Admittedly Off-Topic, Maybe Not

[Z! Reinhardt]

Hi List!

As many of you know, this past weekend has been a very unusual weekend in
Detroit -- some people were left very glad, others very sad.  The Great
Icon of Big City Shopping in its grandest form was imploded, reducing a
large 410-foot tall building to a pile of rubble in less than a minute. 
Now they can build some spiffy-new complex once the rubble has been cleared
away.

Will the new buildings fulfill the needs of the neighborhood?  Will they be
as glorious as the one we just lost?

Not so long ago there was much discussion about imploding pianos without
the use of explosives just by hurtling them by some means with enough force
to cause a crash landing.  Even more recently there has been discussion
about saving and restoring something that others may consider clinically
dead.

It's true -- I sometimes draw analogies between pianos and buildings, in
addition to pets and cars.  Some buildings were built on a grand scale
(though not necessarily large) and with appropriate maintenance, were meant
to remain a vital part of the neighborhood for years and years to come. 
Sometimes they undergo extensive restoration, and sometimes they simply
fall victim to demolition crews.  Every once in awhile, there may be an
interest in restoring for whatever reason a building that had been
neglected for too long but that too gets demolished.  Other buildings were
built cheaply by the lowest bidder and are not really candidates for
restoration, regardless of how they *relate* to their neighborhoods.

We've all seen those glory pianos built before 1930.  Some are worth
restoring, and others are too far gone despite the interests the customers
may have.  We've also seen those pianos the previous generation bought
while on a tight budget that have taken on some sort of an identy with that
generation despite its low-bid construction.

Think about it.  Pianos are built to last a long time like buildings.  They
require maintenance in return for which they contribute something to the
music, much as a building contributes to its neighborhood.  Sometimes they
can be restored, but sometimes they've been neglected for too long.  In any
case, they become steeped with memories, so that losing a glorious one is
much like losing a glorious building.

Just some thoughts ---
Z! Reinhardt RPT
Ann Arbor  MI
diskladame@provide.net