Maggie Shnayerson

(Clockwise, from top right, Harper's editors from 1941 through 2010.)

Cause? None in particular it seems, except for "the general weakness of the magazine’s newsstand sales and circulation figures." Well, that would put Hodge in good company with the magazine's previous editors. Hey, it's hard to be a gangster.

*Yes, related.

Today, 3:26 pm: “Damn. Uh...ha, whoops! Lemme just fix this oooone little thing real quick...”

['Haiti Earthquake News & Relief,' iTunes App Store]

TERRY GROSS: So you think they might just pull the show?

DAVID BIANCULLI: Well, even Jay Leno has said, you know, I wouldn't mind going back to my old slot at "Tonight."

GROSS: Whoa.

(Soundbite of laughter)

BIANCULLI: Yeah, isn't that a big...

GROSS: Tell that to Conan O'Brien.

BIANCULLI: Yeah, exactly, exactly. That is such a big whoa. And, you know, if you thought that his leaving "The Tonight Show" and then sort of bringing it to primetime under another name was a little bit disingenuous or not being a team player, what about that admission?

[via NPR's "Fresh Air," Dec. 29, 2009: "TV 2009: David Bianculli On the Best...And the Rest"

GOD ALMIGHTY, how I wish President Obama would quit issuing these hyper-precise, MLA-outlined exposition-enhanced speeches. I’m developing an allergy to persuasive rhetorical communication techniques, and that’s AGAINST MY CHARACTER.

I shall now prepare for the eventual day where I will have to admit missing George Bush saying silly and ridiculous things about being The Decider.