I'd rather agree with Ax than w/ the NYT in this case. I love beautiful rooms, beautiful pianos, Louis Armstrong, and cute animals a lot. I love the fact that spaces (literal and metaphorical) exist that can be filled by art with artists! But the aspirational articles from the NYT are, if I'm being honest, seemingly endless! And include product placement (thanks, Joe!)!

The joys of property ownership Fix the leaks! Sounds like a new mattress ought to be high up on your list!

@kluurs said: After answering I looked at what Bavouzet actually does - and he does it the same (4 bass notes in left hand) - see his video at around 16:34 thanks! Both Bavouzet and Debussy would probably hate that I introduce a ritard there - but then I'm not playing for a jury. Me neither! Oh wait, conceivably, I could end up playing this for a jury... (It would be my choice though)

@Mik said: I've been trying to convince Janet to install a small laundry unit in our walk in closet. It's right on the wall that has the waste and water lines. Easy peasy and we don't need nearly the closet space we used to when working. Thought about doing the same thing in a closet in a spare bedroom that is set up as an office that we basically don't use anymore. There are those dryers that vent moisture into the drain rather than to the outside. Two story house here plus basement. Our laundry setup is currently in the basement. Installing a washer and dryer on the second floor would save trips up/down the stairs but doesn't eliminate them altogether. Of course I wouldn't have to carry the clean laundry up two flights, though now I bring small armloads up to the first floor and hang them in the front hall closet until I head up to 2. And I wouldn't be likely to hang out on the second floor while things washed and dried. Part of me thinks that hiring someone to come in and do laundry for us once a week if I can't do it myself might be the way to go rather than investing in a second setup upstairs. Dunno. Portable dryers: https://www.thespruce.com/best-portable-dryers-5224945

My Ting came from State Farm too. It also has a $1,000 remediation allowance if it finds an issue.

AMF.

@Bernard OMG, I hadn't even thought of that. Guess the administration isn't long on geography. First the Strait of Hormuz and now this.... His head would explode if they threatened to raise fees for using the canal...(insert devil emoji here)

Batten down the hatches!!

@DougG said: Great, now Jon’s last post expects me to come up with a rhyme for “lits”. I’m pretty sure there isn’t one. Could this be the end of the word association thread?

Sadly, my Thai basil. Now the leaves aren't much good.

Lits

Link to video Omg!

Yes and seems so random as always.

@jon-nyc said: [image: 1786805318857-screenshot-2026-08-15-at-09.07.28.png] Yes, and Madonna took the first "selfie" in "Desperately Seeking Susan." I mean this as a cultural phenomenon, strictly speaking. People have been pointing cameras at themselves and others for a long time. Lol!

Well, they were a communist country for the better part of a century. I will make a note to unpack my smallest violin to play for the oligarchs whose assets are seized. I know the subtext is- "Putin bad!" 10 years of Trump the Ubiquitous and- "Putin bad!" have made a long 10 years. I know this is a legitimate news story but Russia didn't practice "capitalism," either before the break up of the USSR, or after.

Interesting. QEII had them. Assume she could have had any breed. That's a recommendation. Not a dog person. Wouldn't know where to begin.