In Nouns^x, Compound subjects^x, Singular verbs^x

Before you go too far, Mr. P, would you care to comment on the side issues that has come up? The use of a singular verb when there is a compound subject of gerunds or abstract nouns?

Hi, it's me, Ralf, the starter of this thread. Thanks for your answers so far. A post in another thread pointed me to the "American Heritage - Book of English Usage", where I found this section : According to the standard rule, when the pronoun there precedes a verb such as be, seem, or...