Harper's Magazine: May 2008

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May 2008

	Illustration [Cover art] By Ray Bartkus SEE ALSO: Balloons; Uncle Sam (Nickname) PDF IMAGES
4-7	Letters/Department Letters On Harper's index, from January 2008: Letter By William Peter Shantz On Lust in translation, from January 2008: Letter By Robert Lewis On Resistance is surrender, from February 2008: Letter By Simon Critchley On Mudville, from March 2008: Note/correction PDF IMAGES
9-12	Notebook/Article Estate sale By Lewis H. Lapham SEE ALSO: Foreign economic relations; Foreign ownership; Globalization; International economic relations; Investments, Foreign; Real property PDF IMAGES
15	Harper's index/Department Harper's index PDF IMAGES
17-21	Readings/Article A great amnesia By Marilynne Robinson SEE ALSO: Abolitionists; Education, Higher; Educational equalization; Elite (Social sciences); Memory (Philosophy); Middle West PDF IMAGES
18	Readings/Poem The utopian wars By Thomas Lux PDF IMAGES
19	Readings/Photo Former Detroit Public Schools Book Depository By James D. Griffioen (Photog.) SEE ALSO: Abandonment of property; Detroit; Mutilation, defacement, etc. PDF IMAGES
21	Readings/Illustration Schöner tag 2 (beautiful day 2) By Sven Kroner SEE ALSO: Effect of human beings on; Nature; Pollution; Water PDF IMAGES
22	Readings/Poem Boys By Frederick Seidel PDF IMAGES
24	Readings/Illustration Untitled (spray) By Kenichi Yokono SEE ALSO: Fantasy; Horror PDF IMAGES Readings/Article Most favored nation SEE ALSO: Career as U.S. National Security Adviser—Humor; Zhou, Enlai; Wang, Hai-jung; Kissinger, Henry; 1949-1976; 1969-1974; Overpopulation; Population; Views on overpopulation—Humor; Women's rights; Mao, Zedong PDF IMAGES
25-27	Readings/Article Elementary school By Dorna Khazeni (Trans.) and Édouard Launet SEE ALSO: Amsterdam; Congresses; French literature; Houellebecq, Michel; Netherlands; Sex in literature; Study and teaching PDF IMAGES
26	Readings/Article Official probe By Gloria Squitiro SEE ALSO: Career as Kansas City (Mo.) mayor—Humor; Christmas cards; Diagnosis; Diseases; Kansas City; Funkhouser, Mark; Mayors PDF IMAGES
27-28	Readings/Article My metaphor weighs tons By William Davies King SEE ALSO: Collectors and collecting; Santa Barbara PDF IMAGES
28-30	Readings/Article A conspiracy of dunces SEE ALSO: Archives; Assassination; Assassination—Archives; Assassins; Ruby, Jack; Kennedy, John F.; Oswald, Lee Harvey; Mafia PDF IMAGES
30	Readings/Article Search and destroy SEE ALSO: Death and burial; Firearms ownership; Investigation; McGuire, Melanie; Murder; Trials, litigation, etc.; McGuire, William PDF IMAGES Readings/Fiction The death of Lazarus Averbuch By Aleksandar Hemon PDF IMAGES
32	Readings/Illustration Grid By Nicholas Evans-Cato SEE ALSO: Buildings PDF IMAGES
34	Readings/Photo Cigarette By Sarah Pickering (Photog.) SEE ALSO: Cigarettes; Dwellings; Fire and fire prevention; Fires PDF IMAGES
35-42	Article Faustian economics: Hell hath no limits By Wendell Berry SEE ALSO: Biotic communities; Marlowe, Christopher; Energy conservation; Energy policy; Environmental policy; Global Warming; Government policy; Land use; Science and the arts; Tragical history of Doctor Faustus (Book) PDF FREE TEXT IMAGES
43-47	Article Numbers racket: Why the economy is worse than we know By Kevin P. Phillips SEE ALSO: Gross domestic product; Inflation (Finance); Political ethics; Prices; Standards; Statistical methods; -Statistics; Unemployment PDF FREE TEXT IMAGES
48-49	Article My lobby, myself: How John McCain's hypocrisy is laundered as reform By Ken Silverstein SEE ALSO: Campaign for U.S. president; Campaign funds; McCain, John; Lobbyists; 2008 PDF FREE TEXT IMAGES
50-62	Article The battle of ideas: Searching for the opposition in post-Fidel Cuba By Patrick Symmes SEE ALSO: Book burning; Censorship; Cuba; Emigration and immigration; Castro, Fidel; Libraries and state; Opposition (Political science); Refugees; Resignation from office PDF IMAGES
63-69	Photo [Untitled Photo] By Lena Herzog (Photog.) SEE ALSO: Boundaries; Brazil; Guyana; Mountains; Venezuela PDF IMAGES Collection Gardens of stone By Lena Herzog (Photog.) PDF IMAGES
70-78	Fiction The next thing By Steven Millhauser PDF IMAGES
79-80	New books/Review New books By John Leonard SEE ALSO: Kertész, Imre; Winterson, Jeanette; Appignanesi, Lisa; Mad, bad, and sad: women and the mind doctors (Book); Demetz, Peter; Prague in danger: the years of German occupation, 1939-45—memories and history, terror and resistance, theater and jazz, film and poetry, politics and war (Book); The pathseeker (Book); The stone gods (Book) PDF IMAGES
81-86	Review The fog of Abu Ghraib: Errol Morris and the “bad apples” By W.J.T. (W.J. Thomas) Mitchell SEE ALSO: Career as director—Reviews; Morris, Errol PDF IMAGES
87-94	Review Irrational man: Gershom Scholem's decisive years By Paul Reitter SEE ALSO: Skinner, Anthony David; Diaries; Scholem, Gershom Gerhard; Israel; Jewish scholars; Lamentations of youth: the diaries of Gershom Scholem, 1913-1919 (Book); Pictorial works PDF IMAGES
95	Puzzle/Department A (k)night at the opera By Richard Maltby PDF IMAGES
96	Findings/Article Findings By Rafil Kroll-Zaidi PDF IMAGES

Weekly Review By Paul Ford	May 27
Weekly Review By Sam Stark	May 13
Weekly Review By Chantal Clarke	May 20
Weekly Review By Gemma Sieff	May 6

By Ken Silverstein
Tip to McCain: To promote reform, bag your national finance co-chair 10:17 AM
May 14
Goldberg’s Online Mugging 8:32 PM
May 1
McDonald’s: Baku Hot Spot 7:51 AM
May 16
The Clintons: It’s only just beginning 11:58 AM
May 22
Journalism Ethics Lessons from the Iraqi War’s Chief Salesman 8:26 AM
May 1
Congressman Rangel Clarifies 10:01 AM
May 20
Major G.O.P. and Democratic Donor Questioned in Israeli Corruption Probe 11:16 AM
May 14
Obama, Hamas, and “Nuance” 8:27 AM
May 13
High Priest of Journalism Ethics Knee-Deep in Moral Quicksand, Again 9:32 AM
May 29
The Colbertian Guide to Foreign Policy Coverage 1:34 PM
May 21
Cindy McCain: Like Hubby, Not So Charitable 10:41 AM
May 26
Kurt Andersen and the Media’s Obama Crush 9:14 AM
May 7
On That Hillary–Hitler Video: The verdict is in 10:58 AM
May 15
Disturbing Sex Scandal Involves Swift Boat Family 4:17 PM
May 15
The G.O.P.’s Summer Collection 10:39 AM
May 16
Was U.S. Private Security Firm Spying for Kazakh Government? 9:10 AM
May 15
Hillary Shoots From the Left, Hits Foot 9:49 AM
May 5
Let them eat dirt: Multinationals reap benefits of commodity crisis 10:56 AM
May 21
Bob Dole: King of erectile dysfunction hits McClellan for selling out 12:05 PM
May 30
Africa’s Worst Dictator: No, it’s not Mugabe 8:29 AM
May 7
Waxman, Uncensored: What’s a steroid? 11:20 AM
May 30
Are Politicians Failing Our Lobbyists? 10:18 PM
May 26
Media Makes Shocking Discovery: McCain Surrounded by Lobbyists 10:39 AM
May 26
Did McCain Camp Receive Illegal Contribution? 10:01 AM
May 23
A Clinton Reader Catches Obama’s Shifting Views on Ethanol 9:03 AM
May 29
Lebanon: Another Bush foreign policy defeat 2:26 PM
May 21
Palestinians Responsible for Israeli Killing of Palestinians: Post Op-Ed columnist hits new low 9:47 AM
May 5
Blogger Roundtable Coordinator: Let’s find people to “carry our water” 1:32 PM
May 16
Why I Like Hillary: She’s a bloodthirsty monster 8:02 AM
May 8
San Diego G.O.P. Headed by Co-founder of Piracy Group 10:13 AM
May 5
More on Hillary the Bloodthirsty Monster 7:13 AM
May 9
The Case for Political Rudeness 11:19 AM
May 23
Heckuva Job, Palfrey Prosecutors 7:43 AM
May 2
Exclusive Video: Hillary in the Führerbunker 4:13 PM
May 12
North Carolina “Robo-callers” Exposed 9:17 AM
May 1
McCain’s Burma Connection 9:16 AM
May 12
Convicted Scammer is Donor to Clinton Campaign 9:02 AM
May 15
Explained: Why McCain favors long presence in Iraq 11:49 AM
May 28
Let Them Eat Biofuels: Bush Official Sees Hope in Hunger 6:29 AM
May 30
Curt Weldon Transfers Campaign Money to Legal Defense Fund 11:03 AM
May 26
Worst Shill of Year? Six Flags and high gas prices 11:58 AM
May 30
Bolton and “Conservatism” 8:31 PM
May 1

By Wyatt Mason
Weekend Read: “Ayenbite of inwit” 5:22 PM
May 16
Lost Among the Inward Parts 3:55 PM
May 28
An Egg in Return 11:54 AM
May 19
“Afraid To Go To the Toilet” 10:37 PM
May 14
Wanted to Swap 10:17 AM
May 26
Weekend Read: A series of small dawns 11:50 AM
May 30
An Egg in Return, Part III: “My special islands” 3:14 PM
May 23
Inherently Subversive 12:03 PM
May 13
An Egg in Return, Part II: “There’s no proving it” 3:33 PM
May 21
Weekend Read: “A critical mass of critics” 3:13 PM
May 23

Replies	11:57 AM May 14
Replies	2:13 PM May 23

By Scott Horton
A Vital Election-year Initiative Against Torture 1:44 PM
May 21
The Afghan Opium Dreams of David Ignatius 8:10 AM
May 1
A Discussion with Philippe Sands 8:51 AM
May 2
Taxi to the Dark Side at Princeton on Saturday Afternoon 10:26 AM
May 9
Rimbaud—What’s It to Us? 10:42 PM
May 30
Akhmatova—For the Memory of a Friend 8:48 AM
May 11
“Main Core”: The Last Round-Up 10:48 AM
May 21
Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate America? 10:07 AM
May 20
Loser Take All 1:39 PM
May 5
Dirty Money 1:50 PM
May 5
Six Questions for Sidney Blumenthal, Author of The Strange Death of Republican America 11:56 AM
May 13
Hutten’s nobilitas litteraria 4:40 PM
May 17
Ariosto’s Man Who Broke the Mold 3:28 AM
May 26
Machiavelli—On Communing with Greatness 9:13 AM
May 11
Castiglione’s Renaissance Cool 4:27 PM
May 24
Hölderlin’s Course of Life 5:58 PM
May 17
Camus on the Accountability of Leaders 10:40 PM
May 30

By Mr. Fish
A Cartoon
2:47 PM
May 30
A Cartoon
11:44 AM
May 23
A Cartoon
6:52 AM
May 2
A Cartoon
7:37 AM
May 9
A Cartoon
11:08 AM
May 16
A Cartoon
11:48 AM
May 23

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OCTOBER 2008

BLEAK HOUSES
Digging Through the Ruins of the Mortgage Crisis
By Paul Reyes

NEWS FROM NOWHERE
Iceland's Polite Dystopia
By Rebecca Solnit

MICROSTORIES
Fiction by John Edgar Wideman

Also: Bernard Avishai on Obama's Jews

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Tip to McCain: To promote reform, bag your national finance co-chair	10:17 AM May 14
Goldberg’s Online Mugging	8:32 PM May 1
McDonald’s: Baku Hot Spot	7:51 AM May 16
The Clintons: It’s only just beginning	11:58 AM May 22
Journalism Ethics Lessons from the Iraqi War’s Chief Salesman	8:26 AM May 1
Congressman Rangel Clarifies	10:01 AM May 20
Major G.O.P. and Democratic Donor Questioned in Israeli Corruption Probe	11:16 AM May 14
Obama, Hamas, and “Nuance”	8:27 AM May 13
High Priest of Journalism Ethics Knee-Deep in Moral Quicksand, Again	9:32 AM May 29
The Colbertian Guide to Foreign Policy Coverage	1:34 PM May 21
Cindy McCain: Like Hubby, Not So Charitable	10:41 AM May 26
Kurt Andersen and the Media’s Obama Crush	9:14 AM May 7
On That Hillary–Hitler Video: The verdict is in	10:58 AM May 15
Disturbing Sex Scandal Involves Swift Boat Family	4:17 PM May 15
The G.O.P.’s Summer Collection	10:39 AM May 16
Was U.S. Private Security Firm Spying for Kazakh Government?	9:10 AM May 15
Hillary Shoots From the Left, Hits Foot	9:49 AM May 5
Let them eat dirt: Multinationals reap benefits of commodity crisis	10:56 AM May 21
Bob Dole: King of erectile dysfunction hits McClellan for selling out	12:05 PM May 30
Africa’s Worst Dictator: No, it’s not Mugabe	8:29 AM May 7
Waxman, Uncensored: What’s a steroid?	11:20 AM May 30
Are Politicians Failing Our Lobbyists?	10:18 PM May 26
Media Makes Shocking Discovery: McCain Surrounded by Lobbyists	10:39 AM May 26
Did McCain Camp Receive Illegal Contribution?	10:01 AM May 23
A Clinton Reader Catches Obama’s Shifting Views on Ethanol	9:03 AM May 29
Lebanon: Another Bush foreign policy defeat	2:26 PM May 21
Palestinians Responsible for Israeli Killing of Palestinians: Post Op-Ed columnist hits new low	9:47 AM May 5
Blogger Roundtable Coordinator: Let’s find people to “carry our water”	1:32 PM May 16
Why I Like Hillary: She’s a bloodthirsty monster	8:02 AM May 8
San Diego G.O.P. Headed by Co-founder of Piracy Group	10:13 AM May 5
More on Hillary the Bloodthirsty Monster	7:13 AM May 9
The Case for Political Rudeness	11:19 AM May 23
Heckuva Job, Palfrey Prosecutors	7:43 AM May 2
Exclusive Video: Hillary in the Führerbunker	4:13 PM May 12
North Carolina “Robo-callers” Exposed	9:17 AM May 1
McCain’s Burma Connection	9:16 AM May 12
Convicted Scammer is Donor to Clinton Campaign	9:02 AM May 15
Explained: Why McCain favors long presence in Iraq	11:49 AM May 28
Let Them Eat Biofuels: Bush Official Sees Hope in Hunger	6:29 AM May 30
Curt Weldon Transfers Campaign Money to Legal Defense Fund	11:03 AM May 26
Worst Shill of Year? Six Flags and high gas prices	11:58 AM May 30
Bolton and “Conservatism”	8:31 PM May 1

Weekend Read: “Ayenbite of inwit”	5:22 PM May 16
Lost Among the Inward Parts	3:55 PM May 28
An Egg in Return	11:54 AM May 19
“Afraid To Go To the Toilet”	10:37 PM May 14
Wanted to Swap	10:17 AM May 26
Weekend Read: A series of small dawns	11:50 AM May 30
An Egg in Return, Part III: “My special islands”	3:14 PM May 23
Inherently Subversive	12:03 PM May 13
An Egg in Return, Part II: “There’s no proving it”	3:33 PM May 21
Weekend Read: “A critical mass of critics”	3:13 PM May 23

A Vital Election-year Initiative Against Torture	1:44 PM May 21
The Afghan Opium Dreams of David Ignatius	8:10 AM May 1
A Discussion with Philippe Sands	8:51 AM May 2
Taxi to the Dark Side at Princeton on Saturday Afternoon	10:26 AM May 9
Rimbaud—What’s It to Us?	10:42 PM May 30
Akhmatova—For the Memory of a Friend	8:48 AM May 11
“Main Core”: The Last Round-Up	10:48 AM May 21
Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate America?	10:07 AM May 20
Loser Take All	1:39 PM May 5
Dirty Money	1:50 PM May 5
Six Questions for Sidney Blumenthal, Author of The Strange Death of Republican America	11:56 AM May 13
Hutten’s nobilitas litteraria	4:40 PM May 17
Ariosto’s Man Who Broke the Mold	3:28 AM May 26
Machiavelli—On Communing with Greatness	9:13 AM May 11
Castiglione’s Renaissance Cool	4:27 PM May 24
Hölderlin’s Course of Life	5:58 PM May 17
Camus on the Accountability of Leaders	10:40 PM May 30

A Cartoon	2:47 PM May 30
A Cartoon	11:44 AM May 23
A Cartoon	6:52 AM May 2
A Cartoon	7:37 AM May 9
A Cartoon	11:08 AM May 16
A Cartoon	11:48 AM May 23