If somebody told me "From now on, for the rest of your life, the only song you will ever be allowed to listen to will be 'By Your Side' by Sade," I would say "that is more than fine with me." If you haven't heard Lovers Rock, your life as you know it has been very sad.

Writing update: The Killing the Buddha piece has been whittled way down by the capable editorial guidance of Laurel Synder and Peter Manseneau and is nearly done; various weeklies know that I want to write about Hem, but as yet no word for them on No Word From Tom; the first round of Bandoppler stuff is due next Wednesday -- pieces for that are on The Elected and an old Rentals demo; I wrote 1000 words on Sufjan Stevens and Christian music, but Books and Culture passed, already having a Sufjan piece on the docket, so am looking at other spots for that; my EMP Proposal was hurridly emailed on Monday night.