Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

I did not have this on my fuck 2025 bingo card.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

When we show up, we win.

“But what about the lurkers?”

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

“woke” is the new caravan.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

You are here: Home / Music / Palate Cleanser/Early Evening Open Thread

Palate Cleanser/Early Evening Open Thread

by | 72 Comments

This post is in: ,

Here’s some tunes I reached for this afternoon, all to get the texture of Kasich’s narishkeit in Brooklyn out of my brain.

First up: Itzhak Perlman’s got some swing:

 

Next, for a bit of joyous culture mixing, check out the Barcelona Gypsy Klezmer Orchestra, here doing a killer take on Djelem Djelem:

And last, because where would we be without people with too much time on their hands constructing glorious improbabilities, enjoy this (h/t @joi_the_artist):

And with that: open thread!

Reader Interactions

72Comments

  2. 2.

    Mnemosyne

    Only music to some people’s ears, but here’s James Cagney demonstrating his fluent Yiddish in one of his early films. Cagney picked it up growing up on the Lower East Side and found it came in quite handy during contract negotiations when studio heads either didn’t know or forgot he knew Yiddish and could understand their secret side conferences during contract negotiations.

  3. 3.

    Keith P.

    I’m watching Joe Dirt 2. Not bad at all, really. It’s got some really funny scenes (The Sopranos nod, the fart-fest), but it’s otherwise it’s kind of a Forrest Gump parody.

  6. 6.

    lamh36

    SCIENCE RULZ!!

    The Obama White House held it’s last WH Science Fair. Since 2010 POTUS and FLOTUS have invited young scientist in to show their stuff.

    I’d love to think whoever is in the WH next would continue the science fair, but I actually doubt it.

    Here are highlights from past Sciene Fairs.

    The “supergirls” from last year came back for this year’s science fair.

    @nerdist
    NBD, just @barackobama and the amazing kids whose work is on display at #WHScienceFair! ⚗?

  7. 7.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Since it’s a music thread, some here may be interested to know that James Levine is stepping down as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera. He’ll be MD Emeritus, will conduct occasionally, and will continue to be involved in things like young artist development.

    It’s not unexpected news, given his myriad physical ailments, but still the end of an incredible tenure of 40+ years. I hope his health will allow him to stay active in his new role for years to come. He’s a treasure.

  11. 11.

    Mike J

    Gov of TN vetoed bill naming the Bible the official state book.

    “If we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, then we shouldn’t be recognizing it only as a book of historical and economic significance. If we are recognizing the Bible as a sacred text, then we are violating the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Tennessee by designating it as the official state book.”

    Hard to believe he’s a Republican (in this one instance.)

  13. 13.

    raven

    @Mnemosyne: My grandfather grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Chicago. He spoke some Yiddish, told jokes and had nicknames for us. I thought it was Norwegian until I was in Vietnam and described some of these thing to my Jewish friend and he set me straight.

  14. 14.

    Gin & Tonic

    I’m hoping someone can explain to me what “WOO WOO WOO WOO WOOPOOT WOO WOO” means. I thought I knew English pretty well, but maybe not.

  19. 19.

    Mnemosyne

    @debbie:

    There’s a reason critic Wesley Morris said, “To know someone who has the cast album is to know someone in need of a restraining order.” And he was including himself in that category.

    I honestly can’t keep up on all of the “Hamilton” stuff. It’s showing up everywhere. I even got a yarn company email ad that referenced it (“Stress Less, Smile More”).

  24. 24.

    Gelfling545

    @Mike J: i suspect he is (prudently, in my opinion) saving the millions the state would have to spend defending this in court. It was just begging for a court challenge.

  26. 26.

    jl

    I am savoring the story of Inky the Octopus, long suppressed by Big Aquarium. By Big Human standards, he was in ingrate, I suppose. Or, maybe we would say a ‘survivor’.

    Inky The Octopus Breaks Out Of Aquarium, Makes Way To The Pacific
    TPM blog

    Inky’s story begins on Pania Reef… He was pulled up by a fisherman in a lobster pot and wasn’t in good shape. He’d been attacked, probably by a snapper or some other fish, and a couple of his tentacles were half their normal length.

    After a year recuperating at the National Aquarium, said manager Rob Yarrall, Inky was once again in good health. And he’d been delighting the staff with his intelligence.

    “He used to come up and you could hand-feed him,” Yarrall said. “He’d grab hold of you with the suckers on his tentacles, or squirt water at you. And he worked out how to screw the top off a jar.”

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/world-news/inky-octopus-breaks-out-new-zealand-aquarium

  27. 27.

    AkaDad

    I’ve been mulling over what I’d rather do than watch another debate. I finally settled on waxing my testicles.

  34. 34.

    redshirt

    @lamh36: I’m going to miss BHO so much for so many reasons, but prime among them is he’s a huge nerd and not ashamed of it.

    He got an advance screening of the new season of Game of Thrones the other day, since he’s the most powerful person in the world, and maybe the coolest.

  35. 35.

    Ultraviolet Thunder

    @Mike J:

    Gov of TN vetoed bill naming the Bible the official state book.

    I’m sure he’s looking forward to spending more time with his family after the next gubernatorial election.

  37. 37.

    Mnemosyne

    @WaterGirl:

    To be fair, I come by it honestly: I still have the cast album of A Chorus Line memorized because my dad played it so relentlessly. It was the Hamilton of its day.

  38. 38.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Looking at Cole’s twitter feed, I see this, which I don’t understand

    John Cole ‏@ Johngcole 44m44 minutes ago
    .@ KatyTurNBC WOO WOO WOO WOO WOOPOOT WOO WOO

    I can’t tell if she pissed him off or looks especially good today

    also, more importantly, this, which made happy

    Bruce Bartlett ‏@ BruceBartlett 2h2 hours ago
    Time magazine’s new cover story about the national debt is idiotic and bad for America

    everyone from Reaganite Bartlett to Slate is mocking Time for that Pete Petersen-ish fear-mongering. I’m sure Weinberg and/or Saletan are working on a contrarian pose right not, but I’ll enjoy the moment.

  40. 40.

    debbie

    @jl:

    A woman on the program said her kids (preteen more or less) had memorized every song and reenacted them often.

  41. 41.

    Ultraviolet Thunder

    @redshirt:
    I’ve been voting in presidential elections for 35 years but Obama was the first Dem that I felt was Our Guy. My generation, because we’re roughly the same age. Not a single other thing in common of course, but more relatable than an older white governor of a southern state, for instance.
    I’m genuinely going to miss all of the Obamas.

  48. 48.

    Mike J

    @efgoldman:

    I think he looked at some of his neighboring states, and asked himself why the taxpayers should pay for a lawsuit that’s a sure loser.

    Most Republicans are happy to spend millions on a losing lawsuit as long as they get to say ,”fuck you” to liberals. After they lose they can moan about how oppressed they are and how those evil liberals just cost the state millions of dollars.

  51. 51.

    Mike J

    @Mnemosyne:

    Or, as one of my fellow pedants here insisted

    There is a Finnish word, pilkunnussija that means, “comma fucker.” There are many who aspire to pedantry, and are only lowly pilkunnussijat.

  52. 52.

    MomSense

    Oh dear dog I turned on the tv and saw Ted Cruz.

    Not on my teevee.
    Not as a VP.
    I do not like him in White House.
    I do not like that creepy louse.

  60. 60.

    LAO

    Since there’s no hockey thread, I just have ask. How as a mets and rangers fan, did I not know that Howie Rose calls Islanders games?

    The tread may now return to Hamilton worship.

  62. 62.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mnemosyne:

    The modern Major-General? Made me laugh when I first caught it.

    Yes, on the wave of your enthusiasm I went out and bought the cast album and have been listening to it in the car. I also joined (although so far do not much participate in) a Facebook group called “Hamiltalk,” where you’d feel right at home :-)

  63. 63.

    MomSense

    @Mnemosyne:

    Stage managers are the business. I also loved Evita but I was so disappointed when I saw the show because I hated the staging sooo much. I had to just close my eyes so I could enjoy Patinkin and Lupone.

    My sister and I had a skit we did with great success. We would perform the advertisement that ran on the local NYC stations for the show. It was a big hit.

  64. 64.

    SiubhanDuinne

    And for something completely different (although in keeping with snappy verse), BASEBALL!!

    Forgive me please — I need to whine.
    Atlanta Braves are Oh and Nine.

    “It breaks your heart,” a wise man said.
    I won’t yet give them up for dead;

    But still, I do not know the reason
    For such a dismal start to season.

    Must we continue with such sorrow?
    We play Miami on the morrow.

    (And just in case it’s “if,” not “when,”
    I hope they won’t go Oh for Ten.)

  66. 66.

    Miss Bianca

    @lamh36: I listened to some of Obama’s speech at Science Fair…he is so awesome. I do hope if HRC gets into the WH she will continue it…

  71. 71.

    Keith P.

    @chopper: Because I’m not you. You’ll find that as you get older, it is quite common for the rest of the world to not share your beliefs and/or desires.

  72. 72.

    pluky

    @Mnemosyne: When Connie Chung married Maury Povich, one of the first things she did was learn Yiddish so that she’d know what the rest of the family thought they were saying over her head.

Comments are closed.