Reader staffers share stories that fascinate, amuse, or inspire us.

Hey, did you read:

That conservative judicial icon Robert Bork has died? —Mick Dumke

About whether it's OK for states to renege on promises to public workers, just because fulfilling them would be difficult? (Remapping Debate gets to the heart of the pension issue.) —Steve Bogira

That the Field Museum will be making some serious cuts? —Deanna Isaacs

That, in case you feel the need to get away before the Mayan apocalypse on December 21, four planets in "habitable zones" are spotted within spitting distance of Earth? —Jerome Ludwig

About jihad naughty and jihad nice? —Tony Adler

Director James Gray (We Own the Night, Two Lovers) on the central crisis in American movies? —Ben Sachs