Friday, March 29, 2024

Good Friday procession and music, by JD

 San Juaninos 2018. Viernes Santo Avilés 2018

Holy Week processions have been documented in the town of Avilés since the 17th century, although it acquired its current form throughout the 20th century in squares, churches, palaces, with the Town Hall Square as its epicenter.

The city has nine brotherhoods, the oldest being that of San Juan Evangelista. Some of the brotherhoods go out in procession simultaneously, holding meetings. The most popular is the Santo Entierro, where the brothers, all under 33 years old and known as San Juaninos, carry the Christ performing a dance with canes.

Holy Week concludes with a secular celebration, the Fiesta del Bollu on Easter Monday with a great feast in the streets, which has been declared a Fiesta of Tourist Interest.

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semana_Santa_en_Asturias

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Stabat Mater - Quando corpus morietur-Amen - G. B. Pergolesi

Sunday, March 24, 2024

WEEKENDER: Word Salad, by Wiggia

      

One of the more noticeable and annoying traits of modern life is the mangling of words to suit the current theme/trend.

This started some time ago but has accelerated over the last couple of years. The most obvious in the last year has been the use of ‘optics’ rather than 'seen', it is almost as though 'seen' is old hat and no longer describes what is portrayed before one. It is used by all who wish to to appear relevant (?) in the woke world we live in; in fact optics is word from the scientific world meaning the study of light in various forms and has nothing to do with how badly Boris Johnson dresses!

The acceleration of verbiage has largely come about through the use of modern communications. A whole new language has developed as the use of abbreviations has usurped correct language, u instead of you as an example. It is a lazy short cut but is used by virtually all younger users of mobile phones, the hows and whys though obvious has a purpose, but that is not what I am illustrating here.

Two areas are the prime examples. One is thrown into relief by the madness to accommodate the trans lobby and advocates: an endless stream of meaningless phrases and invented words are bandied about as if anyone cares, pronouns are a prefix to be used when addressing people who are not sure who or what they are. Why this should be a concern for everyone else is a mystery but on and on they hammer away with their faux offence and slight expressions and replies when not addressed with the 'correct' prefix.

How many of the general public know what all these tags mean or are moved enough to actually use them, or care? I certainly don’t. Those who are showing signs of offence, though there is doubt as to how genuine it all is, inhabit the strange world of Tik Tok. All have virtually identical mannerisms, the same robotic voices and appearances that suggest they should get out more though I doubt few would ever appear in areas outside their own small world dressed and adorned as they are.

In many ways I doubt if their appearance and use of language has anything much to do with their actual perceived state, it is just another manifestation of the ‘look at me’ society that grows by the day.

The other group is the commentators, the interviewers and the interviewees. Here using a word such as 'optics' is not optional but a necessity to remain on cue. Luckily it is last year's word and dying a death, but other examples are the use of age definition phrases starting with Boomers, Generation X, Millenials, Generation Z, and Gen Alpha to come; not only do I never use the phrases but I have never heard in private conversation anyone using them either. It could of course be an age thing but more likely who can be bothered to remember different terms for words or phrases that are easy to define and still in use as well as being self explanatory.

An example of an older version of this word salad is cockney rhyming slang, if you believe the middle educated! Classes who seem to revert to forms of this slang every few years to show how conversant with the peasants they are but nothing could be further from the truth.

I was raised and lived in the east end of London until I married and moved away. Whilst not exactly within the sound of Bow Bells I did spend a lot of time in my ill begotten youth in the area. During all those years I only met two people who would occasionally resort to using the rhyming slang, despite those who believe that all cockneys went round saying ‘where’s the struggle and strife’ (though I do admit to using the phrase ‘I am going for a tonsorial’ on occasions) but much that is written today is just made up slang to give the impression it is still in use; it isn’t, and like so much of today's word salad it will be confined to that historic lexicon in the sky.

It would be disingenuous of me to suggest all new words should be confined to the dustbin of history, some will survive and will be added to the English language as they always have been; but how many in reality other than these few will still be in use in future times. Others stem from abbreviations; one in particular is used almost exclusively in a sporting context: 'GOAT' (greatest of all time.) I believe it first came to prominence when used to describe Valentino Rossi the nine times world champion grand prix motorcyclist; I could be wrong but it has since been overused as all these phrases are.

Anyway must go my neighbour has just come round with his ‘dustbin lids’.

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Saturday, March 23, 2024

GOOGLE 'DON'T DO EVIL' SHADOWBANNING NOTE

 10 March: Wiggia writes excellent piece about the current UK political situation. 86 views.

Since then, 17 March music piece: 7 views. 21 March: piece on Scotland's evil new bill on 'hate speech': 2 views.

I strongly suspect the interference - not formally notified to me - of a half-educated right-on ninny on Google's workforce.

How much longer can we continue to use Google/Alphabet Inc's weevil-infested products?

'Don't Do Weevil!'

Friday, March 22, 2024

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC: Potato Head Jazz Band, by JD

POTATO HEAD JAZZ BAND es una banda de Granada - España dedicada, con pasión y ritmo, a tocar Jazz Tradicional. La banda ofrece diversión, espectáculo y calidad músical. Jazz para todos.
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POTATO HEAD JAZZ BAND, located in Granada - Spain, plays traditional jazz with passion and swing. The band offers a joyful show played by qualified musicians. Jazz rhythms for all tastes...
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The band has been together since 2003, when a group of young musicians formed a band in Granada to play the music of New Orleans – not a regular occurrence in Spain at that time. By 2009 the band, attracting audiences throughout Andalusia, was based around a nucleus of three musicians: trumpet man Alberto Martin, Martin Torres, a clarinet player who had been playing in Dixieland bands in his native Argentina before moving to Spain and guitarist/banjoist Antonio Fernandez. The three of them decided to dedicate their professional career in music to re-create the authentic music of New Orleans and to set up the first band in Spain to specialise in that style.

Although over the following years they became the benchmark band in that style and regulars on national Spanish television and festivals throughout Spain, they still didn’t feel that they had the right combination of musicians and set about finding the very best musicians to improve and make a more authentic Potato Head Jazz Band. Soon, joining Alberto, Martin and Antonio were three more musicians who matched their level of achievement.

The Italian trombonist, Giorgio Gallina, already known throughout Europe, relocated to Granada, virtuoso bassist Alejandro Tamayo, with a background in orchestras and jazz combos came on board and the new line-up was completed by the in-demand drummer Zeke Olmo.

With the refreshed line-up – four Spanish, an Argentinian and an Italian – the band really started going places, featuring at festivals in Germany, Switzerland, France and Denmark, as well as becoming a household name in Spain. Their performance on French television, with Potato Head integrated with New Orleans band, Tuba Skinny, was seen on television throughout Europe and has since clocked up a million views on YouTube.

https://potatoheadjazzband.com/en/bio/

Potato Head Jazz Band, una boda diferente:

SHIRT TAIL STOMP - POTATO HEAD JAZZ BAND

POOR PAPA - POTATO HEAD JAZZ BAND

Tuba Skinny & Potato Head Jazz Band - At the jazzband ball

Royal Garden Blues by Potato Head Jazz Band

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Scotland goes electro-fascist... radge, doo-lally

Scotland's new (starts April 1st) hate law:

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2024/03/scotlands-hate-speech-act-and-abuse-of-process/

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100 years ago...

Bretschneider lapsed into silence and looked disappointedly round the empty pub.

‘Hallo, there used to be a picture of His Imperial Majesty hanging here once,’ he started up again after a while. ‘Just where the mirror hangs now.’

‘Yes, you’re right,’ Palivec replied. ‘It did hang there, but the flies used to shit on it, so I put it away in the attic. You know, somebody might be so free as to pass a remark about it and then there could be unpleasantness. I don’t want that, do I?’

[…]

Bretschneider showed Palivec his eaglet, stared at him for a moment and then asked:

‘Are you married?’

‘I am.’

‘And can Madam carry on the business for you during your absence?’

‘She can.’

‘Then it’s all right, Mr Palivec,’ said Bretschneider gaily. ‘Call your wife here, give the business over to her, and in the evening we’ll come for you.’

‘Take it easy,’ Švejk consoled him. ‘I’m only going there for high treason.’

‘But what am I going for?’ moaned Palivec. ‘After all, I’ve been so careful.’

Bretschneider smiled and said triumphantly:

‘Because you said the flies shitted on His Imperial Majesty. They’ll certainly knock His Imperial Majesty out of your head there.’

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Jaroslav Hašek: The Good Soldier Švejk (1921)

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Music for St Patrick's Day, by JD

Galway Girl - Mundy with Sharon Shannon (H.Q.)

Finbar Furey - I'll Take A Glass (Official Video)

Bláth na hÓige with Síle Denvir and Colm Mac Con Iomaire | The Tommy Tiernan Show | RTÉ

Not A Theme Night - Glór Shligigh (Niamh Crowley)

The Fields Of Athenry - World's Biggest Street Performance by Athenry Town & KamilFilms 2019

Sunday, March 10, 2024

WEEKENDER: A Statutory Obligation, by Wiggia

Words in a government document sent to the people of Millom in Cumbria after they decided not go ahead with the dumping of illegal migrants there:

'The Home Office has a statutory obligation to house people seeking asylum, as well as having a commitment to ensuring people are housed across the entire UK, in line with our Full Dispersal plans and we are still keen that Cumberland meets its regional allocation.'

In the real world one would assume that there is a statutory obligation to house the indigenous first, but as recent events have shown obviously not.

The sheer amount of money going into accommodating the asylum seekers or economic migrants and then providing them with all their needs far outstrips any benefit they bring to the nation now or in the future, despite agencies saying the opposite; the Dutch report on the same problem showed the true extent of that lie.

https://gript.ie/the-cost-of-immigration-a-new-study-provides-useful-facts/

This is an update to the original paper published in 2021 and quashed by the authorities at the time. I have used this before simply because no other outlet in this country is prepared to tell the truth on the matter.

The home office revealed that by 2026 we will be paying £11 billion a year to accommodate illegal migrants at the current rate. That is not only unsustainable but a slap in the face for the general public who pay for it all . It is no more than confirmation as to what most people with an interest in such matters knew beforehand. No longer do governments talk of spending millions badly, it is now billions - the Covid fiasco trained us all to think in billions and now that is what we get or not as the case may be.

It used to be a statutory obligation to reveal plans that affect the whole population to the public through Parliament. As I said a couple of weeks ago the petition to renounce the signing of the WHO treaty came up with a government message saying our sovereignty would not be overridden; this shows just how much notice we should take of government assurances.

https://www.thenewera.uk/p/sunak-mitchell-and-cameron-and-the 

And the presence of Bill Gates quite openly being involved in decisions that affect European and the UK is an affront to democracy, the same democracy that our PM spoke about outside Number Ten the other night; and they wonder why the public have deserted their belief in the democratic system.

Meanwhile the WEF continues down its path to restrict all planet dwellers to a form of penury siding with the eco zealots in banning meat and now even growing your food.

https://slaynews.com/news/wef-pushes-ban-home-grown-food-fight-climate-change/

If you read the whole paper it is your gardens they will be coming for next. The madness continues and still they flock to Davos to pay homage to this lunatic:

Remember this: Charles didn’t take long to rebuff convention to stay out of politics did he? What a wonderful example he is to all of us, pottering about in his methane powered Aston Martin fuel gathered from his own farms and then using a personal helicopter for all other trips; Clown World.

So statuary obligations are like London buses, none at all or ten arriving together half empty.

Very little of this gets into the MSM so few are even aware of what the WEF is or the influence it has. Governments should have a statutory obligation to ignore these organisations as they are unelected and have no mandate from anyone. I doubt that the manifestos printed for the upcoming GE will have any mention of them - why not?

Everyone with a brain knows the country is skint, not that that fact stops those in power from squandering billions on failed projects such as HS2 and the £5.5 billion on the Ajax armoured vehicle that is still flawed despite claims to the contrary (and oh, it is eight years late, probably out of date by now anyway.) How about another IT project? - they always end up so well; or a couple of extra aircraft carriers that have difficulty finding any planes to use them or actually leave port.

Perhaps we should have another inquiry into these failures so the legal profession can take even more money from the taxpayer and then claim ‘that lessons have been learned’ passim.

The future is here…

We are also obliged to fund endless foreign countries, in fact most of the world it appears. This (below) is the aid given since 2011; despite occasional necessity can anyone really say what we have gained from this largesse, yet our betters (?) claim it is an obligation. Most when studying the facts below would doubt it and almost certainly suggest better use of those funds on UK projects - it is not as if we don’t need them.

It is a statutory obligation to put into practice the will of the people following a referendum, not that the HoC tried very hard as 80% ‘knew better’ and we now have Theresa May standing down from politics - she of course in another life would have been spending time in the Tower. Theresa May 's response to the democratic will of the people was to try and sign a deal that would have left the UK trapped in the EU forever. People have been hanged for far lesser acts of treason, and within living memory; but today it is all eulogies to a person that along with so many others should never have had the keys to Number Ten.

‘We have not been well served’ is a phrase that is now too often appropriate such is the current malaise of the ruling classes.

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Glorious!

Scene: Richard Burton (né Jenkins) has brought his extended family to London and put them up at the Dorchester Hotel for the Royal Command Performance of 'The Taming Of The Shrew', 1967...

'Hey, Jenk,' said a Welshman to Burton, overcome by the marble grandeur of the lavatories, 'Doesn't it make your cock look shabby in here?'

In Roger Lewis' 'Erotic Vagrancy', p.464

God bless the Welsh!

Friday, March 08, 2024

FRIDAY MUSIC: Veronica Swift, by JD

Not all Swifts can sing but this one certainly can. At age 23, Veronica Swift is now being recognized as one of the top young jazz singers on the scene. Not only is she a fine singer she is reviving the 'lost art' of scat singing (originating in vocal jazz, scat singing or scatting is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. In scat singing, the singer improvises melodies and rhythms using the voice solely as an instrument.)

Her parents are renowned jazz pianist Hod O’Brien and celebrated jazz singer and educator/author Stephanie Nakasian. She has appeared on stage with Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Bob Dorough, Kim Nazarian, Danilo Perez, and others. With her family she has appeared at The Great Waters Music Festival in NH, Blues Alley Jazz Club in DC, the Jazz Standard in NYC, the Jazz Cruise, and for the New Jersey and Hilton Head Jazz Societies.

https://www.veronicaswift.com/bio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Swift

(There are not many good quality videos so this is but a small selection and as Wiggia has already noted she needs to find better backing musicians although in the last video below she shares the stage with Wynton Marsalis and he looks suitably impressed by her performance.)

At Last - Live at the Strathmore (A Glenn Miller Swing Celebration) Ft. Veronica Swift

Veronica Swift - Moanin'

Veronica Swift sings "This Bitter Earth" at the 2023 SFJAZZ Gala

Veronica Swift 'Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me' Blue Note NYC [Night 3]

"I Just Found Out About Love" Veronica Swift and the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble

Véronica Swift & Wynton Marsalis "Cherokee" @Jazz_in_Marciac 2019

Friday, March 01, 2024

FRIDAY MUSIC: Music of the Spheeris, by JD

Chris Spheeris is a Greek-American composer of instrumental music. He is a producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.

Chris Spheeris has created some of the most enchanting instrumental music of this era. It has earned him platinum, gold, and Emmy awards. His music has been heard in Olympic skating championships, Miss Universe pageants, documentary films, daytime television dramas, and countless commercials.

CHRIS SPHEERIS - ELECTRA

Cariño - Chris Spheeris

♡ CHRIS SPHEERIS & PAUL VOUDOURIS - Pura Vida

Chris Spheeris - Magaya (Live)

Chris Spheeris - Dia del Sol (Live)

CHRIS SPHEERIS - Narabi - Album Maya