In Defense of Fareed-om: Yesterday, the obligatory Slate-y defense of Fareed Zakaria emerged on The Daily Beast (of course) in the form of "he didn't plagiarize." Money quote?

"By not changing enough words, he provided the 'gotcha' bait for the feeding frenzy of bloggers out for his blood."

So "not changing enough words to not be construed as a plagiarist" is "blogger bait" now? (And this comes from The Daily Beast?) Duly noted. Elsewhere, Seth Mnookin’s response on Salon was basically "NO REALLY, IT'S PLAGIARISM." And today, further examples of Zakaria sloughing on attribution responsibilities (or whatever today's euphemism for The Big "P" is) emerge. Zakaria told The Washington Post’s Paul Farhi that "people are piling on with every grudge or vendetta" against him these days. This would be difficult to take at face-value if it weren't for the fact that he said this to Farhi, a well-known media grudge-pusher whom Tony Kornheiser once hilariously labeled a "snake." [The Daily Beast, Salon, Poynter, Washington Post]

Market Editor Real Talk: Former GOOD editor, Editor Real Talk 'editor’ and current CJR in-house GIF expert Ann Friedman will be contributing to New York mag's shiny new iteration of its fashion channel, The Cut. [@annfriedman]

Jay Penske Attempting to (Figuratively) Piss on Peter Bart's Boots, Next: The same people who own Zombie Radar, The National Enquirer and more are attempting to buy Variety. This is sad and funny but also far less interesting than the fact that Mail.com's CEO, the Nantucket yachting advocate who happens to be Nikki Finke's boss and a man who has very, very, very discerning taste in women's footwear—one Jay Penske—is also in the running for Variety, which yes, still exists, and still edits copy like "talkies" are a relatively new thing. [LAT]

Further Evidence That Nobody Is Above a Few Grand for Very Little Work: How can you not enjoy The eXile's media coverage? First Adam Davidson, now Glenn Greenwald? Yep. They recently took to harassing Greenwald about speaking fees he took from the Koch Brothers. They're like the opposite of McKinsey & Co. I want them to do my taxes. [@exiledonline]

Radio Shilled the Internet Stars: Yes, BuzzFeed will now have a radio show on Satellite Radio. How can you not be curious (as to who will listen to this)? Memes were meant to be digested like Doritos for your brain, not heard. Either way, now BuzzFeed can tell prospective hires they can possibly be on its radio show, because in space (or the part of the internet that BuzzFeed occupies) nobody can hear you scream (unless it's your voice dubbed to match a meowing cat stuck in a Build-a-Bear box). So: it's got that going for it. [The Next Web]

Hungry Hungry Hires: Eater New York has a new associate editor in the form of Alexander Hancock, who was previously the inaugural editor of Eater New Orleans. Surely the surly gang of commenters over at Eater NY are giving Hancock a warm welcome in the form of relentless and arbitrary editorial critique. [Eater]

The Peacock, Not So Sure: The internet is still great for bootlegging. Proof? The many who elected to go around NBC for coverage of the Olympics. [Reuters]

Jesse's Girl: The Daily Beast senior writer (and Observer alum) Rebecca Dana recently married The Daily editor/New York Post executive editor Jesse Angelo. You know it's real when someone changes her Twitter handle. But who changed it here? Shameless Reuters media yenta Felix Salmon breaks the news. [@FelixSalmon]

Gang Green Quarterly: WWD's Erik Maza astutely notes that like this month's GQ cover boy Tim Tebow, the cover boy for GQ exactly one editorial year ago (Mark Sanchez) was also a quarterback for the New York Jets. [Erik Maza]

Person Recovers Stolen Goods From NYPD: Fully credentialed New York Times photog and two-time NYPD arrestee Robert Stolarik—who was recently arrested, roughed up and robbed of his credentials and camera by the cops—got his camera back. But not his credentials. That's what he gets for doing his job. [Poynter]

Weird Little Machine Prints Weird Little Newspapers: Really, there is nothing more to this story, and for that alone, it is enjoyable. [Fast Company]

Pratt-y Attitude: Could New York's Carl Swanson profile Jane Pratt without mentioning former xoJane columnist/current VICE columnist Cat Marnell/making Marnell the star of the profile? He could not. And why would he, when he's getting stuff this great?

When I talk to Marnell on the phone one night (she asked that I call her before she started "smoking dust" so that she would be coherent, which she was, though her dealer’s call did interrupt) she seemed to miss Pratt. "She’s a total libertarian, fabulous like that," she says. "She just really appreciates creativity. People think, Oh, she was enabling you. But she was just letting me be flawed."

Controversial? Yes! Unconventional? Absolutely. Dicey? No question. But brilliant and worth it for Pratt? Totally. Also, we eagerly await the day everyone in New York finds out that when Cat Marnell talks about "dust" she's actually referring to Fresh Step. [NY Mag]

Bristling at Bristol: In the event you haven't had time to do your routine ESPN quality check lately, here you go. [@TheCajunBoy]

Snap: When Times editor Jim Roberts tells you a photo is good, you listen. He will not disappoint. [@nytjim]

Have any tips, kitty-litter dealers, unconventional sore-throat cures or inspirational quotes? By all means, send them here.

fkamer@observer.com | @weareyourfek

Editor Tina Brown—despite some initial cold feet—is moving assuredly to build her new staff. Ms. Brown made her first big move last week, landing Dirk Barnett from Lucky as her creative director. Yesterday, as Newsweek savior Sidney Harman visited the Beast, she toured Newsweek's new offices, meeting with some top staffers—and conspicuously not meeting with some others.

There's no word yet on what the Dana move means for Newsweek's current front-of-the-book editor, Bret Begun, a well-regarded staffer who has been at the magazine for a decade. (Disclosure: I was a reporter at Newsweek until Oct. 29 and worked frequently under Mr. Begun.)

"As the planning process for the joint venture begins, many people will be involved in ways formal and informal. As of now, no new formal roles for Newsweek magazine have been assigned, other than Dirk Barnett—our new creative director," Beast spokesman Andrew Kirk wrote in an email.

As they wait to learn whether Ms. Brown will retain them, Newsweek staffers are hoping that if they do make the cut, they will not have to work out of their not-well-liked offices at 7 Hanover Square for long. An alumna of The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, Ms. Brown is said to despise the space, and executives have discussed having the merged company's editorial staff work out of the more modern IAC building.

Also in BeastWeek news today: Match.com boss Greg Blatt was named CEO of IAC after the surprise resignation of Barry Diller.

nsummers@observer.com | @nicksumm

Dana, who wrote the NYTV column for The Observer before she joined The Journal in 2007, will become the fashion and entertainment correspondent at the Daily Beast. She "will also be doing some editing" and media writing, she wrote to us in an email.

She'll be based in the Beast's IAC headquarters, but she'll also be traveling a lot to Los Angeles, where they are opening a new bureau.

She'll be starting at the end of July, and described the position as her "dream job."

At The Journal, Ms. Dana had been writing for the paper's new culture and entertainment blog, Speakeasy; as we reported earlier this week, the blog is part of a major effort under way at The Journal to ramp up coverage of culture and entertainment in New York; they'll have to find another reporter to contribute to their fledgling enterprise.

To the Editor:

Ron Rosenbaum’s recent article on Isaac Singer, in which he proposed yet a fourth point of view as to what the “Creator” is actually like, probably comes closest to the mark [“Isaac Bashevis Singer Comes Back From Dead as the Anti-Theist,” Edgy Enthusiast, Jan. 8]. I propose yet another point of view: that of mystery. It’s a mystery as to what reality is and what, if anything, is responsible for this condition we find ourselves in. And maybe the reason it’s a mystery is because it seems to be in our nature to need mystery. All our endeavors seem to be aimed at unraveling various bits of unknowns. Whether it’s finding a new way of putting brush to a canvas, inventing a new sound or a new way of storing information, whatever the field—with religion being one of infinite fields—it’s always the unknown that interests us. So this greatest of all mysteries may never be solved—and it’s probably good that no one can solve this riddle, for then what would we have to live for? I suspect that it is us personally who have brought about the world (and beyond) as we experience it, but we just don’t understand our responsibilities as the creator.

Lyle Grams

Manhattan

What About the Polar Bears?

To the Editor:

It always galls me when the plastic weather people on local news go into their “Aw shucks, isn’t this warm weather wonderful?” routine [“Balmy Weatherpeople Fête Toasty Winter as the World Burns,” Rebecca Dana, NYTV, Dec. 25–Jan. 1].

I’ve written to most of them expressing my amusement at their transparent unconsciousness in the midst of months and months of balmy, miserable humidity and thick, warm air in what was once the fall and winter.

Excuse my cynicism, but the reason they are seemingly unaware of the connection and make believe it’s not happening is that they know that if they even dared hint at global warming, the right-wing assholes in the audience would start screaming that they hate America—and the advertisers wouldn’t like it, either. Bet you that’s why they manage to ignore it.

Ms. Dana is the only writer who has called attention to these idiots and their woeful inattention. Great going, and thanks!

Jay Diamond

Manhattan

Rebecca Dana has a story about the O.J. Simpson interview with Judith Regan and ensuing controversy.

Jason Horowitz looks at the competition between Rudy Giuliani and John McCain for George W. Bush's fund-raisers, and quotes a number of the donors saying distinctly uncharitable things about the competition.

Steve Kornacki explains the (theoretical!) possibility of a coup against incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

John Koblin has a piece about Donald Trump's proposed 45-story tower on Spring Street, which could be "far and away the most conspicuous symbol in the neighborhood."

And Michael Calderone writes about a new newspaper in D.C.

-- Azi Paybarah

This morning, assistant managing editor and web editor Jake Brooks distributed a surprising email. (It follows after the jump.)

His email announced a stunning victory over the staff of Trader Monthly at last night's softball game in East River Park. This morning, the bullpen was abuzz.

"They were worthy competition," said politics reporter Jason Horowitz.

"Except for the girls," said intern Max Abelson. Hey now.

"There was one guy who basically slid the distance from first base to second base," said Mr. Horowitz.

Were any of the Trader Monthly fellows... well, hot?

"I'm no expert," said NYTV reporter Rebecca Dana. "There was one guy.... he was sort of bridge-and-tunnel-hot."

"They were really nice," said Mr. Brooks sternly.

"Except for the one," Ms. Dana said.

"Their two best players were on vacation," Mr. Brooks said.

And what about heat exhaustion incidents?

"I had one later that evening," Ms. Dana said. To wit: "I was exhausted and hot."

"Friendly!" said Mr. Horowitz. "Friendly bunch!"

"I hit a guy with a ball," said Michael Calderone, media and real estate reporter. Indeed he did. Right in the back. And: "There was a lot of glove sharing. And bat sharing."

"Athlete's hand!" said medical reporter Lizzy Ratner. "And fungus!"

The email from Mr. Brooks:

--Rebecca Dana

In one e-mail, sent during a presidential debate on Sept. 30, 2004, Green wrote, "Are you watching this? Bush makes me sick. If he uses the 'mixed messages' line one more time, I'm going to puke." That message appeared on the Drudge Report on March 23. Green e-mailed his staff the day it was posted to apologize. In his mea culpa, which was also posted on Drudge, Green wrote "I want all of you to know how much I regret the embarrassment this story causes ABC. It was an inappropriate thing to say and I'm deeply sorry."

On March 30, The New York Post's "Page Six" quoted from another Green e-mail, this one about former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In that note, for which no date was given, Green argued that Albright should not be booked on GMA because she has "Jew shame," the Post reported.

Weekend GMA staffers were told of Green's suspension today.

An ABC spokesman declined to comment, saying the network does not discuss personnel matters.

--Rebecca Dana

To the Editor:

Thanks to Ben Smith for the article about Al Gore [“Gore Is Bigger Than Ever!”, Jan. 30].

I had the pleasure of hearing him at the D.A.R. Hall in Washington, D.C., on Martin Luther King Day, talking about the Constitutional crisis in the communications monitoring by the government. I and everyone else there were enthused by his reasoning.

Nick Radonic

Derwood, Md.

To the Editor:

Dream on, Democrats. Kerry or Gore will never be elected President. If that’s all you have to counter Hillary—good luck.

Kay Campbell

San Diego

Hip to Be Square

To the Editor:

Though I don’t necessarily agree with its conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed Ron Rosenbaum’s article “Day I Was Stopped From C.I.A. Approach Now Appears Karmic” in the Jan. 30 edition of The Observer. Mr. Rosenbaum’s story reminded me of my own brush with C.I.A. perimeter security a few years back.

While a student at the University of Maryland, I enjoyed exploratory car trips around the D.C. metro area. On a certain drive in McLean heading west on Chain Bridge Road, I attempted to exit onto Georgetown Pike. Instead, I found myself driving toward an auxiliary C.I.A. entrance. A patrol car pulled up behind me and a guard, armed with a large machine gun, came out of a booth. They ran my plates and driver’s license and warned me never again to trespass on federal property. The whole experience was a bit unnerving.

If you haven’t already read it, I would definitely suggest Robert Littell’s The Company. He brings Angleton and Philby to life in wonderful ways.

Kevin Butnik

Manhattan

To the Editor:

Mr. Rosenbaum’s writing too hip in this piece to be as much fun as he usually is.

John Hancock

LaPorte, Ind.

NY1’s Odd Couple

To the Editor:

Thanks to Rebecca Dana for that story [“The Last Schlub on TV,” Jan. 16]. The metaphor of Roger Clark as Oscar Madison and Pat Kiernan as Felix Unger was inspired. I know Ms. Dana probably only wrote the story for an excuse to talk to Pat Kiernan, but she picked the right guy. I loved how their morning news item on subway iPod thefts degenerated into Roger Clark pulling a duct-taped portable CD player from his jacket pocket.

Ian Christe

Brooklyn

Reese Gives Goosebumps

To the Editor:

Praise is really due to Andrew Sarris for his wonderfully vivid and precise phrase, “spine-tingling feistiness,” describing Reese Witherspoon’s performance as June Carter in Walk the Line [“Reese’s Treats,” At the Movies, Jan. 9]. That is film criticism at its best, generous and entirely accurate.

David Evanier

Brooklyn

Matt Schuerman assesses the status of Ground Zero in the wake of Mike's LMDC board appointments.

I dash to D.C. and chat with Congressman Bob Menendez, who seems to be winning a four-way scramble for Jon Corzine's Senate seat.

And don't miss Rebecca Dana and Lizzy Ratner's hard look at media coverage of Iraq which, measured against the benchmark of Vietnam, leaves an eerily faint footprint.