tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post1996278529960105882..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Klezmer for twoDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-36166215770543010242012-12-09T17:31:00.154+00:002012-12-09T17:31:00.154+00:00The saving was done by Alistair Darling ( several ...The saving was done by Alistair Darling ( several Civil Servants thought him "sensible" - as opposed to their view of most politicians I suppose)and anyway under the leadership of the Americans....the ( newish) chair of the Federal Reserve Bernanke had earlier written a book on the 1929 crash and saw the effects then of higher interest rates, the stopping of spending etc - and did the opposite, which appears to have worked, though leaving problems of courseDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-634128765911387992012-12-09T11:20:06.035+00:002012-12-09T11:20:06.035+00:00Sue - I thought of you and Contemporaneous when I ...Sue - I thought of you and Contemporaneous when I wrote that. I think I'd gladly follow recent developments on a regular basis if I had inspiring young musicians to lead me by the hand. I was so pleased that in the face of all the recent cuts, as a kind of yaa-boo, the Queen's Medal for Music at a half-great concert on Wednesday went to our heroic National Youth Orchestra.<br /><br />David - worth remembering that Gordon Brown, for all his manifold faults, did save the country from total meltdown in the banking crisis. <br /><br />Canada, of course, has a hideous anti-environmental, anti-culture government, I'm sure you know.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-26335876545679368582012-12-09T09:19:11.530+00:002012-12-09T09:19:11.530+00:00The most damaging government was that of Blair - o...The most damaging government was that of Blair - overspending and ruining the economy, assisted by a profligate expansion of the money supply, and with everyone ( banks especially) encouraged to take unwise risks by one of the most foolish and vain comments ever made by a chancellor "I have abolished boom and bust". And now it is very difficult to see how to correct things<br /><br /> It is interesting to hear from Laurent that there are cuts in Canada also, even though Canada avoided a good deal of the financial crisisDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-20997308566383835762012-12-07T23:26:11.661+00:002012-12-07T23:26:11.661+00:00The thought of “being dragged along to Victor Borg...The thought of “being dragged along to Victor Borge concerts at a young age” is fairly frightening. Are you scarred for life? (In our house, it was a Phyllis Diller live comedy show that almost did me in . . . .) But I did listen to the clip, and they were definitely entertaining. A favorite line: “the feng shui here is in A Majeure.” And of course this is the line of yours that resonated with me most of all: “The real excitement was seeing the youthful commitment the Mercuries . . . brought to their contributions.” (Which is what makes it all the more sorrowful to contemplate cuts to cultural institutions. Without them—and without the nurturing of the youthful commitment you cite here—life is impoverished beyond words.)Susan Scheidhttp://prufrocksdilemma.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-79877750053535592992012-12-07T10:35:58.753+00:002012-12-07T10:35:58.753+00:00It looks like our regions will be hardest hit, wit...It looks like our regions will be hardest hit, with councils like Newcastle slashing budgets which will decimate what in Newcastle's case is a thriving arts scene.<br /><br />We've also had Nick Hytner and other theatrical worthies thrashing it out with the latest not-interested-in culture secretary, Maria Miller. She dismisses out of hand their objection that regional theatres will close by the dozen, indeed are already doing so. But of course times are even worse for welfare. Yes, we're all in a bad way, but I fear this is the most spineless and damaging government we've had.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-13689262798835609642012-12-06T23:57:44.951+00:002012-12-06T23:57:44.951+00:00Yes cuts in cultural institutions is very hard to ...Yes cuts in cultural institutions is very hard to digest. At the National Gallery in Ottawa, without volunteers the museum would have to shut down, the budget is that tight. I learned also that the art classes for the public where people came to paint and get tutorials have been cancelled. We still manage to expand the sculpture park but only because the art work is donated to the museum and not bought. I can just imagine the PR required to keep donors interested. Liked the YouTube presentation very entertaining. Laurenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03297393116796129135noreply@blogger.com