Lets say that your great-great uncle Ebeneezer Beckelheimer, a fellow totally lacking in character, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. A cousin has supplied you with the only known photograph of ol' uncle Eb, showing him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture are the words: Ebeneezer Beckelheimer: Horse thief and train robber; sent to Montana Territorial Prison, 1885. Escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton Detectives, convicted and hanged, 1889. Pretty grim situation, right? But let's revise things a bit. We simply crop the picture, scan in an enlargement and edit it with image processing software so that all that is seen is a head shot, with the noose carefully deleted from the image. Next, we rewrite the text: Ebeneezer Beckelheimer, Esq., was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate financial transactions with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1885, he devoted two years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1888, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Uncle Eb passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing gave way. Thus we have given Uncle Ebeneezer a distinguished place inside the family tree, not hanging from it. Tom Robison Ossian, Indiana tcrobi@adamswells.com Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.