Carperpetuation (kar' pur pet u a shun), n.:
The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string at least a
dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then
putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.
β Rich Hall, "Sniglets"
The marvels of today's modern technology include the development of a soda
can, when discarded will last forever; and a $20,000 car which, when
properly cared for, will rust out in two or three years.