Lobotomies, Stolen Pecans, and 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Now that The New York Times pay wall is live, you only get 20 free clicks a month. For those worried about hitting their limit, we're taking a look through the paper each morning to find the stories that can make your clicks count.

Top Stories: Ron Paul is under fire once again for racist and homophobic columns that appeared in his political newsletters in 1990s. More on the intelligence failures that missed Kim Jong-il's death for 48 hours.

Opinion: Will China reject the new North Korea or pull it closer, effectively turning the troubled nation into a new province? (And keeping South Korea at bay.)

World: Despite the violence, protesters in Syria are finding music and dance in their uprising. The Shiite-dominated government in Iraq has issued an arrest warrant for the Sunni vice president, accusing him of terrorism, one day after U.S. troops withdrew from the country.

U.S.: Pecan thefts are up in Georgia, where a pound of nuts (easy to steal from orchards) goes for $1.50. Lawyers aren't amused, or impressed, by Newt Gingrich's attacks on the judiciary.

Science: Many species that practice large-scale, long-distance migrations are imperiled. New research into the history of the lobotomy, suggest that Eva Peron may have received one for cancer pain, a not unheard of procedure at the time.

Arts: A mixed review of David Fincher's attempt at "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" that runs into the "limitations of the source material and the imperatives of commercial entertainment."