THE WATER COOLER

Here are a few of the things in news, entertainment and popular culture we've been talking about lately.

• Vice presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden conduct their only debate. The winner: Any form of the word "maverick." And Tina Fey.

• O.J. Simpson is convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges in connection with a sports memorabilia seizure-gone-wrong. His upcoming book: "If I Did It, Am I the Stupidest Ex-Jock Ever or What?"

• An Illinois vacationer finds a letter in a bottle dated Dec. 29, 1973, during a trip to the British West Indies. We know it's authentic because the letter was sealed in -- no joke -- a Tab bottle.

• More than 5,000 people pay $250 each to attend Miley Cyrus' Sweet 16 party at Disneyland. For 250 bucks, the cake and ice cream had better be served by a hooker.

• An insurance salesman-turned-opera singer wins NBC's "America's Got Talent 3." Thus giving opera just the springboard it needs to take America by storm.

• Paris Hilton tells People magazine that she wants "three or four" children. And because she said it while partying at Pure, you know she's ready for the responsibilities of motherhood.

-- By JOHN PRZYBYS