Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

“Conrad Black’s first ambition, as told to Dominic Shelmerdine in his book My Original Ambition in 2004, in which the same question was asked of virtually everybody: ‘To be a considerably more influential media proprietor than I now have any likelihood of becoming, and to live in a house as grand and filled with valuable objects as William Randolph Hearst’s home in San Simeon…’ Still time, old lad.”

I’m sure Hugo’s mother (assuming she’s British) must be quietly proud. The same issue of the Times contains the inevitable piece comparing Black to—wait for it—Becks, who happened to touch down in Los Angeles the day before the big verdict.

Meanwhile, Canadian papers are reporting that scads of priggish people with nothing better to do have written letters to the Canadian government asking it to void Black’s Order of Canada (“Oh, and please do consider this letter as an application on behalf of myself”). And beyond that, Will Ferguson has a natty piece on the op-ed page of The New York Times explaining to Americans that Conrad’s problems stem from his wanting to be British (see above).

People: Hugo Rifkind [Times]Hey big spender, welcome to the USA [Times]Rideau Hall fields calls to strip Order of Canada from Black [Globe]Take back Black’s Order of Canada: MP [Star]Canada’s Black Heart [New York Times]