GA Russell

And with Shorty Rogers, I feel like I started with the best and could never find anything as good afterward. I became aware of him through a CD called "Short Stops," which collected two of his early 10" albums and the Wild One EP. I then started picking up all of the LPs I could find, but none of them ever struck me like the music on that CD. Is it because those are his best arrangements, or is it because I heard them first? TTK, that was precisely my experience as well!

And later... and I have seen composer's credit for One Monkey given to Joe Tex.

I had a couple in college... and

Bill Polian, who was the personnel man for both the Als and the Bombers when they won Grey Cups way back in the day, has been elected to the Canton hall of fame. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/polian-elected-to-pro-football-hall-of-fame-20150131

I have seen a number of reports that Chicago has signed John Chiles to a future contract, but I haven't seen a definition of what that is. Any idea? http://www.tsn.ca/bears-ink-former-argos-wr-chiles-to-contract-1.193703 ***** The Bombers have traded Cory Watson to the Riders for Kris Bastien. The word is that Watson told the Bombers he would retire if he was not traded. http://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-acquire-wr-watson-from-bombers-in-exchange-for-wr-bastien-1.194696 http://cfl.ca/article/trade-riders-acquire-wr-watson-from-bombers ***** Tom Higgins has decided that Anthony Calvillo will be his receivers coach this year. http://www.tsn.ca/former-star-qb-calvillo-named-alouettes-receivers-coach-1.194801 ***** Hamilton native (and therefore national/non-import) receiver Austin Collie has signed with the Lions after five years in the NFL. Collie has a history of concussions, so his passing his physical and getting much playing time are yet to be determined. http://www.tsn.ca/b-c-lions-sign-former-nfl-receiver-collie-to-contract-1.195009 http://cfl.ca/article/buono-inks-free-agent-wr-collie ***** Ian Wild has tweeted that he will sign with Pittsburgh. http://www.tsn.ca/former-bombers-lb-wild-tweets-he-s-signing-with-nfl-s-steelers-1.195864 ***** The Eskimos have released Matt O'Donnell so that he can sign with an NFL team, presumably Cincinnati. http://www.tsn.ca/former-bombers-lb-wild-tweets-he-s-signing-with-nfl-s-steelers-1.195864

I have a pet peeve with the press reporting items which I do not believe meet the New York Times' minimal standard of news which is fit to print. Two weeks ago, the news was that the husband of a woman soccer player was arrested for DUI. I remember a couple of years ago that our local paper reported that a baseball player's brother-in-law (!) was arrested for DUI. Today the news on CNN is that the late Whitney Houston's daughter needed to be taken to the hospital. I believe that these are instances of violation of a person's privacy. Personally, I have a problem with the press reporting on the problems of a "public person" when the problems are irrelevant to the reason the person is "public." But in these cases, the person is not at all public, but merely a relative of a public person. I think that the press is way out of line here. Any thoughts?

FWIW, when I think of West Coast Jazz, I think of... 1) the Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker, and 2) the Shorty Rogers Short Stops collection. If a recording doesn't remind me of one or the other, I don't think of it as West Coast Jazz.

I remember back thirty years ago, the Libertarians were objecting to the fact that the number of taxi cab medallions in NYC was fixed in the 1930's. The issue was the number. I don't recall anyone objecting to the government's right to regulate who received a cab license (ie, the prohibition of convicted pimps). As I see it, Uber is (de facto) arranging for anyone to become a cab driver without first clearing the driver. I think that's asking for trouble.

I'll catch up with the week's news later. In the meantime, here is an interview with Jon Ryan on the alumni association's facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/cflaa/posts/10152653740726453

Jim, I'm pretty sure I had that card! That's a 1960!

Rocky Bridges passed away Tuesday at 87. RIP. My favorite story of his was of the time he joined a group of players who toured Japan in the off-season. He said (quote approximate), "We'd beat them, and then two hours later we'd want to go out and beat them again." http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-rocky-bridges-20150131-story.html

Two new Iyer stops. Vijay Iyer Trio on tour: February 19 Eugene, OR The Shedd February 20 Portland, OR Portland Jazz Festival - Winningstad Theater March 7 New York, NY Temple of Dendur- Metropolitan Museum of Art March 26 Albuquerque, NM The Outpost March 27 San Francisco, CA SF Jazz – Miner Auditorium March 28-29 Chicago, IL Constellation April 10-11 Boston, MA Regattabar

The Argos have released John Chiles early so that he can sign an NFL contract, presumably with Chicago. http://cfl.ca/article/chiles-released-set-to-become-a-free-agent http://www.tsn.ca/argonauts-release-rb-chiles-expected-to-sign-with-nfl-s-bears-1.192864 ***** It looks like Duron Carter will sign with Indianapolis. http://www.tsn.ca/report-former-alouettes-wr-carter-close-to-deal-with-colts-1.193153

Tommy Mason has died. RIP. He was the last football star Tulane ever had, that I know of. http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/01/22/vikings-first-draft-pick-mason-dies/?intcmp=trending

I'm afraid of Judy Tenuta.

Here are a couple of unusual items coming from the Argos. The Argos have hired Jonathan Himebauch to be their offensive line coach and assistant head coach. I find that odd. "Offensive line coach" doesn't sound very high up on the ladder, but "assistant head coach" sounds very high up. Any ideas? http://cfl.ca/article/himebauch-joins-argonauts-coaching-staff ***** You know how the league is involved with women's issues like domestic violence and breast cancer. Well an Argos season ticket holder last year objected to the team's involvement with a domestic violence program because he felt that that particular program discriminates against men. So the Argos refused to renew his season tickets. So now he has filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. To be continued. http://www.tsn.ca/talent/argos-face-human-rights-complaint-over-alleged-threat-to-cancel-customer-s-season-tickets-1.191884 ***** Here is an article discussing the league's policy regarding custody of game balls, in light of the NFL under-inflated footballs controversy. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl-nfl-have-similar-protocol-regarding-inflation-of-their-footballs-1.192185

Alabama announced Saturday that Lane Kiffin will return to Alabama this year as its OC. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/lane-kiffin-returning-to-alabama-in-2015-201632996.html

Comparable to The Great Les Baxer? TTK, I bet that you, of anyone, can tell me who it was who said, "The Les Baxter the better!"

Nowadays, you don't see a trade of a star for a star very often (in any league). So I was surprised to see that the Argos have traded Shea Emry to the Riders for Ricky Foley. http://cfl.ca/article/returning-home-riders-trade-foley-back-to-toronto http://www.tsn.ca/argonauts-acquire-star-de-foley-from-roughriders-for-lb-emry-1.190931 ***** New Orleans has signed Delvin Breaux. http://www.tsn.ca/report-former-tiger-cats-cb-breaux-reaches-agreement-with-saints-1.190919

I saw Gene Clark in Atlanta, not too long before he died, I guess in the late '80s. He was touring with a group called The Byrds, but it was just him and four other guys. He sang lead. It was all Byrds songs. I'm glad to have been able to see him, but I can't say that I was all that impressed. There wasn't anything bad about the show; it just wasn't that big a deal.

Michael, I believe you are right. It's been decades since I have seen it, but your examples seem to me to have much more silver than I recall.

RIP. I very much enjoyed Phaedra back in '75, but as I recall my copy had a different cover than Michael's. http://www.inquisitr.com/1782848/rip-edgar-froese-music-surrealism-legend-of-grand-theft-auto-5-soundtrack-fame-videos/

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/01/23/chicago-cubs-legend-ernie-banks-has-died-at-83/ RIP.

I can't disbelieve 26 women. However, I have to feel that something is up, something is coordinated by somebody, when the press gives them credibility now when it didn't then. When this started making headlines, one woman said, "How come nobody believed me thirty years ago?" I feel that the truth is closer to...Why was this covered up then, but not now? Or...Why is it no longer being covered up?

I don't have an opinion specifically about the Patriots, the under-inflated footballs or who is to blame. But I have a couple of thoughts that are more universal in scope. 1) If a team is found to have deliberately broken a rule, the penalty should be forfeiture of the game. If forfeiture seems too harsh, maybe that rule shouldn't exist. 2) I think the wrong people are required to take the fall. I don't believe in suspensions. I believe in expulsion. And I feel that the first person to be considered for expulsion should often be the team owner.