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James Ellroy, the eccentric writer of hard-boiled crime fiction, joins us to talk about his new memoir. The author of "L.A. Confidential," "The Black Dhalia," and "American Tabloid" writes about his search for the right woman and the curse he's lived with for 50 years.

The Dead Republic is the final installment in Roddy Doyle's trilogy about the life of Henry Smart, a former IRA assassin making his way through the first half of the 20th century. Lynn Neary talks with Doyle about the novel, which finds Henry turning his life story into a movie with film director John Ford.

The tragic mauling of a 75-year-old Paradise Hills woman re-ignited a local debate about dog ownership regulations. Emako Mendoza was attacked in her yard by two pit bulls over the weekend, and suffered severe injuries. Doctors had to amputate one of Mendoza's legs, and may need to amputate her other leg and an arm. We discuss what can be done to prevent dog attacks.

Can drugs make us smarter? Some students are taking drugs developed for people with cognitive deficits like ADHD to help them learn faster and remember better. As part of our monthly series on ethic

About Kitchen Tables: Watch for Flying Objects

Nearly half of all San Diego teenagers have sexual intercourse by the time they graduate from high school. Even so, many of these teens don't know how to prevent pregnancy or how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases.

More writers are turning to self-publishing companies to get their work to readers, and the e-readers like the iPad may make the transaction even easier. Laura Sydell talks to authors who are bypassing traditional publishing companies.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany expressed "shame" at the scandal, and a hot line for victims of abuse by clergy and church employees has been set up. But victims groups continue to press for action from independent investigators and the German government, saying the church has shown itself unable to investigate its own crimes.

Traumatic Brain Injury has been called the signature injury of the Iraq war. Nationwide, studies suggest 300,000 returning veterans experience the symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI. In San Diego, the V.A. Medical Center reports about 50 veterans a month present at the TBI clinic for testing.

Newsweek correspondent Maziar Bahari was arrested in Tehran a year ago while covering Iran's election protests. He explains how he endured 118 days in Iran's notorious Evin Prison, where he was repeatedly interrogated and tortured — and how he now views his homeland.