T.D.

I recently had a similar situation arise, from the seller's point of view. I had sold many CDs (well over 200) on Amazon with no problems, but a buyer e-mailed me back that a disc was scratched. I didn't believe that it was scratched pre-sale, and the buyer seemed a little flaky, but there's always a possibility of scratches occurring during shipping. I proposed two options to the buyer: (a) keep the item, and we'd discuss a partial refund; (b) return the item. He elected to return it, whereupon I refunded the money, but told him to just keep the disc, as I didn't want to go through the hassle (and additional cost of refunding postage) associated with a return. I chalked the whole thing up to the risks of online/mail order business. The buyer was effusively grateful, and there was never a feedback issue (in fact, he wound up giving very positive feedback). I suggest accepting the quid pro quo.

In a much colder climate, I keep the thermostat at 54-56. Temp gets close to 60 after heat kicks in, over 60 when sun shines during the day. Clothing: think layers and Polartec fleece.

About an inch of snow showers this AM. Cold today (didn't make 20), low going down to around 0 (Fahrenheit) tonight. Couple of inches of snow forecast for tomorrow, then some kind of snow/sleet/ice mess Sunday night into Monday. And it's windy.

Fiona Apple Peter Pears Kimiko Date

It tasted nasty in the early days, but the flavor's steadily improved over the years (I've consumed quite a bit in the course of running, cycling, etc.). You probably wouldn't lay in a supply for a party, though... I recall a couple of old soda brands, Tab and Fresca, as the most vile-tasting concoctions. I think they're still around, which is remarkable.

Simone Weil Sheila E Peter Coyote

For Hampton Hawes fans, I recommend Bird Song. I got this, which I had assumed was OOP (and was, at that time, pricey at Amazon Marketplace), in my last order.

Interesting article. The author is much more financially savvy than I expected! Thanks for posting it. I particularly like the analysis leading up to Figure 3, where he computes a net present value using a plausible 12.5% (OK, somewhat conservative, but not that conservative considering that Citigroup just made a deal to pay 11% on convertible debt) discount rate. In this case, the NPV of Yankee earnings from the A-Rod contract is a paltry $13 MM over the 10 years. So it may be profitable for NYY, but far from a home run, so to speak. The luxury tax is a big factor in the analysis! I'd argue that on a fully risk-adjusted basis, if we consider the probability of premature erosion of skills (a la Bernie Williams) or career-shortening injury, the expected profit from the contract would be somewhat less. I'm too lazy to do this analysis, however, as some Monte Carlo simulation might be required.

Damn. I placed an order of over $50 a couple of months ago. This new added 10% off may force me to place another. But I'd better do the Christmas shopping first, so as to stay out of trouble... BTW, I got a glossy Concord catalog in the mail a couple of days ago (followed by e-mail). Content was of little interest, as I'm more inclined to the back catalog, but it did give the 10% off discount code.

Thanks. Much of the chess history related is well-known and not particularly well-treated, but certain aspects of the article are interesting. I hadn't heard of Bennett's novel Zugzwang, and will look for it. I've read the other chess-themed novels mentioned. The chess-pathology/insanity connection is often discussed (almost ad nauseam in the opinion of some enthusiasts ), with Paul Hoffmann's King's Gambit a recent notable entry.

Montana Wildhack Hack Wilson

Explanations, please? Geography. UP = Upper Peninsula (also the source of the "Yoopie" item). "Thumb" = big piece of land sticking out, like the thumb of an oven mitt (which Michigan, ex-UP, resembles) extending northward from the Detroit area. I went to college in Michigan (a long-ass time ago), and think most of Foxworthy's traits are lame and applicable to any area with long winters. Other posters (eg Uncle Skid) have listed better ones.

Well, to bat .100 in the majors, you'd have to have at least 10 official ABs in "The Show", which would satisfy my sports fantasies (well, OK, that plus a few groupies...). Wandering OT, I recall a Yankee pitcher named Bob Kammeyer. He had only 1 big-league appearance, in 1979. Got bombed, gave up 8 ER without retiring a batter, for a career ERA of infinity! I googled, and there are quite a few pitchers with such sorry records.

Mackie Messer Kris Kringle Dirk Diggler

Barton Biggs Barton Fink Jaan Rääts

Fons De Wolf Edgardo Alfonso Sir Alf Ramsay

Sudden Sam McDowell Rapid Robert Feller Steve Dalkowski

Phil Lesh John Tesh Gilgamesh

Henry Grob Alexey Sokolsky Preston Ware [chessplayers after whom weird chess openings are named, resp. 1. g4, 1. b4, 1. a4 ]

IIRC, Bills GM Marv Levy is a Harvard grad [Added: he has an MA from Harvard, but didn't attend as an undergraduate], and coach Dick Jauron a Yale grad. This Ivy League GM-coach combo must be very rare in professional sports (I can't say it's never occurred, but I doubt it has in the NFL).

Marc Rich Igor Ter-Ovanesyan Bob Beamon

Do these cars meet USA safety standards? If so, they might sell in some quantity to city dwellers. Tough to imagine them catching on in a big way, though.

Parker Posey Joseph Losey Roosevelt Grier

I hear ya'. Especially Musberger and Sterling, who are absolutely intolerable. Morgan isn't far behind, and I'm sure I'd put Walton in the same company if I ever watched basketball. As I've aged, it's more difficult to tolerate any kind of TV announcing, and I now generally watch with the sound off. Radio's no savior, as ESPN Radio often has Morgan/Miller, and the abominable Sterling gets heavy NYY radio time. On the positive side, various college football and "regional" NFL tandems seem much more reasonable, but no specific names come to mind apart from Verne Lundquist and Don Criqui. Jim Kaat (recently retired) used to be great in baseball; he and Ken Singleton (little substance, but inoffensive and a classic voice) were a good team on Yankee broadcasts. In general, announcing appears to improve a lot the further you get from big-money hype. For instance, I really dug what I've seen of ESPN's coverage of NCAA hockey tourney. Dunno much abt. Ward's play-by-play, but I useta like her in the ESPN studio (I haven't had cable for a long time). No, hold it, I think I heard her on some college event (forget which sport), and she was solid. There are some pro hockey announcers I like, notably Mike Emrick, but the fact is that even the best announcers can get to sound stale if you become overexposed to them.

Well, for a famous short piece that's abrasive and intense, look around for a recording of Alexander Mosolov's Zavod' (Iron Foundry), composed in 1927... More obscure, but really twisted and even terrifying is Miloslav Kabelac's bizarre Symphony #8 Antiphons for soprano, two mixed choirs, percussion ensemble and organ. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if it's available apart from an oop Praga CD (which I got as a cutout years ago...).