formerly33

Okay ... I actually don't have a decisive answer to the question I'm about to present (it's Hrb's idea, but I'm curious to know what other people have to say), but if you could be considered the best performer of any three pieces of music on your own instrument, what would they be? I'm tempted to go with overplayed pieces, but I have a feeling people would be emotionally attached to other recordings of those, so I don't know ... it'd be nice to bring up some underrated solos. The bummer thing is, for as much hype as the flute gets, it has a pretty minimal repertoire. Three is a hard number to go with unless you're doing concertos, too - I can't imagine people going, "Oh yeah, Always is the best at the Sonata no. 5 in E minor." I'd prefer "Always is the best at the Bach flute sonatas." But my current (and very flexible) list is: Concerto in D minor - Bernhard Molique Concierto pastoral - Joaquín Rodrigo Carnevale di Venezia - Giulio Briccialdi I wanted to go with conducted pieces, but according to Hrb, that's not an option. Sigh ... Oh, and speaking of jazz, I'm a big fan of Pink Martini.

Wait a minute, aren't you too old for Arctic Monkeys to be on yours? I used to listen to a bunch of AM, but I'm bored with that now. I actually don't really care for my generation of music ... I know I'm just being a stick in the mud, but everything's gotten too poppy. I know a lot of people accuse Nirvana of being the same, but I LOVE Nirvana. They're the bestest. I almost think I like Nirvana better than most people who lived through that era - I don't have any negative memories about it such as safety pins in the ears and whatnot. Yep, I've had people complain to me about that. I haven't listened to enough full albums to actually do a non-classical list - when I first got into rock eight months ago (before that I didn't know of anyone besides The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and the only reason I knew about The Rolling Stones was because I randomly ran into a history of their logo a year or two beforehand), I listened to some full albums by Arctic Monkeys, Muse, The Fratellis, etc., but that's not really my style anymore. Other than Nevermind (which I've listened to 10,000 times in the last month), I mostly just listen to artists' top songs on Spotify, so yeah, Queen's Platinum Collection sounds great ... 3 or 4 CD's? That sounds almost like cheating, but I'll take it!

I knew this would spark a debate.

I'll leave the albums safe at home unless I also get some form of player. In that case ... Fiesta Nevermind Helene Grimaud's Chopin | Rachmaninoff Um ... ummm ... Boston Brass' Christmas album (just in case I enjoy the hermit life and don't want to come back within the next 9 months) Also, Judge Wargrave, if I may.

Well no wonder, Van ... you don't eat the music. Oh wait ... you said *musical* taste buds. Okay ... but watch/listen to these - they just might change your mind. If you have a preference to any style and are interested in branching out, I'll be more than happy to oblige (this is just me trying to force my musical tastes on everyone and growing desperate because nobody else seems to agree with me). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsG0fNO-_QA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MmsHpUfj74 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYO9gTmCJTE And btw, I <3 L O V E <3 Lang Lang.

Another good way to find new stuff is to watch competitions. Or you can delve deeper into the lesser known composers of the past, or even the lesser known pieces by the greats. There's always more, and they're generally underrated. Except Finzi. Never listen to Finzi.

Hey, can this be a music thread? I've been meaning to start one for a long time, but never got around to it. I'd love to hear Yo-Yo stories.

I'm a cruel and heartless person.

One thing I'd like to point out is that puppies grow into dogs, and you have to be prepared for that or they'll end up in a shelter. My family has four dogs. The first of these we got when I was twelve, about a year and a half after the last dog died. My sister trained her, but I helped and did a lot of research about German Shepherds and training dogs in general. I wanted to be a dog trainer/breeder when I grew up ... not so much anymore, but luckily I was prepared to take the brunt of the load when my sister got her own puppy and didn't want the commitment that came with it. I was fourteen when I got my own puppy; she was/is the smartest dog. She actually knows what German Shepherds, Schnauzers, and Aussies are ... Hrb was reading a book about Eleanor Roosevelt when Clover was about three or four months old, and he told me he wanted to show me a picture of her German Shepherd. We were sitting on the floor, and Clover came running over to see and lay down between us, looking at the pictures as Hrb turned the pages. When he got to the German Shepherd, she jumped forward and put her paw on the picture as if she was pointing it out to me ... everyone else insists it was a coincidence, but I'm convinced she knew what she was up to. Dogs aren't stupid, especially not this one. Unfortunately, I don't have any puppy pictures of Cloves on my computer, but I took a picture of her last fall. This is my dream puppy/dog.

Yeah, knowing where your food comes from is far more important than that green "certified organic" sticker. While my family mostly eats organic food, I'm not pleased with the overall quality (and I would know, being the head chef in this house). Take, for example, the apples from the local, non-organic orchard versus the organic apples brought in from California. I won't eat the latter - they have, in fact, basically ruined my opinion of apples in general.

Today is National Quilting Day! Quilting has a special claim upon my affections since my mom has made many beautiful quilts in her lifetime. It is a time honored craft which reflects a deep and vital part of the American folk art tradition; when people think of the history of our country dating before a certain period in time when early feminism came into play, it is often the work of men they picture because much of the hard work of women has not survived the passage of time – for instance, the accomplishments of cooking and cleaning were necessities which disappeared with each passing day, whereas buildings and such have survived the centuries. However, quilts remain a surviving example of female achievement; like every other art form, the vast majority of these have long since faded into oblivion, but there remain some stunning examples of their work to this day. Each surviving relic serves as a reminder of the hard work of American women. Not only do we now know that women can do everything men can, but we have opened doors for men as well, providing them with the opportunity to quilt and do other things formerly considered women’s work right alongside us. Today, we can look at each piece with a newfound appreciation for the individuality which reflects the people who have made them and remember the pivotal role women have played in the making of a great country.

Vanimal, I don't think the goal is to see just how bad Nolasco can be for the Twins.

I'm going to suspect vice next time I see Nolasco unable to tie his shoelaces.

http://iruntheinternet.com/lulzdump/images/gifs/cat-eating-rice-fork-bowl-1348366396Y.gif

Yes, but that doesn't mean it's not for boys, too. I have more brothers than sisters who are veritable addicts, and my family is large enough for me to feel safe in assuming my observations are without flaw.

No, that would be ish.

This might not mix well with the drinks, Van. Unless you meant water, in which case it won't be a bad idea to hydrate during your workouts - within reason. And I advise you try a little red pepper on your cottage cheese.

Ick.

Perhaps it's the Senate who's getting too kingly. Maybe in our concern over preventing the POTUS from lording it over us, we forget he's not the only one capable of doing so. But then, of course we want the people to have a voice in this, and obviously the Senate's the people. Oh, wait ... wouldn't that indicate a higher power controlling the commonality? I'm confused ...

Listening to the game on the radio. I probably won't participate much tonight, but I thought I'd get this going for you guys as we're 2 1/2 in and not a peep out of you yet. TWINS Polanco, 2B Nunez, SS Sano, RF Quentin, DH Rosario, LF Park, 1B Kepler, CF Murphy, C Rogers, P ORIOLES Machado, 3B Jones, CF Davis, 1B Trumbo, RF Alvarez, DH Hardy, SS Schoop, 2B Kim, LF Joseph, C Wright, P

Did I ever suggest that I am a fan of Bernie's big vision? Did I ever suggest that college be free? I'm sorry ... I could say a lot more in answer to the rest, but I don't think this thread is a place for that discussion. And believe me, I have every intention of making this happen ... somehow ... someway. But I'm not so sure I really want to go to that college anymore. I don't believe they're worth the tuition. Not anymore.

No, it was just me being dumb*. No worries. *Uneducated.

Okay ... I get it now. Lol. But the fact remains that the educated are ... well, already educated. Not that I like Bernie better than Hillary, but I still feel like some of the hatred for him is a bit ... juvenile. Just like the love.

Is he winning with the educated?Excuse me ... ?

Okay ... I'm not a fan of Bernie Sanders, but ... what? First of all, college is WAY too expensive. I know people who are what, late 30's, early 40's who went to the college I've wanted to go to for years, and could afford it, too? I mean, everyone takes out loans for college, but these days ... sigh. Here I am, barely a generation younger, and I don't have a hope. No, I'm not going to help with your mortgage. I don't even want you to help with my college. But we have a bigger problem than that. The problem is not that I'm going to come out of school drowning in debt - it's that I'm not going to get the education I would like because I'm not going to let myself drown in student loans. Again, do you seriously think kids are going to graduate from high school and spend their years in college, wasting your money? You might have to think again. College isn't all fun and games unless you can afford for it to be all fun and games. And the trend seems to be that you go to college if you can afford for it to be all fun and games. I know that's an exaggeration to some extent, but really. If it wasn't this way, if more than just the rich kids could go to college, I'm guessing the standards would be raised (cue: remember your "lots of Americans don't belong in college" line). You just might start getting in for your brains and dedication rather than your money. Because, you know, you actually have to get in to college; you can't *just go.* And this leads me to people using your money for "paid time off." No, I don't see that happening. A higher education shouldn't be all fun and games - it should be, well, a higher education. And that takes a lot of work. And they wouldn't exactly be paid to be in college. They'd be working to get an education so they could get a job and then be paid. I mean, if you had a choice between hard work learning stuff and not being paid or hard work doing stuff and being paid, what would you pick? I'm guessing the latter, unless of course you needed the former first, in which case ... fine. But ... what am I saying? I sound like a Bernie supporter, and I'm not. I'm really not. It's just that there are problems with this whole college scenario, and no, I don't like it. Unfortunately I'm not offering any actual solutions ... just harping about the whole process. But I honestly don't think we'd have people leeching the system, so to speak, if Bernie's vision worked. I hate that argument. But if I'm wrong, please correct me. It's just that your comment about people not belonging in college really got me going here ... God knows I've heard that one enough times in my life ... and you know, wouldn't you agree that everyone in our developed, first world country should be entitled to have the ability to make a living wage, which is mostly only possible now with a college degree?