8 August 2008: Morning

On the campaign trail in Angola--democracy is tested as a former rebel group seeks credibility.

"Would you go before a firing squad to protect higher pollen counts?" The problem with pollsters.

The Pentagon's "Futurist-in-Chief" searches ancient history for lessons.

Hot on the trail of Jimmy Buffett, a writer hunts down the Texas alt-weekly that steals articles.

What The Simpsons taught us about about eating cheap.

Waugh's speaking voice is high-pitched and delicate, almost like an E-flat clarinet. What we can learn from recordings of our favorite authors.

On the evolution of the fight scene: shaky-cam, disorientation, visual incoherency.

Everything we don't know about lightning, and the few things we do.

Denny's monetizes band after-parties--this is brilliant.

I rode my old-fashioned three-speed Schwinn back to Joe's, tears in my eyes, and made the employees listen to a Shins song on my oversized headphones. Todd Levin goes for coffee.

In London, preparations for the 2012 Olympics are off to a slow start.

Book towns--where used and antiquarian bookstores are plenty--around the world.