41.   And so, sooner than anyone expected, it seems that the worst may be over.

42.   And the worst is over.

43.   And the worst is yet to come.

44.   And the worst may be to come, say analysts.

45.   And National Semiconductor, even though it reported a quarterly loss on Thursday, said it saw signs that the worst might be behind it.

46.   And though any new private equity investor like Kohlberg Kravis would have information that is unavailable to current shareholders, no one should assume that the worst is over.

47.   And the worst is very, very bad.

48.   And the worst is still to come.

49.   And the worst may be that many of their followers are beginning to drift away as affirmative action becomes more and more controversial.

50.   And the worst of it is that this is coming from our children.