A penitent hack at The Register will not make a formal apology to Compaq for dishing the dirt at the company's brand spanking new Services Solution Centre in Reading. Your mucky journalist with the byline above trampled mud throughout the £12 million building during a whistle stop tour of the formerly spotless hi-tech complex. The fact that his car broke down a mile away and he had to navigate muddy roadworks and cross three fields to get there is no excuse. He's been told to wipe his feet in future. But not by us. ®