On Thu, 1 Oct 1998, Ken Follett wrote:

> I get the impression that some people really took the bubblegum sidewalk
> seriously and that I offended them as a result and have compromised the
> line of integrity between BS and the serious.

I don't mind the fiction -- not at all! -- but I took the sidewalk story
seriously enough to check online phone listings for a Frombley Tavern on
Long Island.  I didn't find it.

Rereading the part about using junk for rebar made me sure you were
kidding.

                               Larry Kestenbaum