Washington Examiner readers may have been shocked this morning to find the publication’s gossip writer Nikki Schwab has made a sudden switch to the technology beat.

Oddly placed in the middle of the Washington Examiner‘s “Yeas and Nays” column, a space usually reserved for coverage of cupcakes and canned jokes from elected officials, was a story by Schwab about smartphone applications. The apps are intended to help users navigate happenings at the Party conventions. That’s a fascinating topic for, say, Engadget, but the gossip angle escapes us. And by “escapes us” we mean “is completely absent from this electronics feature.”

Over at The Hill‘s “In The Know” column, Judy Kurtz (a.k.a. Howeesha) has a re-scoop on the inspiration behind actor Will Farrell‘s role in his new movie The Campaign. Farrell told Kurtz he “looked at a lot of John Edwards stuff” to prepare. But Farrell actually shared this fact with ABC News a week before Kurtz’ big get.

Check back with “In The Know” to find out who won the 2008 presidential election.