138 Responses to OPEN THREAD

  1. Jeremy Clarke says:

    The beginning of The News Quiz. Sandi Toksvig introduces the teams.

    “…and on my left, Alexei Sayle and Jeremy Hardy.”

    Time to take the dog for a walk.

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  2. Martin says:

    I’d like to wish all here a Merry Christmas, I was going to punish you all by posting a copy of Ed Milibands Christmas card, but I’m not that cruel, so here’s something a bit more in the spirit of christmas 🙂

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  3. Reed says:

    Not a very merry Christmas in the Huhne households.  
     
    Watching the Sky News paper review, I think the Times is reporting that the police are requesting that both Chris Huhne AND his wife be prosecuted.  
     
    Oh dear. Guido will be happy, though.
    🙂

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  4. David Preiser (USA) says:

    Quick. somebody tell Mark Mardell and the rest of the BBC: 
     
    Asked by Barbara Walters of ABC News what the biggest misconception of him is, Obama replied: “Me being detached, or Spock-like, or very analytical.” 

    So He really was ditheing?

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  5. Millie Tant says:

    For anyone who’s interested in this evening’s music programmes: 

     Opera on Radio 3 at 5 00 – 8 15 pm

     Jazz record requests on Radio 3 at 8 15 pm

     Carols from King’s on TV BBC Two at 5 45 – 7 00 pm.

    Sorry, Christmas but I’m going with the Met broadcast:

    Today, 17:00 on BBC Radio 3
    Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment
    Live from the Met
    Presented by Margaret Juntwait, with guest commentator Ira Siff.
    Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment with Nino Machaidze (Marie) and Lawrence Brownless (Tonio). Yves Abel conducts the Metropolitan Opera orchestra and chorus.
    The opera is set in a Swiss village in the Tyrolean Alps, where a French regiment is passing through. They’re led by Sergeant Sulpice and the regiment has a “daughter” named Marie – though she’s really more like their mascot and their maid. They found her when she was only a baby, and they’ve raised her ever since.
    Marie is in love with a Swiss villager named Tonio. Unfortunately, there’s a complication: she’s only allowed to marry a member of the Regiment.
    The opera is famous for Tonio’s aria “Ah! mes amis, quel jour de fête!” which has been called the “Mount Everest” for tenors as it features nine high Cs.
    Marie…..Nino Machaidze (soprano)
    Tonio…..Lawrence Brownlee (tenor)
    Sergeant Sulpice…..Maurizio Muraro (bass)
    Marquise of Berkenfeld…..Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano)
    Hortensius…..James Courtney (bass)
    A corporal…..Roger Andrews (bass)
    The Duchess of Krakenthorp…..Kiri Te Kanawa (spoken role)
    New York Metropolitan opera orchestra and chorus
    Conductor…..Yves Abel.

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