Monday Medley

What we read while wondering where they found this Jaden Smith kid…

• Last week was Spelling Bee week, and as if John S didn’t love the Spelling Bee enough, they made an Arrested Development reference.

• A new lobbying group that can stand up to the NRA. Of course, handguns might not be the cause of America’s high murder rate anyway.

• Where the atheists live!

• As tornadoes struck Oklahoma again, native Oklahoman Ben Montgomery delivers a story from the scene.

• Is Megan Draper going to die?

• This week in troubling criminal justice stories: How three pacifist protestors became “terrorists” and 10 facts about racial injustice in prison. On a somewhat related note, fire Eric Holder.

• Against intervention in Syria (no matter what The Onion says).

• Bradley Manning and Amnesty International.

• The heaviest sixth grade metal band ever.

• Ever wanted to see 42 takes of one scene dissected?  Here you go.

• On Nassau Coliseum.

Monday Medley

What we read while being “questioned by the Secret Service,” if you know what I mean…

• The great Levon Helm, former drummer for The Band and lead singer on such classics as “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “Up on Cripple Creek,” and “Ophelia,” died last week at the age of 71. Helm helped put The Band (originally The Hawks) together, as the backing band for Ronnie Hawkins and then Bob Dylan, and Martin Scorcese famously turned their last concert into the best concert film of all-time (which Helm personally was not a fan of). Helm then went on to his own great solo career. Robbie Robertson, who reached out to Helm while the latter was sick, and Bob Dylan were among the many grief-stricken by Helm’s death.

• Mitch Hurwitz discusses the upcoming new season of Arrested Development. Speaking of which, in honor of Fox’s 25th anniversary (celebrated yesterday), what are the 10 best shows it cancelled prematurely? And its best overall?

• Julian Assange launched his new talk show (watch out, Conan!), which was roundly mocked by the media for not featuring Amy Winehouse’s relatives.

• The Mets’ hot start hasn’t kept Elena Kagan from bashing them in her opinions.

• Another piece on America’s incarceration problem. Speaking of incarceration, here is some fascinating bargaining in a prisoner’s dilemma game show.

• Take a look at shakin’ 3D 1930s Paris.

• Will Wilkinson reviews two happiness tips and takes down Michael Sandel.

Monday Medley

What we read while somehow rushing for 87 yards in the Pro Bowl…

• Some thoughts on Joe Paterno’s legacy, including Joe Posnanski insisting that the coach had no bitterness in his final days.

• Posner and Becker opine on the new calls for progressive taxation. Meanwhile, Tyler Cowen weighs in on the how deserving are the poor question.

• Jon Stewart was once in a mosh pit. And you can see it!

• The subject of prison reform is suddenly hot, with Adam Gopnik wondering why America locks up more people than any government in history (with the possible exception of Stalinist Russia, depending on how you count) and n + 1 offering the predictably provocative (though surprisingly well-argued) solution of abolishing all prisions. Of course many powerful interests, including the disconcerting number of businesses that run on prison labor, stand in the way.

• In the comedy world, John Mulaney’s Comedy Central special New in Town premiered this weekend, while Pete Holmes, another NPI-favorite comic, talked with The A.V. Club. Here is an interview with Mulaney.

• The buying and selling of Jesus, in host form: a tale of capitalism.

• How James Joyce’s son, Stephen James Joyce, helps reveal the anachronisms of copyright law, all under the shadow of SOPA.

• Sure it’s the end of January, but it’s never too late for a preview of 2012′s most anticipated books.

• A profile of everyone’s favorite scientist, Neil deGrasse Tyson!

• Ryan Lizza of The New Yorker tells the story of the Obama Administration with some previously unseen memos, including one from Larry Summers about the state of the economy in 2008-09, and others on the making of his first State of the Union.

• Another magazine, this time The Atlantic, is tackling the issue of the future of American manufacturing.

• How did you celebrate Gossip Girl Day?

• In other television-related things, Alex Gansa is the latest showrunner to break down a season of his show–in this case Homeland–with The A.V. Club.

• As we prep for the Super Bowl, The Chronicle of Higher Education wonders if sports actually build character.

• Arthur Brisbane, the hilarious Public Editor for The New York Times, continues to ask the hard questions facing all journalists, like “Is fact-checking worth it?”

• Go see what Google thinks it knows about you.

• Who says Obama isn’t doing anything to fix the economy? We’ve got sweatpant dress-pants now!

• Speaking of Obama, former NY Times war correspondent is suing him. Here’s why.

• Roger Ebert discusses who was “robbed” from Oscar nominations.