public void assignAction(Action action) {
    if (verbose && I.talkAbout == this) {
      I.say("  ASSIGNING ACTION: "+action) ;
      if (action != null) I.add("  "+action.hashCode()+"\n") ;
    }
    world.activities.toggleAction(actionTaken, false) ;
    this.actionTaken = action ;
    if (actionTaken != null) actionTaken.updateAction(false) ;
    world.activities.toggleAction(actionTaken, true) ;
  }