Hump Day Reading #8

Welcome to the eighth issue of Hump Day Reading, where I compile a small collection of links to letters, blog posts, articles, opinions, columns, videos, and pictures for your intellectual enjoyment.

Feedback is always welcome!

This week is all about Free Speech: the right to say silly things, inflammatory things, and why one ought to stand by those opinions.

First up, just one more reason (as if we needed another) Willard Mitt Romney should not be elected President.

The Washington Post is carrying this great piece about how David Corn chased the story for Mother Jones. In a digital age, who says good journalism is dying?

And while Willard Mitt is on the subject of the Middle East, violent protests are spreading thanks to an anti-Islamic film. Gawker has the ridiculous script.

And for those needing an education in Free Speech, the always brilliant Glenn Greenwald has all you need to know.

The incredible Ayaan Hirsi Ali has a rather prescient Newsweek leader that was clearly going to be about Salman Rushdie, that evolved in to a treatise on the First Amendment.

Speaking of Mr Rushdie, he has just released his memoir on his time in hiding.

And finally, we go full circle, with the New Statesman review of (my hero) Hitch's last book.

And for the sake of it, I'll throw in another hero of mine: Woody Allen. Another Statesman review, To Rome With Love