Recessional for the Invitational?

As a humorist, Weingarten is in a class by himself. His new blog, "The Gene Pool," had a recent discussion on whether a prominent TV journalist broke wind on the air. Weingarten's weekly chat, Chatological Humor, runs this disclaimer: "Important, secret note to readers: The management of The Washington Post apparently does not know this chat exists, or it would have been shut down long ago. Please do not tell them. Thank you."

It is obvious that the chat has a self-selected audience. The first time I peeked in, women were being asked to state the size of their bra cups. It has a lot of jokes about poop, flatulence and menstrual cramps. After I stumbled out, I thought: This is on the Web site of a respectable newspaper?

Then I realized that I have never gotten a single complaint about the chat (and only a few about The Invitational). The chats are filled with happy, laughing fans. Who am I to turn them in? Weingarten swears that his chat group also has literary discussions, analyzes poetry and has "deep philosophical and religious" conversations.

Weingarten was also the instigator of The Post Hunt, started with his friend Dave Barry and editor Tom Shroder, also editor of the Magazine, whom Weingarten calls Tom the Butcher. They drew thousands of people on a dreary, rainy Sunday two weeks ago to play the game. It sounded like fun.

When Weingarten is not being a funny guy, he is a fine writer and reporter. In fact, this week he picked up a Pulitzer Prize in feature writing.

On the Invitational, I hope something so popular lives on. Its demise might spur a riot -- but a very witty riot.

Deborah Howell can be reached at 202-334-7582 or atombudsman@washpost.com.