Guy Berger

I'll pick Miami to win again. Guy

BeBop -- are you in Turkmenistan right now? Guy

Yes - is that another pinch of salt? I know hardly anything about Miles Davis' recordings. MG Purdie is not on Bitches Brew. He does play, I believe, on on the Davis track "Red China Blues".

I would really love to hear a saxophone interacting in this type of group. Unfortunately I'm guessing that most saxophonists don't really have the training to do so. I saw the quartet with Srinivas and Selvaganesh back in 2000, it was a good concert. Why didn't L Shankar participate in the reunion? Guy

I recently listened to Remember Shakti and The Believer -- those are really good albums! Very different stylistically. I'm not crazy about John McLaughlin's guitar tone on them, though.

Apparently her next album features Jimmy Cobb & Ron Carter. link

Nice win for the Heat. They caught a major break when that sixth foul wasn't called on Wade. Dallas just went cold in the second half of the 4th. On the other hand, if I'm Dallas I might feel pretty good that Wade gave a superhuman effort and I only lost by 2.

I said a long time ago (quite a few posts back) that Miami did not need Antoine Walker, that it was a bad trade. I trash the guy in every opportunity I get, but I'm not sure the alternatives for Miami are that much better. Guy

I actually think Miami will win tonight. Guy

I'm guessing that's a screw-up. I believe "Hard Work" is John Handy's hit. No clue who does the late 60s "Stolen Moments". Guy

This is an excellent album. "Dark Matter" is probably my favorite PTree tune: Dark matter flowing out on to a tape Is only as loud as the silence it breaks Most things decay in a matter of days The product is sold the memory fades Crushed like a rose In the river flow I am I know Guy

The Economist recently had a survey on consolidation in the financial industry:

They made you deposit your pet? Kind of like a regular security deposit, but they kill it if you mess up the apt.

Not nearly as bad as Ron Carter on the cello. Guy

But it isn't just about the inequity of the taxes. It's also about the potential inefficiencies generated by said inequities. Guy

Maybe the playing field is somewhat unfair for a small bank. But I have a hard time believing that the small banks wouldn't be getting gobbled up anyway by the big banks, like they are currently. There's no way that the playing field is unfair for the likes of Wells Fargo, Washington Mutual, and Bank of America. Well, insofar as one is tax exempt and another is not, BeBop is correct. From an economic standpoint BeBop might be right. The implicit subsidy to credit unions generates economic inefficiencies. On the other hand, in general lower taxes are a good thing. It's uncertain which of these effects predominates. Guy

Depends what's "the best stuff"... true, it's sad that the "Original Ellington" album was found only after the Mosaic was completed, but still, I consider the Ellington album and the live session (on disc 1 and/or 2) of the original quintet among the best of the box... Lonehill only has the original quintet's two studio albums out, as far as I know. Oh, I thought the live stuff was on the Lonehill set as well. In that case my original argument is further undermined. Guy

Erick Dampier is talking trash:

Are the Mavs going to blow this game? I guess not. Never thought I'd get to say this, but Shaq got outplayed by Erick Dampier tonight! Guy

Maybe they just aren't a good enough team. Shaq just left with 3 minutes in the 3rd. Is that all we've seen from the Big Daddy tonight? Guy

For those who missed the Bob Delaney feature, here's an article that covers the same story. I guess going undercover under the name "Bob Covert" doesn't arouse suspicions> link

Antoine Chucker is at it again! Dampier is playing good D on Shaq. This Bob Delaney feature is crazy! Guy

Miami's defense is excellent right now. Guy

I don't see why Mark Jackson and Michael Wilbon are pretending that Shaq's free throw shooting isn't hurting the Heat. Guy

Music for 2 Basses was backordered last month so it's still first on my queue. Next after that is Monk & Trane @ Carnegie Hall. Guy