1.   Patients are often surprised when their new hearing produces no real sensation within the ear.

2.   That hearing produced the memorable picture of seven dark-suited tobacco chiefs being sworn in as witnesses with their right arms upraised.

3.   That could explain why Thompson and his staff seem to be trying to lower expectations about what the hearings might produce.

4.   The daylong hearing also produced a second, and equally pointed, allegation against Babbitt.

5.   The hearing has produced an enormous amount of sympathy for Harrelson, who once bragged that he could make more money playing cards than killing a federal judge.

6.   The hearing produced new information about Parish and his activities at the embassy.

7.   The hearing produced no significant new details about how the Clinton administration handled the Madison investigation.

8.   Then he did a crossword puzzle, as if confident the hearing was producing more ennui than intrigue.

9.   These hearings can produce information that would be useful in reorganizing the ATF and possibly moving it out of the Treasury Department.

10.   To that extent, his Supreme Court confirmation hearing has produced little news.