21 posts tagged “qotd”
From childhood 'til now... What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?
It's not an easy question to answer, but one that definitely stands out was the year I got the Star Wars Imperial Walker - also known as an AT-AT - originally seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Ultimately, the toy proved to be not very portable or really even all that fun to play with, but the moment of awe I experienced when I first got it was fantastic.
Here's how it played out.
We opened all our stockings, then had breakfast, then we opened our gifts under the tree. And I was happy, thinking I had made a great haul that year. Then my folks asked me to run down to the basement to get something (I forget what) and as I opened the cellar door, there, on the bottom landing, was a brand new AT-AT!
I'm sure I shrieked like a little girl.
What’s a simple thing you could do to save money, but are unwilling (or unable) to put to practice?
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We could unsubscribe from Television. There are certainly better things to do with our time - read, practice piano, listen to music, exercise. And we could probably get by with watching movies and renting the best TV shows if need be. But still.... the TV stays.
After a workday, we still enjoy the mindlessness of "veg"ing out in front of the telly. Guilty pleasure, yes, but one we can't seem to shake.
How do you travel to and from work - personal vehicle, bus, subway/train, pedal power? What does it cost you per week in gas or fares?
Submitted by Jan.
I'm verrrry happy that I have a lovely 20 minute walk to work. Even in winter, 20 minutes in the frigid cold is better than an hour stuck in bumper-to-bumper.
Every so often, I find myself stuck in rush hour traffic - if I need to drive to a an appointment or something. And every single time that happens I think to myself, "there's not way I could ever do this on a daily basis. It's inconceivable!"
Nope. Downtown livin' is where it's at, people! Never will I regret our decision to buy where we did.
What movies do you have memorized? Bonus points for sharing your favorite quote.
Submitted by Andymatic.
The Sound of Music.
Obviously there are others - Star Wars, The Princess Bride - but I've seen the sound of music so often I can speak the script right along with the actors - same inflection and everything. The script even leaks into my everyday speech now and then. On numerous occasions, for instance, I've played with some variation on "...at least not the Austria I know." It's a very versatile movie, and almost everyone I know has seen it and catches the references.
It's been a while since I've watched it though. Maybe it's time to watch it again. Then again, maybe not. I'm hoping to go see the new production of TSOM that's being mounted in Toronto this fall.
Which brings me to another point.
This summer, the CBC is airing a show called "How do you Solve a Problem Like Maria?" to cast the lead role for that new stage production. The show is essentially Canadian Idol, but with Broadway-hopefuls instead of pop-star-wannabes. And I had really high hopes for the show because I love musicals. I think show tunes are just fun. The bees knees. So I was really looking forward to a singing competition that features some of the best Broadway ditties.
Well, didn't they shoot themselves in the foot? Turns out the TV show producers choose songs for the girls, and they keep having them perform pop music. It's dreadful. Pop music is fine - when it's sung by pop singers. But when Broadway singers sing pop songs, it's completely over-the-top and laughable. They over-enunciate every word and belt out the big notes as loud as they can. Gotta show off, dontcha know?
Check this version of Girls Just wanna have Fun to see what I mean.
bleagh! What possible relevance does this have to whether she can sing the role of Maria? Why can't they just sing show tunes? Isn't that what they're auditioning for?!
Julie Andrews must be spinning in her grave. And me? I'm turning off the TV.
Why do you think it is some people don't get along with you?
Because they're Jerks. Duh.
What is the #1 preset radio station on your car stereo?
For me it's CBC radio 2. Generally, there is no decent radio in Ottawa. If I'm lucky, I can find some classical music to listen to in the car, but that's gotten harder to find as CBC2 has shifted more towards jazz in the evenings.
I now primarily use my ipod in the car (patched through the radio - don't worry, I'm not waring headphones). I only resort to radio on very short trips (under 5 minutes).
Do you listen to classical music? Who are your favorite composers?
Do I listen to.... what kind of question is this?! Yes. Without a doubt. Wholeheartedly and with every fibre of my being. Anyone who purports to love music and who doesn't listen to classical music is robbing themselves of the best experience music offers.
You know what really twists my crank though? That so many people only think of classical music as 'relaxing'. That they choose to throw it into the background. It's not background music. It's so far from relaxing. It's engaging. It's the most complex music you will find. It demands active listening. It demands that you pay attention and see what all the instruments are doing. There are dozens of voices going on at any one time - and they all just fit.
I know it's a daunting task to start exploring it - there's much to learn - but if you love music, you owe it to yourself to try.
What are you saving up for?
Submitted by Star.
We've been saving for an Xbox 360. We now have sufficient funds, but we're waiting for BestBuy to replenish stocks of the 360 Elite - the version with HD outputs. Fascinating, no?
On a more personal note, I'm saving for the box set of My So-Called Life (that's right, I'm a girl). The show, brilliant though it was, was canceled after just 19 episodes in the early '90s and I've been waiting for a proper release for years.
What's the best photo you took this year? Show and tell!
I keep coming back to this one from the Hispanic Heritage Festival in NYC. The spice vendor had things set up so nicely, it would have been hard to spoil the shot though, so I can't take too much credit for it. But I like the fact that there's action in the form of the seller using the scoop-stick to reach some sort of herbal mixture for a waiting customer.
I saw this question when it was a QotD a week or two ago - "What's your favorite Christmas Song?" - but for the life of me I couldn't figure out the answer. There are so many great Christmas songs and carols, and a ton of wonderful classical music written for Christmas church services (Bach's Christmas Oratorio comes to mind), but no single song stood out to me. So I let it go.
And then this week, I woke up with a song in my head - a song I hadn't heard in a while. This often happens to me by the way. My brain seems to dig around for old music while I'm dreaming.
Anyway, it was a Christmas song - of sorts - and I realized that I look forward to hearing it every year. It's a sad Christmas song - It's not all "Joy to the world!" and "Unto us a Saviour is Born!" - but maybe that's why it stands out.
