1. Claudia Williamson, "Let Fake States Fail: Anarchy as a Viable Solution to Artificial States"

2. Congratulations to Scott Beaulier, new father and now economics professor at Troy University. It's a big loss for Mercer, but a big gain for Troy.

3. Re: Ed's recent Freeman column, here's my take on whether we should subsidize media.

4. Ouch. The Onion, America's finest satire.

5. Robust civil society, from Michael J. Hicks's The Local Economic Impact of Wal-Mart, p. 1: "Individuals from nine of 10 Americans households have shopped at a Wal-Mart in the past few months, far more than have voted in any U.S. election."