CNN blows chunks

[Anne Gorman]

SHUBHA GHOSH wrote:
> 
> On Sat, 7 Jun 1997, Sam Shapiro wrote:
> 
> >
> > I have studied (and rewound) the CNN tape more than a couple of times,
> > and find it a simply irresistable task (or game) trying to pick the
> > elusive P. out of the crowd of New Yorkers.....knowing P.'s high school
> > mug-shots by memory, I have determined that P. can be none other than the
> > fellow with the high-domed forehead (sort of), gray hair, receding
> > hairline, smart jacket and black shirt, and apparently talking to himself
> > (as there is no one walking beside him)..you might recall that there were
> > three or four quick snippets of 'street scenes'---the guy I am thinking
> > about appears in the very first shot....if CNN is not simply blowing
> > smoke and this is not a cute hoax, then I feel fairly confident that I am
> > finally seeing P. as he looks today......tell me if I'm crazy, or simply
> > need to just read M. & D. and not worry how the author looks.....
> 
> I thought that was him too, at first.  But there are two strikes against
> it...No beard or facial hair and the guy is balding.  My candidate is the
> guy in the red baseball cap crossing the street.   My only reservation
> stems from the fact the Red Cap wears glasses and I don't recall any
> descriptions of P. mentionins Spectacles.
> 
> > --Sam Shapiro
> >
> >
I'd say the guy in the red baseball cap has too strong a chin to be our
man. He also seems younger than 60 and not particularly tall. Nor am I
sure why baldness should disqualify the other guy. Is there reason to
believe Pynchon has a full head of hair? Is there reason to believe he
has a beard? I had heard that he has (or had) a moustache, as do both
the guy in the red cap and the balding guy. At any rate, it seems clear
that these two are the only possible candidates, if indeed Pynchon is
among the people shown.