Economist, Oct. 23
The cover editorial argues that the United States is an uncertain colossus, despite its military and economic dominance. The rejection of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and cuts to international peacekeeping funds demonstrate the spread of American unilateralism. But the United States can’t guarantee global stability by might alone: It must work with allies. … A survey piece argues that Germany has replaced France as the dominant player in the European Union. … An article explores McDonald’s Hamburger University–one of 1,600 corporate universities operating in America. HU teaches the fundamentals of hamburgerology in 26 languages to 7,000 students a year. Its new dean hopes to acquire the accreditation to award graduates official diplomas.
New Republic, Nov. 8
The magazine celebrates its 85th anniversary with a cover essay claiming that liberalism has triumphed in the realm of ideas during the 20th century. Each nation values liberalism in a different way. In nations such as India, democratic freedoms are most fundamental. In nations such as Korea, negative rights–guarantees against government interference–supercede democratic values. In China, positive freedoms–primarily welfare guarantees–trump democratic and negative freedoms. … An article says recent natural disasters are not evidence of global climate change. The real evidence for global warming is two long-term trends: The incidence of heavy downpours is increasing and the “frost-free” season is lengthening.
Harper’s, November 1999
An article describes Big Sugar’s stranglehold on public policy. Taxpayers support an irrigation system that facilitates Florida sugar growing but ruins the Everglades. Sugar barons have funneled $13 million to federal officeholders in the past eight years to block any cuts in sugar subsidies, which add $1.4 billion to consumers’ food bills. … A reflection on Woodstock ‘99 concludes that the concert was a slow-motion riot clogged with overflowing sewage, overpriced concessions, and acoustic atrocities. The crowd’s attempt to raze the festival grounds symbolizes the collapse of communal bonds and boundaries.
New York Times Magazine, Oct. 24
The cover story claims that the Reform Party’s greatest asset is its pop-culture appeal. The piece echoes the familiar line that party members are a nut stew of United Nations haters, pot-legalizers, and campaign-finance reformers. Juicy detail: Jesse Ventura views Pat Buchanan as a shill sent by the traditional parties to sabotage the Reform effort. … An article marvels at a “linguistic big bang” in Nicaragua, where deaf kids have invented their own language in a generation. Teachers at a school for the deaf were so inept that the assembled kids improvised a complex sign system, demonstrating that language is innate, but requires community to grow. This is the first time linguists have observed a language’s birth. One creative sign: Daniel Ortega is identified by a tap on the wrist, a mockery of the ex-president’s gauche Rolex.
Forbes, Nov. 1
An article explores McDonald’s niche offerings. Since the hamburger market is plateauing, McDonald’s allows franchisees to offer new food stuffs such as McBrat, the bratwurst on a bun in Wisconsin. McLobster Rolls are reviving New England sales; Indophilic Brits are eating McChicken Tikka; and Indians can enjoy the new Maharajah Mac.
Time, Oct. 25
The cover story spends a week in a suburban St. Louis high school. Highlights: Twenty percent of students take psychopharmaceuticals, from Adderall to Zoloft. In lieu of metal detectors, “Safe Teams” of faculty and police target troubled students. The teams are assisted by 60 kids who snitch on their peers. “Deseg” students bused from the inner-city find class differences harder to bridge than racial ones. Some kids work 40 hours a week to make up the allowance gap. (Read Slate’s prescription for what ails American high schools.) … An article questions television’s awkward embrace of gay characters. Nearly 30 homosexuals are featured in prime time, but few shows are sophisticated enough to script love lives for their homocharacters.
Newsweek, Oct. 25
The cover package celebrates 20th-century American sports with the recollections of key figures. Muhammad Ali reveals that he plans to fight an exhibition match, despite his Parkinson’s. He says the violent trash talking of his youth was an attempt to scare white folks because “they scared us.” Jesse Owens’ daughter recalls her father’s pride at defeating the “master race” during the 1936 Olympics. NBA Commissioner David Stern details how a “generation of virtuosos” turned basketball into a marketing machine. … An article slaps Black Entertainment Television for refusing to pay its talent decent wages. Comedians get a fraction of union scale, and even BET’s marquee talk-show host bristles at the network’s blaxploitation.
U.S. News & World Report, Oct. 25
The cover story argues that archeology casts authoritative doubt on creationism but corroborates key parts of the Bible. For instance, a ninth-century B.C. inscription memorializing a victory over the “House of David” provides material evidence of the Jewish king’s existence, while the remains of a crucifixion victim indicate that the Romans would have killed Jesus as the gospels allege.
Weekly Standard, Oct. 25
An editorial congratulates the Senate for killing the “arms control fantasies” of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. It was an unenforceable joke. Our next (Republican) president should rebuild America’s nuclear defenses. … An article laments the decline of Dukakis Democrats. There are no paleoliberals left for the right to lampoon. The party of Clinton and Gore really has forged a pro-free-trade, fiscally conservative third way.
The Nation, Nov. 1
The chief cover story, countering basic conservative theology, argues that peace activism helped win the Cold War. The nuclear freeze movement undermined support for an aggressive military buildup by emphasizing the cost and riskiness of the Cold War. The Reagan administration’s own proposal to eliminate nuclear weapons was sparked by the peacenik slogan “zero option.”
Business Week, Oct. 25
A piece argues that Japan’s economic slide will transform the Japanese way of doing business. Trade agreements and the tightening of capital markets have opened Japan to foreign investment. The Internet is energizing homegrown entrepreneurs and increasing the national appetite for business risk.
