Author Archives: JMN

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About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.

The Opposite of Death

Posted on June 15, 2020 by JMN

The sweetest, life-affirming eruption of ebullience I’ve encountered today comes from Jon Stewart. The subject is his learning to play drums in middle age. [Interviewer] Do you make sure to practice your rudiments and paradiddles? I have a teacher, and … Continue reading →

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The Corona Open, 2020

Posted on June 14, 2020 by JMN

This gallery contains 1 photo.

(c) 2020 JMN

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New Artist in Town

Posted on June 13, 2020 by JMN

I like this picture. (Adam Popescu, “There’s a New Artist in Town. The Name Is Biden,” NYTimes, 2-28-20) (c) 2020 JMN

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Bret Stephens Loses His Own Argument

Posted on June 12, 2020 by JMN

The NYTimes published, then repudiated, an Op-Ed piece by a Republican senator urging deployment of active-duty troops to quell looting and rioting that intruded upon mostly peaceful protests. Bret Stephens disagrees with the politician’s incitement, but says it was proper … Continue reading →

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Opening Up a Melon

Posted on June 11, 2020 by JMN

My enduring affection for Spain gets periodic boosts from ceremonies such as this. On June 6, 2020, a group of Spaniards staged a reenactment of Velazquez’s famous “Surrender of Breda” to commemorate the event itself in the Dutch war of … Continue reading →

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Horror of the Underseen

Posted on June 9, 2020 by JMN

Violence and gore, revolting and horrific in real life, are revolting and banal in the movies. What’s horrifying is how hard it is to find good horror in entertainment. Edward Tew chainsaws cleanly through the halitosis: A lot of genre … Continue reading →

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The Death Stare

Posted on June 8, 2020 by JMN

“What everybody is talking about right now is, what happened to pneumonia?” he said. “What happened to a lot of deals, a lot of common flu deaths, why is everything being reported Covid now?… We’ve heard that hospitals are getting … Continue reading →

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Music Versus Dance

Posted on June 7, 2020 by JMN

Check out this video on YouTube: “Because it spans a very windy gap across the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge is now effectively a giant orange wheezing kazoo.” Citizens have weighed in disparately: — Can someone explain me why is … Continue reading →

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The Dome and the Well

Posted on June 6, 2020 by JMN

Umm Kulthum died in 1975. I had a passing acquaintance with the singing of this venerated Egyptian artist, but knew nothing of her life. I learn from this article by Tom Faber that Umm Kulthum’s singing was admired by western … Continue reading →

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Dust-Up in ‘Bama

Posted on June 5, 2020 by JMN

Life in these United States leads to comfort where you can find it: In this case, the theory by police that this is an isolated killing and not a spree killing. Seven adults were found shot dead last night, June … Continue reading →

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