After weeks of tough negotiations and hard-fought compromise on a supplemental budget, lawmakers were in no mood Monday for a last-minute amendment by Rep. Adam Mack to exempt pet food from the sales tax. Some legislators were openly derisive of the proposal, most simply did not want to waste precious time in a quibble over kibble. It’s the story reporters wait a lifetime to cover: Tax man bites dog.

Condominium owners at Samoset Village are suing the famous Rockport resort, claiming they had no idea their luxury homes bordering the 18th fairway would be subject to errant, trespassing golf balls. Life is full of unpleasant surprises, any way you slice it.

The Maine Film Office wants the state to offer the movie industry the same type of tax breaks it gives to traditional businesses, saying that when Hollywood comes to town it leaves a lot of money behind. It may be a good point but the specific example the MFO used in its recent presentation on the matter didn’t quite drive it home: The cast and crew of an independent film shot here were treated to free airline tickets, free lodging, free meals, even free printing services. The money left behind was what fell behind the sofa cushions.

The ink was barely dry on Tuesday’s front page when several readers e-mailed in their observations regarding the photo of a Maine schoolteacher in Havana holding aloft a hand-lettered poster with the words, “American’s for the return of Elian.” We checked — the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba does not prohibit the export of surplus apostrophes.

When U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson came to New England a couple of months ago, he told folks that heating oil shortages and price spikes were caused by a variety of circumstances that took the Department of Energy by surprise. At about the same time, DOE released a study reporting that the electricity shortages of last summer’s heat waves could be repeated because the transition under restructuring has many utilities focusing upon competing for markets instead of assuring a reliable power supply. Secretary Richardson was back in New England the other day, saying federal, state and utility officials “all need to work together so no one is sitting in the dark alone.” The public can do its part by stocking up on flashlight batteries.