Real, live, bands used to perform at weddings; now they have "disk jockeys." Real, live people used to perform in taverns; now there is kareoke. Real, live people used to give concerts; now there is bad rap, bad rock, and what passes for music is volume.

I want a real, live person piping (anything but "Amazing Grace") at my funeral. And a real, live choir singing "Dies Irae" and other things. I don't plan to go anytime soon, but I think that having real, live people beats the hell out of a boombox and CD.