WELCOME TO THE READING ROOM.

Katrina for Kids.Scholastic Online's coverage of Hurricane Katrina includes "Hurricane Victims Adjust to a New Home in Houstona," a recent story by friend Mary Harvey.

But Is It Safe to Return? Four years after the 9/11 attacks, it's still hard to determine environmental safety around Ground Zero. Knowing that, I can't help but wonder how safe it is for kids and others to be returning to New Orleans after all the reports about toxic flood water. Who's responsible for coming up with sound assessments of these situations?

The Voice 9/11 Coverage That Wouldn't Die! "How dangerous was — and is — the air at ground zero?" Good question! It's one of ten Jarrett Murphy poses in "Open and Shut."

The Voice Election Coverage That Wouldn't Die! Wayne Barrett won't let go of his analysis of the 2005 mayoral election. See "Stripped bare" too.

Bush Administration Bullshit. The Voice's Sydney Schanberg cites "lies the president and his courtiers have endlessly told."

Harold Pinter's Nobel Acceptance Speech. Here it is. It's Pinter's speech. Read it if you'd like. Or don't read it. Decide.

Photo: David Marc Fischer