Which Song Survey
(By Richard Goodman, Random
email quiz from 2008)
Someone sent me this questionnaire the other day and it was
kind of fun to see which songs I associate with various events. The answers are probably different for
everyone who takes it. Try it for
yourself. So, which song…
… Reminds you of an old boyfriend or girlfriend?
My answer is: Always Something There To Remind Me- Naked
Eyes. I think of Julie every time I hear
it, along with a dozen other songs from 1983.
… reminds you of your first kiss?
You're In My Heart (Final Acclaim)- Rod Stewart. I think Paige was my first kiss. At least she is the first girl I remember
kissing.
… will always be on your ipod?
If I had an iPod, it would likely be the Bee Gees' Staying
Alive
… do you sing well?
No. Not even remotely
well. It runs in the family too,
although my Dad may not realize that.
… do you wish you COULD sing (or sing better)?
Of course.
… do you only sing in the shower?
And the car.
… makes you want to drive really fast?
Anything by Ministry or Therapy?
… makes you want to get up and dance?
Get Down Tonight- KC & The Sunshine Band
… did you once hate but have grown to love?
Guns & Roses- Welcome To The Jungle. I hated it because the biggest asshole
instructor in ROTC Basic camp played it before yelling at us and sending us
into the tear gas tent.
… makes you want to turn the radio off as soon as you hear
it?
Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison. (Shudder!)
… are you embarassed to call one of your favorites?
Dancing Queen- ABBA (Although this isn’t that
embarrassing. Everyone seems to love
ABBA now.)
… will you only dance to with your true love?
Anything. If I'm
dancing, it must be love.
… describes your life?
Where to start? Somewhere Out There by Linda Ronstadt or
Hello by Poe or Go Insane by Lindsey Buckingham or 50 others. Probably not Man, I Feel Like A Woman by
Shania Twain even though I love that song.
… will you have played at your funeral?
Something silly, like The Rainbow Connection by the Muppets
but hopefully it will be something that was written in 2153 A.D.
-----Original Message-----
From: Goodman,
Richard Subject: Redskins Ticket
I have an extra
ticket for the Sunday Washington Redskins / Dallas Cowboys football game. The person I was originally going with will
be on vacation during that time period.
Are you, or someone you know (that would be a good game companion), interested
in joining me for the game? As an FYI, I
don't drive there- I take the Metro.
If you are interested in going,
let me know. If more than one person
responds, I'll randomly choose a name.
----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth A.Sent:
Subject: FW: Redskins Ticket
I don't 'do'
sports. Anybody interested? Contact Richard.
-----Original Message-----
From: Goodman, Richard
Sent:
To: Elizabeth A.
Subject: RE: Redskins Ticket
-----Original
Message-----
From: Elizabeth A.
Sent:
To: Goodman, Richard
Subject: RE: Redskins Ticket
Working?
-----Original Message-----
From: Goodman, Richard
Sent:
To: Elizabeth A.
Subject: RE: Redskins Ticket
I just have
to say it since I never get the chance- are you working hard or hardly
working? I would be sleeping on my desk
at that hour. You go home at 3:00 or 4:00 though, right?
Now I remember what I hated about
school- having to be in class and focus on learning at 7:00 AM .
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth A.Sent:
To: 'Goodman, Richard'
Subject: RE: Redskins Ticket
Working
medium-hard at this moment as I have time to e-mail you.
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth A.Sent:
To: Goodman, Richard
Subject: Quick Poll (Student ID)
Student ID? Dig
back...far into your memory...many y-e-a-r-s ago! ...Did you ever use it for
anything? Derive any benefit from it? If so, what?
-----Original Message-----
From: Goodman, Richard Sent:
To: Elizabeth A.
Subject: RE: Quick Poll (Student ID)
I certainly
remember my student ID-
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth A. Sent:
To: Goodman, Richard
Subject: RE: Quick Poll (Student ID)
...a dashing David Byrne? Stop, you're killing me! Bright
side? - you didn't have a Flock of Seagulls hairdo...
Mom‘s Mixed Messages
(By Richard Goodman, 2005)
Sometimes I wonder about my parents and what message they are trying to
send me. This is something my Mom
emailed me on Valentine’s day. I’m not
sure where she found it and at first, I thought she was sending me another
“subtle” hint to get married (like it is just that easy- Mom prompts me, I snap
my fingers, and a marriage happens.)
Then I read further along and the article started talking about socioeconomic
advantages of marriage. Okay, I suppose
that makes sense…. Then it moved on to
political policies and welfare statistics and I started getting confused. Am I supposed to get married or run for
political office? Then it wrapped up
with a knock on ObamaCare. Huh? How the heck am I supposed to interpret this
email? I am very confused. What exactly is my Mom saying? Yes, I’m an unmarried loser but is that my
fault or is it somehow now the government’s fault? I like that answer but I don’t think that’s
what her intention was. Does anyone else
have any ideas? Here’s the email:
On Valentine’s Day, Share the Word About the Benefits
of Marriage
Posted February 14th,
2011
As
millions of rose bouquets grace kitchen tables and office desks across America
and dozens of chocolate delicacies are savored after candlelight dinners, card
companies, jewelry stores and candy makers will be singing the praises of St.
Valentine and raising their own glass of champagne to love.
But
the economic benefits of celebrating lifelong love are not simply for card
stores and florist shops once a year. Marriage not only pays emotional
dividends as men and women commit themselves to each other, focus on their
children, and face the challenges of life together. The institution that forges
unique personalities and lives together in the hearth of loving commitment can
also provide notable economic benefits. Married couples tend to have a higher
average income, more assets, and a greater likelihood of owning their own home
than families led by single adults.
Men
and women aren’t the only ones to benefit from lifelong, married love. Children
raised in families headed by a married couple have a greater chance of
experiencing economic stability, high academic performance, and emotional
maturity. Children living under the promise of marital commitment are six times less likely to experience poverty and can display
the positive social effects of having both parents in the home,
potentially avoiding the many hindrances to social mobility that tend to plague children
raised in single-parent households.
Unfortunately,
the personal joy and socioeconomic advantages of marriage are often lost on
those who arguably need those benefits the most. With the national unwed birth
rate reaching 41 percent in 2009 and almost three-quarters of African-American children alone born
outside of marriage, millions of children are at risk of experiencing the
financial difficulties and social challenges of living in single-parent
households. The same children (and their parents) are also more likely to need
government financial assistance. Of the nearly $400 billion in annual welfare funding spent on low-income
families, three-quarters goes to those led by single parents.
Financial
assistance alone will not help needy families avoid poverty and long-term
dependence. Demonstrating the personal fulfillment of healthy relationships,
which no government check can provide, and the economic benefits of marriage to
low-income communities can increase the chance of self-dependency and more
stable families.
Just
as the greatest Valentine will not be the most expensive diamond or the richest
three-course meal, the greatest gift of compassion and justice for poor
families is not more money and federal handouts. It is the opportunity to learn
about the emotional, social, and economic advantages of marriage and
potentially share in the promises of lifelong, married love. Rather than
continue a cycle of dependence with streams of anonymous government checks, policymakers can take steps to remove disincentives to
marriage and demonstrate how healthy marital relationships can lead to
self-sufficiency.
For example, lawmakers could remove penalties on marriage
imposed by Obamacare by repealing the legislation once and for all. Obamacare
could cost certain married couples upwards of $10,000 a year. Congress must
immediately reduce or eliminate the welfare marriage penalties that punish
low-income recipients who choose to marry. And they can work to ensure federal
programs adequately explain the economic and social benefits of marriage to
communities who have a high risk of having children out of wedlock.
If
they do so—and President Obama’s budget released later today will offer some initial clues
to the tenor of this year’s debate—our nation can experience a springtime of
marriage. More personal happiness and smaller government will make a very
attractive couple.
Quick
Hits:
- The White House
projected Monday that the federal deficit would spike to $1.65 trillion in
the current fiscal year, the largest dollar amount ever.
- According to the
Treasury Department, interest payments to service the national debt are poised
to triple to 3.1 percent of gross domestic product by 2016.
- According to The Hill, 77% of likely voters believe Social
Security is in trouble.
- The real estate crash is not over and is now
spreading to previously unaffected cities like Minneapolis, Atlanta, and
Seattle.
- Cities in southern
California are beginning to crack down on illegal immigration by using
E-Verify
'Star Wars':
Force Majeure
Readers
respond to the new "Star Wars" trilogy, "Titanic," and
Madonna
Entertainment
Weekly, Published in issue #364 Jan 31, 1997
Cheers to the excellent cover of Luke Skywalker and
the article on the new Star Wars trilogy. I own all three videos of the classic
Star Wars, have seen all of the movies at the theater, and will not give up the
chance to see them again in their rerelease. The Star Wars trilogy could not be
seen enough (by my standards) to grow old — even 20 years later.
JEFFERY A. EWERSSandusky, Ohio
Regarding the appeal of the 20-year-old Star Wars in
rerelease on the big screen, I can only echo what I overheard after seeing the
promo (while waiting for Star Trek: First Contact to begin): ''I think I've
just seen God.''
D. HART ST. MARTINClaremont, Calif.
I was only six years old in 1977 when Star Wars first came out. I saw it then, and I will see it again on the big screen. I, for one, cannot wait for Jan. 31.
JAMES GODFREY
Quincy, Mass.
Do you honestly think that the rerelease of Star
Wars is really one of the biggest gambles of 1997? I should think it'll make
back the estimated $30 million it took to revamp it in the first weekend! I
think you guys have truly underestimated the fan base of these films. Most everyone
I know owns the whole trilogy in one form or another, and all of those people
will be among the first in line to get their tickets on the 31st! This is going
to be like the rerelease of a classic Disney film — spend a little on
advertising, make up some nice new prints, and sit back and watch the money
roll in!
TOM RACINENew York City
Spending
at least $30 million to rerelease spiffy new theatrical versions of the most
revered science-fiction series of all time is not a gamble. A gamble involves
risk, like spending more than $100 million on a Titanic movie, or $55 million
on a musical with Madonna.
RICHARD
GOODMANOakton, Va.
Change Star Wars? I've believed this to be ludicrous
since I first heard of it. George Lucas is losing touch with reality. Lucas has
said that a special effect is just a tool to tell a story. Mr. Lucas, take it
from someone who grew up on Star Wars; the story is all that matters. I just
can't see how fans will accept this blasphemy. You should have concentrated
your efforts where they belong: the prequels.
MATT SOLOVEYMountain Top, Pa.
Will audiences come?'' Come on! What were you
thinking? You must have taken a light-saber blow to the head.
KARLE STEWARTFalls Church, Va.
I don't care how big your television is or how good
a sound system you have; nothing compares to seeing a movie in the theater.
Theaters are the reason people will be back in droves to see the Star Wars
trilogy again.
PERRY BROWNDenver
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