UN votes to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scale: The United Nations has voted to adopt a resolution for the world to formally phase out the traditional Mercator map of the globe in favour of one that more accurately displays Africa’s size. In a session at its headquarters in New York, the … Continue reading Another Reason for the World to Hate US
My Fair Ladies
There are several complete performances of the musical My Fair Lady available on YouTube. I’ve sampled the ones that I could find (YouTube’s search function is awful so I can’t promise that I found them all), and I picked three that I think might be worth your attention, assuming you enjoy the musical art form that … Continue reading My Fair Ladies
My Fair Philly – Part 2
Back in the 1950s musicals played a much larger part in popular culture. When My Fair Lady finally opened in New York and the original cast album was released (in monophonic only, as stereo was only beginning to gain traction; a stereo recording was made and released a year or so later), it was the … Continue reading My Fair Philly – Part 2
My Fair Philly – Part 1
Before the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady opened in New York City in 1956, it had a tryout period, first in New Haven and then a four week run in Philadelphia’s Erlanger Theatre. The Erlanger Theatre was located on the northwest corner of 21st and Market Streets where it opened in 1927 as … Continue reading My Fair Philly – Part 1
Conga!
There are two dynamic conductors who appeared on the musical scene 20 years or so ago. The Philadelphia Orchestra snagged the one from north of the border, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, some time ago, and has signed him to a longterm contract. The Los Angeles Philharmonic snagged the one from south of the border, Gustavo Dudamel, and … Continue reading Conga!
Twin Biopsies
“So tell me why you’re here.” The speaker was the dermatologist, Dr. Chung, at the Penn Dermatology Clinic at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine all the way over on Civic Center Blvd. “Well,” I said, “my regular dermatologist, Dr. Crawford, noticed the redness on my upper arms, and while he had previously diagnosed that … Continue reading Twin Biopsies
Steve Sattazahn
Steve Sattazahn’s Senior class photo I first saw Steve Sattazahn when I was in fifth grade during the annual choral concert put on by grades four, five, and six of the Eastern Lebanon County Schools, before we were known as Elco. This would have been in the spring of 1960. The concert was organized by … Continue reading Steve Sattazahn
Slinky
I remember getting a Slinky when we still lived in the Great Stone House on the farm back in the mid-1950s. It was fun watching it make its way down the staircase. I don’t know what ever happened to that Slinky; probably eventually went the way of all toys. During my last couple of years … Continue reading Slinky
The Venus Butterfly
Speaking of L.A. Law, as I was the other day, one of my very favorite episodes of that show was entitled “The Venus Butterfly”. Not only did it win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, but it’s one of the top-rated episodes of the show on iMDB. I remember when it … Continue reading The Venus Butterfly
Another Reason to Hate Amazon
I noticed several weeks ago that when Amazon sends a shipping notice it doesn’t tell me what items are in the shipment. It’s very annoying. John Gruber has the answer. It’s pure spite on Amazon’s part: That statement from Amazon is almost honest, if you squint at it and ignore the bit about it having … Continue reading Another Reason to Hate Amazon