Yesterday, the American Society of Magazine Editors released its list of finalists for the 40th National Magazine Awards — the so-called "Ellies" — and for those you who mutter under your breath about how "it's always the same magazines every year" and "just give David Remnick his requisite five" have, well, less of an argument this time.

David Bradley and the Boston ex-pats at the Atlantic Monthly lead all magazines with 8 nominations. And the Remnicks and Graydon Carters are certainly on there, too. But right with them sits the Virginia Quarterly Review with 6 noms — more than the New Yorker (5), New York (5) National Geographic (5), and Esquire (2) and Vanity Fair (3) combined. ASME also seems to have gotten around to recognizing Dave Eggers, whose Believer and McSweeney's are both up for awards. Even Legal Affairs, the recently-shuttered New Haven-based magazine, parted with a pair of nominations.

We're just hoping this year's ceremony (May 9 at Jazz at Lincoln Center) can match last year's buzzfest, when everybody's favorite domestic diva-cum-felon, Martha Stewart, stole the show, stepping out in front of her peers for the first time since the penitentiary.

ASME Announces National Magazine Award Finalists