Presented with only the slightest hint of irony, Howie Kahn and Alex French gave us an oral history of the rise and fall of The National, and Charles P. Pierce took a look back at his National days as the best job he ever had. (Yes, over 15,000 words on a defunct newspaper. That's how we roll.) Molly Lambert examined Alec Baldwin’s arrival to (and mastering of) Twitter, and Carles made us all aware of the self-awareness in today’s NBA. Wright Thompson visited the most important (closed) bar for writers in New York City over four nights at Elaine’s. Fitting, as Bill Simmons’ reminder that the NBA’s new heights have poised it for a greater fall was enough to put us in the mood for a drink.