Going to see the new James Bond "SPECTRE" tonight. Before the theatres get crowded with Oscar-bait, please try to see these good ones before they get the boot...

The Dark Knight Rises.

Permission granted.

Cool. Then it looks like Thunderbirds are go!

Calling jabe!

^^^Yep, I got the notice Kiwi. Definitely want to go but teams are TBA and I have to double-check my work schedule. If it's a daytime start it might be tough.

Bungholes

Hooray for your Raptors! Maybe they can give Cleveland a little competition in the woebegone East? I am not buying SI's prediction of Oklahoma either. Too many variables would have to fall their way to come out of the West on top. The Clippers gave them a game for the first time this season, and might have prevailed had Chris Paul seen a wide open Blake Griffin under the basket on the last play. But Golden State appears to be on a mission...not unlike the Patriots this year...they look like they want to KILL everyone in their path. Barring injuries, they look likely to repeat. Houston sucking isn't a surprise to me...not with team-killer Dwight Howard on the roster. He sucks. Aa for Cleveland taking nights off...welcome to today's NBA. You can thank Greg Popovich and the Spurs for this. In the 1980s, the Lakers, Celtics, Pistons, Bulls, Mavs, Trailblazers, would kill each other night after night chasing the #1 seed. Once San Antonio showed you could rest your starters for long stretches of the season, giving them games off, and still win a championship being a low-seed, all bets were off. Lebron took two weeks off in the middle of last season to hang out in Miami, and he will probably do so again this year. Especially since there is no one as yet challenging him in the East...the Bulls look dreadful. What's happened to their defense?

^^^But who will fire the Fords? Because the Jets and Bears draw the ratings, Rick. The NFL loves the New York and Chicago markets.

^^^My next big purchase, ebk! Now that I'm finished with the remastered Led Zeppelin catalogue, I can concentrate on others. Van Morrison "Astral Weeks" - deluxe remaster. Finally, after decades of waiting, a properly mastered "Astral Weeks" is available in the U.S. The first cd release was abysmal and inexplicably it was never part of any previous Van Morrison remaster/reissue endeavour. Now, for the first time since the vinyl release this magical record can be heard properly...especially the awesome bass layed down by Richard Davis.

My favourite band from Athens, Georgia is back again on the road and in town tonight! Kevin Barnes and his band of merrymakers of Montreal! Nov. 4: of Montreal @ The Regent Theatre. Unfortunately, once again my friend will miss of Montreal because of work...the second time this year.

Getting psyched for tomorrow's concert...

Besides those three threads, there is also Eddie Edwards' excellent The Garden Tapes website...HTWWW section: http://www.thegardentapes.co.uk/htwww.html

Two people who need to have their ears checked.

It's another Englishman's birthday today...Stuart Leslie Goddard aka Adam Ant. Always had a soft spot for the "Friend or Foe" album.

Bert Jansch "Birthday Blues" album...today would have been Bert's 72nd birthday. Jimmy Page's acoustic side was hugely influenced by Bert Jansch.

Week 9 Schedule THUR. NOV. 5 TIME (ET) Cleveland at Cincinnati 8:25 PM SUN. NOV. 8 TIME (ET) Green Bay at Carolina 1:00 PM Washington at New England 1:00 PM Tennessee at New Orleans 1:00 PM Miami at Buffalo 1:00 PM St. Louis at Minnesota 1:00 PM Jacksonville at NY Jets 1:00 PM Oakland at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM NY Giants at Tampa Bay 4:05 PM Atlanta at San Francisco 4:05 PM Denver at Indianapolis 4:25 PM Philadelphia at Dallas 8:30 PM MON. NOV. 9 TIME (ET) Chicago at San Diego 8:30 PM Bye vs. Houston, Kansas City, Seattle, Arizona, Baltimore, Detroit (lay the points and take the bye)

Well...everybody finished .500 or better for the week and thanks to LedZeppfan77 having his best week in forever (see what happens when you pick New England?), he has moved above .500 for the season, at last joining the rest of us. Bong-Man continues his strong picking of late...he is clearly having a better season than his Detroit Lions...and I finally get off the schneid and finish atop the week with Bong-Man. Week 8 Results Bong-Man: 12-2* Strider: 12-2* apantherfrommd: 11-3 jb126: 11-3 LedZeppfan77: 11-3 paul carruthers: 10-4 Anjin-san: 9-5 ebk: 9-5 S.A.N.B.R.: 9-5 jabe: 8-6 Reggie29: 8-6 zepscoda: 8-6 in_the_evening: 7-7 Walter: 7-7 Group total: 132-64 67.3% Average score: 9.43-4.57 14-0 clean sweep pick: Carolina over Indianapolis 0-14 loser pick: Atlanta (lost to Tampa Bay) Season Standings After 119 Games 1. apantherfrommd: 81-38**** 2. Bong-Man: 79-40*** 3. jb126: 78-41* 4. ebk: 75-44** 4. paul carruthers: 75-44* 5. zepscoda: 74-44* 6. Anjin-san: 73-46** 6. Strider: 73-46* 6. Walter: 73-46 7. jabe: 69-50* 8. in_the_evening: 66-53* 9. Steal Away Now Baby Rose: 65-37* 10. Reggie29: 62-57 11. LedZeppfan77: 61-57

I am thinking #8 was probably standard in their contracts. I find #3 interesting.

Original...and still the best!

Why do you have a problem with it? I wish more guys rocked the long hair in sports. I miss the 1970s when guys let their freak flag fly.

Never mind.

Hippie Ramen Bowl with extra garlic and spinach, and a pork bun. Real ramen...not that packaged top ramen crap.

Is Capitalism worth saving? Well, when you consider the alternatives...yes.

Kris Kristofferson's 1970 debut album "Kristofferson"...the one with "Me & Bobby McGee" and this pithy little ditty, "Blame It On the Stones":