Answerbag: George's answers

Answer to Started Champix tablets last week to stop smoking. Feeling crappy, anyone tried this medication & any tips?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:05:33 -0700

Started Champix tablets last week to stop smoking. Feeling crappy, anyone tried this medication & any tips?

I wonder how you are now? I had a terrible time although I'm pretty much over it now. Mine took the form of just general uneasiness/slight paranoia. I wasn't as bad as this chap I found. http://geoffreybarnardsblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-experience-with-champix-2.html I...

Answer to What is your fav song from the 80's?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:17:30 -0700

What is your fav song from the 80's?

Party Fears two by The Associates

Answer to What's ur fav song by muse?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:15:51 -0700

What's ur fav song by muse?

Such a difficult question. I think I couldn't do without 'New Born' so it'll have to be that one I think!

Answer to Why don't schools have the teachers spend a little of the time teaching (stressing to ) kids not to be cruel or to pick on kids that are different or shy? I know parents should, but they don't. Kids can be harmed so deeply and emotionally...

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:10:25 -0700

Why don't schools have the teachers spend a little of the time teaching (stressing to ) kids not to be cruel or to pick on kids that are different or shy? I know parents should, but they don't. Kids can be harmed so deeply and emotionally...

We do try! It's sometimes difficult with the example being set by parents these days. At one school in a pretty posh part of Surrey (UK) one child had the misfortune to have a dispute with a child from a very rough and very large family. Child B's uncles came into the school and beat...

Answer to Should schools be allowed to teach creationism?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:01:01 -0700

Should schools be allowed to teach creationism?

Presumably if it was taught in the same way as Greek Mythology, it wouldn't be so harmful. There is a good case for our children being aware of their history and heritage. If it's presented as fact though; there I have a problem ...

Answer to What is your favorite song from Judas Priest?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:31:33 -0700

What is your favorite song from Judas Priest?

"Victim of Changes". Weirdly, my friend who sings Renaissance music for a living suddenly started singing the screamy bit at the end the other day. Bizarre hearing it in a posh English accent!

Answer to What are your feelings about declawing cats? Humane or Inhumane?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:23:45 -0700

What are your feelings about declawing cats? Humane or Inhumane?

Inhumane. I do put up with a lot though from Monty the slightly disturbed cat though ...

Answer to Did you see/hear our beloved Prime Ministers speech today ?, any comments ?, will you vote for him now?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:21:28 -0700

Did you see/hear our beloved Prime Ministers speech today ?, any comments ?, will you vote for him now?

Yes I did and yes, I probably will. I actually think he's pretty solid. I was really sick of Tony Blair and am glad a serious man's now in charge. I don't really relish the prospect of a cabinet made up of former members of the Bullingdon club.

Answer to Would you say Margaret Thatcher was a good influence on Britain?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:20:45 -0700

Would you say Margaret Thatcher was a good influence on Britain?

Absolutely not. I think the 'me first' society she cultivated was very damaging and we're only really feeling the pain now. Funnily enough, the chickens of her hatred of regulation are coming home to roost now with a vengeance too.

Answer to Assume there was a global government, who would you vote for as President?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:15:04 -0700

Assume there was a global government, who would you vote for as President?

George Monbiot

Answer to Do you think eh UK government treat the motorist as a cash machine?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:13:45 -0700

Do you think eh UK government treat the motorist as a cash machine?

Not nearly enough unfortunately

Answer to Where can I go online to see positive comments about anything that the UK Labour party is doing? All I read about ID Cards, 42 Days Detention etc. has people baying for a general election. Am I seeing a one-sided phenomenon?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:12:49 -0700

Where can I go online to see positive comments about anything that the UK Labour party is doing? All I read about ID Cards, 42 Days Detention etc. has people baying for a general election. Am I seeing a one-sided phenomenon?

Yes you are. People have very short memories here.

Answer to Do you think jeremy clarkson should be prime minister?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:10:19 -0700

Do you think jeremy clarkson should be prime minister?

It's difficult to tell what he'll be like when he grows up.

Answer to Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledges 'I will do better', do you believe him?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:06:28 -0700

Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledges 'I will do better', do you believe him?

I do actually. He seems genuine to me. Do we really want another flashy entertainer?

Answer to Have you ever thought "Oh to be in England"?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:02:46 -0700

Have you ever thought "Oh to be in England"?

Yes. When we were stopped in the middle of nowhere in The Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The 'policeman' and his heavies held us for about 3 hours, threatened to chuck us in a jail (what the hell for I don't know) and beat up this little guy from Mali who was guiding us....

Answer to Whom is your favorite black metal band?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:38:22 -0700

Whom is your favorite black metal band?

Sabbat!

Answer to Was Ian Gillan the best singer Deep Purple ever had?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:32:45 -0700

Was Ian Gillan the best singer Deep Purple ever had?

I'm totally biased. Glenn Hughes is easily my favourite ex-Purple vocalist. Him paired with Coverdale? Well ...

Answer to Do you think that instead of ASBOs or electronic tags(which are seen as cool), a good deterrent for teenage crime would be that offenders have to get a tatoo saying "i love rick astley"? is there a better deterrent?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:27:37 -0700

Do you think that instead of ASBOs or electronic tags(which are seen as cool), a good deterrent for teenage crime would be that offenders have to get a tatoo saying "i love rick astley"? is there a better deterrent?

Genius. I'm struggling to think of anything more likely to deter me from misbehaving!

Answer to What is your favorite Tony Iommi (of Black Sabbath) guitar solo?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:22:09 -0700

What is your favorite Tony Iommi (of Black Sabbath) guitar solo?

So many to choose from. 'The Laughing Man in the Devil Mask' with Henry Rollins. 'Turn up the Night' from Mob Rules. My favourite at the moment is off 'The Shining'

Answer to What is your favourite work by Edgar Allan Poe?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:08:20 -0700

What is your favourite work by Edgar Allan Poe?

"The Bells". It's so spectacularly set to music by Rachmaninoff. Unremittingly miserable.

Answer to Do you love VIVALDI?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:42:38 -0700

Do you love VIVALDI?

I kind of avoided him for ages. Maybe it was because the four seasons was played all the time. Then someone showed me this; apparently it's representing a woman's grief on losing a child. So emotional for a baroque piece.

Answer to What are some good 'emo' love songs? Now is the time to really impress and charm my Love, and I need some quotes...

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:21:55 -0700

What are some good 'emo' love songs? Now is the time to really impress and charm my Love, and I need some quotes...

Definitely 'Unintended' by MUSE. Hang on, I'll see if I can find it. Ah, here it is

Answer to What is your favourite concerto, for any instrument?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:17:36 -0700

What is your favourite concerto, for any instrument?

Bach concerto for 4 harpsichords; can't remember the number offhand but I think there's only one. I actually prefer the Karl Richter interpretation myself but this is good

Answer to Have you ever felt so heart broken that you don't know how you feel? (Does that make sense?)

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:09:28 -0700

Have you ever felt so heart broken that you don't know how you feel? (Does that make sense?)

Yes. I was numb but, years later, am almost glad it happened. I'm 346000 times stronger now!

Answer to If you got back together with your ex, how long were you seperated from eachother before you got back together?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:03:53 -0700

If you got back together with your ex, how long were you seperated from eachother before you got back together?

Two years I think. It was much better the 2nd time

Answer to Has the Global Warming hoax gotten completely out of hand?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:34:18 -0700

Has the *Global Warming* hoax gotten completely out of hand?

I admire the bulk of the contributors confidence here. As a non-scientist I wouldn't have the nerve to contradict the testimony of, say, 'The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' including, among their number, Stephen Hawking. This must be one hell of a hoax if they're involved!...

Answer to If you where marooned on desert island with the option to have your favourite 3 CD's with you, what would they be?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:59:16 -0700

If you where marooned on desert island with the option to have your favourite 3 CD's with you, what would they be?

You'd all get sooooo bored with those songs no matter how much you like them. I once took a 4 day coach journey from Greece to England; the driver had one tape which he played continuously ALL THE WAY. It was the Scorpions album with 'Wind of Change' on it. Can you imagine how...

Answer to If you were placed in a deserted island by yourself, what book would you choose to take with you?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:51:38 -0700

If you were placed in a deserted island by yourself, what book would you choose to take with you?

"Barbarossa" or "The Donkeys" by Alan Clark (both detailing the appalling suffering and incompetence in the 2 world wars). They would remind me that I wasn't missing much.

Answer to If the bible is the "word of god" doesnt that make god petty,vindictive, misogytic, homophobic, racist mass-murderer?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:55:05 -0700

If the bible is the "word of god" doesnt that make god petty,vindictive, misogytic, homophobic, racist mass-murderer?

Yes, especially in the Old Testament although at least we never hear of punishment of the dead there. It's only when Jesus makes his appearance that we learn that, if we don't accept the message, we will go into everlasting fire! Charming!

Answer to What is your favorite music video?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:25:39 -0700

What is your favorite music video?

I love the build up at the end of this one. And the animation.

Answer to If this were the only choice you had, would you prefer to live in England or Scotland?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:18:25 -0700

If this were the only choice you had, would you prefer to live in England or Scotland?

Difficult one; I've done both. Obviously Scotland is beautiful and England is way too crowded (in the South-East at least). However, I couldn't stand the nationalism/tribalism in Scotland. In Aberdeenshire it seemed you were obliged to hate people if they came from the next...

Answer to How many power outlets are in your room?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:08:05 -0700

How many power outlets are in your room?

Oh dear. I rewired my house and put in, where the stereo and telly were going to be, 8 power points. Then I later realised the house would be much better organised with the stereo in the back room. So ... the stereo etc now runs off one point with God knows how many extension leads and those 8...

Answer to If you were to place a book on atheism in every hotel room (like Gideons Bibles), which book would you choose?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:00:58 -0700

If you were to place a book on atheism in every hotel room (like Gideons Bibles), which book would you choose?

Absolutely. "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens. My reaction to it was disbelief that such a book should have to be written ... but it did have to be written! I'm sure you've heard him but, just in case, here's a flavour. ...

Answer to How do you get legal revenge on someone who abused you?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:49:26 -0700

How do you get legal revenge on someone who abused you?

Go to the police and get their advice. They'll give you a better idea of just how much pain you'll have to go through in order to get the result you require. Then you can decide if you feel up to going through with it. I would have left the whole issue to fester forever but then felt...

Answer to What is the saddest/most depressing piece you can play on a piano?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:38:35 -0700

What is the saddest/most depressing piece you can play on a piano?

'Pavane pour Une Infante Defunte' by Ravel for me

Answer to If I were playing for your wedding (piano or organ), what special selections would you like?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:30:05 -0700

If I were playing for your wedding (piano or organ), what special selections would you like?

On the way in; Choral Song (without the Fugue) by SS Wesley. On the way out; Sortie in Eb by Lefebure-Wely. It would send everyone away with a smile.

Answer to If you could assemble any group of musicians, living or dead, to make the greatest rock band in history, who would they be?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:23:52 -0700

If you could assemble any group of musicians, living or dead, to make the greatest rock band in history, who would they be?

Glenn Hughes on vocals Rick Wakeman on keyboards Leslie West and Yngwie Malmsteen on guitars Cozy Powell on Drums Joey deMaio on Bass

Answer to If you could stage your own rock fest what bands would you hire?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:17:05 -0700

If you could stage your own rock fest what bands would you hire?

Cor ... what a thought Mountain Depeche Mode Black Sabbath (with Ronnie James Dio) Muse Sabbat (UK) Rush

Answer to What is your favorite love song?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:10:56 -0700

What is your favorite love song?

"Ne me quitte pas" by Jacques Brel. As one of the comments states, 'Intenso'! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfqgFoIdeUE

Answer to Which YOUTUBE videos are MUST watch? (Feel free to post them below using the "embed" feature)

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:02:24 -0700

Which YOUTUBE videos are MUST watch? (Feel free to post them below using the "embed" feature)

Well, I got so fed up with an acquaintance, who is so rich he doesn't have to work, phoning me up in the middle of the night that I recorded his drunken ramblings and posted them on YouTube. I think it's a must watch anyway! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78brB4RXzMQ