In its "Arts, Briefly" column in the February 15 issue, The New York Times reported on a guide to the top 10 albums of all time assembled by the official newspaper of the Holy See, L' Osservatore Romano. None of Bob Dylan's works made the list, though his "great poetic vein" was admired. A critique was offered of what followed in Dylan's wake - the armies of singer-songwriters charged with having "harshly tested the ears and patience of listeners, thinking that their tortured meanderings might interest someone."

These deathless words belong to Goethe: "Not in that he leaves something behind him, but in that he works and enjoys and stirs others to work and enjoyment, does a man's importance lie."

Dylan can't be blamed for all that came after him, and he did manage to encourage some very good people, among whom could be counted such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. (The Holy See's defensive response can all too easily be heard: "No! We don't mean them! We mean Phil Ochs! A-and The Smothers Brothers!)

The Holy See's critical vision was greeted with some enthusiasm at the "I'm So Restless" Appreciation Affiliate, as those very words could serve as the "ISR'"AA's charter. There can be no surprise, however, that there is a faction so horrified with being seen as in agreement with the Vatican on anything that they want to abandon the whole organization .

An observer notes: "It's kinda like that iCarly episode where Freddy Doesn't like Fred's videos and the latter shuts his operation down." Only it isn't. There, it was a dislike disclosed; here it's a commonality revealed. (Still, that's a crucial episode, where Sam says she buried Paul - in her own words: "I buried Paul!" And in the deathless words of Principal Franklin: "Now that I believe.")