. I'd love to talk with the music director at church to learn this work, but sadly, the
congregation has sold out to the GIA / OCP / EMI / UMG / WMG sap. Thanks for inspiring me!

And of course, there's nothing like "Hallelujah" from Händel, "Hallelujah from the Mount of Olives" by Beethoven, or even "Crown Him with Many Crowns". Those fit the theme of this Resurrection Sunday and send this tenor soaring!

We need to find real music for the Resurrection. Much of the party music released by the major publishers does not fit with the theme, considering the lessons I learned from a singer from Laurel, Mississippi.

It was only fitting on that Charleston Easter morn when I heard Selection #44, "Hallelujah," from Händel's Messiah, on that Easter morning. It was 267 years ago today (April 13) that the masterpiece we know debuted, and it was for Easter, not Christmas, that it was performed. And legend has it that on a performance that King George II stood for this selection, something that has been passed throughout all generations. Yet for a friend's wedding in 2007 (she is pregnant and expecting very soon; please pray for her -- she was the one who caught the singing bug to me), the congregation did not even stand for it but did for a pair of Chris Tomlin ditties that lack theology and doctrine. It was a florist who came to me at the reception and noted I was the only one who even stood for the masterpiece.

Finding other pieces like this John Stainer piece on the Web I found is highly appropriate for the season. We have to learn more of the great masterworks.

Happy Easter!

Good Friday

By Mitchell

For this solumn Good Friday, here is the famed Miserere by Allegri, performed by the Choir of Kings College in Cambridge.

Attributed to Bernardo Daddi
The Crucifixion, c. 1335
Samuel H. Kress Collection

More Downfall

By Bobby

In just a few short days in April, as I just mentioned, we see Washington DC accepting other areas' false "marriage," in addition to Vermont's legislature codifying the 10-year old court mandate of passing a false marriage law, and the Iowa courts declaring marriage to be between "any two, regardless of anything."

Now I was informed a major pay-per-view in Houston, Texas, World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestlemania XXV, did the same to push for sexual deviants. Anthony John Carelli, who goes by the ring name of "Santino Marella" (a reference to the late Robert Marella, a former wrestler in WWE and later announcer), was cross-dressing and appeared in a 25-woman "battle royal" at the Reliant Stadium event. Remember that it was this stadium that gave us the infamous Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake incident at Super Bowl XXXVIII. Mr. Carelli's character "won" the "battle royal" that is a women-only match.

It begs me again to ask: would you have Mr. Marella as Miss Wrestlemania or Mrs. (Ashley) Hood as the Drag Queen at nearby Houston Raceway Park in Baytown? I'd say I'd watch the daughter of John Force driver her Mustang 1,000 feet.

The WWE's cross-dressing gimmick, like the stupidity of court mandates and court cases regarding marriage, are all inappropriate.

Just How Stupid are the Legislators in Montpelier?

By Bobby

It just befuddles me how the legislators in Montpelier are absurd by forcing down same-sex "marriage" as law in Vermont, much to the dismay of the Governor and the people who voted the Governor into office. They finished the final part of the Baker v. State decision in 1999 that was invented lawmaking that created the first step of false marriage.

It seems once again we see how idiotic people in power are in deciding to rewrite marriage themselves to appease the Tim Gill, ACORN, Human Rights Campaign, MTV, and other activists who have taken control of this government, and to violate what is in the Bible as part of it. Just how sad far have we fallen when activists are writing more laws to appease activists that dominate our legislatures today?

Holy Week Thoughts

By Bobby

What Happened in Des Moines. The philosophy of the John Dewey era of education, and further, has been one of “there is no right or wrong; it is just how you feel”. Feelings replaces facts in our education system. A popular teaching tool in the “Outcome-Based Education” is referred commonly as “invented spelling,” where they anything goes, and if it’s wrong, they tolerate it, and treat it as if it was “correct” when it is not.

Sadly, the decision of the Iowa Supreme Court voiding that state’s law declaring marriage “between one man and one woman” means the courts have used their feelings to effectively declare legislation passed by people and or legislatures in that state are null and void, and whatever is declared by people in Bruxelles through the European Union or other European laws is the law of this land – and the courts have declared foreign legislation that they feel is what they want overrides what is passed by the people.

We seriously need to consider what ensued when courts are now overruling people, and using their feelings to push an agenda that is clearly sinful. My scare is that more activists will sue everywhere in an attempt to force their agenda down our throats. The people no longer matter when foreign laws can usurp laws of this state and country. At this rate, what’s next?

I’m Tired of the Karaoke. At Cooper River Bridge Run XXXII, “live entertainment” featured bands, soloists, and other such “pop singers” that irritate this classically trained tenor. But the real issue here once again is the type of role models today’s music is teaching. We are developing in “talent shows” (especially in beauty pageants), churches, and bars a generation of teenage girls who only sing to karaoke. Ingrid Schleuter once commented in a column she did not want “screeching females performing karaoke” in the church.

Unfortunately, musical performances today are based on the idea that screeching females doing karaoke is standard. How many times in churches today have you seen “music” offerings feature a female who only screeches to karaoke, whether it is pop, rock, or country? How many strong tenors, passionate sopranos, or live organists are there today? When today’s youth prefer karaoke to having live music, something is clearly suspicious. Why do many of today’s young girls think karaoke is better than the real thing? I quit choir at church because of karaoke and also dancing teens replacing the church choir, with the attitude of entertainment is more important than teaching God’s Word.

Cooper Speed. The 32nd renewal of the Charleston classic was a nice time for me. At 1:03:25, it was the fastest 10k in my five plus years of going 10,000 – as one of which beats my old 10k record by over three minutes, and the Bridge Run record by six minutes (reflects both Pearman and Ravenel courses).

No Holy Week. Traditionally a first Saturday in April race, the Cooper River Bridge Run XXXIII is set for March 27 because the Bridge Run has a No Holy Week rule. The race is never held on Holy Week. Cooper River Bridge Run I (9,850 m by police order; Benji Durden, an elite American runner marathoner whose Olympic dreams were shattered by President Carter, won) in 1978 was run at 10 AM on a Sunday morning, and was immediately criticised by the community. The Meeting Street run to the White Point Gardens at the Battery (the USL minor league soccer team’s name relates to the region, even though the Battery soccer team plays on Daniel Island) goes through numerous classic churches that criticised the race, and since 1979 the race has been run on Saturday. The current course goes through at least two churches, but the finish area in Marion Square is next to another church.

How Old We’ve Become. The packet pickup at the Bridge Run, at the Gailliard Auditorium (home of Spoleto), showed a classic video of Cooper River Bridge Run XXVIII, my first Bridge Run. The broadcast of the event was carried by WCSC, with 30-year sports (and 11 PM news in the early 2000’s) anchorman Warren Peper (now with the local newspaper) calling. He was let go later in the year, only to reemerge a year later as newsman in a rival station (WCBD) until earlier this year.

Speaking of Peper. We think of newspapers dying, but Mr. Peper, a lifelong Charlestonian (North Charleston High School, later played for Charleston Southern's basketball team, before his first television gig out of college, where he stayed 30 years) who had been on television media for 35 years (1974-2004; 2005-2009) has left the television media in favour of being part of the Charleston Post and Courier as the newspaper's multimedia editor. The thing that's unusual is a veteran journalist in his 50's is no longer tolerated in today's media world that the newspapers are hiring them. Of course, I remember that I grew up watching him on the news each night, with that signature “Get outta here!” on every ding-dong during an MLB, NCAA, American Legion, or high school baseball game that I sometimes say it when watching a game myself. Many in Charleston still remember the furor over his departure in 2004..

Converting Sports Anchors. This reminded me of an article I read a while back regarding the dearth of anchormen on television today, especially at the local markets. Many stations have given up on the idea and have two women on news. Others are converting sports reporters to the news desk. In Charleston, two of the three newsmen who front the 6 PM news are converted sports reporters, yet the one who is not is the most popular, having been there 36 years.

Let us remember that this week is a week we remember the trial, the crucifixion, the agony, and the pain . . . only to see what came ahead the ensuing Sunday. It still has me thinking of the day my voice teacher and I walked solemnly to our cars after a somber piece that made us reflect on Holy Week.

Religion and Politics? Together?

By Mitchell

The redoubtable Father Zuhlsdorf reminded us a couple of weeks ago of the wonderful British sitcom Yes, Prime Minister, which follows the adventures of the wonderfully named Prime Minister Jim Hacker and his nemesis, Sir Humphrey Appleby. (The show itself was a continuation of an earlier series, Yes, Minister, at which point Hacker was merely a MP.)

The episode in question, "The Bishop's Gambit," features Sir Humphrey (the late Nigel Hawthorne) lecturing Hacker (Paul Eddington) regarding the merits of two candidates for the diocese of Bury St. Edmunds. (Hacker, as PM, will make the recommendation to the Queen, who is the titular head of the Church of England.) Here's Humphrey's priceless description on the role of religion in the Church:



Later, Hacker explains his hopeless situation to his wife, who offers him some helpful advice:



What you don't get from these clips is Humphrey's priceless description of the difference between God and the Queen: whereas you can't have the Church of England without the Queen, God is what is known as "an optional extra."

What you do get from these clips is a sample of what made Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister two of the funniest, most incisive looks at politics - no matter what country you're from. And it's not a bad analysis of modern religion, either...

Sometimes the Truth Hurts

By Drew

Wow, Terry's really en fuego in generating the comments from his excellent post. I wish I could get that many people to read my stuff, let alone comment on it.

(By the way, since we started highlighting the first letters of stories, have you noticed how many of them begin with "W"?)

(Perhaps digressions like that are one reason why so few people read me.)

Anyway, a great piece today from Burt Prelutsky at Big Hollywood (and if you haven't checked that site out, do so. You might think it a little uneven, but the good stuff there is really good) on being a lapsed Democrat, Obama, etc. A few excerpts:

There are only three or four of them I can even imagine being friends with or wanting to have as next-door neighbors. But there are only two of them, Carter and Obama, whom I regard as unmitigated disasters. While it took Carter four years in office and 29 years out to achieve his greatly deserved recognition as an incompetent, a phony and a sanctimonious anti-Semite, Obama has pulled it off in just a few short months.

He has managed this by displaying his general incompetence by surrounding himself with clowns like Joe Biden; the seriously corrupt, such as Bill Richardson and Tom Daschle; and too many tax cheats to list in the space available.

Obama has also proven himself to be a liar of such proportions that if he had started out life like Pinocchio, [Mitchell, I hope you ignore that] his nose by this time would stretch from sea to shining sea. He has fibbed about everything from barely knowing Bill Ayers to never listening to a Jeremiah Wright screed, from banishing pork and lobbyists to providing transparency and change we can all believe in. On top of all that, while spouting the usual political piffle about economizing and saving the environment, he hosted the largest, most expensive inauguration in history, and from the way he and his posse jet around on the fuel-guzzling Air Force One, you’d think he was a rock star.

[...]

The scariest part of all this is that so many Americans continue to root him on. Those of us who are opposed to his agenda are accused, like Rush Limbaugh, of hoping America fails. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth. What we’re hoping for is that America can somehow survive this frontal assault on our freedoms, and that our economic system can remain basically intact in spite of the combined efforts of Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd and Geithner, to destroy it.

[...]

For what it’s worth, now that the president has fired CEO Rick Wagoner and taken over General Motors, do you suppose it will henceforth be called Commander in Chief Motors, and that Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet, will be re-named Michelle, Natasha and Malia Ann? Which reminds me, it’s still nothing but a rumor that Obama fired God earlier today, claiming that the universe isn’t big enough for both of them.

My old friend, Pat Sajak, who, when not busy spinning his wheels, is politically savvier and wittier than any of the talking heads you find on TV, has revised the question that plagued Richard Nixon 60 years ago to better fit GM’s new chief honcho: Would you buy a new car from this man?

And the concluding line:

Although I am not usually given to omens, I can’t help feeling it means something that the next presidential election will take place on November 6, 2012, the day before Gen. David Petraeus turns 60. I, for one, can’t think of a more appropriate birthday present for the man and the nation than giving him a well-deserved promotion.

Hmm, that's interesting. This is at least the second time I've seen Petraeus' name come up in connection with 2012. What do you make of that?

Life Online – Or Out-of-Line?

By Terry

Lately things are getting weird online – or maybe it’s just me. I might be spending far too much time searching for subjects to blog about, grabbing photos to enhance my posts, reading too many other blogs, or simply trying too hard to come up with new ways to increase my readership. I’ve found that using recent headlines, or adapting a popular song or movie title as post-headers works well in attracting more traffic. Sometimes I find inspiration for a new post while reading another blogger, although I always acknowledge my source if I use material from another site. That said I’m afraid that after being online for so long (3+ years) I’ve pretty much written everything I know, and thereby earned myself a reputation with long-time blog readers; “friends” I’ve either kept or lost – for one reason or another. Of course, there is always a newbie or two landing on the blogosphere every day; they seem to like me at first, until they realize this dog bites.

Blogging can get old after awhile, which may be why some have dropped their blogs and either got a real life or went on life-support at Facebook. (On Facebook one does not have to write anything of substance or interest. All you have to do is start a cause or give virtual gifts, post when you are going to eat or eliminate something you just ate, write stuff you’re thinking about while not thinking, and so on.) Others who are bored with blogging, perhaps like Mitchell, get other people to write for them. (I’m so kidding Mitchell.) Seriously though, I think when it gets to be a chore, a writer ought to start asking for money, as many already do, although I have no idea why anyone would pay to read a blog.

Lately I have been encountering even greater weirdness in the blogosphere. For instance, I’ve had people contact me about other bloggers, either asking for personal information about them, or offering information they found online about this or that blogger. As if I would publish it or include the information in a dishy post. Tempting as it may be, I definitely do not like that kind of thing, although many of us would be surprised at how much information there is about all of us online; data we give away for free. There are even sites that will gather all the personal information for you into one file – stuff you wrote, he wrote, your comment, his comment, along with job history, addresses, Google shots of your house, and so on.

Nevertheless, I find it creepy that a stranger would bother to elucidate information about another web personality, emailing it around, most likely with the intent of discrediting the subject’s integrity, or as in the case of Catholic bloggers, to call into question a person’s orthodoxy or fidelity. Of course what that amounts to is cyber gossip, detraction, and calumny – happens all the time in real life – the difference online is that it stays there – somewhere - forever. (I know – I’ve tried to take down cache containing some of the regrettable things I’ve published.)

Recently I got myself in a bit of trouble over copyright and intellectual property boundaries. Nothing serious of course. I used a Portuguese artist’s work on a post, mainly because I liked his work, but also to introduce him to readers. I praised his skill, provided his name and the title of the exhibited piece, and also linked to the original site holding his complete portfolio and information on how to purchase his work. Perhaps it was the language barrier, but the guy was not at all happy that I used his work without permission. That is his right of course, but I thought he was a little over the top in his emails… Yeah. He found out this dog bites. And I learned to be more careful about copyright in the future.

On another occasion I wrote a post – one of my lame political/religious opinion-or-not pieces that leave people wondering what my point was – and I linked to another post which inspired mine. I borrowed a couple sentences from the post I believed pertinent to my own reflection on my subject. I quoted, I linked. I believed that by linking to the original source, the reader could refer to my friend’s post and read the quotes I used in context. I did not use the entire post of course, just the sentences responsible for my line of thought. My blogger-friend was quite annoyed. Yet once again, I learned another very valuable lesson; one must respect the intellectual property of another… and remember other dogs bite too.

The other lesson here? Online friendships are virtual friendships – and quite a bit different from normal friendships – normal friendships are usually real. Or how about this one: Online friendships may not be forever, but what we write is. Or: Don’t trust anyone online. Or this: Life online is not real. No, I got it, what about this one: Some people may not want to be associated with you or your blog. Ouch! That one hurt.

This Just In

By Kristin

Traders Put "Hold" Call on Hadleyblog Stock

(Wall Street, NY April 1, 2009) - As the end of trading day approaches, traders are worried about the state of the Hadleyblog (Ticker: HBS). Financial annalist Walter Cashflow expressed his concern. “We just aren’t seeing the income revenue that we have been seeing in the past few quarters. We may have to talk about downsizing.” Cashflow said his firm was putting a "Hold" on the stock, previously rated as "Buy."

The news did not come as a shock to investors. “You could see it coming from a mile away,” said one investor who wished to remain anonymous. “I mean, like, the humor was there, the commentaries were insightful, but the profit margins were sub par.”

Although Hadleyblog Managing Editor M.D. Hadley declined to return calls from This Just In reporters requesting comment, market analysts have speculated for some time that there was, in fact, no business plan to receive any sort of income from the blog whatsoever.

To further put a twist on this financial soap opera, rumors continued to swirl that the blog was, in fact, being operated by a silent partner based at an offshore location, possibly in the Bahamas.

Until then, the fate of the Hadleyblog will remain in limbo.