Jon B. is an illusion done with light and silver pleather.

Totally off topic, Jon B were you playing at First Night? I swear I saw you on tv.

Yes, I was! I'm amazed you spotted me; I was only on the TV for a few seconds, although, if you were listening carefully, you could hear me playing Auld Lang Syne in the background as the TV folks were doing the countdown.

I was only on the TV for a few seconds

Mom and dad have a DVR, and I made dad rewind and rewatch it about 30 times. Somehow the end of that post didn't register in my brain. That's so cool! Go you guys!

VW, yes, I believe he was. I meant to note where it was (since there were several performances) but as usual I totally spaced.

One thing I was thinking of in the wee hours of last night was the Kubler-Ross stages of grief:

• Shock stage: Initial paralysis at hearing the bad news.
• Denial stage: Trying to avoid the inevitable.
• Anger stage: Frustrated outpouring of bottled-up emotion.
• Bargaining stage: Seeking in vain for a way out.
• Depression stage: Final realization of the inevitable.
• Testing stage: Seeking realistic solutions.
• Acceptance stage: Finally finding the way forward.

More at this web site

I think with the unanswered questions with Gus's identity a lot of us are floundering with denial, anger, and bargaining.

I made dad rewind and rewatch it about 30 times.

Glad to know I wasn't the only one who did that. ;)

Just a couple notes, without relinquishing my basic neutrality on the subject.

I think there's a limit to how well you know someone if you only know them on the Web. Obviously, whatever was true or not true about Gus, there's a whole lot about him we didn't know. This doesn't surprise me, nor does it upset me. We all have our secrets.

Second, while I'm not willing to do it myself, if someone's going to do an online search, I'd suggest looking up the phone number listed on WHOIS and running it through US Search, and paying the $14.95. I've used it before and it works well.

If nothing else, a proper name and address will help those who wish to find funeral announcements (which are generally published free, even when obits aren't) and apply their charitable instincts properly.

have never called any of you. Well, okay, except Steph, 'cause I needed directions to Graeters. Very important.

Hell yeah it is. Totally worth giving up internet anonymity.

I did meet some of you and some of you do know my name and company and where my house is.

cough::andweddingcakestory::cough

Victor, I have the name and address from intellus. Nothing else.

And the name is Guy Straley? I only ask because a cursory look shows both his e-mail and that phone number to be from the same provider. I sincerely doubt that anyone would go so far as to have their phone and Internet service under a false name.

Whomever owns that phone number is the real person.

It doesn't answer every question, no, but it's something solid.