For ten years, my email address was Wolfowitz@aol.com.

Why AOL?

Because, in 1992, I knew squat about the net. I lived in Orange County and my friends were in LA, I had a hand-me-down 1200 baud modem, and these AOL people sent me free software. I kept it because it was the only address that remained unchanged in that decade (and another friend whom I'd set up w/one of the screen names took over payments.)

Why Wolfowitz?

My screen name was taken from a Norman Spinrad character, an aging Berkeley radical who accidentally became President of the United States. See, he'd managed to become the VP to a narrow-minded, ultra-conservative, jingoistic Prez through what was rumoured to have been one of the dirtiest back-room deals in political history. When the President died (it was said that he suffered an apoplexy while screaming at his VP), Vice President Wolfowitz suddenly became President Wolfowitz.

In his inaugural address to the United Nations, the newly sworn-in President began his speech with, "First of all, I'd like to apologize for the policies of my pin-headed predecessor...."

I didn't drop the email as a direct result of the name being co-opted by our current Deputy Secretary of Defense, but I'm glad I don't have to worry about people thinking I wanted to associate myself with him. I like Spinrad's Wolfowitz better.