The new American Conservative arrived today. It looks like a good one (note: no links to the articles are available yet):
A review of The Brothers Bulger. For me, it's a great example of how you can always learn something highly interesting that you'd never knew existed. Here, a vicious (and partially homosexual) gang in Boston with friendly ties to Massachusetts politics and the FBI.
A favorable review of Harvey Mansfield's Manliness, with this concluding note: Though the public sphere should be neutral and women can exhibit the virtuous manly characteristics celebrated in the book, "women should also be expected to be women. And men should be expected, not merely free, to be manly." I may have to check out that book. I have lots of friends acquaintances who think "manliness" entails pornography (yeah, I know some awfully stupid people). I'd be curious to see if Mansfield addresses the issue.
An article about the inflated salaries of politicians in poor Mexico.
A review of a new book about Wal-Mart, which led me to research some obnoxiously snobbish comments about Wal-Mart's clientele, which led me to this funny on-line piece:
Wal-Mart has announced that they will soon be offering customers a new discount item: Wal-Mart's own brand of wine. The world's largest retail chain is teaming up with E & J Gallo Winery of California, to produce the spirits at an affordable price, in the $2-5 range. Wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to
throw a bottle of Wal-Mart brand into their shopping carts, but "there is a market for cheap wine", said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing. She said:"But the right name is important."
Customer surveys were conducted to determine the most attractive name for the Wal-Mart brand. The top surveyed names in reverse order of popularity are:
10. Chateau Traileur Parc
9. White Trashfindel
8. Big Red Gulp
7. World Championship Riesling
6. NASCARbernet
5. Chef Boyardeaux
4. Peanut Noir
3. I Can't Believe It's Not Vinegar!
2. Grape Expectations
1. Nasti Spumante
