A NIGHT AT THE WHITE CASTLE.

I just spent a night at a ridiculous hotel in New York. I won't tell you the name, as I will smear them enough with this post, but I found it very silly, though its patrons think of it as very in, very now. For one thing the entire hotel is white, including the elevators. The guest bathrooms feature the very latest in pretentious sinks and fixtures.I was surprised when the water ran rusty for several minutes, adding a touch of color.The large glass shower was impressive, once you figured out how to regulate the trendy controls,which I never did. After a few hours I was suffering from snow blindness. The only colors were on the TV, which I also could never figure out. The reason I stayed there was, at $239.00 a night, it was less costly than any other hotel. However when I got the bill for that one night, they had added $21.23 sales tax, $14.05 city TAX, $2.00 occupancy tax, $1.50 hotel unit fee, and $20.69 facility fee. This last charge is for all the items they put in the refrigerator for you to enjoy. Since there is usually a charge for such items, I avoid using them. But at the white hotel, you are charged for them whether you "enjoy" them or not. Final charge: $298.67. But then again it may be my last hotel charge in New York City, which has become ridiculously unaffordable.

JINGO ALL THE WAY.

I got a very stupid e-mail poll today. The question was "Do you stand for the National Anthem, yes or no?" The reason it's stupid is that it's not a yes or no answer. I was taught when I was young that you stood if the anthem was live, but were not required to so if it was recorded. Either way it's jingoism, of which I don't approve. I am also not thrilled that it is not an original tune and that it's theme is war. Many people have suggested that "America the Beautiful"  would be more suitable. And it would be it didn't have that damned "god shed his grace on thee" in it, which is unconstitutional. Also unconstitutional is the addition of "under god" in the Pledge of Allegiance, which is why I will never pledge. It's annoying enough that this is even under discussion today because Trump felt to not stand was unpatriotic. This is the same Trump who was a cowardly draft dodger, does not believe in free speech or that all men and women are created equal. The same guy who vilifies minorities, praises Nazis and white supremacists, and more than likely, with the aid of Russia, stole the presidency from Hillary Clinton after attacking her with vicious lies in a most unAmerican manner. The crushing has begun.

"MIDDLE CLASS, DON'T SPEAK OF IT. SAVOIR FAIRE, WE REEK OF IT"

In planning a trip to New York, I thought I would surprise my partner with tickets to Hello Dolly. I knew Broadway prices had risen as high as $100, but I figured I'd be a sport. But when I checked on the Internet I was shocked to find the least expensive ticket was $160 and others were as high as $275. In short Broadway is now only for the wealthy. You have to be very rich or profligate to spend nearly $300 just to sit in a not-that-comfortable seat for two hours to watch a musical which may not even live up to your expectations. Not only do I find it obscene that Broadway, which I loved, has surrendered to commercialism and greed but I am surprised that Bette Midler, whom I have always admired, would subscribe to this obvious elitism. During my 75 years I have read many biographies from famous actors, singers and dancers. Many of them describe the magical moment when, as a child, they first saw a live performance and how it inspired them to seek their place in the American theater. I don't see that happening any more, at least not in New York City or at Broadway road shows, unless of course that child has very, very wealthy parents.