Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
New York City is often considered the most liberal part of the United States, but you wouldn’t know it from the way it’s run. Signs tell you “Don’t even think of parking here”. Police issue tickets for jaywalking. Smoking in parks is forbidden. Now New Yorkers may be forced to consume less sugar. Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan is to get … >>
Last week, the government of Hessen invited me to talk to a group of German students who were going to spend a semester in America. I talked about stereotypes and the way citizens of our two countries often see each other. Other speakers talked about visa requirements and the American university system. The most interesting part, however, was when the … >>
Back when I was a newsreader for my college radio station, I was shown one of the thickest books I’d ever seen: a binder containing, I guess, about 500 pages. Those were all the rules an American radio station had to follow, as laid down by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). While I found the book daunting, my contemporaries found … >>
It’s the last week of the Oktoberfest, and Munich is full of partygoers. Same procedure as every year, but with two differences: 1. Nearly all the German tourists are dressed up, which gives the whole thing more dignity; and 2. They are younger than ever. Most of the visitors I’ve seen are between the ages of 16 and 18. Young … >>
Last Thursday, one day before adjourning for its summer recess, the US Senate agreed that Sonia Sotomayor could take the vacant seat on the Supreme Court. Sotomayor, whom Barack Obama nominated in late May, is the third female Supreme Court justice in history and is considered the first Hispanic. Sotomayor had been questioned by the Senate for the entire month … >>