i was quite surprised to learn the death of ray manzarek yesterday.  he was 74.  he was, to me, without age.  i am a huge fan of the doors.  me and friends would spend our aimless youth driving the streets of our own california with the music of the doors as our soundtrack.  i loved how manzarek's keyboards would sound old, new and spooky like tracks to a film noir for the mind.  manzarek produced too the first two albums by x -- los angeles and wild gift -- and x repaid that gift with a fiery version of the doors' 'soul kitchen.'  manzarek's collaboration with poets like michael mcclure is also a well-known component of his art.  he seemed to me a nice man and a cool cat.  the world was better for him being in it.