papsrus

I'm concentrating on freeing my mind.

"One Down, One Up, Live at the Half Note" (1965) is the recording that really re-energized my interest in music in general, and jazz in particular. That music grabbed ahold of me by the throat and really connected to me immediately. It remains probably my favorite Coltrane, simply because of the pure energy and unbridled joy streaming from the bandstand that night. The quirky cutting-in, gotta-go, radio broadcast also lends it a unique and endearing quality. To me his live recordings -- whether the Village Vanguard, Europe, Japan, whatever -- are always way more intense than his studio recordings.

One of the interesting things about this video is how this poor woman almost was seeing the attack from the point of view of a third person. ... Makes you wonder.

Let's hope he wasn't on the pier ... speaking of which, haven't seen Bev around lately either. What's going on over there?? ...

The thing that really sticks out to me in all this, assuming that even half of it is true, is that an agent was manipulating the performance of a player on the field in order to squeeze more money (for himself) out of a future deal. This is outrageous, IMO, and if true, should be cause for some sort of sanction or legal action. If Boras advised Manny to behave the way he did for the purpose of positioning himself for a new contract, it has to be illegal or against some MLB bylaws somewhere. If not, it should be. The fans (as in, the paying customers) get screwed over (again) when this shit happens. Sure, the soap opera was entertaining to a point, but some of the shit he pulled on the field was bullshit. It really is enough to turn me off of pro sports sometimes.

So, ah ... any word from the search party?

After stewing over this for a day or two, I think that by staying put at the trade deadline, the Rays probably made the best move they could at this point. It shows a young, developing team that management has faith in them, and that's probably a boost for confidence and morale across the board. They didn't give up any prospects for a short-term lift, so the message is "we have a long-term plan and it's working and we're sticking with it." And I'm not sure any of the available bats would have been a huge upgrade anyways (other than Bay or Manny, and he wasn't in play here). Yeah, it would have been nice to get Jason Bay, but it's not as if he was going to put them over the top. ... Besides, after watching some Dodgers games over the last few weeks, I'm realizing that the Rays offense really isn't that bad after all.

Without knowing anything further about the particulars, wouldn't something like this be cause for the team to claim breach of contract?

Stat on Mike and Mike this morning surprised me (and I think I have this right): Over the last two years, Griffey has 5 more homers than Manny and just 10 fewer RBI. (the RBI stat may have been for the past three years. Was a little groggy)

Yep, all discs arrived today in speedy fashion and excellent condition. I've been digging into the music all evening and really enjoying. Thanks.

So ... bin busy most of the day with a few pressing things, so I haven't had a chance to look through the thread. Were there any deadline trades? ... Did the Rays get Manny or Jason Bay? I sure hope so. That would be swell. OK ... gotta run, but I'll check back later to read about all the deft and savvy moves that the Rays made for their first-ever, super-fantastic playoff push. This is gonna be g-r-e-a-t !!!

The face of addiction?

very nice ... interested.

Anybody else hearing three-way deal with Jason Bay going to BoSox? Manny to Marlins, pending him waiving his no-trade clause ...

Absolutely, the one on Monday was edge-of-the-seat exciting. Didn't get to see last night's, unfortunately. (BoSox are getting pounded again tonight thru 7 inns.)

I'm not sure I understand this part; do they give away one per hour until the kids hit one of the organizers and can't continue? I didn't really get this either. Why was the event canceled? Because one of the organizers couldn't attend? Sounds weird ... "Op ... the organizer can't make it. That's it, that's it, call the whole thing off!"

The cynic in me suspects somehow sexual favors for the judges were involved. The few Russian / Eastern European women I've met here in the U.S. I don't think would put up with this crap for a second. ... maybe that's why they're here?

PM sent on: Monday Night at Birdland (Roulette - Fresh Sound) $10 Hank Mobley, Soul Station (RVG) $7 Hank Mobley, Workout (BN) $6

That's insane.

LETS ALL COMMIT TO THE CUBS!! WHADDAYA SAY!!!! C'MON! Once every 100 years.

Well, Montreux/Berlin I can understand ...

Is anyone familiar with the Greenleaf Music site? It's Dave Douglas' web site that he's developed to promote and sell his music. He offers FLAC DLs of his music; you can order CDs there too, of course; subscribers get regular offers of free bonus tracks not available anywhere else; there's tons of recording and touring information. It's a small stable of artists right now, but it seems to me like a great business model for musician-run site (or small label site, maybe). It's the "value-added" model, basically. I would fit Organissimo into this model as well. Different set of fringe benefits, but I would never have known about the band nor purchased their CD if not for the web site. ... I'm more interested as a consumer in these sorts of models, which promote and support the development of new music, than I am in some guy offering OOP stuff that may (or may not) harm the artists and hurt the development of future music projects. As an aside, this obsession with collecting -- to the point where someone without a turntable is buying up expensive vinyl -- is not really a healthy thing, IMO.

Who or what is THIS?? (or is THAT a better word....) Seriously- I don't know. Follow the link a few posts up ... if you dare. I'm going to have nightmares now. I feel sorry for this person. She has been badly butchered. ... Terrible. Beauty is at least as much about being comfortable in your own skin as it is about any physical attributes.

Cubs win. Cubs win. ... I like the Brewers but I haven't really watched them much. Their infield looked a little suspect tonight in the late innings -- Weeks at 2B failed to turn a double play that he probably should have and that cost them a run, and Hall at 3B looked to me like he gave up on a ball that ended up being an infield hit deep in the hole to short that extended another inning. But they can hit the cover off the ball. And the Cubs looked really tough. ... Yeah the Rays swept them earlier this summer, but I think the Cubs would crush Tampa Bay and its anemic offense now. Unlike the Rays foundering offense, you can see that the Brewers and Cubs hitters have a plan at the plate. And both teams have a plan with runners on base. They don't constantly swing at pitches out of the strike zone and constantly swing underneath balls for fly-outs. It's a real treat to watch two clubs that know how to play offense. Zambrano vs. Sheets tomorrow.

Well, the entire AL East looks drab and listless compared to the great ball game going on in Milwaukee right now. This has the feel of a playoff game. The 6th and 7th innings had me on the edge of my chair throughout. Great, great game. Back to it now!