I used to play the cello. Well, perhaps “play” is too strong a word. I was chosen for the instrument (no, that’s not a typo; I was chosen for it, rather than the reverse) in fifth grade, at the public … Continue reading →
Last night I went to the movies to see “Dreamgirls.” I wanted some light entertainment, and I got it. I was in Brooklyn, and the audience at the large and crowded theater I happened to go to was approximately 99% … Continue reading →
I went to a Richard Thompson concert the other night. Who’s he? Just one of those old guys (in his fities!) still churning out the music and touring round the world. He’s never become a household word despite a career … Continue reading →
Thomas Sowell writes with clarity and succinctness on one unusual and especially troubling characteristic of the enemy we now face: its undeterrability (hat tip: Pajamas Media). Undeterrability makes this fight different from previous ones. It makes efforts at peaceful negotiation … Continue reading →
When I was about three years old I liked to listen to the music from “Guys and Dolls” on our scratchy old record player. For some reason–perhaps because I was fond of animals–I particularly loved the lyrics of “Fugue for … Continue reading →
I try to do about three miles of brisk walking every day for exercise. On rainy or snowy days, I’m off to the gym and its treadmill, which feels like–well, like being on a treadmill. But on beautiful days or … Continue reading →
In case you missed it, here’s John J. Miller’s list of the fifty greatest conservative rock songs (and here’s a NY Times article about the list). “Conservative rock songs”–sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? And I have to admit that … Continue reading →
Commenter “snowonpine” made an interesting observation in the American Idol thread, in response to my praise of the getting-on-in-years Dionne Warwick’s performance: Ms. Warwick seemed, to me, to exemplify the inability of a star–be it a TV star, prize fighter … Continue reading →
I haven’t kept up with American Idol much this season, which is just fine with me. But every now and then I do take a look. Last night was the final, as the populists among you no doubt are aware. … Continue reading →
In a public park in the small town of Meerut in northern India (named, ironically enough, after Gandhi, famous advocate of nonviolence) the police went on a rampage against–of all things–necking couples, for what in my youth used to call … Continue reading →
Roger Simon has a wish: I wish Tom Lehrer were around to write new lyrics to his amusing song about our most distinguished university [Harvard], whose Islamic Studies department is now the recipient of a multimillion dollar donation from Saudi … Continue reading →
A few years ago I saw the last few minutes of a TV documentary. Those moments made a deep impression on me, although I saw so little of it I didn’t really even know who or what it was about, … Continue reading →