Headlines from September 2, 2010

Op: No one is sure what the war's end means; few are willing to wager a guess.
In Somalia's civil war, pirate gangs aid both the government and the insurgents--and become a political force.
Researchers investigate the use of diabetes drug metformin for prevention of a broad spectrum of cancers.
Author Terry Pratchett discusses the shift to dictation, since a rare form of Alzheimer's robbed his ability to write or type.
French comic flattens nation's leaders with short jokes, loses his job for being too good at it.
Darwin's geoengineered island provides ideas for colonization on Mars.
A filmmaker documents the New York accent, the dialect that went its own way 200 years ago.
With modern art and tight corsets, David Owen tries to rebrand folk dancing as sexy.
As Earl creeps northward, Long Islanders still remember the 1938 storm that devastated Westhampton.
Reporter breaks down the components of a legendary roadside burger.
Physicists prove Carlos's legendary soccer kick wasn't a fluke.
Video: Federer's between-the-legs shots from this year's U.S. Open and last year's.
National Geographic pictures of Pakistan's floodwaters.
Op: Pakistan's problem isn't too much water. It's too little water--and one day it could cause a war.
In a Missouri prison, inmates find relief through quilting for charity.
Twenty-five percent of wrongful convictions involve false confessions. Interview with Innocence Project co-founder.
Praying beats positive thinking in preventing infidelity.
For men with virtual girlfriends, Atami, Japan, is the ultimate romantic getaway.
Jessa Crispin finds a life plan halfway between European sophistication and Kansan homemaking.
Long read: London tabloids exposed for pervasive cellphone hacking.
Human cadavers are the hidden, icky heroes of automobile safety.
Developer discusses challenges in putting people's genetic data on their smartphones.
Sponsored contest: Be one of five folks to win an advance copy of Tom McCarthy's C!
Times food critic on where and what to eat at the U.S. Open.
Before the Man Booker, I had trouble being recognised by a bookseller when I was standing next to a stack of my own books. Hilary Mantel on prizes.
TV writers explain how their table sessions lead to episodes.
Video: Piano versions of pop songs set to scenes from classic films.
Ten photos capturing moments of spontaneous badassery.