Happy Beethoven's Birthday, And Some Links

On this date in 1770, in the city of Bonn, in the Holy Roman Empire (which is known historically to have been none of these three things), a baby was born to Johann van Beethoven, a music teacher who also sang tenor, and his wife, the former Maria Magdalena Keverich.  Named Ludwig after his paternal grandfather, he would grow up to be one of the most renowned composers of classical music.

The idea of observing Beethoven's birthday comes from the character Schroeder in Charles Schulz's comic strip Peanuts.  Although he uses a toy piano, he is still able to play classical music like a virtuoso.  One of my favorites, which I also played in real life, is the second movement of Beethoven's Sonaté Pathetique, which was much later reworked into Midnight Blue by Louise Tucker and Charlie Skarbek, and This Night by Billy Joel.  On the hand, if you're not that much into Beethoven, you can go here (and skip to about 1:40) and just have a small glass.

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Meanwhile, here are some things going on these days:

From Politico, for about 10 years, the Pentagon has been searching for UFOs.  (via the New York Post)

From The New York Times, more on the Pentagon search for UFOs.  (also cited by the New York Post)

From Voice Of Europe, Palestinians in Germany disrupt a Christmas market with music, which definitely was not composed by Beethoven.

From The European Post, the Visegrad 4 will help Italy protect its sea borders.

From Reuters, the Libyan coast guard is having some success.

From Breitbart London, gay men are assaulted and told that they're "not welcome" in part of London.

From Turkish Minute, 32 Turks, including teachers and doctors, seek asylum in Greece.

From the Mirror, a refugee from Somalia in Britain goes back and pockets benefits.

From Russia Today, the top constitutional authority in France rules that visiting terrorist websites should not be illegal.

From the Express, European leaders unite to oppose U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May.

From Deutsche Welle, European right-wing leaders meet in Prague.

From British Pakistani Christian Association, more than 30 priests and seminarians in India are arrested for singing Christmas carols.

From The Express Tribune, Sikhs in Hangu, Pakistan are forced to convert to Islam by a government official.

From AhlulBayt News Agency, Iraqi troops find two more Izadi mass graves.

From The Guardian, the chief inspector of schools in England receives threats after criticizing schools run by religious conservatives.  (Which particular religion(s), as far as I can tell, was/were not specified.)

From Townhall, as President Trump opens more offshore areas to oil drilling, it's time to go fish.

From HotAir, Roy Moore is still in the "denial" phase of coping with his election loss.

From the Toronto Sun, a billionaire and his wife are found dead in their mansion, from a suspected murder-suicide.  (via the New York Post)

From the New York Post, CC Sabathia is returning to the New York Yankees.

From The Florida Times-Union, what are these weird mushrooms?

And from The Roanoke Times, this year's guide to the bowls.