Over the weekend, Mike was quizzing me about my work as a journalist. I wanted to make the profession look good, of course, so I didn't mention one of the primary joys I remembered from my college days: those rare moments when the wire services got garbled.

These days, of course it's all about online news feeds, and those have distinct advantages. But no broken graphic or missing link can compare to the joy of garbled wire copy.

Here are some examples, reproduced with errors intact, that I saved circa 1989:

In his book "Once a 1/4e3/40" (Texas Monthly Press)...It is the story of a heavily decorated but mentally cj.eused%7br hero who returns from two tours in Vietnd-and serves with honor distinction, and considerable controversy as an Alaska statgurooper.
....
According t/!windle, the villain in this gripping story is not Littl'lnor....
...
An assistant managing editor at the Dallas Mo[n"]nUng News,
...
For 12 years he had worn irsy green;
...
Meet the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet, know.!
...
She was married once, but feels weli'qid of him."
....
He went to a 'red br:PIniversity' in London's East End,
...
"Someone said, 'Wop, gn't be fun if you and Bob could do it together,'''

OK, back to cleaning out the files. And wearing "irsy green." Wop,gn't that be fun?