GA Russell

Bruce, I remember it a little differently. My recollection is that the headline screamed to the effect "Man Hasn't Opened Ken Burns Jazz CDs Yet". The story went on to say that he bought the 5-CD set because he thought that women would be impressed, but he has still never gotten around to listening to any of it yet!

Uh oh. Barron Hilton, who for me will always be the founder of the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers, has had enough of the antics of his progeny; and has decided to leave the proceeds of his sale of Hilton stock to his father's charitable trust. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22157708-2,00.html Paris Hilton loses inheritance July 30, 2007 02:16pm Article from: The Daily Telegraph PARTY princess Paris Hilton is $60 million out of pocket after her billionaire grandfather - appalled by her jail term for drink-driving offences - axed her inheritance. Family patriarch Barron Hilton was already embarrassed by his granddaughter's wild behaviour - notably when her home sex video was leaked on the internet. But the 79-year-old considered her 23-day sentence last month the last straw. "He was, and is, extremely embarrassed by how the Hilton name has been sullied by Paris," says Jerry Oppenheimer, who wrote a biography of the clan called House Of Hilton. "He now doesn't want to leave unearned wealth to his family." Hilton senior, the only member of the family left with a sizeable stake in the huge hotel chain, has let it be known that he intends to donate to charity the $2.4bn he will gain from this month's sale of the company to private equity firm Blackstone. The money will go to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the charity set up in the name of the founder of the family business.

Running low: Willie Nelson - The Great American Songbook

I read one of his books. Wish I could remember its name. It was very enjoyable and informative. It was about coaching, and my guess was that it was for the benefit of other coaches. Walsh always seemed to me to be a gentleman.

I'm going to add Rava's Tati to my queue unless someone recommends against it. Anybody have an opinion on that one?

No mention of Da Duva! I saw A Stye in the Eye on television many years ago and enjoyed it. I never really gave him a chance. When I was a junior in high school I went to see an exciting French mystery called The Sleeping Car Murder, and it became one of my favorite pictures. Also on the bill was The Seventh Seal, which I hadn't gone to see, but I thought I would give it a chance because after all it was free. After that exciting French movie with its fast-paced ending, Seal with its chess match was way too ponderous in its beginning and I got up and left. Also to be recalled is the Woody Allen movie, don't remember which one, that had the guy playing tennis with death!

Apparently he was bitter about his Catholic upbringing and the Catholic Church in general. I think he referred to himself as a "recovering Catholic".

Late in his life Frank Sinatra said that there were only three "saloon singers" left - himself, Tony Bennett and Mel Torme. For the past three weeks I have been really enjoying a new album by a singer who fits that bill. His name is John Vance, and the CD is called Dreamsville. There are 13 songs, 12 standards and one original. Vance sings them all straight - no scatting or other improvising. The backup band is a piano trio led by the album's arranger Jeff Collela (who was Lou Rawls' musical director) which is occasionally augmented by trumpet or guitar. Vance's singing is perfectly effortless, just the way I like it. He sings like a hip Julie London. His second-tenor voice is clear, and he has excellent diction. This is Vance's second album. He is also an actor, and played Malcolm's teacher in Malcolm in the Middle. CDBaby sells this for $12.97. I've noticed that the prices of the new records I'm liking are coming down from the $18.99 watermark of not long ago. Highly recommended if you like the effortless style like I do. 4 1/2 stars. You can listen to the songs here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/johnvance2

Week 5 results: Montreal Alouettes 26....Toronto Argonauts 13 http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...4371533-cp.html Winnipeg Blue Bombers 36....Hamilton tiger-Cats 18 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4093755.htm Saskatchewan Roughriders 54....Edmonton Eskimos 14 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4093905.htm British Columbia Lions 32....Calgary Stampeders 27 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4093962.htm

Milt Stegall broke the record for career TDs tonight! http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4093741.htm http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home George Reed set the old record with his last TD in 1975. So the record is just a little bit older than Henry Aaron's record, to put it in perspective.

Happy Birthday md!

Week 5 previews: http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4093378.htm USA Today reports this morning that the Lions are two point *underdogs* against the Stamps.

BC announced today that Dave Dickenson will be out indefinitely because of his concussion. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

I didn't know that the composer of For Once In My Life was a Motown employee. I didn't realize that Stevie Wonder had his hit of it before Tony Bennett recorded his. Here's his LA Times obit: Ron Miller, 74; wrote the popular music classic 'For Once in My Life' From Times Staff and Wire Reports July 25, 2007 Ron Miller, 74, a songwriter whose biggest hit was the pop classic "For Once in My Life," died Monday of cardiac arrest at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center after battling emphysema and cancer, said his daughter, Lisa Dawn Miller. He wrote "For Once in My Life" with Orlando Murden, and it is one of the most recorded songs in history, with more than 270 versions, according to All Music Guide. It became a signature song for Stevie Wonder, and a rendition by Wonder and Tony Bennett won a Grammy award this year. Among the other songs Miller wrote are "Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday," "Touch Me in the Morning" and "Heaven Help Us All." Born in Chicago, Miller wrote his first sad song as a child for his hapless but beloved baseball team, the Cubs. He served in the Marines before Berry Gordy saw him at a piano bar in the 1960s and asked him to write and produce for Motown Records. A song Miller wrote in the 1980s, "If I Could," has been recorded by more than 100 artists, including Celine Dion. Written for his six children, it was Miller's favorite among his own compositions.

Happy Birthday Bichos!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Here's Ian Busby's take, out today: RANKINGS (WITH PREVIOUS WEEK IN BRACKETS) 1. (1) B.C. Lions -- Still unbeaten but quite beat up. 2. (5) Winnipeg -- Starting to get healthier with the soft part of the schedule ahead. 3. (4) Edmonton -- Character comeback over 'Riders. 4. (2) Saskatchewan -- Little mistakes blew 19-point lead. 5. (7) Calgary -- Big plays on offence connected but Argos were depleted in rematch. 6. (3) Toronto -- Argos will struggle without top QB and two best receivers. 7. (6) Montreal -- Red-zone offence couldn't pound through Bombers defence. 8. (8) Hamilton -- Jesse Lumsden is for real. --- CRYSTAL BALL OUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD Montreal at Toronto -- Return of Arland Bruce helps Damon Allen. Argos by 3. Hamilton at Winnipeg -- Stegall finally gets record at home. Bombers by 4. Edmonton at Saskatchewan -- Home-field advantage gets 'Riders on track. 'Riders by 3. B.C. at Calgary -- Stamps jump on hurting Lions. Calgary by 3.

Stefan, that's an unappreciated classic in my book!

Sirius and XM are trying to win approval of their proposed merger, which would leave the satellite radio industry in a state of monopoly. So they are proposing 50 channels of your choice for $6.99 a month. Or 100 channels of your choice of the two systems combined for $16.99. But you have to buy a new radio. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290393,00.html XM, Sirius Plan to Offer 'A La Carte' Programming Monday, July 23, 2007 NEW YORK — U.S. satellite radio providers Sirius (SIRI) and XM (XMSR) said Monday they can offer consumers a variety of subscription packages that cost up to 46 percent less than current plans if their merger is approved. In a bid to allay concerns among U.S. lawmakers that their merger would raise prices and limit programming choices, the two companies announced several new packages that they say offer consumers more choice than they can individually. Under one package, customers can pick 50 channels on either XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s or Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s systems for $6.99 a month. Additional channels can be added for 25 cents each. Currently, subscribers pay about $13 a month for more than 100 stations on either XM's or Sirius' systems. "We need to build the subscription business base of satellite radio to strengthen our business and better leverage our high fixed costs," Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin said in a speech in Washington. "We are confident that a lower price point (and) more programming choices will help us do just that." Karmazin said he hoped the lower price would spur growth in the nascent satellite radio business as it competes with digital music players, video games and traditional radio for consumers' attention and funds. The XM-Sirius deal, which would combine the only two providers of satellite radio service in the United States, is currently being reviewed by both the Federal Communications Commission and antitrust authorities at the Justice Department. The two companies, which together marked more than $1.7 billion in losses in 2006, said the new "a la carte" packages will work only on satellite radios that have yet to be sold by either company. Other packages will be available on existing satellite radios. RIVAL: DON'T BE "HOODWINKED" In his speech, Karmazin took to task the merger's toughest critic, the National Association of Broadcasters, saying the radio industry lobbying group had argued the merger would result in higher prices. "This (plan) should finally put this false argument to rest once and for all," he said. In a statement, the NAB's Dennis Wharton said policymakers should not be "hoodwinked" by the announcement. "Nothing is stopping either XM or Sirius from individually offering consumers a more affordable choice in limited program packages," he said. "Moreover, after reading the fine print, one discovers that XM and Sirius customers have to buy a new radio for an undisclosed fee to reap the alleged rewards from today's announcement." Karmazin said the new radios would be similarly priced to currently available satellite radios. The planned "a la carte" programming would be available beginning within one year following the merger, which the companies hope to complete later this year. Analyst David Bank of RBC Capital Markets said the move may benefit the merger, but could eventually hurt the company's financial standing. "In giving the FCC the safeguards that should greatly enhance probability of regulatory approval, potentially effectively lowering average revenue per user, XM and Sirius could also erode operating fundamentals, offsetting merger synergy values," he said. Another of the new offerings lets subscribers choose 100 channels, including stations from both systems, for $16.99 a month. Other options will include packages with a focus on music, news and talk stations, or "family friendly" fare for about $10 to $12. XM and Sirius said that they they will file on Tuesday their joint reply to the Federal Communications Commission, now that a period of public comments has closed. Shares of Sirius rose 2.3 percent to $3.20 on Monday afternoon, while XM shares were down 0.55 percent at $12.58.

Thanks BClug! I corrected the link on post #25 as per your suggestion.

Sounds like "the black Stan Kenton"! I'm looking forward to getting the CD from Your Music if they ever get it in again.

Week 4 results: Winnipeg 20....Montreal 18 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4091877.htm BC 22....Hamilton 18 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4091899.htm Edmonton 21....Saskatchewan 20 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4092085.htm Calgary 33....Toronto 10 http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Gam...4358454-cp.html I listened to the second half of the Ticats game. The good news is that they are getting better every week. The bad news is that the Ticats with their first string quarterback can't beat the Lions with their third string quarterback. I went first to The Team 1200's website to listen to the Lions' broadcast of the game, and was surprised that it wasn't on. So I listened to CHML's broadcast. BClug, do you know what Vancouver station is carrying the Lions' games this year? Dickenson didn't dress. The Lions started Buck Pierce with his sore right hand, and led 9-6 at the half. The Ticats scored two FGs in the third to take a 12-9 lead. Pierce injured his left hip in the third to go along with his hand, so he was taken out in favor of Jarious Jackson. The Lions controlled the fourth quarter. Jason Maas played all the way for Hamilton. Lions RB Joe Smith was carted off the field very late in the game. They were treating him like he had a head injury even though he briefly sat up. No Dave Dickenson and no Joe Smith might spell trouble for the Lions in the near term. Don't you expect Dickenson to be back for the next game? ***** This morning's paper had a big article on sports concussions: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/645482.html ***** Our local paper Saturday morning said that the Riders beat the Eskimos 20-18. Imagine my surprise when I logged onto the internet Saturday night and saw that the Eskimos kicked a late field goal to actually win it 21-20! This morning's Sunday edition repeated the error. I suppose the AP is to blame for that. edit for spelling

The Beatles - Meet The Beatles (my first rock 'n' roll record) The Ventures - Walk Don't Run, Vol. 2 (my first rock instrumental album) Richard "Groove" Holmes - Soul Message (my first hard core jazz record) Mark Murphy - That's How I Love the Blues (my first vocalese record) Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink (my first prog rock record) edit to correct Ventures title

There was an article in the paper a week ago about Rundgren's son, who is a minor league baseball player for the local team, the Carolina Mudcats.

Week 4 previews: Winnipeg at Montreal http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv588.htm Hamilton at BC http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv589.htm Toronto at Calgary http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv591.htm Saskatchewan at Edmonton http://scoreboards.canoe.ca/merge/tsnform..../live/pv590.htm ***** The Stampeders have gotten clobbered the past two weeks. Anybody have any thoughts on that?