The story of the mental patient with an allegedly murderous past escaping from custody over on the West Side reminded me of a guy I worked with in Tucson a hundred years ago.

He used to recall Chicago journalism back in the days when he was a young reporter. According to Bob, veteran crime writers at his paper would sometimes give mobsters made-up nicknames. In print. You know, John Doe became John "The Tuna" Doe, et cetera.

That cracked me up.

And so this morning I thought about nicknames the escapee with local connections might get. And it's obvious.

"Michael Myers."

Of course, to recognize that, you have to know the movie "Halloween."

But I don't suppose that would be all that hilarious to relatives of those he harmed.

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