Dan Gould

There's no question that New Jersey has some very pretty areas. The problem is that so many people experience the state only by traveling through it on I-95 (the NJ Turnpike) and no one can say that the view from that patch of road is particularly attractive. And that's before you get to the fuel tank farm around Newark.

MWTGA, I'm confused on one point: did you ship from the US overseas or vice versa? Because the US doesn't have the customs charges that Old Europe (and new Europe does) so packages are never held for any length of time. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but like I said, I'm confused. Since it seems as though some countries take especially long on delivery, I'd first consider encouraging the buyer to sit tight and keep hoping. Beyond that I'd definitely offer a refund, and without a doubt, I would add a notice to all future auctions that insurance is required for overseas shipments, or that you cannot be responsible for packages that are lost in the mail unless insurance or tracking is purchased by the buyer.

Reading comprehension just isn't your thing, is it? The prediction was, in all iterations, predicated on David Wells joining the Twins, and/or Liriano returning in time for the playoffs. Said prediction is therefore null and void unless the Twins go into a playoff series against the Yankees with Santana and Wells, Santana and Liriano, or Santana, Wells and Liriano, and furthermore, I specifically stated that Santana-Wells-Radke would be a four game Twin victory, not a sweep. Here's a helpful hint: Read a sentence. Read it again. Compare your understanding of the sentence after you've read it twice. If your understanding is the same, congratulations, you have probably successfully read the sentence. If however your understanding is not the same, repeat as necessary until your understanding of the sentence's meaning is the same in successive readings. Also, don't be embarassed to move your lips while reading. It has been shown to aid comprehension in low IQ individuals.

Last installment for now of the Truth Patrol: THE FACTS: Schilling WAS NOT a free agent. No offer was made to Schilling to secure his services; an offer was made to the D-Backs; after the trade was accepted, Theo convinced Schilling to approve the trade and signed him to an extention. THE FACTS: Roger Clemens "retired" after the 2003 season. The Yankees made no decision to "let him walk" but simply took him at his word and did not even offer salary arbitration. Clemens "unretired" after Pettite signed with Houston. Truth Patrol signing off til the next time.

Truth Patrol Reporting Again: THE FACTS At the time this statement was made, Beckett had 16 "quality starts" out of 26. The ratio is now 18 of 28. Truth Patrol signing off.

Truth Patrol back again: THE FACTS: Manny Ramirez is signed through the 2008 season. The club holds an option on the 2009 season. Truth Patrol signing off.

Nice idea, but I don't know if the Twins would do it. They keep a pretty tight hold on all of their prospects. Terry Ryan (Twins GM) doesn't seems willing to give up prospects for a player that will only help in the short term. In recent years, at the trade deadline, he has passed on trades for many impact players that were available for this reason. Thank goodness they did because many of the deals demanded Liriano as one of the prospects. I bet you're right, but with Wells retiring, maybe a deal could be made for a low-level, nothing to write home about prospect. I'm just looking at any possibility that strengthens the Twins to take their shot at the Yanks with a great chance to ruin their season. Ah, the blithering idiot is back, making more foolish prognostications. It's nice to see that Mr. Clutch was terrified into an irregular heartbeat by the pummeling that the Yankees administrered on the hapless Red Sox last week. So much for the MVP. And it's also nice to blame injuries for the Red Sox lost season. Douchebag: the season was lost long before this week. Are you so stupid that you failed to monitor HOW the Red Sox managed to stay competetive in the A.L. until July? They beat up on the National League, which is an absolutely awful league this year. Even before the Yankees stuck a sword in them, the Red Sox were a .500 team vs. their own league. That's simply not playoff caliber. Time for the first installment of the Truth Patrol: THE FACTS: On July 20th, the Red Sox were 58-36, 22 games over .500. Interleague play was long finished at that point, and the Red Sox were 16-2 against the NL. THIS MEANS THAT THE RED SOX WERE 8 GAMES OVER .500 AGAINST AL TEAMS. What happened on July 20th? Tim Wakefield was placed on the DL. Within 10 days, Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek followed him, and in the month since, Gonzales, Manny, Lester and Ortiz have been disabled or lost for significant periods. And we all know what their record has been ever since. Truth Patrol signing off.

Did you come here just to belittle people about baseball? As his "bitch" I'd like to say "it sure looks that way." Uh Dan, anytime someone disagree with you about anything regarding baseball, you immediately tear into a personal vendetta against them. You ripped MartyJazz a new one earlier in this thread because his predictions didn't jibe with your knowledge. You're constantly belittling JazzyPaul about his White Sox, for no other reason other than they had the nerve to win the World Series after they had offended the baseball gods way back when. You've belittled my Rangers and I've taken it all in stride because I know what a mediocre team they are. But God forbid anyone insult your beloved Red Sox, especially based on what you know. Heatwave hasn't been very nice to you, but I don't blame him. You weren't exactly welcoming to him when he first started posting here. Jeez, he says something negative about the Sox and you take it as a personal attack. Lighten up, fercryinoutloud! So what if it was baseless? SO FUCKING WHAT???? If the Red Sox are THAT important to you, you need to get a life. And I know I've raised your blood pressure by posting this which will no doubt cause you to refer to me as "dipshit," "asshole," etc etc etc. Be my guest. You've already called me (and the other baseball-loving posters on this thread) a "fucker," so, really, I don't care anymore. You're not the victim here, Dan, so quit acting like you can't understand why someone's pissing on your shoes after you've shit in his backyard. One, I've never ripped Marty a new one. I would never do that to someone I know personally. Two, the phrase "so long, fuckers" was lifted from a movie and I presumed that people understood the reference, particularly when I added a frame from the movie as reference. Lastly, I would never tear into you, Al, because again, I "know" you and have a decent level of respect for you.

Did you come here just to belittle people about baseball? As his "bitch" I'd like to say "it sure looks that way."

These could be my words, up to the part about Steffi the bow wow.

That is the album House Warmin' and is one of my favorite McGhee albums. Definitely not any sort of pre-existing backing track, just warm, very bluesy and soulful blowing by all concerned. Highly recommended.

This is kind of wacky though. The image on the left is a sketch by a "psychic" who was drawing JonBenet's killer:

I thought I had! I asked if you knew about any album releases for that one and the one with Hank Marr. If I thought I could get them on an album - even with a load of (other) trash on it - I would have my tongue hanging out. MG Yes - it's still there - post 16, top of page. Well, I meant commenting on the idea of taking the backing track and having Sonny solo on top. Pretty wild stuff, if you ask me. I did notice your question, sorry that I hadn't responded. I'm not aware of any LP issue, I'm afraid. But now you've got the best of the bunch (Hank's Groove and Sonny's Groove aren't nearly as fun, for me).

No one wants to comment on Stitt wailing over "Agent Double O Soul"? I thought it was the ultimate WTF track of the bunch.

Did anyone hear anything? No? I didn't think so.

The RVG is an improvement. I wouldn't dismiss "A Swingin' Affair" too readily.

Tom, thanks for the review. I found out about this just a few days ago, in perfect timing to my upcoming B-day. I've got my brother ordering this and the new Scott Hamilton ballads album. I'm figuring that between the two, I'll have the soundtrack ready for my anniversary, which comes 8 days after my birthday. The Person/Charlap is perfect for an anniversary. Well judged! Although... I guess it all depends on your wife. Dylan Thomas wrote a blurb for a novel by the Irish humorist Flann O'Brien that said, "This is just the sort of book you should buy for your sister--if your sister is a loud, dirty, boozy sort of girl." But I'm assuming champagne, candelight and jazz ballads are just thing for your wife, who I assume is beautiful, charming and demure. Well, truth be told, she'd prefer Def Leppard so maybe the "loud, dirty, boozy sort of girl" is a better description. But I also know she's enjoyed each of the earlier Person High Notes I've played ... and after five years of marriage, I know she can do beautiful, charming and demure like it was second nature.

Nice idea, but I don't know if the Twins would do it. They keep a pretty tight hold on all of their prospects. Terry Ryan (Twins GM) doesn't seems willing to give up prospects for a player that will only help in the short term. In recent years, at the trade deadline, he has passed on trades for many impact players that were available for this reason. Thank goodness they did because many of the deals demanded Liriano as one of the prospects. I bet you're right, but with Wells retiring, maybe a deal could be made for a low-level, nothing to write home about prospect. I'm just looking at any possibility that strengthens the Twins to take their shot at the Yanks with a great chance to ruin their season.

If there was any doubt that this season was destined to collapse into bitterness and tears, now we have Papi sent back to Boston for heart tests. Seems that the rapid heartbeat he experienced in the Yankee series has returned. Anyone else want to pretend that making the Abreu trade would have saved us? I'd say its official that the injuries to Yankee starters pales in comparison, especially when you factor in when the injuries occured. I hate to quit on the season completely but I wonder if David Wells will be shipped to a contender by Thursday. I'd love to see him go to the Twins for a mid-level prospect. That could make the difference in the wild card, and the Yanks get the wild card winner, and I'd say that without Liriano, Santana-Wells-Radke will beat the Yanks in 4. With Liriano and no Wells, its a three game sweep. With Santana, Wells, Liriano, its a three game sweep on the mercy rule. Either way, its another lost year for the Yanks.

I could be wrong but I would bet that as a matter of law, they had to have him in custody in the states before they could legally extract DNA for testing.

As a long-reformed Dallas fan turned Dallas hater, I laughed when the Cowboys signed T.O and laughed even harder when I heard about the latest shenanigans.

Tom, thanks for the review. I found out about this just a few days ago, in perfect timing to my upcoming B-day. I've got my brother ordering this and the new Scott Hamilton ballads album. I'm figuring that between the two, I'll have the soundtrack ready for my anniversary, which comes 8 days after my birthday.

Well, actually I already had a mono dub well before you sent me the stereo, Dan. I demand a conference! sorry, grades have already been submitted.

How far south or east does this chain exist? I've never heard of them in south Florida or anywhere in the NY metro area.

I don't think its incompetent investigators so much as a deeply disturbed individual seeking attention. Given the information that came out at the time he was identified, no one should be surprised at the ultimate outcome. We're just lucky they didn't drag it out.