I was in the Walgreens buying some things and two men who were price checking with those handheld machines were working near the checkout counter. One said to the other, “So what happened with that whole Enron thing? Did they just cheat everybody out of their money or what?”

His partner answered noncommittally. But boy could they operate those machines, typing in numbers a gazillion miles a minute without even looking at the keypad. A perfect example of rational ignorance, which is both a blessing and a curse. And to think that I sometimes flagellate myself for not keeping up enough with the news.