Dan Gould

That is total BS. I've gotten acknowledgment emails from sellers who regularly sell an enormous amount of LPs. They get an email from ebay, it takes two minutes to send a message to the buyer saying "thanks, the record will go out today or tomorrow." Considering all of the automated systems that exist for posting items and creating invoices, the idea that all you can do is ignore people simply excuses rudeness.

As a seller, I used to leave feedback as soon as I had received payment. After a few times when customers busted my balls unreasonably after I had exercised my feedback option, I decided that no feedback should be left until both parties are satisfied. The seller is satisfied when the payment arrives on time, and the buyer is satisfied when the item arrives and is acceptable. I watch my feedback regularly, and when I receive feedback, I know that the customer is satisfied, and so I respond. In the occasional instances when the customer has a problem with the item, I try to resolve the situation without hostility, and I have even received positive feedback from people who requested a refund. Exactly how it should be. I myself have given positive feedback in the same situation, when I felt that the seller took care of the situation promptly and without rancor. Those are the sellers I want to steer people toward, because they deal with the problem transactions in an above board way.

Well, the reason I have a problem with it is because it leaves a meaning without a word to express it. When I want to describe the operation of recording a new song, of obvious hit potential, by a different artist, specifically in order to steal sales from the original recording, I no longer have a word that means precisely that. Because the word that DID mean precisely that has been used for something related but so common and innocuous that it lacks impact in relation to the specific meaning, which is truly worthy of being singled out as a practice that should be greatly deprecated. MG Whatever practice you're describing...I don't think really happens in this day and age anymore. Maybe it happened 50 years ago. My thought exactly. Even if it was done as recently as 1973 with "Soul makossa" it is surely now an archaic business practice. Or did I miss the hit cover of "Like a Virgin" by Monday Michiru? No one "covers" current hits in hopes of having their own hit anymore, so the obvious implication is that the term "cover" should be permanently retired, frozen in time to only mean what Chris and MG believe it should mean. That's not how language works. However, if it must be done, then I think its up to the proponents of that change to cover, as it were, the resulting gap in the language.

What's with the ? The only performer that would make me want to schlep down there is Kevin Mahogany.

Well, the Sox have announced the rotation for the ALDS, and it turns out I was wrong. It will be Beckett, Dice-K and Schilling in that order, with Wakefield in the bullpen. If the series goes 5 and the Sox win, Schilling would be lined up to start the ALCS. I really thought Dice-K would start game 3 in Anaheim, because of the big difference in his ERA on the road vs at home (4.86 vs 4.02). There is one advantage though and that is that LA didn't see Dice during his rookie year. That should help - it certainly did against Minnesota in the clinching game when he went 8 innings with 8 Ks and only six hits. I really like our chances against Anaheim with Lackey going twice potentially. He's really had trouble against Boston this year and throughout his career. I can't see him beating us twice.

If the original meaning was to be adhered to, it became, over a very short period, an archaic term. When was the last recording by a white musician of a black artists' song? I think its natural that the meaning evolved to anyone's recording of any song that is associated with someone else. I frankly do not understand why Chris and MG have such a problem with this evolution in terminology.

Yeah, it's really just an expanded-from blues. I started playing it a few years ago. It's good to blow on. Finally, an answer to my question. Damn thread got hijacked in the first post.

Here is exactly what he wrote in response to my email: So, which is it vinyl junkies? Is there an "EXC" according to Goldmine?

I was just listening to Jimmy Dawkins tearing up "Ode to Billie Joe" and it got me thinking - there were a lot of covers of this tune by jazz and blues artists, both at the time it was a top 40 hit and afterwards. So that leaves me wondering - is it purely a function of these artists trying for a hit, or a recognizable tune to play at gigs, or was there anything intrinsic to the tune itself that made it "interesting"?

I have to say its neat for the star-crossed Philly franchise to be on the positive end of a miracle collapse instead of the other way around.

Well, that weird brawl between the Mets seemed to energize them yesterday, but it really energized the Marlins today. Already 4-0 and they are still batting in the top of the 1st. That's got to energize the Phils, as if they need it. Update: 5-0, only 1 out, and Glavine is gone. How can the Mets possibly have hope when they're into the pathetic bullpen with 8 2/3 to go?

I heard the announcement last night that the Red Sox had chosen to start the ALDS Wednesday but I had already shut off the PC and the ESPN guy didn't give any indication whether this was the long or the short schedule. Turns out, its the long schedule, and I seriously do not understand their reasoning. Why help the Angels? The only way it makes sense is if they figure that John Lackey's lack of success against the Sox means that getting two shots at him, if necessary, is going to be a good thing. The Globe is also reporting what I've been saying, that Schill will go in Game 2 and Dice in Game 3. That would at least line up with Dice starting Game 1 of the AlCS, which if he performs, can be a better prospect than most teams starting their number 3 in the first game. But sorry Patrick, we won't be helping you out against the Yanks.

Its probably not going to be too much of a problem because the seller has promised a refund and has a high feedback rating, but I wanted to inquire on two separate isssues, one for vinyl-heads and one for ebay users in general. This seller claimed to grade "visually based on Goldmine standards" and he applied the rating "EXC+" to the vinyl and "EXC" to the jacket. When I received the record and saw that two of the corners were severely creased and turned up and that the record itself had an inordinate number of feel-able marks, I figured it was time to do a little quick research. What I found was that "EXC" is not a recognized Goldmine rating, but that it has come into increased use to basically describe super nice LPs that don't quite fall into the "NM" category. The seller has responded by insisting that "EXC" is a Goldmine rating. Second question is more in general for any Ebay user. If you are the winning bidder and make payment immediately without waiting for an invoice or a request from the seller, do you expect the seller to acknowledge your winning bid and quick payment with a message of thanks? Maybe its just me but I find more and more ebay sellers who do not acknowledge or express appreciation for the buyers who make their businesses successful. Not only is it rude but it leaves the buyer in the dark about the transaction. The seller may be out of town for all you know and who knows when he will ship? I got off on the wrong foot with this seller by sending a message which said, "while I have not received any acknowledgment or thanks from you for my immediate payment on this purchase, I assume that you are adhering to your stated policy of shipping withing two days". And to that I got an obnoxious message saying that he didn't understand the point of my communication and why wouldn't he be shipping it on time? Maybe this is how Ebay has evolved but once upon a time, sellers were more likely than not to actually say "thank you" for buying their crap. And get this: the seller's policy says that "negative feedback voids the guarantee". We'll see if it voids the guarantee after the refund is given.

And none sweeter than watching the Gators lose at home to unranked Auburn on a last minute FG!

My father called with his congratulations Saturday afternoon and I informed him that if both teams make the World Series, I will root for the Cubs to win it all. Not against the Sox, mind you, but for the Cubbies. I told him that we had our thrilling championship a few years back, and with the looks of this team now, I am comfortable in the belief that they will win again soon.

And that will do it. The AL seeds are: 1. Boston 2. Cleveland 3. LAAoA 4. New York Can't wait to hear which schedule Tito, Theo, et. al. will choose. To me it makes no sense to help the Angels get more out of their top two starters but they may think the extra rest helps Oki and Paps. I hope not, I want Cleveland to use it to their advantage. Go five against the Yanks, use CC and Carmona twice, eliminate the Yanks and have no choice but to start Byrd or Westbrook at Fenway. See Patrick? I'm tryin' to look out for ya, buddy!

I just got caught up on MLB Gameday late in the game, but it looked like Wake couldn't have pitched too badly, with six hits, three earned runs, no walks in seven innings. I guess the two homers really hurt him but at least he never gave up any big innings, just four straight 1 run innings. I'll take the Oki that gets into a little bit of trouble and then slams the door; that's much better than the one we had for six weeks before he got shut down. Indians just tied the score. Maybe if both teams just go through the motions tomorrow, we'll end up with a tie and win it on the tie-breaker.

I agree, given what little I know about the situation. But the thing was that Solo was told not to speak to the press and then turned around and minutes later bitched and moaned about the benching, and kept saying how you can't make decisions based on the past - meaning that just because Scurry won the Gold doesn't mean she belongs out there four years later. Also, Solo is seriously nice looking.

Well, I don't want to jinx anything but it doesn't look like the Sox are suffering too much of a hangover, up 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth on a JD Drew homer (3 for 4 and up to .270 on the year - yeah, I'm suckin' down that kool-aid big time!). Is it too much to ask for KC to hang on against the Tribe, up 3-2 in the seventh? That would clinch the best record in the majors, choice of ALDS schedules and home field throughout. Me likey. Meanwhile, they've already announced what I thought would be the case - Schilling will not pitch Sunday, giving him some extra rest heading into presumably a start in Game 2. If he was going later in the playoffs, I'm sure they would have had him throw 50 pitches or so, so I am pretty sure I was right last night - Dice-K was allowed to go deeper in the clinching game because they weren't planning to have him start Game 2 after all. And in the meantime, the Yankees hung up a ten-spot on the Orioles in the fourth inning but they can't possibly be pleased with Andy Pettite's post-season warmup: 9 runs, 8 earned, in just five innings. He can get the win but it was at the expense of his sub 4.00 ERA.

Ah, perhaps I should try "Barry Bonds is a damn nigger" and see if that comes up with any hits. I'll say it flat out: I don't know of any racist comments about Barry Bonds anywhere, though I will admit that I have not gone and done any searches on the Klan's BBS. What I do know is that certain people, lining up these facts: Bonds isn't much liked by a lot of people Bonds "set" the season and career home run records Bonds is black and have come to the conclusion that criticism of Bonds is, in some undetermined proportion, driven by racial animus. I say bull shit. Whether the race card is played with a broad stroke or the phrase "shades of", its simple an effort to deflect the legitimate criticism and factual basis for a belief that he cheated. I have neither the time nor energy to get pulled into your extreme anti-Bonds obsession, so sermonize and rant all you want. I really doubt that you are omniscient and know all the facts. If he is guilty, then the judicial system and nature will have their day with him. So friggin' what if he did use steroids? How does that affect your well-being and why the supreme level of anger? And don't you dare insinuate that I am playing the race card. You don't know me at all to start launching personal attacks. You have your view and I'll have mine, capiche? Let's leave it at that. So, because I believe that Bonds cheated to achieve the record, I have a "supreme level of anger"? And somehow my belief affects "my wellbeing"? Try to understand something: Any hatred that has come out in this thread is directed at the nonsensical delusions spouted by Goodspeak. I don't suffer fools gladly, so when fools post things that have no basis in reality, things that are disputed by every other member who has posted in this thread, yeah, a little anger rises to the surface. Oh bullshit, Dan. Believe it? Hell, you've already convicted him and without a shred of court admissible evidence. Your anger comes from the fact I called you on it and you don't like that. Admit it. And the only thing you got in return is spit and vinegar....then you blame me? Wow. Tell me, Dan....do I control you somehow? Are you my puppet on a string? Take responsibility for your own spew, Dan....nobody forced you to run off at the mouth with obscenity laced tirade after over-the-top vulgarism. YOU made that choice. I didn't force you to do anything that wasn't already a part of your belligerence toward any poster here with the guts to blow your arguments clean out of the water....then stand up to your vitriol. Don't fob that "well, he made me do it" shit off onto me, Danny. You said it and you own it. Amazing arrogance. You remain a laughable, contemptible fool. If you believe that there isn't "a shred of court admissible evidence" then it is apparent that you are truly ignorant of, as they say, the facts and the law.

This poor guy was doomed from the beginning. No one could have survived that interview. I totally can't blame him for losing it when the guy said "sweet talk". I agree that no one could have survived that interview.

I'm feeling better already. Go 'Noles! (I'm going to the NC State game here next Saturday). :rsmile: Have a great time, Paul, and enjoy your first visit to Doak Campbell. Its not what it was like when I was a student, when neither end was closed off and the outside of the stadium looked like a big tinker toy (no brick building constructed around it), but its a great stadium now and nothing compares to the band performance at the start and Osceola and Renegade at midfield, planting the flaming spear. Let me know though if the band plays Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" at halftime. They started playing that way back when it was a top 40 hit and even when I went back in the late 90s they were still playing it. God I hated that song. I guess they got such a great price on the arrangement that they can't stop using it.

I guess I should thank Al since his unfathomable opinion of this date led me to pull it out for the first time in quite a while. I remember when I got this in the early 90s, Doubletime had a batch of TOCJs at a great price, so I never replaced my copy when it came out domestically. Definitely count me with Chuck and Lon, among others, in voting "NOT boring!" The Cal Massey tunes alone make this a very worthwhile effort. And I cannot understand the complaints about Blakey. He is fitting himself to the music! Do you expect a lot of big press rolls on medium and down tempo tunes? The one thing I'll say that is somewhat critical is that it does not really "feel" like a Lee Morgan album. To me, Jackie is the more prominent part of the front line, with more compelling solos. I could also say that this meeting isn't as great as the late 60s encounters between Jackie and Lee. So, while I enjoy this album a lot and would never call it boring, I would say that it is not an album I'd pull out if I really wanted to hear some topnotch Mogie. But its still a damn good album.

Machine Gun. If your future wife can get through that, you're in like Flint. "In like Flynn" (as in Errol) is the phrase. Considering its original sexual connotation, its especially appropriate for future marital bliss: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-inl1.htm