It is the most solemn holiday for Jews. For the observant and particularly for the Orthodox, it involves fasting and atonement and is usually spent entirely in a synagogue. This is a Leonard Cohen song that’s based on one of … Continue reading →
I’ve already said a few things earlier today. But I’ll reiterate that this COVID mandate business is being done in order to change the subject from the horror show in Afghanistan to a topic that Biden and his aides think … Continue reading →
I’ve discussed the Bee Gees’ 1978 song “Too Much Heaven” before. Released at the height of their disco era, it’s not disco but rather an R&B ballad with all three brothers singing in falsetto. Barry is the featured soloist and … Continue reading →
Today is the 75th birthday of Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of the Bee Gees. It’s an achievement to be alive, given what he’s been through. And it’s also his anniversary; he and his wife celebrate 51 years of … Continue reading →
I find this wondrous: Reconstructions of the original grease lamps produce a circle of light about 10 feet in diameter, which is not much larger than many images in the cave. Geneste believes that early artists used this small area … Continue reading →
Don Everly of the Everly Brothers died last Saturday at the age of 84. I was going to start this post with the sentence: “I loved the Everly Brothers.” But then I checked the post I published on the death … Continue reading →
Let’s have a happier discussion. In this thread, I was asked to give my opinion on Fred Astaire versus Gene Kelly. So here it is. Kelly was excellent. Astaire was transcendent. Kelly was a strong and very good dancer. Astaire … Continue reading →
Regular readers here know about my recent rediscovery of the Bee Gees, and my new fascination with them. Many of you find this quite boring; others are interested. I am so surprised myself by the experience that I keep trying … Continue reading →
Sometimes the great and the famous are arrogant, or they become arrogant. But not Fred Astaire: His perfectionism was legendary, but his relentless insistence on rehearsals and retakes was a burden to some. When time approached for the shooting of … Continue reading →
Among my drafts I have an enormous number of fragmented ones about the connection between music and emotion. It’s not something I really understand, but I keep trying to write about it nonetheless. I think some people are immune to … Continue reading →
Commenter “J.J.” writes: When the incursion into the Capitol occurred, it just didn’t make sense to me. The Trump rally was going to be yuuge. The security should have been massive. The National Guard was offered and refused. The security … Continue reading →
Do photographs tell the truth? Not really, and even old photographs were often touched up. Here’s a description, with illustrations. I have cued it up to show what I consider the most interesting part: Speaking of which, I have a … Continue reading →