Economist Ted C. Jones' usual slapstick, fire-hose approach to presenting data — and, of course, that's a compliment — almost left me again besotted with information, analysis and bad jokes, but two items kept it to just a buzz.

One was from the oil patch. The other was from boomers' not-yet-empty nests.

First, the oil patch.

Yes, even armchair observers of the oil business know that drilling ain't what it used to be — it's better than it's ever been. Advances in technology have kept the business afloat even in a glut of crude oil (defined as any amount that keeps prices lower than we'd like).