Nick wrote:
When I wrote " 'Sam Sloan' appeared in the 1942 film
'It Happened in Flatbush' ", *of course* I was referring to
his appearance as a character rather than as an actor.

Considering that Sam Sloan (the writer in rec.games.chess.*,
not his impersonators) was born in 1944, I would have been
astonished if he had appeared as an actor in a 1942 film.

That probably would not stop Sam himself from claiming that he
appeared in a 1942 film.

There was a character named Sam Sloan in that film,
but he was played by William Frawley,

Why did Taylor Kingston write 'but'?

Don't worry, Nick. I was only acting on orders from those who control
the secret conspiracy against you.

'But' as opposed
to what?

Exactly. It's sort of like Nietzsche's "Jenseits von Güte und
Böse."

Did Taylor Kingston suspect that I believed
that Sam Sloan was an actor in that 1942 film?

You are suspected of many things, Nick.

Why did Taylor Kingston simply not write, "There was
a character named Sam Sloan in that film, *who* was
played by William Frawley" (which would *not* have
been new information for me) ?

That was not part of my orders.

better known as Fred Mertz from the
"I Love Lucy" TV show.

He may be better known as that character in the
memories of people who watched that television show.

Which is many millions more than ever watched "It Happened in
Flatbush."

Frawley also was excellent as the judge's back-room
political advisor in "Miracle on 34th Street."

I already know how to use the Internet Movie Database.

You mean you've never seen the movie? No wonder you're so crabby!
Even though it's not Christmas season, go and watch it right now. It
will cheer you you up right down to your toes!