Matthew

Lakers vs. The Spurs. Lakers playing with nobody on consecutive days. My reaction for this game:

Duck Dynasty. The first time watching this, and I'm not sure if I should be happy or appalled with this show. Are there really people like this in the world? It seems like they're in a completely different world than the one I'm in.

The methamphetamines are a major problem, and everyone knew about them since 1970, when Jim Bouton wrote openly about them in Ball Four. Completely off topic, but I remember how cool I thought that book was when I read it at 13, it was one of the funniest and most interesting book I'd ever read (of course at 13, what did I know...)

Yeah, I'm not sold on Morris as a HofF guy. For me, he's in the twilight zone of a very good player, but not great. There's a lot of players like that from the 70s & 80s -- Al Oliver (who no one talks about ever), Murphy, Dave Parker, Steve Garvey, etc. Speaking of Lolich, he was a very good pitcher, actually had over three hundred strikeouts in a year, and over three hundred innings in a year (which might never happen again). I always thought these "Team Hall of Fame" are a good idea for these players who weren't HofF caliber, but should be recognized none the less.

No one voted into the Hall of Fame this year, and Barry Bonds only 36.2% of the vote. I think Bonds is a total jerk, have no use for him at all, but he should be in the Hall of Fame. MLB made a lot of money off of him, and then to get so high and mighty and pure all of a sudden, it's total bs. Bud Selig is probably dancing for joy at the news....

Cowboys took a step in the right direction getting rid of Rob Ryan, I never understood how either of the Ryans get considered as good coaches, just a couple of circus clowns in my book (I don't think Jason Garrett is all that great either). Now if only they could get rid of GM Jerry Jones, they might have a real chance of improving.

I just keep my hands over my eyes when I watch the Lakers now, un-freakin-be-leivable.

New World Coming: The 1920s And The Making Of Modern America by Nathan Miller. A very interesting account of the 1920s, and how the contemporary world was foreshadowed by the events and culture of the 1920s. Enjoying this very much -- recommended if you're interested in this era.

Norv Turner & A.J. Smith fired in San Diego -- four years too late to do any good.

Volume 1, disk 2. The Best Of Daffy & Porky.

Goth Juice... powerful stuff, made from the tears of Robert Smith. That is such a fantastic line.

Interesting article on the 2013 Yankees: As a Yankees’ fan, I realized I might be headed for a frustrating season when I became dismayed at my favorite team’s failures to sign Jeff Keppinger and Nate Schierholtz. That admission is not intended as an insult to Keppinger or Schierholtz; they are both solid players and deserve the millions they earned from the White Sox and Cubs, respectively. But the very possibility that they would have been pegged to start for the Yankees in 2013 is a frightening prospect. Rest of the article

What the heck kind of team is Boston going to have next year? An amazing turnover.

Thanks Allen, I'll definitely have to pick that up.

Thanks for the recs. I was thinking of getting Alan's comp, I've always been impressed with his musical knowledge. I'll probably pick up the JPS Bix & Tram next time I'm at Amoeba's. How about sax players outside of Tram? Anyone that stands out?

One of the areas of music I want to explore for 2013 is jazz from the 1920's, which is an era I've become fascinated with in general -- the fashion, the literature, art, and music, etc. I know nothing outside of the Armstrong / Oliver / Morton cds, and I would like to know which cds I need to get. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Looney Tunes Golden Collection 1-6. Volume 1. Hilarious stuff!

Happy Birthday!!!!

According to Art Pepper in Straight Life, Chet Baker snitched out everyone to avoid going to jail. Not saying that's true, but that's Pepper's story.

The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions: 1956-61. By far, my favorite Mosaic

Congratulations

From the Mets to Mariners. It's not going to be a happy season for either "M" team but it's so depressing on this end that the one "big pickup" is a 34 year old outfielder that the Mets didn't want anymore. Ugh. I thought the Kendrys Morales trade for the Mariners was a good one, not earth shaking, but Morales seems to still have gas left in the tank.

Christmas With The Brady Bunch. Okay, I was a fan of the Bunch when they first hit tv, so we have a history.

Yeah, Dan & Blue Train, that's what it is, trying to get low for when the new CBA takes effect, I just couldn't remember the details.