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* Since I seem to be spending an hour every evening surfing YouTube and other social media video sites, my stockpile of fodder is getting unmanageably large. I intend to self-DOGE and cut that hour in half, but some habits are hard to break. Thus, I’m slipping in another Just Briefs issue – hopefully for your edification and enjoyment.

But first… 

* How the germ of an idea grew into a major achievement… but not exactly the way I envisioned it.

* And you’ll find something a little different in today’s Readers Write: some thought-provoking ideas for your consideration. (Maybe you’d like to keep the conversation going by contributing some ideas of your own?)

I’m Jealous. Again.

Ernesto “San” Aviles, Portrait D’un Ami Tenant Une Poire, 
1975, acrylic on canvas, 19”x19” 

In 1989, the first time I tried to retire, I bought a half-interest in a local art gallery. I imagined that I’d be spending my newly freed-up days there, mostly reading great books, but also having stimulating discussions about art with rich and sophisticated collectors who had heard about our superb inventory.

That turned out to be a delusion. The reality of selling art on a retail basis, I discovered, was much more about building lists of prospects, staging promotions to get them in the door, making a good impression, and then constantly hounding them to convert them into paying customers. That was essentially the same routine from which I had just retired. So, I eased myself out of that deal and applied what was left of my interest in art to purchasing it, which turned out to be a lot of fun. If I saw it and liked it, I bought it. It was a simple as that.

I eventually decided to convert my habit of randomly buying art on impulse to the much more disciplined job of building a specialized collection. That wasn’t quite as easy as impulse buying had been, but it was more rewarding in the sense that I was working toward a goal that I truly cared about.

I had fallen in love with Central American Modern Art, so that was to become the core of my collection. But the dream I had for it did not feature me as the lead actor. I was busy trying to grow several businesses that I still had an interest in, and so I had to rely on Suzanne Snider as my partner to do most of the legwork – traveling to Central America to make contacts with dealers, artists, critics, and major collectors; winning their trust and respect; and then having them help us find opportunities for me to invest in the pieces we agreed that I needed to make my collection “world-class.” Which, of course, meant that she was having most of the fun.

To ensure the future of my collection, I came up with the implausible idea of somehow housing it in a museum. Maybe one that I would build myself. The dream I had for that project had me playing a larger role. I would be meeting with and learning from all the cool and interesting people that Suzanne had befriended over the years.

In 2021, I took the first step toward making that happen by having Suzanne help me establish two non-profits: the Mark & Kathryn Ford Collection to hold the core collection, and the Museum of Central American Art (MoCAArt) to make it available to the public.

Meanwhile, Suzanne has been curating the collection as it’s grown. And I’ve been working like a nut job generating income to fund the project; she’s still meeting and learning from all of those cool and interesting people.

Here’s an example. She’s writing about a recent trip she took to El Salvador to attend an exhibition of my favorite Central American modernist: San Aviles.

MoCAArt board member Louis Carrillo and Michel Langlais, 
president of the MARTE museum in El Salvador 

The birds sing, a dog barks and we sit in a covered patio of a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home. Orchids, palms, and giant ferns from prehistoric times blend as a wall. In the center of the yard, a large tree I only know from Dr. Seuss books.

I am hoping to see the Salvadoran National bird, torogoz, a turquoise-headed motmot, relative to the kingfisher. The long, thin tail feathers have plumes on the ends.

I am here with Louis Carrillo, and we are staying in the home of Michel Langlais in San Benito. It is just a block or two from EL MARTE, where the exhibition of Ernesto “San” Aviles opens this week.

Michel, as our personal ambassador, has planned the week. He is incredibly hospitable and just hearing his stories of all the people he knows in the art world is not only entertaining but impressive.

This morning we will visit the museum Forma, and in the afternoon one of my favorite contemporary artists here in El Salvador, Ronald Moran, at his art cooperative, La Fabrica.

What I’ve done with the videos that I’m recommending this time is a bit of what I think is an improvement. Instead of covering 25 to 30 different subjects, I’m covering just 10. But I’m providing two or three links for each of them, with the expectation that you will find some of them worth more than just a minute or two of your time.

1. Super Cute and Immensely Skilled 

2 videos
Total Watch Time: 9 min.

Her name is Yoeun Seoul. She was born in South Korea in 2012. She began training in classical violin when she was just shy of three years old. According to her parents, she “loves reading and enjoys figure skating and is attending Cheon Cheon Elementary School.” Recently, she started a YouTube channel to record some of her practices and performances. (She has 800,000 subscribers.)

Here she is at eight years old doing some impressive work. Watch Time: 4 min.

And here she is a year or two older showing immensely improved skills – virtuosity, IMHO. Watch Time: 5 min.

2. Bill Hader Off the Cuff

2 videos
Total Watch Time: 8.5 min.

Bill Hader in a brilliant comedian, a successful producer, and a likeable actor. Here he tells Conan O’Brien a little story about his daughter that turns into a laugh fest. Watch Time: 3 min.

And here he is being interviewed by “Jiminy Glick.” Note how Bill handles it. Like a pro. Watch Time: 5.5 min.

3. From Sheep and Potato Farmer to National Hero

3 videos
Total Watch Time: 8.5 min.

You gotta love this story. Cliff Young was a 61-year-old Australian farmer who figured he was good enough to compete against the best long-distance runners in the world because he had spent a good part of his adult life chasing sheep and cattle around his potato farm. He somehow managed to get registered in what was considered the most challenging ultra-marathon – a brutal 541-mile race from Sidney to Melbourne – even though he had never run in a race in his life. His performance shocked the racing world and stole the hearts of his fellow Australians. Watch Time: 1.25 min.

Here’s a slightly longer take on it that will give you an idea of the competition he faced. Watch Time: 3 min.

And if you’d like to know more about Cliff Young, watch this. Watch Time: 4.25 min.

4. The Biggest Lies from the Big Food Cartel 

2 videos
Total Watch Time: 4.25 min.

As a publisher of health and fitness information for more than 30 years, I’ve worked with dozens of very credible doctors, nutritionists, and health scientists. Dr. Al Sears, one of the first of those experts I had the pleasure of working with, is one of the best. Here he debunks a very common myth about nutrition: that chicken is better than red meat. Watch Time: 2.25 min.

And here he talks about the four biggest vegetarian lies. Watch Time: 2 min.

5. Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina Resurfaces in Africa 

3 videos
Total Watch Time: 6.5 min.

Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, known professionally as Daddy Yankee, is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. Dubbed the “King of Reggaeton,” he is often cited as an influence by other Hispanic performers. Twenty years ago, Daddy Yankee produced a record called Gasolina. It became an international hit, although I never heard of it. And neither did you. Admit it. In recent years, it’s become a favorite among African amateur video makers.

Here’s a group of “ghetto kids” from Namibia doing it. Watch Time: 1 min.

Here it is with my favorite African group. Watch Time: 2.5 min.

And here it goes slightly bad with a Zumba group. Watch Time: 3 min.

6. Kiwi Humor at Its Most Authentic 

2 videos
Total Watch Time: 4 min.

Nick Caper is a New Zealand comedian best known for his role in Bruce, a black comedy series. Here he talks about how he wins fights by using his brains. Watch Time: 2 min.

And here he is talking about horror movies. Watch Time: 2 min.

7. Loren DiGiorgi: Nerdy Look, Great Piano Teacher

2 videos
Total Watch Time: 5 min.

He’s obviously a good piano player and a master of musicology. I’d have liked to have him as my high school music teacher. Here he gives us a piano lesson. Watch Time: 3 min.

And here he shows us how Mozart’s Turkish Rondo would sound as ragtime, jazz, and blues. Watch Time: 2 min.

 
8. Never Seen This Before: Serenading Animals

3 videos
Total Watch Time: 9 min.

I like this guy’s shtick. He seems to be French, but you wouldn’t know it when he sings in French. Somehow, he got the idea of getting famous on social media by playing his guitar and singing to animals – all sorts of animals – to see how they would react. As it happened, they responded very positively. It does make one wonder what we’ve failed to figure out in terms of our commonality with animals.

Here he is performing a song in French that demonstrates the quality of his voice. Watch Time: 4.5 min.

But that’s not why I like him. I like him because of the bits he does with the animals. Like this one. Watch Time: 1.5 min.

And this one. Watch Time: 3 min.

9. Matt Rife’s Impromptu Comedy

3 videos 
Total Watch Time: 4.75 min.

I feel like I discovered Matt Rife because I came across him by chance when I was doing my YouTube addiction scan. But I didn’t. According to Wikipedia, he’s an American comedian and actor. He is best known for his self-produced comedy specials, as well as his recurring role on the sketch improv comedy and rap show Wild ‘n Out. He’s one of those great white comedians who does well with “sensitive” issues.

Here’s a taste. Watch Time: 1.25 min.

Here he deals with autistic children. Watch Time: 2 min.

Here’s another good one. Watch Time: 1.5 min.

10. Intriguing: The Mystery of “The Hat Man” 

2 videos
Total Watch Time: 10 min.

Countless people claim to have seen The Hat Man – a shadowy figure in a wide-brimmed hat – while experiencing sleep paralysis, bringing on an overwhelming sense of dread. Why have so many people, throughout time and across different cultures, reported the same eerie encounter? Is it a neurological glitch or something more?

Here’s one explanation. Watch Time: 2 min.

Here’s another one. Watch Time: 8 min.

Food for Thought 
 
Why are the Dems so upset about DOGE? 

GM sent this in, quoting billionaire investor Bill Ackman:

“Can we agree that we have $36 trillion of national debt growing at a rapid rate, that must be refinanced and issued at a materially higher interest rate as our bonds come due and as new funds are needed? And that we had a $1.8 trillion deficit in fiscal 2024?

And can we also agree that “there is an enormous amount of fraud, waste, and inappropriate spending in our government budget?”

Two facts: “Musk has a proven ability to take over dysfunctional organizations and turn them into highly functioning ones while massively reducing wasteful overhead and other spending.

“Trump won the election with a mandate for eliminating wasteful government spending and ending regulations that interfere with our country’s progress.

“DOGE is just getting started and has already identified a massive amount of waste and likely fraud and has begun cutting a material amount of costs.

“It is axiomatic that those who are beneficiaries of waste, fraud, and unnecessary government spending will be the most threatened by the cuts that DOGE is making in these programs. The president has stated clearly that he is overseeing DOGE’s activities and that no important decisions will be made without his consent….

“Other efforts over the last many decades to eliminate government waste and fraud have totally failed.

“DOGE is our best hope for fixing our fundamentally flawed and highly ineffective bureaucratic system for running our country.”

 

From TS: Do you know why runners run counterclockwise? 

“Running on the track more than a hundred years ago was clockwise, as all races (200m, 400m, 800m…) during the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 were all done clockwise.

“Strangely enough, runners expressed their discomfort and even pain when running in this direction, so international bodies, starting in 1913, adopted running against the direction of the Olympic races and made them counterclockwise.

“Modern science has proven things that confirm that counterclockwise rotation is prevalent in nature, as:

“The blood inside the human body begins its cycle counterclockwise.

“The electrons around the nucleus rotate counterclockwise.

“Also, if we go outside the scope of the Earth, we find the moon rotating around the Earth counterclockwise.

“The Earth rotates around the sun counterclockwise.

“The planets rotate around the sun counterclockwise.

“The sun and its group revolve around the galaxy counterclockwise.

“And the entire galaxies revolve counterclockwise.

“Muslims have also been circumambulating the Kaaba counterclockwise for 1400 years.”