I'm told that not inviting the writers to the National Magazine Awards is not terribly unusual, however idiotic it may seem. ("Not terribly unusual, however idiotic it may seem" describes, incidentally, 99% of the things I find myself reporting on the media beat.)

I'm also told, however, that National Journal columnist Jonathan Rauch (whose nickname is apparently "stud," and who won for columns) was wandering around "backstage." (Did the ASMElitburo know? Did they threaten to kick him out because he was a "writer" and not an "editor"?) I'm also told that "lukewarm chicken" was actually a slab of smoked salmon. Whatever. Tomato, less appetizing tomato.

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