The Saga of Paula Deen

Normally, or even abnormally, this Column does not concern itself with Personages such as Paula Deen.  She is a Food Writer of some Sort, who had a TV Show or possibly several, as well as being involved in Talk Shows, Appearances, or what one might even call „Self Serving Publicity Events” all centered around the Promotion of a „Cuisine” which not only can be but which she herself described as „Comfort Food.”  She also apparently owns or runs a Restaurant which specializes in these Food Varieties.  Most would characterize such Foods as unhealthy.

It has also been reported that Paula Deen is a Diabetic who should, normally, avoid particulary some of the Kinds of Foods which she is promulgating.  But we are not dealing with a normal Situation here.

Recently, Paula Deen got embroiled into a mega Scandal involving Allegations of Racial Discrimination against her by an Employee or Employees who worked in her Restaurant.  This has led to the Cancellation of many if not most or nearly all of her lucrative Contracts and TV Shows.

However, just today, a Federal Court in Georgia threw out most of the Racial Discrimination Allegations against Paula Deen; nonetheless, the Damage has now been done and she is unlikely to recover from the Onslaught of negative Publicity which was avalanched against her.

http://www.today.com/food/judge-paula-deen-suit-throws-out-racial-discrimination-claims-6C10902021

What makes Paula Deen's Case interesting is the Condemnation she has had to endure in the Court of Public Opinion; a relentless Onslaught of negative Publicity which was avalanched against her.

 

This is Paula Deen Holding what appears to be a Piece of Fried Chicken

 

 

There is a Message in this sordid Affair, we think.  We should be mindful of and fiercely defend the Right to express our Opinions, under the Rubric of Free Speech.  Just because it is not politically correct to criticize someone or his/her/their Opinion(s), it does not follow that such Individuals should be given Immunity from Criticism.  Furthermore, it does not follow and it should not follow (as was not in the Case of Paula Deen, where the Rule was violated), that a Person should be condemned in the Court of Public Opinion just because of permissible Allegations under Free Speech to criticize that Person, regardless of whether the Criticism is warranted or not.  In the Court of Public Opinion, Criticism should be allowed (as was in the Case of Paula Deen), even if we do not agree with the Criticism.  At the same Time, we should not impose Consequences on the Person/Subject being criticized, simply because of such Criticism.  It is the Realm or Competence of an appropriate Forum, whether it be Judicial or other,  to ascertain and eventually decide, a).  if the Criticism is accurate and warranted and b). what Consequences should flow from it.

Television Commentator Anthony Bourdain (CNN) stated, for Example:

Speaking to an Orlando Sentinel reporter, Bourdain had a solemn response when asked for his reaction.

"It's gives me no pleasure at all," Bourdain told the paper. "It ain't pretty, either the charges or the reaction. I may have been an adversary or a critic of Miss Deen. It gives me no pleasure to see her torn apart by the people who were kissing her ass a week before."






http://www.today.com/food/anthony-bourdain-paula-deen-scandal-gives-me-no-pleasure-6C10974921

The Classical Case of this Situation is the celebrated 19th Century Case of Alfred Dreyfus, in France, which came to be known as „The Dreyfus Affair.”  Dreyfus, a Soldier of minor Rank, was wrongfully convicted Treason by a Military Court and judged harshly in the Court of Public Opinion.  Dreyfus was also a Jew, causing considerable Ethnic Hatred to come out against him.  Forward came a famous French Writer at the Time, Émile Zola who published a Front Page Article entitled,

J'accuse!, (or I accuse!)

The Front Page of the Newspaper l'Aurore in which Émile Zola's famous Letter to the President of France titled „J'accuse,” or „I accuse!” appeared.

Zola's coming out with this, although he did not have to because he had an illustrious Career behind him which he put wholly at Risk, forced  the Court of Public Opinion and, consequently a (Military) Court of Law to Review and reverse the Conviction of Dreyfus.  Zola gambled everything and he won.  Because of this, his Fame transcended the 19th Century and he is still remembered, at least by some, until today.

Many others have not been so lucky.  Take Paula Deen who, in our Judgment, is a Person who should not even register on the Radar Scale but who has been dishonored and humiliated, perhaps wrongfully.  It is those Kinds of Situations which the Republic should make every Effort to avoid under the Constitution, while, at the sameTime, protecting the Criticism, however unjust, as it does not reach the Threshhold of yelling Fire in a crowded Theater or, in other Words, causing „Irreparable Damage.”

A tricky undertaking, indeed.  But, we think, an eminently worthwhile one.

Shifting from the Snowden Affair to the Real Debate

To briefly recapitulate the Events concerning the Snowden Affair:  After Days and Weeks of Salami Tactic News Developments, Edward Snowden left Hong Kong for Moscow on Sunday, 23 June 2013, his Final Destination still unclear.  Hong Kong jumped on a Technicality to rid itself of Snowden and thusly, together with and likely in Consultation with Mainland China (Hong Kong is under the ultimate Jurisdiction of The Mainland) passed on the hot Potato (or kicked the Can, one might say) into the Hands of Russia and President Putin.  President Putin and consequently Russia have been ambivalent on the Issue; they have refused to hand Snowden over to the United States, yet, at the same Time, they have not been particularly eager, if indeed, eager at all, to offer Asylum to Snowden.  Indeed, President Putin has come down, to a Degree, on the Side of the United States, stating that as a Condition for Snowden to be offered Asylum in Russia, Snowden would have to agree not to further „damage” the United States.  As recently as today, however, President Putin indicated that Snowden should ultimately leave Russia.  Russia's Motives are unclear and perhaps intentionally murky but it is difficult to imagine that it has not had at least partial Access to the Information which Snowden has; nobody knows what Kind of Information this is, perhaps not even The (Manchester) Guardian, which broke the Story and has been continuing to develop it but all Indications are that it is considerable.

Snowden had originally wanted to go to Iceland but he appears to have changed his Mind and now wants to go to South America.  He seems to have been influenced in this Decision by Julian Assange, of Wiki Leaks.  Julian Assange himself has received Asylum in Ecuador but cannot get there; he is confined to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.  Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua (the Latter in Central America), seem to have offered him Asylum of one Sort or another but it is not easy for him to get there because any Commercial Flight might either have to fly through United States Air Space or be within reach of United States Jets which may force the Aircraft to land on United States Territory, thus effectively foiling Snowden's Escape.  There has been much made of the Fact that Snowden cannot fly because his U. S. Passport has been revoked; this Point is of questionable Validity because any Country which offers Asylum to Snowden can also issue a Laissez Passer (a simple Travel Document, literally meaning, let this Person pass).  People have and still do travel without a Passport (willingly and sometimes unwillingly) when extraordinary Conditions exist.

However, ultimately, we believe, the Fate of Mr. Snowden is not central to the Crux of this Issue.

So, moving on to the Second Aspect, it has been revealed that considerable Eavesdropping has taken place against Friends and Foe alike; Russia, Western European and South American Countries.  Many of these Countries are furious over the Revelations and demanding Explanations, which may be slow in coming.  This Issue, we believe, is not central to the Crux of the Issue, either.  Espionage has taken place since Time immemorial, both against Friend and Foe alike.  It is often a messy Business but everyone does it and everyone uses any and all Means at its Disposal to do it as best as possible.  Nearly all Countries, if indeed, not all Countries, conduct Espionage at some Level or another and, whoever is best at it comes up with the best Scoops.  Greeks did it, Persians did it, Romans did it, the French did it, moving along to more recent History, the Germans did it, the Allies did it and most certainly, the Chinese have done it all the Time and keep on doing it in the grandest of Styles.  So, while it may sound like a dirty Business and it is, everybody does it and, thusly, nobody should be surprised by it.  In the old Days, when caught, Spies were hanged or, as Things became more modern, shot; these Days, they are usually sent to Jail or traded for other Spies.  At Times, Spy Trade become a flourishing Business, actually (Take, for Example, the Case of former Russian Spy Anna Chapman-yes, she is Russian, who supposedly even offered to marry Snowden).

 

Former Russian Spy Anna Chapman who was „traded”

To the Question, what is the central Crux of this Issue, we believe, the Answer is simple:  based on Snowden's Revelations and other Information, one Needs to ask, what are the Powers and, indeed, the Boundaries of a Country (in this Case, the United States) to gather indiscriminate Information on most if not all of its Citizens.

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/09/18863448-lawmakers-americans-dont-know-how-carefully-the-government-is-watching?lite

It is also interesting to note the evolving Role not only of the NSA but also of at least one Private Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton, which was (perhaps it still is) a noted Accounting Firm (in plain English, Bookkeepers, Beancounters), which has gotten into a Business which does not have much (if anything at all) to do with Accounting.  Sorta like Lawyers getting into Brain Surgery, one might say.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/15/18940842-growth-of-intel-outsourcing-no-secret-but-now-congress-taking-notice?lite

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/11/18901089-leaked-secrets-pose-a-risk-for-booz-allen-where-secrecy-means-billions?lite

President Obama correctly pointed out that one has to strike a Balance between Security and Privacy; the Question is, if this vast amount of Information which is being collected from the American Public markedly increases the Security of ordinary Americans and if so, by how much.

Recent Experiences, those in Communist Countries and other Dictatorships indicate that ultimately, total (or nearly total) gathering of Information from the Populace can be a suffocating Experience.  According to the Explanations offered by James Clapper, the Information Gathering Activites of the NSA are not only legal but have been authorized by Congress.

Many disagree.  A Reading of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Act,

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/50C36.txt

does not, we don't think, lead all of us to reach the same Conclusion which Mr. Clapper (and others), seem to have reached.  Many Congressmen were not familiar, if familiar at all, with everything that the NSA has been doing, even though Mr. Clapper assures us that every Member of Congress was debriefed on the Activites of the National Security Agency.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/07/18827047-who-is-behind-the-snooping-and-how-long-has-it-been-going-on?lite

Of Concern are also the Activities of the FISA Court, the secret Federal Court to which the NSA goes for Approval, although, we assume that they did not even have to go to the FISA Court for the broad intercepting Activities which appear to involve a huge Amount (if not most) of all Telephone Conversations and eMails.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/us/in-secret-court-vastly-broadens-powers-of-nsa.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130707

Constitutional Concerns have been raised on the Issue of the FISA Court (which most People did not even know existed, until recently), having non adversarial Proceedings and what Appeals, if any, can be made.

Of further Concern is the broad trawling of Data (which the Government calls Meta Data) which, as the Word Trawling suggest, is essentially nothing more than a Fishing Expedition.  The Concern has been expressed that if one can use the Constitution to justify that Type of Activity (the Process has not been subject to Constitutional Review), then a Lot of other Things could conceivably be justified which otherwise, one might have been reluctant to justify.

It should further be noted, in this Context, that, according to recent Polls, most American People oppose this Kind of Wholesale Data Gathering, Meta Data, Trawling, Fishing Expedition, whatever one ultimately calls it.

The Constitution of the United States is a wonderful Document; it was written more than 200 Years ago by some brilliant People who could not have possibly imagined what the Country they were founding will some Day look like.

Many have argued that the Constitution should be treated as a dynamic Document, which is to say, a Document which should be interpreted in accordance with the changing and evolving Conditions which prevail today.  That may be true; it may also be appropriate in many Instances; however, at the End of the Day, we are still left with that relatively simple Document; the Constitution of the United States and one should be careful, we believe, not to equate Dynamism with Evisceration.

A Question regarding the Railway Acccident in Lac-Mégantic, Québec, Canada

The News reaches us regarding the horrific Train Accident which just happened in Lac-Mégantic, Québec, Canada, just North of the New York State Border.

Aerial View of the Lac-Mégantic Train Wreck

The Train, it is said, consisted of Five Locomotives and 72 Tank Cars filled with Petroleum Products.  The Train was headed from somewhere in North Dakota to Québec.  Incredible as it may sound, the Crew stopped the Train, apparently on an Incline, shut off 4 of the 5 Locomotives and left one Locomotive running, so as to power the Brake Systems (generally, Trains work on a Brake System known as Westinghouse Brakes, which are different than the Brake Systems on Automobiles or Trucks), then, leaving the Train unattended, the Crew headed to a nearby Motel to sleep.  There was also a Mention that the Crew had „tied” the Train before leaving.  We don't know what they meant by „tying” the Train; we would hope they did not mean tying the Train with a Rope to a Tree, so that it would not move.

Somehow, while the Train was unattended, the Braking System malfunctioned (so they say) and the Train started rolling with no one on Board.  The ensuing Result was catastrophic.  The Train rolled downhill through a curved Section of the Rail Track and eventually the Tank Cars began derailing and started exploding one by one.  The Accident happened at Night.

40 People are missing, presumably killed and probably vaporized from the intense Heat.

15 People are known to be dead, according to the latest Reports.

The entire Downtown of Lac-Mégantic has been destroyed.  There really isn't a Way to say, it could have been much worse, as some are saying regarding the Boeing 777 Landing Accident which happened in San Francisco.  But, at least, in the latter Case, Error or no Error, both the Pilot and the Copilot were in their Seats, executing a Landing.

According to Ed Burkhardt, Chairman of Montréal, Maine & Atlantic, the Railway which operated the Train, someone certainly had tampered with the Locomotive; this, according to a Telephone Interview he gave to the Montréal Gazette.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/08/19354278-death-toll-rises-to-13-in-canadian-derailment-railways-chief-alleges-train-was-tampered-with?lite

We don't know if Mr. Burkhardt is right and just exactly what caused the Train to start rolling with such horrific Consequences but we are wondering, who in his Right Mind would leave a Train with 5 Locomotives and 72 Tank Cars filled with flammable/explosive Cargo completely unattended in the Middle of Nowhere, or, in the Middle of Somewhere, for that Matter and then head for a Motel nearby to catch a „Nap.”

There is an Investigation which is already underway.  However, in addition to focusing on what caused the Accident (Mr. Burkhardt suggested that the Locomotive Engine had been turned off by someone, after the Train Crew left it unattended, thus causing the Braking System to fail), the Investigation, we believe, should also focus on the Decision of the Crew or the Policy of the Montréal, Maine & Atlantic Railroad, to leave a Train of this Type, or even a Train with only one Railcar, or even one Locomotive, let alone Five Locomotives coupled up to 72 Tank Cars containing flammable/explosive Material completely unattended, for the Purposes of taking a Nap, or for any Reason whatsoever at all.

(Note:  Trains have redundant Braking Systems but the Westinghouse Braking System on a Train in engineered such that when the Rail Cars lose the Power which controls the Braking System (which uses Compressed Air), then the Wheels brake automatically.  Thusly, a simple Explanation that when the Locomotive Engine stopped running, this caused the Train to start moving would not be adequate.)
 

Why don't they tell us?

There has been a steady Stream of Bad News from Washington lately, having to do with Surveillance, Privacy and related Issues.

There was the Associated Press Reporters Story.

Then there were the IRS Stories, involving, of all People, some Tea Party Groups seeking Tax Exempt Status.

Overnight, last Night, the Story regarding the Gathering of Telephone Call Logs by the National Security Agency from Verizon broke out.  Quickly rumours spread that other Carriers, notably A T & T are involved also.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/06/18796204-nsa-snooping-has-foiled-multiple-terror-plots-feinstein?lite

Now it further appears that an enormous Amount of Internet Traffic, eMails, Web Site Visits, we don't know exactly the Extent of it, is under Surveillance also.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/us/nsa-verizon-calls.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130607&_r=0

http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/06/18809021-sources-us-intelligence-agencies-tap-servers-of-top-internet-companies?lite

There is Legal Precedent, for those of us who have studied Law for having serious Concerns regarding something called „Overreach.”  The Reason the Government has given for obtaining Secret Court Orders for such extraordinary Surveillance, unprecedented in American History is Terrorism.  And, Terrorism is a serious Issue, witness the recent Events in Boston, not to mention 9/11 and everything else that has happened in between.  Nonetheless, many are beginning to look at whether the War against Terrorism can be achieved without resorting to Secrecy when undertaking such extraordinary Measures which many also view, correctly, as Invasions of Privacy; something which the American Constitution and American Tradition have fiercely guarded for over Two Centuries and something which has become a Model, an Ideal, a Beacon for the Rest of the World.  In other Words, the War against Terrorism can be used to justify many Government Actions but not all of them in this Context.

To be sure, the Roots of these Kinds of Actions go back to the (George W.) Bush Administration.  But President's Obama's Administration has to shoulder the Responsibility and, right now, it appears more and more likely that Attorney General Eric Holder will be asked to fall on his own Sword.  But that may only be a Stop Gap Measure unless President Obama confronts the Issue and also establishes a Model, a Policy for successive Administrations to follow.

The simple Question is this:  why don't they tell us beforehand?

Senator Lindsey Graham (R., North Carolina) stated today that he is himself a Verizon Customer and if the Government was keeping track on his Calls to Waziristan, we think he said Waziristan, he would not have a Problem with it.  Neither would we or anyone else, we don't think, but would it not be appropriate to tell Senator Graham and everyone else that the National Security Agency would be doing this?  Then everybody knows and understands that Telephone Calls, Internet Traffic, whatever, is being subjected to some Sort of Surveillance and that can be the End of that, rather than the Facts coming out Slice by Slice in what one might refer to as a „Salami Tactic.”

Likewise, it may all be well and good that Senator Dianne Feinstein (D., California) states that all this was cleared and approved in Advance Years ago but, the Issue seems to be of sufficient Magnitude to where one has the Right to ask, why were the American People not informed this was going on?  It is difficult, we believe, to formulate an Argument that Secrecy adds Value to the Program; Carrier Pigeons and other antiquated Methods are not alternatives which Terrorists and Enemies of the United States could use with much Success.

 

Using Tablets, Laptop Computers and Telephones on Planes during Take Off and Landing

A recent Article caught our Attention:

„EmployeeProductivity” is being lost because Airlines have Rules prohibiting the Use of Portable Electronic Devices during Take Off and Landing on Planes.

The Study documenting this was done by no less an Authority than someone at de Paul University.

http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/millions-productivity-hours-lost-due-faa-gadget-ban-6C10100962

Folks, can we get serious for a Moment about this? Is this what we want, while getting on and off a Plane, or settling for a Seat in what could be an unconfortable Flight, if flying Coach, with Goodness knows how many People around us getting out their Laptops, Tablets and iPhones and starting to furiously poke at them during Take Off and Landing?

Is it not enough the Explosion of Noises, after a Plane lands, with Cell Phones going on all around us while still others are practicing Weight Lifting trying to get out of Overhead Bins Pieces of Luggage which would have gone into the Belly of the Plane, were it not for the $ 25,00 or so Checked Baggage Fee?  You might be surprised how much less Carry on Baggage is brought on Board on an International Flight, where these Fees largely do not exist.

In the cramped, overcrowded Environment of a Plane, some where Passangers, including Women with Children and the Elderly are making the Best of trying to get from Point „A” to Point „B” with the Minimum amount of Hassle, is the Use of Electronic Devices for a few extra Minutes of such paramount Importance? Is an Argument being made here that Passengers have some Sort of Right to an „Uninterrupted Office in the Plane?”

 

This is what it looks like when you are Boarding a Plane

There seem to be enough Issues of concern to the Flying Public, Factors such as Safety and Confort, the Latter of which has suffered dismally over the Years, where focusing on something like „Employee Productivity” in order to justify unterrupted Use of Electronic Devices on Airplanes would simply distract from other more important Things; cause us to diffuse our Attention rather than to focus.

What Confidence would you have in a Company which is having its Employees make Decisions while Planes are landing and taking off?

A Show to end all Shows - Lindsay Lohan „Checks In” (Late, of course) - is there going to be more?

Move over, Ma Donna!
Move over, Lady Ga-Ga!
Move over, Paris Hilton!
Even, you, yes, you, Kim Kardashian & Co., move over, yes!

 

Lindsay Lohan on the Cover of GQ Magazine, UK

Lindsay Lohan tops you all in masterminding the Intricacies of reigning supreme in the Scandal Tabloid Pages and does so with Flair and flawless Ease!

Of course, all above Lindsay Lohan's Predecessors (and many others) accomplished Notoriety with varying but generally spectacular Degrees of Success and, we believe, much hard Work.

What distinguishes Lindsay Lohan in this is her unparalleled Ability to cut through it flawlessly and effortlessly, all by herself, oblivious to all around her, including Judges and even thumbing her Nose up at her Lawyers, having just fired her most recent one.  There is only one Word to describe all this:  „Brilliant.”

http://www.today.com/entertainment/lindsay-lohan-checks-rehab-betty-ford-center-6C9756579

This is the Rehab where Lindsay Lohan has „checked-in,” we think, maybe...(Link)

 The Reward, the Publicity which Lindsay Lohan has been able to amass for herself has only one Word for it...PRICELESS!

http://www.eonline.com/news/414206/lindsay-lohan-s-wild-24-hours-what-has-stopped-her-from-checking-into-rehab?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories

Lindsay Lohan's pre „Check-in” Escapades...(Link)

And, by the Looks of it, her Accomplishments are so vast that they shadow all of her Predecessors.  Will Lindsay Lohan know how to turn all this into Money...Cash, cold, equally priceless Cash!

We don't know who wants to bet against her but we, certainly, would not even dare.

Also, read more about Lindsay Lohan's Shopping and Typing Adventures (on an iPad, of course), in the Links above.

Too bad, Annabelle Battistella (a. k. a. Fanne Foxe), for those who remember, is no longer around to see what Lindsay Lohan has been able to accomplish...

Annabella Battistella, „Fannie Fox” in this undated Photograph in Washington, D. C.

Secretary of State John Kerry - Attempting to diffuse Tensions with North Korea and Elsewhere

Former Massachusetts Senator, now Secretary of State John Kerry, was selected by President Obama at the Beginning of the Year to succeed Hillary Clinton's turbulent Reign.

John Kerry had come very close to becoming President of the United States, far closer than Hillary Clinton.  He lost the Election to George W. Bush in 2004 by only 34 or 35 Electoral Votes.  But lost he did and now, as soon as he became Secretary of State, one could sense the Difference in Tone which he established from the Onset.  He went to Afghanistan, an unsteady Ally which, in the Words of President Obama cost the United States „Blood and Treasure” in a non ostentatious Military Plane, rather than the Luxury Jetliner which Secretary Clinton relentlessly used during her Tenure.

 John Kerry arriving on a Military Plane in Kabul, Afghanistan for Talks with President Karzai

(February 2013)

Hillary Clinton arriving on the State Department's Luxurious Jetliner in Kabul, Afghanistan

for the Inauguration of President Karzai 

(Archive Photo)

Instead of „lecturing” President Karzai and letting a bad Situation becoming worse, Secretary of State Kerry showed real Diplomacy by seeking to calm down not only President Karzai but the entire Afghanistan Situation which remains extremely volatile and one in which the United States has decided, wisely, not to aimlessly throw any more „Blood and Treasure.”

But the Statemanship of Secretary of State Kerry and what distinguishes him sharply from former Secretary Clinton has become even more evident in recent Days, with the rapidly escalating Tensions with North Korea, where a Dictatorial Regime makes anything possible.

As Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un unleashed one Verbal Escalation after another against the United States (and against South Korea as well), the Administration initially followed a Clintonesque „Tit for Tat” Series of Responses.  Then, the Secretary of State intervened.

He wisely saw that nothing good can come out of this, with Kim Jong-Un possibly willing to risk it all, including Nuclear Weapons, for a Conflict which the United States does not want and does not need.  Following a Series of uninterrupted Escalations and Threats, which still continue, North Korea has closed the Rajin-Sonbong Special Economic Zone to South Korea and, on Friday 5 April recommended that Germany and Russia, among other Countries, evacuate their Embassies in Pyonyang, the Capital of North Korea (Interestingly, we do not know if North Korea has asked China to evacuate its Embassy).

The Tone was neutralized; the United States Response was that Dialogue is still possible and that North Korea should consider taking down the Tone of its Escalations an Octave or two.  Secretary of State Kerry's thinking, we believe, is clear; obviously, North Korea could be defeated, „Bombed into the Stone Age” as the Late Senator B. Morris Goldwater may have put it some Decades ago but the Question is, does the United States need another Mess on its Hands.  We think Secretary Kerry may have quickly looked over the Situation (or perhaps he had done so long before he became Secretary of State); with the unfinished Business left in Afghanistan, a Mess in Iraq which President George W. Bush generously dumped on the Lap of his Successor and diplomatic Blunders by his Predecessor, Secretary Clinton in Egypt and elsewhere, he chose, wisely, to walk the higher Moral Ground, save Money and act with Deliberation.

One more Thing...Secretary of State Kerry, following the Example set by his Boss, President Obama, has decided to donate 5% of his Salary to Charitable Causes.

This stands in glaring Contrast with Secretary Clinton's Husband, former President Clinton, who, it is thought, amassed Millions (some say Billions) through lucrative Dealmaking with Foreign Leaders whom he had met, yeah...when he was President of the United States. 

The Three Muses and Ketevan Kemoklidze

Ketevan Kemo-who?

Yet, we have all heard at one Time or another about The Three Muses, those serene Goddesses who inspire and guide, amongst other Things, the Arts.

 

The Three Muses (Louvre, Paris)

They may have a poetic Way of coming to aid at the absolute most opportune Moment...

So, as we wrote recently, while Plàcido Domingo was practicing Baritone in New York, James Conlon, the Conductor of the Los Angeles Opera, liberated from Mr. Domingo's „Directorate” was trying his absolute best in successive Performances of „La Cenerentola” by Gioacchino Rossini.  He needed one Thing:  a Voice to propel his Efforts over the Top.

 

James Conlon

Along come The Three Muses, ah...The Three Muses and they present to him for his last three Performances Ketevan Kemoklidze, a Mezzo Soprano from (the former Soviet Republic of) Georgia who delivers a stunning Performance of the Title Role.

 

Ketevan Kemoklidze

 

Here is Ketevan Kemoklidze singing the Finalé of „La Cenerentola, „Nacqui all'Affanno” and „Non più Mesta.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5cN-4hXQ4I

In this Recording (Live Performance, Berlin, 2009), you can see the Conductor actually stopping the Orchestra at the End, so Kemoklidze can hold the final Verse, „Il mio Lungo palpitar.”

Saturday's Matinée Performance at The Met - La Traviata (Again!)

       

Habits are not easy to break; whether they be good or bad.  Take, „La Traviata” (Music by Giuseppe Verdi, Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave).  This is one of the most widely performed Operas by Repertories Worldwide; it has endured literally unbroken Popularity since its Première in 1853 at Teatro La Fenice in Venice.

 

Marquis, Opening Night, La Traviata, Teatro la Fenice, Venice,

6 March 1853

The Metropolitan Opera in New York has performed and also broadcast this Work numerous Times, recently in the much talked aboout Willy Decker „hurried” Production on which we expressed some Concerns in this Column back in January 2011.  Unfortunately, the Met decided in reviving this Production in 2013 wíth a nationally and internationally broadcast Performance on 30 March 2011, on their regular Saturday Matinée.

There is one fantastic Thing to say about the 2013 Revival, Soprano Diana Damrau, from Günzburg, Bavaria, appearing, we think, for the First Time at the Met.  And it is about Time.  She has a spectacular Voice, even though this would also be the First Time she sings the Role of Violetta.  (She will be singing Violetta again in Zürich in May).

Soprano Diana Damrau

 

The Rest though, is much of the Same or, maybe even a Little worse.  Conducting is Yannick Nézet-Séguin and he is no Gianandrea Noseda, who conducted La Traviata in 2011 at the Met.  Conductor Nézet-Séguin did Justice to the hurried and uninispiring Willy Decker Production; he was obviously in a Hurry himself, having to conduct a Concert in Philadelphia, 100 Miles away, later on the same Day.

The Met's Desperation to populate the Stage with „Stars” is also evident in the ill advised Choice of Plàcido Domingo in the Baritone Role of Giorgio Germont (Alfredo Germont's Father) something which Domingo accepted to do gleefully.  There is something to be said for Domingo who wants to show he can do it all, sing Tenor (at which he unquestionably excelled), conduct, be an Artistic Director (Los Angeles Opera) and now, sing Baritone as well.  There is also something to be said about not wanting to do all these Things.

But there is Magic in it all, albeit in a strange and possibly perverted Way.  3000 Miles away, Conductor James Conlon, liberated from the „Directorate” of Plàcido Domingo, who was far away in New York trying to be a Baritone, conducted a spectacular orchestral Performance of „La Cenerentola” in an inspiring and artistically refreshing Production with, it must be said, a sadly inadequate Cast.  But in watching Mastro Conlon conducting, one could feel the Freedom, the Creativity and the unbound Enthusiasm that he put into his Orchestra (and, yes, in the Cast, too) trying to bring out the best Performance he could possibly do of this Rossini Masterpiece.

For those who might be curious to know what a „non hurried” Performance of La Traviata sounds like, here is Maria Callas, with Giuseppe di Stefano, singing the famous Brindisi (Libiamo) from Act I of La Traviata, in México City in 1952 and, again, in Milan in 1955 (Live Performances).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL5udbfUM5o

 

 

Maria Callas

 

This was Callas at the Zenith of her Career.

The Defense of Marriage Act - Arguments before the Supreme Court

The Second Day of Arguments before the Supreme Court of the United States concerned the Defense of Marriage Act, which is a Federal Law.  This Case has nothing to do with the Right of Homosexuals (or Lesbians, or Transgendereds) to marry, rather, it was an Appeal from a Case called United States v. Windsor, a Case of a Lesbian Couple married in Canada but who lived in the United States.  Edith Windsor's Lesbian Spouse died and Windsor was faced with an Inheritance Tax on which the Internal Revenue Service refused to apply the Marital Exemption.  Windsor had married someone named Thea Clara Speyer in 2007.  Unfortunately for Windsor, Speyer was not poor and she also died Two Years after the Canadian „Marriage” thus exposing Windsor to a $ 360,000 Inheritance Tax Bill.

Windsor's Lawsuit and Appeals were based centrally, if not solely on this Ground:  $ 360,000.  Windsor got, obviously, a substantial Inheritance from Speyer, even after paying the Federal Inheritance Tax which, it must be noted, has been in Effect, until very recently, at Rates much, much lower than previously.

However, that appears to have been of little Consolation to Edith Windsor who wanted it all, meaning, the $ 360,000 which would have fallen under the Federal Inheritance Marital Exemption as well.

The Arguments by Donald Verilli, Solicitor General, arguing against himself (and the United States) and former Solicitor General Paul Clement, arguing, „on Paper” on Behalf of Congress, were varied.  The Supreme Court even appointed another Lawyer, Vicki Jackson, a Harvard Law Professor, to argue whether the Court even had Jurisdiction on the Case.  Ms. Windsor's own Lawyer argued for the Money.

So, the Bottom Line on the Case, for Ms. Windsor, anyways, distills down to the $ 360,000 and Sum which she may have easily spent on Lawyers so far and which may not recover (plus, likely, the $ 360,000 Inheritance Tax), unless she prevails, which she well may.

There is an Issue of Public Policy, however, which was not argued before the Court and which could not be argued, that being, in this Era of Crises where Loopholes in various Federal Tax Laws are being questioned, paramount amongst them, the Federal Inheritance Tax Loopholes, whether the overall Process of the Interest of the Nation is being pushed forward through the Inclusion of more People into the Loophole.

It seems the Case regarding the Defense of Marriage Act, United States v. Windsor, is basically about Money, in an Æra when the Federal Government should be (as it was) looking for every possible Source of Revenue, where consideration should be given to contracting rather than enlarging, Federal Revenue Gaps and Loopholes.

Pascha et Paschatis - Ostern und Pessach - 2013

Felix Pasche

Buona Pasqua

Happy Easter

Frohe Ostern

Joyeuses Pâques

Felices Pascuas

Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Զատիկ

„Peysekh” - Sholem

The Supreme Court - Oral Arguments on Homosexual Marriage - Addendum

Addendum:  One of our Readers brought up an interesting Point on our just prior Discussion regarding the Oral Arguments before the Supreme Court, the Questioning by Mme. Justice Sotomayor, Chief Justice Roberts and the Arguments of Attorney Theodore Olsen:

(This Line of Argument was not raised in the Exchanges between the Justices and Attorney Olsen but it would have been, we think, an interesting one)

OK, OK, Moslems...let's keep them out of the Discussion for the Moment but how about the Mormons?

Do States have a Right to restrict Mormons from their „Freedom of Religion” and prohibit Marriages to multiple Spouses?

Then, see Mr. Olsen's Reply to Justice Sotomayor and Justice Roberts' Questioning which begs the Question, why Mormons would be denied their „Constitutional Right” to „Freedom of Religion” by getting married to 3, 6, 12, 16 or Goodness knows to how many Spouses...

Notes:  Mormons are one of the largest, the fastest growing and the richest Religious Denomination in the United States.  Mormon Churches have $ 60 Billion in Cash Assets in the Bank.  Nowhere near enough to eliminate the Federal Deficit, but still...

All States have Legislation which outlaws Multiple Spouses.  None of these Laws has been found to be unconstitutional.