My column today is headed “A tale of two nominees, &c.” Who are those nominees? Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for secretary of defense. And John Tower, who was Bush 41’s choice, back in ’89. Different eras (starkly). I also have a note on an extraordinary Michigander. My column is here.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an essay titled “The World, Yesterday and Today: What Stefan Zweig and others have to tell us.” In response, a reader sends me a short note, hitting the mark:

Your article reminds us of the dark side of humanity and how evil is always ready to overpower good.

I often say: Eternal vigilance is wearying, but there is no substitute for it — no acceptable one.

Something lighter (much). I recently had an item about standing ovations at concerts. They have become more frequent over the years. As there is “grade inflation,” there is “standing-ovation inflation.” A reader writes,

I was reminded of a San Jose Symphony concert I attended as a boy with my parents in 1991. The concert commemorated the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s death. Apart from his day job, my dad is an accomplished pianist and our church organist. Even as a child, I knew my dad disapproved of “standing-ovation inflation,” but, also, he is not one to make waves. He is always gracious.

As the concert ended that evening, the audience jumped to their feet and my dad resisted while my mom and I waited in our seats. Finally, he gave in and stood. As my mom and I stood up with him, she leaned over to me and, smiling, quietly reassured me, “Dad’s standing for Mozart.”

I love that story. (I myself have frequently stood for the composer, not the performance.)

The other day, I published a verse, sent to me by a Minnesotan:

Spring has sprung,
Fall has fell.
Winter’s here,
It’s cold as hell.

A reader now writes,

When fall “falls” here in Alaska, it often does so in one fell swoop!

Responding to this concert review, a reader writes,

I take issue with your use of the term “concertmistress” (being the husband of one such person). I think “master” refers to a person who has mastery. “Master” as a term for a young male is somewhat defunct. I think “concertmaster” applies to either a man or a woman. After all, women proceeding beyond a bachelor’s degree are not going for a mistress’s degree!

Fair enough. I am maybe the last user of “concertmistress” in America, or the entire English-speaking world. I think it’s such a beautiful word — and such a musical word, which is fitting. They’ll have to pry it from my cold dead hands . . .