* Top reads: The state of the news media. (Courtesy asimplelife.) Also, Michel Martin talks about the role of professional journalists.
* Ugh. The return of Muqtada al-Sadr.
* Yeah, that US-Mexico virtual border fence project? Totally dead.
* What's that? Tea Party event underwritten by the Republican Party? Shocking!
* Huh. Author Michael Chabon discusses Columbia, MD. (Courtesy shadorunr.)
* A closeup of Phobos.
* Portraits of America's endangered species.
* A history of the honey trap. (Courtesy warmaster.)
* MGK on George R. R. Martin's new deadline.