Aggie87

Astros actually pulled it out and nabbed the wild card! Clemens is up first on Wednesday, followed by 20 game winner Oswalt. I hope they can finally solve the curse they seem to have when playing the Braves in the postseason. I'd also like to see them re-sign Beltran in the offseason. I know he was brought it to for the sole purpose of making the playoffs, but it would be great to see them rebuild around Berkman and Beltran, keeping the Killer B theme intact. And it would be great to see Clemens come back for one more year, after doing so well.

Astros moved into the lead in the NL wild card race yesterday, with only a home series against Colorado left. I didn't really think they had it in them to get back into playoff contention, but they surprised me. Hope they don't choke against the Rockies.

These videos have found their way into my home, via my 6 year old daughter. She doesn't have any concept that these "films" never were shown in theaters, and I'm sure could care less. All she knows is that she likes Mary Kate & Ashley, and that these DVDs and VHSs are from them. It's a market they focused on, took advantage of, and succeeded in, instead of trying to release theater-quality stuff and flounder against the Disneys, Dreamworks, etc. Very business savvy, ala Madonna, Britney, Christina, Hilary Duff, and so on...

I had "Electric Cafe" while in college, and we used to drive around in my buddy's Camaro and blast that album! Nobody else understood it, but we loved it! Wasn't their greatest, but it holds fun memories.

I also have a crystal clear memory of September 11th. At the time I was still working for the Army in Stuttgart, Germany. I remember getting the news about what happened when a friend of mine from Garmisch called, and running down the hall to turn the TV in our conference room on. Although there were probably 25 of us in there, it was completely silent, and I think a few of us (both Germans and Americans) started crying. I went home in a fog that day, not really even aware I was driving. One of the things that will stay with me forever is how much outpouring of sympathy and support we were given by the Germans. Naturally security at the bases immediately increased, every car was searched upon entering, etc. But while you were waiting in line to get on base, you could see 50-75 German citizens standing outside the gates holding vigils, with candles, flowers and cards, and singing songs. Some came up to us while we were sitting in our cars, and offered their sympathies, and also thanked us for everything we had done for them, from WWII on. This happened for a couple of weeks before tapering off, not just a one day thing. And it wasn't organized, just normal people taking time to show us how they felt. Some of my best German friends were a retired couple in their mid-70's now. They always treated my kids like their own grandkids, and we loved them like family. We visited them at their home about a week afterwards, and I remember hugging them and all of us crying. None of us wanted to let go of each other.

Cowboys O looked decent yesterday. Got more 1st downs than Minnesota (27-23)and picked up 423 yards of offense. Not too shabby for a 40 yr old QB and some older receivers (Johnson & Glenn). Running game was a bit suspect, but once they got behind it became a moot point when they were forced to go to the air to try and hang with the Vikes. Problem is they were having to settle for field goal attempts early on (and what's with McBriar throwing a rugby pass there on the muff??). Unfortunately, Dallas was supposed to have a decent defense again this year. And the defense didn't really show up. They managed to limit Moss to 27 yds receiving, but he still caught two TDs, and the D was so focused on him they let everyone else run wild. There was no pass rush either, that should be their biggest concern. Culpepper had all day to throw, and bided his time until someone came open. Hopefully the offense works through its problems, and the defense gets on track, or it's gonna be a long season.

My Aggies shut out Wyoming 31-0. They played alot better than the previous game against Utah. I don't think they're worthy of any bowl consideration this year, but hopefully things will at least start going in the right direction... Sucks when your team was really good for a long time, it's hard to accept not having a winning season, like last year!

Funny: I was just playing "Just Another Band from East LA" (at least I think that's the title) an earlier box set. Is there any over-lap? BTW I just got to hear them at a concert in a vinyard where there was lots of room for dancing. They make a great bar band. There's alot of overlap between the two. I used to have the 2 disc compilation you've got, and really liked it as well. The bigger box is (obviously) more fleshed out, and continues up until 2000, whereas the 2 disc set ends at 1993. I'd go for the Mas & Mas box if you like Los Lobos. I also like their newest disc, The Ride. Gonna have to go back and check out Good Morning Aztlan now!

The Tom Petty box that was mentioned earlier is a pretty good set - 6 discs, three discs of hits & album tracks, and three of which were previously unreleased material (!). A couple of others that aren't too shabby: Los Lobos - El Cancionero: Mas Y Mas - includes hits, great album tracks, live stuff, unreleased stuff, and side projects. A great summary. Stevie Ray Vaughan - A nice 3 disc set including mostly previously unreleased stuff, and including a DVD from the Austin City Limits show. Genesis - Archives, Vol 1 - nothing on here has been released before, includes a live Lamb show, other live stuff, and alot of 60's era demos. NOT to be confused with Archives Vol 2, which is fluffier stuff from the Genesis pop era. A couple of other King Crimson boxes that I enjoy are Heavy ConstruKction (a 3 disc live set, don't know if this qualifies as a box or just a large live recording), and the ProjeKcts box.

I'd love to pick up the Talking Heads box that Big Al mentioned. It truly looks like a perfect Heads compilation, with the DVD as a nice bonus. But what the *&#$# is up with that packaging? That is enough to scare me away completely. This huge oddly shaped book wouldn't fit anywhere, and isn't exactly convenient to take with in the car, for instance. I hope that someone comes to their senses and re-releases this in a standard box - or a Milesian metal spined box even!

...Astros are finally making a push towards the NL wildcard. It's a shame they have to do that in the first place, with all the talent on the team. I hope they'll find a way to re-sign Carlos Beltran in the offseason, he's been the best player on the team since he got there, offensively at least. And it would be nice if Clemens decided to stay for one more year as well...

I had a frustrating thing happen to me today. Purchased a copy of Mark Bingham's 1989 "I Passed for Human" disc, from Half.com. It's a disc that Scofield, John Zorn, and Steve Swallow play on, among others. Even has a version of "Giant Steps" that I'm really curious to hear. Well, I popped it into my car stereo this morning, and lo and behold there's some rap music that comes pouring out of my speakers. First song is about Buttermilk Biscuits (no innuendo there, eh?). I looked at the disc again, and it is labelled correctly - Mark Bingham, etc. Just the wrong music. Emailed the seller, and he said I could send it back, no problem. But I don't really blame him, it's some sort of manufacturing mistake, I guess! Grrrr!!!

Played B.A. Baracus in the pilot episode (and portions of the first season) of The A-Team, but quit when he couldn't get the timing just right on the classic line "I pity the fool", and the producers dubbed in Ira Gitler instead.

...he got his nickname because his reed chirped.

...just noticed the newest Brad Mehldau, "Anything Goes" is available.

I believe she may be more accurately classified as new age, but I don't know her music, so someone else may have to jump in. Or maybe a jazz/newage fusion (?).

Freddy Fender! Freddy (Baldemar Huerta) also lives here in Corpus. He used to drive around in a funny looking little car, a mini 50's-era sedan. Haven't seen him in that in a while though. I used to enjoy the Texas Tornados - a fun Tex-Mex supergroup he was in with Flaco, Doug Sahm, and Augie Meyers (the last two from the Sir Douglas Quintet). "Hey Baby Que Paso" and "Who were you thinkin' of" are still alot of fun!

Isn't Tejano more like a rock and country blend with some ethnic Mexican texturing? Doesn't this new band Los Lonely Boys play a sort of Tejano-style music? Isn't Tejano the musical style that Selena used? Banda is distinguished by the accordian-like instrument. It does sound very much like polka music. I'm a teensy bit out of my musical depth (or shallowness) here. I'm with Jim on the tejano thing. Tejano is mainly accordion based, at least here. It's either that, or ballads. Los Lonely Boys is definitely not Tejano music. They're from Texas and they're Hispanic, but it's rock. Selena, who is buried not too far from my home, was Tejano. But she was attempting to cross over into the Top 40/pop market just before she was murdered, and that stuff wasn't Tejano. More like Madonna-lite.

I'll keep an eye out for that one. LMAO

I asked a similar question about jazz shopping in Houston back in March, and garthsj responded with comments in this thread. I still hit the Sound Waves on Montrose when I visit, and usually find a couple of things there.

Just noticed in the New Listings: John Scofield - Live En Route Jazz Crusaders - At the Lighthouse '68 Thad Jones/Mel Lewis - Central Park North John McLaughlin - Thieves and Poets Kurt Rosenwinkel - Heartcore Dr. Lonnie Smith - Boogaloo to Beck v/a - Blue Note Revisited In Clearance: John Scofield - Bump, A Go Go, and Steady Groovin' George Benson - Body Talk E.S.T. - Strange Place for Snow Marc Ribot - Muy Divertido Mark Shim - Turbulent Flow

Cowboys cut Quincy Carter today!! Rumors are that he failed some sort of drug test. I liked Carter's attitude, and he seemed to work hard at getting better. Be interesting to see what really happened as more info becomes available. This comes as quite a shock to me. Testaverde is now the clear cut starter, with Henson in the wings.

I believe this archival BNBB photo is being considered for the box cover, or maybe one of the individual CD's...

Extra 10% off: code G4PM12 Good through 28 July (Wednesday).

PM'd you re: the Bernstein disc. Thanks Erik