From History and Policy, Andrew Blick on why the Cabinet Office quest for a written constitution in the UK should worry historians. From Edge, big thinkers on what the ash cloud means. Can you believe those fucking dumbshits in the Insane Clown Posse don’t know how magnets work? Searching for a democratic alternative: A proposal for a new International has been circulating online and collecting endorsements for some months now. Karin L. Kross reviews Far Arden by Kevin Cannon. Linda Holmes goes hunting for the elusive hipster. Prospects for peace: The American Conservative asked 14 thinkers from across the political spectrum whether conservatives and progressives can join forces against empire; Christopher Layne on an empire we can no longer afford; and democracy delusion: Peter Hitchens on how the West’s interests aren’t always best served by one man, one vote. From The New Yorker, John Lahr on Neil Simon’s theatre, television, and movie empire. The beaches along the Eastern seaboard are about to disappear, says one EPA scientist — why isn't anyone listening? Five years of YouTube: For those looking for innovative and thoughtful views of the phenomenon, The YouTube Reader includes reflections by leading media and film scholars on the site and its immense impact. Haven on Earth: Mark Bergen on how far rich folk (like Mike Bloomberg) will go to avoid taxes. From Wired, Clive Thompson on why we should learn the language of data. From The Weekly Standard, anti-Catholicism, again: Joseph Bottum on the permanent scandal of the Vatican. Anis Shivani on "voice in fiction", a favorite MFA/writing program shibboleth. On Stephen Ambrose: Popular history writing has to entertain first and foremost — but this doesn't mean you can play fast and loose with the truth.
