Economist, Nov. 21

(posted Saturday, Nov. 21, 1998)

The cover editorial deplores America's habit of legislating by lawsuits instead of laws. Class-action lawsuits against tobacco companies have led to regulation and taxation while bypassing the democratic process. Next up: guns. Mayors in Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco are now--or soon will be--filing suits against the gun industry. ... A story says the Russian army is a farce. With no direction, no discipline, and no food to feed its soldiers, the military is falling apart. Modern fighting requires "small armies of ready-to-go professionals," not a huge band of untrained, hungry lugs. Soldiers may soon start looting; a military coup would be likely if the army could ever organize itself.

New Republic, Dec. 7

(posted Friday, Nov. 20, 1998)

Two articles argue that, in lieu of attacking, America's best option with Iraq is to support a rebel insurrection. Saddam Hussein himself is our primary problem, and rebels are our best bet for getting rid of him. "Providing military support for the main opposition group, the Iraqi National Congress, is a high-risk gamble, but it could deliver a high payoff: ending the Saddam problem, solving the Gulf security conundrum, and relieving Israel's fear of attack from the east." ... A story warns that American universities are relying too much on adjunct faculty. Part-time professors are poorly paid, overworked, and don't have time to devote to students.

New York Times Magazine, Nov. 22

(posted Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998)

The cover story marvels at the resurgence of Prince Charles. After Diana's death, disgruntled pundits wanted to pass over the adulterous Charles and make his son William heir to the throne. But by hiring a PR firm to manage his image, wooing reporters with occasional jokes, and bonding with Prime Minister Tony Blair, Charles has staged an astounding revival. The Brits now appreciate his many good works and his affectionate fathering. The story hints that Charles does not much like his cold parents. The author gets a rare private interview with the prince and confirms that Charles does have "large ears, as advertised." ... An article traces a family of impassioned Albanian gun-running fighters from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Kosovo, where they support the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army against Serbian oppression. Among the poignant details from the war: In Albania, Kalashnikov rifles are hidden in watermelons; and in Kosovo, KLA guerillas are so poor they have to eat toothpaste.

Time and Newsweek, Nov. 23

(posted Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998)

Despite the near-attacks on Iraq, Time and Newsweek run soft covers: herbal medicine in Time and "super" cars in Newsweek. Time's cover piece ("It's great business, but is it good for what ails us?") says herbal remedies can work--Saint Johnswort does cure some folks' mild depression--but herbs also have nasty side effects. (Saint Johnswort makes your skin sensitive to sunlight.) Stunning statistic: Americans now visit alternative-medicine practitioners more often than they visit family doctors. Time also advises readers how they can profit from the herbal craze: Buy stock in General Nutrition and Whole Foods Market. Newsweek's cover package ("Does Bill Ford Have a Better Idea?") says the future of cars is fuel-cell engines--they use hydrogen, and their only waste is water. But don't expect them for a few decades. Until gas costs more, consumers won't pay the premium for enviro-friendly vehicles.

Time reports on a new study showing that kids have less free time than ever before: They spend most of their waking hours on school, homework, and organized sports. Good news: Kids watch less television. Bad news: "Unstructured play encourages independent thinking and allows the young to negotiate their relationships with their peers, but kids ages 3 to 12 spent only 12 hours a week engaged in it."

Newsweek exposes how far the pro wrestling industry will go to keep fans interested. Pro wrestling used to be merely fake athletic spectacle. Now it is fake athletic spectacle in which participants are expected to display sexism, homophobia, and sociopathic behavior. Fans as young as 7 years old cheer a wrestler who "bases his character on the size of his sexual apparatus" and boo a "gay" tag team called "Too Much."

U.S. News & World Report, Nov. 23

(posted Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998)

The cover story hails forthcoming vaccines. Recent insights into how our immune system works are making vaccines more effective. Reliable AIDS vaccines could be ready within a decade; cancer vaccines are further off but possible. Soon vaccines will be administered by pill, mouthwash, or genetically altered foods. ... A story says the military is admitting dumber recruits. Needing to fill vacancies at a time of low unemployment, the armed forces are letting in more candidates who score unacceptably low on the military's intelligence tests. Luckily, most of these recruits will clean and cook.

The New Yorker, Nov. 23

(posted Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998)

An essay says Washington is out of control. Partisan sniping has become more vicious and personal because of the transformation of parties from fragile coalitions into ideological groups. From Robert Bork to Clarence Thomas to John Tower to Jim Wright to Bill Clinton, recent politics has centered on "ethics" and brutal name-calling. The press encourages this, as there is "considerable peer pressure to stay cynical." No solution is in sight. ... A story defends J.P. Morgan, the man, not the bank. Ninety years ago, Americans thought he'd engineered the panic of 1907 for his own benefit. In fact, Morgan worked tirelessly to save the American economy, which was near collapse, and he benefited little from his strenuous efforts to keep banks solvent. In fact, Morgan was a straight shooter, an art enthusiast, and a decent chap.

--Seth Stevenson