GA Russell

Happy Birthday 2013 spinlps!

Cardinals 4 Red Sox 2 http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=331024102

Toronto Argonauts 36....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 21 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4634303 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=434978 The Argos led all the way, but just like last week the Bombers hung tough. The Argos scored 9 points late in the game to stretch their lead. With the win, the Argos clinched first place in the East. Ricky Ray set a team record with 21 straight pass completions. He finished with 39 pass completions, one short of his personal best. Romby Bryant joined the Argos' playing roster and scored two TDs.

Thanks Jay!

I love reading what you guys have to say! Right now I'm looking at these Pioneer speakers. Recommended by The Wirecutter. http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/a-great-bookshelf-speaker/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008NCD2LG?tag=thewire06-20

Tonight's Toronto-Winnipeg game will be on NBC Sports at 7:30. ***** CFL.ca Week 18 game notes http://cfl.ca/article/2013-cflca-game-notes-a-look-at-week-18 ***** Lowell Ullrich Week 18 picks http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/10/24/week-18-in-the-cfl-2/ ***** Rachel Brady/Globe Week 18 picks http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/week-18-cfl-picks/article15037754/ ***** Dan Ralph Week 18 picks http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2013/10/24/cfl_picks_week_18_calgarys_clash_with_saskatchewan_highlight_of_weekend.html

Red Sox 8 Cardinals 1 Boston's ninth straight World Series win. http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/10/24/red-sox-romp-over-cardinals-in-world-series-opener/?intcmp=latestnews

John, the three Howes joined the WHA with the Houston Aeros in 1973, the league's second year. I saw Gordie play once in his last pro year with the Hartford Whalers in the NHL in Pittsburgh. I read an enjoyable book about the WHA back in January called The Rebel League. You might enjoy it too. http://www.amazon.com/Rebel-League-Unruly-Hockey-Association/dp/077108949X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382577879&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Rebel+League

Suzanna Smith's "Halfway Between Heaven & Love" Due November 19 CD Debut by Oakland-Based Jazz Vocalist, On Her Ink Pen Label, Highlights Original Material and Smartly Chosen Standards CD Release Show at the Sound Room, Oakland, November 22 October 23, 2013 Suzanna Smith has been a creative force on the rich Bay Area jazz vocal scene since 2005 -- as a performer and songwriter as well as founder/producer of San Francisco's long-standing Savanna Jazz vocal jam session and co-founder of the nonprofit Bay Area Jazz & Arts, Inc. Her constant efforts to nurture local jazz have redounded to the benefit of many artists, including Smith herself. With Halfway Between Heaven & Love, to be released by the singer's Ink Pen Records on November 19, Smith delivers one of the year's most impressive vocal projects, an intoxicating mix of original tunes and beautifully rendered standards. "There is an essential, profound difference between being a singer and being an artist," writes CD co-producer Kitty Margolis in her album notes. "In today's oversaturated music-scape it's wise to be patient when making the maiden recording voyage until one has something unique and compelling to say. Halfway Between Heaven & Love was undeniably worth the wait." Accompanied by some of the most creative figures on the Bay Area scene, Smith combines the confessional imperative of a singer/songwriter with the rhythmic acuity of a jazz chanteuse. She wrote the lyrics for nine of the album's 13 tracks while collaborating on the music of five songs with pianist/keyboardist Michael Coleman. The album opens with a graceful bebop medley as Smith's clever lyrics link Tadd Dameron's "Lady Bird" and Miles Davis's "Half Nelson." Featuring the album's core trio with Coleman, bassist Brandon Essex, and drummer Hamir Atwal, the piece immediately establishes Smith as a singer of rare poise and presence. Smith and Coleman's "Paper Boat," "The Man That Broke the Dragon's Heart," and "Comet" more than hold their own alongside the American Songbook gems -- "Hooray for Love," "Alone Together," and Michel Legrand's "Summer Me, Winter Me." Smith closes the album as she started, with an original lyric set to a modern jazz classic, Dexter Gordon's Latin swinger "Soy Califa." "I'm always looking for ways to play within the boundaries of a song's 'container,'" Smith says. "I think of songs as rooms and the longer you live within them, the more you can move about without bumping into things. I love when I reach that point with a song." Born in Boulder, CO in 1974 and raised in Livermore, east of San Francisco, Suzanna studied computer science and studio art at Wellesley College. There she got deeply involved in the a cappella scene, a passion she brought back to the Bay Area after graduation. After performing around the region for several years in a five-woman ensemble, she eventually decided to pursue vocal studies at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, where she worked closely with Laurie Antonioli, Madeline Eastman, Maye Cavallaro, and Stephanie Bruce. She also studied privately with Kitty Margolis, resulting in a unique mentoring relationship between the two vocalists. As she gained confidence, Smith started sitting in at open mics, which led to regular engagements and invaluable experience. Her reputation spread with a monthly gig at San Francisco's Savanna Jazz, where she also produced and hosted a monthly vocal jam session that ran for three years. She has also performed at many of the region's top clubs and venues, emerging as a startlingly fine singer with a repertoire that's wholly her own. Smith lives in Oakland with esteemed jazz vocalist Kenny Washington and their infant son Miles. "This has been a big year for me -- having a baby and working hard to release this album," says Smith. "It almost feels like I'm giving birth to two babies. It has been fascinating to see the meanings of my songs shift in the years since I first wrote them. The songs continue to apply, just in new ways, to all the changes in my life. It has also been powerful to see them become personal anthems for other people's life experiences." Smith's CD release show will take place Friday 11/22 at Oakland's Sound Room, the home of Bay Area Jazz & Arts, Inc. (BAJA). She'll be backed by musicians from her new album, including Michael Coleman, piano; Michael O'Neill, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Ken Husbands, guitar; Brandon Essex, bass; and Jon Arkin, drums. Photography: Lone Morch Suzanna Smith at the Jazzschool, Berkeley (Aug. 2013): 'Halfway Between Heaven & Love' album preview Web Site: www.suzannasmith.com Follow Suzanna:

Malcolm Kelly/CBC power rankings http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/football/opinion/2013/10/cfl-power-rankings-week-17-2.html ***** Greg Xenakes Week 18 picks http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4633937 ***** Chris Schultz Week 18 picks http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/schultz/

Before the Braves moved to Atlanta, Atlanta's AA and AAA teams were called the Atlanta Crackers. Nowadays young blacks call whites Crackers as if it were some sort of insult, but I don't think white people care.

This is a list of the players the fans don't like. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eddf45mehh/michael-vick-8/

Happy 60th in 2013 Greg!

CFL.ca mathematical power rankings http://cfl.ca/page/cflca-mathematical-power-rankings You will note that they have the Riders at #1, the Als at #3 and the Ticats at #7!

John Coltrane... The Prestige Recordings - 58.99 euros http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B006MU317Q/ref=pe_44421_40886001_email_1p_0_ti Heavyweight Champion - 27.99 euros http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00E5R5TAA/ref=pe_44421_40886001_email_1p_1_ti OAS - 9.99 euros http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0050I2OXI/ref=pe_44421_40886001_email_1p_4_ti Quintet Complete Recordings - 31.83 euros http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B004O2WW1K/ref=pe_44421_40886001_email_1p_8_ti

Jim, I'm pretty sure that I threw the article out. But it quoted one fellow as saying that not only is he not offended, but the Redskins are his favorite team!

Remember The Girl from UNCLE? Remember The Windmills of Your Mind? Noel Harrison had a small but permanent place in my youth. RIP. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-singer-actor-noel-harrison-dead-20131022,0,4049863.story#axzz2iP8MOgTZ

Here's an article on Lawrence Tynes' staph infection problem. http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/10/18/mrsa-a-silent-danger-lurking-in-nfl-locker-rooms/

John, for my college graduation present in 1972 I received season tickets to the New England Whalers. They won the championship that year!

I believe that the controversy rests on a factual dispute. I read in (I think) the Wall Street Journal the other day that 90% of American Indians nationwide aren't offended by the name. Those objecting to it are basing their complaint on the premise that the Indians are offended.

This morning's paper says that the Mets have named Will Carafello their Director of Social Media. I guess times have changed!

The Onion is in the news today for its report on the Redskins controversy. http://www.theonion.com/articles/redskins-kike-owner-refuses-to-change-teams-offens,34292/ What do you think? Have they gone too far this time, or are they just letting Management know what it feels like?

CFL.ca power rankings http://cfl.ca/article/cflca-power-rankings-loss-lowers-leos ***** TSN power rankings http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?id=97698

Welcome Anthony!

It's my understanding that advances have been made in stereo system technology over the past forty years, and that decent components are much less expensive than they were then. I see that Amazon sells amps for $100, and speakers for $50. That's my idea of inexpensive, but I have no idea if they are bargains. That's why I'm asking for recommendations from you experts!