Elton John Pops Concert

So, I apologize if I have already told any of you about this. But I thought the following scenario might be a good candidate for CTS:

The other week I was playing in an Elton Johns Pops Concert. I know...I should probably stop there. But there's more. The conductor's name was Jeff Christmas. Extremely nice fellow. One might even say "jolly." We were in the middle of performing "Tiny Dancer." Just about everyone I know replaces the words "Hold me closer Tiny Dancer" with "Hold me closer Tony Danza." So, I have that going through my head...DURING the performance (bad idea). Suddenly, I notice that the conductor, Maestro Christmas, is motioning to the percussion section to GIVE HIM MORE COWBELL. It was all I could to keep from laughing.

A "worthy" blog that must be "shared"

The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks.

Christmas Decorations

Why is it that Christmas decorations always make great fodder for this blog? What do y'all think of these?

Tackiness Continuum

SDB and I got to discussing something other than the baby a few weeks ago, and it is appropriate for this dying blog. So, hopefully this will breathe some life into CTS!

It started something like this (much para-phrasing, I'm sure):

SDB, coming out of Lowe's: I saw this inflatable santa playing golf. It wasn't that bad.

KAT: *incredulous look* All inflatable santa things are tacky.

SDB: Well, it wasn't THAT tacky.

*LIGHT BULB*

KAT: Is there some sort of continuum of tackiness? If so, what is that MOST tacky thing you can think of? And, then what is the LEAST tacky thing (that could still be called tacky, mind you) you can think of?

So, dear readers (the 3 or 4 of you), what are your suggestions for the bookends of this proposed continuum of tackiness?

Birthday?

Missing your due date = tacky.

;-)

The Return of Skinny Pants!

(imagine your own B-flick theremin soundtrack here…)

So, I noticed this fall that stirrup-pants are back. Well, they're not really stirrup-pants, because they lack the stirrup that goes under your foot. But, aside from that, they're cottony pants that are tight all the way down to the ankles, and the women are wearing them with the little flat shoes that I always saw worn with stirrup-pants back in the late-80s/early-90s. Just a question, who actually finds these pants FLATTERING?!? 'Cause, here's the thing: I will now create a list of the body types that are improved by these pants…

(…waits…)

Short list, ain't it? Ayuh. And it's not just the cottony non-stirrup stirrup-pants; skinny JEANS are back in, too! I never thought I'd see the day. All these leg-coverings make the wearer look like a pear, and I think they're stupid. Any other takers?

"Jaws"/"ATC" Ripoff

So, the music geek in me just noticed that the first phrase of the "All Things Considered" theme from NPR (8 notes long) is exactly the same as the first SIX notes of the "Montage" theme in "Jaws." Those of you keeping track at home: put in your "Jaws" DVD and cue it up to 53:22. You'll hear it right at that spot, and for the next several minutes. I actually went to iTunes and listened to track 7 of the "Jaws: Collector's Edition" soundtrack, and y'know what? The entire damn "ATC" theme is right there! Listen to the 30-second clip on iTunes…the "ATC" theme comes in at 14 seconds, in the low strings. Hmmm…who ripped off whom?

1971: Don Voegeli composes "ATC" theme

1975: John Williams composes "Jaws"

YOU figure it out! Either way, I claim "tacky!"