psql questions - Mailing list pgsql-novice

I am trying to figure out how to set a variable in psql and use it and how
to echo information.

in Oracle I can do:
define jed = foo
prompt This is the value of jed
select sysdate, &jed from foo;

and get
This is the value of jed
24-MAR-05  foo

How can do those things in psql?  (I found the \set which seems to work, no
error, but I can't figure out how to use the variable in a psql session)

Thanks in advance,

        Jed S. Walker