OK, so I was a COBOL programmer. Even back when dinosaurs and I roamed the earth together, implementing a zero percent sales tax would have involved a user changing the rate from the "terminal" on their desk. Now, get off my lawn!

@Bernard said: Piano in almost every other form is taught the same way as it was in Mozart's time, they stated. This seemed to be the most common criticism from piano teachers that I found online. Most people said that there are all kinds of new approaches to piano teaching that aim to make lessons fun and accessible for students, and that the Payam arguments are dated. Anyway, I wish him and his method the best of luck. Sometimes I think that playing an instrument is possibly one of the only truly AI-proof activities left (along with sports, dance), and I just think the world needs more piano students. I know, I know, that’s my bias though.

Happy birthday, Joe. Big Al

We plant the Nonstop begonias in our deck corner planters every year. Bright color all summer long and no maintenance

@AndyD said: 22c in the sitting room where I am with piano on the NW corner. You’re going to have to sleep in the piano room…

Lol! Yeah, that is amazing. My other favorite Surrealist is Dalí. There's a world-class Dalí museum in St. Petersburg in my county of all places. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persistence_of_Memory

@AndyD oooh I like the Hough version best. By far! Thanks for posting those, it’s fun to compare!

Of its period, and size notwithstanding will make somebody happy. @axtremus You want pedals? [image: 1779703688749-screenshot_20260525-110041_duckduckgo.jpg] https://www.zinio.com/gb/article/country-life/may-20-2026-i702234/country-house-treasures-a65 Play a bit of Fats Waller in the morning [image: 1779703813047-20260525_110900.jpg]

My grandparents' record cabinet had a small stack of their albums because the three kids, my mother, aunt, and/or my uncle had bought them and left them at home when they moved. I suspect it was my uncle. It wasn't my mother. My mother was a Dylan fan and she kept her Dylan albums for the rest of her life. I listened to a few of the albums. They weren't for me. I can't put my finger on why. I just didn't enjoy them. I met a group of students in middle school who were huge fans when my other uncle who was a history teacher took me with a group of his students and other student groups to London. I made friends with a group of students from another school and we spent our time together stating on the flight from NY. It ended when we got home with him having a talk with me asking me in a kind plaintive way about why I chose not to hang out with his kids and giving me an inevitable talk because I had been caught smoking cigarettes. He didn't find out we were leaving the London hotel at night and going to clubs. His kids had a list of places they wanted to go and things they wanted to do related to the band. It was everything them. I couldn't relate. I don't judge people for whatever music they want to listen to but I would never spend my time listening to something if I'd rather be listening to something else.

@jon-nyc said: Maybe you could try that? You already have Dewey and Mik within a two hour drive and me and Ax who often get on airplanes for piano parties… That would be amazing! Although I’m not sure I can throw a good enough party to merit people traveling for it! (It might trigger a whole new kind of stage fright!

I love the various types of paprika - Hungarian, sweet, hot, Spanish, smoked.... great stuff.

@ShiroKuro Thank you

What a great article! Lots of great ideas and lots of things to try. And so many links! Thanks!

@DougG Great song! (The beer not so much)

+3

4/10. AI is terrifying.