Did you read about JoAnn Thompson, Don Thompson, and Timbuktu?

• A scene from Timbuktu, Mauritania’s first Oscar-nominated film

Reader staffers share stories that fascinate, alarm, amuse, or inspire us.

Hey, did you read:

• This advice for young journalists? —Julia Thiel

• That alderman JoAnn Thompson has died? —Steve Bogira

• The letter from 15 artists—including Anish Kapoor of Chicago Bean fame—protesting Cuba’s treatment of fellow artist and activist Tania Bruguera? —Tony Adler

• Ben Austen on the rise and fall of McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson? —Tal Rosenberg

• About the engine of loathing and jealousy that powers the Brian Williams story? —Tal Rosenberg

• That Tablet magazine is charging people to post comments? —Tal Rosenberg

• About Timbuktu, the first Oscar-nominated film from Mauritania? —Drew Hunt

• About another vision of the American Dream, straight out of Englewood? —Qudsiya Siddiqui

• About the power of “centireading,” or reading something 100 times? —Aimee Levitt