First there was Win a Date With Tad Hamilton.

Now there’s Win a Trip With Nick Kristof.

Does the Times take itself seriously as a newspaper anymore? Or does being a columnist there now require non-stop singing for your supper? First you get walled off from the national conversation by Times Select. Now you have to take in borders while covering the rape beat in Africa?

At least the whole thing has the beginnings of a bad buddy comedy.