So it's come to this: New York Times now hawking Billy Joel collectibles

Sad but true.

Things are even worse than I thought in the MSM arena, what with the latest Times moneymaker: flogging "hand-signed limited-edition prints" of Billy Joel from its store.

You could look it up — never mind, just look up.

That spread occupied a quarter page of yesterday's and last Friday's dead-tree version of the paper.

More: "Yes, the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, has hand-signed a limited edition set of platinum palladium prints, now available through the New York Times Store. Only 30 of these special prints, showing an album cover contact sheet from 'The Stranger' in 1977, have been created by ICON-Collectibles."

Nice name.

"Each 24" x 28" print was hand-made and is unique and one-of-a-kind. Each is signed by Billy Joel and comes embossed by ICON-Collectibles, with a certificate of authenticity."

I wonder if they get those certificates from the same place as the Star Trek Watch folks.

But I digress.

"Price: $5,000."

Oh, sorry... I didn't realize you wanted one.

nytimes.com/store or call 800-671-4332.