David A. Simon (Harvard): Culture, Creativity and Copyright. Human Rights Watch has released a new report calling on the US government to launch a broad criminal investigation into alleged crimes of torture committed by former President George W. Bush and other top officials under his administration. Ezra Klein on how we have a taxing problem, not just a spending problem. A review of Nom de Plume: A (Secret) History of Pseudonyms by Carmela Ciuraru (and more). Beck is gone: Give the boycotters their due. Breathlessly, she swooned — and quoted Foucault: Mary Bly is a rare academic, one who is also a best-selling romance novelist under the pen name Eloisa James. Michael Wolff on the Murdochalypse: An in-depth look at week two of the News Corp. scandal. Lindsay Beyerstein on the twisted logic of the John Edwards prosecution. David McRaney on the Backfire Effect: When your deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, your beliefs get stronger. For a bunch, it was just “Too Soon”: There wasn’t enough time between Casey Anthony’s verdict and jokes about Casey Anthony. From Cracked, here are 6 pro-gay marriage arguments for fighting with crazy people; and 3 things gay people are going to hate about gay marriage. Is shame necessary? America's Detainee 001, the persecution of John Walker Lindh: Frank Lindh, father of American Taliban John Walker Lindh, explains why his son is an innocent victim of America's war on terror. Balancing group and self-interest has never been easy, yet human societies display a level of cooperation — to attain that level, specialized traits had to evolve, including such emotions as shame. The triumph of New-Age Medicine: Why many doctors are embracing long-maligned alternative treatments.
