"Pretentious people buy it; no one actually reads it. They subscribe to weigh down their coffee tables."

I went to an interview the other day, carrying with me my monthly copy of "The Atlantic," and the interviewer commented to his associate, "Ha, look at that thing for show - no way he's actually reading it!"

Is this the point to which our society has come? Is there no intelligentsia left among us to pretentiously peruse the pages of such a fine publication?

The Atlantic Monthly itself has been a dramatic story over the last few years as they've transfigured their reputable periodical for the new millennium (not to mention the introduction of the Atlantic Wire!). This valiant effort deserves to be recognized by fervent public discourse. So I challenge us, the intellectual gentry of tomorrow, to begin such a conversation.

This group is open to all ages, but is primarily focused on fertilizing fledgling minds. For those of you who read the Times, flirt with the New Yorker, or perhaps have a sordid affair with New York Magazine (never admit to reading People, or, *gasp*, OK!), graduate to the height of prestige and read The Atlantic. Then, use this forum to flout your intellectual prowess and sharpen your name-dropping skills (e.g. "oh, that reminds me of this piece I read in the Atlantic," "you don't say, darling, well in last month's Atlantic," etc.)

Along the way, we should have some fun, crack some jokes (at our own expense, no doubt), and prevent the early onset of dementia by constantly carving new neural pathways. Or perhaps, we'll lapse into early dementia through our all-too-cerebral ruminations. Wouldn't that be fun?