On Warren Zevon. I, too, admired his brave exit of this life. For years I wondered if the man behind the bespectacled, cigarette smoking skull (his trademark, you may know) was as tough as the image he projected and emoted through his music. When I saw the VH1 special chronicling his final months, my question was answered. He died how he lived; apparently, to the fullest, foregoing any cancer treatment which would surely make him feel sicker sooner, and opting instead only for the drugs he needed to keep right on working.

I had mixed feelings about the "enjoy every sandwich" remark. That is exactly the kind of sound-bite that folks in t.v.-land crave, something very broadly rendered and easily digested by billions people. I noticed it circulated like an epidemic across the internet for awhile, was even adopted by Zevon's own son as the title of the Zevon Web Site. I understand what he meant, who wouldn't?

On the other hand, Zevon as a Letterman guest sounded much like what I hear when I listen to his music, i.e., he seemed authentic, what you see is what you get. Letterman asked a simple question and Zevon gave a simple, honest answer. I wonder what Tom Cruise's response would be to such a question.