Mondoville Daily Scroll: October 28

Today on the Scroll: treating fast food burgers like babies; national newspaper rises again from near-dead on its birthday; newscast  makeover continues to inspire enraged typing; a talking head would never turn down an Olympic torch; and publishing without a cover price pays off after all.

A&W Proudly Announces the Arrival of the Sirloin Baby Burger Twins [press release]: Downsized at the drive-in, as root beer-related restaurant figures out they can sell two kiddie silders at a time to adults, and charge them an extra buck. Television spot features A&W manager and employee wondering if the meat is “too cute” to eat although the limited-time cheeseburgers aren’t shown staring back.

Canwest to transfer National Post to its publishing division [Globe and Mail]: After separating their money pit from the local newspaper pack for the sake of an income trust, the Post reunites on the day of its 11th anniversary, suggesting the whole lot are going to be sold off at the earliest available opportunity to an investor group led by CEO Paul Godfrey. Eleven candles perversely blown out by day-one staffers David Akin and Paul Wells.

CBC Stops Covering The News [The Legion of Decency]: Detailed evisceration of The National by Jim Henshaw; see also John Doyle venting in the Globe, and Denis McGrath wondering why the Canadian establishment can’t tolerate change. [Previously on Mondoville]

Light my fire, scratch my back [Colby Cosh, National Post]: On the Olympic sprint featuring cast members from CTV News: “Running in the torch relay is exactly the kind of exercise that narcissists like TV journalists love. ‘Ah, yes, me and the torch, alone on the road,’ they’ll think to themselves. ‘I’ll be the cynosure, for a brief moment, of the world’s attention; the vessel of its highest aspirations. My wife and kids will see me in the guise of a literal Greek god, carrying the holy fire of Prometheus to his people. Would it be too much to throw in a bit of a Terry Fox limp?’” Related, via William Huston, an early CTVglobemedia retiree: “Stephen Brunt, on his conflict of interest”

Vice Founder Gets Backyard [New York Observer]: What can you buy after 15 years of poor grad students philosophically disparaging your free publication? A luxury apartment in the East Village of Manhattan. Price tag: a steal at $2,125,000.