Economists not only make great butts of jokes, they banter better than West Wingers did last week.

"The Mob?" "Yes, the Mob. Thank you. Thank you for articulating my unspoken fears. The Mob. And when you say it like that, it seems so trivial, the Mob. I mean, it's not like they're …

I volunteered for an assignment to sell textbooks for Cody's at Alliant University, which is basically a school of psychology in Alameda. We're there 9 to 5 five days this week, so I've been getting …

I know I haven't become a retail person yet. My boss called me at home and told me she was "at the store," and I thought she meant a grocery store. Note regarding my previous …

Last night's synapse-fest really went kooky. I watched some lesbian subplot on West Wing with a bunch of dream-acquaintances who had convinced Leonard to try pot. I was unnerved. Then I saw an alternate-universe Russia …

I turned into Andy Holloway for a weekend. I'm still up, dawn has long since broken, but my room has order and a visible carpet and décor. Michael: "Any time you feel conflicted about your …

Sometimes research for a customer request, e.g., word-per-day calendars, also provides me with amusement. word-of-the-day.com: "WE ONLY TEACH WORDS THAT ARE PRACTICAL, CURRENT AND CUTTING EDGE." Vocab Vitamins testimonial: "In addition to the great vocabulary …

Note to self: check out the Smokin' Popes. I just heard one of their neat tunes on KALX. After checking NPR for my no-new-catastrophe update, I turn on KALX in the morning for music education. …

Adam and I saw Punch-Drunk Love again. Still so good. Afterwards we expounded on doppelgangers and colors and music and dialogue and character. Adam, this is Frances's sweet entry.

Well, I was wrong. Musharraf's still around. That's the unfortunate thing about "today in history" -- it renders your "One Year Hence" predictions awfully available for inspection. From last night: "Oh, you're going to do …