31 October 2008: Weekend By The Morning News — 31 Oct 2008 Study on the still undecideds: derided as idiots, most seem just dubious of politics altogether. Op: The U.N. is unfixable and in real trouble--hopeful idealists can make a difference, but awareness of shortcomings is more important right now. Fukyama: Republicans managed a disastrous presidency; Obama has the optimism we desperately need. Video: Your second batch of McCain's Hollywood attack ads. See also: Robo-call scripts that didn't make McCain's final cut. Why white supremacists support Obama. Why bottled-water supremacists are hastening to improve their image, with more people returning to the tap. On the power of Obama's crowd, and a crowd's capacity to be disappointed. Political divides in Amazon's book-buying have always seen a few crossover texts--until now. Zadie Smith on "two paths for the novel," with case studies for Netherland and Remainder. Terrific short profile in "A Man Called Freud Can't Keep His Phobia Buried"; see also the always fun Ben Marcus. Big Apple small businesses brace for impact of bad days to come; Shake Shack doing better than ever. Instapaper for the weekend: On the irony of poverty. Gallery of India's beautiful, ingenious fishing contraptions. Mp3: Newark mayor Cory Booker's "The Unfinished Journey of America's Spirit." Garfield minus Garfield now in book form--without the cat it's just depression and surrealism, though Jim Davis approves. Chart: Spike in zombie movie production tied to war and social upheaval.
