This is rather embarassing but I've received a spate of emails so I'm going to have to mention it.
There is apparently a person writing to people whose weblogs I link to, and to some who've left comments here, claiming to be a relative of mine, and saying some fairly strange things.
This appears to have been going on for quite some time. I've made a few quiet inquiries about it over the last few months but some recent emails I received made me realize I should probably mention it in public.
This is not a panic situation, but, if you have received emails from a person claiming to be related to me, I would very much appreciate it if you would drop me a personal note, as I have some concerns about it.
Some serious concerns.
Please drop me a note if this has happened to you. If it hasn't, don't worry about it.
Thanks. (Yes I'm being cryptic. On purpose. Thanks.)
These sorts of bizarre things tend to happen when you become a "public figure" on the web. I get weird emails and IMs from time to time from people making all sorts of outrageous claims. My guess is that over time, as more and more people make themselves known online, we'll learn to take any of those sorts of claims from strangers with just as much skepticism as we do email claims that a new pill really can give you a 10 inch penis. I guess that's just one more reason that some sort of universal email authentication is probably on the horizon.
Wh?... You mean a new pill CAN'T give me a 10-inch penis?!!!
The spam LIES?!!!!