GA Russell

Here's an article that says that Toshiba will announce tomorrow that it will discontinue both hardware and media production of HD DVD next month. http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/18/toshiba...rrow-stop-sale/

Only in America! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1202870361...=googlenews_wsj

Help me out. Wasn't he the one who said, "Jake, it's chinatown"? You can see his picture with the link. Here's his LA Times obituary: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...1,1062640.story Perry Lopez, 78; character actor in 'Chinatown' MOVIE AND TV VETERAN: Perry Lopez was perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Lou Escobar in the classic 1974 film "Chinatown." February 17, 2008 Perry Lopez, 78, a veteran character actor perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Lou Escobar opposite Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson in the classic 1974 film "Chinatown," died Thursday of lung cancer at the Rehabilitation Centre of Beverly Hills, according to his friend and executor, actor James Victor. Born in New York City, Lopez got his start on the stage before moving into film with an uncredited role in "Creature From the Black Lagoon." He also had roles in such familiar films as "Mister Roberts," "McClintock," "Che!" and "Kelly's Heroes." In addition, he appeared in dozens of television shows, including "The Lone Ranger," "Bonanza," "Charlie's Angels," "Mission: Impossible" and "Star Trek." Sixteen years after "Chinatown," he reprised the role of Escobar, who was promoted to captain, in "The Two Jakes" featuring Nicholson, who also directed the firm.

I have always felt that when Jack Ruby approached Lee Harvey Oswald, there was a look of recognition on Oswald's face, and that he knew what was coming. Now we have a purported transcript of a conversation the two had two months before Kennedy's assasination. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331045,00.html

Here's a good article from Saturday morning listing the top ten free agents: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/200...852305-sun.html ***** Richard Karikari has signed with Calgary. I suspect he's done, but we'll see. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Cal...854424-sun.html

Is there a specific thread I should be looking for? PS - Welcome, pollock!

I have the honor of picking the next two AotW's, and the first (for the first two weeks of March) will be The Maynard Ferguson Orchestra's A Message from Birdland on Roulette. I want to give you a heads up so that those who are interested will have time to order it. It is available from BMG/Your Music; and from CD Universe (using the Big O Link!) for $13.59. All of it was included in the Mosaic box, if you have that. I'll plan to start the discussion March 1.

Well, let's see: the expiration date on the driver license (1/24/75) happens to be the same date as Larry's death. Is it a gag? Or was the California DMV just amazingly prescient? LOL Ron, do you remember everybody's date of death, or just the Stooges'!

I'm in agreement with Aggie's view of moral duties except for one point. (I do think, however, that Aggie is discussing moral duty and not the law when he discusses a license to enjoy recorded music. I'm not aware of any law or court decision which has stated the law as Aggie describes it.) Does anyone know what the length of copyright was in the US back in the 50s? My concern is with the retroactive nature of Sonny Bono's law. For example, let's say that the length of copyright in 1952 was 25 years. When the recording was made in 1952, both the artist and the record company had no expectation of any ownership rights after 1977. Their efforts and money expended were predicated on having the exclusive right to compensation and ownership for 25 years. When Sonny Bono came along, the copyright was extended retroactively. That's a legal matter. But I don't see it as a moral matter. If the record company and the artist agreed to a 25-year deal, I don't feel that the consumer has a moral duty to pay compensation after 25 years just because the Congress says that the artist and record company have a legal right. That said, I have no problem behaving as if the consumer does have the moral duty. I have never illegally downloaded a song, and I don't expect to. edit for typo

First time I've seen "Porcupine" listed for hair. Is that real or a gag?

Here's a list of twelve household tips for Coca-Cola you might find interesting. They don't mention the use that I was told when I was a youngster: It cleans the bugs off your windshield. http://thebizzare.com/cool/12-things-to-do-with-coca-cola/

Happy Birthday bFB!

You may never get another chance to see Teddy Charles.

Congrats TTK! I didn't know she is still with us.

Thanks Moose. My cat was on the small side, and weighed only 8 pounds.

Happy birthday med!

Not too much to report on the first day of free agent signings. In the past, most of them would be done on the first day, indicating that the teams were negotiating with the agents before they were supposed to. Maybe this year the rule is being enforced. Tom Canada re-signed with the Bombers, following their re-signing Dan Goodspeed. The Als signed Tay Cody. The Ticats signed Tony Miles. The Eskimos signed DL Dario Romero and OL Garrick Jones. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

There's some of that here too. Probably everywhere. That's why I appreciate this board's ignore function. Funny thing, but I've noticed that nearly all of the people here who are rude never comment on the jazz threads. I don't feel like I am missing anything by ignoring them, unless you consider a life of peace to be missing out on tension!

I'd like one too!

After I had written a few reviews for AAJ, Marc PM'd me a very nice note telling me that he appreciated my work and the effort I was putting into it. I really appreciated his pat on the back.

Happy Birthday zen!

Fairly big trade for both teams: The Argos have traded Jordan Younger to the Eskimos for Tyler Ebell and TJ Acree. The Argos had by far the best defensive backfield in the league. But their defense is getting older. I guess they followed Branch Rickey's dictum that it is better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late. The Argos have had a problem at running back for the past few years, and Ebell may be the answer to the problem. Acree is decent and may develop into a top receiver. As far as the Eskimos go, they have been so bad the past two years that I think that any trade is a good one. They can't stand pat, and getting an all-star like Younger who still has some time left in him will have to mean an improvement in their defense. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home edit for typo

I'd like to disagree a little bit with the idea that a decreased inventory in brick and mortars leads to decreased sales. Of course it does to some extent. But I feel that the relevant decrease is the decrease in selection of what you can hear on the radio. Some of you (New Yorkers, for example) may have a different experience locally, but as I drive throughout the South and other areas, I find the selection of music on the radio to be dreadful. My favorite example is adult popular music. Every year (except this one!) Tony Bennett wins a Grammy for adult pop album. I can't remember the last time I heard a radio station playing that kind of music that was a current recording. When I grew up in New Orleans in the 60s, there were three radio stations in that city alone which played that kind of current adult popular. Today as I travel, I occassionally come across a "Music for Your Life" station which plays music from the fifties; but as I say it's been decades since I have heard a current adult pop radio station. I believe that the limited selection of music to be found on the radio decreases sales more than the limited selection to be found in brick and mortars.

Interesting that we are talking about the past ten years. I am surprised that a major in recent times would do that.