Moderate

Film Music of Sir Arnold Bax: Oliver Twist (complete score) / Malta G.C. (suite)
$18.98
At last, it is finally on CD, in gorgeous digital stereo, and beautifully performed--and complete. Perhaps even hypercomplete.

This is the first stereo recording of Sir Arnold Bax's score for the classic David Lean 1948 film version of Charles Dickens's immortal novel, "Oliver Twist". This recording includes not only the complete score, but some pieces that were wisely deleted before the film's release. Their deletion is no loss to the film; the inclusion of these pieces would have made otherwise powerful scenes seem excessively melodramatic. An example is the second cue on the CD--a piece meant to underscore the movie's opening scene, in which Oliver's pregnant mother struggles toward the workhouse amid labor pains and a violent thunderstorm. As now seen on film, the sequence plays with virtually no music, and no dialogue, just crashing thunder and lightning, and it is a testament to David Lean's intelligence as a director that he chose to leave it that way rather than musically underscore it.

For the rest, the music is beautifully and evocatively played, and conductor Rumon Gamba wisely does not alter any of it by changing its tempo, making the score sound excessively soupy, or diminishing the somber mood of any of it. There are several new digital recordings of old film scores around in which the music simply does not sound the way it does in the film, and I don't mean pure sound quality. Some conductors simply cannot resist imposing their own "interpretation" on the music, but Rumon Gamba is thankfully not one of them.

The "Oliver Twist" music plays for exactly an hour, counting all the formerly omitted pieces as well as the two versions of the final cue (the first is the cue as played in the film; the second is the cue as Bax originally composed it). The sound is breathtaking, and allows us to finally hear Bax's orchestrations in lush stereo detail.

The filler on the disc is from the music Bax composed for the short "Malta G.C.". It is pleasant, but not nearly as impressive as the "Oliver Twist" score.

Rush to get this one. Bax's "Oliver Twist" is one of the finest scores ever written for a film version of a novel.

Leading from the Center (EasyRead Comfort Edition): Why Moderates Make the Best Presidents
$34.99
Bravo Mr. Troy!

What a dynamic read, what a tour de force! Once again, Gil Troy brings his poetic talents to the realm of american political history, and gives us another masterpiece. Whether you agree with his positions or not, you cannot help but be enthralled by his style and respect his talent for debate.

Leading from the Center is a must-read for anyone with an interest in our country's great political traditions. Not only will you learn much about this timely topic, but you'll have fun doing it!

Poise Pads Moderate Absorbency, 72-Count Packages (Pack of 4)
$67.96
Can get a better price on Amazon even including postage than you can get at the stores. Recommend buying online.

Thorlo Unisex Moderate Cushion Walking Crew Sock, Black, Size 13
$14.99
For the second time I have ordered these socks from FootSmart. And for the second time Footsmart sent my socks the WRONG HOUSE. I will never order from them again. I will have to find another seller of these socks. I called Footsmart and they told me it was Amazons fault for sendthing them the wrong address. Then I call amazon who has the correct address.

Im so sick of this run around. I was to go on vacation and take the socks with me. Not now.