Señor hot dog meets princess cupcake

That messy mess in Iraq? Anxiety in Silicon Valley? Another dull David Brooks column? Gracious, no: In this new guide to all that is superficial in the Sunday New York Times, we're way more interested in: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (left): the 31-year-old Columbian recruited by Nascar officials to attract more Latino fans and give us someone purdy to look at beyond Jeff Gordon. PRINCESSES 'R' US: In the age of private prison cells and select banking, when being gifted and talented is as common as having a blog (hey, wait a minute now!), nobody wants the end of the line, middle of the class, or anything other than the V.I.P. lounge. Natch! SMALL CAKES, BIG PRICES: How about $3 for red-velvet cupcakes? Boutique bakeries serving pricey versions of all-American desserts like banana pudding are popping up in Los Angeles. (This confirms Sparky's view, harrumphed while we waited in a long-ass line at San Francisco's Bi-Rite Creamery, that we're all waxing nostalgic for Eisenhower America.) [Photo: NYT]