· Never fuck with Big Popa: FishBowlNY reports on layoffs at The New York Press. Of course, the real punishments begin in the great beyond. [FishBowlNY]
· Brendan I. Koerner looks at our very favoritist magazine, J-14. [Slate]
· Katha Pollitt, a lovely gal, weighs in on the whole "can chicks write op-eds" debate and she has the cutest things to say: "That opinion writing is a kind of testosterone-powered food fight is a popular idea in the blogosphere. Male bloggers are always wondering where the women are and why women can't/don't/won't throw bananas." Actually, male bloggers are always wondering why women can't/don't/won't talk to them and if that hot Canadian chick on Lost will have another bra and panties swim scene this week. [The Nation]
· William Powers says, "I like some blogs so much, I have to restrain myself from visiting too often." Actually, William, the judge and the restraining order keeps you from visiting—at least within 500 yards. [National Journal]

When Robert Blake admitted that he's broke and needs a job so that he can nattily outfit his hummingbirds (after some some restorative "cowboying" time, naturally), casting agents were listening:

Finally, the literary review you've never read has a new editor you sort of know! The Paris Review has announced that New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch will edit the august publication after the ouster of Brigid Hughes.

The Daily News' Mike Lupica is stridently quaking to Matt Lauer about Mark McGwire's dodgy senate testimonial. "What did McGwire think he was there for?!" "Tremendous consequences!" "Ridiculous!" "Shame!"

We have to wait until May for this baby. Such a tease, that Frankie.

· Janice Min was robbed! The American Society of Magazine Editors announce the 2005 National Magazine Award Finalists. We've never even heard of half of the magazines: The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Sports Illustrated? Way to go obscure, ASME. We're soooo impressed. [Magazine.org]
· FishBowlNY to start "blogging" next week! [FishBowlNY]
· What does success smell like? Depends. [Broadcasting & Cable]
· Sis pops her head out of her undisclosed hidey hole to bring another installment of 'Thursdays With Tina.' [Wonkette]

The Economist

Today's Times points to the latest gaming trend, in which players can "take drugs" during gameplay. The vice works itself easily into a game's storyline if it, say, revolves around a narcotics officer:

From today's FOXNews.com reprint of Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points:

So, so offensive! Nicole Richie is NOT a "hollywood star."

A quick note to Ben Affleck: It's time to get fitted for that orange jumpsuit. How often does the universe hand you your very own Dead Man Walking?

Haha! Oh, man! (Yeah, we've been drinking green beer since about 8AM...)

Hey, Robert Blake, you've just been acquitted of murdering your wife! So what are you gonna do? Disneyland? "...I'm going to go out and do a little cowboying," said Blake. But what's cowboying, you ask? Blake explained it to the world shortly after his acquittal:

"Will you be a reference on my adoption application?"

Maureen Dowd isn't just an observant columnist and pundit: she's a keen interpreter of body language. As her New York Times column about the Gridiron Dinner demonstrates:

You see, class, the placement of "Baretta" over "Burn In Hell," indicates that the Post sees our judicial system's glass as half full. They're focusing on the positive; Robert Blake is free! Quite a contrast to the Daily News, which comes off as rather despondent. Lots of gloom and doom over there — get those kids some Zoloft, right?

Right now on the Today Show, a break from the screaming, shamrock-clad tourists outside and a moment with Matt Lauer and Amber Frey. Plenty of reflection on the "closure" that comes with Scott Peterson's death sentence, lots of emotional quoting from the sentencing hearing (he's SO trying to make her cry, but it's not working). It's almost too much to bear, but Frey looks positively adorable in her green blazer! Atta lassie! It's a little early in the day, but we'll drink to that! Oooh, maybe she'll ride in the parade today...

You won't be able to get a table at an Italian restaurant in this town for months.

· Coming soon to Roger Ailes' ass: reporter with "unusually long tongue." Yeah, even our sister—or her guest blogger—couldn't cram another entendre in there. [Wonkette]
· Paul Krassner weighs in on Karl Rove, Jeff Gannon, Ari Fleischer, Henry Kissinger, Dennis Miller, Bill Maher, and Jon Stewart. All in a little over 400 words! Brevity= S. Wit. [NYPress]
· Jeff Jarvis still mad about being called a white guy. [Buzzmachine]
· Reality TV producers manipulate reality? Nooooooooo! [NYT]

Blogger Dana Vachon sits down with flamboyant male figure skater Johnny Weir to discuss matters of faith and, predictably, enlightenment ensues: