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.
Reposted by Elaine Calder
Media may not have noticed that Trump’s Board of Peace Charter was drafted so that the US need NOT ratify and become a party.Trump’s current status as US President is a necesary stepping stone but his unitary rule in the new international organisation would be personal, permanent and even hereditary
January 21, 2026 at 6:31 AM
Media may not have noticed that Trump’s Board of Peace Charter was drafted so that the US need NOT ratify and become a party.Trump’s current status as US President is a necesary stepping stone but his unitary rule in the new international organisation would be personal, permanent and even hereditary
And of course, Carney reminds me of Mario Draghi, and his report on the need for EU countries to work together to boost competitiveness. This was released on September 9, 2024 before the US gave DJT his second term as president and the sh*t show began in earnest.
commission.europa.eu/topics/compe...
commission.europa.eu/topics/compe...
January 20, 2026 at 10:58 PM
And of course, Carney reminds me of Mario Draghi, and his report on the need for EU countries to work together to boost competitiveness. This was released on September 9, 2024 before the US gave DJT his second term as president and the sh*t show began in earnest.
commission.europa.eu/topics/compe...
commission.europa.eu/topics/compe...
I can't remember ever being prouder to be a Canadian.
Mark Carney earned a rare standing ovation in Davos. Read the full text of his speech here
Mark Carney earned a rare standing ovation in Davos. Read the full text of his speech here
Carney addressed World Economic Forum Tuesday, expressing his vision for middle powers
www.thestar.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:23 PM
I can't remember ever being prouder to be a Canadian.
The West Wing Season 5 Episode 5 aired Oct 29, 2003. Toby and Will are arguing about upcoming Presidential speeches. The economy is good.
Toby's prediction: "Many thanks for the 9 million new jobs. I've got three of them and I can't make my house payments."
They saw it coming? Over and over again?
Toby's prediction: "Many thanks for the 9 million new jobs. I've got three of them and I can't make my house payments."
They saw it coming? Over and over again?
January 20, 2026 at 4:26 AM
The West Wing Season 5 Episode 5 aired Oct 29, 2003. Toby and Will are arguing about upcoming Presidential speeches. The economy is good.
Toby's prediction: "Many thanks for the 9 million new jobs. I've got three of them and I can't make my house payments."
They saw it coming? Over and over again?
Toby's prediction: "Many thanks for the 9 million new jobs. I've got three of them and I can't make my house payments."
They saw it coming? Over and over again?
Perfect.
January 19, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Perfect.
Paolo Sorrentino's La Grazia is playing this weekend at the Giorgione Cinema in Cannaregio. @gregorydowling.bsky.social, @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social, @caroline-venezia.bsky.social and @robinsaikia.bsky.social: have you seen it? Are you going? I wish I could.
January 17, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Paolo Sorrentino's La Grazia is playing this weekend at the Giorgione Cinema in Cannaregio. @gregorydowling.bsky.social, @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social, @caroline-venezia.bsky.social and @robinsaikia.bsky.social: have you seen it? Are you going? I wish I could.
Reposted by Elaine Calder
ICE kidnapped 4 members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, released one, and now "can’t locate" the other three.
America is at a legally impossible state where Native Americans aren't even considered Americans by ICE anymore.
America is at a legally impossible state where Native Americans aren't even considered Americans by ICE anymore.
January 16, 2026 at 4:39 PM
ICE kidnapped 4 members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, released one, and now "can’t locate" the other three.
America is at a legally impossible state where Native Americans aren't even considered Americans by ICE anymore.
America is at a legally impossible state where Native Americans aren't even considered Americans by ICE anymore.
@marriott-bonvoy.bsky.social I do not understand why I am receiving texts and emails about an upcoming stay at The Dorian in Calgary, when I am booked at the Courtyard. Your sales associate at the Dorian couldn't explain it, and assured me I'm staying at the Courtyard. What is going wrong with you?
January 12, 2026 at 9:30 PM
@marriott-bonvoy.bsky.social I do not understand why I am receiving texts and emails about an upcoming stay at The Dorian in Calgary, when I am booked at the Courtyard. Your sales associate at the Dorian couldn't explain it, and assured me I'm staying at the Courtyard. What is going wrong with you?
Planning a trip to Italy in November is hard because the major opera companies don't announce their seasons until mid/late summer. If you want to include opera performances, it's really hard to book ahead. Italian cities may want cultural tourists and not day trippers, but they don't make it easy.
January 12, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Planning a trip to Italy in November is hard because the major opera companies don't announce their seasons until mid/late summer. If you want to include opera performances, it's really hard to book ahead. Italian cities may want cultural tourists and not day trippers, but they don't make it easy.
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.