Frequently Asked Questions

This file is an attempt to answer some questions people might have about these editorials. If you have a different question, send email.

Why are you doing this?

Well, I get calls to write things for a variety of places, and sometimes I do it. But I do prefer the Internet, because not only is there more editorial control, but the readership is larger. I also like the idea of it.

Why make us subscribe?

I like to keep this section of the site a little more private. Search engines cannot get into it, and people are not jumping randomly into the middle of a complicated series of thoughts. It also helps me keep track of some of these ideas. There is no fee, so I hope that you do not see it as a big hassle.

How often will you be writing?

When I started this column, I wrote every week, and after about half a year, that went to every other week, with the occasional (and announced) vacation. I also published consistently on Thursday in California. After six years, I have decided to stop having a regular schedule. How often new articles will appear now remains to be seen. I do not know.

Why don't you notify me when a new article appears?

I don't want generally to invade people's privacy in that way. I realize that, even if you are interested, it can be hard to remember, but the old editorials sit here indefinitely, so you can read them when you get here. I also don't want to maintain a mailing list for people who specifically request notification. This way, if I start boring you, you can stop coming, and I don't need to hear about it.

Where should I place my bookmark?

If you've already subscribed, I suggest you put it on the Current Editorial page, because that's the main one being updated, and there are links to everything else from there.

Why don't you make these pages prettier?

I'm a writer, OK? Seriously, these pages use a relatively new thing called "style sheets" which are available in the latest browsers, and are supposed to be a new standard. If you have them, you might like the pages that way. If you don't, don't worry about it. It's just fonts & colors & stuff. I don't use them myself, to be honest.

How about some sound samples?

While I could probably get permission to add some things like this, it would take a lot of time to deal with it. So in all honesty, I just don't want to do it. Also, the way things are now, such a setup would have a chance to cost me money in the fees I pay for web bandwidth.

Can you give me more precise references on the things you write about?

I hope so.... Feel free to ask. My memory is notoriously hazy at this point in my life, but I can probably point you in the right direction.

Where can I buy the CDs you talk about?

It can be very hard sometimes, I know. In some cases, they are simply unavailable, unfortunately. There is a list of some places to buy online in the Early Music FAQ which might be helpful, as well as a page on how to buy some World Music labels elsewhere. In addition, I am trying to gather together retail purchasing information to link directly from the individual CD files. It often remains a matter of luck.

Who are you?

I do have a bio online, but if you're asking this question, you might not like it. I'm the guy who writes these editorials. Reading them probably says more about me than anything.

Why do you use such strange expressions?

Well, I grew up in semi-rural Indiana, and so I speak strangely and I have a lot of idiomatic expressions I like to use. I try to tone it down a bit, and I do feel bad for non-native readers, but if I constrain myself too much, I don't feel as though I write very well.

What should I do when you make a big mistake?

I'm sure that can happen. As a matter of principle, I'm not going to go back and revise the editorials, but if I need to put a correction in the next one (meaning it's important), I will. So you can tell me. I have gone back to fix some grammar and some spelling mistakes, but I want to avoid doing too much of that or changing something beyond minimally. Leaving it be is supposed to be part of the challenge here.

Does that mean you stand behind everything you've said?

Not exactly. I freely admit to having said it, but sometimes I do change my mind. I'm not going to insist on continuing to believe something simply because I once did, although hopefully my thoughts will remain fairly consistent. Perhaps more to the point, I definitely think some of these editorials came out better than others. It's not so much that I disagree with what I wrote, but that I think it's sometimes insipid or incoherent. Nonetheless, I'm leaving it there. That sums up my thoughts on that.

Will you solve all the world's problems?

That seems unlikely. Besides, what would the remaining people who like solving problems do with their time?

Why don't you just shut up and let people do what they do?

That's a generic criticism of criticism, as it were. I'll talk about that in the editorials sometimes, I'm guessing. In a nutshell, I think it is worthwhile to have honest feedback from someone who is (hopefully) knowledgeable. More than that, if I mention you at all, consider it a compliment. Seriously. If this makes no sense to you, stop, think again.