Laura Occasionally Blogs

I really wish there were a Broadway Karaoke Xbox game so I could put to good use the songs and lyrics I really know.

Some tracks it should contain:

• Les Miserables, "Confrontation" (Duet) (A Must)
  
• Jesus Christ Superstar, "Heaven On Their Minds" ("Superstar" also acceptable)
  
• Cats, "Memories" (Hey, this has to be Realistic!)
  
• Phantom of the Opera, "Phantom of the Opera" ("Music of the Night" also acceptable)
  
• Aida, "Enchantment Passing Through" (Duet) (Mostly because I want to say "There are no shackles on you!")
  
• Jekyll and Hyde, "This Is The Moment"
  
• West Side Story, "Something's Coming" ("Jet Song" obvs. acceptable too, but I don't know HOW many mics you would need)
  
• Wicked, "Defying Gravity"
  
• Oliver!, "Consider Yourself"
  
• Anything Goes, "I Get a Kick Out of You" ("De-Lovely", "Easy to Love" also acceptable)
  
• KIss Me Kate, "Too Darn Hot" ("Always True to You (In My Fashion)", "So In Love" also acceptable)
  
• The King and I, "Getting to Know You" ("It's a Puzzlement" would be...better, actually)
  
• Carousel, "If I Loved You" (Duet)
  
• My Fair Lady, "Street Where You Live"
  
• Candide, "Glitter and Be Gay"
  
• Cradle Will Rock, "The nickel under your foot" ("Moll's Song" or "Cradle Will Rock" also acceptable; NOT HONOLULU)
  
• I guess that one from Rent with all the math in it
  
• Sweeney Todd, "Pretty Women" (Duet)
  
• Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, "On the Rise" (Duet)

Come on Harmonix, I have been training all my life for this.

The Massachusetts ballot questions are really interesting this election; more interesting than the presidential race, since it's by no means a swing state.

Proposition 1: Elimination of state income tax.
How I'll vote: GOD, NO. NONONONO.
I like public works, public transit, public building projects, public libraries, public schools, and public hospitals, thanks. The state can keep the $20 or whatever they get from me each year. Proponents like to talk about an "average" savings of 3,000 a year which really only means the rich folks are getting a whole bunch and average joes are getting a couple hundred, maybe, tops. And property taxes will go up, so our rent will go up by more than we save. Not that we'll be able to pay our rent anyway since we'll all be unemployed and unable to get to a job even if we had one. Also, we'll get bit by uncaught raccoons scavenging in our uncollected garbage and contract untreated rabies. It will be just be a bad scene.

Proposition 2: Decriminilzation of possession of marijuana.
How I'll vote: Yes.
This just means that if you're found with an ounce or less, you get a fine of $100 and no criminal record. It'll be a nice way for localities to collect some extra cash if prop. 1 passes, god forbid.

Proposition 3: Outlawing dog racing.
How I'll vote: I figure I'll wing it.
A girl in my art class wants us all to vote "yes" because dogs are treated so cruelly in the racing circuit, but as Anna points out, criminalizing only dog racing unfairly punishes poor people since only rich people can afford to race horses, which are unaffected by the law. So it will depend on if I'm feeling especially pro-animal or pro-class-equality-w/r/t-shady-ways-to-make-money that day. Both are worthy causes.