BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Jonathan Landman, managing editor of Bloomberg Opinion
How/where are you celebrating your birthday and with whom? “I actually haven’t given it much thought. I’m 66, which I guess is old enough to be laid-back about run-of-the-mill birthdays and not old enough to regard each one as a miracle. I did buy myself a really nice bottle of California cabernet from a vineyard in Paso Robles that I like. I could possibly drink it this weekend with some friends and family.”
How did you get your start in journalism? “I stumbled into some freelance work copy-editing textbooks, which turned into a job on Senior Scholastic magazine. It was interesting work and led, after journalism school and a few twists and turns, to a summer internship filling in on the education beat at the Chicago Sun-Times. The school system promptly went bankrupt, so I was suddenly a rookie with a lot to do.”
What’s an interesting book/article you’re reading now or finished? And why? “I’m reading an excellent book about the Chinese Communist Party called, imagine this, ‘The Party.’ It’s one of a number of things I’m reading about China in advance of a trip in December.”
What is a trend going on in the U.S. or abroad that doesn’t get enough attention? “Is there anything that doesn’t get attention in this information-saturated age? I have no idea what constitutes ‘enough.’ Think of cryptocurrencies and blockchains. Like lots of newish things, they get an immense amount of coverage but hardly anybody understands them. Maybe that means they deserve even more attention. Or ...”
What’s a fun fact that people in Washington might not know about you? “I like strenuous hikes and once played the cello quite seriously. Never at the same time, so maybe that’s something to shoot for on a birthday.”