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Daly argues that the psychological pressure of social-networking sites to join, amass dozens of friends, post ludicrous photos of yourself, and constantly update your profile is an addiction leading to regression into bygone adolescence. And there can be real-world consequences, too, as when prospective employers are disturbed by what they discover in posted, publicly accessible profiles. Though Daly has some articulate friends -- one reduces social networking to "bad attempts at being quasi-famous" -- his rehashed gripes are unlikely to faze current or future Facebook aficionados.
Posted 12:11, 7 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Cath Stockbridge
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
Karl Taro Greenfeld, May 2008
Judge Kutcher by his cover story, not his cover: Here's a smart, compassionate man who is trying to help raise a family, love his wife, and do well at his job. Though he made his name as the underachieving Kelso on That '70s Show, he comes across here as quite intelligent, and his production company is doing well. He grew up watching out for his twin brother, who has cerebral palsy, and he's still got empathy for the underdog. Kutcher understands that we earn our breaks in life, and it seems he's just trying to do the same, making for a charming article.
Posted 10:23, 6 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Laura Sorensen
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
Jeff Gordinier, May 2008
As The Real World, MTV's surprisingly successful social experiment, enters its 20th season, Gordinier takes an insightful look back at the series he argues brought us "a New America." He cites the 1994 season in San Francisco as the series' tipping point, when the Real World broke and became a true staple. Still, some criticize the original reality show's degeneration into essentially a "bed-hopping mating game," and it's tough to swallow Gordinier's assertion that the show's social function is to capture "how it feels to be floating between adolescence and adulthood."
Posted 9:34, 6 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
Edward Lewine, May 2008
There's a baby boom going on among a group once thought least likely, even among themselves, to be entering the parenthood game -- homosexual men. If you look in the right places, the signs are there: strollers cropping up in gay neighborhoods, "family weeks" at the once notoriously hedonistic Fire Island, gay pride parades where the music is kept low so as to not hurt little ears. Lewine examines this increasingly common phenomenon, paying especially close attention to the use of surrogates by gay couples, and reveals a community that is eager to welcome families, its newest members.
Posted 9:26, 6 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Ty Bannerman
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
Michael Chabon, May 2008
In his gorgeous prose, Chabon revisits the secret lairs and hidey-holes of his childhood, most notably the basement of his grandparents' house in Maryland. As a child he would race to his grandfather's "laboratory" and "construct, rummage, assemble, snoop, waste time, get into trouble." This halcyon era in the Batcave, even the times he was bored to tears, helped cement the trope he uses over and over in his novels: "half-forgotten underground worlds." Read this short piece slowly and carefully -- it's worth the price of the magazine.
Posted 4:23, 2 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Laura Sorensen
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
Michael Chabon, April 2008
Chabon uses the deceptively simple task of installing a bathroom towel rack to engage the reader in a lengthy meditation on what it means to be a father, a son, and a humble man -- at least when it comes to performing tasks you have no idea how to do. While he does tend to pontificate too much, Chabon's column is entertaining and hews close to the subject at hand. With a good balance of anecdotes and philosophy, Chabon wins the reader over with his wry humor and honesty.
Posted 5:17, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Sarah Erdreich
and edited by Brijit.
In the introduction to this list, "mavericks" are defined as "Enterprising risk takers ... for whom tangible innovation is an addiction -- and whose creative compulsions are shaping your world." But readers will no doubt disagree about some of the 22 men and women included on the list; after all, what does it mean if Ryan Seacrest is helping to shape our world? The list tilts heavily toward the entertainment industry, and many of the names will be unfamiliar, but that actually plays to the list's strength: Isn't part of being a maverick being able to operate under the radar?
Posted 3:52, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Sarah Erdreich
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
Mike Kessler, April 2008
This wrenching article examines the lives and deaths of Freddy and Andrew Velez, two brothers who joined the Army at different times and died at different times -- one in combat in Iraq, one by suicide in Afghanistan. Kessler presents a thorough picture of the brothers' lives and family, and pulls no punches when describing Andrew's ongoing mental distress or Freddy's death. Kessler also touches on the disturbing trend that Andrew's death was a part of: the increasing rate of both suicides and attempted suicides in the military since the Iraq War began.
Posted 2:17, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Sarah Erdreich
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
David Hochman, April 2008
Gay-friendly dads might be hypocrites when it comes to their own children, Hochman reports in a twist on Details' usual, more explicit coverage of gay issues. Using a few first-name-only case studies and some expert opinions, the article lets fathers know that as long as they're primarily concerned with their kids' well-being, it's OK to feel queasy about an effeminate son or masculine daughter. In the end, though, Hochman thankfully urges dads to accept their children no matter what -- tempering the inflammatory nature of the piece's title.
Posted 12:05, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Dan Feder
and edited by Brijit.
in Details
by
David Amsden, April 2008
Amsden answers his own question one page into this article about John Cusimano, the husband of one-woman empire Rachael Ray. Before Cusimano met Ray, he was legal counsel to an indie film company; now, when he's not working as an (unpaid) co-owner of his and Ray's production company, he's playing with his band and fending off tabloid rumors that his marriage is on the rocks. While Cusimano seems like a decent guy, Amsden does his best to make Ray's husband seem like nothing more than Mr. Ray, from his report on one of the band's gigs to his final exchange with Cusimano.
Posted 10:49, 4 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Sarah Erdreich
and edited by Brijit.