GA Russell

John, Wilson performed his recently-completed Smile album in concert at Madison Square Garden in the fall of 2004. It was recorded for radio broadcast, and that's what this is. The sound is OK, but not spectacular. I had read about the Smile album, but never heard it. I recognized almost every song here. I don't know which songs were included on the Smile album. The performance by Brian is not particularly good. There are a million background singers who cover up his deficiencies quite well. I consider all Brian Wilson records to be summertime music, and I am sure I will put this on throughout the next three months. However, I do not consider this to be nearly as good as the last of his albums I picked up, called No Pier Pressure.

Not Jazz.

Kevin, great idea! I'll start an Interesting News Tonight thread.

The league announced today this year's rule changes. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/15/cfl-board-of-governors-approve-six-rule-adjustments-for-upcoming-season/ https://3downnation.com/2025/05/15/cfl-institutes-six-rule-changes-for-2025-season-ban-low-hits-on-defenceless-receivers/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/cfl-announces-six-rule-adjustments-for-2025-campaign-1.2306383 ***** Stars make predictions. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/15/cfl-stars-make-their-2025-season-predictions/ ***** The Lions will remain on CKNW radio through next year. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/15/b-c-lions-extend-radio-broadcast-deal-with-730-cknw-through-2026/ ***** Dedrick Mills spent the winter in Canada. Too cold! https://3downnation.com/2025/05/15/never-again-stampeders-rb-dedrick-mills-vows-not-to-spend-another-offseason-in-canada-after-frigid-calgary-winter/ *****

To follow up on this year's CI Father's Day sale, I don't think this year's deal is as good as it has been in the past. The cigar selection is OK, but not very special. The prices are not much lower than the usual sale price. The CI Bucks card is like a discount code. It can be combined with other CI Bucks cards, and with a "free shipping" code; but it cannot be combined with a "percentage-off" discount code. However, I have two pieces of good news. 1) The site currently has an unadvertised "free shipping over $49" code: SHIP49...That will save you $8.99. 2) You can see that the two lowest priced items are for $19.99 and $22.50. Considering that you will receive the free $20 CI Bucks card in addition to the cigars, you can do the math.

Bombers analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/14/top-of-the-depth-chart-winnipeg-blue-bombers-3/ ***** Ticats analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/14/5-things-to-know-for-2025-hamilton-tiger-cats/ ***** The Elks have let go Tre Odoms-Dukes. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/14/edmonton-elks-release-former-stampeders-receiver-tre-odoms-dukes-seven-others/ ***** The Bombers have let go Shea Patterson. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/14/winnipeg-blue-bombers-release-seven-including-qb-shea-patterson/ ***** ***** *****

Cigar International's annual Father's Day deal is now up. I'll comment later. https://www.cigarsinternational.com/shop/10-packs-free-20-ci-bucks/2057015/

May 14 Sidney Bechet - 1897 Zutty Singleton - 1898 Norman Luboff - 1917 Al Porcino - 1925 Patrice Munsel - 1925 Dub Jones - 1928 Bobby Darin - 1936 Charlie Gracie - 1936 Vic Flick - 1937 Jack Bruce - 1943 Derek Lekenby - 1943 Gene Cornish - 1944 David Byrne - 1952

League analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/13/1-training-camp-wish-for-every-team/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/13/qb-battles-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-training-camp/ ***** The Lions' home opener June 7 will feature a concert by Snoop Dogg. As I recall, last year's featured Fifty Cent, and they got over 50,000 people. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/13/snoop-dogg-headlines-bc-lions-concert-kickoff-on-june-7/ https://3downnation.com/2025/05/13/drop-it-like-its-hot-snoop-dogg-to-play-b-c-lions-home-opener/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/snoop-dogg-to-perform-at-lions-home-opener-on-june-7-1.2305177 ***** The Redblacks have finalized their operations staff. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/13/redblacks-announce-2025-football-operations-team/ https://3downnation.com/2025/05/13/ottawa-redblacks-finalize-operations-staff-for-2025-including-drew-allemang/ ***** Canada West has released its schedule. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/13/quest-for-the-hardy-cup-canada-west-unveils-2025-football-schedule/ ***** Brandon Alexander will be a Bombers training camp guest coach. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/13/winnipeg-blue-bombers-bring-back-longtime-db-brandon-alexander-as-guest-coach/ ***** Scott Flory will be an Alouettes training camp guest coach. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/13/university-of-saskatchewan-head-coach-scott-flory-joins-montreal-alouettes-as-guest-coach/ ***** Argos analysis https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/veteran-linebacker-mcmanis-will-anchor-new-look-toronto-argonauts-defence-in-2025-1.2305274 ***** Brady Oliveira spent the off-season "hypoxic training," which is something the Navy SEALS use. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/new-training-regimen-has-winnipeg-blue-bombers-brady-oliveira-prepared-for-2025-cfl-season-1.2305376 *****

These two specials are being re-run today. I found them on Brad's. https://www.cigarpage.com/prime-90-rated-10-cigar-sampler-ks-dealwiki0513.html https://www.cigarpage.com/prime-plus-10-cigar-sampler.html

And now we have the full TSN/CTV schedule. https://www.tsn.ca/2023-cfl-on-tsn-broadcast-schedule-1.1951231 All CTV games will also be carried by TSN this year.

A classic!

And so the camps officially opened yesterday. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/11/training-camps-officially-open-across-the-cfl/ https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/12/1-training-camp-battle-to-watch-for-every-team/ ***** Redblacks analysis https://3downnation.com/2025/05/11/six-intriguing-battles-to-monitor-at-ottawa-redblacks-2025-cfl-training-camp/ ***** Top 3 defensive tackles https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/12/mmqb-ranking-the-cfls-top-3-defensive-tackles/ ***** The Ticats have let go Taulia Tagovailoa. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/11/hamilton-tiger-cats-release-qb-taulia-tagovailoa-brother-of-nfl-star-tua-ahead-of-training-camp/ ***** All of the preseason games except two will be available to watch on the league's website cfl.ca. Those two will be on TSN. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/12/tsn-to-broadcast-two-preseason-cfl-games-in-2025-rest-available-on-cfl/ ***** Dave Naylor has written an article to follow up on Friday's Twitter/X post about quarterback depth. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/dave-naylor-cfl-season-begins-with-unprecedented-quarterback-depth-1.2304596 ***** Sask news https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/riderville-roundup-may-11-2025/ *****

This one is a favorite of mine, with John Mealing on organ. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the Soft Machine bio Out-Bloody-Rageous that felser recommended that very early on, Robert Wyatt played drums in a jazz trio with Mealing on piano.

Eleven Lew Archer short stories.

I had the cassette of this one. Is it the same thing as yours?

Training Camp Previews https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/10/everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-training-camp-4/ ***** Bombers analysis https://3downnation.com/2025/05/10/seven-position-battles-to-watch-in-winnipeg-blue-bombers-training-camp-in-2025/ ***** Riders analysis and news https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/piffles-top-5-battles-to-watch-in-roughriders-training-camp/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/roughriders-announce-2025-rookie-camp-cuts/ *****

Now that the new season has begun, let's revisit this thread's view count. Today's count is 457,200. That is an increase of 19,900 since January 16. That works out to 175 views per day over 114 days. That seems a little high to me. I notice 100 views each time I post.

KEITH JARRETT New Vienna Announced on his 80th birthday, Keith Jarrett’s fourth concert recording from his 2016 European tour captures the fire of his enduring genius.This new album showcases spontaneous brilliance and emotional depth, a testament of Jarrett’s unwavering inspiration and mastery at the piano. A vital addition to his legendary body of work.

Here is the league's page for the names of those who have been cut. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/09/cutdown-tracker-teams-make-their-first-round-of-cuts-2/ ***** Paul LaPolice, while continuing to work for TSN, will be the head coach of Canada's flag football team at the 2028 Olympics. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/08/view-to-la-2028-olympic-games-paul-lapolice-named-head-coach-for-canadas-mens-national-flag-football-team/ ***** Redblacks analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/08/5-things-to-know-for-2025-ottawa-redblacks/ ***** Riders analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/08/top-of-the-depth-chart-saskatchewan-roughriders-3/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/i-call-him-a-nerd-aj-ouellette-has-unique-praise-for-riders-offensive-coordinator-marc-mueller/ ***** The league has announced that 2024 saw the fewest head injuries in ten years, with a 21% reduction from 2023. https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/09/concussions-in-the-cfl-reach-lowest-level-in-10-years/ https://3downnation.com/2025/05/09/cfl-touts-21-percent-year-over-year-drop-in-concussions-lowest-rate-of-head-injuries-in-10-years/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/cfl-says-concussions-man-games-lost-due-to-injury-were-both-down-in-2024-1.2303210 ***** Dontae Bull has retired. https://3downnation.com/2025/05/09/former-first-overall-cfl-draft-pick-dontae-bull-retires-from-ottawa-redblacks-due-to-injury-concerns/ ***** Best playmaker? https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/09/who-is-the-best-playmaker-in-the-cfl/ ***** *****