New years eve has always been a time for jokes about balls dropping, etc.  I don't know if they are doing that in New York this year, but my guess is that they aren't.  

I often encourage my friends to be better listeners to one another, and to show more empathy and emotional intelligence.  You never know what the people around you are going through or what kind of day they are having until you ask that magical question "how are you"?....etc.  

2020 Favorites

By request from my brother: An (expanded) list of artists who made albums I like this year....keep in mind this is albums I like, not "best albums."

 

Also an expanded list for 2020 songs: 

Unusual fact about me: I've always had this secret fear that the blades on ceiling fans are going to come off as they spin and slice me.  

In the news today: 190,000 ceiling fans recalled from King Of Fans, a company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, because the blades can detach. 

So maybe some fears are not so irrational....

I got an EKG done this week, and several more tests coming up.  Looking to get better and come back stronger than ever.  There have to be good things ahead in 2021. 

So, "Chanooka" is over, but it is almost Christmas time.  Anyway, I forgive the real Smokey Robinson for his pronunciation of Hanukkah.  The sad thing is that I have friends who are kind of like that, who basically just found out that there are such thing as Jews in this world or that we don't have horns like someone told them or something.  

This is a cover of that song by the Corrs from the year 2000.  So I am left breathless after certain days at work and not in a good way, because some people at my job only staff their employees based on "business needs" and not based on sense.  

Scary moments for me at work, but thankfully Human Resources seemed to be on my side with this one.

  

Breathing deeper seems to help a lot.  Maybe not so much for the physical problems that come from my job, but more-so the mental symptoms of being thrown on only the most physically difficult stuff for your entire work week.  

Really bad week at work, with loss of a co-worker in my department to covid.

 Got tested for covid, and waiting to hear back my results.  

I think I've blogged about favorite albums of the year enough, so how about some songs from this year that I enjoyed?  Keep in mind, not "best" songs because that is like comparing apples to oranges to pears to peaches(all things that are fruits but quite different and awesome in their own way), but some that I liked.  And for anyone who might say that I don't include enough black artists, I've got Shamir on there, and would gladly create a list with more black artists on there....

Update: My covid test came back negative. 

Addendum to this post: a couple of albums I liked this year.

                                                                    

                                                                    

                                                                        

Hamilton star Daveed Diggs is Jewish and created a new Hanukkah song!

Also, I am happy that my favorite new NBA player Deni Avdija will be on the receiving end of assists from Russell Westbrook, and not throwing gang signs with John Wall.    

I think it is those background female vocals that make the song.  

Loving new Kali Uchis.  It always seems that as soon as I start trying to figure out my favorite songs/albums of the year, another starts jumping into the mix.  

Good news with my life: My employer is now doing on-site testing for Covid, and I went ahead and got mine.  I wasn't feeling any symptoms, but I decided to go ahead and get tested, and it wasn't that bad.  

More good news: Tampons and pads are now free in Scotland!! I'd better go get myself some of those over there!

 I feel compelled to write something in memory of a teacher I worked with, Mr.  Jay Cohen, who I recently found out has passed.  I remember working closely with him, as he was my director for two high school pit orchestras that I played in.  He also worked with the marching band, and chaperoned choir trips that I went on.  He was a fantastic man, and I was so honored to have worked with him.  His style of directing was just incredible.  I wasn't even that good, but I somehow performed the lead trumpet parts for Les Miserables and Sound Of Music, and whatever he did to direct me worked, because I kept getting better and better!     

An early look at some of my year-end favorites, not necessarily what I think is the best because trying to do that is like comparing apples to oranges, two things that are really great, but in different ways.  More in depth stuff to come and maybe more analysis...

I think basically no one checked out that Cut Worms album, but one of the nice finds I've heard lately.   

• 1. What are the 10 best albums of 2020?

  • #1 : Tame Impala: The Slow Rush
  • #2 : Bill Callahan: Gold Record
  • #3 : Bob Dylan: Rough and Rowdy Ways
  • #4 : Oneohtrix Point Never: Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
  • #5 : Dogleg: Melee
  • #6 : Blake Mills: Mutable Set
  • #7 : Perfume Genius: Set My Heart on Fire Immediately
  • #8 : The Mountain Goats: Getting Into Knives
  • #9 : HAIM: Women in Music Pt. III
  • #10 : Cut Worms: Nobody Lives Here Anymore
• 2. What are the 10 best songs of 2020?

  • #1 : Tame Impala: Lost in Yesterday
  • #2 : Haim: The Steps
  • #3 : The 1975: If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)
  • #4 : Grimes: Delete Forever
  • #5 : BTS: Dynamite
  • #6 : Blackpink: Lovesick Girls
  • #7 : The Strokes: Bad Decisions
  • #8 : Phoebe Bridgers: Kyoto
  • #9 : Dua Lipa: Physical
  • #10 : Shamir: On My Own

Deni Avdija became the highest drafted Israeli player in NBA history last night.  The commentators really liked the (possibly) Manischewitz wine in the background.  Hopefully he becomes a star and doesn't throw any gang signs with John Wall.  I already like the pairing of Avdija and Rui Hachimura (Japanese player), since both of those players are doing big things for their countries, and international basketball in general. 

 

I got called "big guy" by two different people this week.  

Billlie Eilish isn't like all the other girls and has no desire to be, which is why she became such an endearing star. New stuff.

So I am really feeling the new album from Oneohtrix Point Never (Daniel Lopatin's nom de plume), and they have a knew video, though they are best experienced in the full album format.  They did the soundtrack for Uncut Gems.  

 

So it has come to my attention, through the lens of 2020, that certain brands and things seem to be changing logos and brand names a lot lately.  So obviously, I hate the first word in this brand, but a lot of people know what it means....  

It is hard to stamp out every single ounce of things that are screwed up, but you see these things and you just wonder....

My friend Jaya from work makes some most excellent music.

So, years later, the Strokes still are playing quality Strokes songs.  

Ok, so they released what is possibly my favorite album of this year so far, and covered maybe one of the most hooky and catchy songs of the past 15 years.

Dave Chappelle showcase on SNL.

 

“Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end”

-President elect, Joe Biden

 I woke up today just trembling in fear.  I don't know who amongst my friends and family are on which side, which is the eeriest thing about election time.

I'm with Biden.  There is hope.  

 Okay, so I did my part.  I voted.  This has been one of the harder weeks I've had in a while.  Between the physical pains I feel and the fear of what is to come with this country.  

A Jewish graveyard was desecrated with pro-Trump messages in Michigan.  Is this a preview of what is to come for America if he wins? 

Scarier than anything Halloween-related is the prospect of four more years of Trump.  I encourage my friends to go ahead and vote.

Today I found out that two people I work closely with probably believe in far right QAnon conspiracy theories.  

It is Halloween.  I am not doing anything for Halloween this year, because I worked all day.  Halloween brings into memory past Halloweens, which include one of my first serious up close and personal encounters with marijuana at a college party, some LGBTQA thing.  This one girl blew it into my mouth.  I think I got a scratchy throat but didn't inhale it.  I think I called my mom, and I was pretty upset.      

I've been getting into Bad Bunny, who was recently featured on the cover of the NYTimes Magazine.  Wow, as I typed magazine, I realized I was typing MAGA and almost vomited in my mouth.  

So we're living in a world where people walk into Starbucks during the Covid19 pandemic wearing all Trump attire, and refuse to put on their masks.  When approached by black employees about it, they shout "fuck black lives matter" and something about Trump and claim that they were accosted because they are Trump supporters.  What does black lives matter even have to do with being asked to wear a mask? 

 So, my take is that black lives do matter.  Of course they do.  

But violent protests? 

Come on.  This is getting ridiculous.  It isn't going to solve anything.  I have relatives in Philadelphia who can't leave their house last time I checked because of what is going on.  Police officers who are trying to stop the violence who aren't racist are getting injured.  

Another crazy week at work.  But there is something about watching Chunk the Groundhog that makes things okay.

I'm still faking it until I make it, or something like that.  

I love hardcore, but didn't start liking Touche Amoure until this album...

Somehow came across this sweet cover of that Alice Deejay dance track from my teenage years.  On repeat for me.  

Work is work.  A lot of people mentioning this one girl Nina's butt.  Not me though.  I've started the Nina's butt count.  

The current tally is four.

We lost Eddie Van Halen!

Trump is apparently caravan-ing around with Covid for a photo op.  I don't even know what to say.  The fact is, I wouldn't wish death upon him, and Biden wouldn't either, but if it were Biden who got the virus, Trump would probably wish death upon Biden.

 My ballot is in.  I'm with Biden.  

Despite the fact that I do not support my current president, I do not think that him dying of coronavirus would solve anything.  I wish him a speedy recovery, and maybe, just maybe when he recovers he will actually endorse those masks, dammit!

I'm coming off of a fast for Yom Kippur, so my body feels pretty weird.  

I started filling out my mail in ballot for the upcoming election.  I'm just one vote, and so is everyone else, but I think exercising one's right to vote is important.  

I'm not going to tell anyone who to vote for.  

Just try to avoid voting for people whose last name rhymes with dump because generally those kind of people will give you presidencies that are worse than most dumps.  I'm not talking about Ronald Stump here.    

I have been far from at ease lately.  It has definitely been that kind of year.  

The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are always a good time to reflect.  I hopefully have done enough good and little evil this year, so that I can be judged and allowed to continue with my life.  

In other news, a town in New York has voted to keep its name, Swastika, NY.  Apparently, it means something else in Sanskrit.  People have to do better than that.  

Would anyone want to go Noose, PA? I most surely would not want to go to a place named that.  Even if noose meant love in another language or something.

RIP Toots Hibbert.  

9/11 reflections.

 9/11 is always difficult for me to get through.  I’ll always remember the confusion as to what exactly happened as the news was relayed to us, and calling my uncle who was very close to where it happened.  Let's never forget the bravery that we witnessed that day, and the lives of those lost.  

New music from Bruce Springsteen.

BTS at 2020 VMA's!

 ...and now we lost former Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson.  He coached some of my favorite players, including Allen Iverson.  

And Toots Hibbert from the very excellent reggae band Toots and the Maytals is fighting for his life with possible covid symptoms.  I hope he comes through!  

 Lots of saddening losses as of late in music, sports, and movies/tv, including Chadwick Boseman, Cliff Robinson, Lute Olson, and Justin Townes Earle. 

Haven't heard from the Deftones in a while.  Yes, they're loud, so turn it down a bit if you need to.

My friend at work asked me the other day whether Jews believe in Hell.  

I am not the expert, but I think I actually had an answer for that, which is consistent with what is generally believed.  Anyway, I found it to be interesting what these guys said. 

 I had a rather strange experience the other day.  It wasn't the first time that something like this has happened to me.

I was just getting started with my work day when a co-worker, someone who I work with pretty closely almost every day and who I've talked to at length, randomly burst out into a nazi salute, and announced "heil Hitler" in the middle of the work floor, for no apparent reason.  Keep in mind, I don't think he knows that I am Jewish.

Maybe it was in jest, or maybe for the entire time I've known him, he secretly had those kind of sentiments against people like me.  

That was a really big, offensive thing for him to do (So big that I wouldn't even call it a microagression), but there are so many smaller microaggressions that people do, without even realizing it.  

I still have yet to decide what to do.  Maybe he was just goofing off or something, but seriously, who does that in the middle of work (or anywhere for that matter) and why should that be excuse-able? What's next? Is he going to go around shouting the n-word or something?

Update: I called the ethics hotline about this incident and filed a report.

Second update: I worked with the person again today with no incident.   

Third Update: Yet another day with "heil Hitler" Larry.  It seems that he works very well with people, but still he said THAT.  I did converse with him about his military experience in Italy.

Fourth Update: I don't really think anything is going to be done about my complaint since it was anonymous, unless I maybe go to my local human resources...

I haven't received any follow-up information from the ethics hotline.

I could just forget about it, but really..."heil Hitler?" I think it came from a places where it was someone who never comes in contact with Jews, so Nazi jokes are a "normal" part of the humor...Or this guy really has something against Jews and truly believes in the correctness of Hitler's ideologies.

So, these are the same guys that released that really huge album Settle in 2013.

Nothing better to do than watch old gays get surprised with puppies.  

My old high school choir friend is the singer and mastermind for this band.  I wasn't best friends with him or anything, but I think we had a connection back then.    

Kind of funny, I actually didn't really like his music, even though it seemed like I was "supposed" to since I went to high school with him and everything, but I think he is moving more in a direction I like with this one.  I know he received a lot of heat for supposedly brushing off sexual misconduct allegations against his former band manager, and now he seems to be trying to figure out how to reconcile some decisions he made.  I look forward to hearing the full album.  

Very good response from Julian Edelman to Eagles receiver DeSaun Jackson, regarding his antisemitic posts.  I think they should suspend Jackson.  

I don't know if this picture really shows how heavy this tree is, but I survived a very scary thing, when a portion of a tree fell and narrowly missed where I was sleeping.

Chill-wave is going strong in 2020.

Haim released their third album.  

The Dixie Chicks are just the Chicks now.  Wow.  

In some interesting news, a professor was placed on leave because he asked a Vietnamese student to "anglicize" her name, because it sounds like something bad in English.  Phuc Boi.  
It's her name.  Say it without feeling ashamed.  Not fuckboy, silly professor.  

Yup, I actually do know what a fuckboy is, and I would not describe myself as one of those!

Effing Mike Pence wouldn't say "black lives matter" if someone put a gun to his head.  What a racist.  


Looks like some of my questions may soon be answered.  

My beloved Bright Eyes is back, first album in a while.

I seem to have misunderstood what is meant by "defunding" law enforcement.  By defunding law enforcement, they don't mean completely cutting off funds.  They mean re-structuring/overhauling.  Maybe there is a way it can be done.

This situation is getting to be unbelievably scary.  Many people want the police to be defunded, but I don't think that is going to work.  Imagine cities without law enforcement.  There has to be some way to train officers so that people can feel protected and not threatened.  

It has been quite a past couple of days.  It is up to everyone to stop being a bystander and start being an agent for change when it comes to dealing with racist behavior.  I know I've seen it, and that things are far from good.

I listened to "Rain On Me" and it started raining on me.  

I don't know why, but when I saw a headline that says "two half sisters found under a bridge," I understood that as something about two sisters cut in half, not as two sisters who share one parent.  

1st new track in three years from Cut Copy.  Something atmospheric.

Major news story since I follow this kind of thing.  Grimes gave birth to a child, fathered by Elon Musk.   The baby's name:


X Æ A-12 Musk

Ok then!

Amazing Amazing.  

Another day.  

We were able to see and talk to my grandma through FaceTiming with someone who is working at the nursing home.  I think she was able to recognize us (people in their 90's don't always understand the concept of FaceTime), but it was hard to tell how she was doing.

Very tough times for me, since my grandma has Covid 19.  I actually did try praying, not even sure if it helps but maybe someone up there will listen.  

Absolutely in love with this.

This song was rather jarring when I first heard it, but growing on me.

Definitely noisy stuff, but sometimes that jolt can be just what you need during your workout or long commute.  Not really about to listen to this with my mom or anything.  

I worked my "essential" job this week.  It really was like going to Chernobyl or something.  Just glad to have finished my work week.  

Who double dips during a pandemic, really?

My workplace has yet to shut down.  
This guy is right.  
Dildos aren't essential items.  Try a cucumber instead, but don't get it stuck up there!

No, don't use a baked potato!

I'm considering ordering a baclava balaclava to go along with my hijab and my do-rag.

More and more bad news piles up.  But No Age has some new music.  

I am still processing the very sudden loss of Adam Schlesinger from Fountains of Wayne.  Very sad loss of a very talented man.  I'll always remember dancing to "Stacy's Mom" with my friend Stacy, her mom, and her friends and family at her wedding.  

A confirmed case of COVID19 at the Wawa that I went to three times this week.  They shut down. 

1 confirmed case so far at my building.  It was someone who was there on 3/27 and I was there for four 10.5 hour shifts after that.  
I have been trying to take a lot of measures to protect myself and I hope that others are too.  

I always liked the band Clinic.  Maybe they saw the pandemic coming.  

So, it is definitely not business as usual at my job right now.  
Those of us who are smart about things generally make it longer on this planet.  I don't know why someone would be licking their fingers at work when there is pandemic happening, really.  

I really wish the sensation that I have a walnut stuck in my throat would go away.
Anyway Waxahatchee is always good and has a new album coming out.  

One takeaway from this whole crisis, is with the whole closing of workplaces, etc, who is saying which things are essential, and which aren't? 

So, I've been doing virus scans on my computer.  It seems that it is telling me that a virus would be crazy to mess with me. .   

Not much to smile about these days, but the Killers released a new video.

While all this virus stuff is going on, Porridge Radio released an intense new album.  

Also, can we get Trump to stop calling it the "Chinese virus"? 

I never thought it would come to this.  Places closing down, people quarantining.  

However, my job extended my hours and upped my pay.   For me, this hasn't been the worst thing that could happen at all, but for many, this is devastating.

It is business as usual at work for me, with some elbow bumping instead of high fives and some social distancing.  

It's Friday the 13th, isn't it...

To everyone who thought I was crazy when I bought all that toilet paper, soap refills, etc, it is me who has the last laugh now, since that stuff can't seem to be found on many store shelves right now.  
The coronavirus has pretty much impacted many things in my life....my ability to visit my grandma at the nursing home, my job, my ability to watch sports and late night tv, my ability to go to events I would like to attend, etc  I'm not afraid to go outside, but I admit to being somewhat scared.  

With Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar out of the presidential race, we lost three quality candidates.  All we can do is hope for good things.  I haven't decided a preference between Sanders and Biden at this point, but I think everyone who knows me knows who I want them to beat.

Yup, the Dixie Chicks are on my blog.  Whoever knew me in the early 2000's would probably not have seen me even get close to anything pop country, but times change, and sometimes you listen to what comes to you or what your friends listen to.

Haim get twangy on this new song.

In honor of the amazingly fun new BTS album, I am posting this exciting carpool karaoke.


For poo poos and giggles.  

It's a leap year! Hence, 29 days in February! Celebrate with some new Alanis Morissette.  I guess it's something about reasons that she drinks.  Hopefully not too much because that would be bad for you.  

Got called a "team player" at work the other day.  Now I can make it official on my resume...or maybe people want to see something more original, like I'm a loaf of bread.  
But now it's official.  I'm a team player!

This, several weeks after getting compared to LL Cool J.  Yes, a Jewish boy like me getting the LL Cool J comparison (because of the way I was wearing my pants).  Anyway, Harry Styles is back with a gorgeous new video.   

Great new song!

Public Service announcement.  Just because someone is Asian does not mean they have the coronavirus.  
Go support your favorite Asian restaurants!  

I saw one of Africa's premier divas, Angelique Kidjo.  She did a bunch of stuff from her album of reinterpretations of the the Talking Heads' Remain in Light, as well as other stuff.  She's a very genuine performer, who really wants to bring joy, positivity, and love to everyone.  

A little bit more quaint than usual on this one, but definitely an interesting track from them.  I'm hearing some banjo.

Elon Musk and Grimes' baby will probably come out looking like a banana split.

Excellent new Pearl Jam video.

I picked up one of these the other day.  It's not 2008, so this time around, I'm not dealing with controlling girlfriends who seemingly never met anyone with family problems and/or less money than they have, and the paralyzing existential anxiety.  This time around, I'm just going to take it one day at a time.  Definitely a challenge to get this while working full time.


New video from the 1975.  

We lost Andy Gill from Gang of Four.  I saw them perform this song in concert.  More than anything, Gang of Four were made for me.

In case anyone missed this performance (like I did).

One of my favorite songs from 2019, performed on late night TV.  

Just had to share this fun viral video. 

Tame Impala has so graciously gifted us with a new video from their upcoming album.  Currents was quite possibly my favorite album of the past decade, so I am excited for this one.  

Ok, so Wolf Parade is back.  I was a huge fan back in the 2000's and that whole era was one of my favorites for indie rock, so naturally, I am thrilled to have them back.  

I seem to have slept on Paramore throughout the years, but they grew on me, and I'm liking this new song from their singer.

A welcome return for Waxahatchee.  

Finally something good in the news.  France to ban mass shredding of live chicks.  Really.

The universe works in mysterious ways.  I lost my friend Jeff one week, and now Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash soon after.  I remember how he recently stated that there are women who are good enough to play in the NBA right now.  In fact, I had just been talking about that with my brother the other day.  
I am also a big supporter of women doing what the men can do, so I liked that sentiment from him.  

Has my favorite song of the year arrived already? 

I lost my friend Jeff.
Here's a start, as I try to put this very incredible friend into words:  

Jeff was a great friend to me.  I am so happy to have known him.  Just a wonderful and kind soul and brilliant person who made my days brighter whenever I saw him or wrote to him.  He had a way about him that made people feel at ease.  His kindness eased my soul for as long as I knew him.  He will be in my heart forever.