ghost of miles

The Yankees' spring training has made me a bit more optimistic that we'll be a solid contender for the wild-card. Still can't see Boston being anything but a runaway favorite to win it all this season. But looking forward to seeing Jesus Montero getting some MLB playing time, and really looking forward to the day that Manny Banuelos comes up (though not likely this season), among other things.

Interesting research notes from the ESPN site:

Unbelievable ending. Two foolish fouls in the last two seconds. Can't remember ever seeing anything like that before. Agreed, and it's too bad that the fouls overshadowed that sweet dish to Andrew Smith to put Butler up by 1 with two seconds left... that should've been the game-winner right there. Last 7 seconds of Butler-Pittsburgh game I really thought Butler's magic had run out after Mack put Brown on the foul-line with 1.4 seconds to go--thought the best Butler could hope for was overtime.

Butler does it again!

In honor of pianist Harold Mabern's 75th birthday (coming up tomorrow, Sunday, March 20): A Few Miles From Memphis: Harold Mabern, the Early Years Covering 1960-70 with the MJT + 3, the Jazztet, Wes Montgomery, and Hank Mobley, as well as leader dates featuring Lee Morgan and George Coleman.

Best wishes, B.

Just added another one. Updated stations map.

Hard to dispute.

Hey all, the most recent Night Lights show, Mary Osborne: Queen Of The Jazz Guitar is now posted for online listening. It includes many of Osborne's 1940s recordings as a leader and with Mary Lou Williams, Beryl Booker, and the Coleman Hawkins 52nd Street All-Stars, as well as three sides from her 1959 A GIRL AND HER GUITAR date, a track from the Clark Terry CATS VS. CHICKS session, the 1977 Marian McPartland-led NOW'S THE TIME, and her final leader date in 1981. Coming up this week: "A Few Miles From Memphis: Harold Mabern in the 1960s."

You may need Facebook access to be able to watch this video, but it's a harrowing view of the tsunami coming through a town in Japan: Tsunami footage Gives a very up-close sense of its impact. EDIT: video now posted to YouTube. Wanted to repost this link as well: How you can help Japan

How you can help Japan

Latest version of the AP's story: Full article here.

Great news, TTK! I have a fair amount of the original (and prefer it to the 2004 version), but I'll definitely opt in for the 2-CD release.

Rescuers scramble as Japan tries to cool reactor Rather worrisome passage here: The article also mentions that four whole trains have disappeared. Even with our relatively recent Katrina experience, it's hard to fathom just how devastating and destructive this much-more-encompassing and speedily-engulfing tsunami was.

This ranch not big enough for the two of us? Rangers CEO Greenberg leaving organization

Thoughts and prayers for those in Japan and across the Pacific. Massive quake, tsunami hits Japan The death toll's said to be in the hundreds and growing.

Chris and Paulie vs. the Russian

Amazon Marketplace has two new copies listed currently for $70 apiece,which--iirc--is a little less than its retail list price when it was in print (around $90): Beauty Is a Rare Thing Several used copies as well that sound as if they're in reasonably good shape, for around $52

Any Dick fans here seen THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU yet and have any comment on it and/or the original short story? (called "The Adjustment Team").

So what's your ending preference, the movie or the book? The movie. Maybe Raymond Chandler's contributions jazzed it up for me? Plus Cain's Phyllis gains with Barbara Stanwyck's portrayal IMO; I didn't find Walter's motivation in the novel quite as credible as it is in the movie. I liked the book, but I'd rank the film as even better.

Finished James Cain's DOUBLE INDEMNITY last night and am about halfway through this:

Bill, Jazz Women of the 1960s should be good to go now--thanks again for the note.

Thanks for the heads-up, Bill. I told our web person about the problem, and we're looking into it.

Ceremony now webcasting.

Hey fellow O posters, here's the weekly program update for Night Lights: In the 1960s, as the civil-rights movement and other cultural changes gained momentum, a generation of women artists made their way through a jazz world that had long been less than hospitable to their aims. Singers such as Nina Simone and Jeanne Lee, composer Carla Bley, organist Shirley Scott, harpist Dorothy Ashby and fellow harpist and pianist Alice Coltrane, and trumpeter Barbara Donald all left behind some notable recordings from this time of change. It's Jazz Women of the 1960s this week on Night Lights, now archived for online listening.