Finally, Saturday

iPod morning commute music: Bob Dylan, Bootleg Series, Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975 - The Rolling Thunder Revue (Disc 1 and a bit of 2)
Dylan live is always a revelation as he reinvents his songs with each performance (note his rocking version of A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall on this set as just one great example). This two-disc set captures Dylan just before he converted to Christianity, and covers all aspects of his career through the album Desire. The recording quality is excellent, as is the song selection. The Rolling Thunder Revue was a huge band, including Mick Ronson on guitar and Joan Baez singing duets with, as she calls him, Bobby. If you're a Dylan fan, you really need this music.

Tomorrow the World Serious starts, but the Japan Serious started this evening, with the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers going against the Bobby Valentine skippered Chiba Lotte Marines. Those of us living here in the Kansai area are almost all Hanshin Tigers fans. They last won the championship in 1985, but are usually the league bottom feeders. I know nothing about the Marines other than they haven't won the championship since 1974.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Marines are leading 10 to 1, with the game delayed due to fog. Things do look bleak for the Tigers, at least in game 1.

Is there anyone outside of Texas who isn't rooting for the White Sox in this year's Serious?

Wine of the day: 1993 Chateau Lanessan, Haut Medoc

A note on wine in Japan: Since almost everything is imported (Japan does have a small wine industry), prices are competitive for all wine, be it French, Australian, South American or US. For example, today's wine cost ¥2100, or about $18 at today's exchange rate. Also, older vintages are readily available; not as old as today's wine, which is an unusual find, but vintages ranging from 2000-2002 are easy to find. Of course, young wine is also available at cheaper prices.