Page 1 Consider (08/23)

Four of a Kind? Wow, as if he needs it three-time defending champion Roger Federer got a very easy draw yesterday for next week's U.S. Open, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the other half. A win for Federer would make him the first man since the 1920s to win the U.S. Open four times in a row. (John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl also won it three times in a row.) An Andy Roddick quarterfinal match would be Roger's first challenge, and even that might be overstating it a bit. (Men'sDraw) The women's side is odd because five of the six "contenders" are all in the top half, including Justine Henin, Serena and Venus Williams, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic. At this rate we're bound to have Mary Pierce in the final even if she's not entered this year. (Women'sDraw) (NYT)

I HEART N.Y.: This is New York politics, so I won't bore you too much. But I love this political consultant who is accused of leaving a threatening phone message on Gov. Eliot Spitzer's dad's answering machine. When told that the caller ID was traced back to his home, Roger J. Stone denied any involvement and said that he had attended a performance of the Broadway play "Frost/Nixon" on the night of the alleged call and could "highly recommend it to Gov. Spitzer." But when a blogger for New York magazine pointed out that the play had no Monday night performances Stone forged ahead saying, "Well, then I’m mistaken," Stone said later. "My wife already reminded me I actually saw the play on a Wednesday. I still recommend the play to the governor." Um, OK. So you want the credit for already knowing that your alibi is a complete lie? You got it. (NYT)

Money Changes Everything: As reported by Cindy Adams, a "shocked and horrified" Denise Brown has sent friends a note decrying the publication of the O.J. Simpson murder-by-numbers book, "If I Did It," reminding everyone that very recently, Fred Goldman was running around telling anyone who would listen that we all need to "Make certain this material never sees the light of day ... That someone is willing to publish this garbage is morally despicable ... I would hope no one would buy this book ... that the message from people in this country is sent to his publisher ... we as a nation won't put up with it ... it's reprehensible." What a difference a day (and a dollar) makes, Mr. Goldman. Take the "f" out of "if" and you've got I -- as in "I" only care about what "I" want. (Translation, f-you, Brown family.) (Gawker)

Brotherly Love: Cops in Wilkes Barre, Pa., went undercover to try to arrest some male hustlers. Boy were they surprised when one of the studs for hire was a man in blue (I'm not talking about his underwear either). (365Gay)

Pet Names: For the fifth year in a row, the most popular dog and cat name in the United States is Max. (Max????) Troy didn't make the top 10 for dogs or cats. (CT)

iStrain: Not only is your iPhone chock full of features. It also comes with a 300-page, double-sided, excruciatingly well itemized bill sent each month in a box! (NYT)

Catch a Falling Star: This review of the new "Star Jones" show on CourtTV is really funny even if it doesn't mention how huge her head looks now. (NYT)

Cuts Both Ways: People who sign petitions in Oregon seeking to put measures repealing two LGBT civil rights laws on next November's ballot are about to be outed. A newly formed group is planning to put the names and addresses on a national Web site. The names, once submitted to the state, are public property. (365Gay)

Rage-a-Holic: My least favorite WeHo bar, Micky's, nearly burned to the ground yesterday but I swear I had nothing to do with it. (Towleroad)