HALF THE BATTLE

A constructive critic told Mr. Vaughan that in his type of writing a good title was half the battle. So with this insurance prominently on the Jacket, he's halfway home and the rest, ""more than 100 forays, advances, skirmishes, ambushes, victories, cop-outs, standoffs and outflankings in the funny business of living"" is a breeze. For example: ""Suggestion for an epitaph: 'He went through life as unauthorized personnel'""...""Just because one Beatle has had his hair cut is no reason to predict a mild winter."" A nifty, wacky sense of the absurd whether prerecorded on the telephone or suggesting up-dated Opera scenarios--""Duncan Hines in three Acts."" He's an apolitical kinsman to Russell Baker. Columnist for the Kansas City Star, he is a Kansas City star.