Couldn’t disagree with David Plotz more. In Slate recently, he inveighed against this fetid month of bad journalism and cultural sloth. But I’ve always enjoyed August – and not just because I was born in it. Our culture needs more fallowness, more time when nothing is done, more days when little is expected and less is accomplished. August is the only time when we are allowed to relax without having some sort of stressful holiday to ruin it. It’s the only month when complete abdication of responsibility is permitted. And it’s the only month when otherwise sensible journalists are reduced to writing inane musings on whether months should exist or not.
ART FOLLOWS LIFE DEPT.: The Onion goes one better than anyone else on the Condit case.
WHAT’S A HUPPIE?: Find out in letters today. Also: more stupid actor theories, and inside Lizzie’s car.
COPS IN D.C.: They’re still the real story. John Miller has a helpful primer on the sharp decline in D.C.’s police force under Mayor Marion Barry. Miller writes: “Consider simply the homicide numbers: 1,500 unsolved murders over the last decade; 225 killings by alleged repeat offenders, including 125 who had been arrested previously (most of their charges were dismissed).” In the Washington Post today, Richard Cohen chimes in, reminding us that, “to take one standard measure – fatal shootings per 1,000 officers – the figure for Washington is 2.15 while that for New York is 0.71.” Yes, things do seem to be slowly improving under new police chief Ramsey. But if this sordid Levy story is to have any good result at all, surely it should be some renewed Congressional scrutiny of the police force in the District. If we cannot be represented in Congress, at least we should be allowed to have a police force worthy of the name.
MEDIA RETRACTIONS WATCH: Terrific checklist of media outlets that broadcast Gary Condit’s alleged affair with a minister’s daughter – but have yet to retract the story and apologize. And to all of you who’ve emailed to tell me you still believe the affair occurred: go tell it to the F.B.I.
The Dish 