You know the economy's bouncing back when...

1. People actually believe you'd go to a McCafe for a cappucino.
2. Said McCafe opens in Palo Alto.
3. Said McCafe is advertised on a billboard truck.

Yes, those lovable billboard trucks, last seen three years ago advertising pets.com on the Oval, are back on campus. The one I passed today revealed that, yes, you could get foam on a coffee drink from McDonald's. Really now. Having been to the McCafe in Kyoto I must say, they're just like every other McDonald's, but classier. Really this is how I expect every McDonald's in Palo Alto or Atherton to look...

Another economic indicator: Apple is promoting CS193E on campus, a course that teaches how to program for...Apple. That's right, learn skills that will qualify you for a job at Apple and just about nowhere else. Now where would you publicize such a course? Gates? The CS mailing list? Of course not...at the bookstore! The synergy is subtle: aspiring Jobs underlings need to first buy a big expensive G5 tower, then take 193E.