Weekend self-care open thread: A weekend brought to you by KUSC

I am blessed to live in Los Angeles for many reasons. The weather, the culture, the art, the food. Hearing Spanish spoken anywhere I go. 

When my family moved here from New York City, I thought my life was over. I plotted to get back "home" for university. However. By the time I was ready for college, I had become a California resident, and UCLA was just a fraction of the cost of NYU or Columbia. And, of course, my sainted father didn't want me to go away. Eventually I acquired a car and was able to explore this agglomeration of cities which makes up LA, and I grew to like it. Then, in short order, I grew to love it. LA isn't for everyone; it can be a cruel mistress, as the tzaddik David Bowie knew all too well. But this became home. This is where I grew into adulthood. This is where I became the person I am today. And that's not all bad.

One of the reasons I love this city is because of its main classical music station, KUSC. As I tell my friends, I contain multitudes. I can listen to Bach one minute and then A Tribe Called Quest the next. For me, KUSC is the best classical music station in the country. And the data bear it out: the station is the most listened-to classical music station in the US. 

And, of course, in our Internet Age, listeners come from across the country. When the station has its pledge drives, the money comes in not only from across the nation, but the world. And this is something that's in my city. Yes, I'm chuffed.

I'm pulling this weekend's self-care pieces from the KUSC playlist. Again, in this Internet Age, I've seen some question why we even need radio stations when you can just go on Spotify. Well. It's because stations like KUSC introduce listeners to music they may not have known. KUSC is in the forefront of championing music too often ignored, much of it by Black composers. That's something an algorithm can't replace: Actual human beings sharing their love of music. So, sit back and enjoy, and share any of your favorite music in the comments.

As always, dear friends, be ever kind, gentle, and joyful with yourselves and those around you.