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Monday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 06:51:37 PM EST
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I'm off to see Bon Jovi at the Pepsi Center in Denver. I talked the TL kid into going with me, and his dad gave us great seats.

I'm sorry (not) to miss Jason and Molly's wedding on TV, but I have "24" and "Life Unexpected" Tivo'd.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Monday Night Open Thread | 55 comments (55 topical)

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    Youtube Piano videos: (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by observed on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 06:54:30 PM EST
    There's a prodigious Ukrainian-American pianist named Valetina Lisitsa who has posted dozens of videos of herself playing all kinds of repertoire.
    She's in her late 30's or so, with an enormous repertoire and huge technique. If you play piano it's very interesting to watch her in action.
    I don't love everything she does, but her rendition of the Hammerklavier fugue is amazing.
    She may be the only person who plays it so that the listener can clearly recognize that it is a fugue.
    I believe she has videos of all the Chopin Etudes.
    The angles let you see all kinds of useful things about her playing. I think  her technique looks slightly unusual, but boy can she play anything, and with tremendous ease.
    She's also rough on the pianos herself. In the Hammerklavier, she breaks a string at some point.
    I read a review of a recital she gave which said the piano needed to be tuned and worked on at intermission, and even so, it was out of tune by the end. At the recital, she played six encores!!
    I think it's very generous of her to post so many videos for people to watch for free. Check her out!

    I just made a youtube account myself, so that I could spoof some of the overserious criticisms there. I commented on a Lisitsa video, saying this and that about how she was doing things wrong, and ending by saying that if she didn't frown so much, her sound would be better (that's the sort of thing youtube vocal critics love to say about singers.. I thought I'd try it on a pianist, for a change)!
    Nobody got the joke (that wasn't the only clue).
    Well, I had fun.

    [Jeralyn's readers need to know about VL too!! ]

    Awesome (none / 0) (#12)
    by squeaky on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:48:02 PM EST
    youtube is It is good to laugh while listening to Beethoven.

    Parent
    It's because of people like her... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Raskolnikov on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 04:14:57 AM EST
    ...that I quit the piano when I was younger.  I realized I'd never be that level of great, and I enjoy the hell out of watching and listening as opposed to practicing and playing.  I love the way she floats over the keys while still managing to be very precise, fun to watch.  

    Parent
    A Better Approach (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 02:38:18 PM EST
    It is always a better approach, imo, to be interested enough in the thing you are drawn to, so that it does not matter how you compare to others doing the same thing.

    But good for you that you were being honest with yourself in that you were more interested in the competition than the music.

    I have seen many unhappy musicians who plodded on even though they were not in love with making music. Because of the time investment they already put in, and the fact that playing an instrument was the best thing they felt that they could do they felt compelled to keep going, I suppose.

    A task oriented approach, rather than a reward oriented approach, is by far the most satisfying in most things, imo.

    Parent

    Losing the Soccer Moms and Independents (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by kidneystones on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 07:26:05 PM EST
    Fourteen pt gap opens up between GOP and Dems on national security.

    What are the costs of the last two years of dithering and hand-outs? Democrats have managed to re-brand themselves again as the party to timid to take on the big challenges. The gap on national security is the canary in the coal mine. At this stage the GOP is, barring a major turn of events, going to take back the House and very likely the Senate.

    Massa won't be the last Dem to be quit or 'be forced out'. Professional whiners like Markos are much more comfortable in the loser role. Kucinich has been a rock for most of the last two years and has got next to now credit. Now, he's being fitted out as the fall-guy by his the so-called progressives at TPM.

    I enjoy Youtube, too. Dems show every sign of going into a death-spiral. It's too unpleanant to watch.

    So-called progressive (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by waldenpond on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 08:40:53 PM EST
    bloggers should soon have new talking points to swarm the inter-toobules with as 20 just got to meet with Geitner (oooooohhhhhh, aaaaahhhh)

    Treasury 2.0

    A couple of sites are already not talking about what they can't talk about......  ha!

    Parent

    When it comes to National Security (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:51:24 PM EST
    there is no factual basis for Obama to have lost this much ground.  He has made more headway in dealing with Al Qaeda in a year than Dubya did in seven.  I find the poll absurd, and all I can say is the administration isn't selling itself on what it has done and how well it has done it.

    Parent
    I'd agree (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by cawaltz on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 11:16:37 PM EST
    He's executed foreign policy 10 times beter than his predecessor at least.

    I'm not sure if the results of this are less about his foreign policy and more about spillover of his disasterous domestic policy and people seeing him and the Dem party as generally inept.

    Parent

    Agreed (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Raskolnikov on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 04:19:41 AM EST
    This poll is absurd.  If anything it demonstrates the bizarre mentality of poll respondents.  As far as the world standing thing goes, just read any newspaper from outside the US, hell start with the Economist, and you'll see an immense difference in perception from the previous administration.

    Parent
    Maybe it's just impossible for (none / 0) (#5)
    by observed on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 08:20:50 PM EST
    a strong candidate to make it in the primaries anymore---and that goes for either party.
    The Republicans more or less consider the President a figurehead, so a W. doesn't hurt them too much. In fact, I'd say he was a big success, from the GOP standpoint. Sure, he left office unpopular, but he passed a lot of major bills which the Democrats won't undo.

    Now we have Obama, who would excellent as the charismatic head of the country and party who isn't expected to actually run things; unfortunately there's not enough leadership and organization to   get anything done!

    Parent

    My prediction: Liz Cheney will be the first (none / 0) (#8)
    by esmense on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 09:16:36 PM EST
    woman to win the presidential nomination of a major party.

    The fact that the first woman to break the glass ceiling and win an academy award as Best Director did so by directing a WAR movie is a reminder that in achieving these kind of "firsts" women are often required to prove their macho credentials.

    In politics, female firsts have most often also required connection to a well connected political male -- husband or father.

    Cheney has the required connection to a well known male politician, and, she is campaigning hard to demonstrate that she would be willing to be as extreme, if not more so, in the use of military power as her famously war mongering Dad.

    Parent

    Do not know about Liz Cheney (none / 0) (#9)
    by Politalkix on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:05:16 PM EST
    but Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel were/are from Conservative parties in their respective countries.

    Indira Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Srimavo Bandaranaike, Chandrika Kumaratunge, Corazon Aquino, Isabel Peron, Cristina Kirchner were/are daughters or wives of heads of states

    Mary Robinson, Tarja Halonel and Michelle Bachelet are the ones who should be giving us hope. No family connections and belong to the more progressive party in their respective countries.

    Parent

    Correction (none / 0) (#22)
    by Politalkix on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:21:33 AM EST
    Golda Meir was from the Labor party, however Israel had never known a Prime Minister from any other party till a few years after she became the PM.

    I agree that to achieve these kind of "firsts" women are often required to prove their macho credentials. Even men who are not from the majority "tribe :-)" are expected to do so, i.e they have to display their nationalistic and conservative credentials more than others.

    In a way President Obama has defied a lot of stereotypes. The conventional wisdom was that if the Democratic Party wanted to win the Presidency, they had to nominate a
    Southern Democrat. BHO was not only from a minority race (OK, biracial), he was from one of the most progressive states in the country. Yet he never resorted to hawkish rhetoric during the his GE campaign (not even to the extent that Kerry, Gore and Clinton did when they ran for the highest office in the land).

    Parent

    She'd also be the first truly (none / 0) (#33)
    by Socraticsilence on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 01:47:08 PM EST
    evil canidate since arguably Nixon (you could go the Greek Tragedy rout with Nixon)- seriously, is there a single redeeming policy that wouldn't objectively increase human misery that Cheney would back?

    Parent
    Greenwald has a good post on this (none / 0) (#32)
    by ruffian on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 11:02:15 AM EST
    today. (My links aren't working - but go to salon.com). Basically, if the WH is going to defend themselves on things like reading the Christmas Eve bomber his Miranda rights by saying 'Well, Bush did it too' instead of with a strong defense of principles, people are right to get the idea that the Bush-Cheney model was the right one and that Dems need to take their lead from Republicans on national security. Same with caving to Lindsey Graham. And, though I have nothing against Gates as defense secretary, keeping a Republican in that job further reinforces the idea. Surely there is a Dem that would have been just as good.

    Parent
    Wanted to share this (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 07:41:00 PM EST
    Stiglitz interview with anyone who had not had the chance to bump into it.

    Horrifying. Watch unemployment's (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Cream City on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 09:13:07 PM EST
    spread since the start of 2007 on this map.  (Click play.)

    My son just got a lousy job today, at last -- my college graduate -- with details to follow; hope it's decent pay and with benefits.  

    But it's a job.  Still a few more adult mouths to help feed in the family, and maybe we can rebuild for retirement by the time we're 80.

    Stunning image (none / 0) (#10)
    by waldenpond on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:27:28 PM EST
    Like an infectious disease.

    Parent
    That's it. (none / 0) (#15)
    by Cream City on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 11:42:23 PM EST
    I couldn't put words to it.  

    Everyone in the White House and in Congress out to have to watch it over and over and over. . . .

    Parent

    Imagine if they continued (none / 0) (#19)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 02:10:13 AM EST
    on to the real numbers!

    Parent
    here a reason to (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 09:30:43 AM EST
    hope the health care bill passes:

    Limbaugh vows to flee the country if health care passes.

    Watch out (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Socraticsilence on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 01:49:47 PM EST
    Thailand, Haiti and other nations with Sex Tourism industries.

    Parent
    Hoping it will be a country with (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 10:23:29 AM EST
    strict censorship.

    Parent
    Best reason I've (none / 0) (#29)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 10:29:13 AM EST
    heard for pushing it through yet.

    I just wish we could send him off into the breakers on a gigantic sack of coconut shells ala Papillion.

    Parent

    Excellent J! Hope it is a great show. (none / 0) (#2)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 06:55:26 PM EST


    Toss Up (none / 0) (#11)
    by squeaky on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:30:19 PM EST
    Hard to tell who is worse Hillary or Obama... lol
    The long-awaited "roadmap" for U.S. public diplomacy has finally emerged from Undersecretary of State Judith McHale's office, and it is a stunning disappointment.

    It is so lacking in imagination, so narrow in its scope, and so insufficient in its appraisal of the tasks facing U.S. public diplomats that it is impossible to understand why its preparation took so many months.....

    ....For those of us who had hoped that the Obama administration would bring new vitality and decisiveness to public diplomacy, the approach taken by the State Department is terribly deflating.

    In his Cairo speech, President Obama said: "It is easier to blame others than to look inward. It is easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path."

    In those words is more common sense about public diplomacy than can be found in the entire "strategic framework" the State Department has produced. The Secretary of State should tell her department to start over and do better.

    link

    I appreciate what you (none / 0) (#17)
    by lilburro on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 12:11:39 AM EST
    are doing here - but I will say "in those words" - damn, they've become a bit more of a curse for him at this stage than anything else.

    I liked Obama's FP more than Hillary's I will say that.  

    Parent

    Not really (none / 0) (#25)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 07:57:28 AM EST
    McHale's plan hasn't been adopted yet, but if you blame Clinton for accepting it, then ultimate responsibility lies with Obama.

    Kinda the problem with being "the decider".

    Parent

    Poor, Poor Hillary (none / 0) (#39)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 02:47:38 PM EST
    I am not "blaming" anyone. But it is refreshing to see that those up front and close see no difference between the two....

    But on the other hand, keep up the fight... Clinton needs you.. lol

    Parent

    Actually, she doesn't (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 04:08:23 PM EST
    She's doing just fine.  Of course you weren't "blaming anyone".  How could anyone even think such a thing?

    The idea that those "up front and close" see no differences is laughable... 1) She's his SOS - they'd better be on the same page as far as policy, or she should be prepared to resign, and 2)that doesn't mean those "up front and close" see "no differences" between them.

    Parent

    Hope Is A Beacon (none / 0) (#41)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 04:16:16 PM EST
    Keep dreaming...  One thing for sure is that cultists are all the same. Must be genetic, or something.

    Parent
    "Cultists"? (3.50 / 2) (#42)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:12:40 PM EST
    Worth a shot, I guess ...

    .... if you can't come up with any logical answer.

    'Cept the only "cultists" are the CDSers.

    Parent

    Tip Off (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:18:36 PM EST
    'Cept the only "cultists" are the CDSers.

    Oh you must be one of the renegade cultists from dkos. What was it about that site that caused so many to join cults?

    We sure got a boatload here at TL..

     

    Parent

    See, that's the funny thing about ... (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:22:07 PM EST
    ... you "cultists".

    You strain yourselves trying to read between the imaginary lines, and end up making the silliest arguments.

    Parent

    Strain? (none / 0) (#45)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:42:16 PM EST
    lol, more like shooting fish in a barrel round these parts..

    Parent
    Well, SURE it's easy (none / 0) (#51)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 08:05:15 PM EST
    Imaginary "cultists", imaginary fish, imaginary barrel, imaginary "Hope", imaginary "Change", etc., etc.....

    Parent
    Two words: (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:44:34 PM EST
    pantsuit fetish. Or is that three words?

    Parent
    Good One (none / 0) (#47)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:52:37 PM EST


    Parent
    No doubt (none / 0) (#50)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 08:02:17 PM EST
    But you can get help for that.

    Parent
    Right because ODSers (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Socraticsilence on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 07:05:19 PM EST
    aren't a massive problem. Remember if Obama does something you wanted- its not enough, but if he compromises to achieve a goal- its because he has no core.

    Parent
    They're not, but I guess that's the problem ... (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 08:01:21 PM EST
    ... when you sell yourself to the TrueProgs with vague promises of "Hope" and "Change".

    They actually expect you to deliver.

    Parent

    there's at least as much ODS as there was CDS (none / 0) (#52)
    by Socraticsilence on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 11:24:00 PM EST
    in the 90s, I mean some of the stuff is insane.

    Parent
    Not the point (none / 0) (#53)
    by Yman on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 06:23:42 AM EST
    My point is that, if you make a lot of vague (and not-so-vague) campaign promises to the TruProgs and netroots to win the nomination, don't come crying when they turn on you for bailing on your tab.

    BTW - When did Obama's impeachment start?

    Can't believe I missed that.

    Parent

    Public Diplomacy (none / 0) (#34)
    by Socraticsilence on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 01:48:47 PM EST
    doesn't need to be hugely visible and active with the US's standing in the world where it is right now.

    Parent
    Awesome (none / 0) (#16)
    by lilburro on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 11:48:54 PM EST
    if there is one thing other than being a kick-@ss defense lawyer I know about J it's that she loves Bon Jovi :)  I hope you and your son enjoy!!

    We loved it (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 12:50:20 AM EST
    just got back. He was incredible. And I've never seen so many "mature" women at a rock concert before, screaming and on their feet for 2 1/2 hours. I guess I'm not the only one who loves that face.

    Parent
    Good stuff J... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 08:02:15 AM EST
    you've been working hard, glad you got out for a rockin' good time.

    Parent
    My (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 05:45:41 AM EST
    husband jokes that the only person he fears wrecking our marriage would be JBJ. He's sure that if he showed up at our doorstep I would run off with him. LOL.

    Parent
    Glad to hear it (none / 0) (#24)
    by jbindc on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 07:09:53 AM EST
    I'm goingto see him at the end of the month here in DC.  Can't wait!

    Did he have an opening act?

    Parent

    yes it was (none / 0) (#30)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 10:47:56 AM EST
    Dashboard Confessional.  Very energetic band.

    Parent
    Cool! Thanks! (none / 0) (#31)
    by jbindc on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 11:00:57 AM EST


    Parent
    Jeralyn, I recently heard an interview (none / 0) (#37)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 02:11:29 PM EST
    of Pico Iyer, the author we discussed recently here.  He wrote a book, which I am about to start reading, about the Dalia Lama.  In the course of researching the book he met Bon Jovi.  In the interview, Iyer expresses great admiration for Bon Jovi's activism.

    Parent
    glad you enjoyed it! n/t (none / 0) (#36)
    by lilburro on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 01:50:44 PM EST


    Parent
    Not awesome (none / 0) (#56)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 04:43:16 PM EST
    sincere, tribute to awesome past song of Bonjovi?

    His past songs... (none / 0) (#57)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 07:11:03 PM EST
    ...are always my favorites.

    Parent
    Monday Night Open Thread | 55 comments (55 topical)

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