connoisseur series500

Definitely correct, Big Al. My greaaassszzzy offering of the week: Richard Groove Holmes, "Blue Groove." There's enough grease on there to top my cholesterol level up so high that it starts back on zero again!

Here's a big vote to ban smoking from clubs and restaurants. Those guys can smoke outside and still listen to you, Soul Stream. The problem is that smokers affect the health of us non-smokers. It should not be done in public places. All the States and cities are moving to enact restrictive legislation on this. It is inevitable and you're going to have to get used to it.

Have fun, Rooster. I'll hold the Louis Smith for you till you get back.

Can't we just nominate people here? I PM'd Ghost of Miles, but he's too modest to post. I officially nominate Ghostie's avatar. That cool Edward Hopper self-portrait.

You got your coach, Jim in Larry Brown. I'm a sixers fan and I'm glad to see him go. He's not a bad coach but I feel he did all he could already in Philly. Need some more horses and some more ideas. He's inheriting a good team in Detroit. p.s. don't forget that I live in Toledo, which is only about 1 hr away from you. We get all the Pistons games and news too.

I have always felt this to be the case.

Yes: "Code of the Woosters" is an excellent starting point, then "Jeeves In the Morning." Then you'll be on your way. For short stories, try the collection "Heart of A Goof" or "The Golf Omnibus." Bruce's recommendations are fine. The thing to be aware of is that Wodehouse is remarkably consistent and all his stuff is consistently good. His novels and stories are based on several different sets of characters. There are a few novels which deal with Psmith. The fellow who says, "The 'p', I should add for your guidance, is silent, as in psthisis, psychic, and ptarmigan." Another set of characters is the group who congregate around Blandings Castle, led by Lord Elmsworth, and his sister, Constance. I find this group to be extremely hilarious and my personal favorite setting for his stories. The most well known and popular set of characters would be Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves. There are some other lesser-known sets of characters which I have forgotten the names, but Ukridge and his gang are funny. He's always short of money and concocts schemes to get some. Uncle Fred's books are great. One classic: "Uncle Fred in the Springtime." They're all good. The suggestion would be to go to a used paperback shop and buy whatever is cheapest or whatever happens to be available there. You can't go wrong. The downside is that if you read too many of the books consecutively, you discover that they seem to be alike and you get a bit tired of them. He wrote about 100 books and they all follow his unique formula. I'll read a couple then read other things, then go back to him if I need a laugh. Good luck!

The oddsmakers were correct and the Spurs handily won game 1 of the NBA finals. I didn't see the game, but it suddenly dawned on me that it would be nice for "the Admiral" to go out with another NBA championship. Robinson of course has been one of the all-time nice guys of the game and a truly positive role model. The Nets are tough and they'll make a series out of it; but it is the year of the Spurs.

Here are a few funny lines from "The Inimitable Jeeves." "I looked up, and found that his attention was elsewhere. He was gazing at the waitress with the look fo a dog that's just remembered where its bone was buried." "The motto of the Little family was evidently 'variety.' Young Bingo is long and thin and hasn't had a superfluous ounce on him since we first met; but the uncle restored the average and a bit over. The hand which grasped mine wrapped it round and enfolded it till I began to wonder if I'd ever get it out without excavating machinery." "The thing's too recent. The anguish hasn't had time to pass. You see, what happened was that Ocean Breeze (curse him!) finished absolutely nowhere for the Cup. Believe me, nowhere. These are the times that try men's souls. It's never pleasant to be caught in the machinery when a favourite comes unstitched, and in the case of this particular dashed animal, one had come to look on the running of the race as a pure formality, a sort of quaint, old-world ceremony to be gone through before one sauntered up to the bookie and collected. I had wandered out of the paddock to try and forget, when I bumped into old Bittlesham: and he looked so rattled and purple... 'Me, too," I said. 'Me, too. How much did you drop?' 'Drop?' 'On Ocean Breeze.' 'I did not bet on Ocean Breeze.' 'What! You owned the favourite for the Cup, and didn't back it!' 'I never bet on horse-racing. It is against my principles. I am told that the animal failed to win the contest.' 'Failed to win! Why, he was so far behind that he nearly came in first in the next race.'

I love Woody Allen's monologues. I don't have any of them in print or anything, but I enjoyed Lon's. Can anyone quote Monte Python or Inspector Closeau. I actually like the comedy of P.G. Wodehouse. I'll have to see if I can find a funny monologue.

I also got one printed in American Scholar, the journal for the Phi Beta Kappa Society, but sadly they are not on-line. I still have the issue, though! Not a bad letter, Alex. Why don't you write like that on this board? No, really, I think it's a good letter and I can see why it was published.

An excellent and propitious start, I would say, for a young bulletin board.

You're right, Dmitry, I need to go out more often. We'll make another offer some other time; in the meantime, I'm not picking up the Lester cds. No one has offered me anything interesting in exchange and I'm not interested in reselling them. Another time.

Okay, guess I misunderstood.

Of course, Moose, in the end, just about everything Joe did was recommended. Err, did we leave anything out?

Not exactly, pryan, Dmitry emailed to offer several cds in exchange. I have since found one off his list I could go for (even though I already own it.) "Ultra-cheap?" I don't know. $18. I disclosed the price to two people now and have nothing to hide. I also mentioned to another fellow who didn't have anything I needed in exchange that the cds are available on half.com for $22 or so. These people can go and buy the cd on half.com. Mine isn't selling for much less; and I only want it for trade possibilities. errr, you're right, pryan...it's none of your business. I don't appreciate your insinuations that I might be trying to take advantage of people on this board (i.e. "you've found this set at a used store for ultra-cheap and are offering it to Dmitry.") In fact, unlike many other posters, I tend to post my offerings on this board ONLY and not on AAJ as well. I will post on AAJ if I get no response here.

I played that a few times when I was a junior. Doesn't mean it is inferior or anything. I just figured that the Benoni is the Benko only you don't give up a pawn!

Actually, I haven't heard the discs at all. The set is on hold for me in a cd shop. Maybe I should listen to them first, but I've already been talking to Dmitry about a trade. Wish he would respond...

The heck do you mean-Still available? I thought we had a deal. Your Lester for my Lenin. Sorry Dmitry, but I haven't heard back from you. Now what do you propose to trade it for? You haven't replied to my email which was sent this morning. You have first dibs on it if you can offer something I want. I'm not leaving anyone out in the cold. Respond to my email please.

Still available.

On hold for Barak (White Lightning)

The Italians stick together!

Marvin Gaye for me because of the social commentary and stuff thrown in with a terrific voice and great musicianship.

My latest purchase is always my final one. I try to trade now instead of buy. Best thing to do is not keep up with the latest ebay offerings. The temptation is too much.

Added a couple more. And have thrown in prices if people want to buy.