The version of events that I've read is that Plant slapped Page because he was drunk before a gig in 1995. IMO, a slap would make more sense than a punch in those circumstances.

Page was referring to Paul Rogers.

IIRC, this Star Trek episode was inspired by the flower child movement of the Sixties. The brunette female in the background was an old flame of Mr. Chekhov. The fact that I remember this stuff is proof positive that I spent way too much time watching Star Trek reruns in my youth.

It's really none of our business but, of course, this won't stop us from speculating about it. Jeff Beck likes Page well enough to invite him to his wedding in 2005. However, they haven't really worked together since Beck left the Yardbirds back in 1966. My point is that I don't think we can judge Page's relationships with other musicians on whether or not they do gigs together. Particularly since Page has only performed no more than half a dozen times during the past 15 years. From what I've read Page is on friendly terms with Ronnie Wood, Joe Perry and Joe Walsh but he hasn't collaborated with any of them either as of late.

Good eye! I guess even former rock gods have to take out the trash.

Point taken.

Ruby, a disturbing but beautifully written novel by Cynthia Bond. This is her debut novel.

Do we know for a fact that Plant "forced" Page to do things his way? Page's collaboration with David Coverdale wasn't commercially successful. Perhaps Page had began to doubt his musical instincts as a result and was happy to let Plant drive the bus during the Page/Plant collaboration.

Have you ever been to the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Mass.? They have a scrimshaw collection.

Watermelon, feta cheese and cilantro salad with a lime vinaigrette.

Thank you all for your condolences. His mother is married to a good man, has a close circle of friends and her fellow church members to lean on so hopefully they'll both be okay.

Got a new haircut, went shopping for salad fixings, gave my family room/office a good cleaning and I'm currently waiting for a load of laundry to finish while I'm typing this. In other words, nothing exciting, just the normal Saturday errands and chores.

My friend's son died this morning

Thank you Walter. At this point I'm just praying that he goes peacefully and without too much pain; both for his sake and his parents'.

This morning I learned that the son of a lifelong acquaintance doesn't have much time left. He is 22 years old and has battled cancer for the past six years. I'm very worried for his mother. She has been a pillar of strength throughout her son's illness. However, her own mother died in May and I suspect she didn't let herself really grieve because she had to hold herself together for her son's sake. What is going to happen when he dies?

Doesn't one of them (I never can remember which one) work as a defense analyst nowadays?

I'm betting that Ian Gillan won't be involved.

Vanilla/chocolate marble pound cake and a glass of mil.

I maybe "misremembering"...but didn't Joe Perry mention in his recent autobiography that he and Judy Carne had a wild, passionate affair back in the day?

If Page never picks up a guitar again, that's fine with me. The problem I and other fans have is that he says he's working on new music, but nothing ever materializes. He's 71 years old now. If he wants to spend his golden years smelling the roses and playing with his grandchildren that's cool. He doesn't need to make a big announcement. All he needs to do is reply that he is retired the next time a journalist asks him about future musical projects. I suppose it is possible that Page really wants to make new music and, for whatever reason, he hasn't been able to move forward with the musical projects he envisions. If this is the case, why not just admit that he's run into a brick wall when journalists ask him about his future musical plans. There is no shame in writers' block, not being able to get the collaborators you want or any other reason musical projects don't pan out. My impression is that stonewalling is Page's default reaction for dealing with journalists. His management team has probably explained to him that more frankness during interviews would better serve him from a PR standpoint but, he is who he is. I haven't purchased any of the re-releases so I can't offer an opinion of the companion disks.

I met him back in 1984. He was a major general and commander of a Marine air wing at the time. I can't even begin to fathom the determination, self control and sheer grit he must have possessed to reach the rank he held in the military. May he RIP.

Peanut butter on toast and a cup of Bigelow's Plantation Mint tea.

Sigh...did you read the entire article? It seemed obvious to me that the author didn't feel guilty because he is white. He felt guilty because the odd racist thought still pops into his head even after years of working to overcome the casual racism he absorbed while growing up. Believe it or not, rare individuals rose above and overcame the common prejudices of their era and societies. It could be done but most people just didn't bother.

So being a racist jerk isn't a character flaw?

My local rock and Top 40 radio stations definitely played Stairway To Heaven during the early 1970's. Maybe they copied it from Led Zeppelin IV onto an 8-track tape then played the tape for their audiences.