Observer's Comments...

Hello all. 
   i'm new to the net (three months or so) and have been receiving this
digest for two months, silently getting to know you guys before i comment,
and i just have to now. First, and most importantly: Mark, i don't know you
at all, and i don't believe God can be petitioned with prayer (Morrison
reference not intentional), but i've been praying for you just in case.
Secondly, i love salamander's sense of humor, so keep it up no matter what
these guys say. Thirdly, about the Tirades: i think Pete would smile to find
such an intelligent and spiritual discussion occuring on this list. Whether
or not its appropriate here, i enjoyed it and i agree that open discussions
are the best. Lastly i wanted to comment on a theme in here about what i
call "pop crap" and this could take awhile,  so i apologize. When it comes
to "pop crap" music, that is, meaningless but fun stuff you're ashamed that
you actually like, we all have our skeletons (be it Billy Idol, Alanis
Morrisette, or even ABBA). But getting all defensive about which is better
is dumb: its all personal taste. Beethoven fans, or Zappa fans, or even
Pheotis fans, may consider The Who to be pop crap... and they might be
right. Nothing wrong with that.  And by the way: Abba has sold gazillions of
records and people love them around the world and yadda yadda yadda....
Whitney Houston has sold more records than the Beatles. Doesn't mean she has
talent, integrity, or an ounce of musical merit. Not that i'm picking on her
or her fans-- i just mean you can't judge acts by their commercial appeal or
success. i know this point is obvious to Pete Townshend fans out there...
the sales figures for "Psychoderelict" are really depressing. And yet it is
one of his greatest artistic successes, regardless of whether or not you
like it -- the complexity of plot, integration of songs and story, diversity
of song styles and sheer weight of the themes he used... it may not be on
par with Tommy or Quad as a recording, but you have to admit it was a far
more challenging project. But wow, i'm on a tangent.
   i don't mean to belittle anybody here, quite the contrary. Just wanted to
throw out my two cents for a change. Love this digest, keep it up guys.
peace&violence,   jdworks      P.S.: Quote for you to ponder & name: "At
each end of my life is an open door."

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From: WFang01@aol.com