What happened on June 29, 2008
OPINION
Naughty saucy dirty funny Jim Holt, Jim Holt, a longtime contributor to the New Yorker and the New York Times Magazine, is the author of "Stop Me If You've Heard This: A History and Philosophy of Jokes," just published by Norton.
A change on Obama JOEL PETT, Joel Pett is the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist of the Lexington Herald-Leader. His work also appears in USA Today.
Why the budget never adds up Mark Paul, Mark Paul, senior scholar at the New America Foundation, was formerly deputy treasurer of California and deputy editorial page editor of the Sacramento Bee.
National security push-back Barry Siegel, Barry Siegel, a former Times staff writer, directs the literary journalism program at UC Irvine. His book on U.S. vs. Reynolds and the state secrets privilege, "Claim of Privilege," was published this month.
Left jabs Neal Gabler, Neal Gabler is the author of many books, including "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" and "Life: the Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality."
Turn signals on Grand Rich Alossi, Rich Alossi is a contributing editor to Curbed LA and founder of the downtown blog angelenic.com, which deals with development.
Let gun makers take a shot at it Jeffrey Fagan and Stephen D. Sugarman, Jeffrey Fagan is a professor of law and public health at Columbia University. Stephen D. Sugarman is a professor of law at UC Berkeley.
Honest mistakes Ezra Klein, Ezra Klein is an associate editor at the American Prospect. He blogs at EzraKlein.com.
BOOKS
Another time, another place James Sallis, James Sallis is the author, most recently, of "Salt River."
Look out below Chris Hedges, Chris Hedges is the author of "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America" and, most recently, "I Don't Believe in Atheists."
Deep cover Jim Ruland, Jim Ruland is the author of the short story collection "Big Lonesome."
The reluctant activist Susan Salter Reynolds, Susan Salter Reynolds is a Times staff writer.
How the West was run Pam Houston, Pam Houston is the author of "Cowboys Are My Weakness" and "Sight Hound," among other books. She lives in Creede, Colo., near the headwaters of the Rio Grande.
Trial by . . . what? David J. Garrow, David J. Garrow, a senior fellow at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, writes regularly about the U.S. Supreme Court.