Ed and Spaw and Tim - to say that that UN definition is referring to regulations on immigration/emigration, which I'm merely saying should be stonger than the status quo, would be silly.

IB - as well as repeatedly referring to a recorder made in Japan as an "Engrish frute" you have also told as of your friends at the pub making racist jokes. I never do that - what I do, rather, is question the act of immigration itself, which is NOT racism.

DB - sorry I can't recall his name, but I enjoyed a chap from somewhere south playing a hammered dulcimer very well at the Rothbury Trad. Mus. Festival this year.

"WAV it is not secret that judges look for encouraging ways to say 'that was pretty awful'. Normal entrants accept the 'praise' for what it is - encouragement to keep trying. I'll translate for you 'Keep trying; you may improve with time and experience'" (Stu)...I stand by what I said above: you are knocking folks you may normally respect to have another go at me, sadly - i.e., some well-respected folkies both compete and judge at these events and, without suchlike, maybe we wouldn't have some of the earliest folkie recordings, such as Joseph Taylor's unaccompanied singing.