GA Russell

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?

Happy Birthday Kenny!

Thanks Tommy! I think I have More Blues and the Abstract Truth. I'll have to fish it out and play it.

I remember the Grace Slick incident differently, although maybe we are talking about two different events. As I recall, Slick had her time next to Cavett, and then moved down the couch. But she continued to hog the conversation, and Cavett said something like, "Please Miss Joplin!"

Thanks Brownie! Guy, at the time I didn't give the reviews any credibility because I think the reviewers were just playing it safe. They could have given the albums the stars they were given without ever listening to the records!

I can remember that Downbeat gave all of the albums released with his approval five stars, and all of the ones released posthumously that he had not approved for release only four stars. If Expression was the last of his approved recordings to be released, does anyone know the titles of the ones released after that?

I have a new CD I'm excited about. It's Just Friends by The Mel Martin/Benny Carter Quintet, with Martin on tenor and flute, Carter on alto, Roger Kellaway on piano, Jeff Chambers on bass and Harold Jones on drums. It was recorded in concert at the original Yoshi's in April of 1994 when Carter was 86. Songs from that gig were released on Enja on an album entitled Mel Martin Plays Benny Carter. The six songs here are 63 minutes of previously unissued material, released to celebrate the centennial of Carter's birth the 8th of next month. The songs are three standards (Perdido, Secret Love and Just Friends), two by Carter which I expect his fans are familiar with (People Time and Elegy in Blue) and one original by Martin (Spritely). There is nothing innovative here. It's just great swinging music. Speaking of swinging, this is the second album I've opened up in eight weeks with Roger Kellaway. I'm going to have to hunt for more of his records. I had never heard of Martin before. He is a San Francisco Bay area musician. Since 1983 he has led a band called Bebop and Beyond, which at various times has included Eddie Marshall, John Handy and George Cables. He was a college classmate of Handy's, and played in his band at that time. He later played with Cold Blood and Boz Scaggs. He also led a fusion band in the 70s called Listen which recorded two albums for Inner City. Just Friends is on the Jazzed Media label, which I have heard of before because of its Phil Woods releases. CD Universe says: List Price $15.99; Their Price $12.65; Sale Price $12.40. 5 stars edit for typo

BClug, it wouldn't bother me if every pro sports league banned or "retired" every guy upon his third concussion. I suppose that the number of concussions that would trigger the forced retirement could be open to debate. But it just seems to me that after a while the enterprise isn't sporting anymore if you're going to keep putting guys in there who have had their bell rung over and over again.

Week 3 results: Toronto Argonauts 48....Calgary Stampeders 15 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4090139.htm Edmonton Eskimos 19....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 15 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4090321.htm British Columbia Lions 42....Saskatchewan Roughriders 12 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4090339.htm Montreal Alouettes 29....Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20 http://sports.canada.com/default.asp?c=can.../AJN4090498.htm I heard the last half of this game. The Ticats brought in rookie QB Timmy Chang for the fourth quarter, and it looks like he has a future in the league. Anthony Calvillo passed the 50,000 yard mark for career passing. The Ticats have a rookie kicker named Nick Setta who looks good, particularly as a punter. I didn't realize that the Ticats recently acquired Thyron Anderson from Sask in a trade. He dropped a number of balls. I don't know what has happened to him, but both the Als and the Riders have given up on him after he was so good for the Als. ***** Ian Busby's rankings and predictions: (WITH PREVIOUS WEEK IN BRACKETS) 1. (1) B.C. Lions -- Still strong with two QBs hurt. 2. (2) Saskatchewan -- Turnovers killed good defensive effort. 3. (4) Toronto -- Michael Bishop injury really hurts. 4. (6) Edmonton -- Offence rounding into shape. 5. (3) Winnipeg -- Improving with each outing but not there yet. 6. (7) Montreal -- Takes battle of winless in close outing. 7. (5) Calgary -- Huge questions after two blowouts. 8. (8) Hamilton -- Timmy Chang almost leads them to first win. --- CRYSTAL BALL OUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD Winnipeg at Montreal: Bombers on the rise have more than Als can offer. Blue Bombers by 4. Hamilton at B.C.: No matter who starts at pivot, Lions are just a lot better. Lions by 8. Saskatchewan at Edmonton: Getting first win give Esks confidence. Esks by 6. Toronto at Calgary: Without Bishop, Argos find Stamps a tougher foe. Stamps by 3. ***** Both Dave Dickinson (with the usual head injury) and Buck Pierce were injured in the Lions game against the Riders. Dickinson is doubtful for this week. ***** Argos starting QB Michael Bishop broke his wrist against the Stampeders. The Argos have signed Rocky Butler as the third string QB. They also signed safety Wayne Shaw. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...4344063-cp.html edit for typos

I think my favorite is the Bill Evans Village Vanguard 1961 box. It has a hard case, an informative booklet, three CDs in their own jewel boxes, and is sized like a CD.

Thanks for your thoughts, guys! I'm still digesting One Down, One Up. It's not really my cup of tea, but I enjoy it as a change of pace from time to time.

Durium, that guy is amazing, isn't he? I highly recommend his New Words Novas Palavras CD with Mike Marshall.

Lon, yours isn't the first opinion of the Tolliver I've seen that didn't give it five stars. But I'm going to keep it at the top of my queue anyway because it got the JJA award. My African Tarantella shipped yesterday.