Helen, you mustn't say "isn't laying down". You can say "I lay down", you can say "I laid it down", you can say, How long has it lain here?" and you can say, "I will lie down", you can say, "He was lying down" and you can say, "I lie there frequently", but you can't say, "I was laying down".

I've always wanted to say that. (And yes, I did hear you.) I wouldn't call it language policing- it's too late for that. It's all part of the dumbing down of the language that Kendall mentioned.

The other day the News Ticker tape that runs across the top of my computer screen said: "Vandals Remove Lennon's Glasses from Statue." I didn't read the news item but what do you want to bet that they were talking about Lenin?

Now back to tonight's feature...

*BG* (