In my older age I've realized that many well intentioned good folks don't have a clue about how to do folk music. I really like them as people and as friends. I figure that, if they listen long enough and work on their craft eventually they will either do it--or they won't do it. We swap CDs and we say thanks. When theirs is great I tell them that profusely. When I don't feel it is all that good, I thank them again, we go out for a beer or a pizza---and we both go on with our lives.

But like the guy who gives you the finger from the relative safety of his car -- or the gal or guy who moons you from their boat on the Mississippi River (always the ones who you don't want to see)----the "safety" of Mudacat's forum has emboldened me to state my preferences here on too many occasions. I'm not always proud of that---and I am truly sorry if my too certain pronouncenents offended anyone. I'm done with doing that.

Art Thieme