California and Bust Michael Lewis, Vanity FairThe smart money says the U.S. economy will splinter, with some states thriving, some states not, and all eyes are on California as the nightmare scenario.

Could You Forgive the Man Who Shot You in the Face? Michael J. Mooney, D MagazineIn the days after 9/11, a Dallas man named Mark Stroman went on a revenge killing spree. Rais Bhuiyan survived and, a decade later, tried to stop Stroman’s execution.

Personal Best Atul Gawande, The New YorkerTop athletes and singers have coaches. Should you?

Why the U.S. Should Support a Palestinian StateJohn B. Judis, The New RepublicIf the Obama administration had wanted to do what is right, and not what would spare it the slings and arrows of its domestic critics, it should not have rebuffed the Palestinians for appealing to the U.N. The U.S. did the right thing in 1947. Why not have done it in 2011?

Parents of a Certain Age Lisa Miller, New YorkIs there anything wrong with being 53 and pregnant?

Can Mitt Close the Deal? Andrew Romano, NewsweekPerry’s stumbling, the economy’s crumbling, Obama’s in freefall. It could be Romney’s moment. But he’s missing something, Andrew Romano reports in this week’s Newsweek.