First, a puzzlement. There have been two references above to John Thomas, seen as funny for some reason. I've tried making John Jack and Thomas Tom, but no light bulb has turned on. I don't get it.

Second, when I was in high school the first name of one of my classmates was Jack. HER name was Jack. When she registered, the authorities bounced her paperwork back, saying, "No nicknames, please. Is it Jacqueline?" Her answer: "No, not Jacqueline. Not Jacquette. Not Jackie. Jack, J-A-C-K, JACK!" They called the parent in to find out what her "real" name was, only to find that it was, indeed, "J-A-C-K, JACK!"

Dave Oesterreich