The Talk of the Town Sound Effects by Elizabeth Morgan. Talk story about sound effects artist Arthur Miller, who makes background noises for audiocassettes of books... He has a shock of frizzy gray hair & was wearing aviator sunglasses & a loud blue Hawaiian shirt. "Some cassettes are just the author reading, but lately they've jazzed them up --turned them...

Comment by Daniel Ford. Comment about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission & atomic power plant safety... "Meltdown"is a word not used freely by the NRC, which continues to speak primly about the possible danger of a serious "abnormal event"at 1 of the large nuclear power plants now operating around the country. After the...

The Talk of the Town Fax by William Finnegan. Talk story about fax, which is short for "fascimile transmission." That means, the sending of a photocopy through telephone lines. Writer goes over to the Radio City Suite of the Rainbow Room where A.T.&T. was kicking off its next marketing campaign, the Fax Challenge. Over at A.T.&...

A Reporter at Large THE GODS AND THE STARS by Mary Anne Weaver. REPORTER AT LARGE about Sri Lanka, an island nation off the southern tip of India. The country is divided into two hostile camps-those of the Sinhalese majority & those of the Tamil minority. Although the Sinhalese have always been in the majority they see themselves threatened. The Sinhalese are...

The Current Cinema A SMOOTH SAIL by Pauline Kael.

The Theatre THE UNMUSICAL by Mimi Kramer.

American Chronicles DEMOCRACY IN ACTION by Calvin Trillin. AMERICAN CHRONICLES about the St. Patrick's Day parade & the selection process for the grand marshal... Being a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians--the fraternal organization that presides over the parade--fulfills the single official prerequisite for being elected grand marshal of the parade... Tells how chairman Judge...

The Talk of the Town Dog Park by Lisa Walker. Talk story about a friend who lives in Chelsea and got a dog last April. She starting walking her dog, Wanda, after she had had her shots, and one night she discovered a park in the neighborhood that she's come to think of as the dog park. It's a little...

Reflections RETHINKING NATIONAL SECURITY by Richard J. Barnet. REFLECTIONS about national security. Writer discusses the weakened world role of the U.S. Foreign investments in the U.S. contribute to its weakened state. Writer also discusses the meaning of certain terms that have been used inappropriately: foreign policy, national security, nation, defense, friends, enemies, and commitments, and re-evaluates them...

Musical Events by Andrew Porter.

Fiction Blazer by Alan Sternberg. Rudy and his friend Jeff are teenagers who hang out with other peers in the parking lot at Burger King. One night, when they listen to Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." from their car radios, everyone raises their fists the way Springsteen did in the video concert. Jeff is...

Books by V. S. Pritchett.

Fiction Shoelace by Nicholson Baker. The narrator describes his shoelaces, and how his left shoelace snapped at the office just before lunch. He describes rubbing his foot on the office carpeting, dealing with tying his laces, and saying goodbye to three of his co-workers when they went out to lunch. He describes a variety...

Poetry Ceppagna by A. R. Ammons. The heights, fastnesses, are sharp and...

Poetry Spring Takes the Homeplace by Reynolds Price. A long wet winter since I saw the house...