Daily Blague

Sunday is my day for reading the Times and The Economist, and when I was done with them this afternoon, I picked up the current issue of Harper's, which arrived yesterday. The image on the cover, "Inferno," by Sandow Birk, gives some idea of what the top story is about. "Imagine There's No Oil: Scenes from a Liberal Apocalypse," by Brian Urstadt, is the author's account of his meetings with various Peak Oil groups. I was unaware of the apocalyptic cast of mind that, according to Mr Urstadt's story, is characteristic of Peak Oilers, most of whom doubt that anything but social collapse will follow the exhaustion of petroleum. This apocalyptic cast of mind is pre-eminently American, marking all sorts of end-of-times groups at least since Ann Lee arrived from England in 1774 and founded the first Shaker community. "Americans seem born to love the apocalypse, even though it jilts us every time," writes Mr Urstadt. "Both Peak Oil and Left Behind are mere froth on a deep historical sea of doomsaying that stretches back to the Puritans, and possibly before, if one includes the apocalyptic predilections of Christopher Columbus." This bit of contextualizing did little to lighten my spirits.

And as for the other Harper's, I checked Wikipedia, but I learned nothing there. So I am going to ask you. Can anyone direct me to an Internet page that explains the celebrity of Britney Jean Spears, currently gracing the cover of Harper's Bazaar, wearing nothing but a jinormous necklace? And of course a baby belly.