A new issue of Open Letters Monthly is out. From Foreign Policy, Robert Kaplan on how people and ideas influence events, but geography largely determines them, now more than ever (and a roundtable on "the New Geography" at Bookforum); confessions of a true believer: John Judis on how the collapse of Soviet communism never relegated Marx's ideas to the dustbin of history; and Leon Panitch on thoroughly modern Marx: Lights, camera, action — Das Kapital, now. From PopMatters, a special feature on Wham!'s "Make It Big" turning 25. Traveling off the beaten path: Slum tours offer travelers an authentic, offbeat look at foreign cultures — and locals a new way to make a living. Fareed Zakaria on how to achieve genuine energy independence. Toy Story: Are those 5,000 magazines in your messenger bag, or are you just happy to see me? From New Scientist, a special feature on the five ages of the brain. If politicians spoke directly to the American people, what would happen? New research suggests people might actually feel a little better about politics. From The Atlantic, Caitlin Flanagan reviews Alec Baldwin’s A Promise to Ourselves; and for some people, spending just doesn’t come naturally, especially in a recession; behavioral economists have a solution. Sex with robots: A look at how humanity is screwing itself.
