It all started with an oil change.

Summers in New Orleans being what they are, I figured I'd better shore up the old 'bile for the heat ahead. Also being a relatively frugal type, I remembered a coupon for an oil change at one of those "quickie" oil change places in the New Orleans Yellow Pages.

Seems that's the latest ploy by Ma Bell to sell, yes, even more advertising. Lotsa bargains here, let me tell you, with one curious coupon, and that's where this story begins.

Everyone who's ...