The Russ Fuss

Over in London, the Guardian is blogging its editorial meetings.

Finally, Mark Jurkowitz has one of the weirdest media-spitting matches I've ever some across:

"We got this release from Verso publishing complaining that a writer for the Nation online had [cancelled out] out of an interview with NC-17 rated performance artist Karen Finley about her new book George & Martha. Here's Verso's version:

"The Nation, America's oldest left-wing magazine, has abruptly cancelled its story on George & Martha by Karen Finley (publishing on April 13th). The assigned journalist was 'offended by the anal sex,' and refused to meet with Ms. Finley, though an interview had been scheduled. George & Martha is an illustrated political satire which imagines a torrid hotel room encounter between George W. Bush and Martha Stewart on the eve of the Republican National Convention....

"What is offensive about this book? What is inappropriate about sex?

"Still hanging in there? Okay, here's a statement in response from the Nation:

"We did not cancel the web piece. The writer bowed out of the assignment. This sort of thing happens all the time . . . As Verso should have known, the statements of a freelance web writer do not reflect the views of the magazine. No one on the staff of The Nation is afraid of sex. In fact, we quite enjoy it as frequently as possible .' "

Insert your own punchline.