Forgive our bleary eyes this morning for passing over this story from the LAT: "Former public relations and newspaper executive Douglas R. Dowie was sentenced Tuesday to 3 1/2 years in federal prison for defrauding city taxpayers, adding a painful coda to a career that once scaled the heights of Los Angeles media influence and political power."

By costing taxpayers million in over-billed fees, Dowie brought the kind of shame to Fleishman-Hillard that would call for self immolation if he were in a kung fu movie. But he's not in a kung fu movie. So he's going to appeal.