Interstitial Moment:

In a listserve I am on (which I cannot name or quote because it is private) we have been discussing Author Notes and Dedications. And some of the correspondents have been suggesting that authors should not do lengthy Notes or Acknowledgments. After a few rounds of this, I wrote the following. Kudos to any of my readers who get all the references–or the majority of them.

As a writer, I can thank any dang person I wish. I can acknowledge the help I have gotten. I can mention my cat (if I have...