For Gregg and everyone: Yes, thanks Gregg, many of those thoughts occurred to me, but my previous verbosity provided an unusual amount of self-restraint in posting similar thoughts (unusual for me, that is). But here I go again. . . . I agree with pretty much everything Gregg says. I have been struck by the number of posts mentioning a sort of tension between the "scholars" and "non-scholars." I frankly do not see the LIST in these culture-war type of terms: academic vs. layperson, scholar vs. amateur. Gregg is correct in saying that most of the posters these days are not academics--I believe this is true-- and that actually many of us academics do many other things in life besides viewing Mark Twain through a microscope. Plus, I rarely actually teach Twain, compared to the vast minefields of AmLit and culture that comprise my courses. For example, this entire year I have not taught one text by Twain! I have so much else to cover. Most days in my actual existence are no longer tied very directly to Mark Twain. I personally view the elites in this field, such as Lou Budd and the folks at the Twain project like Bob Hirst, as very much my superiors in this area (as is Gregg). And honestly, I am in awe of them and very much covet their approval of my own feeble attempts. I always fear missing so much. And I agree that this LIST has rarely seemed to me unapproachable or arrogant--though possibly I am one of the chief offenders, and I also recognize my own status as "insider" academic. Finally, besides the academic vs. layperson, I think Gregg is correct to say the old left vs. right tension is evident in many posts. Meaning, the academy is NOT just left-leaning, tenured radicals. That is so funny to anyone with even a passing understanding of life in the universities these days. Many English departments (amd many schools) are in fact quite stodgy and conservative. Maybe the stereotype is so strong because the loudest wheel gets the oil--and the academics on CNN tend to be radicals?? Is that it? Anyway, my university, to take the example I know well, is pretty representative of all things political and moral. The truth is, most veteran English professors actually dislike departmental meetings PRECISELY BECAUSE it is just to darned HARD to get anyone to agree about almost anything. Pax, Harold K. Bush, Ph.D Associate Professor Dept. of English, Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO 63108 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h) <www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/ENG/faculty/hbush.html> Quote of the moment: "Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." --Henry David Thoreau