someone pointed out how rectangle mousing isn't sticky.
i spent a long time debugging this and finally tracked it down to a call to
narrow-to-region, which has at its end:
  /* Changing the buffer bounds invalidates any recorded current column.  */
  invalidate_current_column ();
  narrow_line_number_cache (buf);
  zmacs_region_stays = 0; <-----------------------------
  return Qnil;
}
various other functions [erase-buffer, insert commands] have this.  it's
completely bogus.  i've removed all of them and so far no problems.  i'm
planning on committing this at some point to 21.5.
-- 
ben
I'm sometimes slow in getting around to reading my mail, so if you
want to reach me faster, call 520-661-6661.
See 
http://www.666.com/ben/chronic-pain/ for the hell I've been
through.