From NPR this morning regarding the L.A. Philharmonic concert last night (broadcast live nationally) with Dudamel and soloist Herbie Hancock, whose performance was as erratic and sloppy as you'll ever hear in a major venue:
"Herbie and Gustavo, we were at a dinner together when this all got cooked up, and they just really like each other and it's wonderful to see two masters of that type interacting and talking about all these wild ideas," Borda said. "So, I'm not quite sure what will happen on the stage, but I know it will be mostly Gershwin."
Well, it wasn't. Even when Hancock wasn't mishitting keys and having to stop and regroup (which he did once), his interpretation was so private and idiosyncratic that it turned Gershwin's masterpiece of uniquely American energy into a dull, stop-and-go series of episodes. Not one for the ages.
And the only reason I'm writing about this is I love that piece. Dudamel's "American in Paris," by the way, was awesome.
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23 posts from September 2011
28 September 2011
27 September 2011
'Where in (Hades) are the movie theaters?'
A pleasant voice mail from an elderly female reader who was absolutely beside herself -- this is the whole message:
"Where in (another word for Hades) are the movie theaters? The Galaxy...I don't know where to go! It's in here to see 'Moneyball,' there's no place to go, no listing of the theaters -- I'm from out of town -- I think this is just ridiculous!"
I imagine she's quite a Brad Pitt fan.
What's trending in Halloween costumes this year? Kids want to know...pass along the completely expected and totally unique looks you've seen so far...we'll use it in a new column we're launching next month.
Synonymous with sin
I've been out of town for a few days and among the nearly 1,000 emails waiting for me was a press statement from Rochester City Council Member Mike Wojcik, also posted at Votewojcik.com. The statement says he's "pleased to report the closing of China Massage, a Rochester business that was a front to prostitution and human sex trafficking."
The Second Street Southwest building in which the massage business was located is owned by Dennis Weestrand, and Wojcik has made it a personal crusade to tag Weestrand for not kicking China Massage out more quickly.
Wojcik goes on to say in the email:
"As a result of his refusal to act, (Weestrand's) name is now synonymous with sex trafficking in Rochester."
Too much? Aside from the fact that few people know Weestrand's name or have any reason to equate him with sex trafficking, is this a reasonable comment from a city council member?
Wojcik's fiery rhetoric and hyperbole is going to get him into hot water, one of these days.
Did the Mayos truly invent the integrated group practice?
The Answer Man asked this question last week, and an unnamed reader responded in this rather random way. Again, the question is, was Mayo Clinic truly the world's first integrated group practice, as we often hear.
A group medical practice is defined as having two or more specialties.
Dr. W.W. Mayo in his later years was specializing in gynecology, performing surgery to remove ovarian tumors. Doctors Will and Charlie become general surgeons. Will in later years specialized in abdominal surgery and Charlie continued as a general surgeon.
Would this constitute two specialties?
Dr. Stinchfield was hired in 1892 as a doctor of general medicine, by today’s terms a diagnostic doctor. As of 1892 Mayo Practice would have two specialties – surgery and diagnostic. Dr. Christopher Graham was hired in 1893, a diagnostic doctor. At this point a group practice existed. I don’t feel this practice could be defined as a “private” practice at this point.
What constitutes a “private integrated group practice” versus a “public integrated group practice”? Is profit or not for profit the determining factor? Is it a corporate structure of how the proceeds are distributed?
Mayo Clinic became a not-for-profit entity in 1919 with the establishment of Mayo Properties Association. Proceeds invested in research and education.
In 1916 Marshfield Clinic was established by six physicians and “grew” to become a not-for-profit entity. In 1920, Marshfield Clinic becomes a “charitable trust.”
Johns Hopkins was established in 1889 as a public integrated group practice.
Cleveland Clinic established in 1921.
Conclusion: Mayo Clinic is the first private, not for profit, integrated practice in United States. The world, I don’t know about and don’t care to research.
More on Sons of Silence
The Answer Man caught up with the Sons of Silence motorcyle club in Friday's column and readers have more to add to the record:
If you look through your paper, in the 70's as I recall, there was a SOS member killed in a motorcycle accident.
The funeral was in Spring Valley, and the person killed lived in Hammond. The group "partied in Hammond" for a couple of days prior to the funeral.
I have no clue how many attended the funeral, however, I did see the group go through Rochester to Spring Valley from Hammond. Several hundred come to mind. As I recall, they did not have a police escort, but did not stop at any stop lights on the way through town!
Your paper did a story on some of their rituals at the funeral and cemetery,. VERY INTERESTING!
Might want to look back to see if you can find the story and update the information about the SOS!
LOVE YOUR COLUMN!
+++
Nice article, again, anyone who may give positive feed back on this are most likely affiliated somehow...
I hope to see more articles about the SOS, in the crimes and courts section, that's the only publicity they deserve. The police are very aware of their activity, I just think they are afraid of them......With the meth problem they have in Rochester, shutting down the SOS there would shut down the meth problem, or most of it anyway, but the cops can't be scared of them......
21 September 2011
'Absolutely ridiculous' story about former biker with MS
We've had more than a few comments from readers about our story Monday on the Sons of Silence motorcycle club helping out an ailing club member in Plainview. They ask why we'd feature a motorcycle club with a questionable reputation.
A reader sent an email this morning that says, in very abbreviated form: "I find it absolutely ridiculous the Post-Bulletin would give publicity to a club who is supported by"...let's just say, allegations of illegal activity. "If I see any more of this publicity I will cancel my subscription, and protest for others to do so also...I don't want my children seeing these (euphemism here will be 'bikers') in the paper..."
This reader also sent a link to a 25-year-old criminal court document involving one of the SOS members identified in the story.
No doubt, it was an unusual story that involved a man suffering from MS, the nursing home where he lives in Plainview, and a motorcycle club.
What do you think -- a story worth telling? Did we do it right?
Today in Answer Man
Whose palatial new digs are going up next to the MnDOT headquarters along U.S. 52 North in Rochester? Fifty cents buys you the answer.
Today's front page
More on the truck accident that claimed the life of a 25-year-old St. Charles man in Rochester Monday.
The emerald ash borer has reached a state park along the Mississippi River, raising big concerns with state officials trying to control its spread.
And a Mayo-led global initiative promoting smoke-free workplaces will be unveiled in New York today at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.
20 September 2011
Today on the front page
Top of the page: Fatal truck accident on U.S. 52 near Seventh Street Northwest late Monday afternoon. Truck veered off the southbound lanes, went down an embankment across the frontage road and crashed into ServiceMaster Clean building. Two people injured in the building. with pic and map
Gov. Mark Dayton on Monday blasted Rochester Republicans for failing to support plans to expand Mayo Civic Center.
And Olmsted County officials might close Many Rivers Regional Juvenile Center and move young people housed there to a special unit in the Adult Detention Center.
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