April 24, 2020

Scenes from Georgia's cautious reopening: Lines start early for haircuts

By Alexis Stevens, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Source: https://www.ajc.com/news/lines-start-early-for-haircuts-georgia-begins-open/jWJvWglc5N7RlQt1Z6oDTN/

April 23, 2020

I learned a lot about this pandemic (including how testing really works) from 2 podcast episodes:

The podcast Deep Background with Noah Feldman has recently featured especially good episodes with information about the COVID-19 pandemic. This twice-a-week podcast, hosted by the Harvard Constitutional Law professor who tested before the House Judiciary Committee during the hearings that led to Trump's impeachment, is in my regular rotation. As a layperson, I found these discussions both very informative and easy to follow. I hope you'll enjoy them as well.

You can listen to these podcast episodes on the show's home page, at the individual "Play in browser" links listed below, or in your favorite podcast app (for example Stitcher, IHeartRadio, or Apple Podcasts).
URL of show home page: https://pushkin.fm/deep-background

April 21, 2020 - The Roadblocks to Mass Testing
Omai Garner, the director of clinical microbiology testing at UCLA Health, explains why more Americans have not been tested for COVID-19.
Play in browser

April 22, 2020 - The Way out of the Pandemic? Generosity.
Pardis Sabeti, a computational biologist at Harvard and the Broad Institute, discusses when and how to re-open colleges and universities, why the US is behind other countries when it comes to containing the spread of coronavirus, and a plan to stop pandemics in the future.
Play in browser

April 20, 2020

Anybody using a mechanical keyboard?

I've been researching mechanical keyboards to use with my 2017 MacBook Pro. So far the Keychron K2 with Gateron Brown keyswitches is the top contender, for these reasons:

• good reviews,


• reportedly has a tactile "bump" without being excessively noisy,


• affordably priced, and


• has actual Mac symbols on the Control, Option, and Command keys.

Anybody using a K2? Or have any others to recommend?

I don't care about wireless vs. USB -- wired is fine. My preferred use is mainly for typing -- I'm not a gamer. I don't need RGB backlighting. White backlighting would be nice, but that's optional. Several reviewers mention that the K2 is unusually thick, so a wrist rest (such as the walnut one Keychron sells) is recommended. If I get this keyboard, I'll probably go that route.

I've finally had to admit that Lloyd Chambers was right when he wrote on Mac Performance Guide that the 2017 MacBook Pro "chiclet" keyboard sucks. It's very easy to make typos -- I'm constantly hitting multiple keys or the wrong key, much more than I ever have with any other keyboard.

April 19, 2020

Bill Withers -- this could go on for a while

April 17, 2020

Could you use some pure beauty today? Jacob Collier has some.

April 17, 2020

Genius at play: Eliane Elias, Mike Mainieri + 3 in a great live performance

Incredible Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias is joined by former Steps Ahead bandmate vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, along with Marc Johnson (bass), Donny McCaslin (tenor saxophone), and Billy Kilson (drums) in this virtuosic performance from the 2016 San Sebastian Jazz Festival:

Note: The YouTube post titles this a "Steps Ahead Reunion," but with only two members from that band, that's a bit misleading and kind of a disservice to the other great musicians on stage with Elias & Mainieri.

April 15, 2020

Today at 2:30 pm ET -- Martha Matinees: Appalachian Spring

Courtesy of the Martha Graham Dance Company, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern today and again this Saturday April 18th (same time), there will be a special presentation of the choreographer's groundbreaking ballet, Appalachian Spring, featuring Aaron Copland's equally iconic orchestral score. For details, see the dance company's YouTube channel or website. Information below.

MARTHA MATINEES
Join us LIVE for an interactive viewing experience presented by the Graham Archives, hosted by Janet Eilber and featuring special guests!

NEXT SHOWING: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 and SATURDAY, APRIL 18 at 2:30pm EST
Appalachian Spring
A screening of films celebrating the iconic 20th Century masterwork.
At the show on Saturday, great Graham artist Terese Capucilli will join Janet and Oliver Tobin in the live chat!live chat!

– Aaron Copland talks about Appalachian Spring
– Appalachian Spring at 75 – a montage of generations of dancers
– Appalachian Spring – a complete performance by the original cast! This is a silent film that will be accompanied by a 1958 recording of the music.
– Appalachian Spring excerpt from an August, 2019 performance at Jacob’s Pillow with today’s Martha Graham Dance Company

Note: The website listing says the first showing is "Wednesday, April 14," but it's today, April 15.

April 13, 2020

Great version

Smokin' guitar & keyboard solos! Thanks.

Original (1966) by the composer, saxophonist Mike Shapiro (Sharpe):

A year later, Dennis Yost and the Classics IV did the version that became a smash hit:


Another nice version by Dusty Springfield:


And if you haven't had enough yet (and, really, who can ever have enough of this great song?!), here's Imogen Heap's version:

April 11, 2020

Message to health-care professionals

I just discovered this clever site (not new, but new to me), typeatone.com, where you can "compose" pretty electronic melodies as you type. I decided to use it to produce this message:
http://typatone.com/m/rnHc8ovuBr

Try it yourself:
https://www.typatone.com

About typatone:

Cool project! Other creations from the same people:
https://patatap.com/

And this nine-year-old video shows some fun things you can try while stuck at home: