Tuesday, January 28, 2025

David Lynch died (1946-2025)

Last week, David Lynch passed away. Aged 78.

I don’t know much about this chap other than he directed one of my all-time favourite films: The Elephant Man.

Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick who suffered the most severe deformities. His doctors found it impossible to treat and cure, especially his curved spine enlarged skull.

What is unfathomable was his sweet, gentle and kind soul in the face of such nastiness, cruelty and such backwardness.

A raw and moving film with a stellar cast, it’s a special film which I have reviewed on this blog.

Monday, January 27, 2025

The 80th anniversary liberation of Auschwitz

It’s incredible to think that the liberation was only 80 years ago.

I hope we never forget.

I’m v. glad that King Charles attended the commemoration. 

Unfortunately, there will be detractors and deniers who will argue that the Holocaust remembrance is being overplayed or seek to minimise the uniqueness of Jewish suffering. 

Or, especially nowadays, people will attempt a Nazi comparison vis-a-vis Israel and Palestine. This is to weaponise the Jewish trauma against the Jews to further attack them.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

President Trump’s inauguration speech

Trump’s inaugural address was dispiriting.

It sounded like one of his rally speeches. He is now the president of a nation of Republicans and Democrats. He has to work with the narrow majorities in the House and Senate. Rubbing their defeat in their faces is not presidential.

He should have been more statesman-like, such as thanking his predecessor, in preserving the dignity of the office and traditions.

The notion that we should send a mission to Mars is moronic. His insisting on “taking back” the Panama Canal wasn’t appropriate at all. And, the low point came when he seems to have accused his “enemies” of being complicit in the assassination attempt against him. 

At any rate, his critique against the status quo was stinging but also a bit disconcerting. 

It is staggering to recall that things like securing the border, deporting criminals, government policy that there are only two genders, and judging people on their merits rather than their race and gender would have been uncontentious, if not trite, in earlier times.

Some good policies were mentioned (such as free speech) and there’s something infectious in his sure-footed optimism about the future he intends to bring about. 

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A sad spectacle by the outgoing President Biden.

A last-minute wave of “preemptive” pardons issued by Biden to protect his family and some of Mr. Trump’s adversaries. These pardons are all part of partisan gamesmanship now

Both parties scrounging for “oligarch” money (which the Democrats got more of than Trump). And yet, strangely, Biden - having pardoned his son for crimes yet to be uncovered - plays a pallid parody of Eisenhower’s warning about the MIC.

History will likely be the best judge of these people.

The Fauci pardon, however, is especially bizarre. The evidence is overwhelming about Fauci’s role in funding the virus creation, lying about its origins, orchestrating a cover-up, lying to Congress (infamous Ron Paul exchanges), then pushing the lies about the efficacy of the vaccines to the public. What reason do Democrats have to “protect” him? He was working on behalf of the Republicans. So, why do Democrats need to protect Fauci from investigation by Republicans?

Sunday, January 19, 2025

First three hostages released in ceasefire deal

Some joyous news today!!

So, today Hamas released hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher. 

I am going to be writing about this ceasefire agreement in the next few days. Originally, I felt there was nothing but disadvantage to Israel in the agreement and was perplexed as to why it was agreed to by Israel. The price of this agreement is heavy.

However, I also feel that Israelis and Jews everywhere need some respite from the psychological toll that the hostages situation has had.

I cannot even imagine how these three families, and the friends of these three hostages must be feeling right now. 🙏🫂  

I am especially delighted as Emily Damari is a fellow Brit.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

The aftermath of the California wildfires

My heart goes out to all those who have lost their homes and loved ones. 

And all the people trying to get their lives back together.

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I saw this breathtaking photo a few days ago on the NYT

My God. It makes your heart stop.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

La bohème at the Royal Opera House

Recently went to see Puccini’s opera in London’s Covent Garden. 

Olga Kulchynska as Mimi, Stefan Pop as Rodolfo.

It was part of Richard Jones’s successful production.

I loved the performance and enjoyed the chemistry. Actors and actresses were excellent. Olga Kulchynska as Mimi, Stefan Pop as Rodolfo, Mikhail Timoshenko as Marcello and Simona Mihai as Musetta.

For me, Act 1 had its most beautiful introductory arias of Rodolfo and Mimi and their love duet.

For days afterwards, I’ve been listening to “Che gelida manina” & “O soave fanciulla” online. 

The passion and beauty goes straight to the heart.

What a blast.

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Rear entrance of the ROH.

Everyone taking their seats.

The main crew.



Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Sandro Botticelli and Filippino Lippi at the National Gallery
Which is your fav ?

These wonderful paintings were from the National Gallery.

Botticelli was one of the greatest painters of Renaissance. He produced beautiful paintings.

Filippino Lippi was the son of Fra Filippo Lippi and the student of Botticelli. He bridges the divide between the Early and High Renaissance. 

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Venus and Mars by Sandro Botticelli - 1483

Masterpiece.

Venus is the God of love (free-flowing translucent white robes, elegant & graceful, delicate, timeless beauty); Mars is the God of war (strong, muscular).

Amazing contrast between his strength (muscular pose) and the naked and carefree way he’s resting with Venus.

Satyrs with allegorical meaning - they’re holding Mars’ jousting lance and helmet playfully, playing musical pipes into the ears of Mars ... and he seems totally overcome.

It’s interesting that Mars seems to be leaning onto the only armoured satyr. Indicating, again, that love has taken precedence.

Love conquers war?

Venus = classic Botticelli’s girl, pearly glow, slightly distant?
Timeless and idealised - if slightly aloof - beauty?

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About Botticelli

Relegated to the margins of art history, it was only until the beginning of the 20th century that he was properly recognised.

Aged 16, he was apprenticed to Fra Filippo Lippi, one of the leading Florentine painters at that time (and favored by the influential Medici family). This would prove to be critical as Botticelli spent most of his life working for the Medici family. When Botticelli was his pupil, Lippi was famous for his “Madonna and Child with Two Angels”. It proved v. popular because of its uncommonly elegant depiction of the Virgin Mary. It’s easy to see its influence on him - but he later advanced into more complicated compositions, e.g. the Adoration of the Magi. 

These put him on the map and he was invited by the Pope (aged 36) to paint some frescoes on the walls of the Sistine Chapel - increasing his fame and reputation. Returning to Florence, Botticelli received even more valuable commissions from the Medici family and other wealthy Florentines (e.g., “La Primavera” and three years later “The Birth of Venus”). 

A few years after “The Birth of Venus”, Savonarola became very influential in Florence. This maniac was the cause of secular being destroyed. He complained “You have made the Virgin appear dressed as a whore.” Many Florentines - including Botticelli - embraced his ideas. He cut down the secular, mythological works, and the elegant and gracious depictions of the Virgin Mary. 

Botticelli ended up abandoning his work. As an old man, he found himself so poor that if Lorenzo de’ Medici and then his friends had not come to his assistance, he would have died of hunger.

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Portrait of a Young Man by Botticelli

Unknown sitter. Amazing hair locks. Beautiful beretta.

Sandro Botticelli was one of the first Italian artists to abandon the profile format for portraits in favour of a frontal view. 

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Saint Francis of Assisi with Angels by Sandro Botticelli - 1475-80

Very beautiful.

Calm and devotional.

Leaning slightly forward, head lowered, arms crossed with crucifix in between. Seems to be standing on the rocky ground - with no shoes. Ref. to his humility. 

Angels surrounding St Francis. Their wings are gilded symbolising their heavenly nature.

Peaceful and playing hymns, they’re joining him in his moment of mediation. 

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Mystic Nativity by Sandro Botticelli - 1500

Love this one.

Beautifully metaphorical.

The only painting Botticelli signed. It bears several half-legible inscriptions, explaining its creation in 1500 in the aftermath of “the troubles of Italy” - i.e. Savonarola’s religious fundamentalism. 

The traditional nativity scene - the Virgin Mary kneels to adore the Christ baby raising his arm to his mother. 

People joyfully embracing.

 
Sheltering in a cave. 
Shepherds (right) and kings (left) come to pay homage. 
Botticelli’s beautiful angels dancing in the heavens.

Pagan-esque devils flee defeated to the underworld.

There are interesting themes which seem irregular and portentous:

The painting itself is rife with subtle premonitions: The sheet infant Jesus rests on evokes the shroud he would be wrapped in after his crucifixion, the mark of the cross is depicted on the hump of the donkey’s back, and the wooden hut he was born in sits in front of a cave where he would eventually be laid to rest in before his resurrection. Also noteworthy is Botticelli’s decision to include three angels embracing mortal men in the foreground — a motif usually relegated to renditions of the Last Judgment in accordance with the Second Coming of Christ.

Another unusual aspect is that the three kings welcome Jesus empty-handed, rather than with gold, frankincense, and myrrh — perhaps influenced by Savonarola’s sermon, though it could be argued that the ultimate gifts are their prayers and devotion. Throughout the lower half of the painting, seven miniature devils flee into the fissures and crevices in their return to the underworld, with some impaling themselves on their own spears.

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Adoration of the Kings by Botticelli & Filippino Lippi - 1470 

Busy & devotional.

Painted when Filippino was in Botticelli’s studio.

The Virgin and Child, and the king by Filippino.
Background town - no atmospheric perspective.

Botticelli painted the bustling crowds.
I love someone holding handkerchief to his eyes. 

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The Adoration of the Kings by Filippino Lippi - 1480

Interesting. More expressive in colours than Botticelli?

Love the chaos and disorder. There’s a soldier sitting, in the corner, with a bored weary posture.

The shinning star in the middle. 

Three Kings kneel to adore the Christ Child. 
The robes are very colourful.
I love some of the details, such as cracks
in the brickwork, and piles of stones.

Amazing landscape. So much detail.
Saints and armies.

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The Virgin and Child with Saint John by Filippino Lippi - 1480

The colours are incredible.  An early work by Filippino.

I love Saint John’s depiction:

Christ’s slightly older cousin, Saint John the Baptist, looks up in wonder. He wears his traditional camel-hair shirt and holds his reed cross, and clutches at the folds of his red cloak with both hands. 

Christ baby plucking seeds from a pomegranate.
Symbol of his future suffering.
Incredibly delicate halos that seem translucent.

Beautiful white lilies on the ledge.
Symbolising the Virgin Mary's purity.

Sunday, January 5, 2025

The Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal

Excerpting Louise Perry in “The Rotherham cover-up” (The Spectator):

When I use the word ‘Rotherham’, I am talking about the rape and sexual torture of thousands of underage girls in Britain over many decades by Muslim men from the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia (predominantly Pakistan). The men targeted these girls because they were white and non-Muslim. Authorities failed to investigate the crimes for fear of being called racist. There is no disputing the fact that the motivation for the crimes was – and is – explicitly anti-white. Many of the perpetrators have said as much in both court testimony and police interviews. 

‘Rotherham’ has become a catch-all for sex crimes that took place across the UK, not just in the town of Rotherham. The journalist Charlie Peters has described this as the biggest race hate scandal in 21st century Britain, having identified at least 50 places in the UK in which these gangs have operated, and are continuing to operate. Notable among these is Oxford, a city in which predominantly Pakistani areas in the east abut predominately poor white areas at the very edge. Excerpts from the sentencing remarks relating to the 2013 conviction of members of an Oxford gang have been circulated on Twitter this week. They tell the stories of girls between the ages of 11 and 16 being anally raped, branded with their perpetrator’s initials, forcibly injected with heroin and trafficked across Britain to have sex with more men.

The authorities did not want to know. Not only did these crimes go uninvestigated, but victims and their families were frequently stonewalled or persecuted by the police. The father of one 15-year-old girl in Rotherham, whose attack had been so brutal she later needed surgery, was told by a police officer that the experience would ‘teach her a lesson’. Again and again, adults in positions of authority discovered what was going on, and yet decided that these underage girls were making their own decisions – that they were demonstrating agency – and so took no action. During this long period of failure, at least three victims were murdered: Laura Wilson (17), Lucy Lowe (16), and Charlene Downes (14).

It’s awful, I know. So awful that it’s tempting to dismiss it all as exaggeration, or even as a malicious invention by the far-right. When Suella Braverman announced the creation of a Grooming Gangs Taskforce in 2023 when she was home secretary, even so many decades after the problem first emerged, one Guardian writer accused her of inflaming ‘Islamophobic and xenophobic prejudice’. Dismissing all of this evidence as lies has been the preferred coping mechanism of the British elite – the people with no social connections to places like Rotherham, who are all eager to believe in the success of our multicultural project. The establishment did not want to know about ‘Rotherham’ – still does not want to know about ‘Rotherham’ – because it upsets that fantasy. 

Horrific reading.

It seems that the establishment is still denying justice to the victims of grooming gangs. The Labour party has rejected calls for an Oldham grooming gang inquiry.

The institutional failures must be exposed and accounted for.

We should probably start by implementing some of the recommendations from any of the previous inquiries. 

But, I think a good response from Labour would be along those lines & with a detailed exposition of which recommendations they are implementing and how long it would take in order to prevent this sort of thing happening. 

Unfortunately, Jess Phillips seems to be saying that it is up to the Council to decide if there is an inquiry or not. That seems like a joke.

A parliamentary enquiry to address a national issue, surely?

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Update: I found a Channel 4 news piece on more grooming/sexual exploitation situ: