Issue of December 8, 2008

From Russia
A New Jerseyite who knows Russian hockey.
by Alec Wilkinson

Q. What is the importance of hockey in the United States? The importance of Russia in American hockey? How important are foreign language skills in our everyday life? Is Carr using her language skills effectively?

The Price is Right
What to wear to the recession.
by Patricia Marx

Q. Are we all recessionistas now?  Is this article intended to be funny?  Informative?  Social Commentary?  Is 60% off the new black?

Outside Agitator
Naomi Klein reboots the left.
by Larissa MacFarquhar

A discussion on Naomi Klein and “The Shock Doctrine."

Q. Is it the job of the left to move the center? Does saying crazy stuff make it seem more reasonable for politicians to take riskier positions?  Is LMacF subdued on NK because of NK's reservations about Obama?

The Rap
The work of the hip-hop cop.
by Ian Frazier

Q. Is it appropriate to focus on rap-related crimes when there so many other kinds of crimes out there? Do you think that Parker's retirement was fair? Are Parker's methods and theories about rap-related crime effective? Do you think that rap culture leads to crime or is it a stereotype?

Tina Fey’s “30 Rock.”
by Nancy Franklin

Q. Do you think NF's assessment of women in today's workforce accurate? Do you agree that Tina Fey's character does not connect with audiences? Male audiences? Female?

“Frost/Nixon,” “Australia.”
by David Denby

Q. Is Denby fair about the importance of the Frost interviews? Did they really influence the public's perception of Nixon? Do you think that Baz Luhrman did an adequate job with Australia or is Denby correct that another director would have been more effective? Are Luhrman's eccentricities assets?