vibes

Several of the other large edition Verves (e.g., Basie), but none--other than Farlow--at such a discounted price, at least so far. ← I think the Farlow sets are discounted due to the misprinting on the spine (unless, of course, sets with the correct printing are also being discounted). This has been discussed elsewhere. In any case, the Farlow is worth whatever you pay for it. Excellent music.

I've never had a problem with Memorex CD-R's, but my father had horrible problems with Memorex DVD-R's, which has made me a bit skeptical. I usually just buy what I can get cheapest, though. I've used everything from Imation to TDK to no-name stuff, like the Best Buy private label brand , which is what I usually buy now (I get it dirt cheap with my employee discount). I've never had any problems.

Thanks Vibes. One thing about those Bluenote shirts though...CHEAP! They come one size to small, they shrink and they fall apart after about ten washings...but who out there besides us has a Larry Young T-shirt? ← My "Unity" shirt had a small hole in it when I got it, but I didn't notice it until after I had worn it, so I didn't return it. I got the "Where is Brooklyn?" and "Let Freedom Ring" shirts, too. They're very soft, and I avoid putting them in the dryer so they won't wear out as quickly. But yeah, they are definitely tight. The "Freedom" shirt feels two sizes too small, unfortunately.

I'm listening to "Drunken Mary - Mary on Sunday" right now. Good stuff. Good luck, with the shows, John. Let me know if you guys decide to come to the Midwest. (nice "Unity" shirt, by the way. I've got one too )

Interesting. I tried it 6-7 hours ago and had the same problem.

I know a few of you also visit the Steve Hoffman BBS on a regular basis. Has anyone else had trouble accessing the site today? Not only can I not access the BBS, but the whole site seems to be missing.

Had a craving for Hi-C orange drink, so I went to McDonald's and picked up a couple of those, a double cheeseburger, filet-o-fish, McChicken and fries. Not the best food in the world, but not too bad every once in a while. I really just wanted the orange drink, though. That stuff is like crack.

That's a good price. Even though I paid a little more than double that a few years ago, I've never regretted it. A very nice box, indeed.

Thanks for posting this, rostasi. I'd never even heard of such a device before today.

I think some people would prefer to have all their music with them all the time, and use their mp3 player as both a player and storage device, while others would simply prefer to focus on a smaller number of albums. I used to be in the former camp. My first mp3 player (I still use it at work), was a 20GB hard drive-based player. I found that I had too many choices for many situations, and that if I was going place to place, having a player with less memory would be better, so that I could get to know the music in my collection better, like I used to when I was a kid and could only afford to buy a CD every month or two. So, I bought myself a little 512MB player, and have been very happy with it, except for the fact that sometimes 512MB isn't quite enough (trips and the like). The Nano looks very cool, and once I hear more about functionality and durability, I'll consider picking one up. Having 2-4GB is still a lot more manageable for me than 20GB+.

He's been AWOL at JC. There was a thread about it. Someone over there recently posted that they had heard from him and that he was OK.

Do you know if there is any material in this set that is not included in the Verve Bill Evans box?

I have acrophobia, basophobia, atychiphobia and probably many others. That list is way long.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the coolest iPod yet. I'm not nearly as impressed with the iPod phone that was unveiled today. I was expecting something a little sleeker, a little more unique.

Chris, do you ever get tired of playing the race card? There wasn't a single racist thing about GA Russell's comment. Just because there happens to be a lot of black people living in New Orleans does not make a negative comment about New Orleans or its people "racist." It's the same thing when people criticize the policies of the state of Israel, and many Jews claim that these criticisms are "anti-Semitic." It just isn't true. The race card is soooo overplayed in this country...And you'll probably call me a racist for saying that, too. ← It is, IMO, racist because GA Russell is essentially saying that the the people who were trapped in these two structures "gambled," which means that they had a choice. Many of them--most, probably--did not have a choice. These were poor people, many of them elderly and sick. Most of them were black and I am not suggesting that they were neglected by government because of their skin color--in fact, I think it was more a case of class discrimination. That said, racism is clearly what kept these people down. The Bush regime would like us to think that the thousands of victims who were left in the city were there by choice, that they "gambled" on survival in spite of having their "eyes wide open." Well, if that were so (and when was the last time the Bush people told us anything that wasn't, at best, a self-serving distortion?) it would take the fumbling, incompetent government decision-makers off the hook. It would make Bush and his cohorts seem like victims of "bashing." That, of course, is pure bullshit and either GA Russell has bought into it or he is joining the effort to whitewash Bush and his regime. So, yes, callously blaming thousands of poor and ill people for the suffering brought upon them through lack of leadership in the White House and unspeakable neglect by their own country's government, is racist, even if the neglect was not directly based upon the color of their skin. It becomes racist when one considers that the people in question--the wide-eyed gamblers, as GA Russell would have it--can attribute their lowly status to a history of racism. The world knew in advance about Hitler's hatred for Jews, but not all Jews left their country for a safer place--were they also "wide-eyed gamblers"? Should we blame them for being so foolish as to land themselves in concentration camps? I don't think so, but, since "Vibes" brought up the subject, I see a parallel. I see a sad lack of comprehension when someone points an accusing finger at people who--through no fault of their own--have undergone a nightmare of human suffering. Those who sought refuge in the Super Dome and Convention Center did so because no effort was made earlier to get them to safer ground, and because this is where they ultimately were told to go. When they got there, there was no one in charge, nothing to drink, nothing to eat, no medicine for the sick, no electricity, no working bathroom facilities. The doors were closed and they were, in effect, entombed. They deserve our compassion and help, not such insensitivity as GA Russell's remark reveals. Sorry to ramble on like this, but it really irks me when someone shows such a lack of feeling. We are talking about people who never had much of a chance to rise in society, people who became victims of a major natural disaster and then had their suffering compounded once more by their own government. Point your finger at the Oval Office and Pentagon, GA Russell. ← Insensitivity is not necessarily a sign of racism. Seems unnecessary to post this, but: Main Entry: rac·ism Pronunciation: 'rA-"si-z&m also -"shi- Function: noun 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination - rac·ist /-sist also -shist/ noun or adjective That's racism. I don't see any of this in what GA Russell wrote. There should be no question in anyone's mind that in New Orleans, there were both people that chose to stay in New Orleans, and people who couldn't get out of New Orleans. There is no way that it was 100% in one way or the other, and I don't think GA Russell was saying that it was. Having a lack of sympathy for people who chose to take their chances may be insensitive, but it certainly isn't racist. In any case, I'm not going to debate with you the reasons why people are where they are in life ("lowly status," as you put it). We've had this debate before, and it won't go anywhere. Put simply, I think you support a "victim" mentality, and I do not. With Katrina, there are many victims, and I don't think it has to do with racism or class discrimination. It has to do with poor planning, execution and leadership at every level of the government: municipal, state and federal. All the articles posted on this thread would lead me to believe this. The majority of the blame may lie with the federal government, but certainly not all of it. Hopefully many lessons will be learned from Katrina, and hopefully all levels of the government will be better prepared for the next disaster.

I'm on vacation in Manitoba, Canada, and if I converted liters to gallons and Canadian dollars to US dollars correctly, I think I just paid US$4.07/gallon for premium unleaded.

Chris, do you ever get tired of playing the race card? There wasn't a single racist thing about GA Russell's comment. Just because there happens to be a lot of black people living in New Orleans does not make a negative comment about New Orleans or its people "racist." It's the same thing when people criticize the policies of the state of Israel, and many Jews claim that these criticisms are "anti-Semitic." It just isn't true. The race card is soooo overplayed in this country...And you'll probably call me a racist for saying that, too.

It's nice to see that even though we have had disagreements with a number of countries on this list, there is still a lot of generosity in the world and goodwill for the people of the United States. Qatar offers $100m to relief fund Sunday, September 4, 2005; Posted: 2:51 a.m. EDT (06:51 GMT) (CNN) -- The oil-rich nation of Qatar has offered the United States $100 million to assist in the humanitarian crisis triggered by Hurricane Katrina. The state-run Qatar News Agency said Saturday that Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, decided to contribute that amount for relief "and humanitarian supplies for the victims of this disaster." The U.S. government has received offers of support from dozens of nations across the globe. As of Friday, the White House had not accepted any offers, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the State Department was "working very closely with the Department of Homeland Security to match up what is available with what is needed." There was no immediate word whether the United States would take Qatar up on its offer. Other offers of aid and assistance have come in from countries around the world -- including from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, the four countries hardest-hit by the December 26 Asian tsunami. The State Department said offers of help had been received from more than 50 countries, including: Australia, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. International organizations also offered help ranging from medical teams to tents to cash donations. They include NATO, the Organization of American States, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Health Organization. The United Nations has offered to help coordinate international relief. State Department officials have not yet said if any of these offers -- beyond specific offers of cash to humanitarian organization -- have been accepted. Following is a list of some of the aid offered by governments. -- Sri Lanka has offered what it called a "token contribution" of $25,000 through the American Red Cross. -- Mexico has offered $1 million and is sending 15 truckloads of water, food and medical supplies via Texas. The Mexican navy has offered to send two ships, two helicopters and 15 amphibious vehicles. -- Australia is giving A$10 million ($7.6 million), most of it to the American Red Cross. -- China has offered $5 million. -- India is making a $5 million donation to the American Red Cross, Ambassador Ronen Sen said Saturday. In addition, Sen said India was willing to donate essential medicines to the relief effort, noting that India has the largest number of Food and Drug Administration-recognized pharmaceutical companies outside the United States. -- -- Germany has offered a wide range of assistance including evacuation by air, medical services, transportation services, water treatment capabilities, assistance in searching for victims, vaccination teams and supplies, and emergency shelter. Germany has also said it is ready and willing to "dip into its own emergency oil reserves" to release some 2 million barrels a day for 30 days. -- France has offered mobile help from the French Antilles, which is relatively close to the affected regions, including a civil defense detachment of 35 people, tents, camp beds, generators, motor pumps, water treatment units and emergency kits, two CASA cargo aircraft, a ship (Batral Francis Garnier) and the frigate Ventose with its Panther helicopter, and a hurricane disaster unit (20 soldiers and 900 kg of specialized supplies and medical support). -- France has also offered assistance from the French mainland including: one or two C-135 planes, one A-310 aircraft , and four C-160 Transalls, an airborne emergency unit. In addition, the NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres, which specializes in restoring phone lines and Internet service in disasters, is ready to send a team of experts and equipment. Veolia Environment, which has facilities in Louisiana, has offered to make its local water management resources available to the American authorities or the Red Cross. It can also quickly send in a team of hydraulic experts. -- Japan has offered to provide $200,000 to the American Red Cross. The government of Japan will identify needs in the affected regions through the U.S. government and, upon request, is ready to provide necessary and available emergency assistance supply amounting to up to $300,000 worth of items such as tents, blankets, power generators, portable water tanks and more from a supply depot maintained by the Japanese government in Florida. -- Cuba's President Fidel Castro said on Friday his nation was ready to send 1,100 doctors and 26 tons of medicine and equipment. Asia AUSTRALIA: "We're going to provide A$10 million ($7.6 million) and the bulk of that money, if not all of it, will go to the American Red Cross," said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. The Australian government said there may be up to 24 Australians trapped in Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina. CHINA: China offered $5 million in aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina which devastated the Gulf Coast ahead of President Hu Jintao's U.S. visit. If needed, the Chinese government is also prepared to send rescue workers, including medical experts, officials said. JAPAN: Will provide $200,000 to the American Red Cross to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Japan will also identify needs in affected regions via the U.S. government and will provide up to $300,000 in emergency supplies such as tents, blankets and power generators if it receives requests for such assistance, the ministry said. SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces, responding to requests by the United States Texas Army National Guard, has sent three Chinook helicopters to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to help in relief efforts. The government said the Chinooks will help to ferry supplies and undertake airlift missions. SOUTH KOREA: Has pledged aid and is waiting for a U.S. response, a government official said. "We have sent our intention to offer recovery aid," a Foreign Ministry official said on Friday. SRI LANKA: Will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross. TAIWAN: Has pledged more than $3 million to the relief effort. Americas CANADA: Offered to help in any way it can and the navy is preparing a ship full of emergency disaster relief supplies to be sent when a request comes. CUBA: Cuban President Fidel Castro offered to fly 1,100 doctors to Houston with 26 tonnes of medicine to treat disaster victims. MEXICO: The country is sending 15 truckloads of water, food and medical supplies via Texas and the Mexican navy has offered to send two ships, two helicopters and 15 amphibious vehicles. VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area. Europe EUROPEAN UNION: EU countries are ready to give the United States oil if it requests help, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Friday. But British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said this was not what the EU had in mind when it discussed how to help. FRANCE: Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said France was ready to offer support, telling TF1 television: "We have rescue teams based in the Caribbean and we are naturally ready to provide aid to the Americans, and that is what we have told them." GERMANY: Has offered mobile units to provide clean water, military hospital facilities and medical aid. ITALY: Has offered to "immediately" send aid and evacuation specialists, Italy's civil protection unit said. Authorities have prepared two military transport planes to fly amphibious vessels, pumps, generators, tents and personnel to New Orleans and other areas. They were awaiting word from U.S. officials, the unit said. NETHERLANDS: Will provide teams for inspecting dykes and for identifying victims if there is a formal request from the United States. It will also send a frigate from Curacao to New Orleans shortly to provide emergency assistance, the government said. RUSSIA: Has offered to help with rescue efforts, but is still awaiting a reply from Washington. "Above all with heavy transport planes, which can be loaded with helicopters and generators -- as there is no electricity in the area of the catastrophe," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. SPAIN: Expects to receive a formal request to release gasoline stocks to the United States and is prepared to grant it, an Industry Ministry spokesman said. SWEDEN: The Rescue Authority said it was on stand-by to supply water purifying equipment, healthcare supplies and emergency shelters if needed. UNITED KINGDOM: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said Britain stands ready to help the United States in whatever way it can. Middle East SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Refining, a Houston-based subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, will donate $5 million to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

I hope this does get things moving. It's amazing what people in power can do with a phone call or two. I was in a hurricane response meeting for my company this morning. We set up our priorities this way: 1. Our employees 2. The communities where we do business 3. Our customers It was nice to see all the work that was being done to get displaced employees jobs at other stores, make sure that all affected employees get paychecks even if they didn't work, etc. Some executives were in the room, and they got some pretty amazing things going: - Stores need satellite phones? OK, send each a few... - Employees need a place to stay? Alright, we're renting mobile homes and sending them down there. - Employees having trouble getting food, water, toilet paper and other necessities? OK, we'll take distribution center trucks, buy a ton of these supplies from any place we can get them, and send it on in. Websites have been set up for employees to get in touch with each other and let everyone know where they are (we still have a few missing, unfortunately ), and people have been offering to let affected employees live with them and work in their stores. People can do some pretty generous and amazing things if they work at it. And the best thing about all of this is that nobody is even talking about how much it's going to cost us. People need help, and we'll spend whatever is necessary to make sure things get taken care of. I hope Mayor Nagin and the people of his city get what they need, and get it fast.

Amen. I love the Verve Elite series, and have never regretted having purchased them (I have all of them except for the Lalo Schifrin, which is just too expensive). I come back to them very frequently, especially the one I'm using for my avatar.

I took this in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada last year. Very pretty place.

I have EX51s and EX71s, and have never had any problems with them wearing out, breaking or otherwise. I like the way they isolate the sound (I use them when I watch movies on airplanes), and they sound quite good for the price. Definitely better than the usual $10 earbuds or whatever.

I only have the Reprise Mosaic and "Far East Suite," but I've enjoyed what little I have, especially the latter.

That's obvious, of course. However, if you haven't tried a strategy in a while (and we haven't), it's not a bad idea to test the stuff that the real fans prefer to buy. That was my intent in giving the feedback I did to my friend. When it comes to appliances, consumer electronics and the like, gauging sales is, of course, the best way to determine whether or not a certain product should be carried. You can have a strategy for what you sell, but in the end, it comes down to the sales numbers. With entertainment, however, I don't think it makes sense to look at numbers alone, and for a long time, that's just about all we've done. That's part of the reason my friend can be the jazz buyer. You don't have to be a jazz fan (and she's not) to understand numbers.

A good friend of mine recently became our jazz buyer, and I'm trying to keep this from happening more. When she got the job, she asked me for some feedback on our selection and the most negative feedback I gave was that we had too many compilations and smooth jazz CDs, and that this alienated the people who (likely) buy most of the jazz out there. I don't think it would be that hard to have a good mix of new releases and reissues, but we're missing the boat, especially on the reissues.