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Every fall, Professor Bulant-Timal starts assembling his teaching materials, the topics, the examples, even what he's going to say, and when.

I actually have a policy that in every class, which is one hour and 15 minutes, I crack at least two jokes.

It's very methodical system, two joke minimum.

One around 20th minute mark and one around 45th minute mark.

Why do you have it scheduled in your class?

Because I already have their attention high in the first 20 minutes anyway. So 20th minute is the

when it's fading away and 45th minute definitely they need a boost. That's why.

Sometimes the jokes are short, sometimes long, sometimes topical, sometimes irreverent.

As to whether they are any good?

Yeah, you guys can be the judge of that.

Why did God create economists?

Why?

To make weather forecasters look respectable.

Apparently that one kills with economists.

Anyway, Bulant teaches economics at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

And while he finds economics very entertaining, he knows his students do not always agree,

hence all the jokes.

...