CHANGE: “Islamic clothing is getting a bit more hip in Southern California.”

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WALTER RUSSELL MEAD: Life After Blue: The Middle Class Will Beat The Seven Trolls.

Does the American middle class (and by extension, the middle class in other advanced democracies) have a future in a post-blue world? That is the basic question at the heart of American politics;. As I’ve noted, 4.0 liberals think that it doesn’t, and think that the defense of the blue social model is the only way to protect the social achievements of the twentieth century.

They’re wrong. The post-blue future for the middle class is bright, and instead of using the weight of the state to shore up a declining blue system to defend an embattled middle class we need to use that power to promote the transition to a 21st-century political economy and a reinvigorated middle class—larger, richer and more in charge than ever before.

Read the whole thing.

APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY: What’s a hit with hip young travelers? Fold-up maps.

In a world of iPads, GPS and digital technology at your fingertips, one international tourism organization has discovered that few things beat the traditional fold-up map.

USE-IT, a non-profit group that traces its roots back to 1970s Denmark, is an independent maker of free and funky city guides aimed at students and other young travelers, and it’s developing a cult following.

Designed and written by local artists and contributors, the colorful, individual maps are now produced in 23 cities across 14 European countries, with another two dozen cities lining up to take part in coming months.

The guides, covered in sharp commentary and doodle-like markings, scream youth and endeavor to point users to the hidden treats of otherwise familiar cities.

GPS is great, but a map does a better job of giving you a feel for the geography, not just a route.

JANEITES: The curious American cult of Jane Austen.

OOPS: Senators reportedly in ‘shock’ over Hagel’s ineptitude, bumbling.

GO BIG OR GO HOME: At Downsize Fitness health clubs, the treadmills are wider, the head trainers are weight-loss veterans and new members must be at least 50 pounds (22.7 kgs) overweight.

WELL, CALIGULA SENT AN ASS TO THE SENATE: Are you ready for Senator Geraldo?

SO HOW’D THAT HAGEL HEARING GO? “It is very clear from the testimony that Sen. Hagel will not be bringing the potato salad to the next Mensa picnic.” And that’s from a Democrat. . . .

UPDATE: Prof. Stephen Clark writes on Ted Cruz: “Note Powerline’s take on Cruz’s cross-examination of Hagel and remind yourself that the Republican establishment didn’t want Cruz.” Yeah, they didn’t want Marco Rubio either, remember.

SO RATHER THAN HAUL MY MACBOOK BACK AND FORTH, I got a Samsung Chromebook to use when I sit on the sofa in my office. I’ve had it for a few days and it’s pretty good. It’s not as good as the Macbook Air, but it also costs less than a fourth as much. Setup was a little tricky — you have to connect to the Internet and register before it’ll let you launch a browser, but UT uses device registration on its network, which requires that before you can connect with the Internet you complete a form . . . on a browser. I got around that problem by using my iPhone as a hotspot but otherwise it could have been annoying.

Keyboard’s decent, though I keep hitting the ALT button when I mean to hit CTRL, and there’s a “Search” button where the Caps Lock key would normally be. Screen’s fine, browsing and blogging with Chrome is fine. It has an SD slot, which I haven’t used. It’s very cool and quiet. Overall, it’s like a high-end netbook, which is basically what it is.

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IS THE RISE OF STAY-AT-HOME DADS masculinizing parenting?

A BRAVE NEW WORLD of prenatal DNA sequencing.

HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE UPDATE: Record number of recent college grads defaulting on loans according to new report. “This situation is simply unsustainable and we’re already suffering the consequences. When wage growth is slow and jobs are not as plentiful as they once were, it is impossible for people to continue taking out ever-larger student loans without greatly increasing the risk of default. There is no way around that harsh reality.”

Do tell.

MULTIPART BLOGGING ON THE HAGEL HEARING at Power Line.

NEXT, THE OCEANS WILL START TO RECEDE: Japanese Analysis of US Gov Data Indicates Warming … Stopped? Just as Obama promised!

THEY TOLD ME IF I VOTED FOR MITT ROMNEY WE’D SEE A WAR ON SCIENCE. AND THEY WERE RIGHT! Decelerating American Physics: Panel Advises Shutdown of Last U.S. Collider.

CHANGE: Honda To Integrate Siri Into 2013 Accord.

LEGAL EDUCATION UPDATE: Law Schools Facing “Massive Layoffs” in Fall? “Thirty years ago if you were looking to get on the escalator to upward mobility, you went to business or law school. Today, the law school escalator is broken.” The business-school escalator isn’t looking so hot either.

21ST CENTURY RELATIONSHIPS: 5 Uncomfortable Moments I’ve Shared With My Waxer.

AUSTRALIA: Asia’s Saudi Arabia? Oil and gas do seem to be turning up in all sorts of interesting places.

DON’T TRUST THE WHITE FISH: It could be anything.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, I wrote about the revolving door between government and business, and the conflicts of interest it creates. But I should note the growing problem of the reportorial revolving door, as John Kerry hires the guy who’s been responsible for his coverage at the Boston Globe to be his State Department spokesperson.

MY DUE PROCESS WHEN EVERYTHING IS A CRIME PIECE comes in at #1 on the SSRN Top Downloads list. Get it while it’s hot!