A Medicine For Melancholy
I make it a point on Sunday evening to listen to one NPR radio show: "From the Top." It is a show that features the music of teenagers, maybe even into the early 20s who play classical music. And who play it very, very well.
When the gloomy doomy atmosphere hangs over the body politic like the Sword of Obamacles (OK, that was a stretch, I apologize), it is heartening to listen to the beautiful playing of youth who have chosen the discipline of effort to learn the enduring music of humanity. The teenaged oboist, the young cellist, the African-American who plays saxophone not for jazz or pop but for the classical repertoire that exists for Herr Sax's ophone. Well, jazz and pop are probably in there too but how nice to hear the more esoteric music as well.
And, just for your delectation is my friend the Guitar Nazi's newest axe:


That's PRS's Whale Blue on a gorgeous 10 top of flame maple. Really excellent flaming on this one - in person you can see the depth of the three dimensional effect great flaming has. Notice also the "soapbar" pickups. Some names are obvious. Click the pic to embiggen.