Les Patineurs (“The Ice Skaters”, in German “Der Schlittschuhläufer-Walzer”), Op. 183, is a waltz by Émile Waldteufel.
It was composed in 1882, inspired by the cercle des patineurs (rink of skaters) at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. The introduction to the waltz can be likened to the poise of a skater, and the rapid runs invoke scenes of a wintry atmosphere. Bells were added for good measure to complete the winter scenery.
Enjoy, Jack
thanks, Jack, delightful. here’s an encore with actual Eisläufer Schlittschuhlaufen starting at 3:00 minutes in on this version performed by a very cheerful orchestra playfully passing around the schnapps for inspiration:
schlittschuhläufer pair 2025
jamie, thanks for reminding us about DOTUS-elect and hb-1 visa history. here’s how it pertained to melania:
a newsweek 2018 story
How Did Melania Trump Secure ‘Genius Visa’ For ‘Extraordinary Ability’ While Dating the Future President? – Newsweek
and an atlantic one from 2016
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/08/melania-donald-trump-immigration/494468/
How Did Melania Trump Secure an American Visa?
Media reports have cast doubt about her early years in the United States.
Patd, cheekbones and tits. (And the mother’s milk of politics).
sorry if those links about melania didn’t work. here’s the basic one from 2016 and excerpts of interest therein. the entire article is worthy of reading as it chronicles more inconsistencies (aka lies) than the ones noted here: Gaps in Melania Trump’s immigration story raise questions – POLITICO […] The racy photos of the would-be first lady, published in the New York Post on Sunday and Monday, inadvertently highlight inconsistencies in the various accounts she has provided over the years. And, immigration experts say, there’s even a slim chance that any years-old misrepresentations to immigration authorities could pose legal problems for her today. While Trump and her husband, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, have said she came to the United States legally, her own statements suggest she first came to the country on a short-term visa that would not have authorized her to work as a model. Trump has also said she came to New York in 1996, but the nude photo shoot places her in the United States in 1995, as does a biography published in February by Slovenian journalists. The inconsistencies come on top of reports by CBS News and GQ Magazine that Trump falsely claimed to have obtained a college degree in Slovenia but could be more politically damaging because her husband has made opposition to illegal immigration the foundation of his presidential run. […] In a statement issued hours after POLITICO published this report, Trump reiterated on Thursday that she had been “at all times in compliance with… Read more »
pat, those links worked for me. interesting stuff too
if that article’s right about
Visa fraud would call into question a green card application and subsequent citizenship application, said immigration lawyers — thus raising questions about Melania Trump’s legal status, even today, despite her marriage to a U.S. citizen.
then another name needs to be added to DOTUS’ pardons list…. unless it might come in handy in the inevitable property settlement arguments.
Lenny knew… And I stand on my answer.
From The Hill:
IOW he lied and the voters bought his bullshit. Who could have predicted that? Oh wait, we did.
A wild guess is that with marriage done with, notice sent using an old x-mas card instead of a new picture, sfb might not add her to the pardon list. He is crass enough to send her back to the mother land.
Looks like russkies have two ships making bad off Finland, Line and Life. One Finn cutter is watching them. The seem to be trying to locate a power or data line between Finland and Estonia. Hope the Finn oil fleet grows by two today.
Melania is an example of the old riddle:
Q: How to women get minks?
A: The same way minks get minks
Great selection Jack. Thank you.
Waltzing around the house …
MSNBC is airing a Fareed Zakaria program on America First. Lots of history that needs to be remembered.
Jamie, i saw a bit of that, the part about Pat Buchanan popularizing “America First” as a slogan. Of course it goes even further back to the American Nazi Party before WWII, and then Reagan too, but maybe Fareed touched on that.
Enough with the doomsday whining. It was close, folks. Really close.
If 3,656 people in Iowa, Colorado and Pennsylvania had switched their vote from R to D, Dems would control the House today.. NYT free link
I’d rather not have this argument, but figured it was coming…
Biden Regrets Stepping Aside for Kamala Harris Because He ‘Could Have Defeated Trump’, Allies Say..
Jack… great selection… thanks!
Dex… I started using jardiance 3 yrs ago… it has helped me tremendously. And I’ve lost 50 lbs and have managed to keep it off so far. Good job on you and Jamie!
Craig – I have no issue with a lot of second guessing, smack talk and lots of books right now. Get it out and get over it. 2026 is around the corner and it is time to get candidates running. We would be having a different talk today if President Biden had not drifted away during that “debate”. It happened and it is done with. He and his administration did great things, most won’t be celebrated for decades, but he will be judged well in the future.
Giving this one a read on my e-book-thingy.
Jack,……bullseye with your one of my favorite tunes ever…..,as a yoot one of the first tunes I ever heard where I realized that I could “hear” the music. That I could go to the pianos and pick it out. My mother played all that classical records all the time between soap operas there would be real opera interspersed but this being one she played a lot. Fun fact, early fifties we had a record player in a box my dad made out of plywood and you could place the albums on the spindle and before the record dropped, a double wheel would swing in under the record and spin it. The needle arm, with needles on top and bottom, would then rise and play the underside of the album. At the end, the arms would swing out, the record would drop and the tone arm would swing in and play the top side. Don’t know what happened to it but I’ve never seen another like it. I’m sure they’re out there but I’ve not seen one.
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-donald-j-trump-position-visas
“Megyn Kelly asked about highly-skilled immigration. The H-1B program is neither high-skilled nor immigration: these are temporary foreign workers, imported from abroad, for the explicit purpose of substituting for American workers at lower pay. I remain totally committed to eliminating rampant, widespread H-1B abuse and ending outrageous practices such as those that occurred at Disney in Florida when Americans were forced to train their foreign replacements. I will end forever the use of the H-1B as a cheap labor program, and institute an absolute requirement to hire American workers first for every visa and immigration program. No exceptions.”
-Orange Adolf, 2016
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/politics/trump-musk-foreign-worker-visas-backlash/index.html
“In his first term, Trump restricted access to foreign worker visas, and he has previously criticized the program. But during the 2024 campaign, Trump signaled openness to giving some foreign-born workers legal status if they graduated from a US university.”
“I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump told The New York Post on Saturday.
-Orange Adolf, 2024
“I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” he added.
-Wrong, again, Adolf.
“Many of the workers at Trump properties, however, are granted visas through the separate H-2B program, which allows employers to bring foreign workers to the United States for temporary non-agricultural jobs such as landscaping and hospitality.”
How is it that the maga-faithful did not realize Elon was a foreigner before they voted for him?
I really think Dems should bring back the Midterm Convention — Summer of 2026 to rev up the troops and boost candidates for the coming midterms, and showcase 2028 presidential hopefuls (maybe even a straw poll to hook in the media).
Good suggestion, Craig, Dems need to shake, rattle, and roll – starting now.
They do know. We ain’t.
The only thing I heard about the whole season was prices, prices, prices. I’m still hearing it. There’s no working class, only poor workers.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/12/26/bidenomics-ira-populism-fail-election/
Craig – But let folks from David Hogg’s generation run that convention.
Canada/Greenland/gas/oil/Russia/tRUMPsky
Panama Canal/Russia/tRUMPsky
Felon/Elon/Putin
Just saw that Jimmy Carter died. Sorry to hear that. He got a bad rap for his presidency. A victim of insanity in Iran. Good travels, President Carter. You will be missed.
Jimmy Carter was the last of the generation. He was a honest and wonderful man. My tears are for seeing the end of someone who made a difference at the family level. The Cheney’s and Regan’s are responsible for destroying a president, they will never have the love a country has for Jimmy.
RIP President Carter.
(Dreading tRUMPsky showing up at the funeral.)
Rick and I have been supporting the Carter Center for years.
RIP Jimmy…. you will be missed.
Jimmy gone. Sad news to close the year.
Presidents design their own funerals. I am really curious to see what Jimmy came up with, I’m betting something a bit different
I saw a comment that flags will now be at half-staff on Inauguration Day. I hope that’s the case.
SFB can’t do anything about flags until after noon.
The country rejected this great President for a hateful B movie actor who immediately tore off the solar panels at 1600. Anyway, President Jimmy Carter was a great leader in a difficult time.
Carter did something that saved the country from rampant inflation, he put people in charge to stop it. This was back when a fifteen to twenty percent mortgage was happening. Some of his unpopulatity is from how hard inflation was and how hard the controls were. He did many things that seemed “corny” or small, but were important. Lower the thermostat and wear a sweater.
Sigh. From this time distance it seems he was out of office many years when my life with the federal government began. It was not a long time, only a couple of years. I have memories of visiting buildings and seeing some of the Carter stickers still on the walls. Some I think were left as a protest of the Regan administration “the government is the problem”.
Sad note at the close of December. I wonder if pumpkin face will attend the funeral.
Carter State funeral info expected to be released here: https://www.jimmycartertribute.org/
FF’s statement borders on gracious but still manages to put himself at the center.
Jamie – it is sad to say goodbye to a wonderful person. But, he made it to this day, not at Thanksgiving but after Christmas. I know it had more meaning to him than me. He made it to one hundred, and I am sure he was feeling it was time to sleep. Yup, Jimmy made it this far. It is like he was not wanting to bother with New Year’s celebrations.
I hope the Carter family offers to let sfb watch the ceremonies via remote television circuit.
I daresay FF will be invited and be given every opportunity to make an ass out of himself.
Only he can understand…
Donald J. Trump
I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.
The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.
Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.
Dec 29, 2024, 5:02 PM
I am struggling to celebrate Jimmy Carter’s decency, compassion and dedication to public service at a time when most voters elected someone with none of those attributes.
Craig – have to wonder who wrote that for stupid. Few of his cult are around who can write English, correctly.
Joe’s Statement
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/29/statement-by-president-joe-biden-and-first-lady-jill-biden-on-the-passing-of-former-president-jimmy-carter/
BB – Maybe ChatSFB wrote it.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/27/business/costco-dei/index.html “Costco is battling an anti-DEI wave with a stern rebuke to activist shareholders looking to end the warehouse retailer’s diversity ambitions.” “Walmart, John Deere, Tractor Supply and other companies are changing or walking away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. But Costco believes DEI helps its “treasure hunt” shopping atmosphere, and it is standing behind its efforts.” “Costco’s board of directors unanimously recommended that its shareholders vote against a proposal brought by a conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research, that would require Costco to evaluate and issue a report on the financial risks of maintaining its diversity and inclusion goals. The group criticized Costco for possible “illegal discrimination” against employees who are “white, Asian, male or straight.” “Among other things, a diverse group of employees helps bring originality and creativity to our merchandise offerings, promoting the ‘treasure hunt’ that our customers value,” Costco said in its proxy statement to investors. “We believe (and member feedback shows) that many of our members like to see themselves reflected in the people in our warehouses with whom they interact.” “The board went further in its recommendation to vote against the proposal, saying the think tank is masking its true anti-diversity agenda under the guise of reducing risk. Costco said the NCPPR is inflicting burdens on companies with challenges to DEI and the organization’s broader agenda is to abolish diversity initiatives.” “The proponent professes concern about legal and financial risks to the company and its shareholders associated with the diversity initiatives,” the… Read more »
Nicholas Kristof…
“Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, probably improved the lives of more people over a longer period than any recent president. He was a far better president than is generally acknowledged — and is the only one in modern times who didn’t lose a single soldier to combat (although he did lose eight service members to an air collision during the failed hostage rescue mission in Iran). Carter was also the best-ever ex-president: Hundreds of millions of people around the globe are living better lives because of his relentless efforts to overcome violence and disease.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/opinion/jimmy-carter-death-respect.html?
Anti DEI forces. What FatSFB has made acceptable.
ChatSFB sounds right. FatSFB certainly didn’t write it.
“Memorial services for former President Jimmy Carter will play out over the next eight days, including a state funeral in Washington, D.C., and ceremonies in Georgia before he is buried in Plains, Ga., according to plans that have been in the works for years.”
Fact being, he doesn’t give a shit except for the off-chance he can claim some credit.
Keep up the fight, Renee.
The voting age was 21 in 1972; I was finally able to vote for a President. George McGovern was a great man. He called Nixon a liar and the nation turned on him hard. So when 1976 rolled around, I was rairin’ to go vote for Jimmy Carter, after I made the front page of the New York Times by screaming at Agnew about the Viet Nam bombings, at a Fort Wayne rally. I never knew about the Times story until a year ago when I found it in archives.
I did get mad when I needed my first credit card in 1977 and Jimmy Carter suspended credit. No financial institutions were allowed to issue credit cards for a long time. I also was upset when Carter ruined the hopes of American athletes at the Moscow Olympiad in 1980. He pulled the USA out, totally.
Still, a great President under horribly stressful times. I salute President Jimmy Carter.
President Elmo Mollusk will never get a salute from me.
Elmo Mollusk. Love it.
It is a good one.
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