problem with dictionaries

[Simon Strobl]

> <flippancy>You musts have missed the memo. The rules of the universe
> changed at 0834 UST yesterday, and all functioning Python programs
> stopped working.</flippancy>

As always, the rules of the universe have not changed. (Or, at least,
I do hope so.)

It seems that the cause of my problem was my switching too fast
between too many and too seldom saved emacs buffers.

Thanks to all for your hints.

Simon