Dan Gould

They are soundboard recordings and I haven't heard a bad one yet. In addition - that $48 fee gets you much more than $50 worth of downloads. They apply the 30% discount on purchases immediately, so you actually get $65 worth of downloads for your membership fee. Not sure why they don't promote it that way but that's how it worked for me.

Makes me think of a question - homes in Japan are really tiny, right? I mean, most if not all. That's the impression I've gotten. And, Japan has these extensive and still ongoing Blue Note reissue programs, presumably supported by a core of hardcore Blue Note/Jazz fans. So for these people, how do they fit their collections into the typical Japanese home? Are there "Its me or the CD collection!" articles in Japanese media?

Obviously they got a native-English speaker to write the email so you have to give them credit for avoiding the grammatical errors. But isn't it Paypal's policy to never send a log-in link and always advise you to type in the URL into a new browser window? So regardless of font or anything else that makes it look "real," any link in a Paypal message is proof that its a phishing scam.

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Glad to see the Feb 12 Fort Lauderdale gig on the schedule. I'll keep an eye out to see what else pops up in south Florida but otherwise, me and my wife will be there for sure.

Miss Jackson if you're nasty.

This is sad news for my Mom, she really loved Sparky and those Big Red teams. Amazing that it had just been announced he had been moved into hospice and just like that, he's gone. Anyone remember his appearance on WKRP in Cincinnati? Very fine performance for a non-actor. I think I'll dig out my DVD set and watch this weekend. RIP.

I wish it were otherwise, Tom but its a lost cause. Lee said all the right things while the Rangers were in it, because that's what ballplayers do, but it was just words. He'll go to New York where lefties thrive and to play with Sabathia again and cash Hal Steinbrenner's checks. Our only realistic hope is the fact that he is 32 and has a balky back. The Yankees give him a 5 year deal and maybe they ultimately regret it.

I honestly can't recall what type of wood is now used. Its been a couple of years of a lot of shattered bats. The bigger issue is the way they shatter - lots of shards instead of sawing off the handle or chipping/cracking.

MLB Network is not a "premium" channel anywhere, I don't think. They were much smarter than the NFL Network which has a hard time getting on most cable providers in the lower-tier packages, or at all in some areas. As for the bats, there was a big change in the wood used and that coincided with a lot more broken bats. Players like the new bats however - until someone really gets hurt.

Per season, no. But you don't think he'd rather lock in 4/28 now then risk that he takes ten million but doesn't play as well next year or gets hurt and is one year older, trying to get another big contract? It went exactly as he and Boras planned it - play in a favorable ballpark, re-establish the potency of his bat, then go back out into free agency. Despite what you say is his established pattern, if his price doesn't get too high, I'd have no problem with the Sox re-signing him. So long as they get kevlar vests for the left fielders. I'm not a big fan of Beltre, and I think even 4//28 is way too much for him. Sox resign him, you get .270, 13hrs, 70rbi's. The guy's had two good years in his life, and has Boras as his agent -- think of Beltre as a poor man's Butch Hobson. He's 100% better defensively than Papa Butch ever dreamed of being. And there's no way he hits .270/13/70 batting half the time at Fenway. Maybe he does that if he ends up in a ballpark less favorable than Fenway but I don't get your dismissal of this guy at all. He plays hard, he hits the ball hard and aside from the collisions with outfielders, the team and Boston really appreciated him. I think you are way off base.

Per season, no. But you don't think he'd rather lock in 4/28 now then risk that he takes ten million but doesn't play as well next year or gets hurt and is one year older, trying to get another big contract? It went exactly as he and Boras planned it - play in a favorable ballpark, re-establish the potency of his bat, then go back out into free agency. Despite what you say is his established pattern, if his price doesn't get too high, I'd have no problem with the Sox re-signing him. So long as they get kevlar vests for the left fielders.

Your arguments are now nonsensical. You seriously think there is interest or support for eight or ten playoff teams per league? What the fuck are you smoking? Five or seven wild card teams plus three division winners? And note that you have to bring in a ludicrous scenario like five WC teams to find a situation where an under .500 team would get in. Seriously, what the fuck are you smoking? Beyond the fact that there is no interest in whatsoever in such a system, do the math: there would be baseball in fucking December under your ludicrous scenario. And furthermore, no one knows when they'll be the division winner or the team that sneaks in and gets on a hot streak. So no one, not even the Yankees, would oppose an additional opportunity to get in.

Baseball in March??? Oh yeah that will work so well in say, ahh.. Boston. Or New York. Or Chicago. Philly. Cleveland. Pittsburgh. Oh and Minnesota. I don't want any more teams in playoffs because then you're risking becoming the NHL were so many teams qualify for the post season that the regular season has become irrelevant. Don't water down the competition. Additionally how lame would it be if an team w/ a losing record made the postseason and, God forbid, won it all?? If you can't win at least 82 games you have no business playing in October. Period. And like you said there's the problem w/ the "bye" week. The bye week isn't just bad for pitchers, it's bad for hitters. Totally throws off their timing. I don't think it will happen because the player's union will be against it. The players won't be earning any extra money and the pitchers will just have to add more innings to their already tired arms. Plus their winter vacation is going to be shortened. Show me where the second-best second place team has ever had a below .500 record. Obviously its never happened - and there is no chance of an expansion any greater than one additional team so the comparison to the NHL is meaningless. As for March baseball, first of all, its happened before - pretty sure we've had, in this century, start dates of March 30 or 31. Starting April 7 is a problem though. And what is the material difference between late March and early April games anyway? They should simply be smarter and have fair-weather teams always start at home, and teams like Minnesota & Boston and a few others always start on the road. What's the problem with a slightly longer road trip at the start of the season? I think its an open question about the player's union. They agreed to the wild card - did the owners give anything up to get that agreement? Players may in fact support it out of their often-professed desire to "win it all" - more teams in means more chance to win.

What was the clue?

The only way an expanded playoffs work is if they avoid going deep into November by starting the season a week earlier. Most players complain about the length of spring training anyway, and they could always move it up a bit - especially for the purpose of stretching out starters. Then I wouldn't have a terrible problem with the idea - but if they keep the start date and insist on 162 games (which I am not actually in favor of reducing) then it becomes ridiculous. One other problem is the idea of a "bye" for any team. Baseball isn't like football where teams can use the extra time to get healthy and prepare for their opponent. Pitchers need regular work and if anything, minimal extra rest. I think the best option would be a play-in series between the top two teams that don't win a division crown. Three games only, for the right to face off against the top team in the league regardless of division, as Quincy mentioned.

Clearly Lee Morgan was a one-hit wonder.

A little late but I have to say I really really really hate Titanic. Technical achievements aside, its just appalling, and the absolute worst part of it is the contrived stupidity of the ending. Are we really supposed to believe: That it takes her two days to actually notice the necklace has been in her pocket all that time? When she's been freezing he ass off since she went in the water? That she held on to this priceless diamond for 70 years, even though, since she isn't marrying dipshit, she and her mother are now in deep financial straits? What the hell happened to mom anyway? And then finally, she's told her story, and she decides to throw this priceless jewel into the north atlantic .... WHY? Is this a tribute to her beloved Jack? He didn't give it to her, and dipshit tried to use it to frame Jack by planting it on him and claiming he stole it. I could deal with all of the melodramatic shit in this film but the ending is just appalling.

Can't wait til you cry into your beer Tuesday night while I am cackling with glee. You ready to welcome back Madam Speaker when she resigns from Congress?

This is the same criticism I gave after Game 1 of the ALCS. The playoffs are different, and you have to use your best arms at the most critical times. There is no excuse whatsoever not to use the closer to keep it a winnable game. Take a lesson from Terry Francona, for fuck's sake.

Before it enters the atmosphere there can't be any sound either. I wasn't gonna listen to Pink Floyd, so I didn't notice that!

James story almost gives me some encouragement, since he's a bit older than I am and sedentary like me. But right now, the only accomplishment I can show is that this year, I won't need to buy new pants before my trip to see the parental units - unlike the last two or three years. So weight stabilization has to be something to build on, right? One positive is that snacking is way down ever since I rejoined the commute-to-the-office masses. But on the other hand one of the bosses has a major sweet tooth and keeps the candy dish on the front counter full. I don't partake that often - maybe 2-3 times a week - but its empty calories I wouldn't otherwise consume. Another advantage is being ina storefront office rather than an office building with the nefarious vending machines. But the problem is that I really feel as though we eat reasonably healthily. The occasional restaurant or take-out meal aside, reasonable portions of chicken, pork or steak, veggie side dish, salad most nights. Pasta once a week. And yet, until this year, the waist measurement steadily increased. Since I've stabilized my weight, maybe I just need to make a few additional changes and I'll start going in the right direction?

I call bullshit. For one, why is the asteroid on fire as it approaches Earth? Heating up as it enters the atmosphere is one thing, but fire can't exist in the absence of oxygen. Is this some sort of volcanic asteroid?

A refreshing change from the more common, and at least equally enjoyable, face-plant clips.