Dear JO,
Yes, the variety of names for that sandwich can be amazing. Some years back, I spent an hour or so with a group of friends working up a list of all the different names we'd encountered. The name "po' boy" ("poor boy" with a southern accent) was one of about 30.
        Where did it come from?  I'm not sure.  Several restraunts in New Orleans, including "Mothers," claim to have originated the name, but I don't remember how they said they came up with it.  Hummmm ... maybe I'll have to go back to New Orleans to investigate.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Book Loser,
It's a nice wish, but no, there is no amnesty day at Olin or other Cornell libraries. There are a couple of reasons for this.  First, because there is lots of demand for certain books, Cornell University libraries do not want to do anything that might encourage a patron to keep an overdue book even longer,
waiting for amnesty day. Second, many of the libraries, and Olin in particular, don't have space or staff at the Circulation desk to handle a huge influx of returned books on one particular day.
        If you have books overdue,
you'd be well advised to return them ASAP! Not only will it result in lower fines for you, but it's only fair to the other library patrons.  Better late than never.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Wiped Out,
There are local mechanics with good reputations, and also those with bad reputations. In general, I avoid commercial endorsements. However, I will suggest some guidelines to follow in selecting a mechanic.
        First, you must decide what kind of help you need. If you are not short on money and are not very handy, you may want a mechanic who will replace any part that is questionable. If you are driving an older vehicle, can work on it yourself, and can deal with a lower level of reliability, you may want a mechanic who will replace only parts that absolutely need it, will install used parts, and so on.  From your letter, I guess you fall somewhere in between - short on money and not exceptionally handy (that is...you're like most of us).
        Therefore, you must be a careful consumer. I've heard different people give radically different reports on the service from the same mechanic. The first person simply dropped the car off and picked it up later; he received a large bill, because the mechanic used his own judgement about what should be done. In this case, the mechanic redid a recent tuneup and performed other services of questionable necessity, but didn't notice certain problems and so didn't fix them. This person considered himself to have been ripped off.  The second person presented the same mechanic with a detailed list of what he wanted done, and was very pleased by the job the mechanic did.
         Be aware of the common ripoffs in the automotive industry, such as being sold an entire brake system when you need only new brake pads, or an entire new exhaust system when you need only a new muffler or a new pipe. The chains frequently tell their customers that something is "almost shot" or "ready to go." I personally have had a local brake and muffler shop that was doing a standard New York State inspection tell me that my 1-month-old rotors were "almost gone."  Another time, a tailpipe that was "almost gone" lasted two more years. If you don't know what you need, try to find a knowledgeable friend who can look at your car and give you some advice.  If you're thinking of using a particular shop, and want to check their reputation first, call the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce at 273-7080.
        Then be sure you choose a mechanic who is familiar with your type of vehicle. Most mechanics are very open about this; you can refer to the Yellow Pages ads. For example, if you have a Volvo, there is one repair shop in town that specializes in Volvos, and of course there is the Volvo dealer. Either is more likely to give satisfaction than the nearest gas station.
        Finally, it never hurts to ask advice of local residents, who will in general be more familiar with the local mechanics.  One mechanic in particular gets kudos from everyone I know - Karl Yentz, Hayts Corners Road, 273-7176.  He only works on certain cars, but his reputation is so good that he doesn't even bother listing in the Yellow Pages.

Uncle Ezra