I am not involved in the operation of the Mechanical Music Digest and
the following comments are unsolicited.

I noticed at the PayPal site that there have been 93 verified PayPal
members, during more than a two year period, that have paid to support
the Mechanical Music Digest through PayPal.  Considering that there are
more than 1100 of us who receive MMD daily, I would have expect that
number to have been greater.  It does take 30 days for that number to
be updated for a new transaction and possibly many who have utilized
PayPal to support MMD are not verified PayPal members.  Others might
have utilized a check or other means to support MMD.

I am sure we all appreciate Robbie Rhodes' and Jody Kravitz's efforts
in providing such a wonderful Digest on a daily basis.  Operating the
MMD must be a "labor of love" for both of them, but there certainly are
expenses that need to be paid in order for MMD to operate.  I would
like to suggest that now might be a good time for each of us to reflect
on how much we look forward to receiving the MMD and act accordingly.

Joe Orens

 [ The number of MMD subscribers hovers at about 1180.  I was hoping
 [ we would reach 1200 subscribers by the years end but I don't think
 [ we will reach the goal.  Each month a few new folks subscribe but
 [ an equal number un-subscribe or simply vanish.  An old Western song
 [ tells why the village population is constant: "Ev'ry time a baby's
 [ born, there's always someone moves away!"
 [
 [ Jody and I certainly appreciate your contributions to MMD, which
 [ help to pay for the Internet connection expenses and occasionally
 [ a new hard disk drive for the Foxtail computer (continuously
 [ on-line).  Our time is donated.
 [
 [ Happy New Year!  -- Robbie