I too remember TECO. In my TOPS-10 days I was quite a whiz at it. Then I encountered UNIX and ed, and never looked back. Cryptic programmability is fun, but a simple but well-chosen set of commands including the g/v pair made me more efficient in the end. it could just be that ed is a better fit for the shape of my brain. C struck me similarly. Norman Wilson Toronto ON (Actually in the Bay Area for a few days for LISA, in case any UNIXtorians want to meet up.)