The final standings following the Final Round of our dread clash of fact-finders, including Friday's tempestuous lightning round of January 27 nativities:

1. Scott 450+235+50+333 =1068
2. Boxjam 220+370+25+326+25 = 966
3. Scraps 200+450+276+25 = 951
4. Gavin 273+290+312+25 = 900
5. Art 290+375+210 =875
6. Karen 245+275+278 = 798
7. Jonathan 110+235+112 = 457
8. Laura 60+155 = 215
9. James = 55

Scott, to mark his triumph, wins a copy -- very possibly a first edition, though I can't verify that -- of Francis Grierson's peculiar 1926 mystery The Limping Man, which begins with a dedication and apology to "a certain Eminent Scientist", coins the dismissive exclamation "Pouah!" in the first paragraph, and concludes, you'll be happy to know, with the resounding line "Teddy's arms held her tighter than ever."

(And yes, we still have Scraps's mind-destroying puzzle from beyond the Barnyard Curtain, his deferred trophy from last year's victory. He'll get it, don't worry).

There's another little something in the works for all the players. More news when that's actually verifiable.

Note: the only bona fide stumper of Round Four was produced by my ill-advised inclusion of little-known Victorian nutjob/media myth/urban legend Spring-Heeled Jack. You can read up on the subject at Wikipedia, which has a considerably detailed article, with illustrations, and a modern bibliography that stretches to Stephen King and Phillip Pullman.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled program or rants and excuses. I'd like to promise a new look sometime soon. But we'll have to see about that.

Now, a massive spam-comment cleaning is in order...