Bits and Bobs

If you're like me, you've got a lot of time on your hands this time of year (well, at least until I come home--gooblar arrives in newark saturday night). Some interesting reading/issues to discuss:

1)Yankees/Red Sox signings/moves. Who's done better? Here's a good discussion to get the ball rolling, though it was written before the RJ deal fell through (Yay Dodgers!) and the Sox signed Wade Miller (steal of the offseason?).

1a) Also this, from the NYTimes: "Manager Joe Torre acknowledged that Giambi's return was uncertain. 'There's the big question of, "Is Jason coming back?"' Torre said. 'If he does come back, he'll be welcomed with open arms, there's no question.'"

Torre, I know you have to be diplomatic and get behind your players, but seriously, dude's got like 80 million dollars still owed to him: if there were no question he'd be welcomed with open arms, there'd be no 'big question' of whether he's coming back.

1b) And this: Billy Beane 2004/5: visionary or idiot? Is this the way you have to do it? Cash in your assets when they have value and start all over again? Think about how you'd feel if you were a diehard A's fan.

2)PFork's albums and singles of the year. I think it's been a pretty shit year for albums (not that I've bought that many), but a great year for singles. But maybe every year is a great year for singles. No?

3)Douglas Wolk (who you can now clicky right over there in the handy new 'lynx' section) has a loooong piece on the responsibilities of the (pop) artist. It includes this interesting dictum:

"It's the duty of people who want to be serious about making stuff, & already have the necessary basic skills, to:

1) Plan projects that are realistically within their abilities (mantra for this stage: "I get to talk it up when it's mostly done, and not before" a.k.a. "don't let your mouth write a check that your ass can't cash");

2) Execute them to completion, assiduously and very carefully, attempting in earnest to respond to all significant and legitimate objections an ideal reader/viewer/listener/whatever might have, and being clear-eyed about the difference between major and minor flaws (mantra for this stage: "Is this boring or lame? How can I fix that?");

3) Finish them when they're almost done, remaining minor flaws or no, and let go of them when they're done (mantra for this stage: "There's more where that came from"); and

4) Assess them as ferociously as possible once they're done, to figure out what their weak points are, and how not to repeat those mistakes in the next project (mantra for this stage: "How could I have done better? How can I make something different and better--not necessarily bigger--than this?")."

Thoughts?