praeceptrix

I live under a rock, so I had no idea that Mariah Carey had published a memoir, let alone that her siblings are suing her for defamation and emotional distress caused by it. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56277805

Another reason to love Dolly Parton: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56261397 Indeed, who among us has not been tempted to tweak the words of Jolene at one time or another?

Vermicious Knid, since you posted about Flory Jagoda's death, you might be interested in a free public Zoom event on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 12:10 p.m. EDT: Exploring Sephardic Music’s Traditions of Peace and Coexistence Featuring Merima Ključo, accordion, and Jelena Milušić, voice, with guest artist Mirna Lekić, piano The musical project, La Convivencia, is inspired by the powerful message of coexistence. It is based on Sephardic traditions of different countries visited by Sephardic Jews, traveling through history after the expulsion from Spain. La Convivencia contains three parts: - A cycle of five songs based on traditional Sephardic melodies and lyrics. - A cycle of five songs dedicated to Flory Jagoda, the Bosnian expert in the field of Sephardic music. - Movements from Ključo’s acclaimed composition, "The Sarajevo Haggadah: Music of the Book," with guest pianist Mirna Lekić. The registration link did not transfer in my cut-and-paste efforts, but you should be able to find more information by going to the college's home page: https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/

Naomi Osaka has a new hairstyle. I like the color, but kinda wish she had not also straightened it. But it's her hair, so it's not up to me. She is beautiful, no matter what. https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/lifestyle/naomi-osaka-shows-off-new-pink-hair-234828479.html

After performing in Carnegie Hall twice a year for almost a quarter century (minus the concerts cancelled due to the bleeping pandemic), I don't mind not hearing that joke anymore.

Cornelia Vertenstein, 93 year old piano teacher and Holocaust survivor who was profiled in the New York Times last May, died on February 12th. The cause was not Covid. The profile from May 2020: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/virus-piano-lessons.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article The obituary from today's New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/insider/cornelia-vertenstein-piano.html?action=click&module=Features&pgtype=Homepage My favorite part of the obituary: The rabbi quoted Plato’s line about music giving “soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination” — the same line that Ms. Vertenstein chose for the program for last spring’s recital. Minutes before her small, plain coffin was lowered into the earth, notes from former students were read. One recalled how Ms. Vertenstein never liked the word “practice.” You do not practice, she would say. You make music.

It seems that Gwyneth Paltrow has caught the attention of the NHS for her recommendations for treating long Covid. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56179846

Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti has died at the age of 101. This one surprises me, as I had no idea that he was still alive. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/obituaries/lawrence-ferlinghetti-dead.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Arturo Di Modica, sculptor of the Charging Bull statue on Wall Street in NYC, has died at the age of 80. No official cause of death is given in the article, but it does say that he had been fighting cancer for many years. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56137600

Meet Elizabeth Ann, a truly adorable celebrity featured in today's New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/science/black-footed-ferret-clone.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage

Demi Lovato shared some scary details about her 2018 drug overdose: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56107036

I felt that way when I tried watching it in its original run. Don't remember when I gave up, just that I really should have done so much earlier than I did.

I was never a fan of The Big Bang Theory, nor was I impressed by Ms. Cuoco's stint on Charmed. That said, I was amused by this article: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/elliewoodward/kaley-cuoco-relationship-johnny-galecki-boring-instagram

A touching article about Cicely Tyson, "Harlem’s ‘Trueborn Queen’" and the people who lined up for hours to say goodbye to her. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/nyregion/cicely-tyson-memorial-harlem.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage

“Performer, Producer, Hellraiser" Anne Feeney, 69, died on February 3rd, another voice silenced by Covid-19. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/08/obituaries/anne-feeney-dead-coronavirus.html?pageType=Article&collectionName=Those+We’ve+Lost+to+the+Coronavirus&region=footer&module=seriesCollection_Band&label=Those+We’ve+Lost+to+the+Coronavirus&name=STYLN_elevate_series_collections&template=

Forbes magazine's article about Armie Hammer is a wonderful example of damning with faint praise. https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/02/05/box-office-armie-hammer-is-expendable/?sh=86618cb3e02c

Frank Shankwitz, co-founder of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, died of esophageal cancer on January 24th. He was 77. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/06/us/frank-shankwitz-dead.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage

Eva Coutaz, whose Harmonia Mundi record label produced some of my favorite LPs (yes, I'm old), has died from complications of renal failure at the age of 77. Under her aegis, Harmonia Mundi helped nurture the careers of some fantastic musicians and drive the Early Music revival. Until I read the obituary, I had no idea who she was, but I will forever be grateful to her for enriching my life (and draining my pocketbook, as those records were not cheap!). https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/arts/music/eva-coutaz-dead.html

Singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly, 77, died of natural causes at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday. He wrote "Midnight Train to Georgia," which was a number one hit for Gladys Knight & the Pips. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55943997

I doubt it. I suspect her feelings were more along the lines of what Avon and Stringer felt, a little sad about the other's betrayal/impending murder, but believing it inevitable.

De'Londa was awful, but I think the one I hated the most was Brianna Barksdale. Michael Hyatt did an amazing job with the role.

Corky Lee, a photographer who documented NYC's Asian American communities died last week. He was 73. The cause of death was the damned coronavirus. https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/corky-lee-nyc-photographer-who-made-sure-asian-americans-were-never-forgotten

I do adore Dolly Parton. The linked article is about her turning down the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- twice! https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55907822

CNN weighing in on the significance of JoJo Siwa's coming out: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/01/30/us/jojo-siwa-coming-out-significance-wellness-trnd/index.html To underscore how intolerance can hurt: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/01/29/us/rejoice-christian-school-expel-student-lgbt-trnd/index.html The article points out that a second grader's definition of a crush is not necessarily sexual, but the school punished the girl all the same -- so any child at the school who is not straight is being warned that they are not welcome or free to be themselves.

January 23rd is not an auspicious day for African musicians! 83 year old South African jazz trombonist and anti-apartheid activist Jonas Gwangwa died of "cardiac complications" on the 23rd, exactly 3 years after the death of High Masekela and 2 years after the death of Oliver Mtukudzi. Rest in Power. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55856214