People seem to think that new violins sound better: In tests at concert halls in Paris and New York, audiences were asked to listen to soloists performing on brand new violins, and three made by master fiddle maker Stradivari. The … Continue reading →
[Hat tip: commenter “Artfldgr”] I’m not a big opera fan, although there are a couple of operas I love and with which I’m very familiar. But I have the deepest admiration for the skill and artistry of opera singers, who … Continue reading →
I try to follow the general outlines of the current theories of theoretical physics, but it goes without saying that I don’t understand the math, and that I miss a lot of the details. So although I’d never even heard … Continue reading →
…is hard to do. As Britain is now learning. When a country voluntarily signs away some of its autonomy—in this case, to join the EU—it would seem at the outset that such a decision would be reversible if that country … Continue reading →
I found the following at Buzzfeed. Now, Buzzfeed isn’t a site I usually visit and certainly not a site I often (or ever?) quote. But this description of the current news coverage struck somewhat of a resonant chord in me … Continue reading →
It may be time to get to know the work of prodigy Alma Deutscher. She’s twelve in this video: I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly impressed. Here Alma plays excerpts from some of her own compositions: And here’s … Continue reading →
We call it “fashion.” But at this point it seems to have morphed into a competition to see who can come up with an outfit that is either strangest and most extreme, or most revealing. Preferably both at the same … Continue reading →
In my life, I’ve had some problems with February. Perhaps you have, too. It’s a short month, but it can be cold and gloomy. Its only holiday is Valentine’s Day, which can be a mixed bag. As a freshman in … Continue reading →
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers generated more human happiness than many do-gooders. In the comments to the YouTube videos of their dance routines, you can find many people (some of them, I assume, young people) lamenting the death of this … Continue reading →
Yesterday I happened across a photo from the late-nineteenth century Klondike Gold rush of the part of the Chilkoot Pass that was known as the Golden Staircase. You can see why the photo caught my attention: Here’s one that’s more … Continue reading →
The press/Trump sniping made me think of the “Pick-a-Little” song from “The Music Man,” and so I thought you would enjoy seeing it. Hey, I was raised on those musicals, so that’s the way my mind sometimes works. There’s a … Continue reading →
Now Jennifer Holliday pulls out of her inauguration gig, apologizing to the LGBT Community for her “lapse of judgment” in agreeing in the first place. This sort of thing is becoming more and more common. It’s “you’re either with us … Continue reading →