Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
9 to 5 (1980)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song begins with the clacking of a typewriter. Did you ever learn to touch type -- beginning with your fingers on "the home row" -- or do you hunt and peck?

Oh, I'm totally schooled in typing. I learned on an IBM Selectric, but I was typing at home on my dad's work typewriter before I properly knew how. I still touch type, rarely look at the keyboard except for numbers...I have finally gotten better at them after 35 years, but I still have to check.

2) Much of the video for this song revolves around the office coffee room. Are you enjoying a beverage as you answer these 9 questions?

I just finished a can of Diet Coke. Yes, life is hard here: I'm drinking Coke instead of Dr. Pepper.

3) This week's artist, Dolly Parton, loves telling the story of how she once lost a Dolly Parton lookalike contest. What contest or sweepstakes have you entered lately?

Not a one. I don't really like this sort of thing, and I guess there's a time element to it as well.

4) Dolly is one smart blonde. Early in her career she set up a company so she could retain the publishing rights for all her songs. Two alone -- "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You" -- made her a multi-millionaire because they have been recorded so many times. Do you have a good head for business?

Well, I'm not an idiot, but I'm no Dolly. She is amazing.

5) Dolly is a crusader for childhood literacy and her organization, Dolly's Imagination Library, has donated more than 10 million books all over the country. What's the last book you read?

I finished The Child Thursday. I'm working on The Painted Queen now, rather slowly since this is the last of the my all-time favorite mystery series. I'm sad.

6) This weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore?

Apparently, I do. Or, at least, I snort. I have a CPAP.

7) Labor Day was introduced to celebrate the achievements of the American worker. How many different employers have you had?

Well, post-babysitting days, I think at least 10 places have paid me for work. Since one of those was a temp job, there were probably a dozen work locations just for that one job. And of course, this doesn't count all the places I've volunteered over the years. Kind of shocking, really.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue?

Nope. Beast'll probably cook brats one day this weekend, but we're not going anywhere. Our 'going somewhere' time is pretty limited by his various disabilities.

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the new school year. When she was a kid, Samantha was crazy for her brand new box of 96 Crayola Crayons. It even had a sharpener in the back! What do you remember about preparing to go back to school? If you're a parent with school-age kids, are they ready?

New clothes! New clothes! New clothes! Man, I missed that when adulthood hit: no pre-selected shopping reasons, no pre-set vacation time, no new supplies every year. Adulthood bites. Sparky buys his own stuff now, for the most part, now that he's (gulp) 24 and no longer in school anyway.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Very Much Questions Meme

1. What was the last clothing item that you bought?

It's either the socks I mentioned the other day or a package of underwear. I'm a damned exciting person.

2. If you could stay one age forever, what age would you choose?

I enjoyed 27 and 28.

3. When you say “lol”, are you really laughing?

Sometimes. Often, in fact.

4. What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in the past year?

I've done a TON of work on myself, internally. Seems like it's a lot of backing up to take another run at it, but I do see progress overall. And, of course, the Rose Bowl and Parade were simply awesome.

5. If you started a business, what would it be?

It would involve writing, the internet, research, and/or organizing/cleaning.

6. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog?

Some do. Most do not.

7. How long does it take you to write an average blog post?

Here, about 10 minutes or so. On the rare days I post elsewhere, it takes longer.

8. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow?

Inoreader, now that Google pulled the plug on GReader and Bloglines bailed.

9. What is your bedtime?

I'm usually in bed by 10.

10. Introvert or extrovert?

More introvert than not.

11. What is your biggest wish?

"I always drink to world peace."

12. What is the best job you ever had?

Being a mom has been wonderful. I also really like cataloging at work, and to a great extent, doing reference work.

13. Dog person/cat person/both/neither?

I prefer dogs, but since I'm allergic to both (moreso cats, but dogs too), I'm a "neither" nowadays.

14. If you had $1,000 to spend any way you wanted, what would you do with it?

I'd go order new kitchen counters RIGHT NOW.

15. How do you “dress” your toast?

Mostly just butter. Sometimes honey.

16. How do you feel about snow?

As long as I'm inside looking at it, I love snow. When I have to be dealing with moving it, or driving in it, I'm less thrilled.

17. What was the worst job you ever had?

Lately, my current job has been a bear--many many days of sitting in my driveway not wanting to pull out and head to work. Otherwise, my first full-time job was often absolutely awful.

18. What song can you not stop listening to?

"Uptown Funk" gets stuck in my head ALL THE TIME.

19. Love your name or hate it?

I'm ok with it at this point. I used to hate it.

20. How did you choose your blog/twitter handle?

My blog 'name' is a shortened version of my job. My Twitter name is my initials, but I rarely tweet.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Mysterious Ways (1991)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In honor of St. Patrick's Day (this coming Tuesday), we're featuring one of Ireland's most successful exports, U2. What else is Ireland famous for?

The Magdelen laundries, poverty, the IRA, drinking, being colonized (still) by England, potatoes, The Troubles, singing, and charm.

2) The Dublin studio where U2 recorded this song (and all of Achtung, Baby) is now a music store called Claddagh Records. U2 pilgrims from all over the world travel to the spot (Celia Street, Dublin 2). If we were to visit your neighborhood, are there any landmarks you could direct us to?

Well, first of all, Achtung Babywas recorded in Berlin. Hence the, uh, name of the album. ...not that I'm a GIANT U2 GEEK or anything.....

As to the question, my neighborhood is less than 15 years old, and all houses, so...yawn. I can show you where the failed Molotov fizzed in the street, and the places that were landscape-paint-vandalized a few years back, and the stupid non-road between this subdivision and the next one over. That's about it. We do have natural prairie areas, if you're into that sort of thing.

3) Lead singer Bono is rarely seen without his trademark sunglasses because he suffers from glaucoma. How is your vision? 20/20?

My corrected vision is about 20/20. My regular, uncorrected, vision is appallingly bad, and I found out yesterday that the concerns about glaucoma after my last appointment are just more structural weirdness than actual problem. Thank God!

4) Bono and wife Alison were married in 1982 and are still together today. Who is the longest-married couple you know?

There are some couples at our church that are on 6+ decades. It's rather startling to realize they got married before I was born....THAT LONG AGO! lol

5) When Bono inducted Frank Sinatra into the Grammy Hall of Fame, he applauded the older man's "swagger." Do you think you have swagger?

I was complimented today on the speed of my walking pace. I don't know about swagger, though. I don't really worry about it.

6) Bono has been honored by world leaders, including President Obama and Nelson Mandela and the Pope, for his philanthropy. Here's your turn to brag: tell us something you have received praise for recently.

I have heard from multiple people at work that we have an amazing and beautiful library, even from people whose libraries are bigger and nicer (architecturally and financially, etc.) than us. It's strange. I don't know about me, personally. I'm just trying to get through the days.

7) Clearly Bono is the most famous member of U2. Who else is in the band?

The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen. {softball} I've known those names for over half my life!

8) On St. Patrick's Day, will you wear green?

Yes. I don't really want to be pinched.

9) Will you enjoy a glass of green beer or maybe a Shamrock Shake from McDonald's?

Yuck. I don't like beer or whatever those shamrock shakes are made of. We'll have corned beef at some point during the week, with the fixin's, and I'm noshing on green-and-white sugar cookies right now. Yay.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Two Memes in One Meme Meme - Happy Easter!

1: Who is your favorite Musical Artist from when you were a teenager?

I really loved the Bee Gees. And Billy Joel. Hey, I still do. Or, if they aren't Musically Artistic enough for you, I'll go with The Alan Parsons Project.

2: Who is your favorite game show host?

Chuck Woollery, of course. Though I loved Peter Marshall on Hollywood Squares and Gene Rayburn on Match Game. Burt Convy was pretty good too, even if Tattletales was really bad. And Alex Trebek on many of the really old, bad gameshows...and of course Bob Eubanks on The Newlywed Game was outstanding. No one since has matched him blank stare for blank stare.

3: Who is your Favorite Blog hosting service?

More German-style Capitalization....
I've used Blogger since I started back 9 years ago or so. I tried Wordpress and a few others, but always have come back to Blogger.

4: If you could meet anyone again from your childhood, who would it be?

Sticking with those likely to (mostly) still be alive, I would love to have a church youth group reunion to see what some of those clowns are up to now. ;-)

5: Where did you want to live when you were growing up?

"Far away from my parents." Mom and I clashed too much for me to want to stay in the vicinity. And everyone else in my family had moved away from the area when they grew up, so I guess I thought it was the "done thing" for us. I didn't take into account that I'd miss the mountains at least as much as I missed my parents.

6: What is the most interesting piece of Trivia that you know?

I'm a librarian: there is no such thing as boring trivia!! C'mon--my knowledge is miles wide and an inch deep, so I know random strange facts about everything from how siphons work (and the general principle behind moving water over mountains) to the author of the Dork Diaries. [two recent reference questions] I also can tell you who wrote "the fairy books" (Daisy Meadows) and the "Alphabet Mysteries" (Sue Grafton) and what the call number for basketball is (796.323). And that Sandy Koufax was left-handed, and where all the czars but one are buried (the church in the fortress of Sts. Peter & Paul near The Hermitage, a.k.a, the former Imperial Palace, in what is now St. Petersburg again).
Bored? Not me. I could go on and on....but I won't.

7: If you could live in any point of history when would it be and why?

Now. I need the meds, and as a woman things haven't ever been better.

8: What is the most interesting job you have ever had?

My current one is hands-down the most bizarre. Most interesting in the "well, that is off the list of long-term careers" was the summer I temped: both receptionists and food industry (hard-core food prep) workers have impossible jobs; one because it's beyond boring, and the other because of me being a klutz and the real possibility of injury from burns and sharp things.

9. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

I don't have post-able pictures from that era (thank God!!). Mrs. White's 7th grade English class--for which we had to memorize a list of about 70 prepositions: about above across after against below beneath beyond....--was great fun. I sat near my crush, Joel, at the time who was "cute" in all the late-70s-appropriate ways. He brought a whoopee cushion to class one day and several people (NOT me) were subjected to mega-farts prior to the bell. That thing was flying all over the room before people got settled...and then Mrs. White confiscated it for the duration of class. In spite of looking like she would eat you alive if you didn't get your verb-noun pairings right, she was actually a very cool teacher.

10. What's your favorite Beatles song?

Depends entirely on the day. I like "Rocky Raccoon" and "Let It Be" and "She Loves You" and all of Sgt. Pepper about equally, to name a few that pop in to my head.

11. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

Pajamas. I have some unbelievably comfy flannel PJs....

12. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

I prefer hosting, generally.

13. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

I think there will a place for both in the future. In the immediate future, paper books will continue until the ebook platforms standardize enough so that there's none of this Kindle-jacking of the big-names: books only available through Amazon, or readable by a Kindle. And of course publishers have to figure out the business model for ematerial. Right now, there are 6 major publishers that essentially are trying to screw over libraries over digital rights since libraries can keep books forever especially electronically. So why would 'we' (libraries) ever buy the same book again? We'd never have to replace anything because it wore out or whatever. It's a mess, and publishers are where the music industry was about ten years ago playing a losing game of Keep-Away while their profits dwindle.
Another topic you probably don't want me to get started on, eh?

14. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

If it's a task that I need to learn, it's all about doing it; watching and listening doesn't really work for me. If it's a concept, I'm good with hearing or reading, but both is better.

15. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

Being a sexist pig is a death-knell.

16. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

Yes. Not at once though. ;-) You all know I'm a sugar-fiend. Give me iced sugar cookies or give me death!

17. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

Hmm, I seem to still have Amy's Who Are You? book....guess that should go back to her someday. Otherwise, I'm pretty aware of the stack o' shit which needs sorting out and tidying before the house gets full-on cleaned tomorrow.

18. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

"Risky Business." No close competition. "Sometimes you just have to say, "What the fuck?"

19. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

Give it to the women's shelter. Or just finish it up.

20. Your favorite spring comfort food?

Uhm, see #16. I'm not really a seasonal eater.

Swiped

(...from Kwizgiver)

1. What was the last clothing item that you bought?

I can't remember buying anything since college Homecoming last month when I bought Beast and me T-shirts.

2. If you could stay one age forever, what age would you choose?

It would be nice to have stayed 29.5 forever: Sparky was a baby, Mom & Dad were still living in the house where I grew up, and Ellen was alive.

3. When you say "lol," are you really laughing?

Smiling at least.

4. What is the most interesting thing you've done in the past year?

I've done an awful lot of "interesting" things that I wish I hadn't had to do.

5. If you started a business, what would it be?

It would involve computer work, writing at some level, and organization of information.

6. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog?

Beast, Amy, Jenny and M at work know about many of them. There is at least one that is for my eyes only. No one else except a few of you that I've found on Facebook.

7. How long does it take you to write an average blog post?

"Average"? Maybe 20 minutes most of the time, but sometimes hours.

8. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow?

Google Reader. Used to use Bloglines till they said they were shutting down, when I switched to Reader. There are 218 sites on that list: about 10 are news feeds, and at least 20 are defunct for all intents and purposes. There are probably about 100 that post at least once a week or more.

9. What is your bedtime? Is sex always involved?

Between 9:30 and midnight, and no. C'mon, Beast travels all the time--what would the odds be???

10. Introvert or extrovert?

Mostly introverted. Which no one ever believes ... anymore.

11. What is your biggest fear?

Being 'discovered.'

12. What is the best job you ever had?

I'm pretty happy with the one I have right now. It's good not having a boss. lol

13. Dog person/cat person/both/neither?

I prefer dogs over cats, but I'm allergic to both (cats are worse), so neither. I do like animals of all kinds a lot though.

14. If you had $1,000 to spend any way you wanted, what would you do with it?

Plane tickets for a specific person.

15. How do you "dress" your toast?

I rarely have toast, but when I do I either just add some oleo to it, or oleo and honey.

16. How do you feel about snow?

It's pretty, as long as I'm not responsible for moving it around in great swaths.

17. What was the worst job you ever had?

Several of the temp jobs I had were pretty awful.

18. What song can you not stop listening to?

I try really hard to NOT overplay songs anymore. Too much good stuff to listen to!!

19. Love your name or hate it?

I like it. Used to HATE. IT. I enjoy the confusion it causes, though, nowadays.

20. How did you choose your blog/twitter handle?

I started with my (real) name, then used "The Cataloger" which got tedious to type, so I shortened it to "The Cat." and then just "Cat."

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday Seven

Name the seven most annoying disingenuous customer service phrases you’ve encountered. [check this list for ideas]

1. "You have been personally selected..." (this happened yesterday when I answered yesterday...and it was a recording saying it)
2. "Free shipping & handling"
3. "Dear Valued Customer"
4. "Your call is important to us" 
5. "Can I help you find something?" (mostly I hate this when 7 people ask me in my first 3 minutes in a store)
6. "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" (at the end of a help call--wtf, no I'd already have TOLD you if there was, moron)
7. "How would you rate your experience with our support staff today?" 

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The April No Fools' Meme

1. What was the last clothing item that you bought? I had a little shopping spree at Kohl's a couple of weeks ago: some shirts and a couple of pairs of clamdiggers.

2. If you could stay one age forever, what age would you choose? 25, but only if I don't have to be working at the job I had then, or at least not for the boss I had then.

3. When you say “lol”, are you really laughing? Usually I'm at least smiling.

4. What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in the past year? Two family funerals, sending Sparky off to college, four hospital visits for Beast, calling an ambulance twice for Beast, going over my boss's head to the City, a kidney stone, starting back at full-time employment, not sending Christmas cards (except we did sent some ecards), finally getting my mom's estate settled.... You pick.

5. If you started a business, what would it be? There was a moment when I seriously thought about a cleaning business for apartments between renters. But then I realized that most a lot of people are fuckin' pigs, and that idea died a-borning.

6. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog? Some do. Most don't.

7. How long does it take you to write an average blog post? Probably 15-20 minutes. Last night's meme took over 2 hours.

8. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow? Sporadically. I keep up with the memes, and with the people I really care about. Work-related stuff tends to slide: I have nearly 200 library-related posts to catch up on. Most of those are from Thursday or later.

9. What is your bedtime? Is sex always involved? LOL!

10. Introvert or extrovert? I'm an innie.

11. What is your biggest fear? Dying in the middle of a stupid meme.

12. What is the best job you ever had? My current job is pretty cool, most days. Except the days where I want to murder everyone, starting with myself.

13. Dog person/cat person/both/neither? Dog. I love dogs.

14. If you had $1,000 to spend any way you wanted, what would you do with it? I'd hire a personal trainer till the money ran out.

15. How do you "dress" your toast? I don't eat toast very often. Mostly, I just butter it.

16. How do you feel about snow? Meh. I like it fine. We didn't see much this winter.

17. What was the worst job you ever had? The job I had when I was 25 pretty much SUCKED.

18. What song can you not stop listening to? I don't really do this much. At all.

19. Love your name or hate it? I like it. Mostly.

20. How did you choose your blog/twitter handle? My blog name is short for "cataloger" and my Twitter handle is more-or-less initials.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Stuck in the Middle With You

1. In romance, have you ever been stuck in the middle with someone?

OK, because I know Bud is involved in this meme, I'm starting out completely on the wrong foot here. And, yeah to answer the question, no. ;-)

2. Which current commercial is the currently most annoying to you on TV or radio?

Pretty much all of them. Not a big fan of the Cialis ads. However, I am extremely happy the Burger King king has been dropped off a cliff; that guy scared the shit outta me.

3. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to spring cleaning?

The part that involves starting.

4. What area is your expertise in?

OMG, again with the problem I was having with #1! I'm really good at alphabetizing.

5. Have you ever bumped into a former lover and found out they were now gay or straight depending on your relationship with them?

I haven't bumped into a former lover for 26+ years. To my knowledge, they have all remained straight.

6. When was the last time that you got stabbed in the back?

I'll go with metaphorical stabbing having never actually been stabbed literally. Metaphorically, it happens at work (primarily with short non-lethal weapons) at least once a week. I pretty much don't care anymore: thick skin & all.

7. For a few years in a row, you receive a nice tax refund: do you make an adjustment with your payroll deduction so they’ll take less, or do you leave it that way so that you can continue to receive the big check every spring?

I'd probably adjust things, though it depends on how "nice" the amount was. A couple hundred--I wouldn't mess with it.

8. Do you remember the most naughty night of your life? (And do tell a bit, if comfortable)

Well, let's just say if it happened today in my house, I'd call the police on myself. Had that happened at the time--I was 19--I'd still be registering with the police every time I moved.

9. How would you handle yourself if you were regularly in the press and tabloids?

I'd probably kill myself within a week of something like this happening. I am not even close to kidding.

Friday Five

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Do you have insurance?

Yes, thank God, through Beast's company. I could get it at my job too, but because I'm only part-time it would be stupid-expensive.

2. What do you think of public option for health care?

I think people should have affordable medical care available across the board, and for the life of me I cannot figure out why anyone would be against this. I mean, how much worse can a government-funded insurance plan be compared to the idiotic and evil insurance companies we now have? I mean, really, if a doctor thinks I need a specific prescription or a test, why does some dingdong bureaucrat get to be involved by saying that I'll have to take "this" or have a slightly different test instead. Not an insurance company fan. They suck.

3. Should insurance be health insurance be mandatory? If so, should it be subsidized for the poor?

I think this is actually asking if paying for health insurance should be mandatory. Well, no. If you don't want to buy it, you should be allowed to opt out. But if you use the ER as your "family doctor" or an ambulance as your personal "taxi" then you should absolutely pay every dime you are charged. No matter how long that takes. Your wages should be garnished from now until the day you turn 70 if that's what it takes.

4. Do you think the health care industry and pharma make too much money or not enough?

Too fucking much!

5. Would you leave the country if it meant that you would have no job but was [sic] assured health care?

Nope. I want to be able to work. And, in general, I like this country. However, if I were ill, all bets would be off.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What is the most relaxing music at the end of a rough day?

Laughter.

2) Have you ever considered starting your own business? What would you do?

Of course--is there anyone who hasn't thought they could do something better? I've had thoughts about cleaning, indexing, cataloging, and writing, but realized years ago that I just don't have the push to do any of this as a business.

3) Did you ever go cruising on weekend nights?

Nope. I never, ever, have seen the point of this. Then again, I've never, ever, had a car that was 'cruise-worthy.'

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.Public Domain Photo

Both of the dogs in my life have been black with white chests like this one, though completely different mutt-breeds. I miss owning a dog. I also miss looking like this in a swimsuit, but what I miss the most is seeing that doggy-face expression, the one the dog in this picture has: "I would do ANYTHING for you, A N Y T H I N G." Dogs are awesome that way. Oh, and the weather looks lovely and warm and humid. Possibly buggy. I could live without humid and buggy.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) Who do you wish could find their inner spirit to become more comfortable in their life?

K A T H E R I N E. This is a no-brainer. If she were more comfortable, so would the rest of us be!

2) You have to fight a duel tomorrow at dawn. You have been allowed to choose the weapons. What do you choose?

The OED, in print. If I can't kill 'em with words, I'll drop the books on their toes!

3) What’s the best thing to inherit other than money?

Good genes, and character.

4) Do you hope to run your own company some day?

Absolutely not. I have no interest in this, though it's sorta fun to dream about not having to answer to anyone but me.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
Public Domain Photo

Yummy! Look at all that icing! {slurp} Actually, this is really lovely, almost too lovely to eat. Almost. I'm not sure if it's a torte, a tart, or a cookie under there, but it looks nice and sweet and minty. Also known as a diabetic coma waiting to happen, but...it's only a picture. ;-)

Monday's a Bitch

(Link in blogroll)
Last But Not Least

1.What is the last rebellious thing you did?

On a very small scale, I called my brother on his bossiness last night on the phone. On a large scale, probably the whole library software database bullshit last year. Frankly, I have a pretty strong rebellious streak and a temper, so rebellion is not uncommon for me.

2.When is the last time you saw a magic show?

Has to be the CSI episode that dealt with a magician's death. I'm just not that into magic anymore.

3.Who is the last person you'd want to go into business with?

J&L. Beast and I have thought about it off and on for years, but the annoyance factor would just not be worth it.

4.When is the last time you injured yourself?

I messed up my wrists Friday or Saturday, but they seem to be recovering all right. Before that was my 'graceful' flight down the back steps a couple of days before Christmas that involved landing on my knees really hard.

5.Where is the last place you would expect to be having dinner tomorrow night?

With my husband and brother in Dallas.

3x Thursday

(Link at left)
Modern Times

1. What do you think of all-time high gas prices? Do you think it's really due to supply & demand, or more towards Big Oil making money as a direct result of what is going on in the Middle East in general? Why/why not?

I think there is a definitely a supply/demand issue compounded by the different state regs on formulation of gas, but I know it's more about Mobil and Exxon making their dime. Or dollar, in this case. I think they're behavior over the past five years has been criminal and I think they should be investigated for SOME kind of price fixing. But I doubt that will happen as long as their buddy George is the president.

2. Do you have a prediction for the outcome of the Iraq War? What is it? Why? If you don't have a prediction, why not?

I don't see a good ending. I see something like what happened at the end of Vietnam, complete with airlift and total mayhem for several years after we leave. Or several decades. We have hashed up this mission badly.

3. Do you think that music has suffered at the hands of technology? How so/how not?

Technology has brought in a new way of creating music. Like any other, however, it has its geniuses and its hacks. Unfortunately, as in many other instances, the hacks tend to make the money, while the true artists work in relative obscurity. Technology has made it easier to disseminate your work to a broad audience; that's a double-edged sword as well.