So Tony.... how is your collection of Chinese styles and sounds coming along?

Fortunately, I guess a pentatonic scale cuts down on how harmonically complex your chords need to be, which works well for the arranger idea..!

But thank God that outsourcing is one of the last things to happen to musicians! Mind you, outsource most of our audience's jobs, and gigging gets a bit harder.

As I said... GDP is probably the WORST indicator of quality of life. In fact, it often seems to be a reverse indicator.

And Nigel... increased gambling is not a sign of a healthy economy. It is a sign of desperation. While a FEW reap the benefits from that industry, the numbers pale compared to what is being lost elsewhere. Note that these newer casinos are not being built in the middle of the wealthiest areas of our country, but amongst the poorest. Shreveport? Really??!!

I've played a few of the casinos up the Mississippi, and until you get to Tunica, most of them aren't filled by high rollers, but by desperate pensioners and field workers gambling their rent money on the chance of a jackpot. They were some of the most depressing gigs I ever played!