Ever thought about how much panic destroys our lives?  How much worse, for example, this current economic crisis is because there are tabloids screaming that we should panic (and buy them over their competitor), television news saying we should panic (and watch them over their competitor), and political parties saying we should panic (and vote for them over their competitor).  Ever feel like you're the only calm person watching the world kill itself in a panic attack?

But never mind.  What else is new?  August: Osage County is new at the National, flush with Tonys and Pulitzers and a 3 1/2 hour running time, and very good it is, too, if you can make it past the terrible opening monologue.  It gets very good in hours two and three.

Also new, a nicely surprising article in the Independent today picking me out as one of four writers to read now that Harry Potter has found marital happiness with whatshername.  Not sure I'd really welcome the pressure, but hey, nice to hear it.  The print version even has a familiar photo.

And finally, news that the French version of The Knife of Never Letting Go is coming out in April (following the Italian and Spanish, already out, and the German version in January).  They're calling it La Voix du Couteau, or The Voice of the Knife.  Which is rather lovely, I think.

Have a nice weekend.  Try not to panic.