In the NYT Book Review this weekend, Christopher Hitchens reviews the last Harry Potter book, which he says he purchased in the non-existent locality of “Stanford, Ca” — as if simply by visiting a place that exists only as a Post Office address might somehow put him on the track to Hogwarts. Hitchens has been ever more strenuously attempting lately to prove conclusively how much smarter he is than everyone else, and this review is perhaps the logical conclusion of that task, as he sounds like a college sophomore who is simultaneously taking English Lit and philosophy, home for Thanksgiving and eager to demonstrate his grasp of those subjects’ basics.

Meanwhile:

“It’s really scary. Now she’s totally erratic, changing lanes constantly. Someone needs to pull her over. … She’s out of control. Oh my gosh. Wow, she almost slammed into a truck.”

That was a 911 caller following Sen. Carole Migden up I-80 in May. Migden has pleaded no contest to reckless driving and will pay a fine and serve a two-year probation “during which she will not have to report to a probation officer.” Which I’m sure the probation officers of California are grateful for.

And presidential candidate Sen. Hilary Clinton was in town yesterday, visiting Golden Gate Park and accepting the endorsement of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.