I saw a jazz link in an episode of Degrassi: the Next Generation this past week: one character gave another her late grandfather's guitar as a holiday gift... she said he used it when he played with Django Reinhardt.

I've heard Django mentioned a lot of late. I have to track his music down now; I'm very curious.

Suzy Arioli is really getting a big promotional push here: not only do we get frequent ads on TV for her new album, she was also featured on the entertainment feature on CTV News last night.

Today I heard two of my favorite things: Couleur Jazz had a mention of NaNoWriMo!

Finally!

Couleur Jazz officially launched as a full radio station yesterday evening, but I first heard it early this morning when my alarm went off.

The station is French, but that's not a problem for me; I'm trilingual.

A correction: my Jazz Radio station is called Couleur Jazz, not Cool. The word is French for "color".

TV Stations in my neck of the woods are heavily promoting the latest release from the Susan Arioli band.

She's not Holly Cole, but who else is? She's still quite good.

Finally, the official launch of CKLX (or COOL FM) will be tomorrow, Tuesday.

Considering they'd advertised the intended launch at the Jazz festival this past summer as some time in September, they're running very late!

Friday night on CoolTV was the first time I've ever seen Bela Fleck and the Flecktones perform. That was interesting - especially seeing that Bela was a guy! (I should have known that... so is Bela Lugosi.)

I'm still trying to figure out if Bela's guitar actually incorporates several instruments, or if it just looks cool.

This week's Four for Friday:

Q1: A 14-year-old Australian boy, Christopher Harris, announced yesterday that next Spring he plans to become the youngest person ever to attempt to climb and summit Mt. Everest. How do you feel about someone as young as Harris attempting such a risky endeavor?:
I think that's a bad thing. Considering how many people have lost digits and worse on the mountain, the fact that he hasn't even got a mature health system works against him.

Q2: Are you better off or worse today financially then you were four years ago at this same time (in December of 2000)?
I'd definitely say worse off.

Q3: Do you personally know anyone who has made it really big either in Hollywood, politics, sports, or business? If you don't know anyone directly, how about thru that whole X Degrees of Separation thing?
One of my close cousins is a professional wrestler, and I've seen him perform.

In two degrees of separation, my dad worked with both William Shatner and Leonard Cohen at different jobs.

Q4: If you could choose one event from any point in the future whose outcome could be known to you now, what would you like to know?
That's an easy and somber question to answer: I'd love to know the exact day a cure for MS is discovered.

I finally tried Emusic's free 50 MP3 trial. I mostly downloaded Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie and John Coltrane tracks...

Now that I got my 50 songs, I'll cancel the account. I can't afford to make it a pay one.

From the Thursday Threesome:

Onesome: Dancing-- Dancing? Does anyone go dancing anymore? I mean, disco died, and the club scene? Hmmm... Is dancing dead? ...or are we just here on the web instead of out for the evening?
I don't know many jazz standards I'd call danceable... but my lack of energy exerting myself pretty much stops dancing from being likely for me.

Twosome: Polar-- Polar bears seem to do well in the snow... How about you? Is snow just another thing you deal with when it shows up, or is it shutdown time? ...and if you're posting from a non-snowy locale, do you make trips to actually see snow? It's okay to admit it...
Ironically, the snow began in Montreal 2 days ago... in theory I can handle colder weather better, but ice tends to cause me to walk very slowly if I have to. Falling could be catastrophic for me.

Threesome: Bears-- Bears? Christmas Bears? Have you seen the number of bears on the shelf this year? Are you getting one for anyone? ...or are you looking forward to receiving one? ...or do you still think that inguana in the elf outfit is more your style *g*?
I'm not a big bear fan... but Winnie the Pooh has been a large part of my nephew and nieces lives so far. My nephew is too old now for bears, but his sisters aren't... I may get them some for Hannukah.

It wouldn't be an appropriate December 1^st if I didn't at least acknowledge World Aids Day.

I've been fortunate that none of my circle of friends or family died of Aids, but I'm in the minority for that. With 20 million victims worldwide, odds are that many of you reading this have been affected in some way by it.

I often point out to friends that in MS I have the immune system wrecker that isn't fatal. That's admittedly a small distinction, but I guess it's something...

Think of ways you can help, whether by supporting a research charity, or even by bringing meals to someone struck by HIV and unable to cook for themselves. Even small things help.

On CKLX they just blended both of my favorite things, the Beatles and Jazz... a Jazz version of the song Blackbird.

NaNoWriMo has been keeping me preoccupied, so I haven't been updating here as often as I'd like lately...

CKLX began their rollout on the 21^st as they announced. It's still not the official launch, according to the announcements they play, but at least the music is now more varied!

This, along with the date of November 11^th should be self-explanatory

either leave your answers or a link to your webpage with your responses.

Would you rather:
1. join a band of rebel fighters in some south american country for three months OR a tibetan monastery for a year?

A monastery. I'm neither physically able to be a fighter or of the mindset to be a killer.
2. wake up and find your name tattooed on your bicep OR find all your body hair shaved?

Much as the idea of having my ponytail shaved off horrifies me, tatoos done willingly are abhorent to Jews. I wouldn't.
3. find a time machine that only goes back to ancient egypt OR only goes back to 1920?

As a walking film noir character, it should come as no surprise that the 20s would be my pick.
4. have the ability to smell as well as a dog does OR see as good as an eagle does?

Sharper vision would be my choice. To pick out more detail around me would be divine.

From Monday Madness:

Name 3 (or more, or less!) things...
1. ...you cannot live without.
My weekly wrestling shows (I comment on them on another blog), my jazz music (big surprise there) and my weekly gym. I've missed a session here and there, and felt awful about it.

2. ...you CAN live without, but cannot seem to part with.
My daily soap opera (All My Children), radio talk shows and spray on hair gel.

3. ...you wish to accomplish this COMING week.
Get to 25 K on my Nano, and go to Con*Cept 2004 (the Montreal WorldCon bid for 2009 launches there, after all!).

4. ...you have accomplished this PAST week.
Got to 13 K on my book.

5. ...on your holiday (or non-holiday) 'wish list.'
The Gargoyles Season 1 DVD (I'm already going to pre-order it on Amazon!).

6. ...you would like to change about yourself.
My lack of approachability, my stubborness toward change for the better.

7. ...you like about yourself.
My stubborness to get things done, my "never give up" attitude.

8. ...you should be doing right now instead of what you ARE doing.
That's a simple item: working on my novel!

9. ...in your life that could use a little more organization.
How I arrange my home, how I dicipline my writing regimen.

The ads on CKLX just gave an official date and time for their official launch! November 20^th, 12:51 PM my time!

It's not what I'd consider really 'soon', and most of NaNoWriMo will be done, but at least I know it'll finally happen!

NaNoWriMo hept me from posting anything since Monday... since a lot of it is based around the seasons, this meme from 3X Thursday fits:

1.Do you have a favorite season? Which is it? Why?
Actually two: spring and fall. The reason: they aren't too warm for me to handle moving, and not too cold for me to enjoy. Plus: no snow. That's a big plus. No gray sky either.

2. Mood and mind changes come along with seasonal changes. Why do you think that is?
I think if the sky is all gray and cloudy, our minds and bodies don't feel right. Much as I hate the sun, what with the way it reduces me to a ball of jelly, the light does make me feel better.

3. Which seasons are your highlights? Which ones are 'the blahs'?
Again, spring and fall are my highlights. Summer, unlike for sun worshippers, is a definite "blah". I spend all of it huddled by my air conditioner to stay mobile.

Bonus Question for Comments: If you had to choose one season that would last all year, which one would it be? Why?
I'd have to say spring. Not only is it just warm enough, but it's the season where nature renews itself, where the snow vanishes.

Another week of regular ads on CKLX that the station goes into operation very soon, and it still hasn't.

For awhile they seemed to be playing different music loops, but it's back to one of the same stuff for a few days now. I'm hoping this is a good sign.