patricia

Although I see your point, it seems to me that if a flame war is in full force, with personal insults flying back and forth and the moderator "locks" the thread to prevent cyber-bloodshed, that that is the end of the thread in question. It also seems to me that if one of the participants in the flame war continues, simply by starting another thread, it would be just a matter of time before, if thread after thread, continuing the blasting, that the moderator would have to make a decision on what the best course of action would be. I'm assuming that "flame war" would not define every spirited discussion during which feelings and the expression of those feelings may become heated. That is the nature of most interesting conversation and nobody dies. If things got out of hand, surely the participants could settle really nasty disputes off the board, but if that's not possible, then there has to be a dispassionate, responsible person, in this case, the board moderater, who has a perfect right to decide what's to be done. However, there seems to be a majority who simply participate in the war, by reading the posts, without posting their objection, in the context of the discussion in progress, on the thread itself. They sometimes prefer to complain to the moderater. In real life, if you are present when a fight breaks out, first you try to get the people fighting to see your point of view, thus, perhaps, calming the water. Perhaps that might be the first step, before trying to get a thread, which none of us are compelled to read, and may very well sink out of sight, if ignored, to sink into the abyss, deleted or "locked". It's up to those who are responsible for the site to decide what their parameters are. As far as I can see, they seem to be quite tolerant of spirited discussion, but the limits, whatever they are, are theirs to set. If I yell "Dwarf Alert"!!! at an American Association of Little People Of America convention, I would expect to get swarmed by an ugly mob.

I smiled when you mentioned the effort it would require to get up off the sofa to flip a 45 record. Nowadays we hardly have to get off the sofa to do anything, once esconced. Remember when you had to change TV channels manually??? No wonder there are so many large bottoms these days. What I like about my old vinyl is that they are essentially recorded with everybody there and whatever happened, happened. Some are several sessions on one or two records, but the sound-doctoring, which is expected now, was not used then, to the extent that it is now, if at all. Everybody just showed up, rehearsed and then recorded. I love that. Of course, the records presented the talent, warts and all, which doesn't happen now. Also, if you were lucky enough to get to see the artists, live, they were at least as terrific as they were on their records. NOBODY played air-instruments, or lip-synced. Sure, the records may be in mono, but that was really them [although occasionally somebody would be there, but not credited].

It seems to me that it would be a good idea, considering that the turntable is working well with the stylus it has now, to pick up a replacement to keep at the ready. I would suggest that you try to get the best deal that you can now, considering that they are not widely available now, and may not be available at all, when your present one finally craps out. That's what I did, even though, like yours, mine works wonderfully now. It's up to you, but if you wait, you may not be able to easily get one at all. I have to keep reminding myself that what we are using is not being manufactured anymore, as far as I know. So, later, you may have to "graverob" to get a replacement, because they will be even more rare then I've had my turntable [an old, but perfect BSR], for about eight months and it's still good with the stylus that came with it. But that stylus is not going to last forever.

My turntable is a BSR, don't know how old. I picked it up at a secondhand store and it is compatable with the rest of my sound system which is about thirty years old. The turntable was covered with dust, when I found it, but works perfectly. There are a couple of places in town that I know carry needles, etc, so I'm good. I can actually feel my heart beat faster when I spy a JazzTone for a dollar at a garage sale. Amazingly, I've rarely had to do more than a surface cleaning on any of my really old stuff. I stay away from anything "pop" as I mentioned. The older the find, for the most part, the better it was looked after, with few exceptions.

Good idea.

I know that. My attempt to inject some levity fell flat and I apologize. I'll leave the liguistics to those who are obviously more adept at them than I.

DUH. PLEASE. Lead us to the liguistic light. Let us smile, for God's Sake!!!

Cedar Walton did an amazing job, backing Etta James, a few years ago on her "Mystery Lady" collection. It was her take on some of Billie's hits and I like it very much, though I was skeptical and almost didn't buy it. When I saw that Cedar had agreed to do this with Etta, that convinced me. Glad I snapped it up. Etta doesn't "do" Billie, so much as interpret her and that was very wise of her.

The same thing happened to me when someone, years ago, pronounced awry, "AWREE". Ever since then, I have to correct myself when I read it, even though I know how to pronounce it, of course. A mental block to play with til I die.

Harold, Is the accent on the middle syllable on "poLOPponies"?? I have one more time to use RODOMONTADES in a sentence and, according to my personal rules for expanding my vocabulary, it's mine.

I was amazed, because I had never paid attention, that there was such a thing as a turntable which only plays 33 1/3 RPM records. Saw one in a secondhand store the other day. When did that happen?? I picked up a turntable, not new, but not that old, few months ago and it has 33 1/3, 45 AND 78RPM settings. Considering that my favourite vintage vinyl place not only has LP's, but 45's and 78's in really good condition, I wonder what the point was. Did the only 33 1/3 one come out just before the advent of CD's, or the advent of audio-tape popularity?? I feel like I must have fallen asleep at the switch. Keep watchin' the misc for sale column for people offering jazz record collections. I've found that if I can find out how old the person offering them is, I won't make an unnecessary trip to view old stuff from the 60's that have spent too much time in the hands of kids [like I was at the time ] so, on the floor, or out of their covers. People who collect jazz seem to treat their old records like the treasures they are, in my experience.

It occurred to me that when the world was created, everything was in perfect balance. The animals survived, or not, according to nature and evolution culled the herd over time. Of course the stronger animals preyed on the weaker ones, but not for fun, but for survival. On the sixth day, according to Genesis, God created Man. It seems to me that that could be equated to the last card on a house of cards; you know, the one that causes the whole thing to collapse. So, in a way, the sixth day's work by God, which caused disruption of a perfect creative effort by the Almighty, is the best case for a five-day workweek that I can think of, offhand. Terrible thing, Joe. I'd be furious too.

A poem about Death. The great leveller. We laugh because it's not going to happen to us. All I can think to answer is with the following: A Character With a half-glance upon the sky At night he said, 'The wanderings Of this most intriate Universe Teach me the nothingness of things.' Yet could not all creation pierce Beyond the bottom of his eye. He spake of beauty : that the dull Saw no divinity in gras, Life in dead stones, or spirit in air; Then looking as 'twere in a glass, He smooth'd his chin and sleek'd his hair, And said the earth was beautiful. He spake of virtue : not the gods More purely when they wish to charm Pallas and Juno sitting by: And with a sweeping of the arm, And a lack-lustre dead-blue eye, Devolved his rounded periods. Most delicately hour by hour He canvass'd human mysteries, And trod on silk as if the winds Blew his own praises in his eyes, And stood aloof from other minds In impotence of fancied power. With lips depress'd as he were meek, Himself unto himself he sold: Upon himself himself did feed: Quiet, dispassionate, and cold, And other than his form of creed, With chisell'd features clear and sleek. Tennyson The Life Without Passion They that have power to hurt, and will do none, That do not do the thing they most do show, Who, moving others, are themselves as stone, Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow, They rightly do inherit Heaven's graces, And husband nature's riches from expense; They are the lords and owners of their faces, Others, but stewards of their excellence. The summer's flower is to the summer sweet, Though to itself it only live and die; But if that flower with base infection meet, The basest weed outbraves his dignity: For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds. W. Shakespeare :D Thought I'd raise the tone, since poetry was injected into the thread.

Geez, it's not like the guy said all Dixieland sucks and that anyone who listens to it should have his brains eaten out by a yak. Just that he doesn't listen to it. I personally have my gear stuck in the 50's - 60's right now, although that may change in the future. I'm actually reaching a point where I'm getting tired of recordings. I love the energy of live jazz but there's none to be had in my hometown. My apologies. The blanket statement was there and I responded to it. I can't get into fusion, no matter how many times I try. I do hope that the standard punishment isn't having one's brain eaten out by a yak. The first jazz that got to me was the soundtracks from films noir. Then came the totally forgettable film, "Walk On The Wild Side". I would have forgotten it, except for the Elmer Bernstein soundtrack. I liked it so much that I have every version of the title song, from Bernstein's to Brook Benton's, to Jimmy Smith's, to Earl Bostic's. That sound, "Harlem Nocturne", "Take Five" and "Swingin' Shepherd Blues" were the only jazz I listened to during what I like to call my "folk and blues phase". After a brief period of easy listening, I went to back to Blues and added a little Flamenco guitar, Edith Piaf and then, back to JAZZ in all it's glory, except for fusion. I wasn't flingin' sod at wolff, just questioning his limiting himself, which is certainly his prerogative.

JIM's poetic passing reminded me of the following: I have found reason to quote Patrick Dennis' wonderful character, Auntie Mame, twice in the last few days. LIVE. LIVE. Life's a banquet and most poor bastards are starving to death." And less encouraging, The rain has such a friendly sound To one who's six feet underground. Edna St. Vincent Millay Those who welcome death have only tried it from the ears up. Wilson Mizner And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. John Masefield

My God!!! Was that the dream in which when you turned to speak you noticed another minor oddity? In the mirror, which reverses things, there was nothing amiss. But, as he adjusted his trousers, did you notice that he "dresses" on the wrong side? Did he dress, as tailors say, on the right, which not one American male in a thousand, ask any tailor, does? In fact, American pants are made for left-dressing. A small oddity, true, but slightly discommoding to the observer, like talking to a cross-eyed man. It's a lot like the "falling" dream and, depending on the dream analyst means many different things, depending on the surrounding circumstances. No wonder you woke up in a cold sweat!!! Or, it could be just the flu. Lots of that going around.

Good deal!! Lansing Michigan for the first hang. Joe can just clear a space on the floor for sleeping/passing out, whichever comes first. As for showing up with guns, I don't know. Since I would have to clear customs, how'd it be if I just brought pictures of my moose rifle and my target pistol?? I know it's not the same thing, but those gimlet-eyed customs guys are a little jumpy these days.

Me too! Uh, do I need a passport if I'm coming from Ohio? No, I don't think you need a passport if you're coming from Ohio. However, I noticed a while ago that my own passport has expired. Now, with the new security concerns about terrorists sneaking over the Canadian border, despite that none of the terrorists from Sept 11 did, it takes months to renew. I can understand your concern about me, since the best cover would be to be skinny, blonde and wandering aimlessly around the airport, all sure signs of nefariousness. On second thought, let's re-schedule the "hang" for late summer [Calgary Jazz Festival] or early fall [at a location yet to be determined] to allow for any who observe the "dry" season. By then I should have a new passport containing a new unflattering likeness. A HANG, BY ALL MEANS!!! No, conn

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends south of the line. We in Canada are more sensible. We have Thanksgiving in October, so that we have enough time to forget that we had turkey for days and days, before we, once again, have turkey for days and days at Christmas. But, I'm thankful for all my friends here. For myself, every time I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror to see that I'm still reflected there, I'm very thankful.

Thanks Maren, There is life and JAZZ outside New York City. But, if people insist on spending more money, Seattle sounds good to me and I can sleep anywhere. Come to think of it, I should probably give a plug to the annual JAZZ FESTIVAL right here in Calgary. It lasts for a week in the summer, right after the Calgary Stampede, which I avoid like the plague. Big hats and pointy boots are not my style and most of the time I feel like a visitor from another planet. But, the jazz festival attracts some good acts and is worth checking out.

Wolff, Not giving ALL jazz a chance, limits your chances of having a whole new jazz experience. I LOVE Dixieland, but certainly don't only listen to it, to the exclusion of other styles. I'm open to ANY jazz, and make a decision on whether or not I like it on a case-by-case basis. I'm surprised that you would make such a blanket statement about Dixieland, and it saddens me that you wouldn't like Jack Teagarden, Max Kaminsky and the miriad of Dixieland musicians available to you. People who love JAZZ are not usually that closed minded.

Well, there you go. How bad could a place named after somebody's grandmother be?? I'm thinking sometime in the early spring, after the ugly-coat season. Somebody scouts out DULUTH in advance and gives us the skinny on what is there. Yes, I'm serious. The good thing about a non-tourist trap is that the prices will be reasonable; you probably won't get lost; the people are friendly and JAZZ is everywhere.

Well guys. I just took a ruler and determined that the midway point between NYC and where I live, Calgary, AB Canada is DULUTH MINNISOTA!! Not exactly the centre of the JAZZ experience, but gathering there would perk up the local economy for a day and certainly keep the gang together and keep us focussed, considering that the local alternative may very well be accordian polka bands.

Claude, Of course you're right, but I had to vent. AAJ is back up and the only thing to do is to carry on. The jazz boards are so valuable and so informative for all of us that it just burns my butt that whole topics threads are gone. It isn't the end of the world as we know it.

Well, there is a second reason for the current disaster: the automatic backup had stopped working in may of this year. A webmaster must always be prepared for hacker attacks or hard drive crashes that destroy all the server data, that's what backups are there for. Too bad Michael noticed that late there was something wrong with it. I agree with you, but the fault, ultimately, is with the benign acceptance of the practice of hacking. If the hacker were breaking into our homes and destroying our belongings, one of which is our computer, there would be a huge outcry. I assume that it is considered vandalism when a hacker breaks into a site and destroys data. Why are people more concerned about what the victimized site has lost, rather than in effect blaming them for the damage the hacker has done to their property?? Because of these cyber-scum, we have to have programs which save our data and take extraordinary means to prevent this from happening. If the hacker were tampering with the mail, they would be reviled, prosecuted and jailed. They would not be being hired to develop programs for companies to guard against what they, themselves, consider a marketable skill. As it is, there is a large segment of the world which excuses the vandal and blames the victim of their malicious burglary and vandalism for their lack of forsight. Are we trapped in some parallel universe in which it is OK to destroy other people's property, if you are more computer-literate than your victims?