Now that Mr. Sulzberger has torn down that paywall and TimesSelect is headed for the internet archive, go check out The Principles of Uncertainty, the series of 12 cartoon/columns that Maria Kalman painted and wrote for TimesSelect. They are all utterly devastating, in a comforting, reassuring way. My favorite is "Heaven on Earth," from August 2006.

Penguin is publishing the entire collection next month. You can preorder The Principles of Uncertainty at Amazon now.