Economist , Sept. 12 (posted Saturday, Sept. 12, 1998) The cover editorial welcomes the impeachment or resignation of President Clinton. He has lied to both friends and enemies, and the American presidency is powerless without moral authority. "This newspaper has no wish for him to stay. And it is hard to see why America should, either." ... The Economist applies its anti-protectionism stance to cultural protectionism. International fears of American cultural hegemony are overblown. No country should attempt to keep out American music or movies, since no matter how successful American culture is, homegrown products will always be more popular with locals. New Republic , Sept. 28 (posted Saturday, Sept. 12, 1998) A cover piece offers a Freudian take on Flytrap. Clinton is the primal father, who has claimed sexual access to all women. According to Freud's "myth of the origin of civilization," the primal father must be destroyed for society to survive (though Clinton might then be reborn as the repentant son). Also: Newspapers are society's ego, and editorial pages are the superego. ... A Russian journalist warns that her country's economic collapse may destroy its free press. Banks, which own or control much of the media, are too broke to support newspapers and TV stations. Already the national media are ignoring the looming war in the Russian republic of Dagestan because they can't afford to cover it. New York Times Magazine , Sept. 13 (posted Thursday, Sept. 10, 1998) The second cover profile of the week for Texas governor and likely presidential candidate George W. Bush (see the Weekly Standard , below). Bush partied hard in his youth, but getting married and giving up alcohol focused him. He's toned down his social conservatism, and his hugely likable personality makes him a great campaigner. (He's not much of a policy wonk, however.) Critics say his greatest asset is his name, but Bush seems to have emerged from his father's shadow. ... Another profile of Germany's Gerhard Schröder (see U.S. News and The New Yorker , below). Schröder's similarity to Bill Clinton is remarkable: both were raised by poor, single mothers; were governors of "small, politically marginal" states; and eschew right and left politics in favor of a new center. One difference: Schröder hates emotional displays, claiming he "can't abide pathos." ... A story argues that Nike's "swoosh" logo has become too familiar. To many, the swoosh symbolizes exploited foreign labor, and hip young people now choose Adidas as an alternative to Nike's hegemony. Nike is pinning its comeback on its one incontrovertible success: Michael Jordan's endorsement. Time and U.S. News & World Report , Sept. 14 (posted Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1998) Both cover packages are basically bullish on the stock market. Time tells investors not to panic about the bad world news: "One of the worst things [investors] could do is let rising volatility and uncertainty drive them out of stock investments." Time 's guide to the economic troubles of 10 major countries prescribes tax cuts, spending cuts, open markets, and privatization for everyone. ... U.S. News , though generally optimistic about the economy, does offer bear market advice, just in case. What to do when the bear growls? Buy utilities, bottom feed on mutual funds that invested in the Southeast Asian markets and got slammed, try real estate investment funds, and seek stability in U.S. bonds. Also in U.S. News , an article claims that German Chancellor Helmut Kohl may well lose this month's election. Kohl's inability to create jobs in the former East Germany and his overtaxing of the former West Germany have killed his popularity. (See also The New Yorker item, below.) ... A story says robot insects will soon be deployed by the military. The 3 inch long, daddy-longlegs-shaped robots use efficient motors to crawl into enemy territory and spy, or perhaps release lethal toxins. Soon to come: flying robot insects. Newsweek , Sept. 14 (posted Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1998) Newsweek 's cover celebrates home run hitters Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as "Awesome!" An essay by career home run champ Hank Aaron is oddly cool toward Sosa and McGwire, while a piece by official baseball blowhard George Will declares this "the greatest baseball season since ... young Abner Doubleday wandered into Farmer Phinney's pasture." ... Newsweek describes a simple remedy for cellulite: Doctors now treat skin with a special massage machine that kneads away that "cottage cheese" look without surgery. The New Yorker , Sept. 14 (posted Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1998) A piece profiles Gerhard Schröder, the favorite to replace Helmut Kohl as Germany's chancellor. Schröder holds few defined positions (his risk-averse strategy is dubbed "Clintonblair" by Germans). His main strength: At 54, and with no ties to the nation's dark past, Schröder would be the first chancellor to look forward instead of back--vital in the less serious, less arrogant cultural climate of modern Germany. ... A story argues that it's nearly impossible to sue Hollywood for stealing your ideas. Even faced with extensive evidence of direct rip-offs (one man shows direct links between his play and Paramount's The Truman Show ), courts are reluctant to award damages. Hollywood's excuse is that most supposed similarities are "scenes à faire "--the concept that if you have a plot about, say, a felon hiding as a nun, certain scenes and dialogue (God works in mysterious ways jokes, for example) inevitably follow. Translation: Hollywood doesn't care about originality, so why would it bother to steal from you? Weekly Standard , Sept. 14 (posted Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1998) The cover story welcomes the presidential candidacy of Texas Gov. George W. Bush (who has not announced his candidacy ... yet). Bush is more charming than his ex-prez dad and more conservative. His central theme: limiting government. While a social conservative, Bush is immigrant-friendly (he opposed Proposition 187) and keeps quiet about his pro-life position. More Flytrap ... --Seth Stevenson