"Consumer" is not a word I like to hear.

The term is redolent of the science of economics, where I suppose it's important to distinguish between the activities of production and consumption. That's fine when the econometricians are talking about measurements, but the news organizations have glommed on to the term and so have businesses. They use it to refer to citizens, individuals--you know, people.

How about a little human dignity?

CDs listened to today:

• Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
• Kenny Wheeler: Music For Large & Small Ensembles
• Bill Watrous: Manhattan Wildlife Refuge
• Juraj Filas: Sonata For Trombone And Piano (At the end of the century)