GA Russell

Shawn, do you remember the Thin Man's name?

Dave, one explanation I read from a Phoenix local is that the Coyotes' Jobing Arena has 24 years left on its mortgage. The league is looking for govts (taxpayers) to pay for four new arenas in the near future, and that won't happen if the league abandons the Phoenix arena and the taxpayers there are left holding the bag. Sounds plausible.

Happy Birthday 2011 Stefan!

The Chicago fellow Hulsizer who was going to buy the Phoenix Coyotes has dropped out after the City of Glendale wanted to open it up for bids again. The league insists that the value of the team is at least $170 million, and no one is wiling to pay anything like that. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/potential-owner-runs-out-of-patience-with-phoenix-coyotes/article2078048/

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Season One (3 DVDs) - $12.95 http://www.amazon.com/Alfred-Hitchcock-Presents-Season-One/dp/B000AL733G/ref=pd_cp_d_3

Here are the Calgary cuts. http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/football/calgary-stampeders/Rookie+Antwi+survives+Stamps+cuts/5007466/story.html Here are the Montreal cuts. Apparently Jim Popp likes to say that everyone is injured. http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/football/montreal-alouettes/continues+roster+mastery/5003416/story.html

Thanks for your votes, and the suggestions of lists! I have been rereading a few of the classics which I read decades ago. For years I felt that the best was Red Harvest, with The Long Goodbye coming in at number 2. But I have just finished The Maltese Falcon for the first time since 1972, and I think that it is better than the other two, both of which I reread last year. I read a Jim Thompson short story some years ago, but never a novel by him, so I think I'll add him to my list. In 1980 I read all of Ross MacDonald's, but out of order. I've decided that I will read them in order now, and I read the first, The Moving Target, in the spring. I've never read Rex Stout, but I picked up a copy of Fer de Lance a while back, and I'll plan to read that one too. I've read a couple of Ellroy's. I met him at a book signing in Atlanta some years ago. I have a couple of his on my shelf to get to. I've never heard of The Daughter of Time before. I've never read anything by Josephine Tey. I've never read Simenon and Crumley either. I know I should get to both of those. I read a few James M. Cain back in the mid 70s. They tend to stick with you, particularly Serenade! I read The Mask of Dimitrios a couple of months ago and enjoyed it. By the way TTK, when I first read all of Chandler's in 1973 I too felt that the short stories were not as good as the novels. But last year I read the new larger collection called The Simple Art of Murder, and my opinion of the short stories has improved.

Happy Birthday 2011 PQ!

Here's the list of the BC cuts, none of whom I've heard of before. http://www.theprovince.com/sports/football/bc-lions/Lions+stock+roster/4999066/story.html

Thanks a lot Ted! Wikipedia says that I was right about the year being 1955. It was just a stab.

The Bombers cut only rookies. They will be going with essentially the same lineup that won only 4 games last year. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Winnipeg/2011/06/26/18336076.html

Thanks for your ideas, but so far I see only three titles mentioned. Any specific recommendations from the authors you've mentioned?

Yesterday was cutdown day, but I haven't found the lists for a number of teams. Among the cuts were Chris Leak, Marcus Adams and Reggie McNeal. Brad Sinopoli made the Stamps, so he will be the league's only Canadian QB. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=369986

I'm always open to suggestions. Which ONE crime/mystery novel do you consider to be the best of the Twentieth Century?

Thanks for the link Tom! I knew nothing about it. I see that Frank Kimbrough will be there Thursday.

The last 78 we got in our house (1955?) was Man in a Raincoat by a female singer whose name I don't remember, but I remember that it was on the Cadence label. My sister bought it. I guess it was a hit on the radio.

Calgary Stampeders 37....Edmonton Eskimos 22 http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=369932 Edmonton's got a long way to go. Eric Tillman has overhauled the team. At the end of last year they had 62 players on the active, practice and injured rosters. Leading up to tonight's game (that is to say, after one pre-season game), 38 were already gone.

Happy 40th Birthday Peter!

I heard Mama Told Me Not to Come from this album Wednesday afternoon on Sirius. It reminded me to pull it out and enjoy it again.

The Argos announced their final cuts today, including Danny Brannagan and a guy named Boatman (which is sad). http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/argos-cut-canadian-qb-danny-brannagan/article2075069/ http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=369893

Verve released a series of compilations ten years ago called Jazz Round Midnight. I think those would fit the bill. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Jazz+Round+Midnight&x=14&y=17 Concord/Fantasy released a series of compilations called Plays for Lovers. I like a number of them as well. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=plays+for+lovers&sprefix=plays+for+lovers Universal released a few called For Lovers, but I can't get them to come up as a set at Amazon. Finally, I like very much Henry Mancini's two Peter Gunn albums (Music and More Music). http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Henry+Mancini+Peter+Gunn&x=14&y=18

What is it about it that makes it worth $70?

Was that the 'Chet impersonating in bed' story? Yes!

I remember his story in the Chet Baker movie Let's Get Lost!

For those with teenage daughters in the house! Gossip Girl - The Complete First Season (5 DVDs) - $9.99 http://www.amazon.co...rd_i=2425255011 One Tree Hill - The Complete Fourth Season (6 DVDs) - $5.49 http://www.amazon.co...8928981&sr=1-12 Gilmore Girls - The Complete First Season (6 DVDs) - $7.99 http://www.amazon.com/Gilmore-Girls-Complete-First-Season/dp/B002BJGYUS/ref=pd_bxgy_d_text_b Gilmore Girls - The Complete Second Season (6 DVDs) - $9.99 http://www.amazon.com/Gilmore-Girls-Complete-Second-Season/dp/B002BJGYU8/ref=sr_1_35?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1308929190&sr=1-35 also... La Femme Nikita - The Complete First Season (6 DVDs) - $15.00 http://www.amazon.com/Femme-Nikita-Complete-First-Season/dp/B00008ZL4Q/ref=pd_cp_d_1