The Way We Live Now: Bouncing into oblivion. Not giving a hoot. Skiing off the edge. Having horrible holidays. Believing, or not.

We have no idea why the Hooters on 56th and Broadway would be thriving amid the recession. But we're pretty sure it has nothing to do with Hooters being a "family-friendly" restaurant that appeals to "parents with their four and five-year olds," as the restaurant's extraordinarily creepy manager tells a reporter from Fox News. You will, however, be pleased to hear that according to a Hooters waitress, comforting men who have been laid off due to the downturn is "her duty." The video is below!

The holiday season gives an ever-scrutinized media elite the one true liberation: That feeling no one's really watching! The madness descends in this clip from Fox and Friends:

Tit-and-chicken-wing purveyor Hooters has signed on as the exclusive sponsor of Big Brown, the star racehorse that has already won two legs of the Triple Crown, and will try to complete the feat this weekend at the Belmont Stakes. UPS, the brown-themed shipping company that was was originally the sole sponsor of the horse, inexplicably allowed Hooters to slide in just before Big Brown is set to achieve the pinnacle of its publicity. In addition to being a bad PR decision, UPS' move has now subjected us all to the prospect of Jay Leno (and, less painfully, Tracy Morgan) chuckling about Hooters' upcoming "Big Brown Day":

We got a tip that the San Jose location of Spoons, a favored happy-hour spot across the street from eBay's headquarters, was getting purchased by Hooters. An eBayer attending CES acknowledged this last night, but wouldn't confirm the other half of the tip: that eBay CEO Meg Whitman had gone to the city council, asking them to stop the sale. She must not like hot wings. Fortunately for eBay's owl-eyed employees, the changeover seems to be going on despite any of Whitman's efforts. (Photo by PunkJr)

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means it's time for us to think about helping those less fortunate than ourselves, and to plan our next trip to Scores. And now, thanks to the storied club's "Cans for Cans" program, we can ease our conscience and look at boobies at the same time. Between now and November 21, just show up at Scores (either location!) with a can of beans or a box of cereal or Saltines or whatever (plus the printout thing from their site!) and you get in for free.

Walking into Hooters on 56th Street is like stepping into a magical drive-through carwash where the water has been replaced by fried food and the surly attendants by big-breasted women wearing orange leggings. It's not an experience that leaves one feeling clean in anyway. We headed up there yesterday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the restaurant and the unveiling of the 2008 calendar but mostly because we'd never been. Fat white men with cameras surrounded the women. Our photographer Nikola Tamindzic, who's on Atkins but doesn't need to be, was there to cast his male gaze as well.

In front of Hooters on West 56th Street today: