Rob over at Raising Kaine points to an article about Del. Bob Brink’s proposal to eliminate robo calls. Yours truly is quoted but I guess the writer must have missed this post.
Check out GOTV’s Best of the Web 2006 awards 
Following Waldo’s lead, here are five things you never knew about me:
- I used to make my living singing and playing music 6 nights a week.
- My original major in college was Music education. I wanted to be a band director, so I know how to play most instruments.
- Although my father’s family has been in Virginia for at least a couple hundred years, I was not born here. I have lived here since I was 3 1/2.
- I prefer the term “black” to African-American when describing myself because a) I didn’t just get here from Africa and b) my heritage includes African, Scots-Irish and American Indian.
- I have yet to find a rap song that I like.
The Washington Redskins finished the season last night with another loss. Tiki Barber, who played at UVA with my nephew, ran for career-high yardage. 2007 has got to be a better year.
*sigh* I’m a terribly weak alto… But I love to sing! My ear is very idiosyncratic: I can usually HEAR off notes, but I cannot make my voice obey…
“Trombone”??? How… unexpected! (I’m envious!)
I’ve got to find a good piano teacher, though, because one day (in the FAR future, I pray) I’ll inherit a Steinway baby grand….
Vivian, you are more than welcome…
– Kat
Posted by Kat | Monday, January 1, 2007, 12:34 amWell, I used to be a 2nd soprano but now I’m definitely an alto. And my voice is certainly more smokey now
As for the notes, just keep practicing. Your voice will follow.
I have a Knabe baby grand but it doesn’t compare to a Steinway – wow! That’s a very nice piano. Get going on those lessons!
Posted by vjp | Monday, January 1, 2007, 10:22 amI play the Irish tin whistle Vivian. I can really get going on “Hey Ya” by Outkast and I’m proficient on the “Darth Vader March”.
Posted by Kevin | Monday, January 1, 2007, 12:28 pmNow you’ve named an instrument that I don’t play (and mentioned 2 songs I’m not familiar with
) but that’s OK – I’m sure we can find some music that we can use an Irish tin whistle on 
Posted by vjp | Monday, January 1, 2007, 6:07 pmDarth Vader March on an Irish tin whistle, now that’s an interesting combination.
For those of you who have been in the blogosphere for awhile, I think Virginia Centrist was also a musician — a bluesly/rock singer.
Posted by Bryan Scrafford | Monday, January 1, 2007, 7:59 pmMy mother was also a Music Education major (back when ODU was W&M), and she taught me. I do play the piano occasionally, but I usually lose.
As for working and getting a Ph.D., you’re right on. I’m trying to get a Ph.D. in Computational Astrophysics from GMU, and it’s killing me. (I’m still not sure whether I passed Quantum last semester — I have to pay my parking ticket and library fines first!) I may stop at an M.S., and go into Economics — I want to take classes with Walter Williams!
Happy New Year!
Posted by Jack | Tuesday, January 2, 2007, 7:52 amWow, Computational Astrophysics — that’s some pretty heavy stuff. I know only enough about that to know that it’s way, way out of my league, and forever will be. It’s certainly a fascinating field, though.
Posted by Waldo Jaquith | Tuesday, January 2, 2007, 11:49 amIt is fascinating stuff, but there’s definitely no money in it!
Posted by Jack | Tuesday, January 2, 2007, 1:53 pm