Issue of January 26, 2009

A Lonesome Death
Facing off with William Zantzinger.
by David Simon

Q. Can we credibly compare this to "Frost/Nixon"? Was Zantzinger sufficiently repentant?

A Smarter Stimulus
The logic of Obama’s rebate.
by James Surowiecki

Q. What's your strategy for a rebate? Does the wealth/income argument make sense? Is there a hidden genius in this strategy?

Getting There from Here
How health-care reform really happens.
by Atul Gawande

Q. Is upgrading the telephone system a legitimate analogy to "fixing" health-care? If Massachusetts' universal insurance is working (and is popular), why shouldn't the rest of the country take notice? What health-care financial problems will universal coverage not help?

The Dystopians
Among contemporary doomsayers.
by Ben McGrath

Audio: Ben McGrath discusses doomsaying.

Q. Are doomsayers ever effective contributors to society? At what points do they risk credibility?

Newspapers and the American Revolution.
by Jill Lepore

Q. Do revolutionaries like newspapers? Or just until they obtain power? Did you know to what "Gazette" refers? What's the strangest named newspaper?

Issue of January 19, 2009

Spreading the Word
Scrabble mania’s online resurgence.
by Judith Thurman

Audio: Judith Thurman discusses Scrabble, both online and off.

Q. In this world of electronic gizmos and games, what is the appeal of Scrabble? Will it continue to be popular? Are there other games that have a similar appeal?

My Holocaust Memoir
by Ben Greenman

Q. What is BG intending to communicate in this piece, particularly with the word 'Holocaust'? Is he satirizing a particular group, idea, or individual? Is his use of humor effective?

Baby Food
Are breast pumps edging out nursing?
by Jill Lepore

Q. How does this article reflect the reality of working mothers? Is it discriminatory towards men? What do you think are the factors that reversed the rearing trends for low-income and high-income women?

The Cobra
Inside a movie-marketing playbook.
by Tad Friend

Q. Is Hollywood marketing really effective? Should it be? Why is Lionsgate so effective, the movies or the marketing?

The Enforcer
Bringing justice to the world’s poor.
by Samantha Power

Q. What do you think of Gary Haugen's philosophy. Is it helpful or hindering? If it hinders, do the IJM's results justify the means?

Issue of January 12, 2009

Barney’s Great Adventure
A congressman’s moment arrives.
by Jeffrey Toobin

Q. Barney Frank claims not everyone should be a homeowner. Is federal assistance for affordable housing a fair exchange for the mortgage interest deduction of homeowners? What about those in the middle?

The Speech
Inaugural Addresses, great and otherwise.
by Jill Lepore

Q. What are the strong elements of Lepore's essay? Where is it weak?

Face Time

The staff photographers Martin Schoeller and Steve Pyke talk about how they got their start in photography, how they research their subjects, and how assignments for The New Yorker differ from work for other magazines. Schoeller and Pyke are featured in “Portraiture Now: Feature Photography” at the National Portrait Gallery, in Washington, D.C., through September 27, 2009.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/2009/01/12/090112on_audio_portraiturenow

Issue of January 5, 2009

Breathers
You might as well spend.
by Adam Gopnik

Q. What is Gopnik's gift for writing this kind of essay? Does he explain the mechanics of the financial problem as well as the emotions?

Whistle-blower
The woman who kick-started an investigation into Chicago graft.
by Nina Burleigh

Q. Does Davis' story restore faith in government or add to the cynicism?

Kosher Takeout
The inspection business booms.
by Patricia Marx

Q. Is kosher certification a scam or a public service? Chinese food, anyone?

It Took a Village
What the Voice started.
by Louis Menand

Q. What makes the Villiage Voice "New York"? Is there a D.C. equivalent? Why should or why couldn't there be?

“The Joy of Sex,” updated.
by Ariel Levy

Levy discusses “The Joy of Sex” and its relevancy.

A portfolio of images from “The Joy of Sex” and “Our Bodies, Ourselves.”

Q. Does "Joy" have relevance in 2009 or is it simply a historical oddity? Is Levy serious in her essay or just trying to amuse? Are there hetero/homo slants to her article?

“Pal Joey.”
by John Lahr

Q. Does Lahr improve our understanding of the show and his critique by including the history of the original source and production? Should revivals always be compared to debut? Can they not?

“Valkyrie,” “Waltz with Bashir.”
by Anthony Lane

Q. Good movies? Good reviews? Sincere? Convincing?

Tom Wolfe