Benchmarking shows the expected -- that this is a *lot* faster than the
alternatives.  A
(while (or (looking-at "thing" t) (search-forward "\nthing")))
loop is about 5% slower than a pure search-forward loop.

-- 
(domestic pets only, the antidote for overdose, milk.)
  larsi@gnus.org * Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen