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Tina Brown
Style Columnist
Thursday, October 23, 2003; 11:00 a.m. ET
In the debut of her new Style section column, Tina Brown considers the real victims of Jack Valenti's ban on "for your consideration" movie screening tapes. After Oscar Video Ban, Screening All Calls
Brown was online Thursday, Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. ET, to discuss her new Post column and her career in the world of journalism.
Brown has served as editor of Britain's Tatler magazine, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and launched Talk magazine in 1999.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
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Annandale, Va.:
You've done mostly magazines over the years. How are you preparing to take on this new work with a daily newspaper and does this mean you're relocating to Washington?
Tina Brown: I do the column for fun and to keep myself engaged with the movement of the culture, as I was when editing magazines. I am also doing a Tv show TOPICA for CNBC, a series of specials.Next one airs 9 10pm on Wd 29th.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
Welcome to The Post! What do you think the chances are of the MPAA recinding it's ban on screening copies in time for this Oscar season?
Tina Brown: Thank you! Itsa real honor to be published in the Post. I think the MPAA may well have to cave. The creative people are too unhappy about all this for it to last.
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Vienna, Va.:
Tina! Can you give us a short background on how you got to where you are now? Why did you decide to move to The Washington Post? Do you think you could help D.C. grasp some sense of style?!
Tina Brown: I was a magazine editor for 20 odd ye w ars. Firstin London with Tatler. Then Conde Nast boought Tatler and invited me mto the U.S. to edit Vanity Fair in 1984 which had just been launched and was about to fold. I stayed 8 years with VF which grew from 350,000 sale to 1.2mill and went on to edit the New Yorker. Left in 98 andlaunched talk magzine and books with Harvey WEinstein of miramax. It folded in 02 and now I am writing the column and hosting a TV show Topic A with Tina Brown, a series of specials. Next one airs 10pm. CNBC OCtober 29th. Thanks for writing!
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Hollywood, Calif.:
Do you hold out much hope for the success of the American magazine edition of The Guardian? And, from what you hear, will Radar ever publish again?
Tina Brown: I thinkthe Guardian coul dbe a bigsuccess here but I htink the project is only on the back burner right now till the ad climate really picks up. I think radar will find a backer or should .There is a huge amount of talent over there and it ought to getthe showcase itneeds
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New York, N.Y.:
Do you think you'll ever edit another big
consumer magazine? If so, what kind of
magazine would you like to do?
Tina Brown: I love print. It flows through my veins. But I dont see another mag out there that calls out to me and I dont think I could bear the horrors of anothr start up. I am enjoying my transition into televsion hosting Topic A., a show for CNBC we have been doing as Specials and which will eventually gain frequency. Next one airrs cNBC 10pm on October 29th
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Bethesda, Md.:
How young are most "players" in the NYC buzzocracy? I always get e-mails from the 22-year-old assistants of people and it seems that buzz is the only currency they're paid in. I'm in my mid-30s and certain celebs mean nothing to me even if they showed up during fashion week. Did you find that to be the case and how does that compare to Washington, D.C., which skews so much more serious and older than other cities.
Also, does Bethesda have a buzz or what? Two hot movie directors -- Spike Jonze and Jeff Tremaine... Oh I give up. I'm too old.
Tina Brown: I am too old too> I was referred to recently as The Erstwhile Queen of Buzz and now sign my letters EQB. 29 year olds who think that work is allabout openings can buzz off as far as I am concerned. But its fun to write about
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Washington, D.C.:
Perhaps the MPAA doesnt want to be one-uped by the RIAA in regards to agressively stopping the flow of freely distributed entertainment media. You conclude that it comes down to the children of the beneficiaries of screeners; the RIAA is actively prosecuting children who download mp3s. Is there much of a difference between how out-of-touch the RIAA and the MPAA are?
Tina Brown: The fact is that stopping piracy of this kind feels like a losing cause across the board. The larger question it begs though is how anyone will ever get paid anymore when everything is free.
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Washington, D.C:
Maybe a little off the subject, but as video piracy becomes easier, how will Hollywood adapt to collect revenue? Will there be an even more aggravating product placement in Hollywood films?
Tina Brown: I think its real issue that with allthe piracy no one will eventually be able to get paid! Product placement in movies will undoubtedly get more rampant. It is about to hit Tv in a big way. Its the only answer the networks have to Tivo
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Eagle River, Wis.:
In retrospect, what would you have done
differently with Talk to help its chances of
success?
Tina Brown: Started small and very unambitiously, preferably somewhere very far from New York! Someone once said, magazines are llike mushrooms. They should growin the dark. Its very difficult to do all your process work in the full glare of the world. LIke doing an out of town try-out naked on Broadway
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Riverdale Park, Md.:
Hello Tina,
What's your current job? Based on what's in your Post column, it looks as though you're now in the PR business.
Tina Brown: Whata horrible thought. I am actually hosting a TV show for CNBC TOpic A with TIna Brown we have been doing as a series of specials. ( next one is October 29th 10pm CNBC) which willincrease frequency soon. MY column used to run in the Times of London. Very nice to now be in the POst
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New York, N.Y.:
When you're writing a column, do you ever censor yourself before saying something snarky about a famous friend, for fear that they'll never speak to you again? In other words, is it possible to write a truly honest column about the New York elite without risking your membership in it?
Tina Brown: There is always a way to make sharp observations that doenst involve idnividual betrayals. I dont want to twrite a gossip column. More commentary with some edge
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New York, N.Y.:
Tina,
I have always loved your magazines and now your column and show. In what ways will you change your column for The Post as opposed to writing it for The Times?
Tina Brown: n Thanks so much! Its abig thrill to be writing for the POst, a paper i have always admired. I think it wont change much of whatI have been writing about ,, except Ikeep in mind I am now directing the observations at another greta capital whose concerns are more intensely political than New York. So I aim to bring the news and sensibility from the media capital rather than the political capital.
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Brooklyn, N.Y.:
Hey, Tina:
Virginia Heffernan, now of the New York Times, wrote that
the first time she ever saw you smile was on your TV
show -- and she worked for you for over a year at
Talk. Are you really that difficult to work for, or is it a
misperception?
Tina Brown: I may well have been in Virginia Heffernans case. She didnt crack many smiles herself, though she is a talented writer. I dont think I am glum. I am rpecocupied very often but I also love to come back from lunch and cackle about the day's dish
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New York, N.Y.:
Hi Tina, big fan. I saw your episode of "24 w/" on Trio. When you say that all periodical publishing is bland these days, how long do you think that has been true as a general trend? Is the embracing of this mediocrity the reason why Talk had to fold?
Tina Brown: I cant believe any one watched it! Glad youenjoyed it.Talk folded for a combination of reasons. After 911 the ad market collapsed and thatperiod was exactly the time the next round ofo financing became due. It was a time when no one wanted to take any risks, so the backers folded it which in my view was a very shirt sighted move,.The last six issues had showed real growth in circ and ads. It was getting real traction and had been agony toget it there. I think the ageof risk taking in publishing is really over Everyone wants toplay safe.I am enjoying Tv though. My next show is on at 10pm CNBC Oct 29th
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Portland, Ore.:
Does being a "celebrity editor," as
opposed to a regular editor, make it
easier or harder to do your job? Also, why
did you hold this chat so early? It's not
even 9 o'clock in Portland!
Tina Brown: s good and bad things. Good in that it does help you sell advertising and get profile subjects to return your calls andbad in that you can;t develop a new magazine gradually with any allowances for process and trial and error without everyone going ballisic int he press. Enjoying Tv though, doing specials for CNBC. Next one is Wed 29th october 10pm
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Grand Rapids, Mich.:
What do you make of the Liza story? washingtonpost.com:
Liza Minelli Files for Divorce from Gest, (AP, Oct. 23)
Tina Brown: Saw it coming. This gal is a glutton for punishment., David Guest is a husband from hell
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Silver Spring, Md.:
I just got back from a week in London,
where I lived for six years. It was so
amazing to see people dressed, well, so
interestingly after living in D.C. for four years,
and to go in the fabulous department
stores and home stores there. What do
you perceive as the difference in styles,
and why? What would you like to change,
or to influence?
Tina Brown: Brits have always been more willing tobe eccentric. It's a place where style has never been linked tomoney, People are much more willing to go out on some weird limb andbe tolerated by everyone else. I love that about London and miss it somewhat
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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.:
Just a piece of advice for the new column -- by all means, do NOT rely upon the Washington power scene to guide the tone or content of your column (or use New York's typical snobby viewpoint of our town). What we need is something fresh, and individual's point of view, a reality check if you will. The Style section needs something to spark life in its reliable yet predictable formula.
Thanks!
Tina Brown: I will try to keep it fresh and fun! Thanks for reading it.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
As a long-time reader, I loved the New Yorker under your leadership. Is there any chance you might get some of the contributors you brought on board there to kick in the occasional Post piece (by which I mean Martin Amis)?
Tina Brown: Well I am just doing a column not editing but always happy to pass along suggestions. I f you admire Amis hes going tobe a guest on my Tv show Topic A CNBC at 10pm on October 29th
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi Tina, I'm wondering if you foresee a change in your writing style for the Post. Your column today has the feel of a British column, more a ramble than we're used to here. Made it hard for us linear-minded readers to follow than other Post columns. Any thoughts?
Tina Brown: sorry you felt it was a ramble! It felt like a fairly straightforward line of thought to me, but maybe its just my New york hallucination
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New York, NY:
FYI - The Hollywood Reporter today reports the findings of a new study that says that 77 percent of all popular movies being illegally traded over the Internet initially came from people who worked inside the movie industry.
Regards,
Patrick Phillips
IWantMedia.com
Tina Brown: Those darn pirates! Throw them overboard
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Beverly Hills, Calif.:
Tina,
Who do you think is sexier -- Wes Clark or Dennis Kucinich?
Tina Brown: The general every time. But Dean sexier than either of them
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Arlington, Va.:
Tina -- You mean I have to be able to grow a beard to be a "real" writer? The farmhouse I could find, certainly the chaos and the stained tee-shirt, but the best I can do for whiskers is a negligible mustache above my Lancome-coated lips....
Tina Brown: well you better get yourself to a screning of Master and Commander then
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London, England:
I know your next show is Oct 29, because you've mentioned it six times. But what time and network is it on?
Tina Brown: And I willprobably mention it six more times. Gotta build ratings one at a time. 10pm CNBC 29th Oct
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New York, N.Y.:
What is your opinion on charticles? Where do you see the entertainment magazine business going? (I'm not sure if People is experiencing some of the lost.) Time Inc. has reported drop in profit for some of it's magazines, do you think this is due to the cornucopia of entertainment magazines now available?
Have you picked up a Star Magazine since the move to a glossy paper? Do you think it will being to take some of People's readers? How do you think these magazines could begin to attract young readers and establish consumer loyalty?
Tina Brown: Help !too many qs there.
I think the stars readers wont go for thed glossy paper, Rags are rags and thats half the fun. They already have In Touch and US if they want glossy
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Washington, D.C.:
I do wonder if The Post would have allowed you to make comments about Juan Valdez types with their burros or handy blacks whose hair you migh rub for luck. Yet stage leprechauns and potato famine ennui seem OK. Style is Style, but today it included two pieces by journalists talking about the hardships they must endure. One of them seems to be putting up with People Who Aren't Like Us.
I should add that at a recent Irish country house party you were similarly parodied by first rate writers who are not, I can assure you and as your article implied, all wankers.
Tina Brown: OH dear. I willjusthave to avoid Dublin then on my buzzy round.
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Brooklyn, N.Y.:
Tina:
Could you please explain the difference between "hot"
and "v-hot?" Do you think that in this current phase
of your career you're v-hot or hot, or are you always
v-hot?
Tina Brown: Steaming, darling
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Jacksonville, Fla.:
Do you think there are too many journals on the market now? Thanks.
Tina Brown: There cannever be too many journals in my view
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Gaithersburg, Md.:
Have you moved to Washington, or are you parachuting the column in from New York?
Tina Brown: filing fromNY
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Myrtle Beach, S.C.:
What are your thoughts on Lewis Lapham?
Tina Brown: Ove Lewis. smart and stylish guy
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New York, N.Y.:
Tina,
Who are your favorite media writers? Are you a fan of Michael Wolff or Simon Dumenco? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What is the difference between working at a newspaper and working at a magazine?
Tina Brown: Big fan of Dumenco. Wolff is good in column form but his book is a snooze.
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Washinton, D.C.:
How is your show on CNBC coming along? How was the transition to TV from print? And where can we submit resumes?
Tina Brown: Show coming fine. Next one is October29th10pm. Will go more often soon.Having fun with it. Hard to learn the new rules of TV - am stilljust a rookie
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Welcome to D.C.:
It's almost like we traded Lloyd Grove to New York for you. Did you ever read Lloyd's Reliable Source column in Style?
Tina Brown: lloyd is aterrific columnist and we love reading him here
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Lyme, Conn.:
In Lyme, a local actors union member donates the "for your consideration" movies to the local library. Not that this should be a major consideration, yet some of those movies do wind up in good hands. Where do more of the "for your consideration" movies end up, usually, and is it that the industry is concerned they are being resold, or is it that the industry just finds it all too expensive to mail them out?
Tina Brown: I think that its a all a big plot of the studios to foil the indiependent guys from getting all the Oscar nominations,
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New York, N.Y.:
Lloyd Grove: Hot or Not?
Tina Brown: V hot
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Brooklyn, N.Y.:
Do you mentor any young journos? Is there a young, talented writer that you look forward to reading more from in the future?
Tina Brown: I do mentor young journos a lot. Have so many younger talents mfrom my days at Talk who communicate with me regulalrly and ask me to read their stuff and get them jobs. I love tokeepin touch with them
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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.:
Bob Woodward: Hot or not?
Tina Brown: Raging, scorching, gotta jump into a pool hot
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Washington, D.C.:
It's wonderful that you're here (three cheers) and maybe you can help give The Post Style section a little more spice and vinegar. (It definitely needs help.) But I'm a little unclear what your new column will be about: media, trends, people?
Tina Brown: All of the above!Whatver seems right week by week, Got any ideas, let me know
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New York, N.Y.:
How has Vanity Fair changed since you left?
Tina Brown: Bigger glossier, allthe same writers so hasnt changes so much
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Washington, D.C.:
Are you looking for reporters for your new show on CNBC? If so, how can we get in touch with you?
Tina Brown: Reporters, not yet but hoipefully the show will grow. Next one is 10pm Wed Oct 29th CNBC
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Arlington, Va.:
Loved what you did to Vanity Fair in the 80s and if what you did after wasn't quite so boffo, c'est la vie. Great to have you in the WP. Will you and Harold Evans move to Washington? As for Valenti, he's old news.
Tina Brown: I cnat help Valenti being Old news! He's still stirring uo a lot of aggravation. NO wont be moving to DC. Kids very happy in NYC
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K Street, Washington, D.C.:
Commentary with "edge!" What a fresh, fun pespective. Can we hope for some "attitude" as well?
Tina Brown: I will do my best, dearie
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New York, N.Y.:
What Editor-In-Chiefs did or do you model yourself after? Who is your current favorite EIC?
Tina Brown: Fave ed in chief was the Great Clay Felker of New York mag. Current fave Peter Beinart of The New Republic.
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Washington, D.C.:
Tina,
When does your TV show next air?
Tina Brown: Wed. October29th 10pm.Tune in!
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Washington, D.C.:
While I certainly enjoy your column, I do
wonder why it is appearing in The
Washington Post. Do you consider D.C.
"up-and-coming" in regards to the movie
industry? If not, why print the column
here, instead of in L.A. or New York?
Tina Brown: I am writing about a New York social phenomenon with a Hollywood component.It felt like a fun subject that I havent seen commented on that much
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi Tina:
Huge fan of yours -- HUGE! Can I get four tickets to "Master and Commander?" Thanks!
Tina Brown: You'll have to ask my pal and yours., Russell Crow
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Boston, Mass.:
1. What are you thoughts on the demise of Talk
and George as opposed to the success of US
Weekly, In Touch, and the Atlantic Monthly?
2. What role would you like "Topic A" to play in our
society of popular culture.
3. What do you hope to achieve with your new
Washington Post column?
4. What advice do you have for a young person
interested in the media field/industry?
5. What do you think is the most underreported
story today?
Thanks for very much. Best of luck.
Tina Brown: Can you edit this down ( as I used to say to my writers)
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Washington, D.C.:
Lloyd Grove did a weekly live discussion with us and we miss the hell out of him. Will you be doing this on a regular basis?
Tina Brown: You tell me! its sure fun. But only if you sendme some good ideas
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Brooklyn, N.Y.:
What do you think about the blog phenomenon? Are there any bloggers out there that you find to be both informative and entertaining? Should magazines recruit bloggers for staff positions? (As was the case with Elizabeth Spiers.)
Tina Brown: I love the blog.s Think they are really channging the collective voice of journalism. People are sick of mediated coverage. They like the noholds barred appraoch
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Washington, D.C.:
Wait!! Where did Lloyd go?!! washingtonpost.com:
Do you read The Post?
Tina Brown: Lloyd split to New York. we did alife swap
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New Rochelle, N.Y.:
I remember you gave a big party for The New York Sun when it started. Do you ever read it? Nobody ever seems to talk about it... are they doing something wrong?
Tina Brown: TheSun is actually ikproving evry day. The ope ed stuff is always provoactive. Its growing readers.
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New York, N.Y.:
Hi Tina: Congratulations and best of luck with the new endeavours. Q: In a recent interview President Bush said something like he doesn't read newspapers or watch TV news because he has people do that and report to him. Do you think it's a little dangerous to have the man in charge having his news put through the only-good-news-for-the-president filter?
Tina Brown: Maybe he spends his day reading bloggs
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Alexandria, Va.:
Are you replacing Lloyd Grove here, or is your column going to be something else entirely?
Tina Brown: Somehtingelse. More commentary than :items"
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Elbonia:
TIna,
How fabulous is Howard Dean? I think he looks like JFK when the vains on his neck stick out.
Tina Brown: Too short to look like JFK
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DC Metrohicksual:
(meaning, I get manicures and my shoes always match my belt, but I also like to listen to country music and drink Budweiser)
I dont have any question. Just wanted you to know that my girlfriend got me reading Talk, which I had blown off as another estro-mag, but when I finally settled into one, I loved, loved, LOVED it. You rock.
Tina Brown: And so do you, girlfriend
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New York, N.Y.:
What about Arnold Schwarzenegger, the gropenator of California... love to catch your thoughts on the rise of the terminator?
Tina Brown: Arnold is too big a subject to even consdier at the end of this on line chat. I wish him many more scandals to come
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Washington, D.C.:
Are you typing with your feet, or what?
Tina Brown: I type like amonkey
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New York, N.Y.:
Do you have any advice for aspiring journalists who are relatively new to print journalism -- five years of weekly newspaper experience -- but would like to write for magazines like Vibe, GQ, Esquire?
Tina Brown: Right for a small eye-catching shoplike New York Observer - or on line mag llike Slate or Salon will get you noticed
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