WTF-Beta

To be fair a comment regarding Denmark increasing Nato security that Trump made, was extremely funny
"They added one more dog sled"

Lets hear your version then
Gilels is my fav, followed by Yuja who plays the right speed but has too much rubato for a march if I may comment on such an amazing pianist.

I just found my new jazz piece played on YouTube, ( You are too beautiful,number 2 on my list which after 4 days I can almost play the notes as well as this chap). Needs musicality, an intro and change to ending imo which I'll improvise, but here is a bloke with very similar taste it would seem:

That's a good point about working on something that stretches you, a bit beyond your current abilities.
Can anyone here play the middle part of Rachs prelude 5 in g minor?

BTW I am full of admiration for you folk who perform or continue with lessons.

I now feel the need to add a Bach to my pile, deceptively difficult to play beautifully as his music is.
And a Chopin, something new, an etude. Op25/7 or Op10/11

If you haven't already read this absolute gem of a book, it takes only 10 minutes and it is deliciously funny, from the Title page on.

Any pieces at the top of your learning pile?

Here's a few of mine on the table next to my piano:

1. I'd like to learn the middle section of Rachs prelude 5 in g minor. And play it like Gilels... all the way through.

2. I've already started on a new tune, never heard it before; 'You are too beautiful' found in the Steinway Piano Stylings Standards Book 5.
   Memorising it is going to be the hardest part, lots of jazz-accidentals. Lovely song.

3. Also to get to grips and memorise Rutters arrangement of 'For the beauty of the earth'. The last verse is in B major, sounds wonderful but it's a key rarely encountered. Played it faltering for years, time to crack that nut.

4. La Campanella. Anyone like my copy of the notes

"He just keeps blowing things up"

Vera Ellen was so beautiful.
Debbie Reynolds too, her famous Good Morning tap from Singing in the Rain, Kelly dancing in the rain.
But I give you Debbie and Donald (and the lyrics of this number are a work of art)

It does, wonder what UK Costco is selling. Might be nice in our living room.

Our sitting room gas fireplace is an eclectic mess.

Queen Anne oak mantle, marble inset surround & hearth, pretty Victorian tiles, 1980's gas guzzling fire.
I'm just finishing upstairs carpets and the sitting room is next on our radar (at 37sq.m. on concrete I won't be laying the new carpet)

Any ideas for the fireplace? Start again?
I fancy a plain stone mantle to complement the marble & tiles which we'll keep, and a black arched fake(electric) coal fireplace.

Great thread.

Ginger in that dress is a dream

I had a day of taking down and storing Christmas decorations and watching rather grim news of countries interacting, child poverty, cost of living and storm warnings.

Thank goodness for my daily morning dose of Frasier.
Today it was him writing a simple ad-jingle that he naturally turns into an epic orchestra/choir/monologue which Daphne describes "Like Gilbert & Sullivan but frightening. So so funny, got to love America sitcoms. It was followed by an episode where his Dad pretends to be gay. Laughing out loud.

@wtg
🧡 right back at you and all here, at this upsetting incident.
I have no axe to grind, but admit to assuming not guilty unless proven.
I understand a bit of where you are coming from, the 90,000 Somali background, the effective invasion of federal ICE agents into the state.
I also understand a bit of the crapola which the Whitehouse puts out. Why do I dislike Vance so much?

Ignoring the personas of the video and any ridiculous Vance theories; and looking at a video of the incident on BBC Verify, my take is:
That the driver was blocking the road and
the driver did not do as asked at least twice by law officers; and
the driver then tried to flee the scene driving in a way that endangered two officers by weaponising the vehicle.
That an officer shot at the vehicle once from in front then twice from the side.
Pretty factual.

Can a video demonstrate intent/no intent by the driver to harm the officers? No.
The driver's actions could certainly be interpreted by the officers as a threat and attack.

The first shot could reasonably be called self-defence. The other two side shots not. Lock him up. I'll listen to mitigation on his behalf.

BTW
Vance sucks big time.

What will a jury think?

The problem now is 'we' know the driver was a wonderful saint-like local woman. Her actions however were less so.

The position she had placed her car was the start of the incident.
Her refusal to comply with law officers' request, however blunt and aggressively made, was an escalation; her dangerous, reckless and threatening driving in attempting to flee the scene completely unacceptable.
She's dead. Tragic.

I ask you:
If a law enforcement officer asks you to get out of the car, will you?
Are you required to obey?

His hand is on your door handle, will you reverse taking his hand and body with you? Then will you attempt to drive away without looking forward where you are going?

A moment of stupidity we all dread could happen.

A police officer is pointing a gun at you at near point blank range standing nearly right in front of your bonnet, and you put your foot on the gas?

After you've disobeyed instruction from another officer and reversed dangerously?

I'd expect to be shot!

Why was she there? With her car like that?
Importantly, why disobey the direction of an armed law officer?
Why drive dangerously, probably injuring one officer, threatening another? Why attempt to flee the scene at high speed and about to endanger the public?
Why use her car as a weapon?
What was going through her mind for those few seconds?

Our UK Highway Code is very clear:
"You MUST obey" the directions and signals of law and traffic officers.

We had a young police office who was caught on a vehicle as it took off, dragged along some distance and died.
I have little sympathy for anyone who flaunts the law in this reckless way, endangers others, especially our law officers.

What does your driving test code say regarding directions given by law officers?

Love the location, to live by the sea like that. The house is not my style but it is special and probably built to take advantage of 270 degree views

I haven't looked at all the links above and have posted my take on the awful incident on 'the other' forum.

Basically looks like the driver panicked, importantly...
failed to obey the Officer asking them to get stop and get out of the car, possibly causing him a hand injury while reversing as the Officer attempts to open the door.
The driver then...
drives forward towards another Officer who had drawn his weapon while the car reversed, and who then fires at the driver as the car lurches forward.

@Steve-Miller
Yup, though Blancpain and IWC are my dreams I've always fancied an outdoor climbing/trekking smart watch like the Suunto.
Though the Monblanc is stylish

I very rarely wear a watch now, but two of these tempt me.

Superb, the photos and article.
If I can pick one photo that fascinates, the tsunami wave at Fukushima is an amazing snap.

Talking of good old fairy light incandescents, I had to replace two bulbs this year. And they just blew again last night.

But I love them so, from around 1956, nursery rhyme bells that my parents had on our tree for years, these:

Here they are on our entrance hall mirror