IYE tends to do this too … the closer to what we feel might be the clincher, the more enigmatic we get. Same with that biz about Airmiles and family … very low key we kept it … so lowkey it’s obvious it went straight by various patrons, from subsequent comments. It’s still there, should you be interested.
As for IYE, I made 48 mins before the first break (had to get back to the blog). Yep, I’m thinking that that alters the entire picture. Whether EK was in on it … well that’s something I’m still not sure about.
… is a twofer, two of old British yuletide with Christian elements blended in.
Going to run 21 carols/songs overall (just spent an hour saving them and about five films) up to and including Boxing Day (two today, three on Christmas Day) … leaving three I’ll have to drop out this year.
One other which will need to be dropped is Away in a Manger in a nativity scene, a carol which should be sung by children but the UK gummint censor and YT have deemed it can’t be shown (twas fine last year) … think they fear some infanticidal mania on our part.
I’m also blending in some other “hardly carols” but they still fit the season and occasion, e.g. Fairport’s Poor Ditching Boy.
“Yuletide (or Yule) refers to an ancient Germanic winter solstice festival, a time of feasting, light, and renewal around the shortest day of the year, which later merged with Christmas, becoming a traditional name for the entire Christmas season (Christmastide) in many cultures, celebrated with traditions like the Yule log and caroling, and still observed by modern Pagans. It marks the rebirth of the sun and the cyclical nature of life, with roots in Norse celebrations like jól and connections to winter gods like Odin and the Wild Hunt.”
(0811) Probably the day … I went back to bed. Morning! (0827)
10. Moosh corner
9. Think I ran this … oh well, here tis again
8. Obama and the Logan Act
“The Logan Act is a U.S. federal law from 1799 (18 U.S.C. § 953) that forbids unauthorized U.S. citizens from negotiating with foreign governments on behalf of the U.S. or attempting to influence their relations with the U.S. during disputes, to prevent undermining official government policy; it’s named after George Logan, who informally negotiated with France, leading to its passage, but despite being cited in numerous political controversies (like with Trump or Flynn), it has rarely been successfully prosecuted, acting more as a political tool.”
Pakistan offers to ‘take grooming gang leaders’ if UK hands over dissidents
US Visit Strengthens Trump-AfD Ties
Much more.
3. Tina Peters
2. DAD at 1229
a) What was our President thinking when he posted such a ludicrous tweet on the official Élysée Palace account this Monday, December 1st? In a video edited like a commercial, he explains the urgent need to establish a label to distinguish trustworthy media outlets from those spreading disinformation.
b) Are we in Peak Post-Truth? We are consistently told that we must believe lies, and we must celebrate what we know to be both untrue and harmful, and if we do not do so, we will be punished.
c) ‘Diary of a Prisoner’: Why is Nicolas Sarkozy’s prison memoir already a big hit?
[DAD’s comment. “Since he was in prison for only a few weeks, it must be a very thin book”.]
d) London and Copenhagen: This is the strong message we are sending to our European friends: if responsible governments fail to address the concerns of their citizens, populists will prevail. When trust in government to meet today’s challenges erodes, our sense of shared belonging can begin to crumble.
I’m not sure I was diplomatic in my original message to TR and Emma (see OoL). There were two early responses:
About four dozen have piled in through the day and by midday, my position had changed to the point that I agreed the two might get away with running on the same day, with mutual understanding. Thing was, there were many who wanted no understanding to occur and Fred refers to that at OoL. This conversation, by the way, is on X on the whole, not at OoL.
At the same time, IYE and Toodles have both supplied more on EK and CO. There are some very crazy things going down with both imho … er, I mean with EK and CO, not … never mind.
14. Where will you sit?
13. Removing the roadblocks
12. Pink ladies
Screenshot only
11. Steve at 1229
Chris McGuire: America’s AI Dominance Relied On One Edge: We Make The Best Chips And Deny China Access. This New Policy Abandons That Lead, And We Now Sell China Our Second-Best Chips
Wade Miller-Policy Brief: The Threat Of Radical Islam And Sharia Law
Charles Cornish-Dale: President Trump Is Clear. The US Rejects The Great Replacement, Which Forces Demographic Erasure Of European Peoples Against Their Will By The Elite
US evangelicals drive rise of the “religious right” in UK politics
(1114) Elevenses are upon us already. Warning, readers, surfeit of femmes coming up, plus the first part of the next post. (1129) (just storing THIS here for later.)
10. Works for me too
9. This does not sound too good
… esp. given Stasi’s track record.
8. A threefer
Hmmmmm … as for Australians, they can be pretty dangerous at times … sometimes they even win the Ashes.
7. She’s very lucky, is NS, that APL got behind her
Whether it’s in operatic purity or in deliberate crossover artists, there are so many factors … for example with this chap who’ll again sing O Holy Night closer to Christmas:
“Juan Diego Flórez is a highly acclaimed Peruvian tenor, often described as one of the greatest of his generation, known for his phenomenal vocal agility, rock-steady high notes (especially in Rossini), infectious charisma, and stunning technique, though critics note his evolution from pure acrobatics to deeper musicality and a growing repertoire. Reviews praise his thrilling high Cs, clear tone, and charm, even as he expands from tenore leggero roles to heavier parts like Puccini’s La Bohème, earning him legions of fans and numerous awards.”
Key Strengths & Acclaim:
Vocal Technique: Praised for incredible agility, phenomenal breath control, and ringing, clear high notes, particularly in bel canto roles.
Performance Style: Inspires huge audiences with his energy, charisma, and engaging stage presence, transitioning from technical showpieces to more emotive performances.
Evolution: Has successfully matured, expanding his repertoire beyond his early Rossini specialty to include more dramatic and Romantic roles, adding depth to his artistry.
Fan Reception: Commands devoted followings, with audiences thrilled by his vocal fireworks (like high Cs) and engaging personality.
A sad contender for the “overrated” award might be Sarah Brightman … I’ve just been reading about her, from her vocal limitations to her attitude on stage or in private life as a self-styled diva … but the major criticisms are three … her vocalisation, her narcissism as a result of Brit luvvy worship, her messy life.
“Sarah Brightman faces criticism primarily for inconsistent acting, sometimes perceived as wooden or superficial, especially in musical theatre roles like Sunset Boulevard, despite her powerful, multi-octave voice being praised by many. Critics often note a gap between her vocal talent and dramatic delivery, with some finding her musical style (“popera”) overly polished or “precious,” though others enjoy her unique fusion of classical and pop.”
“The trouble with Sarah B isn’t so much her voice — lots of pop singers really don’t sing all that well — but the irredeemable cheesiness of her music and her stage shows. From what I’ve heard of her music, it’s hollow and bombastic, with little real feeling to it; in a previous thread, someone compared her to John Tesh, and that’s spot-on.”
“And, yes, her speaking voice is rather girlish and she’s become increasingly flamboyant. It’s pretty self-evident that Sarah Brightman is flamboyant because flamboyance lands prime media spots, gets people talking, and sells CDs and $150 concert tickets. Talent takes you only so far. Clever packaging does the rest.”
I read an opera page which really picked apart her mouth position through to various notes she mishandled etc. It’s possibly an unjustified criticism that she’s the diva equivalent of the Andre Rieu show. What did come through is that so many detest her style and voice, whereas mainly Brits gallantly defend “our Sarah”.
The reason for this post, dropping what I did have prepared is that I glanced at the political items here awaiting posting and there’s a flood of fab females pictured … it would have been overkill to run the three reaction videos I had around the same song.
Song was You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling (1964)
“The Righteous Brothers consistently receive extremely high ratings, with fans giving albums like Unchained Melody 4.5 to 5 stars on retail sites, praising their timeless harmonies, powerful vocals (especially Bobby Hatfield’s), and emotional depth. They are critically acclaimed, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and lauded by critics for their unique blend of soul, pop, and R&B, making them a legendary duo with enduring appeal.”
What I had were three reactors, all female, two maybe late Millennial early Gen Zee, honeys in every way … plus an Indian origin kid of 17 by way of contrast. The two older ones swooned within seconds … the kid was praising the voices but did not fully understand she was also swooning. The older ones had to stop, could not continue, came back later.
Quite interesting for a male but as I say … maybe a bit too much femme overkill for one day.
