>Jay,
>
>>George --
>>
>>A couple brief comments...
>>
>> Jay
>>
>>>>>"The 'Payback Is Hell' Tour
>>>>>"The Plagues of Egypt Tour"
>>>>>"The Journey to the 7th Level of Rain Hell".
>>>>>"Fruit Salad"
>>>>>"Don't depend on Depends".
>>>>
>>>>George --
>>>>
>>>>Just from this ecorrespondence, I think you have the makings of a Southern Novelist!
>>>
>>>Well, I've always been a frustrated novelist. Even, at one time, tried my hand at writing the "Great American Novel". No luck there, so I stick with technical articles.< s >
>>>
>>>>That's not such bad company, with Faulkner, et al. I took a class with Reynolds Price at Duke -- a remarkable story teller. And, he even made John Milton sound interesting to a bunch of early 70's would be radicals!
>>>>
>>>>But, I'm pleased that you've been nourished in the land of Nelson Algren, Carl Sandburg and Studs Terkel.<g>
>>>
>>>Let's not forget the late, great Mike Royko and one of the best sports columnists (IMO) that ever lived the late Jack Griffin.
>>
>>For me, Royko was a conversation partner. I eagerly read his column daily and it helped me to see the world through his sometimes caustic, always direct and honest eyes. Few noted people offer that insight into their lives. He was greater than great.
>
>While I was in Chicago I read him daily as well. Unfortunately, when I moved here in 1981, I couldn't. Let's not forget that he was the author of a couple of books, includng "Boss" on Richard J. Daly.

Reading "Boss" reinforced my impression of Royko as the consumate columnist.

Didn't he write one also on the Chicago political machine -- "We don't want nobody nobody sent"? I thought that was a great title. Some kid wanted to get involved with the party and went to his local precinct head and volunteered. When he said that he didn't have a sponsor, that was the reply.

>
>>
>>>
>>>I've always had a knack for giving things a name. When I lived on the far South side of Chicago (134th St.) I took the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend train home (AKA "The Orange Marauder"). I even do that to myself. There are a number of aliases I go by.:-)
>>
>>Ohmygoshhhhh. You're not the REAL JOHN PETERSEN are you?
>
>Ahh, no!:-) I don't use them around here except in passing. For example, I am Lamont Cranston. And Media Jones and Otis L. A. Vator to mention just a few.

Now we know who knows what lurks in the minds of men <g>.

I like Media Jones -- has promise for the lead character in a serio-sitcom. Maybe an updated Columbo?

>
>I did have on more thought on writing and the picture at RoxWorld. What you see there is me in my James Joyce writing mode....Stream of Un-Consciousness.

I did meet one of the 5 people in the world who'd actually finished Ulysees. I asked him how it made him a different person, and he didn't have an answer. I guess most of us undergrads stop at "Portrait". Tried Ulysees, but, you know, puns are really funny when you say them, but, not nearly as funny out of someone else's mouth?

You know, I've heard that stream of unconsciousness of Bill Faulkner, too, so, there you go in that Southern novelist mode. <g>

Jay