Spring 2007 ARTICLES A New Theory of the Universe Robert Lanza Biocentrism builds on quantum physics by putting life into the equation 2 + 2 = 5 Robert Orsi Can we begin to think about unexplained religious experiences in ways that acknowledge their existence? The Judge’s Jokes John Barth Shards of memory, for better or worse, from my father the after-banquet speaker The Apologist Michael McDonald The celebrated Austrian writer Peter Handke appeared at the funeral of Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. Why we shouldn’t forgive him The Cook’s Son Frank Huyler The death of a young man, long ago in Africa, continues to raise questions with no answers One Day in the Life of Melvin Jules Bukiet Melvin Jules Bukiet A Manhattan writer runs afoul of the local penal system and lives to tell the tale FICTION North of Ordinary John Rolfe Gardiner Plum Creek Laura Furman ARTS What Happened to the Social Agenda? Nathan Glazer Leading modernist architects once wanted to improve the lives of everyday people; now they hope to astonish and amuse their elite clients Globalization and Its Discontents Richard Locke The directors of the movies Babel and Caché tell complex stories of families caught in ever-expanding worlds DEPARTMENTS Editor's Note Letters Letter From Caracas: Living Large on Oil Alexandra Starr Commonplace Book: Defeat Collected by André Bernard Works in Progress Wandering gown; humanities exam; village people; Satchmo and friends; Maya Lin’s northwest passage; bubble boy; paperless press Findings From our archives Paul B. Sears POETRY The Mind at Work and Play Langdon Hammer Five new poems John Hollander BOOKS Reviews Reviews On happiness; Ralph Ellison; hearing voices; Gilgamesh uncovered; biological design Wayne Curtis, Phyllis Rose, Richard Restak, Sudip Bose, and Mary Beth Saffo Essay War Weary Wendy Smith