Appreciate that you post comments from other critics even when they disagree with you. I'm closer in opinion to the majority of the four-member panel on the Runnicles Mahler 1st. I'll go farther and say I would rejoice to hear him named as the next music director of the SFS.

My favorite stretch in the cycle is Siegfried from the death of Mime (Heiß ward mir) to the end of the opera. A sustained climb into brighter and brighter light.

Not just fire but magic in general.
The Tarnhelm and the potion in Götterdämmerung belong to his musical world.
He was very clearly angling to take the Tarnhelm as his commission for the Alberich caper.

Loge’s distinctive word: Ersatz (substitute)
Ersatz für Freia zu suchen…
Als Ersatz zumute dem Mann…
He’s the only character to use it.
Also my favorite character.

Sister-in-law

And the public transit system is astonishing in its breadth. I don’t think any busy prosperous city in the world can beat it for low traffic congestion.

I feel like we have been in a slow motion civil war for decades marked by steady and relentless gains by the bad guys that are intermittently paused (Look forward not back.)

Chris, I’ve been a huge fan since your GOPLifer days. I particularly remembered back in ‘17 when you called the ‘22 midterms the most important election of our lifetime. Too bad we lost it. Your assessment of where we are now is pretty close to mine.

Or how about you @therickwilson.bsky.social?
I very much appreciate your willingness to get edgy?

Agree overall with your take, and especially on the return of The Donald (Runnicles). I've been rooting for him to be the next music director for months. Maybe this means he's actually a candidate. Underrated musician IMO with a demonstrated affection for San Francisco. Whaddya think?

The precarious balancing on the super-high heels and manually lifting up the dress detracted from her stature as an artist of the very highest rank, IMO. I look forward to reading your take.

Excellent timing for this post relative to the common lectionary used by many Protestant denominations as well as RC.
lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Ad...

“If a tree falls in the forest…”
What % of the population even hears what Democrats actually say?