Now here's a topic I know a lot about: Useless information being
distributed in a digest.

While Larry makes a somewhat valid point regarding the necessity or
relevance of certain types of postings to the MMD, (a) We all have a
mouse and can scroll right on by that which we find uninteresting,
(b) We're not the Editors, (c) The publication is *still free* and
(d) Variety is the Spice of Life.

I'll be the first (well, maybe the second or third) to admit that my
postings aren't always completely related to Mechanical Music but my
life is completely devoted to every aspect of the trade.  And while
it's true that some postings read more like excerpts from a 'Dear
Diary' that should have been left under a fluffy bed-pillow, they
were posted by people whose lives revolve around this interesting
and expanding trade.

"The Mechanical Music industry IS people, NOT things.  And without
the people, the things would rot away to nothing."  You can quote me.

It's interesting to note that Larry's posting, while having basically
nothing to do with Mechanical Music, still enjoyed inclusion into the
MMD.  So it might rightly be said, as it was by Robert Green Ingersoll
in his book Limitations of Toleration, "Give to every other human being
every right you claim for yourself."

In closing, I find many of the off-topic postings very enlightening and
I believe that if the editors didn't feel the same way (to some degree)
the articles would not be posted.  I know that in the past, I have
spoken negatively about articles that I interpreted as useless.

But in the same breath, I must admit that it is the MMD that has
helped me to learn how to be more tolerant of other people and their
viewpoints.  And who knows, some day I might give credit to the MMD
for helping me become a more eloquent writer.  At least now I use spell
check most of the time. :-)

So Larry...  I must disagree.

Just my opinion,

John A. Tuttle