September 2002

Remembering Katrin Cartlidge By Allison Anders
The director of "Gas Food Lodging" and "Things Behind the Sun" shares her memories of the greatest British actress you've never heard of, who died unexpectedly in early September. (09/30/2002)

Family, work and literary vampirism By Carina Chocano
This week's new TV sitcoms offer two dismal duds -- and a sly, bittersweet comedy about a dissipated writer who hits on his own daughter. (09/30/2002)

Music preview: Pulp By Michelle Goldberg
No band in the world combines acid intelligence and expansive rock bathos with such sublimity. Their new album, "We Love Life," proves it. Listen in. (09/30/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 30
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/30/2002)

Dogpatch confidential By Dennis Drabelle
Al Capp, the creator of "Li'l Abner," one of America's greatest comic strips, brilliantly combined comedy and commentary, until he lost it over the '60s counterculture and championed Nixon. (09/30/2002)

Salon recommends
David Byrne on Mexican street graphics and more of our favorite books (09/30/2002)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Election night, Florida style. (09/30/2002)

My past life as a dog By Janelle Brown
For 12 years, Buddhist nun Tenzin Palmo meditated alone in a tiny cave in Tibet. Now she wants to elevate the status of other Buddhist women, believed to be reincarnated as females as punishment for past mistakes. (09/30/2002)

Mau-mauing the Middle East By Michelle Goldberg
Palestinians are the latest chic cause on campus. Now American Jews are trying to brand criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic -- and even un-American. (09/30/2002)

Osama who? By Arianna Huffington
The White House's focus on Saddam is meant to divert attention from America's still-AWOL Public Enemy No. 1. (09/30/2002)

Sexy monkeys and mutant bunnies By Douglas Cruickshank
Painter Laurie Hogin uses the style of Old Masters and a frightening menagerie of beasts to illustrate the nightmares to be found in the American dream. (09/30/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Torch is out -- but are his critics really happy? (09/30/2002)

"More World, less bank" -- fewer protesters By Joshua Micah Marshall
Last weekend's lame protests raise the question: Is the nascent anti-globalization movement already dying? (09/30/2002)

Madison Avenue and your brain By Matthew Blakeslee
New advances in neuroscience are explaining why people just do it, exactly as they're told to, when that commercial comes on. (09/30/2002)

Stop the holy showboating By Dan McGraw
Listen up, jocks: God doesn't care if you score a touchdown. So do your praying in private, not in the end zone. (09/28/2002)

Post mortem By Brendan Nyhan
A look at the Washington Post story that launched a week of partisan fury. (09/28/2002)

Gephardt's big blunder By Anthony York
The House Democratic leader decided to go along with Bush's Iraq plan, hoping the issue would go away. It hasn't -- and antiwar Dems fear now their protests will be too late. (09/28/2002)

Give 'em hell, Al By Joan Walsh
With a series of fiery speeches, the former vice president recovers his voice, his backbone and his place as the 2004 Democratic front-runner. (09/28/2002)

"Sweet Home Alabama" By Stephanie Zacharek
Reese Witherspoon deserves more than this spark-free romantic comedy. (09/27/2002)

Hip-hop's murky whodunit By Eric Boehlert
Nick Broomfield's dishonest film "Biggie and Tupac" solves nothing about the rap world's most notorious murders. (09/27/2002)

"Moonlight Mile" By Stephanie Zacharek
Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon and Jake Gyllenhaal anchor a dazzling true-life comedy that might be the funniest movie about grief ever made. (09/27/2002)

"The Tuxedo" By Charles Taylor
Jackie Chan is thoroughly wasted in a bad suit and a witless comedy. (09/27/2002)

Iran's leading filmmaker denied U.S. visa By Andrew O'Hehir
Director Abbas Kiarostami, one of international cinema's biggest names, is blocked from attending the New York Film Festival and speaking at Harvard. (09/27/2002)

"The Hunger Artist"
Listen to famed singer and actress Lotte Lenya read the Franz Kafka story, from the Caedmon Short Story Collection. (09/27/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 27
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/27/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Charles Taylor's "Kids Lit Grows Up." (09/27/2002)

The inner bigot By Brother Void
(09/27/2002)

The news no one else will print
If you're sick of the same old McNews, you need Salon -- now more than ever. (09/27/2002)

Magical mystery teens By Dr. Lynn Ponton
The bubbly charmer at 10 turns into a sullen cipher by 14. What's a parent to do? Keep talking, advises Dr. Lynn Ponton. Never stop trying to communicate. (09/27/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Jake Tapper's "Brains 1, Barbie 0" and Amy Benfer's "Bringing the War Home." (09/27/2002)

The foxes guarding democracy's henhouse By Robert Capps
Remember the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill? The ideologues who control the Federal Election Commission are gutting it. (09/27/2002)

Notre Dame's return to glory! (Part 23) By Allen Barra
Why does the college's legendary -- but creaky -- football program have to keep coming back? (09/27/2002)

Been there, done Iraq By Barry Link
Recently discovered "Star Trek" scripts reveal Saddam-busting strategies. (09/27/2002)

Arnie's beef By Amy Reiter
Nein to Terminator statue! Justin goes down on Britney; Top Gun Cruise draws bead on Iraq. Plus: TV's new weak-ass link. (09/27/2002)

Enron, WorldCom -- step aside! Cartoon by Mark Fiore
No one can compete with this master of fraud and larceny! (09/27/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
The political appointee prosecuting Moussaoui. Plus: Christopher Hitchens leaves, the Nation mourns. And everyone seems to forget his earlier "peacenik" ways. (09/27/2002)

Smile, you're on carnal camera By Charles Taylor
After Italian architect Carlo Mollino died, his executors found more than 2,000 Polaroid photographs of women in his villa -- most of them nude. (09/27/2002)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
How could a pilot not be trained for fog landings? And how is "Jet Smarter" author Diana Fairechild like Ralph Nader with a tray of peanuts? (09/27/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Leonard Cassuto's "Big Trouble in the World of 'Big Physics'" and Katharine Mieszkowski's "Hydrotopia." (09/27/2002)

Same old mish-"M*A*S*H"! Stat! By Carina Chocano
On "MDs" and "Presidio Med," rogue, renegade and maverick doctors search for a cure for HMOs. (09/26/2002)

The week in dirt By Amy Reiter
Oh man! Angelina Jolie's stunt double is a guy. Plus: Kelly Clarkson dethrones Britney Spears as lead virgin; Dominic Purcell's two asses and more. (09/26/2002)

Hitler's best friend By Wesley Yang
The debate over Albert Speer's responsibility for Nazi war crimes rages on in a new biography of the Third Reich's master architect and planner. (09/26/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 26
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/26/2002)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
U.S. to bomb Antarctica! (09/26/2002)

Jailbait By Katharine Mieszkowski
How antiabortion zealots posing as underage girls tried to entrap Planned Parenthood workers. (09/26/2002)

Tell me something I don't know By Keith Olbermann
Violent fans, pot-smoking players -- why do the sports media seem shocked by the obvious and predictable? (09/26/2002)

Justice behind closed doors By Dave Lindorff
Some 600 immigrants have been deported after secret hearings since the 9/11 attacks. Now the policy appears headed for the Supreme Court. (09/26/2002)

Dustin's mellow menopause By Amy Reiter
Ta-ta to testosterone, says happy Hoffman; Noah Wyle excited to be on top; Mick's worst knightmare. Plus: Astro nose picking for Bass! (09/26/2002)

The "A" bomb By Ben Fritz
Enraged Bush supporters are calling opponents of his Iraq war "appeasers." But even George Will knows that's a disgraceful smear. (09/26/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Will Harkin dodge scandal, or won't he? Plus: Brit Hume, "newsman." (09/26/2002)

Smart blonde By David Thomson
Goldie Hawn is a hot woman of a certain age who dares to possess a sex life, romantic feelings and an awareness of power and money. (09/26/2002)

Profits from piracy By Sam Williams
Evidence is mounting that cracking down on software copyright infringement may not be good for business. Case study: Microsoft in China. (09/26/2002)

Talking during the movies By Mark Yarm
Now fan-boys can prattle on about "Spider-Man" and "Mulholland Drive" on their own DVD commentary tracks. Will anybody listen? (09/25/2002)

"8 Women" By Stephanie Zacharek
Despite the all-star cast of beautiful, talented actresses, this French whodunit never lives up to the grand musicals it rips off. (09/25/2002)

"Spirited Away" By Andrew O'Hehir
Japanimation godhead Hayao Miyazaki takes a deranged and delightful voyage to the other world, where parents become pigs and the Radish Spirit rides the elevator. (09/25/2002)

Music preview: Ladytron By Stephen Weiss
On "Light & Magic," U.K.-based Ladytron deliver '80s electro designed as much for nightclubs as fashion shows. Listen in. (09/26/2002)

"The Money Shot" by Laura Grindstaff By Damien Cave
The producers of daytime TV talk shows must woo wife beaters, drug addicts and other scum as guests. Their reward? Being treated like bottom-feeding slime by a public that laps it up. (09/25/2002)

Bestsellers
This week's bestselling books, courtesy of Powells.com. (09/25/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 25
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/25/2002)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
When the world gets you down, always remember ... life's little victories! (09/25/2002)

Brains 1, Barbie 0 By Jake Tapper
The inside story of how a Harvard law student beat out her more bodacious sisters for the Miss America crown. (09/25/2002)

MVP: Bonds and A-Rod, and it ain't close By King Kaufman
Let's cut the crap about reserving the award for a player on a winning team. The best player in the league is the most valuable, whoever he plays for. (09/25/2002)

The arrogance of the Bush Doctrine By Robert Scheer
The president's new foreign policy will only anger other countries, and provoke them to take their own "preemptive action." (09/25/2002)

Butt-ever By Amy Reiter
'N Sync honored by Eminem "ass kick" crack; Ashley: What, me worry? Leelee, giant scissors and Tom Cruise; Plus: Britney's baby sis in peanut butter smear. (09/25/2002)

Democrats consider alternative resolution on Iraq By Anthony York
Concerned that the White House's proposal is too open-ended, senators debate how to craft a response. (09/25/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Democrats finally wake up. Plus: Who does the better Chomsky imitation, Gore -- or Sullivan! You decide. (09/25/2002)

My hormones and my husband By Sheri Cooper
When I am in the throes of PMS everything I have never quite liked about him gathers an inch south of my belly button. (09/25/2002)

Investors of the world, unite! By Farhad Manjoo
Former chairman of the SEC Arthur Levitt declares the time is ripe for fighting back against Wall Street. (09/25/2002)

Old men take longer By Jonathan Kiefer
At long last, Peter Gabriel releases a new record. Is it worth the wait? If you have to ask you're missing the point. (09/24/2002)

How to become an advice columnist Ranted by Cary Tennis
Volunteering to write "Since You Asked ..." was a lot like saying, "May I carry your bags, please? May I light your cigarette?" (09/24/2002)

"Strange Matters" by Tom Siegfried By Thomas Wilson
From strange quark matter to multiple universes, visionaries predict the weird things science has yet to discover. (09/24/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 24
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/24/2002)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
Canceled due to chronic matrimony. (09/24/2002)

Bush doctrine makes waves overseas By Anthony York
International reaction to new policy of preemptive strikes casts a suspicious eye on "imperialist" designs. (09/24/2002)

The politics of populism By Arianna Huffington
In this year's most competitive Senate races, suddenly everyone's a populist. (09/24/2002)

Bush to Arab world: Drop dead By Ian Williams
Driven by right-wing ideologues and his own zeal, President Bush has taken Ariel Sharon's side in the Middle East even while plotting a war with Iraq. Foreign policy experts say that's a dangerous combination. (09/24/2002)

The opportunist By Andrew Sullivan
Idiocy of the week: Al Gore. (09/24/2002)

Pain in the butt! By Amy Reiter
Kelly Preston on sticking things in the heinie; Russian rocket roulette for Lance Bass; Mel Gibson: Maybe I'm a genius -- not. Plus: Nolte checks himself in. (09/24/2002)

Gore blasts Bush's war plans By Edward W. Lempinen
The former vice president takes the gloves off, saying Bush has squandered the world's goodwill, is failing to focus on the war on terrorism and could be creating a global "reign of fear." (09/24/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
What's in Tony Blair's important dossier? Plus: Gore speaks -- and so do the polls. (09/24/2002)

Dirty little secret By Cary Tennis
My boyfriend and I have a great relationship and the sex is wonderful, but he loses his erection before he finishes. (09/24/2002)

Hydrotopia By Katharine Mieszkowski
Say goodbye to fossil fuels. Author and environmentalist Jeremy Rifkin explains why hydrogen is the next great power source. (09/24/2002)

Real Life Rock Top 10 By Greil Marcus
(09/23/2002)

Play it again, scam By Carina Chocano
Crimes shown backward, heroes sent back to high school, and yet another trip to the '60s. This week's lame new TV shows prove a trip down Memory Lane can be a snooze. (09/23/2002)

Music preview: Mr. Lif By Dan Kois
The fast-talking rapper's album "I Phantom" is the first hip-hop record after 9/11 that's explicitly critical of the current administration. Listen in. (09/23/2002)

Salon recommends
Deep thoughts on "Star Wars" and more of our favorite books. (09/23/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 23
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/23/2002)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Osama? Sooo 2001. All the cool kids are worried about Saddam now! (09/23/2002)

Bringing the war home By Amy Benfer
A rash of murders in military families highlights the weaknesses of the armed services' well-meaning domestic-abuse program. (09/23/2002)

Tomb much By Amy Reiter
Is that a bulge in Angelina Jolie's pants or is she just happy to be in "Tomb Raider"? Mama disses Eminem; a Gyllenhaal by any other name would look as hunky. Plus: Hitler -- what a boob! (09/23/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Saddam-nuke hysteria reaches a new high. Plus: What Schröder's victory should tell us about the world's view of U.S. diplomacy. (09/23/2002)

Make room for daddy By Charles Taylor
Why do men sit on subways with their legs splayed like Suzanne Somers' in a Thighmaster ad? Is their precious package more important than our comfort? (09/23/2002)

Building the underground computer railroad By Farhad Manjoo
Anti-globalization activists in Oakland, Calif., are recycling old machines, loading them with free software and shipping them off to Ecuador. (09/23/2002)

Kids lit grows up By Charles Taylor
Inspired by Harry Potter, bestselling authors Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman, Carl Hiaasen and Isabel Allende are spearheading a renaissance in books that enchant readers of all ages. (09/21/2002)

The first pro football player By Allen Barra
Before Johnny Unitas, college stars were the only famous football players. The great No. 19 changed that forever -- and took the NFL to the top. (09/21/2002)

"Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" By Andrew O'Hehir
I don't even care that there's no plot in this Antonio Banderas-Lucy Liu faceoff. It's still terrible! (09/20/2002)

"Secretary" By Stephanie Zacharek
Whip me, spank me, correct my spelling mistakes. James Spader stars in a weird tale about the mysteries of desire. (09/20/2002)

"The Four Feathers" By Charles Taylor
Hoary epic of British Empire valor and cowardice, remade for seventh time, remains rot, old boy. (09/20/2002)

"The Banger Sisters" By Stephanie Zacharek
Susan Sarandon and Goldie Hawn have the time of their lives in this joyously randy tribute to two aging rock groupies. (09/20/2002)

Music preview: Shemekia Copeland By Mark J. Miller
Young blues singer Copeland teams up with blues piano legend Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack on her new CD "Talking to Strangers." Listen in. (09/20/2002)

Dylan Thomas: The Caedmon Collection, Part 11
On this final installment, the Welsh poet reads from "Adventures in the Skin Trade." (09/20/2002)

Letters
Authors and publishers weigh in on what it takes to get a book reviewed and readers respond to "When Science Lied." (09/20/2002)

Fail at what matters By Brother Void
(09/20/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 20
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/20/2002)

Lynda Barry
What She Just Said (09/20/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Dawn Shurmaitis' "Smoke and Mirrors" and Cary Tennis' "Come On In, the Water's Fine." (09/20/2002)

For Noelle Bush, a different kind of justice By Michelle Goldberg
In Florida, drug offenders face hard time -- unless you have money or connections. (09/20/2002)

Al-Qaida cell, or misguided kids? By Eric Boehlert
Federal prosecutors say the arrest of six Yemeni Americans in Buffalo is a blow against world terrorism. Or, critics say, it may be another mirage. (09/20/2002)

Hawks in a box By Joshua Micah Marshall
Flummmoxed by Saddam's latest move, Bush's Iraq hawks are desperately trying to find a way to justify an invasion anyway -- but they're just flapping their wings. (09/20/2002)

Baseball shouldn't overreact to attack By King Kaufman
Thursday's incident was shocking, but ballparks are relatively safe places, and don't need to be turned into armed camps. (09/20/2002)

Gut check time for corporate America By Arianna Huffington
The outrage over Jack Welch's retirement package is more than just a public post-Enron temper tantrum. (09/20/2002)

Britney: Read it and weep By Amy Reiter
Spears pens, like, a special book for her fans; Gloved One's hand out; "John Doe" kicks butt. Plus: The spy who ran scared. (09/20/2002)

FilthyFlicks By Cary Tennis
Correcting the sin of omission, this company adds extra sex, nudity, profanity or extreme violence to our favorite screen gems. (09/20/2002)

Bush hawks commandeer 9/11 hearings By Anthony York
Congress tries to ask why U.S. intelligence failed to predict the attacks, but Wolfowitz and Armitage only want to talk about why we must invade Iraq. (09/20/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Why are we going to war in Iraq? Plus: What Tony Blair told the Germans about Iraq. Behold, the Wayback Machine! (09/20/2002)

Love in the age of irony, Part 5 By "Since You Asked" readers
Young readers tell us that real sex is when you don't use a condom, that real love is always hard to find -- and that they don't hate baby boomers that much. Really. (09/20/2002)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
What happens when you drop dry ice into an airplane toilet? And are regional pilots just rejects from the big airlines? (09/20/2002)

When I'm 64 By Brian Doherty
In defense of the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Other Ones: Anyone who says rock 'n' roll is just about youth is a critical fascist. (09/19/2002)

Music preview: Hot Club of Cowtown By Charlotte Walton
On their lastest CD, "Ghost Train," the Hot Clubbers play impeccable Western swing and early string jazz tunes that rocked American dance halls in the 1930s. Listen in. (09/19/2002)

"From a Buick 8" by Stephen King By Andrew O'Hehir
The master of horror ends his recent slump with this skeptical tale about a strange car, a troop of state police and the fundamental unknowability of the universe. (09/19/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 19
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/19/2002)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
The outer reaches of plot twists: Please don't tell your friends the shocking beginning, middle and ending! (09/19/2002)

Come on in, the water's fine By Cary Tennis
You really should buy a house. I mean it. Part 1. (09/19/2002)

On a secret Taliban trail into Afghanistan By Phillip Robertson
Walking the narrow goat trails of Kunar Province, Taliban and al-Qaida fighters can travel with their weapons to and from Pakistan. But which way are they headed? (09/19/2002)

Curt Schilling needs the ball By King Kaufman
The five-man rotation steals starts from aces and gives them to lesser arms. When will a manager have the guts to ditch it? (09/19/2002)

Anatomy of Bob Greene By Neil Steinberg
The Chicago columnist crusaded on behalf of abused kids. Then he got fired for having sex with a teenage subject. (09/19/2002)

Iraq: The phantom menace By Robert Scheer
George W. Bush's war plans in the Middle East have more to do with elections than global security. (09/19/2002)

The opposite of terror sex By Amy Reiter
Why Christy and Ed split, what Heath won't wear, when Winona takes the stand. (09/19/2002)

They live among us Cartoon by Mark Fiore
And we can count on John Ashcroft & Co. to smoke them out! (09/19/2002)

Congress frustrated by Bush stonewalling By Anthony York
U.S. security agencies had signals years ago that foreshadowed 9/11. But the White House and key intelligence officials don't want to talk about it. (09/19/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Does it matter if an alleged criminal belongs to one political party or another? Ask Rush Limbaugh. (09/19/2002)

Stella! By David Thomson
Kim Hunter played a key role in molding "A Streetcar Named Desire" into a more heterosexual drama than its author intended. (09/19/2002)

Love in the age of irony, Part 4 By "Since You Asked" readers
Young readers write about saving the environment, the legacy of free love and how it's impossible to sum up a generation in a magazine article. (09/19/2002)

The strangest domain-name squabble ever By Farhad Manjoo
Girl Scouts, domestic violence awareness, charges of racism and censorship -- this Web site fight is a train wreck! (09/19/2002)

Slaves of celebrity By Eric Olsen
Kelly Clarkson has a golden future, right? Maybe so. But the "American Idol" winner and her fellow finalists had to sign virtually their entire careers away to the show's producers for one shot at stardom. (09/18/2002)

"Igby Goes Down" By Stephanie Zacharek
A clever, witty debut from a bright filmmaker. Now just ditch the Holden Caulfield clone, dump the in-jokes and give us some feeling. (09/18/2002)

Dylan Thomas: The Caedmon Collection, Part 10
This installment includes excerpts from Thomas' "Under Milkwood," a full-cast production of "Return Journey to Swansea" and more. (09/18/2002)

"Of Moths and Men" by Judith Hooper By Alison Motluk
It was a world-famous example of evolution in action, and it was rigged. How the case of the peppered moth proved that "scientific fact" sometimes isn't either. (09/18/2002)

Bestsellers
This week's bestselling books courtesy of Powells.com. (09/18/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 18
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/18/2002)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
We must invade Iraq! (09/18/2002)

Salon takes three nominations in Online Journalism Awards
(09/18/2002)

Not-so-sweet inspiration By Jonathon Keats
In Francine Prose's new book "The Lives of the Muses," the woman who triumphs is the one who refuses to submit. (09/18/2002)

Andrew Sullivan
Idiocy of the week: Mary McGrory (09/18/2002)

Like a virgin By Amy Reiter
Move over Britney -- Kelly Clarkson wants to be the new chaste one; Wesley Snipes gets some. Plus: What's bigger than a laptop and cries? Ask Bill Gates. (09/18/2002)

The big NEA-Sept. 11 lie, cont'd. By Brendan Nyhan
Blaming the NEA for preaching tolerance toward al-Qaida is too much fun for conservatives to stop. Even if it isn't true. (09/18/2002)

Democrat disarray By Anthony York
As Republicans call Saddam's concession a victory for tough talk, Democrats scramble to find a unified response. (09/18/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
The 9/11 intelligence breakdown was even worse than we thought. (09/18/2002)

Love in the age of irony, Part 3 By "Since You Asked" readers
Young readers talk about "alternative" relationships, cleaning up after the boomers, Kurt Cobain, the desire to love and be loved, and more. (09/18/2002)

How greedy was my Valley? By Andrew Leonard
A noir mystery and an academic study anatomize Silicon Valley's culture of fast money and culture splicing. (09/18/2002)

Sympathy for the misanthrope By Carina Chocano
It would be easy to feel sorry for "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Larry David -- if only he wasn't so damn unlikable. (09/17/2002)

Fall's tube of plenty By Carina Chocano
Saintly small-town doctors, Lynchian mysteries and repeating your teen years, twice: The new prime-time season lurches out of the gate this week. (09/17/2002)

"If not for 9/11, Bush's approval ratings would be very low" By Suzy Hansen
In his interview with Suzy Hansen, Alan Dershowitz talks about racial profiling and Osama bin Laden as Bush's reelection campaign manager. (09/18/2002)

"Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam 1862" by James M. McPherson By Katharine Whittemore
The great historian James McPherson presents his account of Antietam, the savage Civil War battle that made the freeing of the slaves possible. (09/17/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 17
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/17/2002)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
Only three months into their marriage, they knew they'd made a mistake. (09/17/2002)

It's all good By Dr. Lynn Ponton
As a parent and a psychiatrist, Dr. Lynn Ponton has daily encounters with the danger and exhilaration that accompany adolescence. Teenage risk is scary, she says, but it is also a developmental necessity. (09/17/2002)

A pediatrician in shining armor? By Dr. Lawrence Diller
There are no flawless parenting gurus, says Dr. Lawrence Diller, but as a behavioral pediatrician with 25 years in practice, he can guarantee thoughtful advice and plenty of moral support. (09/17/2002)

Worse than Enron, worse than WorldCom: The Pentagon By Raffi Khatchadourian
Chaotic accounting systems have caused the military to lose track of more than a million chemical-protection suits -- and that's just the beginning. Why does the country continue to tolerate such disgraceful financial incompetence? (09/17/2002)

The Angels-A's race is a dud By King Kaufman
Thanks to baseball's boneheaded wild-card system, we once again have two great teams playing meaningless games in September. (09/17/2002)

That "special relationship," rekindled By John R. Bradley
Saudi Arabia's decision to let the U.S. launch a U.N.-backed Iraq attack from its bases there could be a big political win, now that Saddam Hussein says he'll let weapons inspectors return. (09/17/2002)

Yesterday's terrorist, today's peacemaker By Ashley Fantz
In a vote hailed as a landmark stride for democracy, Macedonian voters elect an ethnic Albanian guerrilla leader many authorities still denounce as a terrorist. (09/17/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
More crony capitalism in Texas. Plus: Will Iraq hawks take yes for an answer? And why Superman is mad at George W. Bush. (09/17/2002)

Love in the age of irony, Part 2 By "Since You Asked" readers
Readers weigh in on what it's like to be young and searching for love, sex and a way to make sense of the boomer generation. (09/17/2002)

What's a girl to do? By Cary Tennis
A friend called me the most butch straight girl she knows. Am I going to have to dust off my delicate-flower routine to attract a man? (09/17/2002)

Trent Reznor's pretty hate machines By David Kushner
A geek before geeks were cool, the high-tech musician explains why he had to reclaim his programming roots for his next album. (09/17/2002)

You have been invited to invade Iraq! By Katharine Mieszkowski
How the Web can make planning your next war hassle-free and fun for all. (09/17/2002)

"Everything comes to an end" By Carina Chocano
Money, drugs, psychiatry and rampant individualism threaten both of Tony's families as "The Sopranos" sounds an even darker, bleaker tone. (09/16/2002)

Letters
The un-funniest story ever printed in Salon. Plus: Charles Taylor blows on Godard, and yes, Hitler was human. (09/16/2002)

Music preview: Spoon By Murray Jason
On "Kill the Moonlight," the Austin, Texas, band Spoon play minimalist rock that's too driving and danceable to be "art rock" yet too eccentric to be anything but. Listen in. (09/16/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 16
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/16/2002)

Salon recommends
Something nasty in the woodshed and more of our favorite books. (09/16/2002)

Bribes, threats and naked readings By Christopher Dreher
In a world where more and more new books get less and less attention, authors will do anything to promote their work. (09/16/2002)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
The Bush administration guide to achieving consensus. (09/16/2002)

Letters: Tidings of comfort and rage
Readers respond to an atheist's lament, the plight of shunned mourners, and the heretical thoughts of readers in the wake of 9/11. (09/16/2002)

Smoke and mirrors By Dawn Shurmaitis
As a mother battles cancer, her daughter turns to cigarettes for comfort. (09/16/2002)

The latest Bush hypocrisy By Arianna Huffington
Gov. Jeb Bush calls for jail time for nonviolent drug offenders as his daughter gets sent to rehab. (09/16/2002)

Shoney's, terrorism and the price of vigilance By Keith Olbermann
Anyone might overreact to a potential terror threat -- I almost did last year. But we should watch out for ethnic scapegoating, too, as we try to protect the nation from harm. (09/16/2002)

The unbleeped life By Amy Reiter
Kelly and Jack Osbourne: What goes on beneath the bleeps? The vulgarization of Celine Dion; Roseanne says Dubya's a "babe." Plus: Is Lorraine Bracco ready to drop the towel? (09/16/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
A Whitewater blowhard's tough road. Plus: A GOP TV ad's manufactured outrage. (09/16/2002)

Love in the age of irony By Cary Tennis and "Since You Asked" readers
Young men and women talk back to their elders about life, sex and the new rules of engagement. (09/16/2002)

Big trouble in the world of "Big Physics" By Leonard Cassuto
Six months ago, Jan Hendrik Schön seemed like a slam dunk nominee for a Nobel prize. Then some of his colleagues started to take a closer look at his research. (09/16/2002)

Can women save country music? By Stephanie Zacharek
Dynamite new albums from the Dixie Chicks, Kelly Willis and Allison Moorer bridge the gap between alt-country and those cowboy-hat robots in Nashville. (09/14/2002)

Why American Jewish groups support war with Iraq By Michelle Goldberg
Usually allied with liberal causes, many American Jews support toppling Saddam Hussein. If there's a peace movement, it will have to get started without them. (09/14/2002)

Suddenly, the U.N. backs Bush By Ian Williams
The president's speech left the world governing body little choice but to get tough on Saddam. (09/15/2002)

"Alias Betty" By Stephanie Zacharek
Don't let the creepy dread fool you -- this quiet French thriller gets to the heart of motherhood, and then pays off with comfort and calm. (09/13/2002)

"Barbershop" By Charles Taylor
Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer trade jabs in a cheerfully old-fashioned comedy about a South Side Chicago haircut joint and the community it anchors. (09/13/2002)

Music preview: Karrin Allyson By Max Garrone
On her latest album, "In Blue," vocalist Allyson slides effortlessly through blues classics by Bobby Troup, Bonnie Raitt, Max Roach, Joni Mitchell and others. Listen in. (09/13/2002)

Dylan Thomas: The Caedmon Collection, Part 9
The ninth installment features Thomas performing his play "Under Milkwood" together with the original cast. (09/13/2002)

Screwed by love By Brother Void
(09/13/2002)

Letters
Has the world rewarded Palestinian terrorism? Readers respond to the Alan Dershowitz interview. (09/13/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 13
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/13/2002)

Lynda Barry
Countdown from cool (09/13/2002)

Pols and CEOs gorge at the IPO feast By Arianna Huffington
It's time to impose new rules on the rich man's Shangri-la. (09/13/2002)

Damned if we do, damned if we don't By Ferry Biedermann
Even in moderate Arab states like Egypt, anti-Americanism burns so hot that the U.S. can do no right. (09/13/2002)

Oscar's final vindication By Allen Barra
The great welterweight has never gotten the respect he deserves. After Saturday, he should. (09/13/2002)

Must-see TV By Ashwini K. Chhabra
Al-Jazeera joins the fall season free-for-all with its own lineup of potential hit shows. (09/13/2002)

Who's getting married to the mob? By Amy Reiter
"The Sopranos'" Jamie-Lynn Sigler gets an offer she can't refuse; John Stamos might want to rethink that threesome fantasy. Plus: Vigilante or Viagra sponsor? Rambo is back. (09/13/2002)

Bush quiets Iraq critics, for now By Anthony York
Bipartisan high marks for Bush's U.N. speech -- but Democrats resist call to authorize force. (09/13/2002)

A case of mistaken distortion By Ben Fritz
A GOP powerhouse is forced to disavow a radio ad, aimed at African-Americans, that compares Social Security to "reverse reparations." (09/13/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
On Iraq, Bush chooses partisan sniping over congressional cooperation. And there's a good chance he'll regret it. (09/13/2002)

Doleful Daschle By Anthony York
The majority leader misquotes Bob Dole, and Democrats struggle to slow the Iraq juggernaut. (09/13/2002)

Before women had pubic hair By David Bowman
Scholar Peter Gay talks about "Exposed: The Victorian Nude" at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. (09/13/2002)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
Can an airliner get a speeding ticket? And, isn't it a bad thing when an engine bursts into flame? (09/13/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Patrick Smith's "Ask the Pilot" column and share their own experiences of flight. (09/13/2002)

Like "Wild Kingdom," with hot tubs By Mark Athitakis
Forget the small talk, the easy gags, the relationships. Contestants on "ElimiDATE" -- the best dating show on TV -- just want to get it on. (09/12/2002)

Music preview: Liars By Kevin Johannesen
The Liars' debut is a dirty, disorderly dance-punk record crammed with ear splitting vocals and throbbing bass lines. Listen in. (09/12/2002)

"The Cell" By John Miller
Listen to an excerpt from the new book by ABC newscaster John Miller and reporters Michael Stone and Chris Mitchell on why the FBI and CIA failed to stop the 9/11 attacks. (09/12/2002)

Why terrorism works By Suzy Hansen
Alan Dershowitz says the world community opened the door to al-Qaida by rewarding Palestinian terrorists -- and makes the case for national I.D. cards and torture. (09/12/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 12
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/12/2002)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
"Management Does the Darndest Things!" and other Super-Fun-Pak Comix (09/12/2002)

Ecstasy begets empathy By Sheerly Avni
Psychiatrist and drug researcher Dr. Charles Grob sees value in MDMA -- when it's taken in therapy, not at a rave. (09/12/2002)

Where's Osama? By Robert Scheer
Sept. 11 could have been avoided if our intelligence agencies had done their job. (09/12/2002)

Bush rolls out his new, improved get-Saddam line By Eric Boehlert
After weeks of fumbling and GOP infighting, the president takes his case to the U.N. (09/12/2002)

An ill wind By Keith Olbermann
Nature provided New Yorkers with its own eerie echoes of 9/11, as gusts forced the closing of an area around AOL Time Warner's new twin towers. (09/12/2002)

New York takes back 9/11 By Michelle Goldberg
The city comes alive with art and music and sadness, as New Yorkers rescue the anniversary from kitsch and voyeurism and political opportunism. (09/12/2002)

It's not a stripper's pole, really! By Amy Reiter
Angelina Jolie loves firemen's poles; Brad Pitt oppresses the masses; Aerosmith goes Amish; Brittany Murphy's devilish toddler days. Plus: P. Diddy, model citizen? (09/12/2002)

Anniversary waltz By Anthony York
Prayer service? Political commercial? Moving display of mourning? President Bush's 9/11 events seemed designed to marshal support for toppling Saddam Hussein without ever saying his name. (09/12/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Were Iraq hawks' feathers ruffled by Bush's U.N. speech? Plus: Discouraging words on Iraq from the other George Bush. (09/12/2002)

"Morvern Callar" By David Thomson
Samantha Morton comes to life in a deeply introspective film suffused with intimate naturalism. Plus she lounges around in her underwear. (09/12/2002)

New weapons in the war on toxic mold By Sam Boykin
Environmentally friendly building materials may help combat "sick building syndrome." But if that doesn't work, there's always your lawyer. (09/12/2002)

One nation under a groove By Brendan Costello Jr.
Let's face it, our national anthem blows. And "God Bless America" isn't working either. Here's a modest proposal: Curtis Mayfield's "Don't Worry (If There's a Hell Below We're All Going To Go)." (09/11/2002)

Music preview: Aimee Mann By Dan Kois
Mann's latest album, "Lost in Space," is a collection of sardonic ballads that further defines her as a monologist for the lost and broken. Listen in. (09/11/2002)

"The Partly Cloudy Patriot" by Sarah Vowell By Douglas Cruickshank
A "This American Life" commentator celebrates nerds and explains how to love your country without turning into a boorish, jingoistic, kitsch-crazed lout. (09/11/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 11
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/11/2002)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Football's immortal contribution to culture. (09/11/2002)

Anniversaries By David Alford
Like all the other blazoned dates of our lives, private and public, Sept. 11, too, will fade away. (09/11/2002)

Forbidden thoughts about 9/11: The readers respond
From "It was only white people" to hoping to get a 212 cell phone number to "I hope my father died," readers share their secret reactions to Sept. 11. (09/11/2002)

Sports and 9/11 By King Kaufman
We can call a quarterback a "warrior" without disrespecting last year's heroes. (09/11/2002)

Miss Liberty strikes back By Bruce Shapiro
The courts and even some of his allies have turned against John Ashcroft and his attack on civil rights -- and he has only his own bungling and overreaching to blame. (09/11/2002)

"I kept seeing the people in the towers" By Christopher Ketcham
Six men went out on Engine 279 Sept. 11; only Sean Halper returned. (09/11/2002)

She's come undone By Andrew Sullivan
Decoding Susan Sontag, line by arduous line. (09/11/2002)

The troubles we've seen By Salon staff
9/11 thoughts from Mark Crispin Miller, David Thomson, Richard Stallman and more. (09/11/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Joan Walsh's "It's My Country and I'll Cry if I Want To." (09/11/2002)

Now more than ever By Amy Reiter
Amy Reiter contemplates the fate of gossip in the wake of Sept. 11. (09/11/2002)

A nation remembers Cartoon by Mark Fiore
It's a time to focus our attention on our enemy, that madman. You know, what's his name. (09/11/2002)

Waffling on Iraq? By Anthony York
As Bush prepares for Iraq speech, Senate Democrats begin to complain about White House mixed messages. (09/11/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Ladies and gentleman, that laugh riot, Gov. Jeb Bush! Plus: When desperate for a fresh message, co-opt Lincoln. (09/11/2002)

Remember "terror sex"? By Cole Kazdin
What happened to the relationships kindled or rekindled in the aftermath of Sept. 11? (09/11/2002)

"How many copies will I sell in Wal-Mart?" By Ken Foster
Aimee Mann talks about addiction, depression, compulsion, her new album "Lost in Space" -- and freedom from major-label tyranny. (09/10/2002)

An ex-hippie boomer looks back Ranted by Cary Tennis
Maybe you were having fun in the '60s, but I was dancing out of nihilism and fear. (09/10/2002)

"Tom Stoppard: A Life" by Ira Nadel By George Rafael
The author of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" has overcome youthful tragedy to live a charmed life -- but he's still just a slick showman with a high IQ. (09/10/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 10
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/10/2002)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
Hilbert's Hotel (09/10/2002)

The big chill By Aaron Hicklin
On Sept. 11, the fiancées and partners of many who died suffered a double loss. Lacking the legal status of spouses, they were denied public legitimacy and, in some cases, the support of a loved one's family. (09/10/2002)

The path to peace By Bill Clinton
The only way to beat terrorism is for the U.S. to unite the world, not divide it. (09/10/2002)

The White House as target By Dinty W. Moore
On Sept. 10, 2001, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue seemed a small and uneasy place, vulnerable to a gathering storm. (09/10/2002)

It's my country and I'll cry if I want to By Joan Walsh
OK, we all have anniversary fatigue. But if administration critics cede 9/11 to the right, Karl Rove wins. (09/10/2002)

Andy loves his Astroglide By Amy Reiter
Comedian Dick comes clean; Daisy Fuentes on monkeys and butt cheeks; Kevin Bacon begs for another degree of separation. (09/10/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Readers react to my defense of Sullivan. Plus: Jeb Bush's strange complaint of Christian persecution. (09/10/2002)

Still in love By Cary Tennis
I am crazy about my ex-girlfriend but stuck in a trial-and-error dating lifestyle. What should I do? (09/10/2002)

Mozilla rising By Farhad Manjoo
Netscape won't dislodge Internet Explorer from its hegemony over browser space. But its open-source sibling is aiming at even bigger game: Windows. (09/10/2002)

Real Life Rock Top 10 By Greil Marcus
(09/09/2002)

Was Hitler human? By David Talbot
John Cusack talks about his new movie, "Max," which is sparking a firestorm even before its opening. (09/09/2002)

Salon recommends
Truman Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and our favorite new books. (09/09/2002)

Imagining death By Laura Miller
From Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones" to Stephen King's "From a Buick 8" to Haruki Murakami's "After the Quake," post 9/11 fiction offers readers consolation, harsh truths and a glimpse of the great mystery. (09/09/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 9
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/09/2002)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
What the president has learned since 9/11. (09/09/2002)

Remembering Sept. 12 By Arianna Huffington
Our leaders encouraged us to return as quickly as possible to our normal lives. Regrettably, they got their wish. (09/09/2002)

Iglesias moans about loud sex By Amy Reiter
Enrique's deep thoughts while standing naked in front of the mirror; Jerry Hall: Looking at Keith Richards made my kids just say no. Plus: Move over Angelina, Liza's adopting! (09/09/2002)

"Normal will never happen again" By Douglas Cruickshank
The author of two books about coping with sudden death talks about the emotional fallout of losing someone without having had a chance to say goodbye. (09/09/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Does Sullivan sully Salon? Plus: Which GOP House member had secret meetings with the Taliban? (09/09/2002)

Hollywood's war on innovation By Claire Tristram
Yet another victory for the entertainment industry in its showdown with Silicon Valley: The firing of Sonicblue CEO Ken Potashner. (09/09/2002)

Forbidden thoughts about 9/11 By Damien Cave
From gloating about getting off work to enjoying the "country road" ambience of lower Manhattan to hating on-the-make firemen: A spectrum of improper responses to the terror attacks. (09/07/2002)

The selling of 9/11 By Heather Havrilesky
We're buying schlock because we want to remember. But the more we stock up on canned memorabilia, the faster we'll forget. (09/07/2002)

Through the eyes of John Keenan Green By Michelle Goldberg
The Green Party is running a New York fireman for Congress in Long Island. But his campaign is more concerned with coming up with a theme song than victory in November. (09/07/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Stephanie Zacharek's review of "Satin Rouge," ponder Christian films and discuss female directors. (09/06/2002)

"In Praise of Love" By Charles Taylor
The critics are wrong: Jean-Luc Godard has absolutely nothing left to say -- and this passionless phony comeback proves it. (09/06/2002)

"Swimfan" By Charles Taylor
Smell the chlorine! "Fatal Attraction" goes poolside as swim champ is tormented by devil gal. (09/06/2002)

"City by the Sea" By Andrew O'Hehir
Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand almost rescue this lifeless, clichéd cop drama! Close isn't good enough! (09/06/2002)

"The Vagina Monologues"
Eve Ensler reads from her Obie Award-winning book, which celebrates female sexuality and gives voice to the deepest fantasies and fears of real women. (09/06/2002)

Living the life forced upon you By Brother Void
(09/06/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Kurt Kleiner's review of "Drawing the Line: Science and the Case for Animal Rights." (09/06/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 6
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/06/2002)

Classroom karaoke By Susan McCarthy
If California schools keep the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, there will be kids like I was, who will remain silent, move their lips and hope that patriotic peers don't catch them. (09/06/2002)

Is Osama winning? By Edward W. Lempinen
Playing into al-Qaida's hands: Will invading Iraq inflame the Arab and Muslim world and "open the gates of hell"? (09/06/2002)

U.S. airstrike near Asadabad By Phillip Robertson
In an Afghan province known for its hostility to the West, the U.S. is hunting for a fierce Islamic military leader. (09/06/2002)

The fog of "war" By Scott Rosenberg
We don't know who's winning, because President Bush -- for political reasons -- has never defined our aims or enemies. (09/06/2002)

The Kurdish dilemma By Asla Aydintasbas
Barham Salih, prime minister of Northern Iraq's Kurdistan regional government, talks about the recent attempt on his life, why he wants a regime change in Baghdad and what should happen in the days after Saddam is deposed. (09/06/2002)

Invasion trading cards Cartoon by Mark Fiore
Collect 'em all! (09/06/2002)

Lieberman dropping support for domestic terror-tips program By Dave Lindorff
The senator's disenchantment with Operation TIPS could doom the controversial citizen-snoops' hot line. (09/06/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal By Joe Conason
Tony Blair comes to Camp David to discuss George Bush's drive toward war in Iraq. Plus: Presidential candidate John Kerry once again criticizes the administration's war plans. (09/06/2002)

Mr. Spock's nudes By David Bowman
Leonard Nimoy talks about religion, Vulcans, sexuality, getting up at 5 a.m. and his love of photographing naked women. (09/06/2002)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
What are the 10 worst airline crashes of all time? (09/06/2002)

Party like it's 1988 By Porter Fox
Tequila! Kung fu! Spandex wedgies! Catching an end-of-summer buzz with ex-Van Halen frontmen Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth's nonreunion tour. (09/05/2002)

"One Man's Bible" by Gao Xingjian By Amy Reiter
From China's Nobel laureate, the story of a writer who survived the Cultural Revolution and the price he paid to do so. (09/05/2002)

"Tourmaline" by Joanna Scott By Suzy Hansen
An American family seeking its fortune hunting precious gems on the island of Elba finds mystery and adulterous passion instead. (09/05/2002)

"The Book of Illusions" by Paul Auster By Michelle Goldberg
A bereaved man becomes obsessed with the riddle of a great silent film star's disappearance. (09/05/2002)

"Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides By Andrew O'Hehir
This wondrous epic from the author of "The Virgin Suicides" travels from Mt. Olympus to Detroit to tell the story of an all-American hermaphrodite. (09/05/2002)

What to read in September By Salon's critics
Salon's critics review the month's star-studded fiction, including new books by Zadie Smith, Paul Auster, Haruki Murakami and Jeffrey Eugenides. (09/05/2002)

"The Autograph Man" by Zadie Smith By Laura Miller
From the author of "White Teeth," the story of a dealer in celebrity signatures who has serious girl trouble and a chance to sip from the toxic cup of fame. (09/05/2002)

"Things You Should Know" by A.M. Homes By Suzy Hansen
Urgent, hungry stories about the nightmare of suburban marriage (and one hilarious visit to a lonely Nancy Reagan), courtesy of a master of the form. (09/05/2002)

"After the Quake" by Haruki Murakami By Laura Miller
From the author of "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle," mysterious stories of love, loss and frogs set in a Japan harrowed by earthquakes and terrorism. (09/05/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 5
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/05/2002)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
The top-secret plan for Iraq (09/05/2002)

Paralyzed by perfection By Cary Tennis
I hone my own nutty ideas for a remodeling cure. (09/05/2002)

Don't watch, don't listen By Keith Olbermann
Whether it's the "Opie & Anthony" sex-in-church caper or a baseball-strike reporting blooper on national TV, when mistakes are made in broadcasting, nobody gets blamed. (09/05/2002)

Climate of terror By Glenn Scherer
Global warming could devastate the poorest and most strife-ridden regions of the world -- leading to a violent uprising against the nation that uses the most resources. (09/05/2002)

Any given Thursday By King Kaufman
It's time for the NFL to prove once again that having money doesn't mean a team can't still stink. Baseball, are you listening? (09/05/2002)

Isn't it Rich? By Andrew Sullivan
It's fine for liberals to oppose a war with Iraq. But they shouldn't lie about why and when President Bush began to advocate it. (09/05/2002)

The armchair general By Eric Boehlert
He's been beating the drums of war for a decade. Can Beltway hawk Richard Perle finally persuade the U.S. to wage war with Iraq? (09/05/2002)

An open letter to the leaders of the environmental movement By Fred Branfman
Why you're losing the war to Bush and Cheney. (09/05/2002)

Tribal Area dance By Phillip Robertson
Getting into Pakistan's autonomous region isn't so easy, but once you're there you can't go far without stumbling on the jihadis. (09/05/2002)

The return of voodoo economics By Arianna Huffington
The policies once blasted by the president's father have become the centerpiece of the current administration's economic policy. (09/05/2002)

The big NEA-Sept. 11 lie By Brendan Nyhan
How the conservative Washington Times helped create a myth about the teachers' union and Sept. 11 that has become conventional wisdom. (09/05/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Dems make gains in the Lone Star State; GOP meltdown in Illinois. Plus: How will Bush's new low poll numbers alter his war plans? (09/05/2002)

Clean-shaven carnality By David Thomson
Salma Hayek's Frida Kahlo is ravenously sexual -- but where's her mustache? (09/05/2002)

Math = beauty + truth / (really hard) By David Appell
Explaining what the winners of the world's top awards in mathematics actually do isn't as easy as adding 2+2. But we'll give it a try. (09/05/2002)

Ferris Bueller, Carrie Bradshaw and me By Stuart B. Siegel
I ran into Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker and tried to act all hip and cynical. Now I'm really, really sorry. (09/04/2002)

Arab-Americans, one year later By Carina Chocano
A new PBS documentary delicately explores the lives of "100 percent American, 100 percent Arab" citizens, who find themselves permanent outsiders in a season of war. (09/04/2002)

How to make an "American Idol" By Carina Chocano
Fox's sadomasochistic battle of the power ballads mercifully ends tonight, but it's been a jaded recording executive's ultimate summer fantasy. (09/04/2002)

Music preview: Mecca Normal By Murray Jason
The Canadian avant-garde folk duo's tenth album, "The Family Swan," pairs deliriously intense vocals with sublime guitar work. Listen in. (09/04/2002)

"Drawing the Line" by Steven M. Wise By Kurt Kleiner
A Harvard professor says science itself proves that such animals as parrots, apes and elephants should be considered persons with legal rights. (09/04/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 4
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/04/2002)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Yoko Ono: Antichrist who broke up the Beatles or accomplished artist? (09/04/2002)

Pity the nutty professor By Gary Presley
As a gimp, I watched the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon with disdain -- until Jerry's real kid said she felt "sad" for her daddy. (09/04/2002)

A post-9/11 American nightmare By Jake Tapper
Garad Jama was branded a terrorist. His business was shuttered, his assets frozen. He couldn't support his family. Nine months later the U.S. government said, "Never mind." (09/05/2002)

Dick Cheney's dream By Robert Scheer
Taking care of Saddam might also take care of Halliburton. (09/04/2002)

Mormon misogynist goes soft By Dimitra Kessenides
Director Neil LaBute surprises everyone but himself with "Possession." On the eve of its release, LaBute talks about a case of mistaken identity. (09/04/2002)

Mixing God and politics By Michelle Goldberg
Congress is voting on a bill to let religious leaders endorse candidates from the pulpit. The right can't lose: If it fails, they'll have a campaign issue to use against opponents in November. (09/04/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
A Green candidate's history with sludge spreading; Cheney in contempt? Plus: Ann Coulter gets canned in Pennsylvania. (09/04/2002)

Libertine or prude? By Charles Taylor
Erotica writer Zane delivers the damnedest mix of explicit, raucous, profane sexual descriptions alongside bromides on infidelity and homosexuality. (09/04/2002)

Steal this car! By Katharine Mieszkowski
General Motors wants to take its pioneering electric automobiles off the road. But the geeks who drive them won't let go of the steering wheel. (09/04/2002)

Letters
A response to Debbi Gardiner's "Bamboo Dick, First in Flight" (09/04/2002)

Lights! Camera! Apocalypse! By John Gorenfeld
Washed-up Hollywood stars battle the antichrist, and his smooth-talking liberal minions, in the wacky parallel universe of "end-times" Christian movies. (09/03/2002)

Dylan Thomas: The Caedmon Collection, Part 8
The Welsh poet reads from the works of Shakespeare and from Milton's "Paradise Lost." (09/03/2002)

"Defying Hitler" by Sebastian Haffner By Charles Taylor
A newly discovered memoir by a German classified as "Aryan" describes the insidious early spread of Nazism and how hard it was to resist. (09/03/2002)

Literary daybook, Sept. 3
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (09/03/2002)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
Beautilities (09/03/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to articles about working for a bankrupt company and coping with the death of an infant. (09/03/2002)

Imaginary infants as beacons of hope By Damien Cave
Once again, Americans have conjured a baby boom out of a national tragedy. What better way to create a happy ending? (09/03/2002)

My argument with white nationalists By David Horowitz
They're wrong, but they're the natural outgrowth of left-wing multiculturalism. We are all prisoners of identity politics now. (09/03/2002)

After the fall By Gary Kamiya
Salon looks back at 9/11. (09/03/2002)

Back to school By Arianna Huffington
Liberals champion reform of America's broken healthcare system, but resist change in America's schools. (09/03/2002)

Words and music
Readers respond to a tribute to Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell and an interview with musician Steve Earle. (09/03/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Is Dick Cheney dragging the country toward war despite the president? Plus: New GOP lies about Social Security. (09/03/2002)

Andrew Cuomo's attitude problem By Jake Tapper
He was supposed to be the Democrats' best chance to defeat New York Gov. George Pataki in November, except for one small problem -- people just didn't like him. (09/03/2002)

Drunk with love By Cary Tennis
My musician boyfriend says he needs to be burning for me all the time but now he doesn't feel the spark. (09/03/2002)

Osama bin Laden is alive and well and living in Utah By Katharine Mieszkowski
As the anniversary of Sept. 11 approaches, terror-related urban legends are running rampant. Luckily, Snopes.com is on the case. (09/03/2002)