I “third” the Nov. 9 letter of Mary Lou Colbath, which Robert H. Newall “seconded” in his of Nov. 22 concerning the selective but increasing purging of musical programming by Maine Public Radio.

He asks how long before MPR axes “Pipe Dreams” and “With Heart and Voice,” to name but two. They have – at least “Pipe Dreams.” After reading Tom Groening’s reportage on this sorry state of affairs a few days ago, I called to ask about “Pipe Dreams” in that his story said that “Down Memory Lane” was moving to 10 p.m. Sunday, “Pipe Dreams”‘ regular slot. I was told in a voice most cool, “‘Pipe Dreams” is no longer on our schedule.”

So congratulations to Robert Gardiner, president, and Charles Beck, vice president of programming, and their alleged surveys. They are now truly contributing to the continuing dumbing of America and I trust they’ll be able to do it without my membership.

Let them have the brain dead – they deserve each other. Bill Johnson Belfast

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Mary Lou Colbath and Robert H. Newall are two powerful voices lamenting the latest stage of Maine Public Radio’s deterioration, which is not, however, all that recent.

The Huns and the Vandals were at the gates a decade ago (remember “Robert J” in the morning?) and have now moved into the executive suite with Charles Beck, who appears to believe that quality cultural broadcasting means moving steadily toward a full-time diet of news headlines and inane talk shows.

Maine is now “the state which formerly had a public radio network.”

Jim Haskins

Dover-Foxcroft