Carol Ann Duffy has been named Britain's poet laureate. Duffy, the first woman to hold the post in its 341-year history, is known for a wide and varied body of modern poetry. [NYT]

Elizabeth Bishop. Laurence Ferlinghetti. Sarah Palin? Yup, there's a movement afoot to make the hottest gov from the coldest state...poet laureate. Argues Julian Gough, "A great poet needs to leave open the door between the conscious and unconscious; Sarah Palin has removed her door from its hinges. A great poet does…