When Jackson talked about himself - "the magnitude of me," for example - he always came across as boastful.

In his essays, Jackson talked about roads, forests, the patterns of agriculture.

Jackson had been talking for several weeks about some form of protest on the July 4 holiday if he deemed it necessary.

At 6:00-6:30 am, Jackson was still awake and still talking.

At the head of the table, Jackson was still talking.

Now Jackson is talking swifter, dropping verbs like a street kid in the 'hood.

Jackson, of course, does not talk of these things.

These days, Jackson is free of cancer and talking about golf history.

Jackson took Bubbles on outings and would often talk to him.

When Jackson talked to reporters about such things as "the magnitude of being me," he prompted a collective wince.