Editorial Note

After literal hours of painful, tedious editing, I've reached a personal resolution:

I am of the firm conviction that the consistent and unrelenting torture of grammar should be considered a "human-rights violation" (for the reader, if nothing else) under the Geneva Convention.

[Note: I do realize that the enforcement of such a rule would implicate a certain comrade of mine (ahem), but he could always throw himself on the mercy of the World Court. I'm sure they're softer on theatrical types.]