THE END – AT 7:58 P.M. ET:  I have to report this, even though it's not the kind of thing we usually do here:

I was in a local supermarket today.  I like to go to the supermarket myself so I can sneak junk food into the house.  I was trained in the CIA.  I have my ways, believe me.

So I'm in aisle 5 and suddenly the PA system comes on.  A pleasant-sounding lady informs the shopping public that copies of The New York Times are on sale at the front of the store.  She then announces, with a deadpan voice,
"Stop 'n Shop is the official supermarket of The New York Times."

I am not kidding.

That is an exact quote.

I knew The Times was in some trouble.  I didn't know it was this bad. 

Mark the date – 10-10-10.  It won't happen again for a long, long time.  On this day civilization came to an end.  The New York Times has designated an official supermarket.  I could have understood Whole Foods.  But Stop 'n Shop?

Goodbye, good taste. 

Oh...you can find former editors working in aisle 6.

October 10, 2010