Jon Johanning wrote:

>... the "Decline of the West"

I thought this HAD been happening since the Nano-Second after it
reached its "Peak", BUT did it ever reach one?? The So-Called "Decline"
pre-supposes such a Thing = I am NOT sure there was anything to "Decline"
from?? I, TOO, get rather disheartened sometimes, looking through the many
posts on this list in which people fiercely duel over whose performance of
work X is "best." To me, this is all beside the point.  But I, TOO, suppose
I am just getting old and tired, and don't have the stamina to cut the
mustard in this particular sport.  As Francisco Xavier Sinatra once sang [&
a Mate who played in the Supporting orchestra for him tells me - Frankie
did Sing!!] "I DID IT MY WAY"!!

Bill(Y).