From Guernica, is Happy Valley, PA, an exuberant college town named for defying the trends of the Great Depression, a clue into American violence, grief, and longing? Trying to revitalize a dying small town: In a corner of Illinois with a turbulent history and a grim future, a punk-rock impresario is trying to make a difference, bringing a town back to life, one cup of coffee at a time. Taking pictures of things that are almost gone: A review of Michael Eastman’s Vanishing America: The End of Main Street Diners, Drive-Ins, Donut Shops, and Other Everyday Monuments. A review of Those Who Work, Those Who Don't: Poverty, Morality, and Family in Rural America by Jennifer Sherman. How a new jobless era will transform America: Increasing depression, dissolving marriages, collapsing expectations — why the
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