Friday, July 28, 2006
Friday Night Pelligrino - getting back into a routine
It's taken awhile to get settled into new place, but looks like we might finally be there. Busy listening to 7 steps to heaven & ready to sip some Pelligrino while munching on some italian mixed greens salad w/vine ripened tomatoes, mushrooms & pine nuts.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
18 down - 30 to go
Israel vs. Hamas & Hezbollah dominates the news now, but the violence in Iraq hasn't diminished - it's just been displaced. Given the torrent of words and resolutions and conjectures to date, I have nothing that I can add concerning Israel and its current low level war.
I guess that the same is true for the majority of my updates. Iraq would be better off without us, but we'll stay through the next 30 months. Only 17 more months before the next round of candidates have to start making public their stand (Stay the Course vs. cut-and-run). So far the two front runners, McCain & Hillary, are both Stay-the-Course types. Guess the rest will have to make a stand late 2007.
Trade - read an amusing article about the metaphors in use by the WTO.
Guess if they can't succeed in a deal, they can at least pontificate.
Deficit prediction for this fiscal year currently runs at $296B. Not sure what percentage of GDP that equates to, but it's roughly 2/3rds of the record $413B and the GDP hasn't grown that much in the past 1½ years, so I'm certain that it's still noticeably above 1.8% of GDP.
No update on wagers beyond my wager that Bush would not pardon Ken Lay is now null & void as is Mr. Lay himself.
I guess that the same is true for the majority of my updates. Iraq would be better off without us, but we'll stay through the next 30 months. Only 17 more months before the next round of candidates have to start making public their stand (Stay the Course vs. cut-and-run). So far the two front runners, McCain & Hillary, are both Stay-the-Course types. Guess the rest will have to make a stand late 2007.
Trade - read an amusing article about the metaphors in use by the WTO.
Since then, the Geneva-based body has approached "the point of no return," reached "the edge of the cliff," "crossed the Rubicon" and faced its share of "do-or-die" deadlines. The WTO's current chief Pascal Lamy has alternately described himself as the organization's shepherd, nurse, midwife and conductor. He is also fond of referring to the round as a marathon or a jet plane, and the organization as a football team. Does that suggest that he is the pacesetter, pilot or coach?
Guess if they can't succeed in a deal, they can at least pontificate.
Deficit prediction for this fiscal year currently runs at $296B. Not sure what percentage of GDP that equates to, but it's roughly 2/3rds of the record $413B and the GDP hasn't grown that much in the past 1½ years, so I'm certain that it's still noticeably above 1.8% of GDP.
No update on wagers beyond my wager that Bush would not pardon Ken Lay is now null & void as is Mr. Lay himself.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Friday Night Pelligrino - first Crestview posting!
first friday night meal in new place.
Tonight's entree - roasted tofu with orange-thyme-mustard sauce!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Updated gift card list
Too bad blogger doesn't change the date when you want a full update to a previous posting.
- Found the recording for Beethoven's final piano sonatas - Misuko Uchida
- Also wish to remove WTC - while Bach's chamber music is sublime, I don't really care for any of his solo piano music.
- Minneapolis has a couple of wonderful public radio stations, and while I was driving around, I heard Rossini's first string sonata written when he was 12. I had a hard time believing my ears, but my ears were not deceivers - Sei sonate a quattro (1804) .
- Finally wish to add Blood, Sweat & Tears - obviously a sign of aging baby-boomerism.
Update: Just came across this album while listening to her on the Loft - made me a believer in satellite radio.
Next update: Should add a Nina Simone to get me out of my classical rut. Before Sunrise's use of her music for its ending (ranks up in the top 10 all time endings) was my true introduction to her. Also thought I needed some Mendelssohn for my collection & today's WSJ mentioned his Octet in E-Flat as a masterpiece.
Next next update: Johann Sebastian Bach: Passacaglia and Fugue in c, BWV 582
Czech Philharmonic / Leopold Stokowski. Just played on KUSC & really caught my ear. Typical of Bach, but still extraordinary music - immediately recognizable as a Johann composition.
