ejp626

My taxes are so fucking complicated. Last year I filed Schedule A, B, D, E, and a couple other forms I didn't even know about 4562, 8582, etc. It will be the same this year. I'm about half done tonight. I actually do them myself, but mostly because I would be too embarassed to show up with a couple dozen crumpled receipts to hand over to the CPA (but with rental property that's really the only way you know what you spent on repairs over the year). Add to that New York State is still trying to audit me from 2002, even though I reported all my capital gains to them already as an in-state resident. It really burns me up. I got a pleasant surprise last year where the IRS decided I paid too much and sent me a big check. I think they figured I was a Bush supporter and came up with some weird tax credit or recharacterized my income, cause according to the printed rules I was right on the money.

Wow. Another great show here in Chicago. Sal, sheldonm and jazzshrink were all here, and perhaps some other board members. I was sitting two rows behind Joe Segal, who apparently has been getting out more, since he was also at the Chicago Tenor show where Griffin played. Anyway, the SF Jazz Collective is an eight piece group. The current touring configuration is Bobby Hutcherson, Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton, Miguel Zenón, Renee Rosnes, Isaac Smith, Matt Penman, and Eric Harland. The front line of two saxes, Payton on trumpet and Smith on trombone is really something. The concept is to mix compositions by a single jazz composer, along with one original piece by each member. Last year was Ornette Coleman. This year is John Coltrane. I'll write more later. Here's a website with more info, including how to order their CDs. SF Jazz CollectiveSal swears this is worth getting, and after hearing them, I would agree. You can even pre-order the next set, which is going to be drawn from their live shows. Many things came off well in this set, but I thought Redman's composition Half Full and Naima featuring Hutcherson were highlights. It would be very cool if the band agreed that the Chicago performances of these pieces were among the best and make it onto the record.

What struck me was that he was everywhere, or at least on the top 20 active threads, posting nothing but smilies or thumbs up. He was a bit more involved in the politics thread. Kind of an annoying character, but certainly not ban-worthy (unless he kept baiting members), though if he asked for it, that's no skin off my nose.

Guy is right, but Skiles is way to proud to throw games to get back to 6th. I think they will get to 4th and have a good chance to get past Washington and then will get wiped out by the Heat. I think that's how the bracket works out, but I could be off. In my wildest dreams, I would have said 8th or 7th seed in the playoffs. Then they had such a bad start, and it was well, there goes another year ... I know there are a lot of turnaround teams this year, including the Grizzlies, but I really think Skiles deserves Coach of the Year.

I wish it would be a more liberal Pope, since I think most of the good things that came out of Vatican II have been undermined by JP II. But all accounts indicate that over time, JP II has advanced those who share his views and the Archbishops and Cardinals are much more conservative than they were 30 years ago. I think we should expect more of the same.

I'm going to try to make Stephon Harris on Sunday and Bobby Hutcherson at least once. Several other shows look good, but I really have to be careful about upsetting the wife by being out too much.

PM sent on two of the Free America's

That's a good point. It's from today's Ten Spot, so it might be considered the April 1 issue. The other points are funny but still seem possible. If either of these tennis player exists, then I think one would probably sue if it wasn't true. Feel free to fact check though. Ten Spot post

Hard to believe this one reported in Sports Illustrated:

There is actually a poll about this on one or two newsites. The Williams' sisters are apparently going to have a reality-type show coming out in July. Would you watch it? Would you want anyone to know you'd watch it? Would the wife/significant other even let you watch it? I'll probably take a pass myself.

Actually, the Bulls just barely kept the game from going into overtime. Indiana came back really strong in the last minute. Bulls vs. Detroit (in a few days I think) should be a good one. Both teams are looking to make a statement. Kirk should be back in the lineup by then. One thing the Bulls have going for them is the best Bench in the NBA (at least in terms of scoring) and Skiles is not afraid to go deep into the bench (I don't know if the 12th man plays but definitely 1-10 play all the time). One think you gotta respect about Skiles is that he will yank a player who lets up on defense, even if that person is a major scoring threat. Eddy Curry is finally getting the message and has been playing a lot better. He really was the difference in the Indiana game. Bulls are going to the playoffs again! And it looks like the Lakes are going to miss the cut-off. Has the world gone mad?

Bill: I would have to disagree about the Archie Shepp (unless you were limiting your comments to just the ones in your post). While Black Gipsy is fine, he did a lot of other great work -- Attica Blues, Fire Music, etc. Eric

Well, I said I could be wrong. I'm not a scholar of such things. Anyway, it would be super sweet if it is an Illinois-State final. If that happens though, Illinois should win, since they are inside the heads of the State players. Jim, the beauty of college hoops is that it is even more cyclical than the NBA. Michigan did suck this year and last year, but they'll be back. I had the pleasure of being at Michigan the year they won it all (what a game though why they let Seton Hall stick around that long into double OT is beyond me) and even saw a few of the players in my dorm (I lived in South Quad -- the athletes' dorm). And while the Fab Five that came right after that didn't fully live up to the hype, they were still a lot of fun to watch. Actually, the Fab Five (in their various incarnations) have really been a let down once they hit the NBA. I suppose Juwan Howard is still a solid player, but Chris Webber never lived up to the hype and Jalen Rose has turned into such a whiney baby.

It looks like I am late to the party, but I'd like to still get in if possible. I can burn and/or distribute in the US. Anyway, I owe Rooster-Ties a PM.

It's very rare that the first CD incarnation of a Columbia album sounds better than the re-issue, but that is definitely the case here. I'm very glad I hung onto my mid-1980s issue of Goodman at Carnegie Hall, since the Schapp is just unlistenable for the most part.

That's just cause you live in the Bay Area and they got you brainwashed into eating the stuff. Here's the Straight Dope on this madness. I remember these ads vividly.

Awesome. Perhaps the best set of Elite Eight games ever. I'm hoping for Illinois and Michigan State in the finals. That would be incredible. Actually I wonder if it has ever ended up with two teams from the same conference in the Finals. I don't think it has ever been two Big 10 teams but I could be wrong.

I was never able to get the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Mosiac, and while I do keep my eyes open on ebay, I haven't been fortunate enough to score yet. How much of this is in print or relatively easy to find OOP CDs? In other words, would it be easier to try to reconstruct the box by buying the individual sessions or is Mosaic definitely the way to get this material? Thanks. Eric

If we're definitely going to see the Unissued session as a Conn, then it isn't that interesting to me. If this gets pushed back for some stupid reason (like one of the performers adopted Islam or something), then I'll be upset for passing on it.

Yeah, take that everyone who said the Big 10 (plus 1) was a weak-ass conference. 3 teams in the Elite 8! Not bad. I'm a Michigan fan first (my alma mater), but I can definitely get behind Michigan State and Illinois (my brother went to State and I'm living in Illinois). Definitely a good tournament so far. By the way, Scott Skiles was happier with the win over Duke than he was that the Bulls beat Boston last night!

I can always move this to the Offering thread, but I wondered if anyone wanted to swap some of the Free America series. I am keeping several (Black Gipsy and Panther/Lash), but these three don't do so much for me: Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy Art Ensemble Certain Blacks Alan Shorter Tes Esat Still in good condition, though obviously opened. I'm most interested in the following: Dave Burrell After Love Roswell Rudd Frank Wright Uhuru ... Eric

Probably Take Five followed by Mingus Ah Um. Not sure about rock/pop. The Beatles would definitely be up there, though the CDs that I would play over and over in the same week are Everclear "Sparkle and Fade" and Louie Says "Gravity, Suffering, Love, and Fate" (I think this got deleted in some label purge or contract disagreement but it is an amazing pop album if you ever track it down).

Well, I enjoyed it. I assume this is the version with Henry Grimes on bass. He doesn't have a lot of opportunities to solo, but he is present throughout in the background. This is much more of an inside affair, however, compared with his recent playing with Marshall Allen. Maybe tomorrow I can post more comments.

Actually, Princeton probably isn't too bad in terms of sprawl, but I don't know how much about cost of living. I'd probably pick Philly. But really, anything that is an easy train ride to New York (which these two are) is all good.

Actually, Zoot was pretty good too. Forgot about that one. The problem with the tickets was that if you had them held at the box office, there were not enough people to distribute them, so the line snaked out the door and also delayed the start of the concert. While there was some advertizing for the show, there could have been a lot more. It was a lot of fun. Hope you can post a few photos. Did you make it to Ravi Coltrane?