Star editor-at-large Julia Allison turned 27 last night. Nick McGlynn made a video to commemorate the occasion. It’s cute. Her friends (we assume) explain why they love her. Awww, the perfect gift. But doesn’t the footage look eerily familar? Oh yeah…

But seriously, happy birthday Jules.

Buzzy, professional social networking site LinkedIn suffered inaccessibility this morning on the day of major update. Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates today promoted the site, asking the question: How can we do more to encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology? Gates, in turn, received over 2,000 responses, despite the technical glitch. From the AP:

”The site — a professional network that helps people who know each other meet one another’s acquaintances who might help their careers — was restored by about 11:30 a.m. EST, the company said.

”Web site spokeswoman Kay Luo said she had no immediate information on the cause, though she said the site had higher traffic than usual after the new features launched Thursday.”

LinkedIn’s 19 million socially-ambitious members were unable to access their accounts for an hour this morning and, sporadically, during the week, where difficulties were also reported.

(image via redonomics)

This was not a good week for The New York Times. The week began suddenly on Sunday, when Public Editor Clark Hoyt blasted the Gray Lady for its McCain article from the previous week. Then, pretty much for the rest of the week, dissident activist shareholders jousted with The New York Times Co. over seats over seats on the Board of Directors. The bungling over the McCain story as well as the continuing effects of the ad recession sapped some of the the Gray Lady’s leverage in dealing with the investors.

About.com’s CEO Scott Meyer also decided to step down by next week, adding further fuel to the argument that The Times needs help in navigating this new digital reality. Meyer says it is an amicable parting, however, and Paidcontent’s Staci Kramer says, ”based on Meyer’s memo to staff, looks like Martin Nisenholtz, NYTCo SVP-digital operations, is taking charge directly, at least for now.”

And today, The New York Times Company reported that January ad revenues fell 9.8 % from the year before. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, as a result, said it placed its ratings for The New York Times Company on CreditWatch with negative implications.

All that having been said, at post time, NYT shares are up $0.08, 0.43% at $18.63.

Although the combustible International Herald Tribune fashion scribe Suzy Menkes has a signature look that appears effortlessly achieved, there is, apparently, a lot of work that goes in to getting her architectonic coif just … so. Basta!

(image via fashionweekdaily)

Brilliant, bold, curmudgeonly Vanity Fair Contributing Editor Christopher Hitchens was the proverbial 800 lb. gorilla in the room moderating the ”1968 to 2008 Journalism at a time of War” panel last night at the Independent Film Center. VF EIC Graydon Carter introduced a panel that included New York Times correspondent Dexter Filkins, Sebastian Junger, William Langewiesche and MTV VJ Suchin Pak. From Emily Vaughn of Editor & Publisher:

”Despite the pedigree of the panelists, Hitchens dominated the discussion, and his habit of interrupting the panelists or admonishing them to ‘keep it terse’ and if at all possible ‘witty’ — and also talking over comments by audience members a — led a few grumblers in the crowd to head for the bar before the discussion ended. Hitchens fielded many of the questions himself, at one point joking that the MTV panelist was ‘too young’ and Filkins and Junger were ‘too pretty’ to answer.”

Full article here.

(image via vanityfair)

Maybe it’s the late-night daddy duty new father and Details editor-in-chief Dan Peres is pulling, but we’re seeing some inconsistency. To wit: A mere page before the letters to the editor hailing the mag for its cautionary December article, “Are You Raising a Douchebag?” Peres pulls rank in his own March 2008 Letter From the Editor, describing a teen girl-laden Jonas Brothers run-in during a recent morning-show appearance:

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WWD is reporting today that Oscar traffic for Vanity Fair’s Oscar traffic declined as a result of the lack of the usual Academy Award pomp and circumstance. Exclusive footage of the red carpet leading to Graydon Carter’s annual bash at Morton’s seemed a brilliant idea, catering to both the public’s voyeuristic appetites towards celebrity and the strength of the Vanity Fair brand.

The WGA strike, however, claimed another casualty. And CondeNet’s Oscar momentum has been thwarted, for this year at least. From WWD:

”… Vanity Fair, who signaled to Hollywood it was not in a celebratory mood when it canceled its annual Oscar bash at Craft weeks before the ceremony, reported a 25 percent decline in traffic from last year across Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. A spokeswoman attributed the drop to the fact that the magazine had no party coverage on its site.”

Regarding the Oscars, Sarah Chubb, CondeNet’s President told The New York Times last year, ”one reason people chase these big events on the Web is the big burst in traffic, and the ability to sell a sponsorship becomes more profitable the bigger you get.”

NBC gives half-life to Quarterlife, MySpaceTV gears up to compete with YouTube, and take a walk on ABC’s Stage 9. Here’s Julie Ann Sageer with today’s Daily Angle…

The rich go to prison in much different circumstances than you or me.

Conrad Black is officially heading to jail. He was denied bail on Thursday, while his two co-defendants were allowed to remain free on bond. Black’s first day in prison will be Monday.

Starting on Monday, Conrad Black will become Prisoner 18330-424 of the Coleman Federal Corrections Institute. However, before he enters the pen, Black is throwing a farewell party at his Palm Beach mansion. Meanwhile, his wife Lady Black is celebrating capitalism:

“She has bought a dog, which is a big thing in her life. They were both getting on fabulously well. She has probably been prepared for a bad ending longer than he has. She tends to be more pessimistic,” he said.

The Palm Beach Daily News reported in its gossip column that Lady Black had spent $250,000 on the new collection by fashion designer Oscar de la Renta.

Well, that’s what happens when you commit white collar crime.

Soho’s landmark Puck Building was packed last night as the Bailey House held its 20th Annual Auction & Party.

Designers Jonathan Adler, Simon Doonan and John Bartlett, architect Jeffery Povero and Project Runway’s Tim Gunn hosted the event which included both a silent and a more lively, live auction. Two women bid top dollar for a lunch with CNN’s Anderson Cooper: $4,500! The following item: a maple leaf Mapplethorpe went for $9,500.

ABC News SVP Jeffrey Schneider, chairman of the board of Bailey House, was also the chief seer of paddles during the live auction, not missing a bid. By the end of the night $800,000 had been raised.

Among the 850 guests, the aforementioned Cooper (pre-AC360), GMA Weekend anchor Bill Weir and WABC’s Bill Ritter.

Now going on 25 years, Bailey House provides housing and other vital needs to people living with HIV/AIDS and to their loved ones.