except, of course, for taffimai metallumai, all characters in this book are fictitious, without intentional resemblance to any actual person, living or dead. the events described are made up out of whole cloth. the hotels, restaurants, companies, and other business enterprises herein mentioned are equally nonexistent. two real institutions occur: the university of california and the berkeley police department. there is no implication intended that either of these would condone all the actions and opinions of the imaginary people i have wished onto their payrolls.