A: Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Marine World Africa USA, Bill Buckner, the California Maritime Academy, E-40...

Q: Name some people and things to come out of VALLEJO, CALIF.
Of course, you would have to add CON FUNK SHUN to any list of people and things originating out of "Valley-Joe."
You know a band is great when 11-year-old Kerstin can't help bopping her head to songs such as "Ffun," "Chase Me," "Confunkshunizeya" and "Shake and Dance With Me."
Kerstin even lauded the songs as being "very catchy."
I have been listening to a lot of Con Funk Shun lately, choosing songs for a "Funky Feet" playlist for working out.
Con Funk Shun began as Project Soul, a much-sought-after backing band featuring high school classmates Louis "Tony" McCall and Michael Cooper. Lead singer/songwriter Felton Pilate -- also from Vallejo -- joined after a rival band broke up.
Like another Vallejo native -- racing's Jeff Gordon -- Con Funk Shun had to leave town to gain fame. Con Funk Shun set off for Memphis and their funky compositions eventually led to hits.
Their songs are warming me today -- a day when springtime snowflakes are falling in Dubuque.