Several things have occurred to me since I stopped watching television:

1. Poor Gilligan was kept down by the man.

2. Everything useful I know I learned from watching cartoons.

3. The marimba kicks ass.

The last one might shock a few. It’s true. I was forced to watch the Lawrence Welk Show as a child. It sucked, except I was fascinated with one band member — marimbist Jack Imel. Dude mastered mallets, sticks and other friendly weaponry. I’ve had a thing for the instrument ever since.

Thrilling news — Marimba player Naoko Takada performs Wednesday at the Washington Center in Olympia. Takada began to study the marimba at the age of 8, and she first appeared as a soloist with orchestra at 11 when she played with the Tokyo Symphony and the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra. At age 8 — I studied Hong Kong Fooey.

[Washington Center, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., $11.75-$23.50, 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.753.8586]