Slate's Bizbox
other magazines: Summaries of what's in Time, Newsweek, etc.

By David Plotz
Posted Sunday, Aug. 31, 1997, at 3:30 AM ET
The Economist

Economist, Aug. 30

(posted Saturday, Aug. 30)

The lead editorial embraces evolutionary biology's new insights into human behavior, but warns against eugenics. A companion piece elucidates two of these new insights: Bodily symmetry largely determines physical attractiveness, and humans may use smell to assess the quality of a potential sex partner's immune system. An article predicts that the "kretek," an Indonesian clove cigarette that controls 90 percent of that country's market, may challenge American tobacco's worldwide dominance. Also, a story wonders why the weight-loss industry isn't booming. Problems: It lacks a safe, effective drug, and is challenged by the "fat-lash"--proponents of "big is beautiful." (For more on getting down the pounds, see Slate's "Medical Examiner.")

New York Times Magazine

New York Times Magazine, Aug. 31

(posted Thursday, Aug. 28)

The "successful bureaucrat" issue profiles Rudy Crew, chancellor of New York City Schools, and Yuri Luzhkov, mayor of Moscow. The cover story says Crew is promoting higher standards citywide, rather than focusing on a few flagship schools. His efforts have not boosted test scores as much as had been promised, but modest improvements and Crew's political clout make him the beleaguered system's most impressive chief in decades. The article on Luzhkov echoes the now-familiar line that Moscow is great (see Newsweek summary, below). The eccentric mayor ignores corruption, but effectively micromanages Moscow's building boom. Notable statistic: Prime office space costs more in Moscow than in New York City. Also, can rapper Marky Mark become film star Mark Wahlberg? He's the latest of many musicians (Will Smith, Courtney Love ...) to make the leap to movies.

Time

Time, Sept. 1

(posted Tuesday, Aug. 26)

The cover story on billionaire financier George Soros says that his philanthropy provokes as much controversy as gratitude. Having given more than $1 billion in aid to Eastern Europe, Soros is now spending tens of millions of dollars in the United States to promote medical marijuana, rights for legal immigrants, alternatives to incarceration, and better care for the dying. These donations are intended to rectify U.S. government inaction. Notable statistic: Soros' 1996 aid to Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Belarus tops U.S. aid to those countries. A story argues that New York City's recent police brutality belies general reform in the nation's police departments. Many cities now give cops clear anti-brutality messages and better training on the use of force. An article by a baby boomer contends that modern teen-agers have nothing left to rebel against, save rebellion.

Newsweek

Newsweek, Sept. 1

(posted Tuesday, Aug. 26)

Newsweek's ninth health cover of the year warns that E. coli food contamination is more common than is reported and won't be eradicated with simple beef recalls like the one at Hudson Foods. New, tougher food-inspection standards will help, but "no one predicts a day in which all food will be perfectly free of disease." A companion piece advocates destroying food bacteria with low-level radiation. Activist groups are dubious. A story says that the Japanese mob exerts too much control over that nation's finance industry, hindering Japan's ability to compete in the global market. An article on Moscow concedes that it has high crime rates, but asserts that a growing middle class and booming night life are revitalizing the city.

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report, Sept. 1

(posted Tuesday, Aug. 26)

Harvard and Princeton tie for first in the 11th annual "Best Colleges" rankings. Duke cracks the Ivy monopoly by sharing third place with Yale. University of Virginia is the top public school (but 21st overall), and Swarthmore repeats as best liberal-arts college. One accompanying article says that students who apply for early admission have a better chance of being accepted. Another reports that fraternities and sororities are cracking down on drinking, and promoting studying: The National Panhellenic Conference has declared 1997--this is not a joke--"The Year of the Scholar." U.S. News' bad beef article is a revolting description of what really goes into cattle feed--chicken manure, grease, cement dust, newsprint, and human sewage, among other things. The feed is safe when treated properly, but many farmers aren't careful, raising the risk of beef contamination. And a piece chastises the Red Cross for dumping 3 million pints a year of perfectly safe blood donated by people with hemochromatosis. Those with the disease must donate blood regularly to rid their body of excess iron, but blood banks refuse to use the plasma even though it would solve blood-supply shortages.

Harper's

Harper's, September 1997

(posted Thursday, Aug. 21)

A two-story cover package damns and praises higher education. An essay by a University of Virginia professor says that today's college students seek only ironic entertainment in the classroom. Raised on the cool medium of television, undergrads are skeptical about passionate ideas, doubtful of genius, and intellectually timid. Even worse news: Bottom-line-obsessed universities won't challenge this complacency because they can't afford to offend their paying customers. The other piece glorifies an experimental humanities class for low-income, undereducated adults. The author contends that philosophy, art, and literature are empowering, because they teach the disenfranchised how to challenge the elite without violence. Evidence: The once-hopeless students have gone on to college or better jobs.

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David Plotz is Slate's deputy editor. He is the author of The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank. You can e-mail him at .
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