CNN blows chunks

[Anne Gorman]

Sam Shapiro wrote:
> 
> This is too fun to just let go of---I mean 'possible sightings of TRP' are
> less frequent than sightings of the Loch Ness monster, so now that we
> have the Man Himself pinned to the wall (specimen-like), or rather
> captured forever on videotape, well, all bets are off....so....as Al
> Pacino in DONNIE BRASCO would say," Fuggetaboutit" in regards to the guy
> in the red baseball cap ducking behind the pole or parking meter....that
> is not Pynchon, absolutely not...just look at the high school photos! I
> have found myself mentally performing one of those milk-carton
> digitally-enhanced photo-jobs, whereby I enhance the existing photo of TRP
> by adding 42 years...and again and again I come up immediately with the
> tall, gray-haired gentleman with the jacket (OK--it's NOT 'smart'), and
> the black shirt...notice that as soon as his eyes alight upon the CNN
> camera he immediately looks in another direction and begins
> talking---OUTED, buddy!!! The guy with the red cap is a simple case of
> 'misdirection', perhaps perpetuated by CNN....whatever the case, I am
> thoroughly enjoying MASON & DIXON, although I'm only on p. 46....and yes,
> I agree with the person who responded to me earlier----TRP's anonymity is
> about to end...in fact, it already has!!
> 
> --Sam Shapiro

An interesting aspect of the CNN footage is the self-consciousness of
both the balding guy and the guy in the red cap in the face of the CNN
camera. The guy in the red cap seems acutely aware of the camera and a
little uncomfortable, but then I would be too if I were walking down the
street completely alone and noticed a TV camera pointing at me. I think
almost anybody would show a little self-consciousness in that
circumstance. The balding guy, in contrast, seems aware of and a little
discomposed by the camera even though he's in a crowd. But then I would
be too if I were Thomas Pynchon.