GA Russell

Jeff Tedford has decided to go with his new young kickers, so the Lions asked Paul McCallum to retire. He declined, so they have released him. http://cfl.ca/article/note-so-fast-mccallum-released-takes-to-twitter-regarding-move http://www.tsn.ca/lions-release-k-mccallum-1.301605 ***** 6/5 Checking Down reports from the training camps http://cfl.ca/article/checking-down-5-days-of-training-camp ***** CJ Gable has hurt his hand, and may be out for four weeks. http://cfl.ca/article/report-gable-sidelined-again-with-hand-injury http://www.tsn.ca/report-ticats-rb-gable-out-up-to-four-weeks-1.301538

How is Jon Batiste related to Alvin? Nephew?

Happy Birthday 2015 Ray!

Wayne Harris has died at 77. RIP. Fifty years later, he is still considered one of the best ever. I had his bubble gum card in 1964. http://www.tsn.ca/stampeders-legend-harris-dies-at-age-77-1.300090 http://cfl.ca/article/cfl-mourns-the-loss-of-wayne-harris ***** Ricky Ray is still recovering from his off-season shoulder surgery, and Scott Milanovich says, "He's not close yet." Ray is 35, so it's possible that this is the end of the line. http://3downnation.com/2015/06/04/ray-taken-off-injured-list-but-not-close-to-returning/#comments ***** Because the Ticats radio broadcasts are moving over to CKOC, Rick Zamperin is out as play-by-play caller, and Andy McNamara is in. Coach Sal will remain as the analyst. http://3downnation.com/2015/06/04/mcnamara-named-as-play-by-play-voice-of-the-ticats/#comments

To be released August 18... The Rebel - complete - $42.99 http://www.amazon.com/The-Rebel-Complete-Collectors-Edition/dp/B00X99RMUU/ref=pd_sim_74_78?ie=UTF8&refRID=1YKJBTGMX00BQ9K3D3Y7

My thanks to all who contributed their input! I've been saving up my Amazon gift certificates for two years, and I just had enough to cover it. Now I'll see if I can soon find enough for the acrylic platter. By the way, the deciding factor was that wirecutter said that the Pro-Ject has the capability of handling an upgraded cartridge.

Happy Birthday Scott!

Amazon now has the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (black) for $349.00 with free shipping. http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-13086-Debut-Carbon-Black/dp/B007XTE6YW So I pulled the trigger.

Brandon London announced his retirement today. http://www.tsn.ca/als-london-announces-cfl-retirement-1.299165

Happy Birthday!

Art Garfunkel - OAC - $12.11 + $3.99 http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Classics-GARFUNKEL-ART/dp/B008QDCY70/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1433354157&sr=1-1&keywords=art+garfunkel+original+album

The league announced yesterday that single-game tickets are now for sale. http://cfl.ca/single_game_tickets ***** And here is the 2015 schedule. http://cfl.ca/schedule/year/2015/time_zone/0 ***** TSN yesterday announced its 2015 fantasy league. http://www.tsn.ca/tsn-fantasy-football-cfl-edition-open-1.294168 http://cflfantasy.tsn.ca/tsn/cfl15_en/promo

Happy Birthday etherbored!

Sarah Vaughan - OAS (Roulette) - $9.73 + $3.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00REIJ4PS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

Here's an interesting obit for a lady who was the costume designer of many of the most glamorous stars of my youth, including the Beatles. RIP. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11641861/Julie-Harris-designer-obituary.html

Happy Birthday 2015 Durium!

Here's something I didn't know. Clint Eastwood turned down the role of James Bond when Sean Connery left. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/31/clint-eastwood-birthday_n_7454648.html\ You will note that immediately below the article is a slide show of "Sexy Over 50 Men." For some reason, my photo isn't included. Maybe I should think that its absence adds to my mystique!

That's great, Michael! I noticed last night that Amazon now has the platter back in stock as well. http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-ACRYLIT-Acryl-It-Platter-Upgrade/dp/B0097CY4NQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433129814&sr=8-1&keywords=pro-ject+acryl-it+platter

My first Sonny Milestone was his 1997 (1996?) Silver City twofer. And I have every Milestone put out after that. I'm quite pleased with every one of them. Are they generally regarded as superior to his pre-Silver City releases, or am I just an easy lay?

All of the training camps opened today. http://cfl.ca/article/open-camp-teams-take-to-practice-field-today ***** The Als have confirmed that they have signed Jonathan Hefney. http://cfl.ca/article/cornerback-jonathan-hefney-signs-deal-with-als ***** TSN has posted its preview video for Calgary. http://www.tsn.ca/video/cfl-season-preview-calgary-stampeders-1.294063 ***** Here are the key pre-season dates leading up to Opening Night June 25. http://cfl.ca/article/looking-ahead-key-2015-training-camp-dates

So let's continue on from yesterday. Montreal analysis part four. https://blu174.mail.live.com/?tid=cmZAy9fvEG5RGY_wAhWtdRtA2&fid=flsearch&srch=1&sfrm=donotreply%40wordpress.com&sdr=4&satt=0 ***** Hamilton https://blu174.mail.live.com/?tid=cmBkofUcAG5RGTI2w75adL8A2&fid=flsearch&srch=1&sfrm=donotreply%40wordpress.com&sdr=4&satt=0 ***** TSN has added preview videos for Toronto and BC. http://www.tsn.ca/video/cfl-season-preview-toronto-argonauts-1.294026 ***** Winnipeg http://cfl.ca/article/training-camp-primer-bombers-add-to-foundation ***** The Eskimos have extended Chris Jones' contract through the end of next year. http://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-extend-head-coach-jones-1.295506 http://cfl.ca/article/chris-jones-signs-extensions-with-edmonton ***** The Argos have signed Aaron Kelly. http://cfl.ca/article/argos-sign-former-bomber-receiver-aaron-kelly ***** 5/30 Checking Down http://cfl.ca/article/checking-down-news-and-notes-as-vets-report ***** Kirk Penton reports that Jonathan Hefney has signed with the Als. https://twitter.com/PentonKirk/status/604756500867895297 ***** Ticats CEO Scott Mitchell says that the Ticats failed to earn a profit (for the first time in 40 years) last year because of the new stadium delays. He expects the team will show a profit this year. http://3downnation.com/2015/05/25/ticats-will-be-profitable-for-first-time-in-40-years-and-other-news/ ***** ESPN is reporting the 2014 salaries of the CFL teams. Andrew Bucholtz does some nice analysis of ESPN's figures. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/cfl-55-yard-line/espn-sporting-intelligence-survey-has-some-fascinating-data-on-cfl-salaries-194534104.html https://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/12910218/paris-saint-germain-tops-global-salary-survey

Guy, I picked this up in 2012. It's enough for me, and may be sufficient for you. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000276PD?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Happy Birthday Pete!

I'm beginning to see some team previews. First, here are some TSN videos for... Saskatchewan Edmonton Winnipeg Hamilton Montreal Ottawa http://www.tsn.ca/video/cfl-season-preview-saskatchewan-roughriders-1.294116 ***** Here are some previews offered on the league's website. Calgary http://cfl.ca/article/training-camp-primer-can-the-stamps-repeat Hamilton http://cfl.ca/article/training-camp-primer-third-times-the-charm-for-ticats Edmonton http://cfl.ca/article/training-camp-primer-eskimos-set-to-face-demons Saskatchewan http://cfl.ca/article/training-camp-primer-riderville-bound-to-rebound Toronto http://cfl.ca/article/training-camp-primer-argos-hoping-ray-is-healthy Montreal http://cfl.ca/article/training-camp-primer-als-look-to-carry-momentum ***** The Riders will add two more to their Plaza of Honor - Scott Schultz and Tim McCray. http://cfl.ca/article/two-rider-greats-to-be-enshrined-in-the-plaza-of-honor ***** The first three parts of an Alouette pre-season analysis are now out: http://3downnation.com/2015/05/27/the-alsternative-2015-season-preview-part-1-of-4/ http://3downnation.com/2015/05/28/the-alsternative-2015-season-preview-part-2-of-4/ http://3downnation.com/2015/05/29/the-alsternative-2015-season-preview-part-3-of-4/ Part Four will be published tomorrow.

Rookie camps opened this week, and the full camps will open Monday. So let's see if we can get caught up by Sunday night. Brandon Bridge did not receive an NFL offer, so he has signed with the Alouettes. http://cfl.ca/article/brandon-bridge-officially-a-montreal-alouette http://www.tsn.ca/alouettes-sign-canadian-qb-bridge-1.291180 ***** BC announced that they had signed all six of this year's draft picks; and that they have released Kito Poblah, Tim Brown, Steven Shott and Andre Ramsey. http://cfl.ca/article/lions-sign-draft-picks-poblah-and-brown-released http://www.tsn.ca/lions-release-veterans-brown-poblah-1.291194 ***** Daryl Waud voluntarily left the Washington camp, and has signed with the Argos. The Argos also signed former Alabama star QB Blake Sims. http://cfl.ca/article/argo-draft-pick-waud-waived-by-redskins http://cfl.ca/article/argos-sign-draft-pick-waud-quarterback-sims http://www.tsn.ca/after-leaving-redskins-waud-signs-with-argos-1.293760 http://www.tsn.ca/argos-sign-former-crimson-tide-qb-sims-1.293756 ***** TSN announced its pre-season schedule. TSN also extended its contract with the league through 2021. http://cfl.ca/article/tsn-announces-pre-season-broadcast-schedule http://cfl.ca/article/tsn-and-rds-extend-broadcast-deal-with-cfl http://www.tsn.ca/cfl-tsn-and-rds-extend-broadcast-agreement-through-2021-1.294294 ***** Marc Beswick has retired. http://cfl.ca/article/report-ticats-veteran-beswick-to-retire http://www.tsn.ca/ticats-special-teams-dynamo-beswick-retires-1.294902 ***** 5/29 Checking Down column concerning the rookie camps. http://cfl.ca/article/getting-to-work-all-rookie-camps-now-open ***** Jason Pottinger has retired. http://cfl.ca/article/veteran-linebacker-jason-pottinger-retires http://www.tsn.ca/redblacks-lb-pottinger-announces-retirement-1.294858 ***** The owner of CKOC in Hamilton is the owner of TSN. They have decided to make it a sports station, and will carry the Ticats games this year. http://www.tsn.ca/tsn-radio-1150-to-launch-in-hamilton-1.294149 ***** Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of Aaron Rodgers, signed with BC in October after failing to stick with three NFL teams. He has decided to retire. http://www.tsn.ca/lions-qb-rodgers-informs-team-he-will-retire-1.292081