Nonsequential Links II

Still more items of interest:

If nothing else, everyone should read his classic of prison camp literature, “A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch.” (And what does it say about a society that it gives birth to such a genre?)

I think it's wrong to make people feel bad for availing themselves of resources, especially when you're making money off of that guilt.

Even if you, like me, don't give one whit about the Olympics, you have to be thrilled at the achievement of Michael Phelps.

I do find it amusing that the so-called "poor" girl had her own private phone line and answering machine and drove a cute classic car with a custom paint job.

We have this cartoon history of the period that's as simplistic and high concept as the O.J. trial.

I discussed these subjective P.O.V. shots with Kathryn, wondering if they were overdone and exaggerated, and asked her if she thought that men looked at women this way too -- this brazenly -- and she said yes. Absolutely. All the time.