Fierce Critter

A) A live orchestral performance of music from Warner Brothers cartoons at Meadowbrook in the 80's. The orchestra alternated between playing pieces solo, and accompanying the cartoons themselves. When the conductor walked out, someone did shout, "LEOPOLD!" It was beyond awesome. Q) Is there a type of music you actually wish you could enjoy or think you should, but you just don't?

Last night's episode was so harsh. Do not read the spoiler if you have not seen it and plan to, and remember to not quote and spoil for others: I am on a couple TV message boards, and I decided I'm really not interested in critique of this show so I quit reading the discussions about it there. I'm enjoying it too much, and am not interested in snark. Especially after this last episode.

A)Jeff Buckley's version of "Alleluia." Nobody should have done it after he did. And I'm sick of how it's being beat to death by American Idol contestants and the like. Q) Two part question: A) What Christmas song is your favorite and B) What Christmas song would you like never heard played again?

This thread makes me envious. I was too scared of punk in my teens in the mid-late 80's. :D But I would have loved going to the venues, no matter who was playing.

A) Italian. Because I'm a Dean Martin freak and he did a few songs in Italian. Q) What musical genre do you like that might be considered unusual to the general DGN populace?

<-- asking forgiveness up front:

I wouldn't know without cheating and looking up the answer, but I just wanted to say, "oh, yeah, remember that question about what's in your music collection that you might NOT want to admit to owning...?" Yeah. That. Guilty. Sorry. I realize I've probably lost any goth cred I might have once had, but I ownz me some Barry. "Could It Be Magic" definitely also would be a suitable answer for songs that are goth but not. Back to this thread. Since I didn't answer, the Manilow Question passes to the next contestant.

A) I know the standard answer is supposed to be Pink Floyd or something to that effect. But for me, it's Electric Light Orchestra. Q) Do you really think Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Eric Clapton were/are "all that?"

A) The Beatles. I would have liked to have seen them take a break, get over their personal bullshit, and get back together and change the course of music again and again. Q) If you could instantly know how to play any musical instrument without tons of lessons, what would it be?

"Hey, Frank" "Yeah, Herm?" "You think there's anything to Virg saying he's gonna pull up roots and take off for another island?" "Shit, no. Every time he sees a sailboat, it's the same old whine."

This is some serious win.

I think this is the question I should be answering... A) In the general sense, if you place too much important on music of the past, new sounds will not be allowed to come alive. In a directly "Critter" sense, I will admit I've reached a point where I really don't care for much current music, and it's making me dig into my back catalog more and more. Thus I'm starting to lag behind in the areas of new music and the future of music. Q) How do you organize your music collection? Chronologically, genre, alphabetically, other?

A) I'm not really ashamed of anything I listen to. But the following would probably fit the parameters of the question: Andy Williams, several albums of music box/caliope music, The Monkees. Q) What does the highest percentage of your music collection consist of: Vinyl, Tapes, CD's, MP3's?

A) Though the 80's - especially new wave - was "my" personal most popular period, I have to give it up to the 70's. Classic rock & folk were at their best - it's the period of music I think most people could really feed off, there was just so much diversity. Rock, folk, adult contemporary, funk, disco, etc. Q) What was the first album/tape/CD you bought on your own? And do you still have it?

A) Because the unwashed, sheltered masses have never heard of it? Q) What is the most "buried in the back, collecting dust, never listen to it, almost shamed to own it, but you can't bring yourself to get rid of it" CD in your collection?

This came on the radio the other day and I couldn't help wonder what [insert gothy band here] could do with this. But then, I thought, it's already pretty freaking goth as it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUbTW928sMU&feature=related

My brother (nothing incestuous about it. He was gorgeous, and often took care of me. This was very early on, like pre-five years old.) Michael Nesmith of the Monkees - who, not incidentally, resembled my brother. Shaun Cassidy - until he canceled the concert I had tickets for, which I took personally and therefore stopped liking him altogether. Frank Langella as Dracula, 1979 - I was 11 years old. It was a very romanticized version of the story. And that, my friends, is what started my still burning vampire fetish.

When I worked in corporate jobs for companies like AAA and a Dearborn company that basically provided white-collar contract personnel to Ford Motor Company, I was called on the carpet a few times. At AAA (circa 1992), it was for just barely skirting the rules of "proper business attire." (Things as tame as capri leggings with tunic tops for instance, or red suede boots with a skirt.) For the FMC contractor (circa 1996), it was my hair. Over a vacation, I got my natural dark blonde hair cut into a layered shag, and dyed the underlayer (including bangs area) vermilion. I'd hoped that it wouldn't be an issue. For one thing, it actually looked very attractive, and tasteful. It's not like I had a mohawk or shaved half my head. But first day back on the job, I was called into a meeting. I'd already got wind that they were going to give me grief about it, so I went in and told them I was already planning to have the color removed. I ended up stripping the color myself to a nasty shade of muddy pink, which looked infinitely worse. So I ended up getting it all dyed strawberry blonde until it could grow out. I've long had the attitude that if appearance isn't a direct factor in a business, it shouldn't be made a major issue. In the AAA/clothing situation, I was an in-house secretary for an attorney who did nothing but refer cases to others. No clients ever came into the building, period. I would never be in a position to go out of the building to a courtroom, clerks office, NOTHING. In the hair situation, I was in-house desktop publisher/newsletter editor. I was not one of the contractors who might be sent out to Ford, or anywhere else for that matter. I was far from being the "face of the company" in either situation. Where tattoos are concerned, I don't have any and won't have any. I just prefer myself a blank canvas. But so long as a tattoo isn't in some way obviously risque (tits, dicks, Minnie giving Mickey a blowjob) or controversial (swastikas, middle finger salutes, etc), I think the time has come to stop making them anathema in the workplace. I do realize that what is considered risque, controversial or offensive is up to debate (I don't have a problem with a pentagram but a Baptist bookstore might), and would be a cause for misunderstandings and debate, or worse. So that would still be cause for some amount of discrimination and censorship. Basically, I think people need to get over it and be realistic about what does and does not wreak havoc in the workplace. Oh, and if you have a problem with this, I saw this the other day (there is some possibility the parent company does animal testing, that's up to you to work out): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeO8RthMANg

This is more like unlicensed medical practice as far as I can see. I don't have any facts to back myself up, but I assume that people doing the shapes under the skin, penis ridges, tongue splitting, etc are licensed to do so. And further that if someone is caught doing these procedures WITHOUT a license, the penalties would be similar to Dr. Fix A Flat.

Jeff Buckley - Nightmares By the Sea

<-- raises hand emphatically in the air and waves it around I've loved her since Hounds of Love, and wish I'd known about her earlier. Just please, please, please - do not compare her with Tori Amos. I despise Tori Amos, and hate comparisons. Glad to hear a new album is on its way.

Minivan. Glove: Jon broke the latch about 5 days after we got it. So there's nothing in it. Center console: Remote for the stereo MP3 player Various tools Maps TomTom GPS Sunglasses Camera Spare retractable dog leash Hand lotion Napkins Primatene Mist inhaler Alcohol wipes Various pens & highlighters Front cubbyhole compartment: Car manual A couple replacement bulbs for the turn signals Assorted coupons from restaurant.com Back end: A couple sheets (to cover the seats when the dog is in the car) Air compressor hose (built-in compressor in the back) Various ratchet straps, bungees & ropes Roll of heavy duty trash bags Main retractable dog leash Bottle of water Spilled chicken feed (used as kitty litter, bag had a hole) A tub transfer bench (to be given to a local charity) We like to be prepared. :D

I've seen all the "Hannah" webisodes. Hope that's more than rumor about the extra episodes. I would be happy as a bird with a french fry.

I can't believe this season is only 7 episodes. SO not enough to feed my zombie need.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I generally don't go for things that are "currently hot." But I'm glad I finally gave in and picked this up.