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R

RealPlayer

@RealPlayer
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  • Aldi vs Lidl
    R RealPlayer

    I think we have one or both of them here. But they are a 5 mile or so drive from here compared to maybe a mile to our favored supermarket. We’re weirdos though, because the locals drive everywhere and that feels like a slog to us. I guess I should look at the prices to see if they’re worth the travel.

    Ms. RP used to drive to the Costco in Bayonne, NJ once a week for bulk items, but she’s even doing that less often these days.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Wine needs a new social contract.
    R RealPlayer

    I don’t know much about the business side of wine, but aren’t the distributors part of the problem? Apart from pushing certain wines, don’t they discriminate against small wineries or somehow make it hard for them to get to market?

    And as you say, the huge restaurant markup is a big problem.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Wine needs a new social contract.
    R RealPlayer

    Hate the outrageous by-the-glass prices! We are blessed locally with really fine, delicate pizza, and one place serves a not at all bad red wine at $8. With a baby spinach/fennel salad and plain pie, it’s a very nice afternoon.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Musical Interlude — Dick Hyman
    R RealPlayer

    @Bernard said in Musical Interlude — Dick Hyman:

    Wow. And he plays so much with his eyes closed. I wish had such good blind knowledge of the geography of the keyboard!

    I noticed that! No dramatic contortions either. Not to mention…isn’t he over 90 years old? Not too shabby.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Musical Interlude — Dick Hyman
    R RealPlayer

    Dick Hyman plays Sweet Georgia Brown.

    I came across this in a FB piano group. I was instantly attracted to it because he is playing the exact model of Mason & Hamlin concert grand that I have, except this one was made around 1915 and exquisitely rebuilt. Mine’s from 1928 and needs a lot of work, but I believe it could sound like this some day.

    It even sounds good on my iPhone. The treble just sparkles! At the end, he tells the audience it is one of the best pianos he’s ever played.

    [link text]

    Link to video(link url)

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Croutons, yea or nay? (Corollary to soup thread)
    R RealPlayer

    Yes, I often have almost-stale bread sitting around. Like a quarter of some round loaf. So when I am making soup, I’ll slice it into cubes and throw it on a skillet (sometimes with oil, sometimes not), let it get browned. Some soups also like a finishing touch of grated Parmesan.

    (Apologies for posting such trivia in a time of our National crisis.)

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Artists
    R RealPlayer

    @Daniel Well, now that I think of it, sure, I do like a lot of artists. Bosch, Durer, Van Gogh, Rothko, Nevelson, Klee, Krasner, and probably a dozen others whose names don’t occur to me right now. I guess I can appreciate them without knowing how their technique works.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Artists
    R RealPlayer

    I don’t have a strong visual sense, the way I have a well-developed appreciation for music, or even literature. I don’t know “how” to look at art, yet sometimes I’ll see a work and find it quite affecting. Maybe that’s enough.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • What are you reading?
    R RealPlayer

    @AndyD Your picture of The Pianist’s Mentor reminded me that there are a number of books on pianism by famous teachers (Neuhaus, Whiteside et al.) and I haven’t read any of them. The ones I’ve glanced at seem kind of dry, and it must be hard to describe fine muscle movements in lively prose. One study, The Great Pianists and Their Technique, does have comments by pupils of Liszt, Chopin and others which are interesting.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Weather where you are thread
    R RealPlayer

    Today (Sat.) we go into the deep freeze, with a low of 7 degrees and a wind chill of minus 16 in the evening. Continues on Sunday.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Soup can be anything
    R RealPlayer

    @Steve-Miller Yes, I did it in one pot but the ordering of ingredients was crucial. Long-cooking things first, quick ones like spinach at the end.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Soup can be anything
    R RealPlayer

    I decided to make a soup out of veggies that needed to be used (not nearly dead). Onion, celery, potato, tomato, summer squash, crimini mushrooms, baby spinach. With some fresh dill, because they sell dill in these enormous bunches that could feed half of eastern Europe. And a tbsp. or so of Better than Bouillon vegetarian concentrate. Seems to be working.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Let's talk miso
    R RealPlayer

    I use it in soup a lot. Lately I see recipes advocating for it in other things, salad dressings, flavor boosting (salty, umami). Simplest, and most traditional, is miso soup: tofu, scallions, miso. Maybe add shiitakes or carrots if you want more ingredients, but the classic still shines.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Beware of anti-woke liberals
    R RealPlayer

    Thanks for that article, Bernard.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Melania, the movie isn't doing too well
    R RealPlayer

    Culled from Facebook comments:

    “Abraham Lincoln saw it. He said it was the worst experience he’d ever had in a theater”

    “I called the theater to find out what time the showing started. They said, ‘What time can you get here?’”

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • I’m glad I’m not young anymore
    R RealPlayer

    I'm glad I'm not a teacher having to deal with this stuff either.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Weather where you are thread
    R RealPlayer

    @Steve-Miller said in Weather where you are thread:

    Just before we moved here a friend gave me this goofy hat, saying it seemed like something I’d need. He thought it was hysterically funny.
    IMG-5135.jpg

    I just love that the ear flaps…have ear flaps.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Weather where you are thread
    R RealPlayer

    10 inches of snow, with some variability across the city. We did some shoveling today but it’s taxing physically, and we have a lot of sidewalk, being a corner property. It’s now sleeting, which makes the snow even heavier. We’ll have a local guy finish up tomorrow.

    Single malt helps.

    Off Key - General Discussion

  • Old People Love Soup
    R RealPlayer

    @Daniel I admit that games can be fun and contribute to cognitive health and social connection, but I think robust activities like travel, attending concerts or museums, practicing an instrument, vigorous exercise, auditing a college-level course, etc., can more strongly enhance well-being.

    Off Key - General Discussion
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