NEWS The dog days of summer have arrived, and with them, a purpose for The Stranger's news section. If you're not interested in reading ERICA C. BARNETT's evaluation of city council hopeful Casey Corr, or AMY JENNIGES's report on the noisy black church that's riling neighbors in Seward Park, or JOSH FEIT's follow-up to last week's tirade against NARAL—and frankly, how could you be?—you can always remove these pages, fold them in half, and fan yourself while your houseboy mixes up a pitcher of juleps. It worked for me, anyway.

SHORT FEATURE The Western Strategy
In typical Stranger fashion, ELI SANDERS's one-page diatribe against I-912, which would repeal the recent gas tax (the one implemented to help deal with our crumbling infrastructure), not only tells readers what to think, but allows them to feel superior to people who don't share their priorities.

FEATURE An Army of Some
Former Stranger Editor Emily White reemerges from her domestic cocoon to file this intriguing report on military recruitment. Well written as always.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS It's interesting to see just how long it takes intellectual entropy to beset these tired offices. Last week, Editor Dan Savage went on vacation and we wound up with an article about naked women. This week, with Books Editor Christopher Frizzelle gallivanting across Europe, Charles Mudede not only ran a books piece about Roland Barthes, but commandeered the Nightstand column to essay the charms of reading Hegel. Perhaps if everyone from editorial went on vacation at once, the paper might actually wind up being worth reading.