GA Russell

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

It occurs to me that Lala, Spotify's US competition, only carries US releases. Since Spotify is European, I wonder if they will allow US listeners to hear what we consider to be "import cd's".

I see that lala.com has the new Carla Bley Christmas album Carla's Christmas Carols. http://www.lala.com/#album/432627041169191...hristmas_Carols It's way too early for me to get into the Christmas spirit. I suppose that most people start the day after Thanksgiving, but I wait three more days and start the day after the Grey Cup game.

"Late this year or early next." http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyN...E5A10YD20091102

Lala has a number of new releases called From the Archives. Monk, Dizzy, Hamp, Basie, Bix and others. Does anyone know anything about this series, like what the original labels were? The issuing label is Essential Media Group. http://www.lala.com/#newreleases/genre/Jazz/more/thisWeek

Lala: Vince Guaraldi - The Definitive..., discs 1 and 2

That's neat, Dave! Ronald Williams won a Grey Cup with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. A few years later he attended my Grey Cup party, and let me try his ring on!

I've stumbled on this just now at lala. You can listen to it here. http://www.lala.com/#album/432627039275743..._Vince_Guaraldi

Greg, I've been enthusiastic about lala ever since I discovered it. I wish I had a nickel for everyone I've told about it. At lala, you don't listen to just samples. You listen to the entire album! I'm unaware of any other US site that lets you do that. Now that I think of it, I think that it would be a service to all of us if we all got into the habit of linking to lala (or spotify for the European members) whenever we talk about an album we like or are interested in.

Aggie, I certainly agree that a team that enters the playoffs on a losing streak is a poor choice to bet on. But a couple of years ago both the Steelers and the Giants played all of their playoff games on the road on their way to winning the Super Bowl (I'm pretty sure).

Here's a good article analyzing the playoff possibilities. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/foot...article1347367/ This is truly extraordinary. With only one week to go, only one team has its playoff spot settled (the Als), and only two other teams (the Stamps and the Riders) have qualified for the playoffs.