OPERA—PARK AND BARK, VERISMO, BUT ALWAYS RIDING THE RAZOR EDGE OF ABSURDITY
IN HER A MAD LOVE: AN INTRODUCTION TO OPERA, Vivien Schweitzer describes “park and bark” singers as those “who mostly stand immobile, or limit themselves to stock gestures, as was … Continue reading
CBS—THE BEST, THE LAMENTABLE, THE MIDDLING PART 2
YESTERDAY IN PART 1 WE SAVORED CBS RADIO WORKSHOP and enjoyed entertaining CBS corporate suits through the R&T slalom. Today, lamentably enough, we recount CBS actions that seemingly replace freedom … Continue reading
CBS—THE BEST, THE LAMENTABLE, THE MIDDLING PART 1
I’VE KNOWN COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM, now a division of Paramount Global, at its best, its lamentable, and—first hand—its middling. Let’s briefly recount the best and middling of these and then … Continue reading
“A SILENT AND ABSOLUTELY TRACTABLE” BUGATTI
PERHAPS THIS TITLE BRINGS TO MIND THE ROYALE, the 12,760-cc straight-eight Golden Bug only six of which left Molsheim. No, actually these tidbits are gleaned from the British Autocar Road … Continue reading
REPARTEE ON AND OFF STAGE AND SCREEN
ENOUGH WITH POLITICS; THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY of great dissing in other areas. Dr. Mardy Grothe has a fine collection in Viva La Repartee, tidbits from which are offered here … Continue reading
BAEDEKER’S CANADA 1900 PART 2
YESTERDAY, WE FIGURED IT’S TIME to learn more about Canada. And my Baedeker’s Travellers Guide, 1900, seemed a fine place to start. Here in Part 2, we’ve missed our train … Continue reading
BAEDEKER’S CANADA 1900 PART 1
WHAT WITH THE ACQUISITIONAL WEAVES of our Queens Felon, I thought it’s time to direct attention toward our friends to the north. And, you’ll not be surprised, I have a … Continue reading
BOROWITZ WISDOM
I BELIEVE ANDY BOROWITZ IS the preeminent political satirist of our time. As I noted in “The Best of Lines,” he has “an amazing way of condensing his satirical news … Continue reading
HYPIN’ HOLMES REDUX PART 2
YESTERDAY IN PART 1, WE DISCUSSED THE WORLD’S FIRST CONSULTING DETECTIVE and his appearance in advertising. We continue here with thirst-quenching themes. Holmes, Gin, And What’s That Building? There’s internationalism … Continue reading
HYPIN’ HOLMES REDUX PART 1
DR. JOHN H. WATSON HAD A CRACKIN’ GOOD literary agent Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. How else to explain the numerous ad placements about the World’s First Consulting Detective? Several of … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 