archive

The decline of public space

A new issue of The New Leader is out. From Mother Jones, exit strategy: A series of articles on how to fix a post-Bush nation. If an outsider's persona is good for getting elected, sometimes an insider's knowledge is necessary for succeeding once in office. Rick Shenkman on 5 myths about those civic-minded, deeply informed voters. John Judis on what Barack Obama won't tell you about his community organizing past. From The Neo-Independent, is this the rainbow we’ve been waiting for? Jacqueline Salit wants to know.  From The New York Observer, Righties scoff at Gustav, plan big Caribbean cruise, euphoric Hawaiian hobbles in: National Review essentials party like it was 2008; and hurts so Good: The unlikely magazine for "earnest young things" is a success; now, expansion and a new CEO threaten to make it (gulp!) a business. From New Politics, a special section on the Gay Movement and the Left; and an article on neoliberalism, teachers, and teaching: Understanding the assault (and more on stealing our schools). From Technology Review, "I just called to say I love you": Jonathan Franzen on cell phones, sentimentality, and the decline of public space. From NYRB, a review of The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century by Alex Ross; and an exchange on the question of global warming. From Cracked, a look at the 8 most obnoxious Internet commenters.