It seems to me that this list encourages lurking - I never seem to say anything until I am sure it is quite safe. Hmmm... Anyway, someone recently mentioned trading mix tapes of pop music, and it reminded me of a tape trade (or tape tree, as we called it) that took place with some members of the trash can sinatras' list. There were about 20 people in a given tape-trading group. The only rules were that you weren't allowed to put any TCS songs on the tape, and you were supposed to send your tape to the next person on the list every two weeks. The same person would always send a tape to you, and you would always send your tapes to the same person. The tapes went in a circle, and order on the list was determined solely by geography, for prompt mail service, natch. I have to say that the tape trade was hugely successful. Even though it kind of fizzled out after a few months, everyone on the list agreed that they were able to largely expand their musical horizons. A lot of the bands that people had name-dropped frequently on the list appeared on tapes, so many were appreciative for the free listen. I personally "discovered" at least 4 or 5 new bands just from the tapes. I'm sure many of you can vouch that mix tapes are much more influential than radio! And since we all love Belle and Sebastian, we have some sort of common ground. This idea would probably not work between the UK and the US, but I think there are enough of us on each side to make it work, if enough people like the idea. So, listees, I leave it up to you to decide if this is a good idea or a bad one. -Erin P.S. I just wanted to add that Mr. Peter James Miller wrote the funniest e-mail I have seen in ages. I am so sick of hearing how great the songs are and never hearing the actual songs! Thank you for setting it straight. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . Coinini athasach ata muid - ag canuint amhrain na . coinini - nach bhfuilimid? -----------------------------------------------------------------------