Is it my imagination, or does the Red Line seem to attract a lot more, um, interesting people than the other T lines? Latest evidence comes from Karl, who reports on a distinguished looking guy in a suit:

... What was interesting about this guy was that he was holding up his arm and moving his fingers (like a puppet's mouth) as he mouthed words. Even stranger, he was just mouthing the words and not saying anything out loud. He noticed me watching him and instead of ceasing this peculiar activity - he aimed his talking hand towards me and "hand-talked" evern more - as if his hand was yelling at me. ...

OK, for you youngsters: The real Senor Wences.

Was that our very own Philocrites flashing up on the screen during last night's "Daily Show" report on "The New Journalism?" Why yes, yes it was:

My role? I supplied compelling visuals for the following bit of advice to would-be bloggers: "If you're liberal, you want to show people that you're smarter than they are. Try something obscure and literary." Eschaton (aka Atrios) and I were the two featured smarty-pants.

Rose is not impressed with the proposal to turn the old Assembly Square Mall into a "new urban village:"

... This new "urban village" is going to be at least as problematic as IKEA in terms of traffic and overloading public transportation. Will MBTA improve the bus service along that route? Will this place be pedestrian friendly? Will everyone living there have to own a car? Will there be coffeeshops, convenience stores, etc. in this forced village? How high will the residential rent be? Will anyone be able to afford it? Or will the city just be catering to the wealthy? ...