Seriously? The dude who agreed with a McCain supporter that Obama being president would mean the death of Israel is going to have a JOB reporting news from the Middle East? Seriously?!

The AP story states the following:

The Ohio man who became a household name during the presidential campaign says he is heading to Israel as a war correspondent for the conservative Web site pjtv.com.

Samuel J. Wurzelbacher says he'll spend 10 days covering the fighting.

He tells WNWO-TV in Toledo that he wants to let Israel's "'Average Joes' share their story."

There is a word gets thrown around a lot - it really is the best one we can come up with for this...it perfect for when something phony and a cheap attempt at something otherwise decent manifests - the word is - travesty. There are real journalists out of work. Like a lot of them. And the wannabe country western star, media whore and general fabricator gets a gig?!

This is why we're happy John McCain lost - otherwise Tido the Builder would have become Secretary of the Interior.

We found this informative...timely piece by Atherton Bartelby over at Mashable, "FOLLOW FAIL: The Top 10 Reasons I Will Not Follow You in Return on Twitter".

Twitter got hacked. The protocol is established. If you're not on it yet...you're totally Friendster...err Ann Coulter.

We like this reason Bartelby is not going to follow your Twitter.

5. Your profile features any variation of "Internet expert"

It's just a good rule in general.

We mention this because we're trying to pimp our Twitter feed. Yes, you can follow us in all our glory here.

FishbowlDC's Patrick Gavin will be leaving Mediabistro.

This 'secret' memo is posted on Politico:

Gang,

We have finally found a way to stop all those leaks to Patrick Gavin over at FishbowlDC _ we're bringing him to Politico. Gavin, of course, needs no introduction for most Politicos because you already know him, hang out with him, bump into him at parties or read his media and gossip scoops at Fishbowl or the Examiner. We think this is quite a coup.

continued...

Soapblox, a publishing platform and community for a grip of progressive and liberal blogs, got hacked.

This was posted on the front page this morning:

SoapBlox is Dead by: pacified January 07, 2009 at 08:15:46 MST

It was a good ride, but it's over.

Thanks for all the fish.

All these hackers messing with our stuff, and we here at SoapBlox have no clue what to do. We don't have enough knowledge, time, money, or care to fix it.

So I hope the Hackers are happy.

Ben Smith on Politco wrote:

The attack is a reminder of how little redundancy there is in big portions of the rapidly-expanding Internet, and how fragile the systems that manage content can be.

continued...

Marketplace is the only national business show to be produced in LA and it's nearly old enough to drink!

The first program was broadcast on January 2, 1989.

From their release:

For 20 years, Marketplace has been the place to go for smart entertaining news about money, business and economics. Now, the economic challenges here and around the world make Marketplace more relevant than ever.

Doesn't hurt that Kai Ryssdal is easy on the ears...and eyes.

LA Phil Presents:

San Francisco Symphony January 26 & 27, 8:00 PM
at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Featured Artists:

San Francisco Symphony

Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor

Michael Tilson Thomas brings his phenomenal orchestra to L.A. with music ranging from Tchaikovsky to Tilson Thomas himself.

Go here for more information.

The pair of tickets are for Monday, January 26th.

The first person to email us with "Ooh San Francisco Treat!" in the subject wins the tickets.

Recently laid off staffer Marc Cooper posted a critical look at LA Weekly's history and decline.

Go on - just read the whole thing. We were going to write a nice summary. But this one deserves long(er) form:

A Few Words About the L.A. Times

I said at the beginning that I write this with no bitterness nor regrets. Really, scout's honor.

That's true, with one asterisk. I rather deeply resent that I have to do this at all. I'm pissing away a perfectly beautiful weekend morning to slap this together when, truth is, the L.A. Times should have written this story --in much fuller and precise detail-- months and months ago.

Ditto.

These are our bosses, by the way. We just want that stated...for the record.

This is Laurel Touby with Chris Ariens on the far right. There's also TVNewser Associate Editor Steve Krakauer and Magic Wall guy Jeff Han.

More info about the summit can be found here.

The internets are being flooded with old film clips of new Senator-to-be-soon-elect Al Franken.

This one we really like because it reminds us how much has changed in late night television. Now it's all promo tours after promo tours. Franken and his then partner Tom Davis, were going to be working at Caroline's that week. They were just funny guys being promoted by David Letterman.

Letterman also promoted a young comic, Jay Leno who appeared on his show over 40 times. And then Leno went on to promote anything but other comedians.

California's 31st District Congressman Xavier Becerra is rumored to be on the list for the Barack Obama administration appointment that Governor Bill Richardson stepped down from.

LAist brings us the details:

But he may actually be interested in leaving congress to head the Commerce Department after Bill Richardson stepped down yesterday. "Even though he turned down the trade representative slot, Becerra is not only Hispanic, but he has the skill, talent and experience to do the Commerce job," a source told the San Antonio Express-News. "Xavier's name has gone to the top of the list of potential replacements in part because he is a member of the House leadership, he is well liked, he has very good credentials, and, of course, he was an early Obama backer."

Ahh! Quick! Someone sleep with this man so we can keep him as our congressman! This is LA, we hate to see anyone go onto better things.

UPDATE: According to Politico, Becerra is staying put. Phew!

Watch CBS Videos Online

Harry Smith took Ann Coulter to task. He calls her 'sophomoric' and her views 'simplistic'. Then Coulter tosses her hair and says something to the effect of "I'm rubber, you're glue."

"This is the Ann Coulter publicity machine at work -- publish a book filled with vitriol, lies and sloppy sourcing -- say something batshit crazy -- wait for the backlash -- feign victimhood -- media storm follows -- ride the wave to the best sellers list," said a media insider familiar with Coulter's career to FBLA. "I'm not sure what is more pathetic, Ann thinking she still looks hot in a black cocktail dress, or that the media falls for this song and dance every time."

Yeah, the whole ordeal seems so dated. It's so Friendster. It's so VHS. It's so 'meh'.

Thanks to Glynnis MacNicol at our sister blog FishbowlNY for the clip.

The LA Press Club had their annual elections and chose new board members. Now scan for names of people you know...go on...that's why we're all here:

The Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Press Club (LAPC) is comprised of 14 Board Members that serve two-year terms. Every year, half of the seats are up for election and this year brought in some new and old faces. Day-to-day operations are still run by working international journalist and LAPC Executive Director, Diana Ljungaeus, and USA reporter, Chris Woodyard is the President of its Board of Directors.

continued...

We've been covering the copious cutbacks in staff at the LA Weekly. We found this internal memo via Romenesko about further reductions:

We are also going to take these additional measures effective January 1, 2009:

1) All VVM senior managers and officers, including Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey, are taking 15% pay reductions.

2) VVM Publishers and Editors are taking 10% pay reductions until our revenues begin to grow again.

3) We will suspend the Village Voice Media match into our 401-K plan. The plan will still remain open and we urge you to take advantage of the tax deferred personal savings advantages.

Still doesn't make up for laying people off on Christmas Eve. That could have waited a week, huh?

ASSME, the American Society of Shitcanned Media Elites, is according to their website, 'a support organization for newly downsized members of the magazine, newspaper, book publishing, advertising, TV and web industries. Through time-tested methods (alcohol, social interaction), we seek to sustain and inspire this beleaguered professional subclass'.

First there was a movement, now there's a shirt.

continued...

CNN wanted to alert FBLA to its Top 10 Stories, so it sent out notice.

We said where do we salute.

CNN.com's Top 10 Stories in 2008 (and corresponding Page Views)
1. Obama: 'This is your victory' Nov. 5: 4.8 million page views
2. Actor Heath Ledger dies at 28 Sept. 22: 4.4 million page views
3. Cops: Why we think skull is Caylee's Dec. 12: 3.9 million page views
4. Hurricane Ike Sept. 12: 3.7 million page views
5. Economic Stimulus Jan. 24: 3.6 million page views
6. Body in SUV is Hudson's nephew, FBI says Oct. 27: 3.5 million page views
7. Spitzer's escort: 'I love who I am' March 13: 3.4 million page views
8. Body proves Bigfoot no myth, hunters say Aug. 15: 3.3 million page views
9. Palin's 'going rogue,' McCain aide says Oct. 26: 3.2 million page views
10. Some remains found in Fossett plane wreckage Oct. 3: 3.1 million page views