THE TAOS TATLER.

Sir Ian McKellen to host Shakespeare play with all trans and nonbinary cast

“Twelfth Night is perhaps the funniest and most moving of Shakespeare’s plays,” McKellen said in a social media post for Trans What You Will. “This is achieved through the complexity of gender and sexuality from first to last. I’m really looking forward to the impact of this latest version of the play at The Space. I hope to see you there!”

Sponsors of athletic events for amateurs are finally coming to their senses regarding men pretending to be women and depriving real women of the prizes they should have won.

But please, leave Shakespeare alone. Sadly, however, an actor whom your Tatler has long respected (regardless certain peculiarities) is doing just the opposite, besmirching the master’s Twelfth Night. Taking place in London on 25 July, the clown show will mercifully run for but one performance. The worry is, that when the critics assuredly fall over themselves with praise, it could mark the beginning of a new fad in the arts: trans/non-binary* performances of the classics. Picture, if you will, a trans/non-binary casting of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

Happily, casting of that sort should be a a short-lived phenomenon. Fads, by their nature, don’t last long and the limited public for such entertainment will soon tire of it and move on to some other weird form of amusement.

What’s next? Trans/non-binary ice hockey? Or trans/non-binary boxing?  Trans/non-binary yacht racing or Trans/non-binary Formula 1 auto racing? The possibilities are endless.

*Keeping up with contemporary nomenclatures can be a real challenge. Does “non-binary” mean “not two,” hence, “tri-sexual?”

Your Tatler has concluded it was merely a matter of time before a radical like Zohran Mamdani gained prominence in New York. Only a catalyst was needed causing dissatisfied elites to remove the veil from their true feelings how the City was run.

That catalyst was Donald Trump, their antichrist, causing, at last, the revelation of their genuine socialist yearnings.

The next few years should provide a real education for these people if they wish to learn from it. They won’t, of course.

The new Archbishop of Detroit, Edward Weisenburger, playing copycat with Bishop Michael Martin of North Carolina, announced in April that he would be making changes in his diocese regarding the celebration of Usus Antiquior, the Latin Mass, which, in his predecessor’s day, was the most liberal in the country in permitting its celebration. The Archbishop was not kidding about his changes. On 13 June His Grace announced that as of 1 July, most Latin Masses in his diocese would be banned.

The Detroit Free Press‘s columnist, Niraj Warikoo, does a decent job of reporting the story, showing surprising sympathy for those who prefer the Latin Mass, unlike most traditional media in the country

For some Catholics, the traditional Latin Mass is a vital part of their religious life, a ceremony that connects them with their faith and history. In the Archdiocese of Detroit, there are currently 17 sites, most of them churches, where the traditional Mass is held.

But starting Tuesday, July 1, those 17 sites will be whittled down to only four churches as the Detroit archdiocese cracks down on the controversial Mass in accordance with restrictions handed down by Pope Francis. 

In his brief announcement, Archbishop Weisenburger, in textbook double-speak, claims, “These norms are in alignment with the Holy See’s directives (would that be Francis’s or Leo’s?)  while also ensuring continued pastoral care for our brothers and sisters who have found spiritual richness in this form of the liturgy.” In other words, the Archbishop is claiming that by making it nearly impossible to celebrate or attend a Latin Mass, he is somehow “ensuring” its continuation, perhaps by preventing overuse? It brings to mind the well-known quote of the Army officer, who during the Vietnam War, said famously of the Battle of Bến Tre: “In order to save the village it was necessary to destroy it.” The Free Press also quotes Archbishop Weisenburger as saying: “… Fidelity to Christ is only possible if we remain faithful to the Church, under the leadership of our Pope and the local bishop.” Odd, that statement, as his predecessor seemed to have no trouble maintaining the loyalty of his charges, while at the same time having more Latin Mass parishes than any other diocese.

It seems to this blogger Archbishop Weisenburger, along with his counterpart in North Carolina, Bishop Martin, simply doesn’t like the Latin Mass, nor those priests who celebrate it, nor those who attend it. A possible explanation can be found in the closing paragraph of the Free Press’s article.

“It’s very, very regrettable,” Janet Smith, a retired professor of moral theology formerly at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, said of the new restrictions in the Detroit archdiocese. “There’s just no reason that Catholics should not have access to the Mass that was used for 1,500 years in the church. And it’s a growing group, it’s a very young group, it’s a very faithful group.”

Does Archbishop Weisenburger have something against young parishioners of great faith? Does he feel uncomfortable in their company?

Forward thinking reactionaries?

As reported by ZeroHedge’s Tyler Durden:

Pertainent point to be considered:

There are violence-prone settlers in the West Bank, both Jews and Palestinians. Are the Christian inhabitants of Taybeh, Ramahla (they are a large minority among the muslim population of Ramalah) assisting in any way violent Palestinians? If so, they have only themselves to blame for their predicament, and it is doubtful the government of Israel will come to their rescue, seeing them rightfully, Christian or not, as the enemy.

If, however, the Christians of Taybeh were living peacefully before the radical Jewish gangs began harassing them and encroaching on their turf, the Israeli government must take action. Israel has countless Christian supporters (unlike the Palestinians, especially violent ones, save for a few dying mainstream protestant sects.

Aside from the common decency of helping the Christians of Ramahla, who, while not Jewish, are Judeo/Christian, with a shared heritage, it would be a prominent blot on Isreal’s image if it were to allow the radical Jewish settlers to forcibly annex the Christian portions of Ramahla; an annexation that would be much noticed in the West. It is not unimaginable that President Trump, were he to become aware of the plight of the Ramahla Christians, not being pleased at all by it, when considering our tight relationship with Israel, as well as the substantial aid we provide that nation.

h/t MCM

One of the greatest musical ensembles ever was the Budapest String Quartet, extant for 50 years, from 1917 to 1967. I was a tad too young to have heard them perform in person, but their many recordings give one an idea of their superlative playing.

A wonderful quality of the Budapest was their astonishing ability to sound as one so that the listener hears them not as four musicians playing, but as one alone. Though some ensembles come close, I have yet to hear any other quartet, in person or on recordings, with that almost magical cohesiveness.

Recently, I came across the rules the founding members of the quartet adopted, and which were adhered to, with only one minor change, for the life of the group. Is it possible that the rules, posted below, might have had something to do with the excellence of the quartet? Who’s to say, but that consistent excellence for half a century makes a plausible case that the strictly adhered to rules had something to do with it.

1. All disputes, musical or business, were to be resolved by a vote. In case of a tie, no change.
2. Players were not allowed to take engagements outside the quartet.
3. Players were paid equally, with nothing extra for the leader (first violin).
4. No wives or girlfriends were permitted at rehearsals or discussions

From Newsweek‘s James Bickerton

New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has said he wants to “shift the tax burden” to “richer and whiter neighborhoods” if he secures election in November.

A housing policy document on Mamdani’s official website includes a pledge to “shift the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighborhoods.”

Mamdani deserves some credit here. Every left-wing politician in America has been itching to promote and engage “reverse racism” for decades, but has had to couch that desire in euphemism upon euphemism, hoping with their creative wording they can slip their laws  by the the courts.

Generally, in the states, the Left has mostly failed in their attempts, and in those few cases where they have succeeded, Federal courts have overthrown the legislation.

This blogger’s guess is that with the City and State of New York being two peas in a pod politically, and with Mamdani’s enthusiasm for punishing the middle class, he will push his legislation through with ease and then dare the higher courts to do something about it. He will be sure to taunt President Trump about it as well. It won’t stop his racist tax rates from being overturned, but it will make him a hero among, ironically, rich, white elites–and other elites, to be sure. Thus, when Mamdani choses to run for higher office–count on it–he will be held by those elites in even greater esteem than they hold him now and, Mamdani surely hopes, will be freer than ever with their checkbooks.

Another tax target we may be assured of is churches. This blogger remembers decades ago radicals wearing badges reading “TAX CHURCHES.” It was not wild surmise that the churches the radical left had in mind were not Seventh-Day Adventists or Christian Scientists. The Holy Catholic Church, on the other hand, then and now, with its highly visible real estate holdings complemented by her moral teachings they despise, may also become the object of Mamdani’s taxing mania. To no avail, of course, but again, it should garner hugs and kisses from the monied elite.

Zohram Mamdani will never know poverty, despite never having had a real job.

To the surprise of many, an upset took place in the recent New York mayoral primary, with the underdog Zohran Mamdani coming from behind and defeating the party favorite, Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo wasn’t much of a candidate, a tired, uninspired hack who rode on the coat tails of his well-known father. His record wasn’t at all distinguished, and he had other problems, especially his inability to keep his hands to himself, but with with women only, making him even more passé to the elite–so out of touch (if you’ll pardon the pun).

Then along came Zohran Mamdani, young, attractive, charming, and most important, a whacko, left-wing socialist. An added bonus is, he is a Muslim, so contemporary and chic. Cuomo didn’t stand a chance against him.

So now, New York has a good chance of electing its most radical mayor in history, should Mamdani defeat the imcumbant, Mayor Adams. This bodes disaster for the city, especially the poor and middle class. Mamdani has already proposed crushingly expensive initiatives like city-run, i.e., money losing, supermarkets in poor neighborhoods, which will push out the real markets. Another proposal is free fares on the trains and busses, creating another huge burdon on taxpayers, as well as making mass transit even more crime-ridden than it is already.

Naturally, Mandami plans sharply higher business taxes, which will drive many of them, along with their jobs, out of the city. Like all good socialists he will freeze rents, which will cause landlords to neglect their buildings or abandon them.

Mandami has lots more plans that will be to the delight of the city’s millionaire and billionaire elite while ruining the quality of life for the middle class. This is not sheer speculation; other cities in the US, Chicago and Los Angeles, particularly, have adopted similar plans while ignoring the same warnings from critics. The critics have always proved  to be right. Those two cities and many others are becoming populated by two classes only, the rich and poor. Look for the same in New York; the cost of living will skyrocket, as will crime, and the quality of life will decrease proportionately for the middle class, who will flee when they have had enough.

Poor New York. It’s come a long way down from the days of Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg, and it doesn’t appear it will be getting better anytime soon.

Pista ni San Juan, Basaan or Wattah Wattah Festival

Your correspondent wrote in an earlier post that he had come to the conclusion he would never know all there is to know about the Holy Catholic Church, as he did not have enough time remaining. That said, though, he’s just learned of a lovely, if odd custom in the very Catholic Philippines, observed on the Feast of St John the Baptist: the throwing of water at one another: the Basaan festival, or the delightfully named Wattah Wattah festival. It shouldn’t be difficult to surmise where the latter got its name, and it is also easy to reckon how this custom came about; the remembrance of their baptisms, as well as that saint who baptised our Lord. The question is, though, does this particular way of celebrating a saint’s day have the concurrence of Holy Church?

The answer is yes and no. The Church never disapproves of her flock enjoying itself on feast days, so long as the partiers remember what they are celebrating, and use the occasion to deepen their faith. Should the water throwers prove to be a nuisance or annoyance, however, then of course the Church frowns upon it. Dignity should always be the byword; in other words, by all means enjoy yourselves, but keep in mind the occasion. Attending Mass that day, of course, is never discouraged.

“The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

“damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;

“all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; there must be serious prospects of success;

“the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

“These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the “just war” doctrine.

“The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.”

***

Though there are certain to be those who disagree, to this blogger, the conditions in the Catechism for making war appear to have been met concerning the bombings of Iran.

According to Don Surber, Democrats on Capitol Hill have a nickname for Donald Trump: TACO, Trump Always Chickens Out. The silly nickname came about because the president seemingly makes statements saying he will do this or that and then backs off. They don’t seem to understand that Trump is a deal maker, probably because they have mostly gotten everything they wanted from time immemorial.

Trump got rich in the private sector, unlike most Dems, who get rich while in public office. Furthermore, Trump made his money in New York City real estate, a nastier business you’ll have difficulty finding. Trump’s modus operandi from the beginning has been confounding his opponents; to make them believe he will do one thing while conspiring (there is no other word for it) to do the opposite. He also learns from his mistakes. His first term, while successful, was not the roaring success he his enjoying in his second term.

David M. Friedman, US  Ambassador to Israel in Trump’s first term, describes his former boss’s successes with elegant simplicity (Don Surber has re-arranged Friedman’s words for greater impact).

Clinton: The US Embassy will move to Jerusalem

Bush: The US Embassy will move to Jerusalem

Obama: The US Embassy will move to Jerusalem

Trump: I have moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem

Bush: Israel cannot make peace with any more Arab nations without a Palestinian state

Obama: Israel cannot make peace with any more Arab nations without a Palestinian state

Trump: I have brokered peace deals between Israel and four Arab nations without a Palestinian state

Clinton: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons

Bush: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons

Obama: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons

Biden: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons

Trump: I have destroyed Iran’s nuclear weapons

Seeing a pattern here?

Donald Trump knows exactly what he is doing, which includes making his Democratic opponents look like the whimpering idiots they are.

h/t Don Surber