Gems

20th anniversary of the show La Clique at the Sydney Opera House. Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage, posted at theguardian.com:

Headline from nypost.com: “Hezbollah begging for mercy proves Israel is right to fight — and shrug off Biden’s terrible advice.” Great, but will the enemy reload in the future? Will there ever be peace between Israel and its neighbors? It seems there will only be pauses in the fighting.

Headline from foxnews.com: “Taylor Swift helps with Hurricane Milton and Helene relief efforts, donates $5M.” Kudos, Maestra.

In the recording world there is gold, half million record sales, and platinum, one million. I’ve just come across a third category, Diamond — ten million sales, cited in an article by Mya Singleton at msm.com. Here are 25 songs that qualify, commentary added by yours truly. I placed an asterisk beside the tunes I can hum a bit of:
Something About the Way You Look Tonight / Candle in the Wind 1997, by Elton John.* Although I’m clueless as to the first part.
Happy by Pharrell Williams.*
Just Dance by Lady Gaga featuring Colby O’Donis.
Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.* Had no idea it was Ronson’s track.
Thriller by Michael Jackson.*
All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey.
Location by Khalid.
Baby by Justin Bieber.
Old Town Road by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber. Gazillion hits at youtube.
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.* “Mama mia, mama mia.” (Freddie Mercury)
God’s Plan by Drake.
Shape of You by Ed Sheeran.
See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth.
No Hands by Waka Flocka Flame featuring Wale and Roscoe Dash.
Shake It Off by Taylor Swift.
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.* Great vocal, of course, not crazy about the song.
Bodak Yellow by Cardi B.
Lose Yourself by Eminem.
Earned It by The Weeknd.
Super Bass by Nicki Minaj.
Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare) by Kid Cudi featuring MGMT and Ratatat.
Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.
I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas.
Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus.
Obviously, I’m out of the loop. I suspect I’ve heard the tracks by Sheeran, Swift, Biebs & Cyrus.

Barcelona, photo by Bucato`, posted at theguardian.com:

Almost no action at the Anti-Inflation Book Shop on this cool gorgeous day. My thanks to Lynn, who bought The Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles and The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed by Bart D. Ehrman; and to the gentleman who dropped off a hardcover thriller; and to Herbie and Marty for schmoozing.

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