There is continued "debate" on what to do with all the confederate statues. Well this is what they represent. This is a speech from Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America it's called the Cornerstone Speech. In it he says this about what the Confederacy stands for:
[I]ts foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.
The cornerstone of the Confederacy was slavery plain and simple. And by seceded the states committed treason against the United States of America. The people who supported the confederacy and fought in the war (all those generals who have monuments) were traitors to the United States of America. That's what the statues represent. That's the "southern" heritage that people are trying to preserve.
Why is there a debate over what to do with these things. They all need to go away. NOW!!!!!!
This weekend would have been Broadway Bares. This would have been the 10th time my friend, Christian, and I would have been up to see it.
Broadway Bares is a fund raiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. A little about them:
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS helps men, women and children across the country and across the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance.
We are one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington DC.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the major supporter of essential social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts. We also award annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.
Broadway Bares is a burlesque show that each year has a theme. Last year it was Broadway Bares: Take Off. A little about that:
A spectacular romp around the world with 192 of NYC’s sexiest dancers and two wild and worldly standing-room-only audiences led to a sensational evening of record-breaking modern-day burlesque at Broadway Bares: Take Off.
Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway Bares: Take Off raised $2,006,192 at two performances on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
But because of COVID this year’s show was postponed.
When we first started going it was only for the day. We would take an early morning bus up to New York. After the show (we always go to the early show), we’d take the 12:30 am bus back to Washington. Since we were going to be in New York we decided to see a show in the afternoon. Later on we decided to go up on Saturday morning. So we would see two shows on Saturday, one on Sunday afternoon and then Bares Sunday night.
So here’s a list of the shows we’ve seen over the past ten years and some information on the shows including Tonys awarded.
The final few pictures are during what is called the rotation part of the performance. It comes at the very end where all the dancers are on stage and the audience gets to tip the ones they like.
2011
Jerusalem — Mark Rylance best actor in a play
2012
Best Man — an all star cast including Candice Bergen, James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, John Larroquette, Eric McCormack and Michael McKean
2013
Kinky Boots (one of the best musicals I’ve seen. Where you find out what the most beautiful thing in the world is). Best actor in a musical Billy Porter, Best choreography Jerry Mitchell (who came up with the idea of Broadway Bares) and finally Best Musical.
The Nance — A fantastic performance by Nathan Lane
2014
Cabaret — the bus we took up was late. We had 20 minutes to get to the theater
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill — one of the MOST amazing performances I have ever seen by Audra McDonald, she won the Tony for Best Actress in a Play. She became Billie Holiday it was just incredible.
2015
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — an incredible show it was nominated for a Tony in the Best Choreography category. And won for Best Play
Hedwig and the Angry Inch — A great performance by Darren Criss
Hand of God — A play about a possessed puppet
2016
Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed — Another incredible cast including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Billy Porter.
She Loves Me — The wonderful Laura Berlanti and Zak Levi
2017
Ground Hog Day — A really funny show Andy Carl was great.
Kinky Boots — This is such a wonderful show I decided to see it again.
War Paint — Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone. Wow!
2018
Angels in America — We saw both parts on the same day. An incredible play. Gut wrenching and at the same time at the end leaves you with a ray of hope. Andrew Garfield won for Best Actor in a Play. Nathan Lane won for Featured Actor
Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women — A very clever play. And I got to see Glenda Jackson who won Best Actress in a Play. Laurie Metcalf won for Featured Actress.
2019
Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus — With Nathan Lane. A very funny but very dark play.
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune — The third time I’ve seen Audra McDonald.
I've been through my pictures in my Photos program.
I was looking for some pictures to document all of the Broadway Bares weekends that I've been to. This coming weekend would have been the 10th time I'd gone up with my friend Christian to see Bares along with some shows as well.
I going through my photos I came across the Peeps contest that the Washington Post used to have. Each year the Post hosted a contest to see what the best dioramas that people could make with Peeps. The contest usually was around Easter since that's when Peeps were most available in stores. There always were some very creative designs.
Here are a few pictures of the dioramas that were made out of peeps. They were displayed at Artomatic. Artomatic hosts a huge exhibit of art in all mediums at temporary spaces (usually office buildings being built or about to repurposed) These happen to be from 2012.
I hope you enjoy them. I think we all need a smile and a laugh these days.
So my friend Thomas Drymon had to leave earlier on a trip than planned. He had a couple of Hello Fresh meals that he gave to me.
Over the weekend I made one of them. It was Italian chicken over lemony spaghetti. It was just a little nerve racking. I was supposed to Zest a lemon. I had no idea what that meant. I looked it up and found out. I also found out there was such a thing as a Zester in which to zest the lemon with. Who know? I sure didn't.
I'm glad I have a timer on both my phone and microwave because at one point I was timing two things: the chicken and the spaghetti. The one problem was at one point I forgot which timer was timing what. Thankfully the time left for both was pretty close so nothing was ruined. I also misread the recipe card on making the sauce so I used a little too much water. But it still came out OK.
And it turned out pretty damn well if I do say so myself.
Tonight I am going to try the other meal beef bulcogi meatball. This one looks a little more complicate. But as we say in my family we'll see.
That might be a little bit of an exaggeration about the hand sanitizer but not by much. I went to the Home Depot on Saturday to pick up some drain clearer and I noticed this. Well actually it was hard not to notice it. They even had hand sanitizer that came in a spray bottle.
Here's my two cents on the confederate flag issue. (I thought about adding a picture but then thought better of it).
The confederate flag stands for treason.
The confederate flags stands for traitors.
The confederate flag stands for losers.
The notion that in any way shape or form that flying the confederate flag means you support the United States is utter BS.
That's what I posted to Facebook on this issue.
I'm tired of hearing about how it represents southern heritage. Well my list above is the "heritage" that that flag really shows. Not some grand lost cause. Not some noble endeavor. It was for the perpetuation of slavery in the south. And the right to extend slavery in new states joining the union.
It's time once and for all this lie be put to rest.
This episode was delayed, yet again, because Arthur didn’t have enough time. Anyway, here we are—were?
Today’s chat was about the changes to New Zealand’s Covid-19 Alert
Level (from 3 down to 2), and what that means. Things will change for us
all. The differences in the way NZ and the USA handled the pandemic are
huge, but New Zealand has no community transmission, which is very
different all by itself. We talk about problems and potential effects of
all this for both countries.
Let us know what you think! Everyone’s welcome to leave a comment, agree or disagree.
