A highly informal poll of readers of this blog finds they miss the news roundups, so, they’re back.
- Americans still apparently practice “shunning”.
- James Franco will star in a film about Allan Ginsburg’s “Howl”, perhaps making his life as an MFA student dovetail with his film career perfectly. Or not.
- Senator Ted Kennedy would like to remind you he is still alive, thanks.
- People imagining climate change will lead to “world beach party 4eva!” should read Lord Nicholas Stern’s evaluation of how it will usher in a long-standing global conflict over arable land and drinking water.
- America faces an “empty neighborhoods” crisis. Also homelessness. Hmm…
- Willing Davidson at Slate takes on the perennial question of why Hollywood makes crap out of great novels. I would just point out that I think TV does a better job, in a miniseries (see the BBC’s The Line of Beauty, for example). Novels are too large for two hours.
- Mayor Virg Bernero of Lansing is my new hero.
Koreanish 
one or two responses to the round up:
1. you want to see shunning? come to my son’s school at pick-up and see how certain parents are treated by other parents…sheesh!
2. not ALL movies of great lit suck. Favorite exception is The English Patient. Since seeing that movie way back in 1996, i can’t stop associating the sweat treat of marzipan with Kristin Scott Thomas. The book, while amazing, did not make me crave marzipan like Ms. Thomas did/does. [does that sound pervy?]