Luna La Grange

Luna Lee takes us into the New Year with her gayageum styling of ZZ Top's La Grange.  She really gets going about 1:10 into this clip.

Catch Him If You Can

Frank Abegnale Jr, played by Leonard DiCaprio, was the subject of Stephen Spielberg's film Catch Me If You Can.  This past October, Abegnale, for the past 41 years an FBI employee, spoke to an audience at Google.   When I came across the video I debated whether to watch it at all, decided to listen for a few minutes, and ended up watching the entire hour.  It's fascinating to hear Abegnale talk about the movie, his life, the meaning of family and manhood, as well as his observations on cybersecurity, the subject he's worked on for the past twenty years.

If you listen carefully you also realize how subtle and adept Abegnale is on avoiding questions he does not want to answer.  At a couple of points he references Spielberg's comments on him and you are left wondering if those comments are accurate portrayals of Frank's life or whether Abegnale is using Spielberg's version to avoid commenting on whether the director's portrayal is really accurate.

I Can't Complain

I can't complain
But sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me
So far

Joe Walsh performing Life's Been Good in 2012 on Live From Daryl's House.  Joe sounds better than ever on both guitar and vocals.  And Daryl Hall's not too shabby either.

Hedge Fund Operating School As Tax Shelter Endorses Trickle Down Economics

The new tax on university endowments will weaken financial aid, faculty and research initiatives, and other institutional programs that support students, professors, and medical and scientific studies https://t.co/FZtxYba4wM

— Harvard University (@Harvard) December 21, 2017

Harvard's endowment is $38 billion.  It is part of the 1% of universities which have more than 40% of the total endowment of American universities.  Obviously unequal and unfair.  Thanks are due to Congress for addressing this injustice.

Last Minute Shopping?

There's a little shoppe in Prague I recommend for interesting gifts . . .

The Astaire Rogers Songbook

We've featured the memorable partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on several occasions.  I couldn't stand to watch their films when I was younger but have grown to appreciate the artistry and beauty of their dance scenes.  Their films also featured many classics from the Great American Songbook, most of them introduced to audiences for the first time.  Below are my nine favorites, arranged chronologically.

The Continental, composed by Herb Magidson & Con Conrad.  From The Gay Divorcee (1934).


Night & Day, composed by Cole Porter.  The Gay Divorcee.

Cheek To Cheek, composed by Irving Berlin.  From Top Hat (1935).

I Won't Dance, composed by Jerome Kern & Dorothy Fields.  From Roberta (1935).

The Way You Look Tonight, composed by Jerome Kern & Dorothy Fields.  From Swing Time (1936)

Extra added bonus version from Tony Bennett!

Let's Face The Music And Dance, composed by Irving Berlin.  From Follow The Fleet (1936).  My favorite of their music and dance sequences.

They Can't Take That Away From Me, composed by George & Ira Gershwin.  From Shall We Dance (1937).

They All Laughed, composed by the Gershwins.  Shall We Dance.

Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, composed by the Gershwins.  Shall We Dance.