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The Marathon Musician
On January 11, 2023 by ElyseDo you remember last year’s epic story about our friend James Waterbury, the champion piano torturer? It turns out there’s a spinoff starring one of his chief adversaries, Charles Wright: After practicing on a piano for twenty-seven consecutive hours, a Michigan near-Paderewski was removed to a sanatorium, and will probably die. What happened to the
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Clip of the Week: December 28, 2022
On December 28, 2022 by ElyseFirst, they banned dancing (multiple times). Then, they banned alcohol and hat ticklers. Now, not even kissing is allowed?!? It is an annual custom to hold a “social” on Boxing Night. This year the new minister, the Rev. Moffatt Gautrey, decided that the kissing game which had formerly been allowed at the social should not
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Clip of the Week: December 14, 2022
On December 14, 2022 by ElyseA peculiarity about holiday shopping is that a good part of it is always put off until the day or two before Christmas or even till Christmas eve, when there is a grand rush on the stores, and everything is sold and bought in confusion. – The Morning News, December 15, 1895 If you, like
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Clip of the Week: November 30, 2022
On November 30, 2022 by ElyseWhat do you drink when it’s too cold for sangria but too early in the year to break out the eggnog? Vegetables not only contain stimulants but are capable of producing an intoxicating influence on those who depend on them exclusively for food, according to an investigator. He cites a case in which some young
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Clip of the Week: November 16, 2022
On November 16, 2022 by ElyseIf you live in a country that celebrated Veterans/Armistice/Remembrance Day last week, it’s time for a pop quiz: What is the most appropriate way to commemorate the end of one of the deadliest conflicts in human history? I can see you looking at your neighbor’s paper—no cheating! When you’ve circled your answer, read on to
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Clip of the Week: November 2, 2022
On November 2, 2022 by ElyseAnd you thought your family was weird: A Colorado man married his deceased wife’s mother and a New Jersey man has married his grandfather’s widow. England can’t beat that. – The Bryan Morning Eagle, October 15, 1907 They aren’t the only ones in need of a matrimonial agency: . . . As well as a
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Clip of the Week: October 19, 2022
On October 19, 2022 by ElyseA duel for the ages: Armed with only a bicycle and an umbrella, two arrogant politicians face off. Who will win? It seems that cycling has become very popular with some of our younger legislators, and certain of them have got into the habit of coming down to the House [of Commons] on their machines
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Clip of the Week: October 5, 2022
On October 5, 2022 by ElyseThis is the news we need right now: A kitty, a little puppy and a baby fox are all being mothered by this big, kind, short-haired dog! Usually a kitten just hates a dog; shows her claws and puts up her back when her natural enemy comes near her. And a fox is the natural
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Clip of the Week: September 21, 2022
On September 21, 2022 by ElyseKevin Bacon—er, Ren McCormack—might have a thing or two to say about this: No new dances will be introduced during 1931, according to the decision of the dance hall managers’ official board of control of ballroom dancing, London. Santos Casani, a leading manager has announced that he is concentrating on popularizing the waltz tango, and