I was too busy sawing all those rabid fiddler's instruments in half, (a service I perform for the festival to halt the spread of the dreaded disease "Fiddlitus"). If the contagion can be identified early on, in the beginning stages, the terrible aftermath can many times be avoided. Of course this means the carrier must undergo a long period of rehabilitation. There are new drugs being tested to ease the distress that often occurs from withdrawl and a number of support groups, with thirteen step programs, which have been established that can aid the sufferer in this regard, like FA (Fiddlers Anonymous). Typical symptoms are often easy to spot. They include but are not limited to, the infected carrier playing fiddle tune after fiddle tune, sometimes for hours on end, without regard for those within earshot about them that must endure their ceaseless trance-like scratching. This condition is often an indication that the individual is in the advanced stages of the disease and therefore beyond all hope of redemption and the instruments have to be confiscated and destroyed for the good of all, so the disease doesn't spread and infect others. The sad thing is, even after the infected instruments have been sawed to pieces, the owners will often be seen at the Folk Life auction feverishly bidding on yet another to take its place, infecting another perfectly healthy instrument, all because they were unaware that they were carriers. This year the spread of the vile, insidious malady was worse than the last and I had to spend nearly the entire weekend working nonstop sawing what seemed like an endless stream of Strad copies to kindling. Education is the key, beware, be safe, wear proper protection, guard against contacting and spreading this mennace, the Fiddlitus virus! ;o)

Saw ya later, Reggie