In response to the reader request that poured in, my annual quota, here is a new rock song challenge, based on the early works of the Greatest Rock Band Ever, the Rolling Stones.
The Rolling Stones, who made much of the very best rock music in the '60's and '70's, have continued into the 21st Century with vapid, meaningless albums.
But I can't have it both ways. I constantly bitch about this year's versions of Journey and Kansas, touring from January 1 through December 31, no new songs for over 30 years.
I'm like a stinky old guy, and these guys are older than me, mechanically picking out and singing 30, 40-year-old songs, irrelevant for most of those years.
The conundrum is the Stones have kept making records, some of which attempt to evince a new social conscious, hard to adopt when the band you worshipped was arrested for public pissing, banned from entire nations for attempting to enter the country with that noted killer, marijuana. Okay, serious, you are an international star sells millions of records and sells out as big a venue you can book. And of the hundreds of groupies, roadies, and hangers-on, you can't double-bag an ounce and find someone to stuff it up their ass for customs? For these Rock Gods, somebody would have brought in Charlie Watts' drum kit stuffed in very orifice.
Okay, Brian Jones' junk might have required a cow, but he was an over the top boozer (think Kieth Moon, The Who's brilliant, doomed drummer) and alcohol killed more early rockers - Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Moon and Jones, than all the drugs Kieth Richards has consumed and subsumed in 50 years.
All these questions have been Google fact-checked, but using Google for answers is just plain wrong. And you know who you are.
And if you don't know the early Stones, early '60's & '70's, or don't care, save yourself some time and check your e-mail. Or page down to the para begins, "For several years now, bird watchers have argued..."

Part I
First lines of songs.
(All songs appearing in this quiz will carry a *, **, or *** rating, good, excellent, or outstanding.)
1.) "Everywhere I hear the sound of marching charging feet, boy" ***
2.) "I live in an apartment on the 99th floor of my block" ***
3.) "I was born in a crossfire hurricane" **** (not a typo)
4.) "If I could stick my pen in my heart, spill it all over the stage" ***
5.) "Well baby used to stay out, all night long
She made me cry, she done me wrong" ***
6.) "Well when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair
Talking to some rich folk that you know" ****
7.) "No good, can't speak wound up, no sleep
Sky diver inside her, skip rope, stunt flyer" ***
8.) "What a drag it is getting old" ***
9.) "You're the kind of person you met at certain dismal dull affairs" ***
10.) And, from the absolute greatest, no contest, rock song ever, *** *** *** ***
"Oh, see the storm is threatening my very life today"

Part II
Lines from songs.
11.) " Now she gets her kicks in Stepney
Not in Knightsbridge anymore" ***
12.) "Faith has been broken, tears have been cried
Let's do some livin' after we've died" ***
13.) "It's not the way you give in willingly
Others do it without thrilling me" *****
This is one of the great poems/songs ever and if you think you fully appreciate it 40 years later, good for you. The most insightful message in rock music, period.

14.) "Cause all you women is low down gamblers, cheatin' but I don't know how" ***
15.) "I can see that you're fifteen years old
No I don't want your ID" ***
16.) "I'm a cold Italian pizza
I could use a lemon squeezer
Would you do?" ***
17.) "Sweet cousin cocaine lay your cool cool hand on my head" ***
18.) "Got to scrape the shit right off your shoes" ***
19.) "And try as you may
You just don't feel good
You don't feel all right" ***
20.) And finally, once again, from the absolutely greatest rock song ever
"Burns like a red coal carpet" ***** *****
Take credit only if you know the next six words.
Extra credit: many of the early Stones song were written by Nanker/Phelge. Who are those guys? And what movie is that line from?
Goddammit, Joe, this took hours. You better like it!

For several years now, bird watchers have argued that the true harbingers of spring are not robins, but red-winged blackbirds. And I saw one yesterday, the first since October. It's been pleasant the last several days. Garrison Keillor said March isn't spring. God made March so people who don't drink will know what a hangover is.
There were two kestrels together on a wire, facing in opposite directions, doing what can only be described as necking.
Tis the season...