Headlines from August 31, 2012

IAEA says Iran has doubled its uranium enrichment capacity at an underground facility south of Tehran.
We passed signs warning of contamination and forbidding the foolhardy from pocketing soil or adopting pet rocks. A visit to the Nevada Test Site.
Pentagon considers legal action against former Seal, publisher for divulging classified information in Osama bin Laden book.
The fourth episode of TLC’s Honey Boo Boo draws more viewers than the Republican National Convention. #tv
The two speeches…seemed to signal the arrival of a new kind of presidential campaign, one in which concerns about fact-checking have been largely set aside.
People are mocking Chris Christie’s RNC speech for being overly self-serving, but he didn’t actually say “I” that much.
In our latest Weekender: Closing the door on the 2012 RNC, a look back at the party of Lincoln. #tmn
Catholic leader claims sex abuse victims are often the seducers, and first-time offending priests don’t intend to commit a crime.
One of the earliest companies on the S&P 500, Sears will be replaced by a Dutch chemicals company next week.
Trotsky’s grandson reminisces on life with his grandfather, on the run from Stalin’s henchmen. #russia
Schoolboy finds whale vomit worth nearly $65K.
Tanned and rested, the French government returns to flat growth and high unemployment, and Hollande’s rating drops to 49%. #france
Rosecrans Baldwin investigates the current state of Franco-American relations by traveling to Parises across the U.S. #tmn
Under normal circumstances, they would have gotten a punch in the nose. Pro-church activists crash Pussy Riot protest event.
Count von Count’s favorite number is 34,969, which is 187 squared—theories about as to why that’s special.
If I’m being honest, I would have bet against myself on getting through this without tears today. A roundup of reactions to Roddick’s retirement announcement. #tennis
Orbital performs with Stephen Hawking at the Paralympics Opening Ceremony. #video
How the U.S. poet laureate is selected.
South African miners charged in murder of colleagues shot by police.
Trial of Bradley Manning to begin in February—three years after he was arrested.
This is the last time that any party will try to win an election with just the white vote. #opinion
Egyptian leader backs Syrian rebels at Iran’s non-aligned conference.
Drone-tracking app rejected by Apple for being objectionable, not entertaining.
Software developed to track crime is being used to track dissidents, activists in Turkmenistan, Bahrain.
TMN’s Llewellyn Hinkes-Jones’s ebook on Agenda 21 conspiracists who link sustainability with the gulag.
Related: Hinkes-Jones introduces Agenda 21, explaining the property-rights roots of the movement.
What it’s like living in one of China’s megapolises: dreary, toxic, unlivable.
Chinese city gives civic leaders right to give out traffic tickets and keep 80% of the fine for themselves.
The doping question in cycling is a game in itself, a prisoner dilemma of high strategy.