Hello, Computer. How's the Internet today?

Morning Linkage

Diaz takes a stroll down memory lane - Diaz talked about his ties to La. Tech. with the media this week. Other than fond recollections of days past, he discusses Tech's offense, reminding us yet again of their SEC quarterback and seasoned RB. (Just FYI, Tech's RB seems like a solid player. He's started since his freshman year, and has averaged 5 yards per carry or more in each of his four seasons. Had over 1,000 yards his freshman and junior years, and had over 900 yards in his sophomore year even though he essentially played in only 9 games. Yeah, it's C-USA, but that's still a solid career. He missed last week, though is supposed to be back this weekend. Me thinks they're going to try to test our run defense.)

Relentless, Episode VII - Here it is, people:

Kids dig the Harley - Vic Schaefer's the man. He's a hell of a coach who has built State's women's basketball program into a legitimate contender, he rides a motorcycle indoors, and he just got a commitment from four-star guard Myah Taylor, Mississippi's Gatorade Player of the Year.

Rick Cleveland on Babe McCarthy - Cleveland doing what he does best. Read it.

CBS' "Basketball Staff" puzzled by our prospects - So CBS has created a preseason ranking that includes every D-1 college basketball team. Here's their insightful blurb about us that accompanies our ranking of 114:

114. Mississippi State: There's a lot of reason for excitement here, as Ben Howland is an accomplished coach and Malik Newman is a terrific freshman guard. But simply put, there's just not a ton of talent returning talent from Rick Ray's team, which is why they're located out of the top-100.

Attractive People Drinking Whisky

Pink Floyd Fridays

One random thing about Pink Floyd that doesn't get a lot attention is the band's love for straight-ahead funk and blues. If you go back and take a close listen, you'll find either whole songs or movements of longer pieces that exist on many records for no other reason than to have a blues or funk jam.

"More Blues" on More. This blues number they recorded for Zabriskie Point. "Biding My Time" on Relics. The "Funky Dung" portion of "Atom Heart Mother." This bit of "Echoes." Part VIII of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." It's not uncommon to hear bootlegs of shows from the early 70's where they'll finish up some epic psychedelic soundscape and then just whip out a ten-minute blues jam. (There's a bootleg of a show they did in Montreux, Switzerland that has a great comment by Roger Water preceding just such a jam, noting that it was a bit too late for mind expansion, and that the band was just going to play something else.)

Anyway, the very best of Pink Floyd's funky interludes may be "Any Colour You Like" from Dark Side of the Moon. Couldn't find a live video of them playing it back in the day, but this eight-minute version from a show in 1974 will more than do: