diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 19d1d3a..35275f2 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ class Application(object):
         # initialize our buffers
         # note that only the first buffer will be initially visible
         buffers.append(buffer.about.AboutBuffer())
+        self.log = buffer.LogBuffer()
+        buffers.append(self.log)
         if self.rcerror:
             buffers.insert(0, buffer.data.DataBuffer('*RcError*', self.rcerror))
 
@@ -513,9 +515,12 @@ class Application(object):
             window.Window(b, self, height=slot.height, width=slot.width)
 
     # error string handling
-    def set_error(self, s):
+    def set_msg(self, s):
         self.error_string = s
         self.error_timestamp = time.time()
+    def set_error(self, s):
+        self.set_msg(s)
+        self.log.append_lines([s, ""], act=buffer.ACT_NONE, force=True)
     def clear_error(self):
         self.error_string = ""
         self.error_timestamp = None
@@ -1051,7 +1056,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             i += 1
 
     import optparse
-
     parser = optparse.OptionParser()
     parser.set_defaults(debug=False)
     parser.set_defaults(goto=None)
diff --git a/buffer/__init__.py b/buffer/__init__.py
index 36c9c6d..b7bc53a 100644
--- a/buffer/__init__.py
+++ b/buffer/__init__.py
@@ -782,3 +782,20 @@ class Binary32Buffer(FileBuffer):
         return '\n'.join(lines)
     def write_filter(self, data):
         return ''.join(self.rawdata)
+
+# log is another singleton
+log = None
+class LogBuffer(Buffer):
+    btype = 'log'
+    def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
+        global log
+        if log is None:
+            log = object.__new__(LogBuffer, *args, **kwargs)
+        return log
+
+    def __init__(self): Buffer.__init__(self)
+    def clear(self): log.set_data('', force=True)
+    def name(self): return '*Log*'
+    def changed(self): return False
+    def close(self): global log; log = None
+    def readonly(self): return True
diff --git a/buffer/console.py b/buffer/console.py
index 79b8c41..792e836 100644
--- a/buffer/console.py
+++ b/buffer/console.py
@@ -28,6 +28,3 @@ class ConsoleBuffer(Buffer):
     def changed(self): return False
     def close(self): global console; console = None
     def readonly(self): return True
-    def input_insert_lines(self, p, lines, act=ACT_NORM, force=False): pass
-    def output_insert_lines(self, p, lines, act=ACT_NORM, force=False): pass
-    def result_insert_lines(self, p, lines, act=ACT_NORM, force=False): pass
diff --git a/method/__init__.py b/method/__init__.py
index 6858f7d..dfef0d0 100644
--- a/method/__init__.py
+++ b/method/__init__.py
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ class Cancel(Method):
         w.application.close_mini_buffer()
         if w.application.completion_window_is_open():
             w.application.close_completion_buffer()
-        w.set_error('Cancel')
+        w.set_msg('Cancel')
 
 class SplitWindow(Method):
     '''Split the main window horizontally into upper and lower windows'''
@@ -916,8 +916,6 @@ class SplitWindow(Method):
         a = w.application
         a.add_slot()
         if not w.cursor_is_visible():
-            #p = w.first
-            #w.goto(p)
             w.center_view(force=True)
         n = len(a.bufferlist.slots)
         a.set_error('Window has been split into %d windows!' % n)
diff --git a/mode/__init__.py b/mode/__init__.py
index 577d56b..e2033c4 100644
--- a/mode/__init__.py
+++ b/mode/__init__.py
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ class Fundamental(Handler):
         try:
             act = Handler.handle_token(self, t)
             if act is None:
-                self.window.set_error(' '.join(self.curr_tokens))
+                self.window.set_msg(' '.join(self.curr_tokens))
                 return
             else:
                 act.execute(self.window)
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ class Fundamental(Handler):
         except ActionError, e:
             #XYZ: HACK--should fix
             if t in ('C-]', 'C-g'):
-                self.window.set_error('Cancelled')
+                self.window.set_msg('Cancelled')
             else:
                 self.window.set_error(str(e))
         except Exception, e:
diff --git a/window.py b/window.py
index 19e4294..538b843 100644
--- a/window.py
+++ b/window.py
@@ -75,10 +75,9 @@ class Window(object):
             return os.path.splitext(path)[1].lower()
 
     # some useful pass-through to application
-    def set_error(self, s):
-        self.application.set_error(s)
-    def clear_error(self):
-        self.application.clear_error()
+    def set_msg(self, s): self.application.set_msg(s)
+    def set_error(self, s): self.application.set_error(s)
+    def clear_error(self): self.application.clear_error()
 
     # mode stuff
     def set_mode(self, m):