Guy Berger

100% in agreement. If the federal gov't's plan in emergencies is to fall back on local gov't, we are fucked. What's happened in NO in the days after the hurricane is an outrage. As for Dan's claim that Iraq had no impact on the Katrina aftermath -- that makes no sense. Our government has limited resources, especially in the short and very short run -- this is basic economics -- and while not all resources are fungible, at least some of the ones currently tied down in Iraq could be used in NO. This Onion blurb from last September, as always, sums things up perfectly (just replace "Iraq War" with "Katrina aftermath": Guy

I dunno if you've ever seen an evacuation-related traffic jam, Guy, but I sure as hell have (going in the other direction before Andrew, no less, talk about surreal), and believe me, sitting in 100+ miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic can seem just as scary as staying home when the hurricane is only hours away. ← I sympathize, but when the government tells you to evacuate and you have the means to evacuate, you should probably evacuate. Guy

If it's impossible to separate Katrina from politics, then this thread should be moved to the politics forum. Guy

A lot of the people that didn't leave were unable to leave due to health or poverty reasons, and it's really tragic and appalling that the city was not prepared to evacuate them. On the other hand, I'm sure the number of idiots who could have left but didn't is non-negligible. Guy

It's not obvious to me whether this jump in price is good for all oil companies. It's true that they get to sell oil at higher prices, but those dependant on getting their oil from the refineries in the south now have to acquire it from more costly sources. Guy

I think Jsngry's response upthread encapsulates my feeling about ep's. As substitutes for an acoustic piano, they suck. (And unfortunately, such substitutions were trendy in the early 70s.) As instruments in their own right, they're great. Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul and Chick Corea all made amazing recordings on the electric piano, and it's hard to imagine classic albums like Bitches Brew, Mwandishi and Return to Forever (to pick only three -- there are many, many more) without that sound. Guy

← This is a reason to potentially reconstruct the commercial areas of New Orleans, but not to put 500,000 residents there. Guy ← Not sure how to respond to that. Couldn't you make the same case about parts of (your beloved) California? Or, it's a good thing you weren't running things in San Fransisco in 1906. Are you proposing a city of longshoremen only? I dunno. Assuming that the city's infrastructure is largely totaled, doesn't it make sense to resettle the people who lived there in a less vulnerable area nearby? I believe that's what happened after the Galveston hurricane in the early 20th century. New Orleans has certain extreme vulnerabilities that aren't shared by neighboring Gulf Coast communities also exposed to powerful hurricanes. Or alternatively, require property owners in NO to purchase hurricane insurance. By the way, I want to apologize for my posts, since they were probably very callous given the calamity that struck the city and you directly. Guy

You're not alone, Soul Stream, Herbie never did that much for me, either. I wonder if Herbie is dismissed (or taken for granted) because his playing style has been so thoroughly assimilated by other pianists. It's apples and oranges as well as personal taste, but I think he was better than almost any other pianist recording for BN between '55 and '70. Guy

It looks like the Spurs will have an easier time winning the title than they did last season. Guy

I was psyched -- I drove past $2.99 gas stations but then found a $2.79 just a few dozen feet away. Though it still cost $34 to fill up 12 gallons!

← This is a reason to potentially reconstruct the commercial areas of New Orleans, but not to put 500,000 residents there. Guy

Well, taxpayers will be forking over some of the money for much of the rebuilding, so they should have some of the say about where that money is used. Guy

Ah, the parents -- only a few more years and this will no longer be a hitch. Congrats on a successful gig.

I've only heard AotT4 and it pushed getting more Mehldau stuff way down the priority list for me. A great version of "Exit Music for a Film", though. If the solo disc is anywhere near the quality of his set at the Newport Jazz Festival this year, it's worth getting. Guy

I went through an XTC semi-phase late in college and think I have 6 or 7 of their albums. Skylarking is my favorite. Nonesuch has some filler but also some incredible music ("Wrapped in Grey", "My Bird Performs", "Dear Madam Barnum", "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", many more). I really like Apple Venus 1; Wasp Star has its moments (especially the last three songs) but doesn't have the same consistent brilliance. Why did Colin Moulding forget how to write good songs? Guy

I really like his work on the two charles Lloyd albums The Water Is Wide and Hyperion with Higgins. Guy

Alright -- barring some disaster or a show in CT (you know you want to do one!) I'm there. Guy

Hmmm.... the timing and distance is shitty for me but there's a small chance I can make it. Guy

From ESPN, Chad Ford's pre-season rankings (hence probably wrong): West 1. Spurs 2. Kings (too high IMHO) 3. Suns 4. Rockets 5. Nuggets 6. Warriors 7. Mavericks (too low IMHO) 8. Sonics 9. Wolves 10. Clippers 11. Lakers 12. Jazz 13. Grizzlies 14. Blazers 15. Hornets East 1. Pacers 2. Heat (though he says they can't win championship) 3. Pistons 4. Nets 5. Cavs (I'd put them ahead of the Nets) 6. Wizards 7. Bulls 8. Bucks 9. Sixers 10. Knicks 11. Celtics 12. Magic 13. Raptors 14. Hawks 15. Bobcats

Live without Extensions? Guy ← Yeah, those late Tyner albums [Extensions, Time for Tyner, Tender Moments, Expansions] are some of my favorite Blue Notes! Great players, great charts, great tunes. ← I like Asante and what I've heard from Cosmos better than Tender Moments and Time for Tyner, his two weakest albums from BN IMHO. (Though still pretty damn good... if only he'd gotten Freddie or Woody instead of Lee for that session, and given the musicians more blowing room!) Guy

Live without Extensions? Guy

14 only alas

They might not. A few years ago an online vendor (CDNow?) accidentally mispriced the Plugged Nickel at something like 11.98 instead of 111.98. A bunch of people ordered at the bargain basement price. CDNow cancelled the orders, apologized and gave said customers $10 coupons. Guy

I dug the first two episodes enough to watch ep. 3. Robin Tunney

Does anyone else think Jack Palance looks like Norm McDonald?