Well, this turned into a rather packed issue. I’ve got a ton of editing to do so I’ll keep my usual rant short this time. Let’s get this thing rolling.

New “Staff” Members

In response to last issue’s call for more writers for the Zine and the site in general, we’ve had a few people step up to help us out. In fact, I’ve probably been a bad editor by not mentioning a few of these earlier since a couple of them actually started before my most recent call for help. Here’s the updated list of everyone who is currently on the Tastyfresh staff.

• Brian Babinec: Reviewer
• John Baker: Site Content Writer, Content Editor and Review Editor
• Dan Bartow: Forum Moderator
• Robert Brooks: Writer
• Justin Coleman: Site Content Writer
• Neil Clopton: Writer
• DJ Dunamis: Site Content Writer
• DJ DuNord: Reviewer
• Gerwin Koudijs: Reviewer
• Josh LaMarche: Interviewer
• Kevin Oneel: Reviewer and Writer
• David Richardson: The Guy who Pwns this place.
• Brandon Sweet: Forum Moderator and Writer
• Cindy Tucker: Forum Moderator
• John Turpin: Forum Moderator
• Alex Wilson: The Drop Editor
• Scott Zeilenga: Reviewer

Keep in mind, those are just the people that I can REMEMBER who are currently working on the site and not those who have worked at one time or another. The list would easily double in length if I provided that list.

For everyone who has helped out at some point or another AND for those who still do or are just starting to… THANK YOU! This site would not exist in its current form today without your contribution and in many ways; you have been an answer to prayer. If I missed your name and you are currently working on the site, please send me a nasty PM and I’ll add you to the list and apologize profusely.

More Frequent Reviews

Well, we are now working with five reviewers and we have a dedicated editor. This means that we now have a full-blown staff for reviews. This has been a HUGE answered to prayer. By the time a new issue of the zine rolls out most of the material we have reviewed to date has been weeks if not months old. In many cases, this has been an embarrassment in my opinion. All of that is changing now. We are officially starting to post reviews every week. We are aiming to post at least two reviews from here until the end of eternity. Now I just have the problem of obtaining the material for review. We’re good for several weeks however and new material is already on its way in.

Event Coverage

Well, the summer is winding down now. I can’t think of another time when so much has happened in the Christian dance scene. First, we had the annual Cornerstone Festival. Then, out of nowhere came this CloveR Festival that nobody had heard of, but was being put together by the DEMF people. Yes… you heard me. DEMF. Then Club Worship brought Andy Hunter over to provide some DJ training and to lead a special night of DJ led worship. And that… was just the major events within the United States. Over in Europe we had Greenbelt and Flevo. In this issue, we’re covering what happened at the three major events in the US from the perspective of those who were there. These are not necessarily event reviews, but rather personal experiences and perspectives.

The Usual Fare

Well, this brings us to business as usual. Oneel has provided us with not one, but two articles in his The Business of Dance Music series. The first was actually posted in the forums a few weeks back as a bonus issue. It’s included here to keep the series intact. The other article is brand spanking new… and will probably end up being posted a bit late. We also have Part II of last issue’s Drop. Eventually, we are hoping that Steve Jeffery will write a “counter” article to these two that covers the club scene in the UK. Chris Salisbury also returns to give us a warning about apathy. Lastly, Neil Clopton provides us with a broad look at how to select gear for your studio. Unfortunately, time did not permit for me to write the fourth article in my Unity series. I’ll be picking up that banner again in the next issue and hopefully bring it to a close.

Well, that’s it. WAIT!!! I do have one last thing to bring up. Many of you have already have heard, but Brian Scroggins formerly of Prophecy of P.A.N.I.C. has been fighting a tumor in his brain. Back in May, he was experiencing some vision loss and went to see his doctor. The tumor that they found is in an inoperable spot deep in his brain right temporal lobe where it is pressing up against a vision receptor. He’s been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments now since late May.

We’re all praying for him and his family, but I’m sure that you all have heard how difficult it can be for cancer patients to make ends meet with all of their medical bills. I’ve talked with Brian and I feel that we as a community should try to take some of the financial burden from him. I will be setting up a Paypal.com donation box on the site in a few days for this purpose. I’ve known Brian for years. He’s probably more trustworthy and faithful than I am with what God gives him. If you feel led, please use this box to send him some cash. It doesn’t have to be a lot, even a few dollars will do. The money you send will go straight into his Paypal account. The people here at TF will not handle a dime of it. If you can’t help out financially, please keep him and his family in your prayers. If you want to keep up with his struggle, he’s keeping us all up to date in the Prayer Forum.

Well now… THAT’s all I have. Man this was longer than I expected. Thanks for bearing with me on it. I hope you truly enjoy this issue as well as the improved review system. Hopefully next time, I’ll talk with you about the NEXT redesign of the site.

In Christ,
David R.