GA Russell

If you're on an ECM kick, you might like a new solo piano album by Jon Balke called Book of Velocities. It's very quiet with a pretty fair amount of noodling. Good background music. Not as moody as many ECMs, but not at all joyous either. You won't have any problem talking over it.

Happy Birthday Robert!

The Globe & Mail has a Canada Day quiz on Canadian and American history. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...adaDay2008/home I got 18 of 20, missing only both questions regarding women's suffrage.

Today is Dominion Day, Canada's national holiday. On July 1, 1867, Canada became a distinct dominion within the British Empire. This is the non-political forum, so I won't get into my opinion of Pierre Trudeau changing the name to Canada Day. My grandmother was a Canadian, born in Tweed, Ontario, in 1878. So a toast to her memory, and to all of you Canadians today!

Happy Birthday Late! Happy Birthday Face!

I hear quite a bit of 50s Verve on Sirius, and for the most part I find it boring. The artists seem to have lost their youth. On the other hand, I think I have liked all of the Creed Taylor 60s Verves that I've heard over the years. Taylor made records that were quality, but wouldn't scare off the people who didn't consider themselves to be jazz fans.

But its not an official no-hitter because the Dodgers didn't bat in the ninth. so its more of a curiosity than a real feat. Dan, Elias be damned. I'm surprised you buy into that. When the game ends and one team doesn't have any hits, it's a no hitter, "official" or otherwise!

I thought you guys would be all over this: Angels no-hit Dodgers, and lose! http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsBaseball/home Fifth time in major league history.

Saskatchewan Roughriders 34....Edmonton Eskimos 13 Half the league has first time CFL head coaches. I don't recall anything like that before. And all four new coaches won their coaching debuts this week! How long before Maciocia is shown the door? http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...6016341-cp.html

I hate that candy bar - but I knew what it looked like. Dan, every Charleston Chew I've ever seen was flatter than that photo.

12 My favorite is Charleston Chew, and their example doesn't look like one to me. I missed my favorite!

Happy Birthday Stefan!

Toronto Argonauts 23....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 16 That means that Mark Trestman, John Hufnagel and Rich Stubler have all won their coaching debuts. That leaves it up to Sask's Ken Miller to see if he can complete the sweep. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...6011016-cp.html http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../final/W663.htm

I'm very fond of Groove. Soul Message was my first hard core jazz album (my third overall after a Ramsey Lewis and a Ray Bryant), and Living Soul may have been my second. When he died, I was surprised that his name was not listed in the obits column of Cadence Magazine. I was on the phone with them placing an order, and mentioned it, and the fellow said that he hadn't heard. So in the next issue he listed Groove's name, and listed me as the source of the news. So even then Groove was not receiving the attention he deserved.

Happy Birthday Phil!

Week 1: Montreal Alouettes 33....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 10 http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../final/W661.htm ***** Calgary Stampeders 28....BC Lions 18 http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../final/W662.htm ***** Here's a preview of the Roughriders. It says that the Riders have sold 22,000 season tickets. Mosaic Stadium only holds 28,500! http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Sas...5994916-cp.html

Canwest league preview http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...dd-b6ade6f8ee3e

Dan Ralph on Week 1 http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...5985631-cp.html

Here you go, from Fred Williams of TSN: Winnipeg Blue Bombers http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159785 ***** Toronto Argonauts http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159783 ***** Montreal Alouettes http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159782 ***** Hamilton Tiger-Cats http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159781 ***** Saskatchewan Roughriders http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159780 ***** Edmonton Eskimos http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159778 ***** Calgary Stampeders http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159777 ***** British Columbia Lions http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...aspx?id=4159775

Calgary Stampeders http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Cal...5974171-cp.html ***** All eight teams http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=241510&amp...=topRelated_cfl ***** CP's final standings picks (They pick Sask for last in the West!) and analysis http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=241511&amp...=topRelated_cfl

Head Coaches summary http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home ***** Wally Buono has named Buck Pierce over Jarious Jackson as BC's starting QB. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

I love the week leading up to Opening Night (which is this Thursday) because of all the pre-season picks and analyses. I'll try to post as many of these as I can. Winnipeg Blue Bombers http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Win...5964261-cp.html ***** Edmonton Eskimos http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Edm...5965496-cp.html ***** Dan Ralph on the league http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...5965906-cp.html

Here's a Washington Post article that says that poor people spend much more time relaxing than rich people. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8062201859.html

Happy Birthday Parkertown!

Happy Birthday Rosco!