GA Russell

The sale of the Argos to Bell Canada and Larry Tannenbaum was announced today, along with the move of the Argos to BMO Field. These guys are known for making lots of money operating bad teams, so I have to consider this bad news for Argo fans. Any thoughts? http://www.tsn.ca/bell-tanenbaum-announce-argos-purchase-move-to-bmo-field-1.287292 http://cfl.ca/article/bell-canada-and-kilmer-group-to-acquire-the-argos http://3downnation.com/2015/05/19/argos-sale-to-bell-tanenbaum-imminent-report/ http://3downnation.com/2015/05/20/argos-future-brighter-under-new-ownership/ ***** Neal Hughes has announced his retirement. http://cfl.ca/article/career-long-rider-hughes-announces-retirement ***** The Bombers used their 2016 first round pick to choose Dartmouth's Garrett Waggoner in the Supplemental Draft today. No one else was taken. http://cfl.ca/article/bombers-peg-waggoner-in-cfl-supplemental-draft

He was a keeper of the flame. RIP.

It looks like the announcement of the sale of the Argos, and their playing at BMO Field, will be made tomorrow. http://3downnation.com/2015/05/19/argos-sale-to-bell-tanenbaum-imminent-report/ http://www.tsn.ca/bell-tanenbaum-partner-up-to-own-argonauts-1.286511 ***** The Argos have added Jordan Younger to their defensive coaching staff, as the coaches' assignments get shuffled following the resignation of Tim Burke. http://cfl.ca/article/argos-name-younger-defensive-backs-coach ***** The Supplemental Daft will be held tomorrow at 1:00 pm eastern. 27 players have been taken since 1957, including Jeremy O'Day (Toronto, 1997), Noel Prefontaine (Toronto, 1998), Paul Pearson (Calgary, 1978) and Ted Laurent (Edmonton, 2011). http://www.cfl.ca/article/prospects-up-for-grabs-in-cfl-supplemental-draft

New double CD from our own Matthew Shipp! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152943253622099&set=a.427564087098.203696.617617098&type=1

The Ticats signed a former NFLer named Adrian Robinson last month, but Saturday he committed suicide. http://3downnation.com/2015/05/17/11580/ http://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/ncaafb/adrian-robinson-former-temple-standout-dies-at-25/ar-BBjTifo?ocid=anstheScore11 ***** Washington has signed the Argos' second round pick Daryl Waud. http://3downnation.com/2015/05/18/argo-draft-pick-waud-signs-with-redskins/

Thanks for that tip, Michael! Unfortunately, I don't see anything that appeals to me, but I note that that is a huge price drop for the Sergio Mendes.

I've never before seen Amazon charge so little for an OAS-type box. Dwight Yoakam - OAS - $15.99 http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Series-Dwight-Yoakam/dp/B008M4HBFI?SubscriptionId=AKIAJ7T5BOVUVRD2EFYQ&tag=camelhometopdrops-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B008M4HBFI

Giovanni Guidi Trio -This is the Day New album on ECM releases May 26th Giovanni Guidi Trio makes its US debut at Roulette on June 1st (details below) One of the rising stars in Italian Jazz, Giovanni Guidi was mentored by Italian jazz legend (and ECM recording artist) Enrico Rava and so it should come as no surprise that Guidi’s Trio plays jazz of uncommon originality and reflective depth. On their second ECM album, Italian pianist Guidi, US bassist Thomas Morgan, and Portuguese drummer João Lobo continue the work begun on the 2011 recording City of Broken Dreams, with pensive, abstract ballads which shimmer with inner tension. Each of the players has a strong sense for the dialectics of sound and silence. The repertoire is mostly from Guidi’s pen, but also includes the standard “I’m Through with Love”, Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farrés’ “Quizás, quizás, quizás” (familiar to jazz listeners through, above all, Nat King Cole’s version), and “Baiiia” by João Lobo. Richard Williams, in his review of the Trio’s London release concert wrote: “the album is a thing of great beauty...displaying three musicians bringing new thoughts to a familiar format”. See the full review here: http://thebluemoment.com/2015/04/03/in-the-gallery/ Giovanni Guidi Trio Roulette Theater June 1st at 7:30pm. 509 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn (917)267 0363 General admission: $ 15, online booking in advance, only $ 10. Underground: Subway: # 2, 3, 4, 5, D, M, N, R, B, Q & LIRR arrive at Atlantic Avenue-Barclay’s Center G train to Fulton Street A and C Trains to Hoyt-Schermerhorn. Only one block away! http://roulette.org; roulette@roulette.org http://roulette.org/getting-there/

Here is a video of Curry making a shot against Memphis Friday night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Ec8x6I-qw

Columbo (complete...69 episodes + 24 TV movies) - $58.99 http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/ref=pe_59440_139046740_pe_row1_b4_t/?ASIN=B008RJ6TTC

Speaking of the devil, mmilovdan, you've answered my question! Yesterday I went through a new oldies.com catalogue, and they mentioned that they now carry four Thorens tables. I hadn't heard of Thorens for decades. Many years ago I had friends who raved about them, so I was going to post today, asking if they are still considered good. So when you say "it is the same production line for Pro-ject brand," I assume that means that it is the same thing with a different label, right? The four tables oldies.com carries are... TD 240-2...$1,099 TD 190-2...$799 TD 170-1...$699 TD 158...$499

Michael Shayne Mysteries, vol. 1 (4 movies plus extras) - $5.99 http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Shayne-Mysteries-Volume-One/dp/B000LC4ZDK

Happy Birthday Larry!

Bobby Bell has earned his bachelor's degree from Minnesota at age 74. http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/football-hall-of-famer-bobby-bell-gets-degree-at-age-of-74/ar-BBjO3Lv?ocid=ansspap11 ***** Rasmussen says that 39% of those polled believe that the Patriots should forfeit their Super bowl championship because of the deflated football scandal. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/sports/may_2015/39_say_patriots_should_forfeit_super_bowl_win_over_deflategate

Argos defensive coordinator Tim Burke has suddenly resigned for personal reasons, so Scott Milanovich has immediately named Casey Creehan to replace him. I think that Creehan is the most controversial CFL coach that I can remember. A very large percentage of those who have an opinion think that he is terrible. http://www.tsn.ca/creehan-replaces-burke-as-argonauts-dc-1.283864 http://cfl.ca/article/burke-out-creehan-in-as-argos-defensive-coordinator http://3downnation.com/2015/05/15/burke-out-creehan-in-as-argo-dc/ ***** This article says that the most recent draft (before this week's) in which more than one quarterback was taken was in 2001, when three were taken. http://cfl.ca/article/bridge-buckley-represent-new-era-of-canadian-qbs ***** 5/15 Checking Down column http://cfl.ca/article/checking-down-cfl-draft-edition ***** Here's a discussion about the best player in history, in which Leo Ezerins and I chime in. http://3downnation.com/2015/05/15/the-friday-conversation-who-is-the-greatest-player-in-cfl-history/#comment-29392

The Avengers - Complete Emma Peel - $19.96 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E5G03I4/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mike Bradwell has retired. http://www.tsn.ca/argos-bradwell-retires-after-six-seasons-1.283380 http://cfl.ca/article/argos-receiver-bradwell-announces-retirement ***** The Eskimos have released AJ Guyton and Chris Mercer. They have signed former Bomber Tyson Pencer and kicker Zackary Madeiros. http://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-sign-ol-pencer-release-sb-guyton-1.283338 http://cfl.ca/article/eskimos-sign-free-agents-medeiros-pencer ***** The Redblacks have released Eric Fraser and four others. http://cfl.ca/article/fraser-among-five-released-by-redblacks ***** You will recall the charges levelled after the Grey Cup that the Bombers' new stadium was woefully constructed. Well now the Manitoba Opposition is calling for the Auditor General to look into it, and Premier Greg Selinger is saying that he has no problem with that idea. http://www.tsn.ca/opposition-asks-auditor-to-review-construction-of-winnipeg-stadium-1.283059 ***** The Stampeders have released Yannick Carter and Billy Peach. http://www.tsn.ca/stampeders-release-lb-carter-ol-peach-1.283348 ***** Here's an article on the six biggest surprises of the draft. http://cfl.ca/article/3-for-3-the-cfl-drafts-biggest-movers

Moose, it is making the rounds in the medical community that computer (and maybe television) screens get your mind racing. Therefore, the doctors recommend that you turn off your computer at least an hour before you go to bed, or else you will have trouble falling asleep. The idea of f.lux is that the problem is the blue light emitted by your computer screen, so the program shuts off the blue after sunset.

I read this morning in the WSJ that Teller (of Penn and...) recommends the free program f.lux for the purpose of eliminating the blue light which keeps you awake. So I downloaded it, and it makes everything on my screen look kind of brownish/mustard yellow. I'm not complaining, but it will take some getting used to. Has anyone else tried it? https://justgetflux.com/

Speaking of Mickey Mouse, I saw the other day that Robert Kastenmeier had died. Sonny Bono is given most of the blame for the copyright extension, but the obit I saw said that it was Kastenmeier's doing. The obits I'm finding on the internet stress his opposition to various wars, but I see that the Washington Post mentions the copyright issue in passing. "In 1976, Mr. Kastenmeier was a key sponsor of the country’s first major overhaul of copyright law in more than 60 years, extending an author’s copyright protection to life plus 50 years. It remains the foundation of the nation’s copyright law." http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/robert-w-kastenmeier-former-wisconsin-congressman-dies-at-91/2015/03/21/e0da2208-cff0-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html

Brandon Isaac is returning to the Argos. http://www.tsn.ca/linebacker-isaac-returns-to-argos-1.282288 http://cfl.ca/article/lb-brandon-isaac-returns-to-argos *** Joel Reinders has announced his retirement. http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/reinders-retires-to-fulfill-passion-for-policing/ ***** You will recall that the Scouting Bureau had Christian Covington as the #1 prospect in the draft. But he was drafted by the Houston Texans, so he was not not picked until the Lions took him in the fifth round. http://cfl.ca/article/lions-draft-top-ranked-covington-in-round-5 ***** The Redblacks have released Brett Maher and DJ Young, and John Delahunt has retired. http://cfl.ca/article/redblacks-release-maher-delahunt-retires ***** The Bombers have already signed their top draft pick, Sukh Chungh. http://www.cfl.ca/article/bombers-sign-second-overall-pick-chungh http://www.tsn.ca/bombers-sign-no-2-pick-ol-chungh-1.282152 ***** Here are analyses of the draft for each team except Edmonton. Ottawa http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/breaking-down-the-redblacks-2015-draft/ Montreal http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/the-alsternative-2015-cfl-draft-recap/ Toronto http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/argos-draft-picks-show-interesting-thought-process/ Hamilton http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/welcome-to-who-wants-to-draft-a-linebacker/ Winnipeg http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/recapping-grading-the-2015-cfl-draft/ Saskatchewan http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/best-canadians-best-team/ Calgary http://3downnation.com/2015/05/12/rouge-et-or-line-reunion-with-stamps/ BC http://3downnation.com/2015/05/13/recap-bc-lions-beat-to-their-own-drum-in-cfl-draft/

Coltrane - Heavyweight Champion (7 CDs) - $22.19 + $3.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E5R5TAA/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So the draft is over. I think that it's noteworthy that two quarterbacks were picked. (I don't know when that last happened.) With pick #31 the Als took Brandon Bridge. And with the last pick of the draft, the Stamps took Andrew Buckley of the Calgary Dinos. http://cfl.ca/draft Any thoughts?

The draft starts in three hours (8:00 pm eastern). Here's are five aspects of this year's draft on people's minds. http://cfl.ca/article/five-things-to-know-heading-into-the-cfl-draft ***** And repeating from last night... Here are the links to use to follow the draft as it happens. http://cfl.ca/draft http://www.tsn.ca/20...racker-1.274687 http://www.tsn.ca/ts...-draft-1.278064

Tomorrow is the draft, so let's catch up with what has occurred in the past week. The Stampeders traded Ryan Mouton to the Bombers for Zebrie Sanders. http://cfl.ca/article/stamps-acquire-ol-sanders-from-bombers http://www.tsn.ca/stamps-deal-db-mouton-to-bombers-for-ol-sanders-1.275606 ***** The league has decided to make a special effort to market itself to millennials with something called the Whistle Sports Network. http://cfl.ca/article/whistle-partnership-aims-to-connect-fans-with-athletes http://www.tsn.ca/cfl-out-to-broaden-its-appeal-to-millenials-1.276800 ***** Here is a video of Andy Fantuz setting a new world record for "most one-handed catches in one minute" with 50! http://www.thesnap.ca/ticats-wr-andy-fantuz-sets-new-world-record-for-most-one-handed-catches/ http://www.tsn.ca/video/must-see-fantuz-breaks-one-handed-catch-record-1.276449 ***** The Argos have signed Kierrie Johnson. http://cfl.ca/article/argos-sign-free-agent-receiver-kierrie-johnson ***** The Lions have traded Seydou Junior Haidara to the Ticats for their fifth round pick. http://cfl.ca/article/ticats-send-pick-to-bc-to-acquire-seydou-junior-haidara http://www.tsn.ca/lions-trade-wr-haidara-to-ticats-for-pick-1.276729 ***** Chris Jones and Ed Hervey of the Eskimos say that they will continue to prefer physical defensive backs despite the new rules' discouraging that sort of play. http://cfl.ca/article/esks-wont-change-philosophy-on-defensive-backs ***** The Bombers have signed Canadian defensive lineman Jamaal Westerman, who has spent the past six years in the NFL. http://cfl.ca/article/blue-bombers-bring-dl-westerman-to-winnipeg http://www.tsn.ca/bombers-sign-former-nfl-player-westerman-to-deal-1.277362 ***** The league has announced that Shaw Communications will sponsor the Grey Cup game. I realize that bills have to be paid, but one of the appeals of the league to me is that it is less commercialized than the other pro leagues. http://cfl.ca/article/cfl-announces-partnership-with-shaw-communications ***** 5/8 Checking Down - notes on each team http://cfl.ca/article/checking-down-notes-from-around-the-cfl-may-8 ***** The Riders traded Cory Watson and a '16 pick to the Eskimos for Jorgen Hus and a '16 pick. http://cfl.ca/article/west-trade-winds-eskimos-acquire-cory-watson http://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-acquire-receiver-watson-from-roughriders-1.280440 ***** The Als have signed punter Ricky Schmitt. He is 29 years old, and has spent 8 years bouncing around the NFL and the CFL. http://cfl.ca/article/alouettes-add-international-punter-ricky-schmitt http://www.tsn.ca/alouettes-sign-veteran-punter-schmitt-1.280450 ***** The Ticats have signed free agent (former Bomber) Johnny Sears, Jr. http://cfl.ca/article/ticats-add-veteran-db-johnny-sears-jr http://www.tsn.ca/ticats-sign-db-sears-jr-1.280563 ***** With the draft tomorrow, here's a quick look at each team's first round picks of the past five years. http://cfl.ca/article/draft-rewind-five-years-of-first-round-picks ***** TSN's Duane Ford has done a lot of work to prepare draft profiles for each team. Montreal http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-montreal-alouettes-1.278191 Ottawa http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-ottawa-redblacks-1.278186 Toronto http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-toronto-argonauts-1.278169 Hamilton http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-hamilton-tiger-cats-1.278146 Winnipeg http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-winnipeg-blue-bombers-1.278136 Saskatchewan http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-saskatchewan-roughriders-1.278130 Calgary http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-calgary-stampeders-1.278124 Edmonton http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-edmonton-eskimos-1.278083 BC http://www.tsn.ca/draft-profile-bc-lions-1.278070 ***** Here are the links to use tomorrow to follow the draft as it happens. http://cfl.ca/draft http://www.tsn.ca/2015-cfl-draft-tracker-1.274687 http://www.tsn.ca/tsn-hosts-exclusive-live-coverage-of-2015-cfl-draft-1.278064 ***** The Eskimos announced that they enjoyed a record profit of just under $3.6 million in 2014. http://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-2014-season-successful-on-and-off-field-1.275828 ***** Ray Baillie, who was a defensive lineman for four teams over the course of nine seasons, has died at 80. http://www.tsn.ca/former-cfler-mcgill-coach-baillie-dies-at-80-1.280775