Mild-Mannered Fan

According to a recent article on BBC News, the Psychology of Music (who knew there was a scientific journal on music psychology!) has completed a preliminary study on the correlation between lifestyle and musical tastes. After interviewing 2,500 people, they came to this conclusion:

Fans of musicals come out as the most mild-mannered group, with the lowest level of drug-taking and criminal acts.

They also drink less regularly than other music fans, and are among the most likely to do charity work.

Chalk one up to musical theatre fans!

The Pre-Broadway Process

Well...you've heard of Les Miserables and you've heard of Riverdance. Now, the creative forces behind both ventures have banded together to create a new musical spectacle, entitled The Pirate Queen. As some of you may know...Les Miserables happens to be my favorite musical...so I'm hoping that this is up to par with Jean Valjean, Eponine and the whole gang. To add to the anticipation - and perhaps to add some hype - the producers have decided to broadcast a daily webcast of their rehearsal and preview process from their pre-Broadway run in Chicago. They have affectionately named it castcom. Though I can't really stomach the name (Do we really need another "cast" term besides webcasts, podcasts, vodcasts, etc? Plus it's pretty similar to the Comcast brand name...) it should be interesting to see what they're willing to reveal to us. Check it out for yourself and see if this is really a Broadway Hit in the making.

As for me...I just need to hear some songs from this thing. Every time I see the title, I get the Pirates of Penzance song, The Pirate King, in my head. I love Gilbert & Sullivan as much as the next guy (okay...maybe more), but Boublil & Schonberg it's not!

Book Tag

Alright...I got tagged on another survey-type thing that's been going around the blogosphere. This time it involves books...and sadly...I do not read as much as I should. But, I will try to make this quiz as fun and exciting as I can...

One book that changed your life: The Bible - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Nothing like reading something inspired by God to get you thinking about the way you live your life.

One book that you've read more than once: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - Ah...two people who should have spent their lives together. Alas, love and ambition don't always mix. Do you ever find yourself hoping that things will end differently if you read it again?

One book that you'd want on a desert island: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - That book is so darned long, I may have a fighting chance at starting and finishing it with nothing else to do on a deserted island.

One book that made you laugh: I tried to think of something else that would not make me seem so much like a nerd. But, I'd have to list my Artificial Intelligence textbook from college. I don't remember the exact title - the book is stowed away in a box somewhere - but it did much to amuse me. My favorite example was using the "Burn the witch" scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail to discuss flaws in some people's logic.

One book that made you cry: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White - I remembering bawling through the last couple pages when I first read it in fourth grade.

One book that you wish had been written: MINE! Someday I'll get around to completing something during NaNoWriMo.

One book you wish had never been written: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Yeah, yeah...I know it's a classic. But, I found it pretty boring and couldn't relate to any of the characters. C'est la vie. I should also say that honorable mention goes to James Joyce's "The Dead". But...since that's a short story and not a full on book - Fitzgerald's snoozer won out.

One book you are currently reading: The Importance of Being Earnest and Four Other Plays by Oscar Wilde - I find plays are a lot faster to read through than novels.

One book you've been meaning to read: Did you check out the bit about what I'd read on a desert island? Well...if you need another one, I would also like to get around to reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Of course, I would prefer to read an unabridged version...but that may prove as challenging as Les Mis!

Okay...now time to tag a few more people. Wah ha ha...

Let's see how Jen, Lisa, Padgett, Jo and Judy respond, shall we?

Have We Forgotten?

Five years ago, our nation was forever changed when four doomed planes failed to reach their intended destinations. What followed in the aftermath was a time of great mourning, but in turn a time of a patriotic resurgence. Flags were flying everywhere...from houses, businesses, car windows... We saw ordinary men become heroes - from firemen walking up the World Trade Center staircases to those who took back United Flight 93 from their terrorist aggressors.

Five years ago...a million years ago... Did that day really happen? Once again we seem to live our lives focused around the lives of celebrities - concerned on what someone is wearing or who they're with. The sight of Old Glory has diminished now...and the memory of 9/11 starts to fade into the background, akin to the memory of Pearl Harbor.

However...on this day...for the sake of those who lost their lives and for those who continue to fight for freedom...let us remember. Let us remember the anger, the grief, the disbelief. Let us remember what is important and let us remember how we clung to those so dear to us in a time of great darkness for our country. Let us remember how our country stood strong in the face of danger. May God continue to protect us all...

There And Back Again...

Do you like how I just jumped right into posting again after a three-month hiatus? I really meant to update this thing a lot sooner, but I've had a rather busy summer...trying to visit more of these United States.

For those of you keeping count...I was previously at 37/50, which you can see in a post from last year. But, after a New England road trip in June, and a Southwest road trip in July, I am now up to 44!
The highlight of the New England trip would have to be seeing all the wonderful green mountains of Vermont. In the Southwest...I absolutely loved Carlsbad Caverns! I also discovered the wonders that are Lobster Rolls and Navajo Fry Bread.

Now I just have to figure out when to visit the other 6 states. I'm kinda road-tripped out for now...but there's always next year!

Fight On Trojans!

Football season has begun. Yay! I know that my mood may not be as ecstatic in about 24 hours...but for now...everyone has a perfect season and the Trojan football team remains full of promise. I still need to figure out where to watch the game tonight, but wherever I end up, I would like to see a sound thrashing of the Arkansas Razorbacks. I hope that John David Booty's arm is sure and strong...and that he's as fortunate enough to have a streak such as Leinart's when he followed Carson Palmer into the starting QB role. I look forward to watching all the new stars emerge this season. Fight on Trojans! No matter what the outcome (but you know which one I would prefer) - I'm still behind you!