Archive for October 27th, 2006

Today was shopping day on Emusic.com. I signed up for the premium annual subscription last month and I haven’t had time to download anything since my 90-song allotment renewed last week. You can imagine my giddy anticipation. I had 59 albums stored for purchase consideration and managed to add two more albums to that list before downloading anything. After today’s spree and after removing some items I purchased last month, that list is now down to 56 items.

I’m listening to the new albums now and I can’t figure out which one is my favorite. It’s a three-way tie between Jay Farrar’s “Sebastopol“, Lucero’s “Tennessee” and the Pernice Brothers “The World Won’t End“. Jay Farrar and Pernice Brothers were my favorite downloads from last month, along with Plain White T’s. Oh, and Dillon Fence. Robbie Fulks’ stuff was pretty good too.

I also downloaded M. Ward’s “Transfiguration“, Bob Mould’s “Body of Work” and Ray Charles “The Essentials“. I haven’t gotten through all that yet but I look forward to it.

I am continually amazed at what a great deal Emusic happens to be. On top of the 90 tracks I get with my monthly subscription, I download maybe 15 to 30 free tracks each month. I probably pay under $.19 cents a track for music without any kind of digital rights restrictions and it’s music I genuinely enjoy. I’m already looking forward to November 21st when my monthly subscription renews again. Emusic does sell “booster packs” I could use to buy music sooner, but I’m trying to avoid those. I almost wish Emusic had a $24.95 per month subscription plan. If they offered 120 tracks per month at that price, I’m sure they’d get plenty of subscribers to sign up. They’re probably missing out by making $19.95 their premium level.

ESPN.com - NCB - College Basketball Rankings

Since football season ended for UNC somewhere around the first weekend of play, UNC fans have been looking forward to the beginning of basketball season. It should be a good season for UNC and they premier at #2 in the first USA Today Coaches Poll.

I’m glad they’re ranked #2 rather than #1 as we have a history of being knocked off when we get the #1 ranking. Just ask Georgia Tech. They always seem to beat us when we have the top ranking. Bastiges.

The poll seems to suggest a down year for the ACC. UNC is the only ACC team in the top 10. Duke comes in at #11. BC is 15th and Georgia Tech is 21st. Maryland and Florida State make the “others receiving votes” category. I guess I’m used to seeing three ACC teams crowding the top 10.

It’s still early, however. There are two Big 10 teams in the top 10 and that shouldn’t last long. The Big 10 always chokes come tournament time. The Big East also has two but those two are Pittsburgh and Georgetown, two perennial strong-start, weak-finish teams. The PAC 10 gets UCLA and Arizona into the top 10. That sounds about right.

The other two spots go to top-ranked Floriday and 7th ranked LSU. I suspect the SEC will be tough, especially come tournament time.

No matter though. I am excited about seeing what a young and athletic UNC team can do. Roy Williams, as always, has promised that UNC will run like hell the entire season. Win or lose, it should at least be exciting.

Duke sucks! Go Heels!

Oops: USC coach was ignored for UNC job

North Carolina fired Coach John Bunting this week, which is ironic because six years ago Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll tried to get the Tar Heels job that eventually went to Bunting.

“They never called me back,” Carroll said. “I never got a smell.”

Maybe Pete Carrol is interested in coming to UNC now. He’s only won two National Championships at USC.

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