News Quiz

No. 466: “Animalistic”

As quoted by the BBC Scotland: “There is a certain reduction in the optimism of how practical it will be to take animals and use them in this way.” Who said this about what?

(A voluntary, self-policing, bestiality-free zone is encouraged as a way to avoid heavy-handed government regulation and hack responses.)

Schedule Note: So that I can complete my community service requirement Wednesday morning, responses to this question are due by Tuesday evening, 6:00 p.m. ET.  

Send your answer by 6 p.m. ET Tuesday to newsquiz@slate.com.

Friday’s Question (No. 465)—”Press On”:

Currently they can be made up of as many as 200 different materials amalgamated into over 30 components and, according to Robert Ulrich, the editor of a magazine that covers them, “You almost can’t buy a bad [one] these days.” What is the name of Ulrich’s magazine?   

Shawarmah and Falafel Monthly.”—Charlie Glassenberg

Doomed Concorde Weekly.”—Stuart Wade (Carl Dietrich had a similar answer.)

Imperfect 10 Magazine.”—C. Antonio Romero

Cat Fancy.”—Matthew Renner

“The magazine is Harper’s and he’s referring to, uh, Harper’s.”—Michael Maiello

Click for more answers.

Randy’s Wrap-Up

The magazine as we know it rose to popularity in 18th-century England, roughly coinciding with the introduction of (although featuring no advertising for) the condom. Early in the century, Daniel Defoe’s Review and Richard Steele’s Tatler published three issues a week. Soon after, Addison and Steele’s Spectator began as a daily. They included articles on politics, as well as essays on various aspects of manners and morals. None included perfume samples, although life might have been improved if they had, 18th-century hygiene being not very. Much the way our Teen People reflects the divisions of our society (and the emergence of a class of readers alienated by Geriatric People), companion magazines devoted to women were launched, including the Female Tatler (1709) and the Female Spectator (1744). In 1731, Edward Cave, an English printer, synthesized many of the diverse features of those publications in the Gentleman’s Magazine, the periodical that gave the name “magazine” to its genre. It was originally a monthly collection of essays and articles culled from elsewhere, much like our Readers Digest or our “stealing.” Its motto—”E pluribus unum”—alluded to its numerous sources and would eventually be stolen by the United States. In 1738, Dr. Johnson joined its staff and quickly became its main contributor. “None but a blockhead ever wrote except for money,” Johnson said. Or perhaps that was Tina Brown. Rivals and imitators quickly followed, notably the London Magazine, the Scots Magazine, and Playboy magazine (or is it just Hugh Hefner and not the magazine itself that recently celebrated its 250th birthday?). More periodicals for women were introduced, including Ladies’ Magazine and Lady’s Magazine—imagine the merry mix-ups! Their progenitor, however, outlived them all and perished only in 1907. (By “progenitor,” I mean of course the Gentleman’s Magazine. Dr. Johnson did not outlive Tina Brown, although wouldn’t it be great if he had? For one thing, there’d have been a lot fewer Stephen King pieces in The New Yorker if Brown had died in 1907.)

Steel-Belted Radial Answer

Robert Ulrich edits Modern Tire Dealer.

It is the consensus of Ulrich and his colleagues of the tire press that we live in a kind of golden age of tires. Tire sophisticates assert that nearly all tires on the road today are safe when used as directed.

“The general reason for tire failure is tire abuse by drivers, not tire manufacture,” said Edward Wagner, a respected tire guy. Some common mistakes by drivers: underinflation and use of wrong size tires. Consumer Reports concurs. In a recent test of six different all-weather tires, all performed well, with even the lowest-ranked tire scoring “in the middle of good.”

All this makes the recent failures of Firestone tires and their subsequent recall a mystery in tire circles. One intriguing clue—to those who find tire defects intriguing—many of the failed tires came from a single plant in Decatur, Ill.

Common Denominator

Our synthetic candidates.