Hmmm. Not sure how to respond to this.

Are you having a good day today, keb? I'm getting an impression of No. I'm sorry if that's the case.

I am a long-time contributor, but there are many topics I never comment on because I know that my input would not be welcome. Politics, for example, is usually a no-go area for me except in the rare case of a thread on Canadian politics. When I stay out, I do so because I have no dog in the fight, or because I know the other participants in the thread are chewing on an issue that they have wrangled over many times in the past without resolution.

Although they may be entirely notional, some of the testier circles at Mudcat are like family fights -- their debates have been going on since the year dot, and they don't want to be challenged. No good can come of sticking an oar in.

Instead, I prefer topics everyone can chip in on without hard feelings, such as house-cleaning, cats and food. And practising tunes.

How's your string ensemble doing? Do you have a new fiddle yet?