12 August 2002

New York's currently: quitting its job today

Fearing theft, U.S. moves nuclear fuel out of Los Alamos; makes sense since dummy-terrorists snuck out 200 pounds of fake plutonium in a Home Depot cart.

'Rooster at the Hitchin' Post,' by David Sedaris. Related: The Rooster's floor business (a division of Silly 'P' Floorworks). Related: If you don't know why these links are reasons for celebration, see 'You Can't Kill the Rooster' (from the Sedaris archives at Esquire).

Subway criminals banned from riding the trains.

Prayer is not a valid form of protection: South African village welcomes Mercedes-driving pastor claiming to cure AIDS.

GOP leaders support attacking Iraq.

U.S. Airways files for bankruptcy-protection, cannot assure pre-booked travel but will operate during restructuring.

You can now build your own Sopranos mansion (plans available here).

More capable than the maid, more attentive than the secretary, and much grander than a 'personal assistant'--who, really, can do without a butler? Apparently, not P. Diddy.

Elinor Lipman on the politics of blurbing.

Pornography became 'fucking massive' when Irvine Welsh wasn't looking; he looks and finds a new novel, Porno.

Philip Roth meets Nicole Kidman, Tony Hopkins as The Human Stain gets made for the screen.

This week's New Yorker: Adam Gopnik spends time with cooks, Nora Ephron on pastrami in L.A., Lillian Ross goes to Broadway camp, learns about big mouth, big voice.