Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance by my Daughter & Son

•  Remembering J Brahms on his birthday (May 7, 1833)

Composer, J Brahms

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Arthur Rubinstein: W. A. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21

Remembering Polish-American Piano prodigy, Arthur Rubinstein (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) on his date of birth.  He is considered one of the best Pianists of the 20th century.  We love his performance of W.A. Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major.  BTW, this is a personal favorite among Mozart's vast works.

Piano Prodigy, Arthur Rubinstein

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Designer Anna Sui: Wonderful Apartment of Her Favorite Objects (List)

Designer Anna Sui has a birthday today -- she is 58 years old!  Her apartment decor is very well done, simply stunning. She even has a bathroom that is conducive to selfies worthy of posting on public media 🤳 😀 🤳

I would make similar design choices if I were to change places with her.  She lists 10 of her favorite objects of affection in her Greenwich Village NY apartment in the video below. Take a look/see:

Designer, Anna Sui

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Our Baby Louis is One!

Our 💙💙💙 crowns, our joy.  Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ!!

Children's children are the crown of old men; 

and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 17

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Shaquille O'Neal: Happy Birthday to this Horrible, Evil, Rich Person

 Shaq turns 50 years old!

Shaquille O'Neal

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Singer Karen Carpenter: Pitch-Perfect Voice

Musician, Karen Carpenter, would have been 72 years old today, March 2nd. 

What a loss of one of the greatest voices of modern times. In fact, hardly anyone will dispute you if you happen to say what a fantastic Singer she was. She was simply blessed by God with this fabulous ability.

There was something in her singing that caught my attention when I first heard one of their hits in the early 1970s.  I still love hearing their hits from that era -- a sign of a true classic. My fave? A great wedding recessional song -- "For All We Know"

❤ "For All We Know" ❤

"Close to You"

LoL 😄😁😀

"Rainy Days and Mondays"

Greatest Hits

Karen Carpenter

Richard Carpenter

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Singer Tony Bennett in Concert

 Do you know this Lady? ...  She is the opening act for the singer, Tony Bennett

Singer Tony Bennett has been in the News lately for  his diagnosis of Alzheimers disease.  I saw him in concert the year after his diagnosis (2017, but kept secret by his family).  He was fabulous!! So very thankful I was there. Here was my previous post:

Mr Bennett put on his 38th appearance at Ravinia; and we we were there and saw him for the very first time. His 91st Bday (August 3rd) was the day before the show. Happy 🎂 Birthday, Tony!

He ran onto the stage at his introduction, giving me and the audience a very good first impression of what a 91-year-old can do. He wore his go-to white jacked coupled with dark pants. His appearance glowed under the spotlights.  He could still belt-out the songs and hit the high notes. Amazing!!!  What does he eat, and what is his exercise routine?  I insist that he write a book sharing his health secrets.

The only negative was that he did not sing "I Wanna Be Around" (thus, below is the link to the song on youTube).  He DID sing my very favorite: "The Shadow of Your Smile". Swoon.

Will we ever see  Mr Bennett again?  Only the Lord knows; but I said a prayer for Mr Tony's physical and spiritual health, in Jesus' name.

*Her name is Antonia, and Tony Bennett happens to be her Dad.  She's a pretty red-head with a good voice; and the full-length, tiered black dress that she wore was nice, IMO. 

So, he shows-off his kid's talent, and promotes her by letting her sing at his show. Nice.  How typical of a parent, LoL!

link: Tony Bennett's 4 Kids

I am taking pics before the start of the sold-out show

"I Wanna Be Around"

"The Shadow of Your Smile"

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. ( Isaiah 46 )

Tony Bennett & Alzheimers Disease

Anthony Dominick Benedetto 

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Lobotomies and a Birthday: António Egas Moniz

 Egas Moniz, developer of the surgical procedure called a lobotomy -- of which the majority of patients were women 😠😡 -- was born 147 years ago (November 29, 1874).  The most famous victim ... ehr, I mean patient ... (which was botched 😡😞😡😢), was Rosemary Kennedy

Back in the 1940-50s a Lobotomy in the treatment of certain mental disorders was considered "Settled Science". If a doctor questioned this barbaric procedure he would have been viewed as ignorant or inadequate.

In fact, in 1949, the inventor of the procedure, Doctor António Egas Moniz, was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery. Lobotomy was considered Standard of Care, and any neurosurgeon not performing this accepted procedure would have been considered sub-standard.

Looking back now, we realize how ignorant these doctors were, and how dangerous this procedure was. Thousands of patients had their SELF destroyed by this procedure and became docile, robotic, non-humans.

So, when you hear someone say the phrase "Settled Science", just remember that the Lobotomy used to be that. When you hear someone talk about Standard of Care, realize that this is often based on no meaningful research, and based entirely on the opinions of a few "experts" in the field.

There is no such thing as Settled Science, everything should be questioned and studied.

Standard of Care is a false paradigm implying that we know everything about a subject there is to know, and that this model should not be questioned.

Think, study, watch, research, debate; we are figuring it out as we go.   -- Ken D Berry, MD

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Lies, Rationalizations, and a Birthday

Remembering Christian  Evangelist Billy Sunday who was born on November 19, 1862

How can a lie be encapsulated in an excuse? An excuse is something offered as a justification or as grounds to remove a blame for while a lie is to make an untrue statement with an intent to deceive. I guess we oftentimes pronounce a false statement as an excuse. Most of the times we are more concerned with our reputation than our integrity. We even provide a color for a lie (white) but a lie is a lie regardless of its color. This was one of many nice quotes from William ‘Billy’ Sunday (1862-1935), a former American baseball outfielder turned influential American evangelist during the first two decades of the 20th century. -- F. Verg, fb

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4)

William Ashley Sunday

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Crossing a Rubicon, Part 2 (+ Happy Birthday, Dave Ramsey!)

 An eye-opening episode from The Ramsey Show (youTube).  After prayer for wisdom from God above, this next step is crucial. Simplifies many of Life's seemingly complicated decisions quite a bit.

 BTW, Happy Birthday (Sept. 3rd) to Dave Ramsey!

Children do what feels good; 

Adults devise a plan and follow it - Dave Ramsey

According to Suetonius, Caesar uttered the famous phrase alea iacta est ("the die is cast"). The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has survived to refer to any individual or group committing itself irrevocably to a risky or revolutionary course of action, similar to the modern phrase "passing the point of no return." Caesar's decision for swift action forced Pompey, the consuls and a large part of the Roman Senate to flee Rome in fear. Caesar's subsequent victory in Caesar's civil war ensured that punishment for the infraction would never be rendered. This took place during the time of the Roman Republic. - Wikipedia

Dave Ramsey

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Real Estate: The Camille, Laguna Philippines

 Very Cute 😍 Brand-new Home

Our own daughter Camille was a cutie 😊 from the beginning -- fat cheeks, and all. She is grown, married, and a hard-working professional RN. Today, we celebrate her birthday.  Thank God for you, sweetheart ❤💖

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you...

(Philippians 1)

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago

Mayor L and Ivanka

 I am not a resident of Chicago, but I would not have voted for Miss Lightfoot even if I were.  She is a Liberal and a Lesbian -- two things I do not agree with.  I base my decision on the Word of God; and a desire for wisdom/common sense in our country. I pray that it would prevail among our towns and big cities; and those in elected positions.  

Links below, as of the date of this writing,  are a couple of examples of why Lightfoot is not the most qualified  of Mayors.

Anyhoo, Happy 🎂Birthday, Mayor Lightfoot (August 4th, 59 years old).

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. (Proverbs 24 )

Chicago Cops Vote ‘No-Confidence’ In Mayor Lori Lightfoot

Tulsi Gabbard accused Lori Lightfoot of 'anti-white racism'

Lori Lightfoot

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Charlie Chaplin Remembered

 The late Mr Chaplin's birthday rolled around this month once again.  I am not a fan of his old movies, per se, but I remember him fondly for his Music.   This song is one of my all time favorites! 

Why? It prompts good memories of my youth. The music is soothing and pleasantly pleading;  while the lyrics have a life lesson worth applying for anyone.

If the Lord God allows me in Switzerland once more, I will make an effort to see his  earthly body's final resting place.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:

 but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

(Proverbs 15)

Smile

Music by Charles Chaplin, Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through
for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you’ll just
Smile

Charlie Chaplin

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Life With Sons: His First Date With New Girlfriend

This boy's in love! 

He waited to officially date L. G. so  as not to worry her Parents as she is younger than he. Vulnerable in many ways to yet another heartache, but moving forward in hope.  What can we Parents do but pray and encourage him?! Tomorrow is her birthday, by the way.

Son parked the Toyota SUV by a nearby public Lake -- back car trunk open and the area made very comfortable with blankets and pillows. They watched the sun set as they talked,  ate home-made baked bread stuffed with pepperoni; plus choice of fruits, crackers, nuts, juice, and water. 

Simple, inexpensive, fun, memorable -- the way it was meant to be ❤👫❤

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. (Proverbs 30 )

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Atheist Professor vs Albert Einstein

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor : My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

Professor : You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Is Satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor : Where does Satan come from ?

Student : From … GOD …

Professor : That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor : So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor : So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor : Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor : Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor : Yet you still believe in Him?

 Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor : Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor : Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor : Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theater became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor : Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor : So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor : If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor : I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you’ll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won’t you?

Forward this to increase their knowledge … or FAITH.

By the way, that student was EINSTEIN (date of birth --  March 14, 1879)

SHARE.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 )

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Albert Einstein

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While I was Driving, 17: Car License Plates for Quadriplegic and Others

Below's license plate is likely referring to the future, other-worldly  hope of paralyzed, quadriplegic Christian writer, Joni Eareckson Tada.  She also recently got infected with Covid-19 😕

We are the E Family -- and we  certainly love our 2 sons!

The ultimate Physician and healer of our souls -- the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4 )

Joni Eareckson Tada






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Ray Bolger, Actor from The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow)

This post is in honor of a movie character who represents what all living things need -- a brain! 

 Actor,  Ray Bolger, was born on this day (January 10th) in the year 1904.  He played the "brainless" scarecrow in the classic movie,  The Wizard of Oz.  

Saw the above original piece of Art at my Neurologist's office wall.  A unique birthday gift painted by his daughter's boyfriend. Whoa, how nice, I thought.

Me: Her BF must be a keeper!

After a split-second of almost imperceptible hesitation from Doc, he answered with a non-answer 😄

Doctor:  He is *certainly* a talented guy.

A quick glance at the guy's IG account explained a lot, hahaha.

I like!

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.  (Philippians 1)

Raymond Wallace Bolger, actor

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