WTF-Beta

History Hit released an interesting video about Greenland this week. . .

How is the new hall? I only ever experienced it, and knew it, as Avery Fisher Hall. It sounds like there was a prolonged effort to get renovations done. Again.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/17/republicans-trump-greenland

Emphasis mine:

Nebraska congressman Don Bacon told the Omaha World-Herald: “If he went through with the threats, I think it would be the end of his presidency. And he needs to know: the off-ramp is realizing Republicans aren’t going to tolerate this and he’s going to have to back off. He hates being told no, but in this case, I think Republicans need to be firm.”

Well, that would be more than nice.

@ShiroKuro said in New Year, new music? Ambitions?:

50 minutes one way is a lot! Especially if something starts in the evening.

If would be many times more tolerable if I didn't have to drive! Driving puts the kibosh on reading, or knitting or whatever else.

@jon-nyc No, I was not.

@jon-nyc Beautiful pieces. I especially like the g minor.

@ShiroKuro 35 miles one way, which isn't too bad. Unfortunately the route passes through two townships which have 30 mph speed limits. So it takes about 50 minutes one way.

I'm not complaining too much. After all, when I lived in NYC and wanted to do anything in Manhattan I'd have to plan an hour to get there (it wouldn't always take that long, but with bus delays and train delays, there was always an element of unpredictability.

What I do complain about is the fact that years ago all the train tracks linking the Baker River Valley to the Upper Valley were removed. I dream about how wonderful it would be to hop on a train in Rumney (just down to the valley from here) and get off in Lebanon where the school is. I'd be taking the trains everywhere if they existed. But as we know, the US is not rail oriented. In fact NHites seems to despise the idea. Craziness.

@ShiroKuro That's great! Having someone else in your community to play with is fab.

I want to start feeling out the situation in Plymouth nearby, because it's much closer than the community at the music school. UNH has a campus in Plymouth and they have a music program, plus several NH ensembles perform regularly there. Then there's the NH music festival which takes place throughout the month of July. So there's musicians around, and I would like something a little more local than the music school.

@Mark How wonderful that you are taking lessons again. I hope your knee heals well and quickly. I love Baldwin pianos.

I find that Chopin's waltzes look easy but are not. Not at all. And the Op.9, No.1 Nocturne is gorgeous. Nice pieces to work on.

@AndyD said in New Year, new music? Ambitions?:

Lets hear your version then

It's been several decades since I played it, so give me a week to see if I can get something together. . . but only the middle section. I don't want to spend too much time relearning the first and last sections. Also, this is the worse time of year for recording my piano, but I'll see how it goes.

@CHAS That's the one.

Do they even realize what a**es they are?

Warning, foul picture at top of article.

Trump agriculture secretary’s idea for money-saving meal prompts derision

ICE is just part of Trump and the GOP's campaign to make America a totalitarian state. Immigration is just one cover for carrying out that goal. Under the false guise of rounding up criminal, illegal immigrants ICE is murdering American citizens of all colors. That orange SOB wants complete control--and the republicans are willing to give it to him--over the economy (the outrageous Powell episode unfolding right now), the states via intimidation and fear (ICE). We are heading down the path of totalitarianism faster than you say the word. ICE is our Gestapo, the force that ensures intimidation of all. The Democrats in power better have their eyes wide open.

I'm glad to see impeachment proceedings against Noem under way. And, the Democrats had better be ready, willing, and able to stall a new funding bill unless it contains severe limitations (if not the abolishment) of ICE. Cause otherwise, it's not going to be safe anywhere, no matter where you were born or what color your skin is.

@wtg I had never heard of the program (well, not surprising since I don't have tv or streaming services). I just watched an episode (Season 5 Episode 59 Christmas Special) on YouTube, and I'll definitely watch some more. It was a bit of a tearjerker at times!

Happy Anniversary!

@AndyD said in New Year, new music? Ambitions?:

Can anyone here play the middle part of Rachs prelude 5 in g minor?

I played it many years ago, even memorized it!

What good are his words now? He was an enabler of Trump. Does he think his words might have sway among the republicans?

@ShiroKuro I should try to get some Bach in my regimen, I do love his music.

@ShiroKuro I usually have something to work on that is a bit (or a bit more) beyond my current abilities. For me, it's constructive and I've found it a good way to extend my technical abilities. So I don't feel demoralized if I end up setting it aside, to be taken up again at a later date. However, if it soon becomes apparent that I'm not going to learn anything from tackling a piece, I will set it aside pronto. The 3rd movement from Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata is a good example. I've looked at it many times, thinking maybe this time I'll get deeper into it, but the hurdles become obviously too much for the time being. I'll keep going back to it though, when the mood strikes me.

@AndyD Nice list! I absolutely love the middle section of Rachmaninoff's g minor prelude.

I don't memorize any more unless absolutely necessary or certain phrases get absorbed through intense work on them.