From buddy Fri Nov 18 21:21:06 1994
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 1994 21:20:00
Subject: from the list ... real author included


If You're Reading This You're Probably Not Part of the Emerging
Cognitive Elite

by Jim Mica

Mike Doonesbury is a character in the comic DOONESBURY by Garry
Trudeau.  This past Sunday (11/13) the strip featured Mike
talking directly to readers while another character listened and
responded to what he said.  It went like this:

Mike Doonesbury: A you may know, there is a growing debate over
the nature of economic opportunity in {the United States of}
America.  In an information-driven economy, society's class lines
seem increasingly determined by knowledge and intellectual merit.
More than at any time in our history, brains, not brawn, ar key
to economic success.

Other Character: Wow...good thing I'm a college graduate!

MD: Will YOU be part of the new Cognitive Elite, you may be
wondering?  Will YOU make the cut?

OC: Whoa...I know I'M curious.

MD: To find out, contact me at: 72662.3023@compuserve.com.

OC: Hold it! What about those of us who don't know how to use
a... {within thought balloon: UH-OH.}
- - ----------------------

I just had to check this out!  I E-mailed Mike on Monday:
Dear Mike Doonesbury,

I suppose you think that it's pretty funny trying to get us
members of the infermational elite to waste our valuable time
sending e-mail to a comic strip character in the hopes that we
will have our quavering self-images as elites shored up in some
way or other by a brush with your celebrity.

You, however, don't exist.  I know because Charlie Brown and
Calvin both told me so.

Jim Mica
- - ------------

I got no reply, so I send another message:

Dear Mike Doonesbury,

Whoa ... I know I'M curious.  I admit it.  I'm even willing to
suspend disbelief to the extent that I'm sitting here poking
about in the virtual reality in search of truth from fictional
characters.



So it goes.

____________________

When I arrived at work this morning, I found the following in my
mail:

Date: Thu, 17 Nov 1994 15:46:32
From: Mike <72662.3023@compuserve.com>
Subject: Cognitive Elite

Dear Reader:

   Regret to advise that you are unlikely to join the new
cognitive elite:  You have too much time on your hands.

Sincerely,


Mike
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------
So, if you are reading this...