T.D.

The doping shouldn't really bother me, since it's been going on forever, including years when I paid great attention to the TdF, but the Puerto-related stuff just seems too sleazy for my taste. And I suppose we shouldn't have too many illusions about any professional sport being drug-free... I'm following the Tour casually, enjoying the spectacle but not caring overly much about the results. The field seems wide open this year, which is a plus. I followed the Giro much more avidly this year, as I find it (esp. the Dolomites) much more beautiful than the TdF, and some of the mega-climbs (Tre Cime, Zoncolan) were spectacular. I don't expect this Tour to match the Giro for excitement. [Yes, I know that the Giro's probably more "dirty" than the Tour...]

Wylde Stallions George Carlin Rufus Reid

OT, but Jaki Byard really suffered at the hands of Schlitten and Alderson...On the otherwise great Jaki Byard Experience, for instance, the piano sounds like it's underwater.

Tia Carrere Barbara Carrera Lawrence Marable

One way to go is to get any old player or changer so long as it has digital output, then get a DAC and use the player/changer solely as a transport...

Some CDs I own and can recommend: At the Jazz Workshop Magnificent! Plays Tadd Dameron The Bird of Red and Gold Listen to Barry Harris First Time Ever Chasin' the Bird Newer than New Live at Maybeck I have a bit of a problem with Bull's Eye, because the CD sound quality, especially the piano (unfortunately) is really bad, with the trio selections most affected. The original engineer was the hapless Richard Alderson, who's likely to blame (he mars some other Harris recordings, but not as badly...).

Good job! Re. sore knees, that can be caused by riding in too big a gear (a bad habit of mine, but supposedly common with ex-runners). You might gear down enough to be able to pedal at least a certain cadence (rpm), say 75 or more on flat ground and a little lower (but at least 60, say) on steeper hills. Not that I always do that...

Paolo Rossi Teri Polo Chukka Khan

Teo Macero Teo Fabi Fabian Cancellara (it's time for that Tour de France thing...)

The only Rotel CD player I ever had was a cheaper model (I forget model #), but it was a real lemon, one of the worst I've owned. Build quality was poor, and the drawer assembly was extremely flimsy and shaky. The unit's laser had a very short life (perhaps related to the crummy drawer). Doesn't mean the model you're looking at is bad, but I'd want to give it some serious testing before buying...

James Osterberg Mitch Ryder Wayne Kramer

Happy birthday! I'm a relative latecomer to jazz, and read a lot of your posts on the rec.music.bluenote archives.

Judge Felix Frankfurter Mickey Spillane (author of I, the Jury) Mack Bolan (...)

Sorry, I think I was incorrect about Pepper: he actually served in the US Army in World War II, and the "cocktails" he described may have been designed to mislead parole boards about heroin use. Re. the other point, many many American novels, particularly from the Vietnam era, described leading characters' efforts to obtain 4F exemptions, thus avoiding wartime service. I'll check my shelves to see if I have any quotable novels around...

And what is that cocktail? Just curious... Me too, an exaustive explanation, please. I need it for my novel. And what was a 4f deferral? I am serious. Art Pepper describes at least one such cocktail in Straight Life iirc... I think a 4F deferral is being excused from military service for medical (incl. psychological) reasons. It's figured in scads of American novels.

Not very (I hardly ever read editorial/op-ed pages of newspapers), except that I recall it as decidedly "right-leaning". I'll take your word for it, the editorial p. must be very different...

I'm surprised that the WSJ printed this screed...Teddy must have a good press agent.

What's a "5.1 system"? Is this a double shill, for both Concord and some audio manufacturer?

Peter Wolf Wolf Blitzer Dave Krieg

Yes, a very long musical career. I vaguely recall his music as being kind of the epitome of kitsch (compilation albums were frequently flogged on cheesy late-night TV commercials, and his vocal delivery would get spoofed by comedians to almost Wayne Newton-esque proprtions), but I think it was targeted at older generations (I'm almost 50, fwiw).

I think it's a relatively new online sale. I ordered a bunch of OJC (and one Blue Note, Burrell On View @ the Five Spot) @ $6.99 late last week. Just today I got e-mail from J&R touting a "Blue Note Jazz Sale". I clicked on the "See all Blue Note $6.99 CDs" link in the ad, and 445 titles came up! So I think the site's had some BNs @$6.99 for a while, but recently (greatly) expanded the number.

Sadly, I'm not optimistic for "niche" areas like jazz, given ownership by a private equity firm... This is a great slate of RVGs, though. I'll be getting "Davis Cup" for sure, but I already own quite a few of the other discs in prior incarnations, so may not "upgrade" unless there are significant bonus tracks or sonic improvements.

Tanya Roberts Mel Queen Jungle Jim Rivera

Mardy Fish Robert Donat Mike Bratz

Peter Benchley Greg Norman Richard Kiel