Economist , Oct. 24 (posted Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998) The cover editorial argues that we should fear not a strong China but rather, a weak one. After years of warp-speed growth, China's economy is slowing down. High unemployment could lead to labor unrest and eventually to political instability at the top. That would be bad news for the rest of Asia and the world. ... A story says reliable voice recognition technology will soon be a reality. A consortium of high-tech companies in Flanders--"one of the most multilingual places around"--is pioneering voice systems that will make palm-top computers even more convenient. Microsoft has invested, foreseeing a voice-capable Windows operating system. ... A story explains why we can't tickle ourselves. Scientists theorize that our brains anticipate and discount sensation we cause ourselves. Why? All the better to recognize sensation caused by other objects, such as, say, poisonous insects crawling up our arms. New Republic , Nov. 9 (posted Friday, Oct. 23, 1998) The too-long but hilarious cover essay exposes the ridiculous academic shenanigans of "queer theorists." Queer theory luminaries such as Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick and Michael Moon see sex--preferably unconventional sex--everywhere they look. An entirely innocent passage from Henry James (reprinted for us to judge for ourselves) prompts this from Sedgwick: "[The text] shows how in James a greater self-knowledge and a greater acceptance and specificity of homosexual desire transform this half-conscious enforcing rhetoric of anality, numbness, and silence into a much richer, pregnant address to James's male muse, an invocation to fisting-as-écriture." The essay quotes other superb examples of horrid academic writing. New York Times Magazine , Oct. 25 (posted Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998) The cover story is dubious about genetically altered farm crops. Biotech companies now inject potato species with genes that make the potato itself pesticidal. But bugs will eventually get around this advance, just as they've got around traditional pesticides, so why aren't we embracing more sensible methods? Short answer: There's more money in the brute-force agriculture of conquering nature than in the eco-sensitive strategies of organic farming. ... A story profiles Harold Ford Jr., a young Tennessee congressman who epitomizes modern black politics. Ford's father was a traditional liberal congressman, race-conscious and loyal to the party. The younger Ford's New Democrat policies and less abrasive attitude on race make him more popular with middle-class, white Tennesseans. ... A story follows pro golfers on the Nike Tour. The minor league of golf, the Nike Tour features struggling rookies and over-the-hill dreamers striving to make the PGA Tour but settling for budget motels and yearly winnings of less than $20,000. New York , Oct. 26 (posted Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998) The cover story goes behind the scenes of the World Wrestling Federation. The WWF now admits that pro wrestling is fake--they call it "sports entertainment"--but wrestling still packs in the stadium crowds and attracts cable TV viewers. Key to success: Vince McMahon, WWF president, has made himself part of the "storyline." The tyrannical president pretends to get beat up by popular wrestlers chafing under his authority, and WWF fans go wild. Time and Newsweek , Oct. 26 (posted Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998) Time 's cover package mourns the murder of Matthew Shepard, gay University of Wyoming student. The main story examines life for homosexuals in America: Gays and lesbians are more accepted, according to polls, and exercise more political power, but right-wing opposition has become more focused. An accompanying essay supports hate-crime legislation, claiming that "[t]here needs to be a defense against the defense that 'homophobia made me do it.' " (For more on the martyrdom of Shepard, see Slate 's "Frame Game.") ... Newsweek 's cover story fawns over John Glenn, old astronaut. A story praises Glenn as a true American hero and describes what his life and duties will be aboard the space shuttle next week. (See also Slate 's "Assessment" of Glenn.) A separate piece explains what putting an older person in space will teach us scientifically--despite efforts to prove the contrary, the answer seems to be: not much. Time reports from the pizza war front. Papa John's is now No. 2 in the pizza industry, behind only Pizza Hut, and Papa is growing faster than anyone else. Its secret? Rapid store expansion and "a zeal for perfectionism"--a single air bubble in a pizza's cheese renders the pie substandard. Newsweek eulogizes its editor, Maynard Parker, who died last week at 58. Parker is remembered as "a larger-than-life field general who could wield the entire arsenal of the magazine to tell a story with power, insight and drama." U.S. News & World Report , Oct. 26 (posted Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998) U.S. News rates the "Best Jobs for the Future." Among them: nanny, physical therapist, executive recruiter, catering director, and Web site developer (no, Slate is not currently hiring). An accompanying story reveals how to get what you want in a job. Hints: Go for the big money, because no one will ever disrespect you for it; consider trading fringe benefits for vacation time; and beware of companies who hire you on a contract basis--contractors face tax disadvantages. The Nation , Nov. 2 (posted Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998) A story claims the real prize at stake in next month's elections is the power to re-district after the 2000 census. Republicans want to take control of more state legislatures in hopes of creating a GOP dynasty through gerrymandering. Whichever party controls redistricting could be in power for a long time. The New Yorker , Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 (posted Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998) A special "Next!" issue on the future of theater, fashion, books, music, et al. A story explores the privatization of space exploration. SpaceDev, a commercial spaceship company, wants to mine space for profit--there's gold, platinum, and other precious metals in dem dar asteroids. SpaceDev can also charge scientists to carry out experiments, undercutting NASA's hefty fees and bureaucracy. The commercial space biz looks very promising. ... A story tracks a doctor's quest to cure his own colon cancer. The doctor implanted extracts of his tumor in a group of mice, then ran tests on the mice. This specialized treatment worked for him (he used a Chinese herb to beat back the disease), but it would be too costly to devote a fleet of mice to each individual cancer patient. --Seth Stevenson More Flytrap ...