Elaine Calder
@calderbennett.bsky.social
Retired. Used to manage arts organizations: orchestras, theatres and an opera company, in both Canada and the US. Working on my Italian, in part by visiting Venice once or twice a year.
From someone in Sicily who understands the logistics of mass trials:
Sounds like a good place to hold a mass trial for treason when all this is over.
Trump on the ballroom: "It will take care of the inauguration with bulletproof glass, drone-proof ceilings, and everything else unfortunately that today you need."
January 10, 2026 at 1:39 AM
From someone in Sicily who understands the logistics of mass trials:
I'm watching this while sipping a Negroni. Bill and Donald Sutherland were friends in University but we had no connection to Julie Christie, although I do like this: "After a while an appreciation of Julie Christie can lead you to think you have a deep understanding of the novels of Thomas Hardy."
January 9, 2026 at 2:53 AM
I'm watching this while sipping a Negroni. Bill and Donald Sutherland were friends in University but we had no connection to Julie Christie, although I do like this: "After a while an appreciation of Julie Christie can lead you to think you have a deep understanding of the novels of Thomas Hardy."
Reposted by Elaine Calder
She tried, but they wanted to make fun of her jawline instead.
January 6, 2026 at 7:59 PM
She tried, but they wanted to make fun of her jawline instead.
I'm shipping a piece of Italian furniture (Kartell compomobili) from Finland to Canada, but it's coming through the US so I've now paid my first American tariff. If those tariffs get struck down by the Supreme Court I want my $24.03 back!
January 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I'm shipping a piece of Italian furniture (Kartell compomobili) from Finland to Canada, but it's coming through the US so I've now paid my first American tariff. If those tariffs get struck down by the Supreme Court I want my $24.03 back!
Our Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with the PM of Denmark today, prior to the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing hosted in Paris by President Macron.
January 5, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Our Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with the PM of Denmark today, prior to the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing hosted in Paris by President Macron.
The new Line 6, with 4 stations opened in July 2024, was funded by the EU Cohesion Policy in the amount of €198.7 million. I found this out when I saw the new Chaia station and wondered how #Naples could afford such elegance. (My photo doesn't do it justice.)
January 2, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The new Line 6, with 4 stations opened in July 2024, was funded by the EU Cohesion Policy in the amount of €198.7 million. I found this out when I saw the new Chaia station and wondered how #Naples could afford such elegance. (My photo doesn't do it justice.)
I'm not really surprised to hear the iron clap at the end of Teatro La Fenice's Capodanno concert, given what the audience paid for their tickets. But Michele Mariotti is a fine conductor, he's music director of Opera di Roma - and he's wearing the Venetian musicians' protest pin.
January 1, 2026 at 8:12 PM
I'm not really surprised to hear the iron clap at the end of Teatro La Fenice's Capodanno concert, given what the audience paid for their tickets. But Michele Mariotti is a fine conductor, he's music director of Opera di Roma - and he's wearing the Venetian musicians' protest pin.
I never expected a headline to include "Can Giorgia Meloni Save Europe?"
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I never expected a headline to include "Can Giorgia Meloni Save Europe?"
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
I'm reading John Kerrigan in the Nov 20th LRB reviewing books on the slave trade.
How did I get to be 78 years old and yet this is new to me? "African merchants....were operating in a well-provided economy that was, until the industrial revolution, as technologically advanced as that of Europe."
How did I get to be 78 years old and yet this is new to me? "African merchants....were operating in a well-provided economy that was, until the industrial revolution, as technologically advanced as that of Europe."
December 29, 2025 at 1:18 AM
I'm reading John Kerrigan in the Nov 20th LRB reviewing books on the slave trade.
How did I get to be 78 years old and yet this is new to me? "African merchants....were operating in a well-provided economy that was, until the industrial revolution, as technologically advanced as that of Europe."
How did I get to be 78 years old and yet this is new to me? "African merchants....were operating in a well-provided economy that was, until the industrial revolution, as technologically advanced as that of Europe."
After a friendly argument as to whether mediaeval instruments could be digitally recorded had continued for far too long at the Christmas dinner table, I turned to the man on my left and said I'm resisting the urge to get my phone. Google knows. But he said, No. Let's live in confusion a bit longer.
December 26, 2025 at 7:57 PM
After a friendly argument as to whether mediaeval instruments could be digitally recorded had continued for far too long at the Christmas dinner table, I turned to the man on my left and said I'm resisting the urge to get my phone. Google knows. But he said, No. Let's live in confusion a bit longer.
My Christmas music. And I just had a lovely 45 minute phone conversation with the baritone soloist. Life is good.
December 25, 2025 at 6:13 PM
My Christmas music. And I just had a lovely 45 minute phone conversation with the baritone soloist. Life is good.
Karl Kautsky's line in 1892: "We must either move forward into socialism or fall back into barbarism" was quoted by Rosa Luxemburg, although misattributed to Engels. It comes to mind when thinking of Mamdani in NYC and DJT in DC. Right now the fall is coming a lot faster than the move forward.
December 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Karl Kautsky's line in 1892: "We must either move forward into socialism or fall back into barbarism" was quoted by Rosa Luxemburg, although misattributed to Engels. It comes to mind when thinking of Mamdani in NYC and DJT in DC. Right now the fall is coming a lot faster than the move forward.
I wrote to a friend with a question and ended, "You don't know what people know until you ask them." I think I've been guided by this throughout my life, without really thinking about it. Now, as I try pull together what I've learned over 78 years, I think curiosity should be a guiding principle.
December 20, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I wrote to a friend with a question and ended, "You don't know what people know until you ask them." I think I've been guided by this throughout my life, without really thinking about it. Now, as I try pull together what I've learned over 78 years, I think curiosity should be a guiding principle.
I bought a VPN to watch The West Wing, but now I'm using it to access RAI. I've seen my friend Brett Polegato as Kurwenal in Tristan and Isolde from Rome, and I've saved a documentary about the aqua grande in Venice in 1966 and also, thanks to @nickwhithorn.bsky.social www.raiplay.it/programmi/gi...
Giovanni Falcone. C'era una volta a Palermo - RaiPlay
Il suo metodo investigativo e le sue capacità strategiche facevano di Falcone un "fuoriclasse"
www.raiplay.it
December 18, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I bought a VPN to watch The West Wing, but now I'm using it to access RAI. I've seen my friend Brett Polegato as Kurwenal in Tristan and Isolde from Rome, and I've saved a documentary about the aqua grande in Venice in 1966 and also, thanks to @nickwhithorn.bsky.social www.raiplay.it/programmi/gi...
One of the many pleasures of seeing The West Wing again after all these years is the chance to see the great actor Roger Rees, who died at far too young an age in 2015.
December 15, 2025 at 2:29 AM
One of the many pleasures of seeing The West Wing again after all these years is the chance to see the great actor Roger Rees, who died at far too young an age in 2015.
Greta Garbo has a line in Ninotchka, "There will be fewer but better Russians", and that's the approach I'm taking to my belongings: everything from coffee mugs to cardigans to towels to furniture.
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Greta Garbo has a line in Ninotchka, "There will be fewer but better Russians", and that's the approach I'm taking to my belongings: everything from coffee mugs to cardigans to towels to furniture.
A response to the crisis at Teatro La Fenice: campaignforalivingvenice.org/2025/12/01/f...
Four Former Mayors of Venice Publish an Open Letter Regarding the La Fenice Controversy
“We must overcome the crisis at La Fenice without coercion or blackmail.” [The following is the text of an open letter written by four former mayors of Venice, published in various news outle…
campaignforalivingvenice.org
December 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
A response to the crisis at Teatro La Fenice: campaignforalivingvenice.org/2025/12/01/f...
Reposted by Elaine Calder
An addendum to today's post paulkrugman.substack.com/p/trump-pro-...
December 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
An addendum to today's post paulkrugman.substack.com/p/trump-pro-...
As social media continues its decline into rat shit, it's reassuring to see the many posts today honoring Tom Stoppard.
November 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
As social media continues its decline into rat shit, it's reassuring to see the many posts today honoring Tom Stoppard.
I will always remember Pete's explanation of why no one gets a third term abortion unless something is terribly wrong. "They've chosen the name, painted the baby's room, bought the diapers......." He speaks in terms that we can all understand and respond to.
Pete Buttigieg would be a good DNC spokesperson.
He would do a GREAT job of going around the country, being on TV all the time, and putting out Dem messaging on EVERY issue.
He would be an excellent counter-Leavitt. And we NEED one. He should be holding regular press conferences and putting
He would do a GREAT job of going around the country, being on TV all the time, and putting out Dem messaging on EVERY issue.
He would be an excellent counter-Leavitt. And we NEED one. He should be holding regular press conferences and putting
November 23, 2025 at 4:18 AM
I will always remember Pete's explanation of why no one gets a third term abortion unless something is terribly wrong. "They've chosen the name, painted the baby's room, bought the diapers......." He speaks in terms that we can all understand and respond to.
It was a bit of a surprise to go to the opera in Montréal and be introduced to a PQ member of Québec's National Assembly. We chatted briefly about the party's plans for another referendum and a new currency in 10 years time. And now, JENUFA!
November 23, 2025 at 12:29 AM
It was a bit of a surprise to go to the opera in Montréal and be introduced to a PQ member of Québec's National Assembly. We chatted briefly about the party's plans for another referendum and a new currency in 10 years time. And now, JENUFA!
In 2003, when Donald Rumsfeld famously said "Stuff happens" he was talking about widespread looting in Baghdad and the inevitable, untidy cost of freedom. Today, when Donald Trump said "Things happen" he was talking about the murder and dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist.
November 19, 2025 at 3:02 AM
In 2003, when Donald Rumsfeld famously said "Stuff happens" he was talking about widespread looting in Baghdad and the inevitable, untidy cost of freedom. Today, when Donald Trump said "Things happen" he was talking about the murder and dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist.
"Things happen."
In case folks forgot what happened, Khashoggi entered a Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get a document so he could get married while his fiancée waited outside. He never left because he was murdered and dismembered with a bone saw inside the building. The US intel community said MBS ordered it.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 19, 2025 at 2:32 AM
"Things happen."
Who needs Christmas? The West Wing returns to Netflix on December 9th: seven seasons of sanity, integrity and public service in the Oval Office.
November 18, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Who needs Christmas? The West Wing returns to Netflix on December 9th: seven seasons of sanity, integrity and public service in the Oval Office.