Matthew

I just finished watching this a second time, and I don't think a TV series can get any better than this. On one level it's a great comedy, but turn your head just a fraction, and you have a great tragedy of daily life. One last point: Amazing! Redemption with the words "F*** off, Finchy"

I'm still trying to adjust leaving Los Angeles and moving to the Pacific Northwest. Rain in July, INDEED!

Nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Very interesting work of Emerson's trying to update Plato. It's engaging to read how Emerson handles to question of what to do with the "religious impulse" in the human person when organized religion has failed. Also in the middle of reading Walden and Thoreau's Journels. The "Transcendental Movement" does say a great deal to the modern world.

Since the NBA is a players league, it's all about whether the Pistons will play for Flip or not. LB was able to get guys to buy into the team concept, look at 'Sheed, he was a monster for Brown. My perdiction is that Rasheed will walk all over Flip Philips, er, I mean Saunders, and then wind up being traded. Since the bottom palyoff teams in the East are weak, Pistons go out in the second round next year. Despite all his baggage, LB was able to get the Pistons over the hump, and in professional sports, that's all that matters.

Rare Bob Dylan coming out from Starbuck's. It's a good concert to have if you don't have a bootleg of it yet, but it is too bad the His Bobness is going corporate in his old age. Could be he needs the cash. First Ray Charles, then Alanis and now Bob Dylan has sold his soul to coffee giant Starbucks. The two parties have agreed to release rare Dylan material at the coffee chain's outlets. The disc, Dylan: Live At The Gaslight 1962, features his early material and will be available exclusively at Starbucks starting August 30. The 10 track disc was recorded in October 1962 at New York's Gaslight Café and its songs have been rated by fans as his finest early recordings. The new record also includes a super-early version of the Dylan classic, "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," as well as what is believed to be a recording of his first ever performance of "Don't Think Twice It's Alright."

Interesting book on Emerson which gives a very good account to his thought. The Transcendentalist movement is very interesting, and something the is surprisingly revelant to our own world.

Campden Hill, London by Bill Brandt

East Sussex by Bill Brandt

Francis Bacon By Bill Brandt

Reasons why that's not true" 1. Mitch 2. Kobe 3. Lamar 4. No cap space. 5. No talent Just don't see it for 2005-2006.

rostasi: Who is the publisher for this? Princeton University Press is putting one volume out at a time, at $95.00 per. I'd love to get his Journals in that volume.

Repo Man Bud: Ordinary f****** people I hate 'em.

This is also one of my favorite movies (seen it about twelve times, at least), and I've come to the conclusion that the whole movie is Diane's dream of what her Hollywood life should have been. If you notice, her "real life" lover looks like Camilla, and this movie is taking place and the end of this relationship. I think the movie is telling what Diane want her life to be like; in the movies, in a relationship with a famous star, getting the good parts, but it's not happening. Instead, Diane's acting career is going nowhere, not getting any parts, and her lover, who looks somewhat like the star Diane wants to be, is leaving her. So what we are seeing is the end of Diane's "Hollywood Dream" of stardom, her love af all things Hollywood, and she can't take it, so she kills herself. The whole second half of the movie is about Diane's disconnect from Hollywood and her loss of the love of that dream. Without that dream to hold her life together, she can't exist. Who knows, maybe I've seen this movie too much?

Someone recently gave me the DVD of The Office, and it is an amazingly funny show, highly recommended!

For some reason, the episode where Shake and Carl co-wed the mail order bride is the funnest stuff I've seen in a long time. Carl: sniffing his armpit Woah! That's ripe! Shake: Yeah! go and take a shower, and while you're at it, put on a shirt with sleves, Romeo!

Reading Graham Green recently, and enjoying it: The Heart of the Matter, The Quiet American & The Human Factor. Does anyone think that the new movie version of The Quiet American is worth buying?

I've always been sad that Gerge Benson was never able to nail down a great jazz record that he was/is capable of doing. I guess "cross-over" music pays the bills, but still, the guy does have monster chops, but he's never got it down over a full record.

I've been hooked on the NYPD Blue: Seasons one & two. Say what you will about David Caruso, but he was great in that first season. Also watching Echo & The Bunnymen: Live at Liverpool DVD. Have I ever mentioned I love the Bunnymen?

Please let us know what you think of this one (probably The Rat will be the most appropriate place for it)! Sorry, I backed out -- just not ready to get back into the jazz thing yet.

First purchase in a really long time: Gianni Gebbia: Arcana Major/Sonic Tarots Session

I've often read that the song Brilliant Coners had twenty-four takes, and the musicians still didn't satisify Monk's "quality control". So, just how many takes were spliced together to get the final version? Were there other Monk compositions that had to have many takes spliced together also? Enquiring minds need to know, or was BC unique in this regard?

Just to clear up some confusion on terms. In the Catholic Church when a person is seriously ill as is John Paul, the Sacrament they receive is called the Anointing of the Sick. As it says in the instructions: This sacrament gives the grace of the Holy Spirit to those who are sick: by this grace the whole person is helped and saved, sustained by trust in God, and strengthened against the temptations of the Evil One and against anxiety over death. Thus the sick person is able not only to bear suffering bravely, but also fight against it. A return to physical health may follow the recption of the sacrament if it will be beneficial to the sick person's salvation. Any person who has a serious illness can receive this sacrament and, to recieve it, does not mean that a person is on death's door. Sometimes this is called the "Last Rites" but truly, it is not. When a person is close to death, what is called Viaticum is celebrated with the person. This goes by the common name of "Last Rites" and this rite includes confession, a profession of faith, and recieving the Eucharist. This really is a sign that the person acknowledges that death is near. It's too bad the the press reports are not clear which one John Paul received because if it is the Anointing of the Sick, then JP doesn't feel the end is near, but if it's Viaticum, then I would say he has just a couple of days left

I'm not sure this is such a stupid question when you consider the process involved with appointing a new pope. Well, I'm with Chris this time...he has been quite ill for quite some time, they have to be prepared at this time... In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, pastors have already received packets on what to do upon the death of the Pope. So, yes, we have know for a long time the John Paul II days are numbered.

Very sad news. I'll never forget the first time I heard "Live at Club Baby Grand", how exciting and wonderful it was to me. A great musician who gave so much to jazz. One of the greatest ever.