GA Russell

Scary stuff, paps! It sounds like you are already on the road to recovery, but I'll say a prayer for you tonight anyway. Best wishes.

I'm having trouble with slowness this evening, and am getting a blank screen after I push the "add reply" button when I post.

You mean your sister MARRIED someone like you? There are now TWO of you in the family? Just Kidding!

I forgot about Travis Lulay, who had the flu last week. So Zac Champion is their fifth string rookie! It looks like Casey Printers' thumb problem is not as serious as I thought. Here's an article about how the Lions' QB situation looks going into this week's game against the Ticats. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/trio...article1356140/

Lala: Cal Tjader - Soul Bird: Whiffenpoof Art Pepper - The Return of...

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 39....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 17 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/tica...article1355776/ Great first half. At the break the Ticats led 17-16. But it was all Hamilton in the second half. Michael Bishop threw two interceptions that were run back for touchdowns. This was in effect a playoff game for the Bombers - win and you play next week, lose and the season is ended. So the Ticats will host the Lions next Sunday in the Eastern Semi-Final. Considering that all of the Lions quarterbacks are injured except their fourth string rookie, you've got to like the Ticats' chances. Of course, whoever wins will probably be clobbered by the Als the following week in the Eastern Final.

I've been wanting that Mark Murphy album for decades. I could also go for the Swingle Singers and the Singers Unlimited issues. I'm also curious about the Klaus Doldinger.

Tell us more, TTK. Are these compilations? Who are the artists?

Happy Birthday jeffcrom!

Happy Birthday Conn!

Montreal Alouettes 42....Toronto Argonauts 17 http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4264916 The Argos were never in it. Stephen Reaves didn't do well, but what did you expect? The Als played McPherson. In the fourth quarter they let Chris Leak play. Remember him? Damon Duval broke Lance Chomyk's single season scoring record. Duval also tied Terry Baker's Alouettes record with seven FGs in one game. The league record is eight. ***** Saskatchewan Roughriders 30....Calgary Stampeders 14 http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4265068 A much better game than the score would indicate. The Riders completely dominated the first half, and led 21-8 at the half. But they did nothing for most of the second half, while the Stamps improved and closed the lead to 21-14. But the Riders scored 9 points very late with a conceded safety touch and a TD to ice the game. With the win the Riders clinched first place. My first CFL game was in August of 1976 - the Saskatchewan Roughriders with Ron Lancaster visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with Terry Evanshen. 1976 was the last time the Riders finished in first place. So Calgary finishes in second place, and will host the Eskimos next week in the Western Semi-Final. If the Ticats beat the Bombers tomorrow, the Lions will cross over and play the Ticats in the Eastern Semi-Final in Hamilton. If the Bombers win tomorrow, they will host the Ticats next week.

Edmonton Eskimos 45....British Columbia Lions 13 http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.../AJN4264796.htm Casey Printers broke his thumb early in the game. So the Lions brought in Buck Pierce, who late in the second quarter injured his shoulder again. That left them with rookie Zac Champion for the rest of the game. But the Esks' O-line gave Ricky Ray good protection the whole game, so maybe it didn't matter who the Lions could play. With the win the Eskimos clinched third place. I believe that the win also guaranteed the Ticats a playoff spot. The Lions' only hope for a crossover spot is if the Bombers lose on Sunday.

Thanks again, everybody! Marcel, you slay me! Chris, I bet you have that portrait on your wall!

Happy Birthday 2009 Paul!

Here's a list of each team's CFL Awards nominees. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/calv...article1352622/

Happy Birthday 2009 GoodSpeak!

Happy Birthday It Should Be You!

Happy Birthday Porcy!

Many thanks, my friends! Pretty quiet day. I went out for a pizza and got my favorite - light red sauce, extra cheese, ground beef, mushrooms and black olives. Yum! My mother each year sent me a birthday cake - chocolate with coffee frosting, my favorite! She died five years ago, and I guess the bakeries here in tobacco country stink because the birthday cakes I have purchased have been pretty bad. In fact the one two years ago was so bad that last year I skipped it altogether. This year I spent the money instead on a six-pack of Guinness Stout Draught, so instead of birthday cake I'm having birthday beer! I have three birthday CDs today: Mark Murphy - Once To Every Heart This came out four years ago, and I read then somewhere (maybe AAJ) that it was his best album in thirty years. I have to agree. Five stars. I think that Murphy sounds his best when he is not making an effort, and this entire album is effortless. http://www.lala.com/#album/432627039263859..._To_Every_Heart ***** Michael Franks and Crossfire - Live Ca. 1978 Franks put out his second Warner/Reprise album called Sleeping Gypsy. He went on tour to promote the album, and when he was in Pittsburgh (where I lived at the time) he autographed albums in a record shop, so I had him autograph one for me. That night I saw the concert. Sleeping Gypsy is my favorite Franks album. Crossfire/Live is the album he recorded on that tour in Australia. The band is tight. All of the songs are taken a little bit faster than on the record. The bass player really made the show. Excellent. ***** Cal Tjader - Several Shades of Jade/Breeze from the East Actually I bought this controversial disc many years ago but didn't get around to listening to it until tonight. Here's my take: Both albums are excellent but they are not jazz albums. I would put them in the same music category as tv soundtrack albums. In fact, Jade reminds me a lot of Earle Hagan's ca. 1967 album of music from the tv show I Spy. Right up TTK's alley. http://www.lala.com/#album/432627039268705...e_From_The_East Excuse me, while I go for another Guinness! PS - About the age thing. I have read a number of times that it is a mistake to give a website like this your complete date of birth because of identity theft. So to give you an idea of my age, let's just say that I went to high school during the years of the British Invasion.

Doug Ramsey currently has embedded in his Rifftides blog the YouTube video of Clifford Brown on Soupy Sales' show.

David Naylor Week 19 preview http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cfl-...article1351736/ ***** Gregg Xenakes Week 19 preview http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=s...aspx?id=4264257

I've seen very little from Dan Ralph this season. Here's his excellent analysis of the playoff picture. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/200...1610486-cp.html

It occurred to me last night that the Canadian league has one week left before the playoffs begin, and these guys are still playing baseball! I guess as long as they can keep selling tickets they'll keep playing so deep into the fall, but personally I think it's ridiculous.

The Argos are going to let Reaves start this week against the Als. He is a 24 year old rookie from Southern Miss. My high school History teacher went to Southern Miss. Reaves is the brother-in-law of Tennessee Vols coach Lane Kiffin. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/argo...article1350438/ I expect that Reaves in his first pro start is going to be sacked a bunch of times!

I purchased this recently from bmg, it is wonderful! I find it intersting that some musicians are able to convey warmth and authenticity while others just sound cold. This album, to me at least, is very moving. Particularly 'Love is' I just played this last night. I got it from Yourmusic (believe it is still available there) and was debating whether it was a keeper. It really hit me this time: a lot more in than out (at this point I'm more or less finished with "out" music, though that may change again). I agree, a warm and moving album. So I'm definitely hanging onto this one. I didn't get The Struggle Continues until this past May, and I've rarely played it. I don't know why not. I found it this evening at the rear of my 2009 "stack" of CDs, and I'm enjoying it very much. I think this is another album in which I don't like the first track as much as the others. Anyway, tonight I'm glad I have it. You can listen to it here: http://www.lala.com/#album/432627039263958...uggle_Continues