Videos featuring book collector and journalist David Mazower talking about his great-grandfather, the Yiddish writer Sholem Asch. 

• Is anybody that shocked Lev Grossman would pick a Decemberists song for his Book Notes at Largehearted Boy?  It seems oh so right to us.

• Alicia Oltuski, author of the new book Precious Objects, talks about the Diamond District of New York City.

• Twilight gets a video game that looks like it could have been on the original Nintendo.  The irony being that most of the Twilight fanbase wasn’t alive when the first N.E.S. came out.

• Michele Bachman isn’t upset by her creepy looking Newsweek cover.

• New media and old media are equally to blame for the London riots.  Also, there were more cops on the streets for royal wedding than there are while the country burns.

• Patti, Siouxsie Sue, Kim Gordon, and other lady punk icons.

• Speaking of lady punks: Dum Dum Girls release a teaser for their forthcoming album.