> I think I could probably expound on this a good bit if I had the chance > to focus today... I'm especially interested in exploring John's thoughts > on the state of cross-pollinization today -- I think arguments can be > made for both sides, that the openness of the Information Age could be > seen either as facilitating greater cross-pollinization of genres or > stifling cross-pollinization (and the truth probably lies somewhere in > the middle). I usually only cross-pollinize under the influence of people I know - in a social situation when someone puts on a record I haven't heard and tells you a story about it and it sounds cool so you make a note of it ... or if a reviewer you trust in your favorite genre makes a recommend I am likely to give it a shot. Listening to clips and random surfing doesn't persuade me enough - it's just a blur after awhile - I need someone to sell me on new stuff a bit. But once you have a starting point the internet is great for expanding knowledge. Lee Elliott