He's not a suspect. He's not even a "person of interest."

But since a fair number of folks are asking us about Brian Connolly's association with the Strumpette (he does admit knowing his/her identity), we thought we'd share a little more background on Brian.

Apparently, the Chicago technology scene is a big soap opera, at least if you read something called The May Report.

Here's an excerpt from an article "of interest" in which Ron May wrote about Brian last year:

And then we come to the strange case of Brian Connolly who exited the PR business when Howard Solomon showed him the door in May of 2001, and he has not returned since. I know Connolly well enough to know that he despises what Lundin and Dever and company do. He would not condescend to this kind of work just to pay the rent.

And speaking of paying the rent, Connolly almost got kicked out of his condo, but his significant other, Vikki, saved the day by getting him to back off. Connolly got himself elected to the board of the condo and started raising he**, but the corrupt powers-that-be came down on him. Had Vikki not told Connolly that enough was enough, he might be on the street right now.

But Connolly is good for some things. He can play Diplomacy, a great game that I played when I was a kid for those of you who have never heard of it. Phil Fry who lives in Connolly's building at 111 East Chestnut (the same building is occupied by Jane Byrne and Jack Ryan --- what an odd couple!) held a Diplomacy fest not about a year ago and people even flew in for the occasion. Phil is an interesting guy. He is from Ohio, but went to Harvard and as you know, you can always tell a Harvard man, but you can't tell him much.

Connolly is now "busy" with his blog intentions. He decided initially on the name "The Bullfighter" and that blog can be found at www.thebullfighter.com. He had the template finished weeks ago. Then he wanted to write a column for the blog --- imagine that?! Writing an opinion piece for your own blog. That's so middle class in Connolly's view who fashions himself an idle aristocrat. Connolly would never want to do "work" and get caught doing it. He would rather get Tom Wolfe to do it for him. Brian won't stoop to do actual work. He will contemplate the nature of the universe before lifting a finger to do anything, however.

No, on a more serious note, the affliction Connolly suffers from, aside from an extreme case of perfectionism, is rather common in the PR business that he hails from. These people care mostly about form, not substance. They don't really have any strong opinions or issues so they worry about how they will express themselves. This is a variation on the old line that if everything is important, then nothing is important. Hence, in Connolly's case, nothing ever gets done.

Now, he has decided that "The Bullfighter" is too intense and too serious. He wants more levity so he is thinking of the name BlogOblique or maybe Utzy Information. Meanwhile, he has not written one word of substance. Do you see my point about PR? Connolly would sit and ponder what form he wants this thing to take until the cows come home.

Connolly does raise existential naval gazing to an art form, and he does it very well. Read this piece of blather on bullfighting and the meaning of life from his blog that has not been activated yet, of course, with anything like content. It is a table very elegantly set, just no food or people to eat it.