Sunday, February 25, 2024

It’s Time for a Little R&R

I have been blogging daily for a very long time now, but I have had no rest from it. Needless to say, I am feeling rather worn out as a result. I therefore need some rest, a change of mind, a change of perspective. I need a holiday. I am starting that holiday today. I ask you for your understanding.

There is a lot of interesting material up on this blog. In fact, there is material going back more than twenty years. You are free to avail yourselves of it.

I have no idea how long my holiday from blogging will last. I suppose it will last until I feel thoroughly refreshed.

For your understanding in this matter and for your loyalty, I thank you all kindly.

Best wishes,
Mark Alexander

Rachmaninoff : Piano Concerto No.2, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Ct.rc.: Arthur Rubinstein)

Nov 18, 2021 | Sergey Vasil’yevich Rachmaninov (1873-1943) - Piano Concerto No.2 / Rhapsody. | Piano: Arthur Rubinstein | Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Recorded in 1956, at Chicago | onductor: Fritz Reiner | New mastering in 2021 by AB for CMRR

Orleans : Dance with Me

Aug 29, 2015 | Views on YouTube: 3,509,406 | Provided to YouTube by Rhino/Elektra

Whitney Houston with Enrique Iglesias : Could I Have This Kiss Forever | Official HD Video

Mar 16, 2014 | Views on YouTube: 177,903,262

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) : James Taylor

Jun 11, 2015 | Views on YouTube: 3,134,191 | Provided to YouTube by Rhino/Warner Records

James Taylor : Shower the People

Aug 9, 2015 | Provided to YouTube by Warner Records | Views on YouTube: 3,130,272

In Memory of Maurizio Pollini: Johannes Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 - Maurizio Pollini

Feb 20, 2017 | Maurizio Pollini, piano. Christian Thielemann, conductor. Staatskapelle Dresden.


Maurizio Pollini, Acclaimed Italian Pianist, Dies at age 82: The Grammy-winning musician performed frequently at La Scala opera house in Milan. / Maurizio Pollini, a Grammy-winning Italian pianist who performed frequently at La Scala opera house in Milan, has died. He was 82. / Pollini died on Saturday (March 23), La Scala said in a statement. The announcement didn’t specify a cause of death, but Pollini had been forced to cancel a concert at the Salzburg Festival in 2022 because of heart problems. »

I Don't Want to Know Why (with Cindy Fee)

Mar 12, 2014 | Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group

Enrique Iglesias : Bailamos

Jan 9, 2020 | Views on YouTube: 109,148,990

Bee Gees : You Win Again (1987)

Jul 8, 2013 | Views on YouTube: 67,522,215

Ne-Yo Ft. FABOLOUS : Link Up Remix | Official Music Video

Nov 3, 2023 | Views on YouTube: 1,446,166 | Music video by Ne-Yo, Fabolous performing Link Up (Remix). Motown Records; © 2023 Shaffer Smith, under exclusive license to UMG Recordings, Inc.

Chris Brown : Forever | Official HD Video

Oct 25, 2009 | Views on YouTube: 344,793,593

Whitney Houston : I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Oct 25, 2009 | Views on YouTube: 443,104,873

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Medwedjew droht den Ukrainern mit einem endlosen Krieg

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Wo Russlands opferreicher Vormarsch in der Ukraine „anhalten“ soll, will der frühere Präsident nicht sagen – in Kiew jedenfalls nicht. Verhandlungsbereitschaft lässt der Kreml weiterhin nicht erkennen.

Kurz vor dem zweiten Jahrestag des Überfalls auf die Ukraine an diesem Samstag hat Dmitrij Medwedjew russischen Staatsmedien ein Interview gegeben. Daraus sprechen Angriffslust, Unversöhnlichkeit und Hassbekundungen in einem Ausmaß, das Russlands regelmäßig beteuerte Verhandlungsbereitschaft neuerlich infrage stellt. Medwedjew war Präsident und Ministerpräsident und zählt als Präsident Wladimir Putins Stellvertreter im Vorsitz des Nationalen Sicherheitsrats sowie als Vorsitzender der Machtpartei „Einiges Russland“ zur Kreml-Führungsriege. » | Von Friedrich Schmidt | Samstag, 24. Fevruar 2024

‘My Ultimate and Absolute Revenge’: Trump Gives Chilling CPAC Speech on Presidential Agenda

THE GUARDIAN: Unbound and unhinged, ex-president vilifies immigrants before devolving into bizarre riffs, including calling himself a ‘total genius’

Screenshot from the Guardian | Donald Trump speaks at CPAC in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on 24 February 2024. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP

Donald Trump styled himself as a “proud political dissident” and promised “judgment day” for political opponents in an address that offered a chilling vision of a democracy in imminent peril.

In classic carnival barker form, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination accused Joe Biden of weaponising the government against him with “Stalinist show trials”. He pledged to crack down on border security and deliver the biggest deportation in US history if he wins the 5 November election.

“For hardworking Americans, November 5th will be our new liberation day,” Trump told a packed ballroom at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor in Maryland. “But for the liars and cheaters and fraudsters and censors and imposters who have commandeered our government, it will be their judgment day!”

He added: “Your victory will be our ultimate vindication, your liberty will be our ultimate reward and the unprecedented success of the United States of America will be my ultimate and absolute revenge.”

The overwhelmingly white crowd, many wearing Make America Great Again regalia, rose to their feet and roared their approval. » | David Smith in Oxon Hill, Maryland | Saturday, February 24, 2024

En direct, guerre en Ukraine : des milliers de personnes manifestent en France et à l’étranger pour soutenir le pays

LE MONDE : Les hommages se multiplient pour la deuxième année de la guerre. Comme la première ministre italienne, Giorgia Meloni, en déplacement à Kiev à l’occasion de ce deuxième anniversaire, Justin Trudeau, le premier ministre canadien, a signé un accord bilatéral de sécurité avec l’Ukraine. LIVE EN COURS » | samedi 24 février 2024

Nawalnyjs Mutter hat Leichnam ihres Sohns erhalten

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Mehr als eine Woche nach seinem Tod ist der Leichnam des in Haft gestorbenen Oppositionspolitikers Alexej Nawalnyj nach Angaben seiner Sprecherin an seine Mutter übergeben worden.

Die Mutter des in Haft gestorbenen Kremlgegners Alexej Nawalnyj hat dessen Leiche von den Behörden erhalten. Das teilte Nawalnyjs Sprecherin Kira Jarmysch am Samstag auf der Plattform X mit. Sie dankte „allen, die dies mit uns gefordert haben". Angehörige und Unterstützer des Oppositionellen hatten die russische Führung seit Tagen zur Herausgabe des Toten aufgefordert, um ihn menschenwürdig beerdigen zu können.

Sie wisse noch nicht, ob „die Behörden verhindern werden, dass der Ablauf (der Trauerfeier) so abläuft, wie die Familie es wünscht und wie Alexej es verdient", erklärte Jarmisch weiter. » | Quelle: dpa/AFP | Samstag, 24. Februar 2024

Dimitra’s Dishes: Greek Olive Oil Cookies: Ladokouloura (Vegan)

Feb 24, 2024


Get the recipe here.

Take Putin Seriously or Risk World War III, Former Head of British Army Warns

Feb 24, 2024 | “This is a late 1930s moment, and if we don’t react to it, we’re doomed not to learn the lessons of history.” Lord Dannatt warns the UK government and our NATO allies to take the threat of Putin seriously.

James O’Brien: 'Crackers doesn't go far enough': Liz Truss addresses America | LBC

Feb 23, 2024 | The UK’s shortest-serving PM, who is still entitled to claim up to £115,000-a-year for the rest of her life, spoke at the CPAC conference. Liz Truss said: "Conservatives are now operating in what is now a hostile environment and we essentially need a bigger bazooka."