International
Song of the Day 10/21: Frank Zappa and the Mothers, “Call Any Vegetable”
Queen-killer Liz Truss was doomed from the moment the Daily Star livestreamed her photo next to a head of lettuce, with a caption asking which would last longer. The smart money was always on the lettuce — one wag wanted to know how it voted on Brexit, leaf or romaine? — because vegetables have been […]
Song of the Day 10/19: The Philadelphia Orchestra, “1812 Overture”
H/t Ben, who requested this last month. It was 210 years ago today that Napoleon began his devastating retreat from Moscow, an anniversary not observed by the French. Seventy years later Pyotr Tchaikovsky debuted this commemorative piece, scored for orchestra and artillery, for the dedication of a church that celebrated Russia’s victory, which was achieved […]
DL Open Thread Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022
It’s sentencing day for unrepentant state auditor Kathy McGuiness. Prosecutors want her to serve 30 days and pay a $30,000 fine. Her attorney wants her slap on the wrist to be a $1,000 fine and nothing else, not even probation. Judge William C. Carpenter’s decision will either uphold or strike at Celia Cohen’s beloved Delaware […]
Song of the Day 9/27: The Beatles, “Back in the USSR”
One one level it’s just a parody of American exceptionalism as espoused by Chuck Berry and the Beach Boys. But it doesn’t seem so funny when Russia flexes its military muscle. At least that’s how some people felt when this appeared as the first track on the double-LP White Album, released in November 1968 — […]
Song of the Day 9/23: Modern English, “I Melt With You”
Vladimir Putin is threatening to use nuclear weapons to bail himself out of the war he needlessly started. That strikes me as similar to a man who’s freezing to death deciding to set himself on fire, but it has frightened a lot people. We’ll have to see if the sentiment adds to the stockpile of […]
Song of the Day 9/19: Elton John, “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”
Though Queen Elizabeth remains dead, Britain’s almost endless period of mourning — even our British friends said yesterday that enough was enough — will come to a close today with another day-long ceremony culminating in her burial. The music will be somber — sorry, I meant sombre — but it won’t include this Elton John […]
DL Open Thread Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022
Wilmington is going to get an economic boost next month when media floods the city for the Elon Musk-Twitter showdown in Chancery Court. Background coverage has already begun, such as this profile of Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick. The bus-the-immigrants stunt has succeeded in bringing national attention to a problem that affects mainly border cities in border […]
DL Open Thread Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022
Turns out that business of moving migrants from border states to northern cities might not be as cute as Trump and his orc-governors thought. Turns out it might be illegal. Turns out the stunt isn’t even original. The racist White Citizens Council first pulled the stunt in 1962 as a “Reverse Freedom Ride.” The whole […]
DL Open Thread Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022
Media scolds yesterday chided Joe Biden for flying Air Force One to Delaware to — sit down now — vote in Tuesday’s primaries. “But, but, but he could have voted absentee!” Well, yes, but remember, he’s accustomed to Delaware election rules, and until Covid Delaware had the tightest restrictions in the country on who could […]
Song of the Day 9/10: The Three Degrees, “Givin’ Up, Givin’ In”
King Charles might be new to the throne, but he’s been living under Fleet Street’s microscope for a long time, and seldom given much respect. At best he’s treated as an eccentric, the kind of guy who embraced crackpot causes like sustainable farming, global warming and classical architecture back when doing so made one a […]
Song of the Day 9/9: Chumbawamba, “Her Majesty”
The death of Queen Elizabeth II is guaranteed to reignite debates about the future of the British monarchy. Not right away, of course. Lots of people who hate the institution loved, or at least respected, a sovereign who earned her popularity by taking her ceremonial job seriously, so critics will hold their fire for 10 […]
Song of the Day 9/7: Maxwell, “Radiation Funk”
The invasion of Ukraine has mostly faded from the news, but one aspect threatens to put it back at the top of the broadcasts. Russia, demonstrating the ineptitude that has distinguished its war effort thus far, again shelled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, putting if off the power grid and bringing it […]
Song of the Day 8/24: The Gap Band, “You Dropped a Bomb on Me”
I’ve been trying to work up some concern that the Moscow car-bombing of Darya Dugina, daughter of “Putin’s Rasputin” Alexander Dugin, will lead to something worse than what’s already happening in Ukraine. Sorry, just can’t see it. Conventional wisdom claims that Putin will react by cracking down harder. Uh, no. You might as well take […]
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