by Karen Gray Edwards, Director of Publications

The American Sociological Association (ASA) is pleased to announce that it has selected the University of California Press to publish Contexts, the Association's new quarterly magazine. In a contract signed this month by ASA and the Press, both parties were enthusiastic about the value of this new journal and its unique niche in the social and behavioral sciences.

In negotiating the arrangement, ASA Executive Officer Felice J. Levine praised the Press for the experience they bring for publishing scholarly magazines. She also noted the "important vision that led ASA to create Contexts, and the talent and dedication that inaugural editor Claude Fischer brings to the table."

Contexts will publish its first issue in Winter 2002.

ASA Council initially approved the publication of a general perspectives journal in August 1998. After an intensive review of competitive candidates, Fischer (University of California-Berkeley) was appointed editor of the journal in August 1999.

by Victoria Namkung, University of California, Los Angeles

Southern California has always been associated with car culture, particularly cruising and hotrodding in the fifties and sixties. The American Graffiti days are over, so I spent two years conducting research in Orange County, California and studied the newest form of car culture: import car racing. Predominantly involving Asian American youths, import racing officially made its mark in 1991. It is different than the Chicano lowriding or Anglo muscle car traditions.

Forget the mailbox! The best place to find information on the upcoming Annual Meeting, including the preliminary program schedule, is the ASA website (www.asanet.org). The complete daily schedule, including detailed session listings, will be at your fingertips no later than May 22.