• by John Gaffney , November 14, 2002

Just Hasn’t Been The Same Since Dr. Spock Checked Out: One year after launching Placebo Journal, his one-man crusade against all that is wrong with the practice of medicine, family practitioner Douglas Farrago, M.D., has declared himself King of Medicine. In justifying his claim to the title, Dr. Farrago (KOM) writes: "What makes me so special to be called the King of Medicine? Is it because I am the best doctor? Evidence does not support that. Am I more knowledgeable than everyone else? Evidence doesn't support that either. Do I care more than everyone else? Some would say that I care less than everyone else. There is no easy answer to why I get to be called King of Medicine other than ... well ... I thought of it first."

Right. That’s What Rosie Said,. Too: Announcing the launch of Trump Magazine, a lifestyle quarterly, it was noted by The New York Daily News that while the Trump name is on the cover, The Donald is not listed anywhere on the masthead. "I have editorial control, but I also have a tremendous lack of time," said Trump. "I'm not going to be checking commas. I'm not going to be very involved."

Oh Yeah. She’s On The Short List To Be Publisher: Meanwhile, In Another Part Of Gotham, Faye Penn, features editor of The New York Post, urged a packed room of publicists at a Publicity Club of N.Y. meeting on Thursday to stop sending her press releases. Instead of continuing to send releases to her, she suggested to the publicists that they pitch other reporters at the Post. "If that doesn't work, consider buying an ad. The number for the ad department is 930-8000," Penn told a stunned audience.

Reader Riff Of The Week: I was fairly impressed with some feature news coverage earlier this week, and ventured to point that out to you, the cynical riff reader. More than a few people disagreed with me, and sent reminders that cable news is still irrelevant. I liked Mike Skillrud, of Saint Paul, MN comments the best: “It may not be all J.Lo and Ben - how about CNN last Wednesday? (Do you remember what took place - nationwide - on Tuesday?) The evening of 11/6 Connie Chung's guest was Rod Stewart and, following her lead-in, Larry King's topic was Winona Ryder and her shoplifting conviction! Just that morning and afternoon, as election results were still being confirmed, we were told that the national political landscape was being completely redrawn. Rod Stewart and Winona Ryder? Is that good counter-programming or just plain escapism and/or denial?”

Reader Desert Island Discs Of The Week: From Marc Rosenberg/NBC New Business Development-New York

1. Dire Straits-Making Movies

2. Santana-Lotus

3. Steely Dan-Countdown to Ecstacy

4. Springsteen-The Wild, The Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle

5. The Eagles-Desperado

Runners-up (hey I'm 45, the first time I did this was 20 years ago)

6. The Who-Who's Next

7. Annie Lennox-Medusa

8. Van Morrison-Hymns to the Silence

9. Bob Dylan-Blood on the Tracks

10. The Grateful Dead-Skull & Roses