Our wonderful UTAustinLiberal highlighted this year’s awarding of the National Medal of Arts and Humanities to Americans of diverse fields of achievement in the arts. Her post is here. (I link because I started to type out all the recipients, and I quickly realized how silly that was.)
For tonight’s night owl chat, a bit of music and more from some of our luminaries.
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Herb Alpert – “A Taste of Honey”
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Allen Toussaint – “Yes We Can”
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From “Angels in America” by Tony Kushner
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Quotes from Ernest Gaines
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Anna Deveare Smith as Gov. Ann Richards in “Let Me Down Easy”
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Marilynne Robinson reading from “Gilead”
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Joan Didion reading from “Blue Nights”
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Joyce Myers Brown’s dance company, PHILADANCO
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Renee Fleming sings Mozart’s “Exsultate, jubilate”
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And there’s much, much more. Go and seek it out.
Without art, the people perish. If you wish to understand the health of a country, look towards its arts. The sicker the nation, the more threatened are its arts. Go see a play, take in a concert, read a good book; all are part of a fulfilled life.
This is your art-filled night owl chat.
The Obama Diary 
hi
This is great! ty LL!
There’s an echo in here!
Pleased to see Jill Ker Conway recognized at today’s ceremonies.. Fascinating life story.
Hey MP, did you lock the door when you came in….
No way, I would never… I left it open just the way I found it! I could hear the echo, tho…
Eveving Lads…….
LL, this post is awesome; what a wonderful addendum to today’s ceremony.
thank you!
Alright episode 2 of SYTYCD. Another good dance from my fav couple. They really have good chemistry.
BTW, he’s a trained tapper. She’s a trained contemporary dancer
Love, love, LOVE!!!!
Another fun routine from the 2nd ep. This maybe my 2nd fav couple!
BRAVO LL! Bellissimo!! Wooooooooooooot! Thank you for this post!!!!!!!!
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
You’re making me blush!
Some great musical talent here.
in the famous words of one amk for obama …. eggsacklee
Really, not a single statement from either one of them, especially when they are pushing the hrc is the inevitable first woman prez meme ?
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Did I tell you that Angels in America (Parts 1 & Part 2) are two of my favorite plays? Did I tell you that I listen to parts of Thomas Newman’s Angels in America soundtrack almost everyday?!!! Didn’t tell ya? Huh? Well know ya know!!! 🙂
okay… NOW ya know! I’m coo-coo for my artsy folks! 🙂
I haven’t seen the play, so I can only speak to the series with Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. INCREDIBLE.
If you haven’t seen Angels in America, DO.
Justin Kirk = Sssssizzle!
wow LL You’ve outdone yourself! What a spread! 🙂
The artists make it easy.
Beeeeeeeeeeeautiful LL, what a perfect post – thank you so much kind sir!!!
PURE POIFEKSHUN!!!!!
Slowly working my way back into posting. I think my break might be coming to a close.
Well, you came back with a vengeance, Friend! Par excellence!!
LL – Well, you were right. “Close to” poetry works for me! Thanks (and thanks to UT for her post, too).
Strange bedfellows…. Hey it’s a means to an end.
Fine with me. I want that damned place closed.
Okay, this tweet about science and music (violins, in particular) combined had me purt near orgasmic this afternoon! 😀
Photo of Pres Obama w outgoing military aide Owen Ray today in Oval Office. Thanks for your service! via Pete Souza
11 Facts About Music Education
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-music-education
Very interesting. Dudette. I find a lot of that information is sooooo true.
Yep. Me too.
As far as I am concerned, this world would be utterly dreadful without music!, dance, literature, theatre, visual arts, science and story-telling. I totally despise those who have elevated money making to above the arts and scientific inquiry.
Why Music Education Belongs in Public Schools
In this http://www.artistshousemusic.org interview, Roger H. Brown, President of Berklee College of Music, gives a passionate defense of music education and the importance of encouraging every possible student to participate in a music-related school activity.
Wholly disgusting!!
Isn’t it beyond belief that their beloved ‘Stand Your Ground’ was not applied to this woman? Well, it’s not really, and we all know why.
SMH!
If Zimmerman gets off there will be a riot in Florida.
This makes no sense. Was her husband white?
No idea, but she’s black, which is why she got 20 years.
It makes no sense.
If has husband had been white they probably would have given her a life.
This is so wrong… The husband even admitted he was being an asshole… He got off with no charges.
How generous!
Whoa! Take 2 minutes to watch this video…. This is like Congresswoman Duckworth at the VA hearing a few weeks ago. This woman is B2B!!
I was so proud of her! Stood up and clapped in my living room!
PREACH!!!
Lowell Mason: The Father of Music Education
This short documentary chronicles Lowell Mason’s career, the saving of his birthplace from demolition and the current status of the Lowell Mason House. Lowell Mason was responsible for the introduction of music as part of the regular school curriculum in Boston in 1838. For this and for his work professionalizing the training of music teachers, he is considered the Father of Music Education in America’s public schools.
Produced and directed by Joseph Baron, the video shows that while much has been accomplished in saving the house, there is still much to be done. For more information on how you can help restore Lowell Mason’s birthplace and help support music education, please go to our website at http://www.lowellmasonhouse.org.
(Mr. Richard DeSorgher, after reviewing the video, realized he said Arlington Street Church instead of Park Street Church.as the location for the first performance of “America”. Please note the correction.)
Author of “Joy to the World” and “America”
Alright, I’m now on Ep 3: This ain’t like no Paso Doble I’ve ever seen. It was awesome.
Watched that last night! Gorgeous dancing all around. I hate that they eliminate people. Just let ’em all dance every week and pick a winner at the end.
Did the west coasters (especially the Bay area) see this from yesterday)?
California, the most populous state with the most thriving tech industry on the planet cannot afford a reporter at the state capital.
We need ideas for the right way to fund the daily-grind type of reporting that is so important to democracy (corporate dollars get spent on the horserace speculation that is now considered “news.”
(Incompetely posted on the previous thread; my system really doesn’t like TOD [but I do!!!] and is always one-step away from crashing, so I’m usually in a race to post and hope the system allows it).
Oh, sorry, didn’t see your post and just added this story downthread. He’ll be 95 on July 18! Never “mess with” 90-somethings – they keep going and going. I’ve known a few. Hopefully, he’s comfortable despite his medical struggles.
No worries, dear!
I hold no patents on articles or tweets. Duplicates are welcome in my book. Especially the ones with good news like this one. 🙂
Doesn’t seem like he’s ready to go, so I’m happy he’s still here (as I’m sure millions are). I do hope he’s comfortable too.
Ok, last video post, I promise, but this couple is DEFINITELY my favorite. The chemistry between the two of them is off the charts, and the young lady Jasmine has legs for days and the big guy is such a great partner for her. I don’t know what I’m gonna do if they spolit them up or if they don’t get enough votes. I”ve never actually voted for a couple on SYTYCD, but I’m am soooo tempted with these two!!
That performance and the one Malece did with Marko took my breath away!
From that George Lucas guy:
Ohhhhhh! So THAT’S who he is! Well, he’s quite the big muckety in some circles, I hear! 😎
youtu.be/8VWDekbIaJE
Oops, my bad 😳
True story: one of the few pleasant memories I have of a bad love affair when I was in my 20s was visiting my lady love while she was interning in DC and going to see “Angels in America” at the Kennedy Center.
Loved the plays — brash, bold, timely, thought-provoking! Awesomeness!
re: Senate immigration bill.
I’ve said before that I really don’t like this bill; Dems need to win in 2014 so that we can get a *reasonable* immigration policy in place, not this boondoggle for arming our (southern) border to the hilt and enriching those who need it the least.
Don’t forget: $46 BILLION (!!!) after the wasted billions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
From Monday’s LAT:
“But thanks in part to lobbying by security contractors, the Senate immigration bill that goes to the Republican-led House this week includes a computerized “biometric” exit system that could cost more than $7 billion.
The plan is part of the bill’s $46-billion border ‘surge’ of security measures, a 10-year spending gusher that would produce a financial bonanza for some of America’s largest aerospace, technology and security companies, as well as some border states.”
Well, this is the funny thing: even this flawed Senate bill is too “radical” for the House GOP. It’s dead. And even though it’s flawed, the Dems can and will use its demise to bludgeon the GOP in next year’s elections.
I grew up in the San Diego area, and one of our neighbors (for a short time, thankfully) was a Border Patrol agent.
The US *really* doesn’t want to have these vigilante types with guns roaming our southern cities. Trust me.
$46 billion could actually be put to some good use for the country and its citizens, instead of enriching the fat cats with the right ties (i.e., know the right palms to grease).
Speaking of wasting the taxpayers’ dime:
Congress is now “working” only 2 days a week, instead of the “grueling” 3-day a week schedule.
“Pitiful. Shameful actually. I want my money back.”
I am with you 100%, Dudette! No work No Pay! Why are these do-nothing people paid so much money – – including lots of perks– for doing nothing?
South Africa: Nelson Mandela responding to treatment
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nelson Mandela is responding to treatment and the 94-year-old’s condition remains critical but stable after more than a month in the hospital, South Africa’s president said Wednesday.
http://thegrio.com/2013/07/10/south-africa-nelson-mandela-responding-to-treatment/
Great Anna DeVeare Smith montage. Love her work! Love her!
She has a special place in my heart as one of my favorite regulars from “The West Wing” — National Security Advisor Nancy McNally
*The West Wing — best TV show EVAH!!
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/07/conservatives-hate-all-legislation-now.html
What is the Republican strategy on immigration? Lowry and Kristol complain that the Senate bill would reduce illegal immigration “by as little as a third or by half at most.” It is true: even the massive “border surge” and adoption of a worker verification system would not eliminate illegal immigration. I’d say this is because, as advocates of reform have always argued, ending illegal immigration is impossible. Perhaps Lowry and Kristol have in mind alternative reforms that would do more to reduce illegal immigration.
But they don’t propose any such alternative methods, other than insisting that illegal immigration be stopped before opening a path to citizenship (without saying how they could accomplish it). The alternative they propose is to Kill the Bill. But this is a puzzle. The Senate bill might reduce illegal immigration by a third to a half compared with the status quo, but the Kill the Bill plan reduces illegal immigration by zero percent relative to the status quo.
Ms. Joan!!! Wow, Joan Myers Brown. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Everybody wanted to dance with Philadanco. And all the dancers called her Miss Joan. Caring, exacting, a loving perfectionist. Joan Myers Brown deserves every praise that comes her way. She almost singlehandedly elevated dance in the Black community. What a treasure in Philadelphia!!
I have friends who danced in Philadanco. I am so sure they are just bursting with pride. I know I am.
Quick go to Lawrence’s show now! The brave, wonderful young woman who was dragged away from Texas legislature testimony yesterday for giving them a piece of her mind is on right now!!
I am so thankful LO is giving her a forum to speak out. She was getting to them so they cut her off….
I’m putting in a pre-order for my own personal T-1000 as soon my next payday rolls around!. 🙂
https://twitter.com/Dudette9t9/status/355157087258554369
Deleted and fixed
New post to carry us to Rise and Shine.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/07/10/night-owls-now-thats-talent/
Great Post! Thank you so much, LL for sharing these pieces about these incredibly gifted and very humane people. Absolutely a surprise as I was anticipating all music. May be you have done it and I missed it, but I was hoping that one day you would do a piece highlighting Latin Ameica’s influences on Jazz.