NOT DEAD YET, FOLKS: Just getting my tax records in order -- a massive undertaking and the bane of my existance, but it's got to be done. Through the end of January, New York State is offering amnesty to delinquent tax filers, and -- let's just say -- I have some "issues" which need to be resolved while the resolvin' is good.

Backson...

YES, YES, I know, I know. I've been slacking off. Would that I might formulate 500 eloquent words about my last shopping safari to the Rego Park Target -- as if anyone could be made to care about the least ugly of several budget-priced lamps or the forlorn beanbag ottoman that I carted home last week. Lileks has that gift. I be merely mortal.

Okay. Let's see what's out there on the horizon?

Hmmmm... This should be interesting: Newt Gingrich and Paul Krugman will debate the Bush administration's economic stimulus package on next Sunday's Brinkley show. Which of them can generate the most intellectually dishonest bullet-point blather in a single five-minute spot? I'll put my money on Gingrich. But we'll see...