LA Times suspends new online wikitorial feature
The Los Angeles Times' attempt to expand online journalism has taken a timeout. On Friday the Times' web site launched its first wikitorial, an online editorial that allows readers to add their own thoughts and even edit the piece. But the paper removed the feature on Sunday after a few jokesters bombarded the site with inappropriate language and pornography. The first wikitorial was a piece suggesting a better plan is needed to more efficiently remove U.S. troops from Iraq. Readers added comments and links to the piece, with some offering opposing views. But the number of inappropriate posts convinced The Times to remove the feature indefinitely.

Online 'Idol,' for less talented wannabe warblers
A new online version of Fox's "American Idol" might not discover the next Clay Aiken but perhaps it could produce a John Stevens. “Idol” co-producer FremantleMedia has teamed with Fluid Audio Networks to create American Idol Underground, an internet radio station that will feature competitions in rock, pop, country and other musical genres. For a $50 entry fee wannabe "Idols" upload their music to IdolUnderGround.com. There, listeners tune in for free and rate the tracks in a scale of 1 to 10. The top-rated tracks are tallied every six months and presented to a celebrity panel of judges who will pick a grand prize winner for each category. The site guarantees that each track be played a minimum of 200 times. The downside? While the main prize is still undetermined, it will not include a guaranteed record deal. You need to survive a Simon flogging for that.

Woof! Neopets joining the MTV Networks web
Media giant Viacom is adding another popular kids' site to its portfolio to complement Nick.com. It bought Neopets yesterday for a reported $160 million. The site will fall under MTV Networks and, with Nick.com, will give Viacom a huge presence among kids on the internet. The Neopets site has games, animated characters and news designed for kids. The site's main attraction is virtual pets that users can create and care for. In the past five years, Neopets membership has jumped from 90,000 to 25 million members. A surprising 60 percent of those members are 13 years old or older.

N.Y. senator: Put a hold on violent video game
Move over, Grand Theft Auto, there’s a new ultra-violent game in town, and someone wants to run it out. Sen. Charles Schumer from New York is trying to block 25 to Life's scheduled September release. The senator has appealed to Sony and Microsoft to cancel their licensing agreements with game-maker Eidos and has asked retailers not to stock the game. 25 to Life features an urban warfare setting that pits gangsters versus cops, and players choose which side they want to be on. The new game allows players to shoot at cops with a wide-ranging street arsenal. It also lets players use civilians as human shields.