LAUGH LINES

On the Average . . .: “According to a new study, it takes the average-income family 23 weeks to buy the average-priced car. Of course, the bad new is it now takes 25 more weeks before they can put gas in it.” (Jay Leno)

State of Confusion: “The Public Policy Institute released a new poll recently. It says 48% of Californians think the state is headed in the wrong direction, while 44% think it’s headed in the right direction. It’s hard to tell in the dark.” (Argus Hamilton)

Splitting Up: Corporate giants Ford and Firestone “went their separate ways--just like the tires their customers drove on.” (Kenny Noble Cortes)

Got Mint?: “The tobacco companies are now planning to start marketing a mint that is 60% tobacco and contains as much nicotine as a cigarette. That’s a great idea. Now people can start dying from secondhand breath too.” (Leno)

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Got a joke? Send it to Laugh Lines by fax, (213) 237-0732, or mail, Southern California Living, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, 90012.