The votes are in.

Last Friday, with a €20 Currys PC World voucher redeemable in any Currys store on offer, I asked for your favourite piano song or a song whose melody is led by a piano.

You answered in your dozens.

But there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

The Night I Heard Caruso Sing by Everything But The Girl

Noa writes:

“This song has been haunting me a lot recently, a beautiful piano piece, and when Tracey Thorn joins in with Ben Watt it becomes a sublime piece to listen to.”

Runner-up:

Uncertain Smile by The The

Fergalito writes:

“While not strictly piano-led, the closing joanna solo by Jools Holland at the end of it really makes it leap from excellent to sublime. Story goes he rocked up to the studio on his motorcycle on a sweltering hot July day, dressed head to toe in leather gear, say down, did the take in one, apologised for the mistake and bolted. I’ve listened to this umpteen times and cannot find any mistake ! I don’t think Matt Johnson can either …. hairs on the back of me neck every time i hear it !”

Winner:

Martha by Tom Waits.

Truelovewaits writes:

“It is surprising that Tom Waits was only 23 when he recorded this song as it is a wonderfully evocative story of an older man looking back on a youthful love-affair and captures a sense of mature reflection on the past tinged with regret.”

Nick says: Thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s PC Voucher

Behold: the normally faint and elusive Jellyfish nebula, aka IC 443, captured in an alluring scene with Mars to the right. To wit:

In the telescopic field of view, two bright yellowish stars, Mu and Eta Geminorum, stand just below and above the Jellyfish Nebula at the left. Cool red giants, they lie at the foot of the celestial twin. The Jellyfish Nebula itself floats below and left of centre, a bright arcing ridge of emission with dangling tentacles. In fact, the cosmic jellyfish is part of bubble-shaped supernova remnant IC 443, the expanding debris cloud from a massive star that exploded. Light from that explosion first reached planet Earth over 30,000 years ago. Like its cousin in astrophysical waters the Crab Nebula supernova remnant, the Jellyfish Nebula is known to harbour a neutron star, the remnant of the collapsed stellar core. Composed on April 30, this telescopic snapshot also captures Mars. Now wandering through early evening skies, the Red Planet also shines with a yellowish glow on the right hand side of the field of view. Of course, the Jellyfish Nebula is about 5,000 light-years away, while Mars is currently almost 18 light-minutes from Earth.

(Image: Jason Guenzel)

apod

42, Mount Pleasant Terrace, Ranelagh, Dublin 6

This morning.

The C1 Ber-rated period property, which is just 55sq m (592sq ft) in size, is in walk-in condition and is asking €525,000 through agents Felicity Fox.

A comparison that shows the appetite for well-designed, turn-key one-beds in the area, can be seen in the sale of number 9. While a very different style of one-bed, and larger, extending to 84sq m (904sq ft), the Tom de Paor designed home came to market in November 2017 asking €495,000 and sold for €550,000 in June 2018….

Thud.

Artisan cottage in Ranelagh for €525,000 (Irish Times)

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

Fight!


Above from left:  Anne O’Connor, COO, HSE; Paul Reid, CEO HSE; Dr Colm, Henry, CCO, HSE; and Damien McCallion, HSE National Lead, Vaccination Programme at Dr Steevens’ Hospital for the weekly HSE operational update on the response to Covid-19

This afternoon.

Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin.

Via RTÉ News:

Over 2.2 million vaccines have been administered in this country up to yesterday, according to HSE chief Paul Reid.

Over 1.6 million people have now received their first dose, 43% of the adult population, with Thursday of last week seeing the highest number of vaccines administered to date, 56,000…

…In the 60-69 age group, over 320,000 people have received their first dose of vaccine, and 186,000 in the 50-59 age group have been given their first jab.

HSE chief says cyber attack a ‘stomach-churning criminal act’ (RTÉ)

Earlier: Race of Ages

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Labelled a lunatic by US chat show host Jimmy Kimmell for sharing a video showing a magnet adhering to his vaccine injection site, a bewildered Robert Carroll takes to the roof of his Chicago home.

Previously: Stuck on You

Photocall Ireland


Charles James Livingstone – What The Heart Needs

Mr Livingstone, I presume.

Monaghan tunesmith Charles James Livingstone (top) takes a lockdown-enforced break from his band Lowlight Gathering with his second solo single that follows on from debut single Midnight Moon.

Working remotely, old bandmates Shay Sweeney (drums) and Danny Mahony (keyboards) join Charles on this smooth, melodic love song.

Nick says: Good tune Charlie.

Charles James Livingstone

Ah do.

Ron Sexsmith at Liberty Hall (Ticketmaster)

Ron Sexsmith?

Following a successful trial last weekend.

From an idea by Hugo’s (above).

Dublin City Council has announced that outdoor dining is to be facilitated on Merrion Row, Dublin 2.

Via RTE:

In a statement yesterday afternoon, the council said the system would be in place initially for the summer, and that a review would take place in the autumn to assess its viability on a long-term basis.

The council has said that, as a result, a number of changes will be made in the coming weeks to the area, including the removal of eight carparking spaces on the east side of Ely place.

The footpaths on Merrion Row will be widened on both sides, with one lane of traffic remaining to facilitate traffic from Kildare Street.

Pic via Hugo’s

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