... equally good, Peter. Have you ever seen (or heard of) a live auction with a time deadline at which bidding is cut off even if there are bidders still willing to raise the ante?

The best (and MOST fair! ) system is one in which the bidding doesn't end until every bidder has had a full opportunity to bid to his highest level. The only way to truly do that is have a no time limit auction in which the last man standing wins! ----- jim o\-S