Don't Bug The Cat

Charles Mingus, bassist, composer, bandleader, sometime pianist, was known as "The Angry Man of Jazz". His refusal to compromise his musical integrity led to many onstage explosions. He was prone to mood swings and was often feared for his sometimes violent onstage temper, which was at times directed at members of his band, and other times aimed at the audience. While onstage at a memorial concert in Philadelphia, he reportedly attempted to crush his pianist's hands with the instrument's keyboard cover, then punched his trombonist in the mouth. Jeez. Indeed, after the British rockers The Animals witnessed Mingus' destruction of an $800 bass onstage, a sort of lightbulb clicked on and they began to emulate the outburst, starting a trend of rampant onstage destruction of musical equipment popularized by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and continuing to this day. It is pretty cool after all.

Now, I am a huge fan of Charles Mingus. He is undoubtedly one of the premier geniuses of the 20th Century. Not just in the field of jazz but in all of music. (I just listened to Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul from Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus ... check it out -- it'll blow your mind). But, I must admit, while I like to think of myself as a pretty cool chick, I am something of a geek. And I searched Mingus just now in an attempt to get my hands on a Charles Mingus stamp which was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1995.

I was sidetracked, however, when I came across this : http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com/Mingus/cat_training.html

Charles Mingus, The Angry Man of Jazz, taught his cat to poop in the toilet. And, what's more, was kind enough to share his methods with the world. Do it gradually. Don't rush him. Too weird. I've seen books on this before but Charles Mingus? Suddenly I am inspired to potty train little Iris. Too bad I just bought an 8-pound bag of cat litter today (with a coupon for $2 off).

Perhaps I'll seek out the stamp later ...