Barack Obama has already sent subtle signals that the Feds have no interest in prosecuting medical marijuana distributors. Now Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to "study" legalizing marijuana in California. Weed money is too good to resist!

Congress is debating whether journalists should be subsidized. But hey, did anyone know that we're already coddling J-school students by letting them take federal loans for iPhones?

Here's encouraging news for Kathy Freston: The hardcore vegan and dieting devotee may finally be able to let Oprah go as her most famous devotee now that it appears she may have found someone else willing to try her 21-day cleanse. Harvey Weinstein's wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, told a reporter at Freston's book party yesterday that she and Harvey "need to try" the cleanse. Sounds promising! And after all, it's not like diet endorsements don't run in the family! [NYO]

Wildfires are raging in California again — this time near Santa Barbara where 5,000 homes have been evacuated — producing the apocalyptic imagery to fit our dreary mood. Pic via Getty.

We knew media mogul Barry Diller enjoyed the occasional spin on a mountain bike—he's pictured here on a bicycle at last year's Allen & Co. media confab—but we didn't realize he scooted around Manhattan on a Vespa. But that was one of Diane Clehane's revelations when the Mediabistro contributor turned up at Michael's yesterday for her customary Wednesday lunch:

Jonathan Tilove is a veteran Washington reporter who's seen three different employers close their bureaus in the past year. Have faith: this week, the Virgin Mary appeared on his desk:

When Barack Obama made headlines by eating a hamburger this week, we were disappointed that he ruined his by ordering it medium-well. Sean Hannity, though, found something far worse.

The identities of these blonde socials after the jump!

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and to honor those who have sacrificed so much only to watch in horror at the rotten people we've since become, Adecco Group—"the largest staffing agency in the world"—asked a bunch of people about the moms they admire most. (Do note that just because it's a temp agency that did the survey, that should not suggest that motherhood is a temporary occupation. It isn't. Well, not usually.) In any event, the survey asked working moms, working dads and working non-parents to answer this question of great importance, and unsurprisingly, all three groups picked Michelle Obama as the most admired mom in America. But then the results get a little screwy! Apparently, Sarah Palin—yes, really—came up No. 2 for two of the three groups. And Jenny McCarthy (above), who has always gone out of her way to set a good example, is the fourth most admired mom in America. The list/press release that will instantly undermine your faith in the future of this country is below.

Vaguely annoying Brit writer and Top Chef judge Toby Young was hit by a car while riding his bike in London last week, but he's going to be okay. Here, his busted head. [Toby's blog]

Ok, wait, no jokes: Wesleyan University is in lockdown as cops conduct a manhunt for a killer who shot his ex, a student, at a campus bookstore.

Two years ago it was probably really sweet to have Bernie Madoff give you a corporate credit card you could use to waste tons of money. Today, you'd wish you hadn't bought all that crap:

Kiefer Sutherland's headbutt of Jack McCollough may have far-reaching consequences, and not just because Kiefer will probably face assault charges in connection with the incident. The eighth season of 24 is set to begin taping any day now, but if Sutherland has to do time behind bars, that may totally mess up the production schedule! Then again, there's always the possibility that Kiefer could take a cue from the show and figure out a way to solve all of his legal problems—as well as bust a few terrorists and save a few lives—in less than an hour, in which case all will turn out okay. [THR]

Remember the angry protest outside the New School a few weeks ago, the one in which students barricaded themselves inside a building and demanded the university's controversial president, Bob Kerrey, resign? Well, they're getting their way! Bob Kerrey will, indeed, be leaving the institution. In, like, two years or so. [NYT]

Who's benefiting from the collapse of the economy besides vulture investors, short sellers and bargain-hunting fashionistas? Blondes! Or, more specifically, blue-eyed blonde models, who are experiencing a renaissance now that designers are casting "wholesome-looking girls with flaxen manes" in their ads in an effort to "reassure" rather than "shock" the consumer.

The breadth of Oprah's Free KFC Giveaway Disaster yesterday is just starting to become clear. Reports now indicate that the desperate—and dangerous—Oprah-induced public rush for free chicken and biscuits was a nationwide phenomenon:

Christie's auction of Impressionist and modern art last night was considerably more successful that the Sotheby's auction the night before last. The event raked in $102.7 million—close to double Sotheby's haul of $61.3 million—and while it's still a long way off from what Christie's was pulling in when the going was good, it's nice to hear at least one victim of Bernie Madoff got to walk away with some (much needed) cash in his pocket. Jerome Fisher, a founder of Nine West who lost an estimated $150 million as part of the Ponzi scheme, managed to sell a Picasso, "The Musketeer With a Pipe," for $14.6 million, well within the estimated range of $12-$18 million. [NYT, WSJ]

Today in tawdry: A stank film director, a famous actor with huge lifts in his shoes, and a nice actress who loves kittens and babies. Outrageous!