Meeting: Thursday, July 20, 2006

In Recent issues:

The issue of 2006-04-24, published 2006-04-17

GETTING THERE
by NICK PAUMGARTEN
The science of driving directions.
http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/060424fa_fact

Q. Did we only study geography in school in order to read a map? What does digital mapping add to society? What will we lose?

The issue of 2006-07-10, published 2006-07-03

A REPORTER AT LARGE
The Agent
By LAWRENCE WRIGHT
How 9/11 might have been prevented.

Q. What practices might have prevented the attacks of 9/11 and the USS Cole?

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA
Blue-Collar Gold
By TAD FRIEND
The humor Hollywood doesn't find funny.

Q. What makes Blue-Collar humor different from typical Hollywood comedy? How are the Blue-Collar comedians different from typical television and movie comics, professionally and personally? Since it is a success and sells product, why the resistance?

DRESSED TO KILL
"The Devil Wears Prada."
by DAVID DENBY

Q. If you've seen the movie, do you agree with Denby's assessment? What's most delicious about it? If not, did his review change your mind about wanting to see it?

Cartoons:
http://www.cartoonbank.com/search_results_category.asp?section=prints&topic=all&pubNY=1&advanced=1&pubDateFrom=07/10/2006&pubDateTo=07/10/2006

Talk of the Town:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/index/060710ta_index

Nattering Nabobs
Ready, Set, Rample
Giving Away My Fortune
Barefootin'
Too Much Information

Q. Comments on "Talk"? Strong pieces, weak ones?

The Critics:
http://www.newyorker.com/critics/index/060710cr_index

Meeting: Thursday, July 6, 2006

From recent issues:
The issue of 2006-02-06, published 2006-01-30

TROUBLEMAKERS
by MALCOLM GLADWELL
What pit bulls can teach us about profiling.
http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/060206fa_fact

Q. Gladwell seems to make an argument similar to the NRA... Pit Bulls
aren't naturally dangerous, it's the owner's behavior that makes them
dangerous. Do you agree with him (or me), and why?

The issue of 2006-06-26, published 2006-06-19

ANNALS OF COMMENCEMENT
WHAT I LEARNED
by DAVID SEDARIS
And what I said at Princeton.
http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/060626fa_fact

Q. Did you think this was funny? Is it funnier as a speech, read
aloud with Sedaris' unique voice?

NOTES OF A GASTRONOME
The Dessert Lab
by Bill Buford
An obsessive pastry chef.

Q. Is dessert really a social creation, more so than other dining? Do
you think of dessert as a way to keep the evening from ending?

Cartoons: http://www.cartoonbank.com/search_results_category.asp?section=prints&topic=all&pubNY=1&advanced=1&pubDateFrom=06/26/2006&pubDateTo=06/26/2006

Talk of the Town:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/index/060626ta_index

The Critics:
http://www.newyorker.com/critics/index/060626cr_index

Q. Denby doesn't like "Nacho Libre", but he offers a compelling image
of Jack Black: "He has thick curly hair and a mustache, and his eyes
glint with the dirtiest thoughts entertained by any religious
functionary since Rasputin." Do you think Jack Black is just playing
"Jack Black" again?

Issue of 2006-06-19 published 2006-06-12

ANNALS OF HOLLYWOOD
The Cameraman
by Hilton Als
America's first great cinematographer

Q. Toland seems to be one of the first in Hollywood to paint the story
with light and camera. Why do you think to this day, the cameraman
isn't appreciated outside the industry, when he/she is a major
influence in the final product?

A REPORTER AT LARGE
Watching the Waterfront
by Walter Finnegan
How vulnerable is New York's port?

Q. At the end of the article, Finnegan states he doesn't think the
particular docks that the F.B.I. proposes as most vulnerable to
smuggling WMD, are very vulnerable. But he doesn't offer any details
why. Do you agree with him?

ONLINE ONLY
Q. & A.
The Docks of New York
http://www.newyorker.com/printables/online/060619on_onlineonly01

Cartoons:
http://www.cartoonbank.com/search_results_category.asp?section=prints&topic=all&pubNY=1&advanced=1&pubDateFrom=06/19/2006&pubDateTo=06/19/2006

Talk of the Town:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/index/060619ta_index

Q. Which "Talk" piece interested you the most? Why was it interesting?

The Critics:
http://www.newyorker.com/critics/index/060619cr_index