Am bound and determined to buy a vacuum now. The dustbuster is quite ineffectual against the squalor that's built up lately. Last time I tried, the guy said to me, "I can't in good conscience sell you a vacuum cleaner for under $300."

Don't wish to cause anyone a moral dilemma, but am hoping to spend about a third of that.

Talke with my dad this morning, who's been interviewing a reclacitrant lady judge.

"Sounds like pulling teeth," I said sympathetically.

"It's like pulling Mastadon teeth embedded in 500 feet of granite," he replied.