Matthew

I must be out in left field on this one, but it's not high on my list of Bill Evans favs. It feels too rushed to me, maybe too many ideas but not enough execution (plus, I skip Nardis most of the time ). That's not to say it's not at a high level musically, but it just doesn't hit me, and I find that I rarely listen to this, my least favorite Evans box set.

My all-time favorite Dan Blast! Short, but full of the f-bombs! We dig ya Dan...

Maybe it's a sign that I'm just getting old, but when I watch something like this, or read a book pre-1960, it just seems as if large chunks of American culture have disappeared.

Speaking of Steinbeck: I'm reading In Dubious Battle. They really, really, really, don't write books like this anymore -- which is a great loss for America. You've got me interested in that one Matthew. The book could only have been written in the 1930s, and you don't see books like this now, where the story: 1. Is about someone joining the communist party, and that's seen as a good thing. 2. The book in utterly sincere about the poor and labor. 3. No "winking" at the reader. 4. Historical forces are more important than the characters. In some ways, it's a more amazing book that The Grapes of Wrath.

Well, she does "like to exercise on the couch!"

Speaking of Steinbeck: I'm reading In Dubious Battle. They really, really, really, don't write books like this anymore -- which is a great loss for America.

Great first quarter: 15 to 15. that's about as bad as it gets.

The Los Angeles Version

I forgot to add this snarky comment: I haven't watched the Red Sox a lot this year, I follow a much more interesting team -- the Seattle Mariners.

If you watch them at all, they do that a lot. He just left three seconds early. And this fucking game is infuriating me - Matzuzaka can never pitch for this squad again and I'll be much happier/three outs made at second base/the bases loaded and one out and nobody scores all adding up to a fucking lost series to the utterly unimpressive Rangers (I'm trying to be nice here, Al) at home (where the fucking Rangers haven't won in twelve years or something. What made the attempted steal sick to my mind is that even if Ortiz stole it, a single still would not drive him in...

David Otiz tires to steal a base with two out???? I think his brain is dry also....

Guess if he wasn't picked up on waivers, the Rangers either have to release him, or try to work out a trade. So maybe today's start is a "show-and-trade" start for Padilla. If he does decent, I would not be surprised to see him go by the end of the week.

Normandie and what? Not all of normandie is in da GHETTTTT-TO! you know -- you can get to Whilshire Blvd., off the I10 Normandie exit.

Find it hard to believe that the Red Sox will trade Brad Penny away, for all people, Jeff Francoeur?? What's that about? I know Big Papi is no good any more, but Francoeur the answer? If I'm the Red Sox, pitching is more important than adding another bat.

well... that sounds phenomenally interesting. i've heard much about Merton and have read snippets. what's the name of this book and would you think it an ok book for my 1st Merton? What I'm reading are the private journals (there are seven volumes) of Thomas Merton that he kept before and after he entered the Trappist monastery in Kentucky, and what you quoted are my thoughts for Volume Three. After Merton died, it was his expressed command in his will that these journals not be published until 25 years after his death. I can see why, a lot of forth-right comments about the situation and monks in Gethsemani Abby, where he spent most of his adult life. There is a lot of "inside" stuff about religious life and practices, and it is easy, if you don't have a good grasp of the context, to get lost. A good first book is either The Seven Story Mountain, which is Merton's autobiography of his life, of his conversion to Catholicism, and his entery into Gethsemani Abby a mere two/three years after his conversion. It is an interesting read, but as Merton himself acknowledges, a good bit of sanctimonious writing at times. It's a good book none the less. If you're interested in Merton's religious side, The Sign of Jonas is a very good start. This book takes you from Merton's study for the priesthood, to after ordination. Merton also struggles with a number personel and religious issues in this book. It is in a journal format, an easy read, but insightful at the same time. In fact, as I'm typing this, The Sign of Jonas might be the best way to be introduced to Merton, and after this, Seven Story Mountain as a way to get the basic outline of his life. Though, I must admit, the journals are very good, and if you like more immediate writing, and do not mind "monastic gossip," they are well worth reading. I keep on going back and forth on Merton, I've read him for a long time, and he was the one writer I read the most before my own conversion to Catholicism. I thought I had left him for good, but now, after many years, he coming back into my life. Strange, really, how that happens.... I can go on a whole lot more on Merton, but I better stop now, and in fact, I'm not sure I even answered your question!

I'd never heard of it until this thread actually. Kobe apparently coined it himself. I don't like self generated nicknames - reminds me of Michael Jackson declaring himself "King of Pop"... which he is most certainly not. He lives in AZ. That address by his avatar is the address for Sanford & Son I believe. Boy, I never made the Sanford & Son connection!

That is sad news, that Buffalo team wasn't too bad. One of my big Lakers memory as a kid is seeing Kermit Washington getting in a big fight with John Shumate(sp?). Buffalo was down by a ton when the fight happened, afterward, McAdoo and Smith went wild and they wound up winning the game. He must be from LA, he roots for out-of-town teams! I kid SS1, I kid...

Finished volume three, and it is a scary volume for sure. The main problem Merton deals with is the need to leave his monastery and find real solitude. That dream, was of course, denied. The problem for Merton was not just going somewhere else, but it was with the Chamber of Commerce religion that was rampant in Gethsemani Abby, a shallow, formulistic religion that Merton felt was a lie, had no reality to it. This all showed itself in the great unrest that runs throughout this volume; Merton is all over the map in terms of his relationship with God, with the community, and with himself. A lot of sadness comes through on this volume, and it ends on a depressing note: Merton told to give up any thought of leaving; Merton stuck with a superior that does not understand him; his prayer life very much effected; his feeling of complete isolation from his brothers, with a decided turning to visits from artists and friends to fill the increasing emptiness he finds.

It's scary indeed. I've been traveling a lot recently, and I always comforted myself saying: "Planes never go down in the ocean."

I'm trying to make up my mind between Ran and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance... It'll be one of these two today.

Followed by going on the DL sometime within the next two weeks. You know it's going to happen... it's been that kind of year for Cleveland

Artie Shaw? Any idea what the proposed set would cover? Is it too much to ask that everything be in that one; the first big band, all the other big band sides, and the "final recordings." Probably would be ten or eleven cds? I would be so all over that it wouldn't be funny!!!!!!!!

On the third volume of Thomas Merton’s journals now, and there continues to be a very scary undercurrent of deep psychological problems among the monks in Gethsemani – I mean people flat-out going crazy. And this is supposed to be the golden era of religious life too. Very sad.

Seattle blows a 6-0 lead and lose in the bottom of the ninth. *Sigh* All I want is .500 baseball, throw me a bone guys!

The Lakers will have problems with Howard, he seems too much for the Laker big guys. I wonder if Gasol will cover him? Van Gumby, winning a NBA title -- the horror!