From New Statesman, a special issue on God: What do we believe?, with contributions from Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and many more. Terrorists, secessionists, angry neighbors, smoldering generals: Can Pakistan be governed? The G20 Wish List: Finding the gaps between what Obama wanted and what he actually got. What is Obama-ism? Boldness wrapped in caution rooted in an ambivalent relationship to the status quo. Joseph Stiglitz on Obama's ersatz capitalism (and an interview). From Skeptic, an article on creationism as a testable science. Alien Census: Can we estimate how much life is out there? Abandon all hope, ye who enter here: The flagging economy is bringing people's fears out of the woodwork, regardless of "industry". A review of The Cigarette Century: the Rise, Fall and Deadly Persistence of the Product that Defined America by Allan M Brandt. Got Poetry? Memorizing poetry in this day and age may seem eccentric, not to say masochistic. Senator James Webb on why we must fix our prisons. The Swastika and the Cedar: Christopher Hitchens on Lebanon and Syria. From NYRB, an exchange on Google & books. An interview with Google's Vint Cerf on recession, recovery and innovation in hard times. From Australia's The Monthly, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the global financial crisis (and a response). Bettina Arndt hasn't been dubbed "man's best friend" for nothing.