Economist , Dec. 6 (posted Saturday, Dec. 6) The cover editorial argues that "road pricing" will solve the world's traffic problems by making drivers pay for their privilege. Charging varying amounts for driving at peak and off-peak times will cut down on congestion and pollution. Revenues could fund public transportation. A profile salutes pathological downsizer "Chainsaw" Al Dunlap for having the guts to fire workers in order to turn companies around. The profile also asserts that Dunlap's slash-and-burn technique would be ineffective for all but the sickest firms. (For Slate 's take on Dunlap, see "The Chainsaw Capitalist.") A few weeks ago there was a media flurry about a computer that composed classical music. In this week's Economist , a computer that can improvise jazz. Its programmer enters parameters of style and tempo. The computer's getting better: Many experts can no longer distinguish it from a live musician. New Republic , Dec. 22 (posted Friday, Dec. 5) Following Newsweek 's lead, TNR puts Amistad , Steven Spielberg's new film about a slave revolt, on the cover. Among four related stories: a rave review for the film and an appreciation of John Quincy Adams, a major Amistad character and "one of the only genuine intellectuals ever to occupy the White House." An article says the Russian military is too weak to invade other countries (good news), but also too weak to prevent its soldiers from selling arms to terrorists (bad news). Also, a report from the Rev. Moon's mass-marriage ceremony: Most of the newlyweds will go back to their own hometowns after the wedding. They may or may not see their spouses in the future. New York Times Magazine , Dec. 7 (posted Thursday, Dec. 4) Yet another "special issue"--the fourth in three months. The subject of the 20-odd stories: American religion. A story follows a Muslim teen-ager living in suburban Virginia. Her classmates ridiculed her head scarf, so she took it off. Her mom doesn't like her punk nose ring, but she leaves it in. An article describes a new medical study about prayer: When devout "healers" prayed for the health of arthritic patients--without the patients' knowledge--the patients' health improved. Doctors are dubious. A Unitarian recounts her epiphany: A voice in the woods told her to become a minister. Also, kudos for the Alabama Freethought Association, a league of atheists in the heart of the Bible Belt. They meet on Sundays and lampoon Christians: "Right about now," says one, "the folks in town are sitting in church, waving a book that makes no sense and that most of them haven't even read." Time and Newsweek , Dec. 8 (posted Tuesday, Dec. 2) The mags discover the same trend: the exodus to exurbia. Time 's cover story on small towns follows several couples who gave up fast-track lives to settle down in villages. Why the migration? Telecommuting and the great job market make mobility easier than ever. A shorter Newsweek story labels these dropouts "Young Unhappy Professionals" (unhappy, that is, till they drop out). Newsweek 's cover package, pegged to the release of Steven Spielberg's film Amistad , assesses the legacy of slavery. Among the conclusions: A national apology for slavery would be hollow and facile, but America should erect a slavery memorial on the Mall. Newsweek interviews John Hope Franklin, chairman of the presidential advisory board on race. (He's against an apology, and for affirmative action. See "The Sound of One Hand Talking" for Slate 's take on Franklin and the panel.) An accompanying review raves about Amistad (though the magazine inexplicably calls it "controversial"). Time breaks the news that Bill Ford Jr. will become chairman of Ford in 1999. Ford, who has been running the family-owned Detroit Lions for the past two years, will be the first Ford to head the automaker in a decade. Time also reports on the making of Titanic . The film cost $200 million, and its producers are terrified. Director James Cameron contributes a short defense of his movie, but an accompanying review pans it: great special effects, hackneyed story. U.S. News & World Report , Dec. 8 (posted Tuesday, Dec. 2) U.S. News kicks off the Christmas shopping season with a cover story on junk mail. Lots of insider info about how junk mailers reel you in: real stamps, pseudo-official envelopes, and "P.S." messages. Some high-end retailers make more money by selling their mailing lists than by selling their products. (Requisite statistic: On average, each American receives 553 pieces of junk mail a year.) A story praises the Trinity Foundation, a Christian community in Texas that investigates fraud by televangelists and publishes a Christian satire magazine called the Door . The annual guide to personal finance advises investors to stop worrying about inflation: It's gone. The New Yorker , Dec. 8 (posted Tuesday, Dec. 2) An article chronicles Rupert Murdoch's quest to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. Murdoch, who has decided that sports will be his international TV anchor, is trying to monopolize broadcast rights for California sports teams. But Atlanta Braves owner and Murdoch rival Ted Turner may try to block approval of Murdoch's $311-million Dodgers bid. A profile of the vice president takes the usual Gore psychoanalysis a step further. It agrees that Gore's outer robotic-ness masks a warm jocularity, but argues that the warm jocularity itself masks Gore's fundamental emotional coolness. Gore admits that his "no controlling legal authority" press conference was a mistake. A "Comment" by Robert Reich argues that Republicans and Democrats have switched places. Republicans used to be the party of "noble aspirations" and Democrats used to be the party of "just causes." Now Democrats tout bland aspirations (like racial healing) while Republicans fervently champion causes like tax reform and school vouchers. Weekly Standard , Dec. 8 (posted Tuesday, Dec. 2) A cover story makes the case for national education reform. Decentralization, the usual conservative solution, isn't helping schools. National policies could increase the number of charter schools, cripple local education bureaucracies, and limit the power of evil teachers unions. A piece calls Clinton's race commission the "Disgrace Commission." It's a group of affirmative-action supporters appointed to rubber-stamp Clinton policies, the article says. The most interesting section of the magazine is the letters page, where gay-rights advocates exchange fire with William Bennett over Bennett's recent piece attacking them. --Seth Stevenson