hamilton

Nice to see Gustavsson finally playing well; he's got his confidence back up, which is a big boost to his performance. Of course, it also helps that the team is playing much better in front of him.

Overall I like it, mostly for reasons that Hart mentions. The only downsides will be the predictability in playoff match-ups, and the loss of drama at the end of the regular season when multiple teams are still competing for multiple playoff spots right up to the very last game.

Did someone bring Berry Oakley back from the dead?

I'll be on vacation for the next month, and will likely not be checking in on my team too often. So if anyone was thinking about it, I won't be responding to any trade offers. I will, however, be hoping that none of my players gets injured over the next thirty days.

They're one hell of a lot better at protecting a lead so far this year. Major improvement. Now, if they could work on the PK a little bit more...

Preorder: Linky-poo Those are three damn-good shows. Nice.

I've never understood this attitude, but it's true that a lot of people seem to have it; just scroll through the comments on TSN anytime the Leafs acquire a new player. People seem to think that Burke is trying to Americanize the team, presumably because he's American. I really don't think it matters where a player comes from, as long as he makes an improvement to the team. I'd have a hard time saying that the Leafs shouldn't have picked up David Steckel because he is American.

John Scofield, This Meets That.

Ray Charles, Genius + Soul = Jazz.

Soft Machine, Third.

I don't have my original copies here in Seoul to do an A/B comparison, and I'm not listening on the same system I would be at home, but nevertheless I'm going to have to say that these generally sound better than the original pressings. To my ears, the only of the original pressings that sounded good were Hatful of Hollow, Strangeways, Here We Come and The Queen Is Dead. The difference in sound quality is easy to perceive on all the others. The most obvious difference is in the bass, which is both fuller and louder (Andy Rourke!!!).

The Smiths, The Complete Smiths.

Only, it isn't. There's still one more season. My question is, where does it go from here? Anyway... holy fuckballs! What an ending to the season!

Please eat lots of turkey for me!

That reminds me of the Helms-Burton Act. Shameful.

Go back and start over! Or starve yourself until the next full-tour box set. I predict spring '90. Or maybe fall '80.

Yeah, no kidding eh? "You're all a bunch of hypocrites!" Who has more insight regarding fighting in the NHL than guys who made a living fighting in the NHL? Shut. The. Fuck. Up. Don.

Leonard Cohen, New Skin For The Old Ceremony.

First period was a bit of a mess, but the Leafs looked pretty good after that. Reimer looked a lot better tonight than he did during the preseason.

Steckel for a 4th round pick? Sounds fine to me. The Leafs don't have a real face-off expert. Except Zigomanis, but they keep sending him to the Marlies. Link

Farewell to one of the greatest guitar players ever. I wish I had been around the other year when he was opening for Neil Young; that would have been a hell of a pairing for a concert. RIP Bert Jansch

The Raveonettes, Chain Gang of Love.

It appears that Frattin may be in, for at least as long as Kadri is out (and maybe longer!). Link From what little I have seen of the pre-season, the kid's been quite good.

In. Awesome! This is going to make for a great returning-home concert! (Maybe that was Ryan Adams' plan all along.) Thanks Wassink Wild Card!

It gave me first choice in the draft! There are only 9 teams this year, so I guess *everybody* likes the look of their team after the draft.