Oh my gosh - how this subject has provoked some people! Let's hope that at least some of the misunderstandings flying around are due to the notorious difficulty in expressing ourselves in what is in effect an email context. First, full disclosure time: I've met Bill Aley and sought his advice on some minor importation issues. The Bill Aley I met gave every impression of wanting to help me work within the system to achieve my goals. I found his suggestions to me surprisingly clever, not at all what one would get from someone satisfied to simply spout regulations. He not only demonstrated insight into the particular problems encountered by the small importer but evidenced a desire to help solve them. We should be glad that the Bill Aleys of the world are willing to take the time to be involved with us in working out these issues. Tim, I think your concerns about Bill or any other lurker spying on us are misplaced. You realize, don't you, that PBS postings are readily available to anyone Googling relevant topics? Everything you have ever posted is out there for anyone and everyone to see. If there are malicious interests determined to spy on us, they don't have to join the list to do so. This is such an important discussion to many of us that I'm sorry to see it flame. Let's try to get back to a civil discussion. I was very favorably impressed by some of what Ellen was posting, and I would be disappointed if she withdrew from this discussion, especially before some of the points she raised got the attention they deserve. At least we're not as bad as the crazies on YouTube who sometimes post inarticulate filth in response to their inability to make their points logically and with civility. Jim McKenney