Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We can show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

Consistently wrong since 2002

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Let there be snark.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

Republicans in disarray!

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

“Alexa, change the president.”

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

You are here: Home / Music / Musical Interlude Open Thread: Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Reader Interactions

89Comments

  1. 1.

    patroclus

    Thankfully, the Senate just killed McConnell’s attempt to force a $500 billion Mnuchin slush fund down our throats in a Republican-only drafted bill.

  3. 3.

    MomSense

    Speaking of music, DJ Nice is having another dance party on Instagram tonight.  So fun.  He is DNice on Instagram – several hundred thousand people all dancing along tonight.

  5. 5.

    oldster

    Yikes! When the cello repairman pulled out a crowbar, I almost plotzed!

    But I guess its not so much a crowbar as a…sound-post repositioner?
    Very specialized tool, looks like.

  8. 8.

    Ohio Mom

    Oldster@5: And then I was like, Huh? That’s all he had to do and now the cello is fixed? What did he do, anyway?

    Looked like magic to me.

  10. 10.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I mentioned this in the thread last night, for those who may not know: Sheku Kanneh-Mason first came to wide public attention when he was featured as a soloist at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle two years ago. I believe he’s better known in the UK than in the US. An extremely gifted and engaging young man.

  11. 11.

    MazeDancer

    Rosie is hosting a webcam fundraiser right now. For the Actors Fund. Lots of Broadway stars singing from their homes.

    Go to Broadway.com. Click on Rosie drawing.

  12. 12.

    susanna

    Thanks Anne & Humboldtblue, this was great, seeing what this young man pulls out of that massive violin took me far, far away from any other troubles.

  13. 13.

    columbusqueen

    @SiubhanDuinne: His five siblings are all gifted classical musicians at well as shown in the one clip. Saw a piece on the family at the time of the Sussex wedding on CBS Sunday Morning.  They were a remarkably engaging & vibrant group.

  14. 14.

    Mary G

    Joe Biden just endorsed Warren’s coronavirus student loan debt cancelation and social security increase plans. She’s getting this thing done.— Shannon ?? (@TheStagmania) March 22, 2020

    Funny how he keeps taking up her plans. The Bernie Bros have got to be seething.

  15. 15.

    Baud

    @Mary G:

    Joe Biden picked up an endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers, the latest union group to support the former vice president in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination

    …

    On Friday, the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents 1.3 million workers, threw its support behind Biden. Earlier this month, the National Education Association, which is the country’s largest union with 3 million members, endorsed him.

  17. 17.

    Trapped Lurker

    @Ohio Mom:  He adjusted the sound post, a little dowel that conducts the vibrations from the bridge to the back of the cello, so the whole instrument is involved in the sound production.

  18. 18.

    piratedan

    @Mary G: Biden has shown that he’s capable of understanding that he’s not always right and continued to display that he’s still learning and growing and the Warren team probably isn’t that concerned with the credit, but with the result.

    I think many of us just want to have what’s broken fixed and improved if possible, good to know that Joe wants to enact the same things.

  21. 21.

    Amir Khalid

    @Mary G:

    Some here have been criticising Warren because she still hasn’t endorsed Biden’s candidacy. But she seems to be influencing him in a way that no other candidate has managed, and I think that she is achieving what she really wants. Not so much the presidency but rather the implementation of her policy ideas.

  25. 25.

    Mary G

    I’m sure Biden would be happy to take up one of Bernie’s plans if he had a workable one and not just slogans.

  26. 26.

    Another Scott

    @Mary G:

    From the last debate transcript…

    Jake Tapper: (55:35)

    Let’s talk about the future, Vice President Biden. If you become the Democratic Presidential nominee, how will you appeal to supporters of Senator Sanders when you do disagree on so many issues?

    Joe Biden: (55:45)

    He’s making it hard for me right now. I was trying to give him credit for some things. He won’t even take the credit for things he wants to do. Look, I think that I want to make it clear that Bernie as a nominee, I will not only support him, I will campaign for him. I believe the people who support me will do the same thing. Because the existential threat to the United States of America is Donald Trump. It’s critical. I would hope that Bernie would do the same thing if I am the nominee, and encourage all of his followers to in fact, support me as well. Because it’s much bigger than either of us. Character of the nation is on the ballot. It goes well beyond whether or not Senator Sanders and I both agree, we need medic… healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. We both agree we have to deal with student debt. We both agree we have to deal with education and access to education. We both agree that we have a new Green Deal to deal with the existential threat that faces humanity. We disagree on the detail of how we do it, but we don’t disagree on the principle. We fundamentally disagree with this president on everything. This is a man who wants to cut Social Security, cut Medicare. Not Bernie, the President of the United States. So this is much bigger than whether or not I’m the nominee or Bernie’s the nominee. We must defeat Donald Trump. He is the… Four more years of Donald Trump will fundamentally change the nature of who we are as a nation. We’ve got to restore this country’s soul, that’s essential. As long as this president is there, we’re not going to be able to that.

    Bernie makes things hard for people who want most of the same goals…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  29. 29.

    Mary G

    Says it all.

    EVERY Democrat participated in the cloture vote today in the Senate. Guess who missed the vote? Bernie Sanders.— Matt Murphy (@MattMurph24) March 22, 2020

  30. 30.

    NotMax

    90+ minutes of what-passes-for-lawn slicing done. Clouds in the distance looking primed to roll in.

  31. 31.

    Mnemosyne

    @Mary G:

    See if this link will work:

    https://t.co/XC1iQozFWO?amp=1

    It took me a few minutes to figure out that the Instagram Live button is at the top of the screen where his profile photo is, not mixed in with the photos. It has a red circle around it to show that you need to press it to get to the live broadcast.

  34. 34.

    Mary G

    @Mnemosyne: Still getting “log in to see this event.” It’s OK.

    Biden SMASH after FEMA weasel interview & “press conference” today (WaPo):

    Trump — who will be judged by voters at the polls in eight months — also faced criticism from former vice president Joe Biden, the delegate leader for the Democratic presidential nomination, who issued a statement in response to Gaynor’s interview on CNN.

    “Mr. President, stop lying and start acting,” Biden said. “Use the full extent of your authorities, now, to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them where they need to go.”

  38. 38.

    WaterGirl

    @Mary G:

    I’m sure Biden would be happy to take up one of Bernie’s plans if he had a workable one and not just slogans.

    I liked that so much that I just wanted to see it again.

  39. 39.

    NotMax

    @mrmoshpotato

    It really shouldn’t, but jouncing around on the lawn tractor really takes it out of me. Ache all over, need to hobble to the medicinal inventory to gulp a dose of sinus pills now.

    ;)

  40. 40.

    BC in Illinois

    @piratedan:

    Biden has shown that he’s capable of understanding that he’s not always right and continued to display that he’s still learning and growing and the Warren team probably isn’t that concerned with the credit, but with the result.

    I have on my bookshelf three of the most non-literary, literary creations imaginable:

    Putting People First  (1992) by B. Clinton and A. Gore

    Change We Can Believe In (2008) by B. Obama

    Stronger Together (2016) by H. Clinton and T Kaine

    Each of these is an extended platform, topic by topic, 230-260 pages. (You can find Obama’s commitment to a public option on page 46.) But Joe Biden doesn’t need to make one of these for this year. He can just go  to elizabethwarren.com/plans and copy down all 81 plans. That can be the basis of the Democratic Platform and the basis of the agenda for the Democratic Senate and House and Administration. 

    Biden for President. Elizabeth Warren for head of the Program Committee.

  41. 41.

    lamh36

    @Mary G: you have to have an instagram account and follow DNice.

     

    Biden et al joined in last night…tonight’s not as many big names, but STILL DNice is such a great DJ and play an ole skool R&B/R&BPop/HipHopR&B mix NOT so much the newest pop radio stuff.  He sticks to the classics and the new classics.

  43. 43.

    Patricia Kayden

    Rand Paul has vowed that even from his coronavirus sickbed, he will still do whatever it takes to prevent legislation that helps anyone who isn't Rand Paul.— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) March 22, 2020

  44. 44.

    lamh36

    Alright, let me try and get some homework done before heading out the the club to listen to DJ DNice spin on the 1s and 2s!

  49. 49.

    Amir Khalid

    @Baud:

    Bernie wants so bad to be President. Hillary’s prohibitive lead over him in 2016 didn’t convince him to drop out, and I can’t see Warren endorsing Biden, by itself, convincing him to drop out this time either.

    As I said, I also think that, by convincing Biden to adopt her policy positions, Warren is achieving the real goal of her candidacy. Endorsing Biden as a reward for publicly taking up her policy positions might make him seem like her puppet, an optic they would both want to avoid.

  50. 50.

    MazeDancer

    The vote on the ridic McConnell bill tonight was 47-47.

    Bernie didn’t vote.

    He was n VT broadcasting a campaign livestream.

  57. 57.

    Patricia Kayden

    Sometimes, when societies face crises like these, a social breakdown occurs & lawless mobs loot & steal, helping themselves at everyone else's expense. That's what's happening now. Except the mob are the GOP leaders & the looting was to be done through their crony bailout bill.— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) March 23, 2020

  59. 59.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Yutsano:

    I would like to see the day where we don’t have to bother to mention Senator Bernie Sanders as anything but a mediocre Senator.

    Edited for superfluity.

  60. 60.

    Dan B

    Sheku’s playing is breathtaking.  I know a bit about classical music with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and nieces who were classically trained and/or professionals.  My younger niece was a cellist.  I should ask her if she has any observations about Sheku.  I know there us no need to ask if she knows of him.

  63. 63.

    HumboldtBlue

    @NotMax:

    Hoping to see the dentist tomorrow. Got antibiotic for it Thursday but the swelling has not gone completely away so it’s been four days of soup oatmeal and yogurt.

    The worst part is no beer, it’s hard to eat even soft foods and drinking on a near-empty stomach is not recommended.

    The dentist responded on Friday and pointed out I can’t be seen if I have a fever or a cough or been anywhere that may have exposed me to the virus which could any-fucking-where at this point.

    I’ve had a low-grade fever but that’s almost assuredly due to ongoing infection in my upper jaw but I have displayed no other symptoms of the virus and I am a loner as it is, living alone without a job. So it’s play it by ear — or sore tooth in this case — until we come to a decision.

    The idea that I have to ask people to put themselves at risk to provide me treatment is a heavy weight to bear and I am loath to do so, but I am in a very difficult spot.

    On a brighter note, I have been binge-watching the fascinating British archaeological show Time Team and today came across two brilliant episodes.

    What Dover Castle looked like in the time of Henry II.

    Archaeology in the middle of London to find old Roman settlements that would become the city of London.

  67. 67.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    Wow. What an amazing young man.  I can’t play a GD thing so musicians astound me.

  68. 68.

    satby

    @Yutsano: I look forward to the day when his ridiculous ass is out of politics and he’s in assisted living. Because you just know his family will park him somewhere as soon as he isn’t bringing in any more sweet sweet cash.

  69. 69.

    Geminid

    Elizabeth Warren’s Green New Deal plan is well thought out and can be a template for action by the Congress that will convene next January. We will definitely need jobs, and the shift from a carbon energy economy to a clean energy economy will be a job generator. Last year I stopped at Vicksburg for some good coffee while traveling west, and encountered four young people in Americorps sweat shirts. I was glad to see that program has survived. It could be expanded to the size of the CCC in the 1930’s, and we could insulate, reroof, and renovate bathrooms and kitchens for every poor family in the country. And stick solar panels on their roofs. And have people earn good job skills in addition to paychecks. Solar farms, wind farms, smart grid transition can generate economic growth as well as electricity. Warren’s plan shows how this  can be done by a partnership of the public and private sectors. There is progress now on the energy transition, but it is piecemeal. The new Congress will have the opportunity to make the transition a national priority, and turbocharge it.

  77. 77.

    hells littlest angel

    Thanks for the clip, AL. Never heard of Sheku Kanneh-Mason before, but I see his released two albums. I look forward to hearing his rendition of “No Woman, No Cry.”

  83. 83.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Adam L Silverman: Aaaaaaah cripes. I remember a one-panel cartoon from many years back, showing nothing but a backstage collection of musical instruments and a shadow cast on the curtain of a beaver’s tail flapping. The caption:

    Having devoured the priceless Stradivarius, Barney the Beaver discovers there’s always room for cello.

    Nothing new under the sun, indeed…

  84. 84.

    Origuy

    @HumboldtBlue: I’m also bingeing Time Team. I’ve seen all of the episodes before, but it’s very soothing to watch people who know what they are doing and like it and each other working together.

  86. 86.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Origuy:

    Yeah, I thoroughly enjoy watching people who do stuff good do their good stuff.

     

    @CarolPW:

    An Opera in one unnatural act! Had me on the floor all over again.

  87. 87.

    Nelle

    I’m breathing easier for listening to this.  You sent me on a long trail of listening to everything of his I could find.  His Deep River is a soul soother, for sure.  Thank you.

  89. 89.

    J R in WVdonate

    Wife and I loved the fiddling, i got a little teary,  then I ordered his CDs.

    A real mood lifter before bed. What a gifted guy!

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