Barry Popik in WSJ

[Gerald Cohen]

   Never let it be said that Barry Popik, besides being an outstanding
word researcher, does not also make for good copy.  The Wall Street
Journal had already profiled him on January 2, 2001 and now mentioned
him once more yesterday: review of the book _The Banana Sculptor, The
Purple Lady, and the All-Night Swimmer_; WSJ, March 22, 2002, p. W12,
col. 5:
        "...The stories in the book are at times wistful, like the
description of kite collectors Ann and Sam Ritter's long days on
windy beaches. A sense of poignancy comes through the story of Barry
Popick's [sic; misspelled] quixotic attempt to get people to
celebrate John J. Fitz Gerald, whom Mr. Popick credits with first
printing the term Big Apple to refer to New York City.  About the
inauguration of a street sign to honor his memory, Mr. Popick says,
'I had told the police station that there might be a crowd, so they
sent a policeman.  it was raining. No one came.' ..."

(BTW, the book is by Susan Sheehan and Howard Means; Simon &
Schuster, 299 pages, $25).

---Gerald Cohen