Felt like the outsider

The House is about to vote on a $3 trillion virus rescue package. This package is for the people and the post office, not big business. It was developed by Democrats. Even so, it doesn’t contain everything that progressives wanted in the bill. It will likely pass, maybe tomorrow. And Moscow Mitch has said it is dead on arrival in the Senate. The GOP doesn’t want us to recover.



The pandemic prince was asked whether the presidential election will be held as scheduled on November 3. Laura Clawson of Kos says the answer should be obvious: “Of course it will. Elections are the foundation of our democracy and the date of the election is set by law.” It is upsetting that that a reporter feels the need to ask the question. Though I’m glad it was asked. Because the pandemic prince answered:

That’s too far in the future to tell. Nothing that I’m aware of now. … It’s not my decision to make. I’m not sure I can commit one way or the other, but right now that’s the plan. … I have not been involved in, nor am I aware of any discussions about trying to change the date of the Presidential election.

Clawson says the answer implies the prince thought the date was up for debate, he just hadn’t yet been included in the discussion. But it shows the Boy Wonder doesn’t know politics well enough to say, regardless of what the nasty guy is planning, of course the election will be held on the day designated by law.



Tonight’s opera was Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten. I first got to know the music through four of the orchestral interludes, frequently played separately as the Four Sea Interludes. Grimes is a fisherman off the eastern coast of England (where Britten lived for many years). The opening scene is a trial. His apprentice died on a fishing trip. The death is ruled as accidental, but Grimes knows he will still be judged as guilty by the townspeople.

Britten was gay and frequently felt like the outsider, one who didn’t fit into society. Several of Britten’s operas are about outsiders. His partner Peter Pears was an accomplished singer and Britten often wrote for Pears, including the role of Grimes. This opera is about how the conservative townspeople, not the court, determine Grimes’ fate through gossip. Then again, Grimes’ demeanor doesn’t help him.

One character is Auntie. She runs the pub. Two women are known only as the nieces. They’re for the pub’s patrons to kiss.

At that opening trial Grimes is told he should not have another apprentice. But a couple scenes later, several people are working out how to deliver another apprentice. It doesn’t end well. Grimes has a mad scene which is famous because the accompaniment is a tuba imitating a foghorn and an offstage a cappella chorus.