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Book news: economists on Bush’s bailout and more

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Several economists with books out on MIT Press have signed the petition opposing Bush’s $700-billion bailout plan. The publisher asked author David K. Levine (‘The Theory of Learning in Games’) to explain why.

The original proposal for a bailout says simply that the Treasury secretary is given a 700 billion dollar credit line and told to go out and play the mortgage backed security market, appointing whoever he chooses, and buying and selling without any oversight, concurrent or retroactive. Can I imagine a better prescription for political corruption? I’m not imaginative enough.

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If you can imagine stalking sheep, AbeBooks has got a selection for you. The online bookseller has pulled together a selection of books on Wasilla, Alaska — featuring titles such as ‘Sheep Stalking in Alaska: A Step-by-Step Guide’ and ‘New Eyes on Old Alaska’ next to ‘Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska’s Political Establishment Upside Down,’ the biography of Sarah Palin.

At the time, no one imagined that twentysomething Robert Wagner was romantically involved with 40-something Barbara Stanwyk. Wagner writes about their secret four-year liaison in his new memoir, ‘Pieces of My Heart.’

If you imagine you’d like to write a book, try taking the advice of author David Henry Starry, videotaped at the Strand bookstore in N.Y. by Mediabistro’s Galleycat. Basically, he recommends finding agents who’ve published books like (but not exactly like) yours and stalking them. Maybe that sheep book will come in handy here in the lower 48.

— Carolyn Kellogg

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