Contents
March-April 2011
FEATURES
Losing It
We have to start talking about America’s mental health crisis
by David Schimke
Straddling a Fault Line
Nothing to fear but fear itself? For a schizophrenic, that’s plenty.
by Inez Holger, from Bellevue Literary Review
A Brother Lost
Jay traded his parents’ home for the streets. His sister can’t save him without
losing herself.
by Ashley Womble, from Salon
To an Aesthete Dying Young (In Memoriam T. R. K.)
A National Book Award-winner pays tribute to a Yale roommate
by Andrew Solomon, from Yale Alumni Magazine
In Search of the Insanity Virus
New research questions whether viral infections during infancy could cause schizophrenia
by Keith Goetzman
Fire the Rich
What you can do about the economy that greed destroyed
by David Macaray, from CounterPunch
City of Ruins
Walt Whitman’s hometown is a Dickensian nightmare–and a warning for the rest of America
by Chris Hedges, from The Nation
The Violence of Poverty
Joe Sacco’s illustrations force viewers to confront economic disaster.
Illustrations by Joe Sacco
Blessed Aphrodisiac, Murderous Curse
A priceless folk medicine promises lifelong virility–and tears apart a town in the high Himalayas
by Jamie James, from New Internationalist
Fish with the King
As Gulf fishermen are forced to work for the oil company that destroyed their livelihoods, who will train Louisiana’s next generation to fish?
by J. Malcolm Garcia, from Guernica
EMERGING IDEAS
Can You Hear Us Now?
Why technology is Africa’s latest, greatest poverty fighter by Frank Bures, from World Ark
On Thin Ice
Global warming and the (black) gold rush in the Arctic by Ethan Trex, from Mental Floss
GLEANINGS
Library Haunting
In defense of one of our great public institutions by Susan Olding, from The New Quarterly
The Burning Present
Our toxic desire for the natural world by Rick Bass, from Tricycle
Three Fat Pigs in the Middle of the Road
Living the good life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be by Laurie Block, from Prairie Fire
MINDFUL LIVING
Lonely Together
Acknowledging social isolation is the first step toward meaningful community by Lydialyle Gibson, from University of Chicago Magazine
Life, Off the Leash
Walking his dog, a man learns to love the simple pleasures by John Zeaman, from Bark
Institutional Food with Taste
A Wisconsin hospital serves up healthy meals by Marc Eisen, from The Progressive
One Dollar at a Time
Debtors Anonymous preaches the 12 steps to credit card junkies by Joseph Hart
MIXED MEDIA
The Art of the Police Report
With “just the facts” one cop tells a great story by Ellen Collett, from The Writer’s Chronicle
Children of the King
A zine for children of Elvis impersonators by Kelly Anderson, from Broken Pencil
Polygamy as Potboiler
A new fiction category peels back the curtains at the compound by Katie Haegele, from Bitch
Reviews:
Music
It Ain’t Him, Babe: A review of Knockin’ on Bob’s Door by the Persuasions
A One-Woman Chorus: A review of The Magic Place by Julianna Barwick
Together at Last: A review of Afrocubism by various artists
Film
Tuscan Truth Quest: A review of Certified Copy
We’re All in This Together: A review of I Am
All of Nothing: A review of Countdown to Zero
Books
Songs Without Words: A review of Six Novels in Woodcuts by Lynd Ward, edited by Art Spiegelman
Safari Baggage: A review of Kingdom Under Glass by Jay Kirk
Born into Trouble: A review of The Day Nina Simone Stopped Singing by Darina Al-Joundi with Mohammed Kacimi
Editor’s Note
by David Schimke
Forward
by Eric Utne
Dispatches from:
Street Spirit (The Quality of Whose Life)
Z Magazine (Boob Tube Babies)
Prospect (Sexless in the City)
IEEE Spectrum (The Good Green Blimp)
Miller-McCune (Latitude for Aptitude)
Governing (The Buck Stops Here)
Reason (Trial by Fire)
India Currents (The Online Afterlife)
Scientific American (Blue Tones)
New Internationalist (Just a Dose Will Do)
University of Chicago Magazine (What Sets Off Suicide Bombers?)
Environmental Health News (Green Paints: Check Those Labels)
New Mobility (Let’s Roll)
