Lots 'o Links

The libraries may still be closed, but there's lots of good reading to be had thanks to Maggie's Farm, Liz Sheld's Morning Greatness, Larwyn's Linx, and Stephen Kruiser's Morning Briefing.

See some of the reasons that Democrats are happy, at American Thinker.

And check out the new look of Daniel Greenfield's Sultan Knish blog.

Suite Music

I always seem to like the same kind of music. When I heard this lovely piece on the radio today, I thought it was Delius or Ralph Vaughan Williams. Instead, it's the Irish Suite for Strings by Arthur Duff.

Fantastic Flyover!

To honor the healthcare heroes of New York, the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds paid quite a tribute today!

And to see more great photographs and videos of this very special event, visit the U.K. Daily Mail.

Peaceful Music to End The Week

This is the lovely third movement of John Ireland's A Downland Suite, which I heard at work today.  Not only is the music nice, but the beautiful images in the video are perfect for it and are peaceful and soothing.

Going Meshuga!

Harold Ticktin has certainly chosen an appropriate word for his April 17 Yiddish Vinkl column!  Sometimes a Yiddish word can be much better than an English word, as in the word mishegas, meaning craziness. Here's one of his examples: "You should have seen the mishigas. The whole family was there, all the cousins were running around, babies crying, etc.”, from Urban Dictionary.

I learned something from the explanation given at Yiddish Slang Dictionary: "This can be spelled 'meshugas' as well and comes directly from the Hebrew word 'meshuga', which also means crazy."

Lots 'o Links

While you're obeying your stay-at-home orders, it's a good time to check out all the good links online, including those at Liz Sheld's Morning Greatness; Larwyn's Linx; Stephen Kruiser's Morning Briefing; and of course, Maggie's Farm.

Also see the latest Argus Hamilton column, which includes such topical quips as this one: "Bill and Hillary Clinton had four hundred pizzas delivered to New York first responders. It's the kind of generosity that often rebounds right back to you. In North Korea, Kim Jung Un issued a deathbed statement stating that if he dies, he wants Hillary to have all his pantsuits."

A Virtually Sadder Holocast Remembrance Day

It's doubly bitter this year: Coronavirus Offers Glimpse Into Future of Holocaust Remembrance

"Holocaust survivors are passing away daily and the coming years are the last chance to hear directly from those who were in there. The coronavirus pandemic radically changed their plans for Remembrance Day

The lack of in-person testimony by survivors at Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations this year is particularly tragic at a time when they are becoming more rare and precious than ever before."

And in typical fashion, the Jew-haters were out in force. "Anti-Israel activists disrupted an online Holocaust Remembrance Day event on Monday, the Jewish state’s envoy in Berlin said. According to Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff, a Zoom talk by Holocaust survivor Zvi Herschel was briefly interrupted when several participants began 'posting pictures of Hitler and shouting anti-Semitic slogans.'"

Even with COVID-19 raging, even on an anniversary like this, these despicable degenerates just can't help themselves!

A Beautiful Recital

Metamorphosis II by Philip Glass.
"Anne Akiko Meyers was invited by legendary composer, Arvo Pärt to perform the opening recital at the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa, Estonia. She performs Philip Glass's 'Metamorphosis II' (arr. Michael Riesman) with Akira Eguchi, piano."

This piece captured my attention very deeply at work, especially from the 5 minute mark on,  and I immediately looked it up so I could play it again.  A YouTube commenter used the right word to describe the music: pathos.

Georgia Out of Their Mind

I think Vanity Fair has the best description of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp: "Front-Runner for Country’s Dumbest Governor to Reopen Essential Bowling Alleys, Nail Salons Friday."
 
And don't forget about the gyms, massage parlors, and "body art" shops! I hope the governor is the first on the treadmill on Friday - after signing a waiver.
  
Between this idiot  and those protestors, it's as if they are having a contest to see who can show the most deliberately reckless behavior. I smell a reality show in their future -- or a hospitalization.

Terrorism in the Time of Coronavirus

Pure evil: "Hamas Threatens Violence if Israel Doesn’t Meet Demands for Advanced Coronavirus Equipment."

Keep threatening all you want. I guess they never heard the expression,"you can get more with honey than you do with vinegar."

They hate Jews and want to wipe Israel off the map -- except when Israel helps to save their hateful, murderous, miserable lives.

Thanks From New York

Here's a wonderful story from the PBS News Hour:

"Twenty artists worked with three organizations — Times Square Arts, the Poster House museum and Print Magazine — to create an array of public service announcements that communicate the same directives that scientists and elected officials have heralded as pandemic protection measures: Stay home, stay safe and keep 6 feet apart. The hope is that, in artists’ hands, these messages won’t lose their impact as weeks go by and the crisis is still ongoing.

In addition to expressing gratitude and admiration for health care workers who have to fight COVID-19 up close, the PSAs also acknowledge service and sacrifice from another group: the tens of thousands of essential workers who keep New York — and other American cities — running."

Lots 'o Links

As seen today at MarketWatch.

Also, see Stephen Kruiser's Morning Briefing; Maggie's Farm; and Larwyn's Linx, which includes the excellent column titled The Stress Pandemic. If the virus doesn't kill you, the unbearable stress just might.

A Global Chernobyl

Jim Cramer said: "There’s a seething anger sweeping this country, and it’s directed point-blank at Wall Street".  Really? Are we going to start that Occupy Wall Street/1% business again, now, during a pandemic?

I have a seething anger myself, and it's directed point-blank at China, for the catastrophe they've unleashed!

See the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths at this Johns Hopkins tracker.

Too Bad She Didn't Ask For Toilet Paper!

There's no fool like a 93 year-old fool, especially the one who asked for more beer and received 150 cans from Coors in return.

Imagine the response if she had asked for more Lysol and toilet paper instead!

Lots 'o Links

Turn the TV off and read these posts instead!  Liz Sheld's Morning Greatness;  Maggie''s Farm;  Larwyn's Linx;  Stephen Kruiser's Morning Briefing; and Twenty One Things that Caught My Eye Today by Kathryn Jean Lopez.

Happy Passover

Here's an amusing headline by Nancy Star: "I can lead the seder. I just need someone to teach the 90-year-olds Zoom."

Classical & Cartoons

While listening to Colorado Public Radio's classical music channel today, I came across this article that brought back memories of watching Bugs Bunny: "Kids Learning At Home? Teach Them About These 4 Pieces Of Classical Music While They Watch Cartoons".  The pieces are Rossini's Barber of Seville and William Tell Overture, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2, and Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, so watch and enjoy!

Another Reason to Vote For Democrats!

I'm still shaking my head in disbelief after having heard about this: "Dem lawmaker wants Trump prosecuted at international court for 'crimes against humanity'. A Democratic state representative in Ohio said she 'can't take it anymore' and vowed to refer President Trump to the International Criminal Court for "crimes against humanity" over Trump's promotion of a drug that has not been conclusively proven to fight the coronavirus."

The Holocaust was a crime against humanity. That this person can even use that phrase now when every country is fighting for its life is a crime against human decency.  She can't take it anymore? I can't take the Democrats anymore.

The Queen's Speech

I happened to turn on the TV just as Queen Elizabeth began her address to her people on the subject of the coronavirus, and it was a real morale-booster. Here's someone who has been in our lives forever, and I found the part about her & Margaret's radio address nostalgic and touching.  Here's an excerpt:

"Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort.
And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation.
It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister.
We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety.
Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do.
While we have faced challenges before, this one is different.
This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal.
We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us.
We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.
But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all."

Music Always Helps

 
This is Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, a piece I never get tired of. Obviously, listening to such music does help: another listener was having a COVID-10-induced panic attack, and thanks to this piece, he was "transported."

Please Don''t Squeeze the Matzoh

As seen in an email this week. 

Here's an idea: If you wrap any available toilet paper in the yellow and blue paper from the Horowitz Margareten matzoh box, then hoarders won’t take it!!

Lots 'o Links

If you haven't been watching the TV news, you can catch up by reading the posts at Maggie's Farm, Larwyn's Linx, and Stephen Kruiser's Morning Briefing. (I was sorry to read that Maggie's Farm contributor Bulldog has tested positive for the coronavirus,)

And from the Harvard Health Blog, "COVID-19: If you’re older and have chronic health problems, read this."

Some experts are saying that everyone ought to wear a mask. Maybe Muslim women have it right, and we should all protect ourselves by wearing a burka!

Argus Hamilton Quips

Argus Hamilton even manages to come up with some amusing observations on the coronavirus crisis. For example:  "President Trump said Monday he's trying to set an optimistic example during the crisis. This period of forced isolation is an opportunity. I believe that half of Americans are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks, while the other half will come out with a drinking problem."

(Cartoon by Walt Handelsman)