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The Teva Menace Goes On: Now, It's Robeez!
This discussion of "security theater" started with a father exasperated that his four-year-old twin girls had to take off their little sandals before going through the TSA screening machine, and...
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New York as 'American Ideal'
In complimenting Mayor Bloomberg's wise statement of toleration for a proposed mosque in lower Manhattan, I noted that this moment made New York seem wholly "American." Tim Heffernan, proud New...
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Alan Klapmeier, the Kestrel, and Lane Wallace
I have been "intending" to write several aviation updates, leading with one that has both personal and business drama, but ... it kept getting put off. Imagine then my gratitude to see that our...
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Compliments (Journalism Division)
1) NY Review. Yes, the Atlantic is the best magazine of all. But for an outstanding single issue of any publication, you'd have to try hard -- and we will! -- to top the current issue of the New York...
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Still Not Sold on Bing
I keep reading and hearing about the growing market share and overall sexiness of Bing, Microsoft's search engine. This does puzzle me, as I have mentioned before -- and will illustrate once again.For...
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Partisanship Is Bad, But the Kagan Vote Is Not the Proof
I yield to no one in my despair about the U.S. Senate and the general gridlock of American public life. But I was surprised by this line in today's Politico story, about the Senate's vote yesterday to...
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Jimmy Carter: King of Beers
Because of my association with Jimmy Carter (years ago), and with beers (over the years), I am obliged to recognize, with admiration, our 39th president's role in reviving America's brewing industry....
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Modest Proposal: Fixed Tenure for the Supreme Court
A reader writes in response to this item about the Kagan confirmation vote and the general depressing ritual of Supreme Court confirmation fights: As you rightly said it has become a Kabuki spectacle...
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Three Bing-v-Google follow ups
Reader responses to this recent item, arguing that Bing was not yet closing the gap on Google. 1) A reader whose first name is Yong suggests this control-group test: For reasons unknown, I've...
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An 18-Year Plan for the Supreme Court
In response to this item yesterday, about the distortions caused by lifetime Supreme Court appointments in the era of longevity, reader Jim Strickler has a specific plan:How about 18-year terms with...
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OK, You Pomplamoose Mockers
As promised, no more posting on music themes [for a while], in the interests of generational concord.But tell me what is not impressive or interesting about Jack Conte's (50% of Pomplamoose) promo...
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Welcome Damien Ma
The Atlantic's roster of online Correspondents is ever-expanding and -improving. If I noted each interesting post in that space, that is all I'd ever do. Two recent illustrations: here and here.So...
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Why Are There So Many Airplane Crashes in Alaska?
In the wake of this latest crash, sympathies to all affected, and good wishes for those who have initially survived. A word of context about flying in Alaska. Does it merely seem more dangerous than...
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Alaskan Flying
I mentioned yesterday the unique world of Alaskan aviation: more dangerous than elsewhere in the country, but also more necessary. As a sign of the ubiquity of aviation in Alaska, consider this Google...
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Our Life in Japan
I made a deal with our sons to stop using them as cameo figures in articles once they got to an age when they might come across a magazine around the house and see something about themselves. Which is...
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Today's 'Aha!' Airline Chart
Earlier this summer I mentioned a chart, by Bob Herbst via the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, explaining why airplanes feel more crowded than they used to be. They seem more crowded because they...
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Bombing Iran: What is The Atlantic's Line?
Jeffrey Goldberg's cover story, on Israel's preparations to bomb Iran (and what that means for America), is getting a lot of attention, and deserves to. It is very much worth reading for its...
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A Breakthrough in Thinking About Airport Security
Recently I announced my resolve to be less a carping critic, and more a source of constructive suggestions, when it comes to our friend the TSA. The invaluable xkcd.com has an answer. Click for larger...
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About Iran, the Atlantic, and... China
I have gotten a lot of response -- nearly all of it hostile -- to this item last night, in which I said that Jeffrey Goldberg's current cover story should not be read as a warmongering argument in...
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The True Story of Steven Slater
Apple Daily in Taiwan won admirers around the world with its "true life" re-enactments of the battle within the Tiger Woods household last year. In case you haven't yet seen the Apple Daily/Hong Kong...
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