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by Dean Budnick
I have to admit I'm amazed and stoked once again to see all of the great content we have here for issue #3. Once again, everyone has really stepped up to do some amazing work. There is plenty to enjoy here and I hope you will take the time to soak it all in. Those of you who love free stuff (and who doesn't) should enter our essay contest to win a copy of Merl saunders With His Funky Friends or Jam bands, the book. Oh yes, and this wouldn't be me editorial if i didn't implore you to check out my crappy cartoon Mikey.

Having said all that, on a more serious note, I just want to thank everyone who expresed kind words to Andy, after the loss of his father. The on-line community has proven to be just that, a COMMUNITY, and I am proud to be a part of it. Alng these lines, I know you will all join me in wishing the best to our former Setting Levels editor Ryan Richardson who was forced to step down after doctors discovered a tumor. We wish him the best as well.

In light of all of this, let's all kick back, place everything in perspective, enjoy what we have, and savor every moment. The jams will be sweeter...

later days and peace,
Dean - budnick@fas.harvard.edu

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by Andy Gadiel
"There is a reason for everything. Purhaps at the moment the event occurs we have neither the insight nor the foresight to comprehend it's meaning, but with time and patience it will soon come to light" - Dr. Brian L. Weiss M.D. "Many Lives Many Masters"

As many of you might know, this has been quite an intense few weeks for me and my family. Last week my father passed away due to cancer, he was 62 years old.

I originally thought that I wouldn't announce to the internet world what had occured...that I would simply allow myself to go back to the web as a way to vent without having to deal with the issue of my father's passing. But as I woke up the next morning after he had passed, I realized that my connection to this world deserves as much respect as my connection to the everday 'real' world. So I posted a dedication on my Phish page.

Immediately I began recieving an outpouring of e-mails and message board postings. People who I have never met before or ever talked to expressed a true sense of appreciation for who I was and what I was going through. I was overwelmed with the response and immediately felt the community's heart and soul encompassing me and taking care of me in it's warm glow.

What we have is very special. We have a community of people all bound by a love for quality music and quality times. As a member of that community, when another community member is seen in distress or going through a hard time, it is our obligation to help that person. Since we are so moved by what brings us together, and we sense the divide influence at work in the music, it appears that the same sense of awareness and common bonds exists as friends and family.

It seems that it becomes so difficult sometimes to connect with people in a way which is meaningful. With so much going on you want to slow down the moments so you can take them in and simply breathe. The events of the past week have allowed me to put a great deal of my life into perspective, and attempt to enjoy the moments that I have...

If anyone needs me, I'll be sorting through the 700 e-mails I have left. (dwindled from the 1,500 I got last week)

You are all wonderful, and I'm proud to call you my family.

Dedicated in loving memory of my father, Ralph Gadiel (4/14/36 - 11/7/98)

Peace and Love,
Andy Gadiel
andy@gadiel.com