AndyD
Posts
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Weather where you are thread -
New Year, new music? Ambitions?Wow some challenging pieces you people learn.
I might add that the Chopin waltz 64/2 seems to be played quite differently by each pianist.
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Weather where you are threadIt was down to minus 4 here, actually too cold to work in our garage and such that for a week I've been disinclined to do anything.
But it's now cloudy & wet and up to 7 degrees during the day so we've just been to the recycling centre with carpet, having emptied and stripped our last bedroom for me to finish the upstairs carpetting 'project'.
Our gaily decorated and colourful 1960 paisley and 1980 geometric carpets that made each bedroom & landing different are now a memory of photos; replaced by an unnoticed tweedy red flecked brown.
And lovely 12mm underlay. -
Still crazy after all these yearsHappy Anniversary
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RespectYes, nice. I especially like the respect to those awarded a US Medal of Honor; even a 4 star general salutes the holder first.
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I'm suffering from whiplashHe's saving up to buy Greenland
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America and the world orderTo be fair a comment regarding Denmark increasing Nato security that Trump made, was extremely funny
"They added one more dog sled" -
New Year, new music? Ambitions?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:
Link to video
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New Year, new music? Ambitions?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 -
What are you reading?
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.
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New Year, new music? Ambitions?Any pieces at the top of your learning pile?
Here's a few of mine on the table next to my piano:
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I'd like to learn the middle section of Rachs prelude 5 in g minor. And play it like Gilels... all the way through.
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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. -
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.
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La Campanella. Anyone like my copy of the notes

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In Syria"He just keeps blowing things up"



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Favorite movie dance scenesVera Ellen was so beautiful.
Link to video
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) -
Thoughts on portable electric heatersIt 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. -
Favorite movie dance scenes -
Gotta have some good newsI 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. -
In Minneapolis@wtg
๐งก 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. -
In MinneapolisWhat 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.
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In MinneapolisA 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!
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In MinneapolisWhy 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?