And that is probably why, 20 years later and nearly 10 of them living in Asia, the IHT is still like a daily drug of choice.
I spend a good deal of time thinking about context. The context of brands, societies, and trends. Knowing the headlines of the day is important, but there are dozens of sources for that. The IHT seems more oriented to context. It's in the way it touches culture, both high and low, scans the editorials of the world and seems to have just more in-depth writing on issues that drive modern, global society. It does not just have football stories. It feeds my private passion by having that great curmudgeon Rob Hughes write the most thoughtful analysis of this beautiful game. Not just fashion updates, but Suzy Menckes providing brilliant reviews that let me understand what the new mass luxury is all about.
Sure, it has its faults. It could do more Asian cultural coverage. Maybe I think it is more rightwing than it used to be. But if there is a better way to remind myself of what is happening in the world in a form that sits well while I have my morning coffee, I have yet to find it.