With great pleasure

[terefere]

With great pleasure I read "Something to declare" and listen to from time to time this piece performed by my favorite pianist Sokolov
www.youtube.com/watch?v=acxipN-HSdc

[WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?????]

With great pleasure I enjoyed the Fast Russian Giant, GRIGORI SOKOLOV,and I do have something to declare....

The music,like any other form of art,like literature and poetry,painting and photography,theatre and film, puts the self into the world,does the deep dive of inferiority and surveils the social scope… A writer draws ideas on pages, a painter pictures on canvas but a musician paints the emotions on silence…Music should embody feeling without forcing it to contend and combine it with thought ..


Nobody doubts that Ms HEWITT has reached the highest level of performance through 30 years of study,preparation and hard work which led her to award-wining recordings,her own festival,3 houses around the world and an army of loyal fans… She has achieved all these using her golden fingers and as she claims ‘whatever comes within her?!!’ What exactly? Her arrogance? Her superiority? Her vanity?


Ms HEWITT, a 56 year old now, hopes to be able to live until she gets 97 and even though she might be blind or incapable of playing the piano,she would be totally CAPABLE of listening guess Who? HERSELF… Yes, HER LAST RECORDINGS OF LISZT’S MUSIC … So what is she telling us now? That from 2014 till 2055 there would not be another recording of LISZT’S MUSIC or that from 2014 till 2055 there would not be a BETTER recording of LISZT’S MUSIC?

LISZT was an awesome virtuoso of his era who pushed the boundaries of technique ,texture and sound. He was an inspired songwriter ,the inventor of the orchestral tone poem, a festival organizer, an essayist and writer of criticism. But most of all he was the most consequential piano TEACHER of his time. Not only he taught 400 students over 40 years but he NEVER accepted payment for the lessons. Whereas,Ms HEWITT not only she charges money for sharing her great talent with her potential students but they need to travel to Spoleto,Italy, in order to get her encouragement and wisdom ??,which unfortunately will not be shared for the next 4 years!!!


What is a teacher? It isn’t someone who simply teaches something, but someone who inspires the students to give of their best in order to discover what their already know… How does Ms HEWITT do that? By calling the students ‘LAZY PIANISTS’ or by stating that at 97 she’ll be listening at HERSELF and not one of her former students ?? HOW MUCH VANITY!!!
George Bernard Shaw regarded himself as a fellow traveler of whom you asked the way and who simply pointed ahead – ahead of HIMSELF. Ms HEWITT cannot point ahead, because she simply sees or wants to see anyone AHEAD of HERSELF … Well, what do you think: Does that make her a good teacher?? Of course you could help her activities by buying clothes of her former wardrobe, but if you are patient enough you could get some of her former undies when she gets in her late 80s. She would be wearing pampers by then and who knows? They could later become items of a GRAND AUCTION!!??


Just then, I remembered Flaubert’s wise words and wondered whether we deal with “the littleness of life that Angela Hewitt’s talent EXAGGERATES” or

“with the littleness of her importance that HERSELF and her FANS EXAGGERATE”….




 

[I AM NOBODY... WHO ARE YOU???]

According to IAN SINKE, Ms Angela Hewitt hates coughers passionately.

A friend claims that if you were to push air out of your mouth (cough) ,air out of your nose (sneeze) and air out of your arse (fart) at the same time, you’d die…. I am pretty sure that babies could sneeze and fart simultaneously. The look of absolute confusion on their faces is priceless…What about old people??? They need to find a way to turn their air coming out of their mouth(cough) to air coming out of the arse(fart) so that they would not disturb the phenomenal artist…..That would turn them into ‘FUNNY OLD FARTS’
It gives the belly ease,

It warms the bed in winter,

And suffocates the fleas.



A fart can be quiet,

A fart can be loud,

Some leave a powerful,

Poisonous cloud



A fart can be short,

Or a fart can be long,

Some farts have been known

To sound like a song......



A fart can create

A most curious medley,

A fart can be harmless,

Or silent, and deadly.



A fart might not smell,

While others are vile,

A fart may pass quickly,

Or linger a while......



A fart can occur

in a number of places,

And leave everyone there,

With strange looks on their faces .

From wide-open prairie,

To small elevators,

A fart will find all of

Us sooner or later.



But farts are all bad,

Is simply not true-

We must never forget.......

Sweet old farts like you!



Kinda brings a tear to your eye - right?



Why not send this on to other old farts .....

[QUESS WHO?]

The Intelligence Squared Debate is one of my favourite programmes,because it’s entertaining ,interesting and intellectual challenging.

www.intelligencesquared.com/events/steven-pinker-ian-mcewan-good-writing/
Steven Pinker was a new discovery for me. He seems to be intelligent but humble and open-minded with a positive aura:all the necessary requirements for a Harvard Professor of Psychology.However, I need to watch this particular discussion again and Him specifically,since Ian McEwan kept distracting me!!!

But before I do that, I have kept wondering why these 2 “thinkers” met to discuss about ‘good writing’ in a world where illiteracy is one of the major problems and where the official global numbers indicate that over 60% of the population is illiterate. And it’s not only AFRICA or ASIA among the places where the majority of population is illiterate. US illiteracy is a meager 2.8 million in a country of more than 300 million,whereas the number of UK adults who are functionally illiterate is estimated at about 6 million. Don’t you think that we should be primarily discussing how the governments should allocate their funds in order to provide education for the people?

London is one of the most expensive cities worldwide for someone to live in. London is one of the world’s biggest financial centres due to the City;London is also one of the world’s biggest cultural centres due to its museums,bookshops, theatres,publishers,writers and all sorts of artists,yet 1 in 4 children in London leaves primary school at 11 unable to read or write properly and 16% of 16 to 65 year olds have the reading age of an 11 year old. How is the British Government dealing with it and what’s the Opposition’s policy about it? But then again have you ever wondered whether this educational illiteracy actually helps the political system,since educational illiteracy also means economical and political illiteracy? So do the so called “thinkers” consider the huge swatches of the public who remain illiterate,capable of making the right political decisions at the ballot box?

Governments need to ‘solve’ the Illiteracy Problem. That’s the first step. People need to learn to read and write. Actually people need to learn to read a lot and write a lot. Reading and writing will help their thinking. People need to read,then think; write, then read; people need to read, think,write or think,write,re-read, and so on…. There should be no way around these 3 functions,no shortcuts. Good thinking is seduction. Expressing your thoughts, communicating is part of this seduction. If not so, then why do so many couples who start the evening at dinner end up having breakfast?

But then again what’s the number of people who actually think,yes think,before they express their thoughts in any form? Take for example the following case:
www.ctpost.com/news/article/Pianist-Hewitt-to-star-at-Greenwich-Library-5901864.php
HUGH DRAPER after reading this post,madethe following comment : “Knock’em dead"!!! Did Hugh Draper think? Did he use his brain? Does he actually have any brain? And then did Ms Angela Hewitt,who has a brain(?),correct him? Did she remind him that she was going to play at ‘WENDY TISCH’S MEMORIAL CONCERT’? NO!! Instead she re-posted the photo of Herself (Phenomenal Pianist) with CHARLES (Phenomenal Prince). They seem to have a chat… About what? Maybe abut the Fall of Aristocracy and the Rise of Plutocracy,or maybe about how important and busy they BOTH are!!!! To be honest, I don’t know about Prince Charles's discipline,but when it comes to Dame Angela Hewitt “it’s her own self-discipline that keeps her practicing the way she does and learning the new repertoire the way she does and doing the million(?!!!!!!) things she does…” (18th November 2014)

I have to admit that she does not mention anything about ‘thinking’ and maybe that could explain all the bullshit she keeps writing. Thanks Angela for reminding the rest of us,the working mothers,the single parents ,the women with disable kids or sick spouses that rich spinsters have one million things to do,while us? We simply loaf around!!!
Thomas Edison said that “5% of the people think, 10% of the people think they think and the other 85% would rather die than think”.
I would argue that in Angela Hewitt’s case ,she’d rather play the piano or post a shallow message on her FACEBOOK account or website than THINK!!!

 ANGELA HEWITT,02-12-2014:
"....Going back a few weeks: after Cleveland and some days at home in Ottawa, Canada, I went to New York and devoted a day to listening to 4 young pianists play for me at Klavierhaus--Fazioli's new showroom on 56th Street (in the Meridien Hotel). We had fun (see photo)! I taught them for six hours and we had lunch and dinner together as well. It's good to follow their progress. I don't do that very often because I simply don't have time. Then I performed for an enthusiastic audience at the Schubert Club in Greenwich CT where they have an annual recital in memory of a local piano teacher. I also went into the WQXR studios in NYC to do some commentary on my Bach recordings that they were playing on air. Then back to London, but only for 48 hours. Then on to Japan, and a lot of jet-lag.....
"


That was the 3rd time she mentioned the event and yet did NOT "touch" the deceased's name.The CONCERT was in memory of Wendy J. Tisch, age 59, a resident of Pound Ridge, New York who died the 5th of  September  2012 in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, New York City, with her loving husband of 29 years, Richard, and her family by her side.
www.hoytfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=702190

[manosd]

1)WHAT'S WRONG WITH IAN MCEWAN?

2)WHO BOTHERS WITH ANGELA HEWITT?

3) DID YOU NOTICE THIS?www.intelligencesquared.com/events/burgundy-vs-bordeaux-hugh-johnson-jancis-robinson/ WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
PERSONALLY I WOULD GO FOR NAOUSSA BOUTARI 2009,OUR BEST WINE....


4) ARE YOU AWARE THAT PATRICK COCKBURN IS IN ATHENS TO PRESENT HIS BOOK
"THE JIHADIS RETURN"? I am getting this book,so you know...
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/11120848/The-Jihadis-Return-Isil-and-the-NewSunni-Uprising-by-Patrick-Cockburn-review-indispensable.html

AND FINALLY DO YOU REMEMBER NIKOS FLOROS AND HIS COSTUME EXHIBITION?
OUR RUSSIAN FRIENDS AND VISITORS IN ST.PETERSBURG SHOULD VISIT HIS EXHIBITION IN ST.ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL.
eng.cathedral.ru/news/85

[Margaret]

www.intelligencesquared.com/events/spotlight-on-thomas-piketty/


“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.”

                                                                                                           Joseph Joubert


Who is responsible for the guests and organising the debates?  Is he serious?  Is this going to be a debate,with real arguments from real experts? Is there going to be any kind of conflict? HELL ,NO!!!!

The first guest you should have invited is www.modernmoneynetwork.org/yanis-varoufakis.html
INVITE HIM NOW!!! He is going to be elected and probably be  a crucial member of the next elected GREEK goverment and take part in the negotiations with EC. 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRRWaEPRlb4

   

[SIX PENCE NONE THE RICHER]

My dear intelligent friends,
I would like you to check this case, Ms ANGELA HEWITT,is a case herself. She performs TONIGHT at Dulwich Picture Gallery with the following programme:


Bach: Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829

Beethoven: Sonata in A-flat major, Op. 110

Scarlatti: a group of Sonatas

Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage: Deuxième année: Italie

Sonetto 47 del Petrarca

Sonetto 104 del Petrarca

Sonetto 123 del Petrarca

Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata)

TICKETS ARE £32 , £30 and £60.

www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/music/2015/jan/angela-hewitt-piano-recital/

Tomorrow Night she plays exact the same programme at Shrewsbury School  and tickets are 

£12.50, with a booking fee. Note that there are still 43 tickets available in this price!!!!!

Programme

Bach: Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829

Beethoven: Sonata in A-flat major, Op. 110

INTERVAL

Scarlatti: a group of Sonatas

Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage: Deuxième année: Italie

Sonetto 47 del Petrarca

Sonetto 104 del Petrarca

Sonetto 123 del Petrarca

Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata)

www.shrewsburyschool.ticketsource.co.uk/search/searchPerformance.asp?performance_id=115919&sid=

" Price is what you pay,but VALUE IS WHAT YOU GET?!" Who is getting the better deal?
And why some people inside the same premises(the Gallery in the particular case) would pay DOUBLE PRICE from the REST?
Because they would be sitting in the FRONT ROW,near a PHENOMENAL ARTIST, a LIVING LEGEND, a DAME!!! WHAT AN HONOUR?!!!
Would they still be getting a glass of wine? OR a whole bottle of wine? And what type of wine?   Surely FRENCH!!!!

WE WANT A PHOTO OF THESE IDIOTS SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW! WITH £60 A HOMELESS PERSON SPENDS A WHOLE WEEK; WITH £60 YOU COULD BUY THEATRE TICKETS,A BOOK AND A CD; YOU COULD DO SOME MANY DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS.... SO PUT YOUR CASH TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS , CDS ,A GOOD VALUE WINE AND TURN YOUR BACK TO SMUG PEOPLE LIKE ANGELA HEWITT !!!

[TALKING HEADS]

- The members of our Book Club are of all kinds and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting; so relax and don’t act like an alien. I am sure you’ll like most of them.

- Finally! You are late and we’ve already started. Today I’ll propose 2 new books and then we’ll decide which one we are going to read and discuss in depth. Do we have a new member?

- Not exactly, she is a visitor, but who knows? She might stay.

- Let’s go back to our discussion. Julian Barnes has a new book with the title “Keeping an eye open”. I do like the fact that Barnes is always so deeply philosophical.

- What do you mean? That Julian Barnes is satisfied with keeping one eye open, because he knows that the readers would sooner or later get so bored with his book that would hardly be able to keep two eyes open?!

- The book contains essays on art, with Barnes concluding that “Art doesn’t just capture the thrill of life ... sometimes it is that thrill.”

- Someone should inform Julian Barnes that Real Life is a thriller,www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOpa8y2TIy8 in case he hasn’t noticed ,and most probably he hasn’t ,because he ONLY sees life through the eyes of Flaubert, the ears of old Ford, the paintings of Braque and his other non-blood ‘relatives’.

- Wasn’t Flaubert the one who said “Be regular and ordinary in your life, like a bourgeois, so that you may be violent and original in your work?” It seems that Julian Barnes needs to be reminded of this, because his work is always so regular and ordinary and utterly boring!!

- Actually, I think that Barnes is a repetitionist due to his lack of imagination.

- This proves that he either didn’t follow Flaubert’s advice that “everything must be learnt, from talking to dying” or that Flaubert’s advice is wrong by definition.

- Or it could be a proof that Barnes’s memory and imagination are indistinguishable and therefore the memory of a boring life could only lead to the creation of a boring imagined life.

- What does our visitor think?

- About Mr. Barnes and keeping an eye open to his thrilling Art? Well, I am afraid I’ll use my dad’s wise words….. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxCtt3s_1M 

- Your dad is?

- You are?

- Enough guys; stop licking and listen carefully to my second choice. On the other side mow we have this man www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEroLpKNDu0  and his new book.

- Where does he come from?

- From Mars! Oh, come on now, he is the internationally acclaimed author of the Classics “Porno”, “Hot Glue” and “Filth”.

- You must be joking?!!!!!

- I am damn serious. Try the “Decent Ride” which is the prequel of the sequel of “Trainspotting”.

- That “Trainspotting”?!

- Exactly!!!

- So what’s after the “ Trainspotting”?

- It’s the “Trainspinster”. It’s about Germaine, a spinster who takes the train from the South of England and starts taking part in many indecent things on the way North….

- Like?

- Everything your dirty mind could think of and even more: alcohol, drugs and shagging with lots, from Terry Lawson, the cab driver with the erudite penis, and the Sick Boy, to the Trio ( Anny, Honey and Danny) and the SkagBoys. But Germaine is not a slut. She is the kind of Feminist who decided early on her life that she didn’t want to become an unpaid worker with a husband and kids; she decided that she had all the skills to find her role in the society and be loved many times for many different reasons, but mainly for being herself, her real self.

- Does she finally find true love or her other half?

- Well, yes, in the eyes(1 ½ eyes) of her Lost Love, this tall, shiny working class Boxer from Leith.

- Do they have sex?

- Enough said! But it’s that final scene where she spots him sitting at the train bar(he is an ex-alcoholic, ex-drug user, ex-convict),so she goes and sits next to him and says
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRFHiBW9RE8
- Don’t listen to him. Irvine Wallace is a mentally screwed misogynist who drives me ‘zorba’ with his low-life characters and language on one hand and his high leisured personal life and political opinions on the other.

- Yer talkin pish! Irvine is more authentic than some highbrow writers and unique in what he does.

- Excuse me? Your name?

- Leia.

- What are you reading all this time? It must be something interesting , because you keep laughing?!

- It’s a poem from AL, a writer, a poet and daydreamer.

- What could a woman of your status possibly have in common with AL? Has he published anything?

- I doubt ,but listen:                                           “P is for the Puddle”

I pondered lonely as a puddle

I have no depth. I am a muddle 

On my surface all you’ll see

Is your own face. 

That’s not me. 

Step on in and splash around

You’ll see my heart can yet be found 

- He is not bad, but he is not that good. It’s childish?!

- Anyway, I just send him my honest feedback:

“P is for the Poet Laureate, 

Something that you will NEVER be.”
Leia

Ps :Why don't you try something more universal? 

- And now Al will get this and translate it into a verse? You think?!

- No, I do not just think. Here he is, with a new one:

The Zombie Chorus

Brains, brains, brains

They are so good to eat

Full of Omega-3

They’re such a tasty treat! 

Zombie Flash Fiction Haiku

Undead rise. Got bit.

Infection spreading. Blackness.

I’m alive!… urrrr… brains… 

Zombie Limericks

There once was a zombie from Hull

Whose wits were exceedingly dull

He stuttered and stumbled

As he groaned and he grumbled

But then he only had half a skull! 

There once was a zombie from Rhyl

Who so loved to savour her kill

She’d chew every bite

Through day and night

It gave her a tingly thrill! 

Oh! He is so funny, so witty, so sweet; I think I might abduct this boy one day....

- Have you told him who you are? Go on, sent him a good hint !!

- Ok,then! www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZfI6H1dXqA Princess Leia

- This Book Club not only has strange members who read strange books but might also witness the start of the most strange New Relationship?!

- Here is! www.youtube.com/watch?v=N03Uoj6p9QA Al, the Alien.


Which one do you prefer:

the Commander’s of ‘L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ “Keeping an Eye Open” or
Irvine Wallace’s “The Decent Ride” ?

I'll take altheauthor.wordpress.com/2015/

[manosd]

www.theguardian.com/books/2015/may/02/julian-barnes-art-doesnt-capture-thrill-of-life

I have waited long enough to see some written comments on this piece , but I remember one of the first comments was “ the woman carries the kid inside her womb, she gets to choose the kind of music they listen; if He gets pregnant ,then He could make his choices”.
What did the particular woman listen? Top of the list were Yannis Xenakis and Vangelis. The result? The kid loves maths, music and philosophy. For the summer, this 9 year-old tries to solve an exercise book of philosophical games, by Sophie Fromager and Patricia Laporte. I had a look at it and it’s damn difficult, but mother and son seem to enjoy these ‘games’!

Now kids and adult ‘kids’ also like graphic novels/histories. In May I met Rob Davis ,the creator of the adaptation of “Don Quixote”. In June Michel Faber reviewed “The Art of Flying” by Antonio Altarriba and Kim.
www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun/20/the-art-of-flying-antonio-altarriba-kim-graphic-novel

However, one of the best graphic novel, for me, is called “Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth” by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou. Logicomix is the biography of Bertrand Russell and several other mathematicians in the early 1900s. The reader does not need to be a mathematician or someone who loves maths. It is a book for everyone; for those who could be interested either in the historical or the philosophical foundations of mathematics and for those who are fans of the graphic novels. So this is what he gets for his birthday.

I’ve started David Mitchell’s “ The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet”? You need to explain me what makes Mitchell so special? Face to face.I'll bring a FLAMISPRAY. Someone claims that you are in pain. He is jealous, because you look exotic, like a crispy bread, a bit overcooked? George claims that ‘Black Sabbath’ and ‘Deep Purple’ are NOT allowed, because the kids will freak out. At least can we play this? www.youtube.com/watch?v=YajXrgRkAsc
And of course we would listen 20? times the boys...www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1f6o1HQBvg

[nkotbCrini]

New Kids on the Block is my favourite band of 90s. They had so many hit songs! The ones I remember are 'Tonight', 'Baby, I Believe In You' and, of course their hit 'Step By Step'. These are real masterpieces, not garbage like today! And it is awesome NKOTB have a tour in 2019! So I'm going to visit New Kids on the Block concert this year. The tour dates is here: <a href=https://newkidsontheblocktour2019.com>New Kids on the Block tour Boston</a>. Check it out and maybe we can even visit one of the concerts together!

[CarrieCrini]

Carrie Underwood is my favourite US contry singer. She is young, beautiful and charming woman in her 30s. Her strong voice takes me away from all troubles of this planet so I can enjoy my life and listen songs created by her. Now she is on a Cry Pretty 360 Tour started in May of 2019. The concerts scheduled for the whole 2019, up to the 31st of October. Ticket prices are moderate and available for all men and women with different income. If you are a country music lover as me, then you must visit at least one Carrie's concert. All tour dates are available at the <a href=https://carrieunderwoodtour.com>Carrie Underwood tour Minneapolis</a>. Open the website and make yourself familiar with all powerful Carrie Underwood concerts in 2019!

[JohnnyFeery]

I like blues bands! I really do! And my favourite soul band is Johnnyswim! The members Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano are about to give more than 40 concerts for their fans in 2019 and 2020! To know more about Johnnyswim in 2019 visit website <a href=https://johnnyswimtour.com>Johnnyswim tour 2019</a>. You won't miss any concert by Johnnyswim this year if you click on the link!

[JohnnyFeery]

I like blues bands! I really do! And my favourite blues band is Johnnyswim! The members Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano are about to give more than 40 concerts for their fans in 2019 and 2020! To know more about Johnnyswim in 2019 visit website <a href=https://johnnyswimtour.com>Johnnyswim tour 2020</a>. You won't miss any concert by Johnnyswim in 2019 if you visit the link!

[ChainFeery]

I like EDM songs! I really do! And my favourite electronic band is The Cheinsmokers! DJs Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall are about to perform more than 50 concerts to their fans in 2019 and 2020! To know more about Chainsmokers in 2019 visit site <a href=https://chainsmokersconcerts.com>Chainsmokers concert schedule</a>. You aren't going to miss any concert in 2019 if you click on the link!

[CarrieCrini]

Carrie Underwood is my favourite country singer. She is young, beautiful and charming female in her 30s. Her strong voice takes me away from all troubles of this planet and I can enjoy my life and listen songs created by her mind. Now the singer is on a Cry Pretty 360 Tour started in May of 2019. The concerts scheduled for the whole 2019, up to the last day of October. Ticket prices are moderate and available for all men and women with different income. If you love country music as mush as I, then you must visit at least one Carrie's concert. All tour dates are available at the <a href=https://carrieunderwoodconcerts.com>Carrie Underwood tour Indianapolis</a>. Open the website and make yourself familiar with all Carrie Underwood concerts in 2019!