From The Atlantic Monthly, Andrew Sullivan on why he blogs; and Steven Pinker on why Washington’s crusade against swearing on the airwaves is f*cked up. Byron, Flashman, Steerforth: When it comes to men, Germaine Greer will take the classical ideal every time. From American Sexuality, an article on the Caveman Mystique: Finding an identity in pop-Darwinism; and an article on McCain v. Obama: Where do the candidates stand, sexually speaking? From Newsweek, the test for the next president is whether he can use the powers of government to act on behalf of Americans — that's a liberal idea; but America remains a center-right nation — a fact that a President Obama would forget at his peril (and responses by Paul Waldman and Andrew Gelman). From The New Yorker, James Surowiecki on what Wall Street can’t admit; Steven Coll on why Obama isn't a socialist (and more); David Sedaris on undecided voters: "I can’t quite believe that they really exist. Are they professional actors? Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention?" Christopher Hitchens on why the media should stop covering Palin until she gives a press conference. A review of Fear and Loating: Censorship in All Its Glory by Pamela Hayes-Bohanan. Michael Walzer on ten foreign policy changes if Obama is elected. High on the hog: Buy a Harley and ride a piece of American mythology.
