@19 noahpoah, the key phrase for me is "turn it off", which means you were listening to the band's cd. if you'd seen 'em live first, i guarantee you'd have a different and more favorable reaction. if we could bottle eugene's charisma, chutzpah and unflagging energy, we most likely have a solution to our other energy crises.

also, i saw devotchka live a few weeks ago. highly recommended but much more subdued.

and thanks to everyone else for all the documentary/film links i'd previously not been aware of.

squirrelgirl,

while a dog's breed may give you an idea about temperament, each dog is its own dog, so to speak. i was recently in a training class with a man who'd recently adopted another dog of the same breed as his first (and highly prized, perfect) dog. he was utterly dismayed and thoroughly disappointed that this new critter wasn't exactly like the dog he already had at home. dogs have strong personalities with traits that are not necessarily breed-dependent. get to know the particular dog you are thinking of adopting.