Al Martinez's vacation

The questions have come in since Monday, Dec. 3. Al Martinez's column has been published weekly since it started appearing in the California section in July, but it hasn't run since Nov. 26.

The word from his editor, Alice Short: The columnist will be back soon -- next week, probably. (The small box on Page B3 since Dec. 3 has advised readers that he is on vacation; there was no notice online with his column.)