Cat

The domestic cat (Felis catus or Felis silvestris catus) is a small, typically furry, domesticated, and carnivorous mammal. They are often called house cats when kept as indoor pets or simply cats when there is no need to distinguish them from other felids and felines. Cats are often valued by humans for companionship and for their ability to hunt vermin. There are more than 70 cat breeds; different associations proclaim different numbers according to their standards. The International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA) recognizes 73 cat breeds while TICA (The International Cat Association) recognizes 58, CFA (The Cat Fanciers' Association) recognizes 44 and Federation International Feline (FIFE) recognizes 43.

Cats are similar in anatomy to the other felids, with a strong, flexible body, quick reflexes, sharp retractable claws, and teeth adapted to killing small prey. Cat senses fit a crepuscular and predatory ecological niche. Cats can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human ears, such as those made by mice and other small animals. They can see in near darkness. Like most other mammals, cats have poorer color vision and a better sense of smell than humans. Cats, despite being solitary hunters, are a social species and cat communication includes the use of a variety of vocalizations (mewing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting), as well as cat pheromones and types of cat-specific body language.

Alley Cat (song)

"Alley Cat", also known as "Alleycat" and "The Alley Cat," is a popular instrumental song made most famous by the Danish pianist and composer Bent Fabric, released in 1962. Fabric (born Bent Fabricius-Bjerre) wrote the tune under the pseudonym Frank Björn.

History

The song was originally released under the Danish title "Omkring et flygel," which means "Around a Piano." In 1962, the Bent Fabric composition reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. In Australia, it went to number 1 and in Germany it went to number 49. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock & Roll Recording during the 5th Grammy Awards. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.

Popular culture

The song has appeared in numerous films, including the 1989 film Shag, starring Phoebe Cates and Bridget Fonda, the 1994 film Cabin Boy, starring Chris Elliott and Andy Richter, the 1999 film Just Looking, starring Ryan Merriman, the 2000 film Duets, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis and the 2004 film Imaginary Heroes, starring Sigourney Weaver and Emile Hirsch. It was also used in multiple episodes of Get a Life such as "Zoo Animals on Wheels." The song appeared in the episode 'The Wedding Affair' of season one of the American sitcom Mad About You and the episode 'He's Too Sexy For His Fat' of season two of Family Guy. It is also frequently used by ice cream trucks in the US.

The Champs

The Champs were an American rock and roll band, most famous for their Latin-tinged instrumental "Tequila". The group was formed by studio executives at Gene Autry's Challenge Records to record a B-side for the Dave Burgess (aka Dave Dupree) single, "Train to Nowhere". The intended throwaway track became more famous than its A-side, as "Tequila" went to No. 1 in just three weeks and the band became the first group to go to the top spot with an instrumental that was their first release. The song was recorded at Gold Star Studios in fall 1957, and in 1959 won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.

"Tequila!" was written by the saxophone player Danny Flores, although he was credited as Chuck Rio because he was under contract to another record label at the time. Flores, who died in September 2006, was known as the "Godfather of Latino rock." Flores' "dirty sax" and his low-voiced "Tequila!" are the hallmarks of the song. Flores signed away the U.S. rights to the song but retained world-wide rights until his death. Dale Norris is still in MO and works at a Walmart in Joplin.

The Champs (podcast)

The Champs is a comedy podcast hosted by Neal Brennan, Moshe Kasher, and until 2013 DJ Douggpound (Doug Lussenhop of the Tim and Eric Show). It is part of the All Things Comedy podcast network.

Kasher said the following of the podcast in a 2011 interview with SanDiego.com: "It’s Doug dropping sound effects and beats over me and Neal kind of hosting an hour of ridiculous chat. We have a rotating black guy guest, there’s a different black guest every week." Guests of the show have included actor/comedians Wayne Brady and David Alan Grier, as well as musician Questlove, adult film star Lexington Steele and professional basketball player Blake Griffin. The show has strayed from its guest format on occasion with guests such as comedian and actor Bobby Lee, former pornographic actress Sasha Grey, former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco and actor Aziz Ansari. In 2014 The Champs was named "Best Podcast" as part of LA Weekly's "Best of L.A." issue.

See also