Hello, Terrorist. We have recommendations for you

• Salon profiles political writer William Blum, who’s currently enjoying his 15 minutes thanks to Osama bin Laden.

Our favorite turbaned nutjob dropped Blum’s name in a recent communiqué, mentioning his book Rogue State and quoting from another, Freeing the World to Death. Since then the book has shot up the bestseller lists and Amazon’s page for Rogue State has filled up with five-star reviews from bandwagon-hoppers. Somehow this is bigger news than bin Laden’s offer of a truce.

News bites and a moment of Zen

• Seattle tops the list of best-read cities.

Maybe now Microsoft can pause in their world takeover efforts for a moment and develop technology to make books impervious to rainfall. You know, help the neighbors out.

• Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking is heading to the Great White Way.

Theatre is probably the best bet for an adaptation of Didion’s book -- it’s the dramatic medium best suited for maintaining her distinctive voice. And it’s nice to see big names like Scott Rudin and David Hare attached to a big Broadway show that isn’t a revival or an old movie or television show clumsily transposed into a stage musical, something that coasts on celebrity and spectacle and a built-in fan base.

And now, your moment of Zen:


I’m just saying.