Happy Birthday, Joe!

I think most teachers do not instruct on how music is constructed - chord progressions, use of major and minor keys, etc. I'd be interested in taking a few of their lessons just to see what it was about. I surely need something to kick my butt back onto the bench.

Roads and markets have emptied during afternoons and some farmers have switched to nighttime work to avoid scorching temperatures as a heat wave grips large parts of India. The India Meteorological Department forecast maximum temperatures Thursday of around 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in the capital, New Delhi, where authorities have opened temporary “cooling zones” to help people cope. The weather department warned conditions will likely persist across several northern regions in the coming days, with temperatures staying well above seasonal averages. Authorities urged people to stay indoors during the hottest hours and take precautions against heat-related illnesses. India declares a heat wave whenever temperatures are above 40 C (104 F) in the plains and 30 C (86 F) or more in its hilly regions. https://apnews.com/article/india-heatwave-temperatures-3aa179491366cc8a283907392c70c73d

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

It's funny you should bump this thread because I was just about to. This has been one of my favorite paintings my entire adult life. It was introduced to me by my girlfriend in college. We were together my first year at UF and one year after. She grew up in an interesting family. Her mother's side of the family were Episcopalians and had money since the 19th century and her father was Lutheran, a 1st generation Danish immigrant, a JD, and a county judge in the county north of where I live now. She liked horses. She had done show jumping when she was growing up. But the painting speaks for itself. It's brilliant. The Blank Signature by René Magritte https://share.google/tn4xPlmSnF9kzSfIE

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.

@wtg said: So Faulkner was right. https://connectedeventsmatter.com/litera/literature/literature-and-meaning/my-mother-is-a-fish-modern-reflection Now I want to read the novel. I'll put it on my bucket list.