The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics started yesterday. In what was supposed to be Vladimir Putin's 'shining moment' of opportunity to showcase how far modern Russia has come under his leadership since the debacle of the fall of the Soviet Union, unfortunately for Mr Putin, has turned into more of a black eye and a public relations nightmare. From the repressive 'Gay propaganda' law, the all but state sanctioned violence, kidnapping, torture and murder of its LGBT citizens, the denial of the existence of Gay people in Sochi by the mayor to the horrendously shoddy construction of the Olympic facilities and prevention of activists' access to Olympic events, Putin's Russia has come off looking more Soviet than the Soviet Union. The Russians took an less than subtle dig at President Obama and the First Lady by having a racist, who has posted depictions of the First Couple as monkeys eating bananas, light the flame at the Opening Ceremonies.
Already more than 60 people have been arrested for pro Gay demonstrations from Moscow to St Petersburg to Sochi while an anti Gay demonstration in Sochi was given nary a glance from the authorities. While they can't seem to get the plumbing to work, the Russians have managed to produce an omnipresent security force that is almost more prevalent a sight than Olympic visitors. Add in the threat of terrorism from multiple whack jobs and political/religious extremists and you have a recipe for disaster of Olympic proportions. If what you see is what you get, then this is a 50 billion dollar Olympic Fail.
This week your Saturday at the Symphony features Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major is one of the composer's
most popular works. It was written in 1874 and revised several times
through 1888. It was dedicated to Prince Konstantin of
Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. It was premiered in 1881 by Hans Richter in
Vienna with great success. The symphony's nickname of Romantic was
used by the composer himself. It does not refer to the modern conception
of romantic love but rather the medieval romance as depicted in the
operas Lohengrin and Siegfried of Richard Wagner. Today's performance is by the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin conducted by Heinz Rogner. The photo in the video is of the Hohenzollern Castle in Germany. You may also want to listen to Symphony Number 90 in C Major by Franz Joseph Haydn over on my tumblr.
On display below the video is this week's collection of sizzling studs who are Naked or Nearly So. Be sure to check out the Hottie of the Day! also on my tumblr. Thanks for sharing part of your weekend with me, see you again on Monday for another week of Music, Men and More! Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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