We wondered back in July how it would look once the Wall Street Journal started printing ads on the first page, a decision announced at the same time as parent Dow Jones & Company, Inc. (NYSE:DJ) released second quarter earnings. The front page of today's Wall Street Journal seems to have been designed by a master of satire, not one of those "elegant" copy editors for which the paper is known.

But, wouldn't you know it, starting off on a new venture ends up being an embarrasment. Below the fold on the right is an article on General Motors Corporation (NYSE:GM) entitled "Kerkorian Aims to Boost GM Stake In Bid to Add Pressure on Wagoner." Right below it, an ad for GM's new 100,000 mile warranty. The headline of the ad: "A New Level Of Confidence." Maybe they should send it to Kerkorian and tell him to keep his money.

As it happens, Toyota has also been a major early buyer of the front page space that runs on the WSJ front page. Maybe they can buy GM.

Douglas McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

The headline everywhere 'round the blogosphere today: "beef is sexy." McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is making waves not only with its slap-the-forehead realization that its customers want to eat breakfast food after 10:30 a.m., but also with its ad campaign in China.

Evidently, these ads, they show how sexy McDonald's hamburgers are.

Even though the "Where's the beef?" ad campaign from the 80s was decidedly un-sexy, I think I can speak for all of America when I say: MCD, you are not the first one ever to make the connection between beef and sex. Isn't beef tenderloin the most oft-ordered entree on Valentine's Day? And correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't certain members of the male population equated their, um, male member with this favorite of all red meats?

McDonald's is, it seems, discovering the obvious. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'd say that any management team deserves adulation for giving the people what they want.

Especially when it's sex.