I'll continue the Worldometer data tomorrow. For now, this morning The New York Times reported that Europe is doing something better about this Fall/Winter COVID-19 wave. They are keeping schools open but shutting down bars, restaurants and any kind of congregation:
My venerable bathroom bluetooth speaker playing songs from my iPod broke down. But it was 10 years old, so, being functional in that high moisture environment that long was good service.
I actually wanted my speaker to show me what song by whom was playing. So I checked into this and stumbled across a
showdown rating among Amazon Echo, Sonos One, Google Next and Apple HomePod. For the record, here is how they ranked:
What do they do?
- Play speakers in any room.
- Turn on the lights anywhere.
- Play music anywhere.
- Respond to questions, like asking Siri on you Apple device.
- Set reminders.
What you get depends on what you have:
- Alexa: Google Nest Mini.
- Google Assistant:Amazon Echo Dot
- Siri: Apple HomePod
Get Sonos if you want the best sound, don't have anything anyway or want a challenge. Actually, the Apple HomePod sounds better, and a HomePod Mini is soon to come for $99. But if you're techno-challenged, you still need to get into their smart home platform called HomeKit.
The problem is that I don't see any monitor above. However, you can ask these electronic assistants verbally, and they respond to questions.
I continue in the international genre for song #42, from Japan:
Sakura, or cherry blossoms, appeared some time in the Edo or Tokugawa Period (
1603-1868), and became nationally popular in the Meiji Era (
1868-1912). The melody spans a modest range, allowing for the use of a shakuhachi (
flute) and koto (
string instrument).
Sakura does not seem to make the list of all-time popular songs in Japan because it is too old. Here is a list for music from the
1800's into 1945. However, the world over,
Sakura might well be the most recognized Japanese song. Certainly, those spring blooms returning annually help.
Kimigayo in 1888 became the national anthem of Japan. The lyrics are among the oldest in the world, coming from a poem of the Heian period (
794-1185). The original national theme was written by Britisher John William Fenton early in the Meiji Period. However, it was unpopular, so Hiromori Hayashi, an Imperial Court musician, in 1880 composed what we have today, enhanced by Franz Eckert, a German bandmaster, into a Gregorian mode. With a length of 32 characters, it is the world's shortest national anthem. The regality and rich tone make
Kimigayo my song #42.
I'll end the entertainment section with
Glenn Campbell playing classical music with a symphony orchestra. He was noted to be one of the five best guitar players ever. Passed away three years ago at the age of 80 after releasing 64 albums, 17 of them attaining gold/platinum/double-platinum status. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2010 and still embarked on his final Goodbye Tour, with three of his children in the backup band.
Central America is bracing for Category 5 Hurricane Iota at 160 MPH to make landfall, first over Nicaragua, then into Honduras and El Salvador. Unlike Hurricane Eta, which hit this same region as a Category 4, Iota will then move into the Pacific Ocean.
The worst storm to impact Hawaii in recorded history is Hurricane Iniki, which in 1992 moved from the Caribbean across Central America to Hawaii. However, that was in the month of August. Yet, the other recent serious one in 1982, Hurricane Iwa, threatened Hawaii on Thanksgiving Day, and caused considerable damage to the island of Kauai.-
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