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My e-mail system has the facility for putting a "signature" at the end of the message; this is automatically appended when the "send" button is pressed. I don't send enough e-mail to justify putting one on, because it is a pain in the neck if I want to delete it - for instance, if the message contained in the "signature" is inappropiate to the recipient. First of all the message has to be put in deferred delivery, then retrieved and edited and put back in the delivery queue, or sent. However, if I sent a lot of e-maiI and wanted to get a message across, such as what a wonderful State I lived in, my interest in collecting items and so on, I would find it very useful in not having to type duplicate messages. As a one-time Small Business Counsellor (Pace, now retired and not touting for business!), I would certainly have advised any client to use his business card as a "signature", on his e-mail messages, as it was improbable that it would cause offence, would not cost any money, and who knows, some one out there may respond. When I joined the List in May of this year, as CG to my wife Helen (80 - 6), I had no idea of what to expect, but thought that we might learn something about PD, and get information about the latest research. We got this, but also what we found was a lot of really nice people out there, a sense of community, a concern for other people, and a willingness to make any knowledge and expertise freely available. If any one wants to see World altruism in action, let them read the Digest for a week!. Also, any newly diagnosed PWP can take a great deal of comfort from the fact that although physical deterioration may be concomitant with PD, many of the postings to the List will reassure them that mental deterioration is certainly not. It is when I look at the professional knowledge which is so freely imparted, that my sense of wonderment grows. My advice to small business owners was always that what they are selling is time, both their own and that of their employees - if any. For maximum profitability this time should be spent in servicing their clients, getting new clients, and doing what is required to keep the business going. When I look at the postings made by the regular contributors to the List (I won't name them to save their embarrassment, but you will all know who I mean) I marvel at how they can spare the time to share their knowledge with us. The financial rewards must be minimal, as of necessity their clients will generally be local to them, and most unlikely to be Parkies. I can only be thankful that their sense of altruism keeps them providing us with their expertise, and hope that the brickbats that have recently been thrown at them will not make them feel that there are many ingrates amongst us. If pressed I might admit that probably only 10% of what is given is of direct interest to me, but it is a different 10% each time, there are over 1,400 on the List, and I'd be very surprised if most of the remaining 90% is not of interest to some one. Certainly, I wouldn't want to put any of the professional contributors to the List to the trouble of deleting their business cards at the end of their message. They are doing enough for us as it is. If, on the unlikely chance that they get any additional business as a result of this inclusion, well, I shall be delighted, and take comfort in the thought that when they have a meeting with their Accountant, Bank Manager, Business Counsellor etc., and have to defend the amount of time they spend on unproductive work, which includes contributing to this List, they can claim that it is bread on the water, and a few crumbs have floated back to them. As a final random thought, I wonder if the sudden upsurge of ill will, which has been apparent in this last week or so is a result of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - if this is the cause, with so many Antipodeans on the List I suppose we must resign ourselves to another upsurge in July and August!. With best wishes, and may you all have a better 1997 Ray Lakin ([log in to unmask]) - UK subscriber to those interested!.