Hi Elline, Let me tell you I, too, have been blown out of the water a few times with private messages that were quite cruel-and I hope you know that most of the people on this list are very loving and compassionate people. I believe Sandy is totally out of line and I LOVE!! clowns. My daughter, Renee, was with Classic Clowns in S. Calif. She was Trixie, a marionette, and her friend "Tall Paul" (a guy over 6'10") was the puppet master, and sometimes during parades, Trixie would slip her strings-and do her own thing. Renee died just a little over 4 yrs ago from Cystic Fibrosis, but her joy of "clowning" will always live in my heart and my memories. In the meantime, back to the research! Sincerely, J.L.