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David Whitney of Arlington, Massachusetts, takes issue with the sample sentence we use to illustrate the common Snob usage of the word SEMINAL [p. 109]. We wrote, The Germs were a seminal L.A. punk band, but guitarist Pat Smear didn't realize any riches until he joined Nirvana. Mr. Whitney writes, "I don't think Pat Smear ever really joined Nirvana. I think he was just sort of an adjunct touring helper, like the role the guy from the dB's played with R.E.M."

Well, David, we checked with Nirvana expert Michael Azerrad, author of Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana and Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991, and he tells us, "It is my understanding that Smear officially joined the band in early ’94, in the months before Kurt died. Before that, he did, in fact, join the band, albeit not in the 'official' sense, and did indeed enjoy some riches as their touring guitarist, so you're right anyway."

David Whitney is a renowned Boston-area architect. Yeah, he's an architect, all right--of his own Rock Snob humiliation!