December 2002

2002: The year in sports By King Kaufman
The thrill of ties and disputed finishes. The agony of scandals, blown calls and moral relativism. Plus: Endless debate. (12/31/2002)

Lord of the Geeks By Andrew Leonard
Tolkien provided the blueprint for one generation of computer games after another. But have today's whizz-bang graphics brought us any closer to Middle Earth? (12/30/2002)

"The Pianist" By Charles Taylor
Roman Polanski's wrenching World War II magnum opus confronts the horrors of the Warsaw ghetto and the moral complexities of war -- and asserts the power of art, just maybe, to triumph over nihilism. (12/27/2002)

Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? By Andrew O'Hehir
Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore bring dignity and Oscar-worthy performances to "The Hours," a lovingly crafted meditation on death, loss and literature. (12/27/2002)

"Chicago" By Stephanie Zacharek
Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones kick the movie musical revival with a brash and nasty tale about just what celebrity will get you. (12/27/2002)

Trent and Anna Nicole! Naked! On Fox! By Aaron Kinney
Sure, TV in 2001 got all serious and stuff. This year we reconnected with what's really important: Hard bodies in hot tubs, public humiliation and more "Law & Order" spinoffs. (12/26/2002)

TV does the darndest things By Sheerly Avni
The 10 moments that defined American television in 2002. Not necessarily in a good way. (12/26/2002)

"Catch Me If You Can" By Charles Taylor
Leonardo DiCaprio looks great in those '60s threads, but Steven Spielberg's story of a legendary hustler is sadly short on period zip, zowie and va-va-voom. (12/25/2002)

Christmas in Silver Street By Michel Faber
In snow-covered Victorian London, a 17-year-old prostitute and a little boy celebrate the season. (12/25/2002)

Music 2002: The year that squeaked By Joey Sweeney
Eminem bullied, Springsteen tried, sales sucked, but the mash-ups were pure populist art and Missy Elliott damn near reinvented hip hop. (12/24/2002)

Sweet 16 By Charles Taylor
A year of erotic masterpieces and exhilarating amorality proves good movies still get made, even if they don't always get seen. (12/23/2002)

Style with meaning, and vice versa By Stephanie Zacharek
Don't believe the naysayers: This was a great year in film, from the sexy-sweet "Secretary" to the nasty musical "Chicago." (12/23/2002)

"Spider-Man" didn't save anything By Andrew O'Hehir
I liked "Adaptation" and "The Two Towers," but the blustery year of big directors paid mostly diminishing returns. (12/23/2002)

On the blink
Word to the (online dating) wise: Never assume your guy has two eyebrows. (12/23/2002)

March of the "lucky duckies" By Farhad Manjoo
How did a callous and inaccurate argument for taxing the poor become part of the conservative agenda and the White House playbook? (12/21/2002)

Reactions to Trent Lott's fall Compiled by Salon staff
Jill Nelson, Todd Gitlin and others react to the Senate majority leader's resignation and the apparent ascension of Sen. Bill Frist. (12/21/2002)

Life after Lott By Michelle Goldberg
Bill Frist, the likely new Senate majority leader, is hailed as a moderate, but he's an antiabortion hard-liner who votes much like Trent Lott. (12/21/2002)

Lott falls, but Democrats don't rise By Eric Boehlert
Author Charles Bullock, an expert in the politics of the South, says the GOP will dust itself off and get along fine in Dixie. (12/21/2002)

The last temptation of Martin Scorsese
America's greatest living filmmaker on his 30-year quest to make "Gangs of New York," how he lost an Oscar to Kevin Costner and why he doesn't watch "The Sopranos." (12/20/2002)

"Gangs of New York" By Stephanie Zacharek
"Gunsmoke" meets "Planet of the Apes" in Martin Scorsese's overlarge, overcooked epic of 19th century Manhattan. You should see it anyway. (12/20/2002)

"Narc" By Jeff Stark
This solid genre flick plays '70s-style cops and robbers in Motown, with few survivors and fewer surprises. (12/20/2002)

"Morvern Callar" By Stephanie Zacharek
Samantha Morton rules the screen in Lynne Ramsay's strange and powerful tale of a young Scottish woman dealing (or not dealing) with her boyfriend's Christmas suicide. (12/20/2002)

"25th Hour" By Jeff Stark
Of course Spike Lee has the right to transcend movies about race. He also has the talent to do better than this plodding moral fable about a prison-bound Edward Norton. (12/20/2002)

Having the faith to be ironic By Brother Void
(12/20/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 20
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/20/2002)

Sex, sin and the gangs of San Francisco By Gary Kamiya
"The Barbary Coast," by the little-known author of "Gangs of New York," remains one of the strangest and most indispensable books about the city by the bay. (12/20/2002)

Flashes of hope in the darkest hour By Anne Lamott
My son, Sam, never knew his dad. One day he decided he wanted to meet him. Here's what happened. (12/20/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to "Across the Great Divide," by Cary Tennis. (12/20/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to apostrophe catastrophes, Republican racism and the antiwar movement. (12/20/2002)

Radical humanist, Iraq hawk By Michelle Goldberg
Kanan Makiya, an Iraqi progressive living in exile, welcomes U.S. intervention as the best chance for freedom in his country. And he wonders why U.S. leftists aren't with him. (12/20/2002)

In praise of making a stink By Arianna Huffington
Last week was enough to make you believe that the voice of the people can make a difference. (12/20/2002)

The people have spoken By Amy Reiter
And they are full of rage. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the kings and queens of mean! (12/20/2002)

Confederates in the attic By Anthony York
In the wake of the Lott debacle, President Bush faces questions about the way his campaign used the Confederate flag to win the South Carolina primary. (12/20/2002)

A whole Lotta racism Cartoon by Mark Fiore
Starring Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott -- and a high-powered supporting cast! (12/20/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Karl Rove leaves his fingerprints on the Bill Frist leadership campaign. Plus: As Trent Lott walks away from his post, a few defenders write in. (12/20/2002)

Social cravings By Cary Tennis
I love my girlfriend, but she's from an unambitious family. What's an immigrant with a legacy wish supposed to do? (12/20/2002)

Thong or bikini, sir? By Charles Taylor
How to go lingerie shopping for your woman without feeling as though you're 16 and sneaking a peek at Playboy with your Sunday-school teacher standing next to you. (12/20/2002)

A year to forget By Katharine Mieszkowski, Farhad Manjoo and Andrew Leonard
Enron, WorldCom, United; the war between Hollywood and Silicon Valley; a droopy stock market; and more, more, more spam. 2002 was not a whole lot of fun in the world of business and technology. (12/20/2002)

"Antwone Fisher" By Charles Taylor
Denzel Washington's directing debut is a sodden if competent Oprah-cized weeper about an abused kid's triumph and the shrink who learns lessons from him. (12/19/2002)

Letters
David Brin doesn't know a damn thing about "Lord of the Rings." Plus: Say what you want about "Adaptation" but lay off Wes Anderson. (12/19/2002)

I was rearranged by the Velvet Underground in 1967 Ranted by Cary Tennis
How on earth were they making that sound? And Nico. Nico! (12/19/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 19
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/19/2002)

Something for everyone
From Burning Man and NASA's moon photos to James Bond posters and Marilyn Monroe, we recommend the best gift books for those hard-to-please people on your list. (12/19/2002)

The shelf goes ever onward By Laura Miller
Our recommended books on all things Tolkienian for the Middle Earthlings on your holiday list. (12/19/2002)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Wall Street Journal Comix presents ... Lucky Ducky! (12/19/2002)

Across the great divide By Cary Tennis
I'm a baby boomer, but I'm not burned out. And I wanted to find out how the next generation is keeping the flame alive. My first stop: The University of Virginia. (12/19/2002)

Lott's long affair with racism By Robert Scheer
It's time for the Republican Party to deal with the racist history represented by its Senate leader. (12/19/2002)

Bush's drive for global abstinence By Laura McClure
At a United Nations conference in Bangkok, the U.S. shocks more than 30 Asian countries with a condemnation of premarital sex, contraception and abortion. (12/19/2002)

Idiocy of the week By Andrew Sullivan
It's a jowl-to-neck race between Bob Novak and Ann Coulter, and their bizarre defenses of Trent Lott. (12/19/2002)

To know America is to love America? By Michelle Goldberg
Advertising maven Charlotte Beers is trying to sell the U.S. to the Muslim world, but nobody's buying it. (12/19/2002)

Court orders halt to Venezuela oil strike Associated Press
(12/19/2002)

Does she or doesn't she? By Amy Reiter
Rumors, and Elton John, imply that Renee Zellweger has eating issues. Maybe not, but Winona has a paying job that could mean free clothes! (12/19/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
A few fine books. Plus: The night Trent Lott "did the right thing"; who is the Eli Lilly Bandit? (12/19/2002)

Illegal love? By Cary Tennis
I've been flirting with my law professor for months now. Should I make the first move? (12/19/2002)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
Were United's pilots to blame for the airline's failure? And: How worried should we be about the specter of shoulder-launched missiles taking down a domestic jet? (12/19/2002)

"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" By Charles Taylor
Yes, there are some "middle-chapter" problems, but Peter Jackson's Tolkien adaptation hasn't lost its devastating humanity, its heart-stopping cinematography or its epic sweep. (12/18/2002)

The week in dirt By Amy Reiter
Catfight brewing between Rosie Perez and Jennifer Lopez? Plus: The latest on Gwyneth Paltrow's love life, Sylvester Stallone's next "Rocky" and more. (12/18/2002)

Bestsellers
This week's bestselling books courtesy of Powells.com. (12/18/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 18
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/18/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Gary Kamiya's essay about the seduction of war. (12/18/2002)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Don't spend money this holiday season, and more anti-American advice. (12/18/2002)

Make a difference for the holidays
A letter from the editor (12/18/2002)

The unkindest cut By Sheerly Avni
People who repeatedly go under the knife to fix imagined imperfections may need shrinks, not plastic surgeons, warns an expert on a little-known disorder. (12/18/2002)

Troubled Times By Eric Boehlert
Missteps by Howell Raines, the New York Times' imperious top editor, have left the nation's best newspaper vulnerable to attacks by the right. (12/18/2002)

Terse no to big dough By Amy Reiter
Elizabeth Hurley rejects child support from Stephen Bing; less controversial celebs give birth to a small army. (12/18/2002)

Punching our ticket By Charles Taylor
In just three pictures, a Louis Vuitton ad captures the luxurious eroticism of train travel. (12/18/2002)

Inspiration, please! By Cary Tennis
We fight about everything from the dishes to the death penalty. I need to leave my huband but don't know how. (12/18/2002)

Radio Free Software By Sam Williams
Call them hackers of the last computing frontier: The GNU Radio coders believe that any device with a chip should be able to do, well, anything. (12/18/2002)

J.R.R. Tolkien -- enemy of progress By David Brin
"The Lord of the Rings" is lovingly crafted, seductive -- and profoundly backward-looking. Why not look at things through the Dark Lord's eye for a change? (12/17/2002)

"The Two Towers" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Listen to a full-cast dramatization of Part 2 of "The Lord of the Rings," featuring Ian Holm as Frodo. (12/17/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 17
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/17/2002)

Highway to heaven By Suzy Hansen
A shy, uptight journalist talks about the months he spent aboard the Playboy Miss Millennium bus, searching the nation for the ultimate Playmate. (12/17/2002)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
Scroogin' (12/17/2002)

The naughty and the nice
One woman's sexual deviant is another's perfect date. (12/17/2002)

America's apostrophe catastrophe By Arianna Huffington
What's with the growing misuse of that puny piece of punctuation? (12/17/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to "Al, We Hardly Knew Ye" by Kerry Lauerman. (12/17/2002)

Catfight brewing! By Amy Reiter
Rosie disses J.Lo as all booty and no talent; Russell Crowe to surrender bachelorhood in a tsunami of bubbly. (12/17/2002)

One last surprise By Jake Tapper
Lieberman heard from a friend, confidants from CNN. Apparently, only the Gore family knew when the most famous presidential also-ran decided to walk away from politics. (12/17/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Is Trent Lott suddenly too liberal for conservatives? Plus: Frank Luntz spins himself silly. (12/17/2002)

Love categories By Cary Tennis
Going out with handsome heartbreakers always ends in disaster. But I usually find some reason to reject the geeky, adoring guys. What to do? (12/17/2002)

The gift of virus By Nick Altebrando
In the spirit of the holiday season, a tale of one man who clicked too soon but discovered that missent e-mail can still lead to a wonderful life. (12/17/2002)

"Adaptation" and the perils of adaptation By Stephanie Zacharek
While Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze made their massively self-indulgent metamovie, other filmmakers have been doing the hard work of shaping books into films. (12/16/2002)

Sahara Hotnights: "Jennie Bomb" By Ross White
Four Swedish lasses in their early 20s attack the airwaves with melodious, sweaty bar rock. (12/16/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 16
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/16/2002)

Reel lives By Laura Miller
Film critic David Thomson talks about his masterly survey of movie people -- who's in, who's out and just what makes a star different from the rest of us. (12/16/2002)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
The adventures of Donkey-Man, and Hillary, the senatorial wonder! (12/16/2002)

Been trippin'?
As the Permanent Vacation series ends, stories of your own journeys will begin. (12/16/2002)

Al, we hardly knew ye By Kerry Lauerman
On "Saturday Night Live," Gore finally seems human. Sunday on "60 Minutes" he proves it, and pulls out of the 2004 race. (12/17/2002)

Fangs for the memories! By Amy Reiter
But now what's in store for the stars? You tell us. Make your nominations for the Fourth Annual Nothing Personal Readers' Choice Awards. Who's going to bust up like Billy Bob and Angelina, parent like Jacko and wig out like Russell? (12/16/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
A Lott more? It's time to revisit John Ashcroft's connections with the neo-Confederates. (12/16/2002)

Professional contact By Cary Tennis
My friends think it's creepy that my married colleague is spending so much time with a much younger single woman. But I swear we're on the up and up! (12/16/2002)

Bush to California: Choke on this By Katharine Mieszkowski
The White House has joined with the oil and auto industries to undermine the state's rigorous environmental regulations. (12/16/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to "Idiocy of the Week: Jimmy Carter, Nobel Laureate, Defender of Dictators" by Andrew Sullivan. (12/14/2002)

The tyrant and the traitor By Allen Barra
Two Alabama football coaches, Bear Bryant and Dennis Franchione, mistreated their players. But at least Bryant didn't betray them. (12/14/2002)

The ugly truth about Republican racial politics By Joan Walsh
The GOP needs to do a lot more than rebuke Trent Lott to make up for its legacy of pandering to white bigots and suppressing the black vote. (12/14/2002)

Lott: Apology No. 4
The Senate's top Republican tries again to persuade America that he's not a closet segregationist. (12/14/2002)

"About Schmidt" By Charles Taylor
Despite Jack Nicholson's competence, this comedy about a Midwestern retiree never goes beyond mocking its characters and flattering its audience. (12/13/2002)

"Maid in Manhattan" By Stephanie Zacharek
Jennifer Lopez has star power, genuine talent and considerable assets, but she's wasted yet again in a grossly predictable romantic comedy. (12/13/2002)

"Evelyn" By Stephanie Zachaerk
A small Irish movie dramatizes a real-life court case about separating children from their parents. (And it stars James Bond.) (12/13/2002)

Random Inc: "Walking in Jerusalem" By Stephen Weiss
Electronic musician Sebastian Meissner creates an intelligent and timely sound homage to a cherished city embroiled in conflict. (12/13/2002)

Be in it for yourself By Brother Void
(12/13/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 13
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/13/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to Laura Miller's essay "State of the Single Woman." (12/13/2002)

We gambled and lost everything we didn't need By Kate Convissor
After nearly two years on the road, we arrive a different family -- splintered but revived. (12/13/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to "Parenting, Not Pills" by Dr. Lawrence Diller, and "The Patient or the Portfolio" by Mary Papenfuss. Plus: Welcome back, Anne Lamott. (12/13/2002)

Booby prize By Andrew Sullivan
Idiocy of the week: Jimmy Carter, Nobel laureate, defender of dictators. (12/13/2002)

Moby mobbed By Amy Reiter
Musician pummeled by mystery men in club brawl; Gwyneth's hot for Coldplay beau. Plus: Spock bows out, Rocky doesn't. (12/13/2002)

Rock-ribbed Republican -- and anti-Bush By Michelle Goldberg
The newest, most outspoken critics of the war on terrorism and Iraq are conservatives. (12/13/2002)

Lott: It gets worse By Anthony York
Troubling new disclosures about the Senate's top Republican and his record on race relations raise questions about his fitness for office. (12/13/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Note to Hannity, Limbaugh and ditto-heads: Byrd is not Lott. Plus: Where are the Senate Democrats? (12/13/2002)

The real Trent Lott By Jake Tapper
A leading Mississippi segregationist says his old friend shares his racist views and his recantation is bogus. (12/13/2002)

Coffee talk By Cary Tennis
How should I ask out the waitress at my diner so that I don't embarrass her or myself? (12/13/2002)

Life on the edge By Scott Rosenberg
The geek-driven world of new "decentralized" technologies like Wi-Fi, blogging and Web services is more about cutting out the middleman than finding a business model. (12/13/2002)

Bureaucracy made hilarious By Carina Chocano
Fox's absurd-yet-true office comedy "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" makes other sitcoms look as if they're die-stamped by robots. (Which they are.) (12/12/2002)

The week in dirt By Amy Reiter
Dirrty girl, interrupted? Christina Aguilera wants to act. Plus: The latest on Winona Ryder, Spike Lee and more. (12/12/2002)

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

State of the single woman By Laura Miller
Unmarried gals may be the freest people around. But to fully enjoy their lives, they need to stop paying attention to society's instructions. (12/12/2002)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
The untold story of the Nine Commandments. (12/12/2002)

Parenting, not pills
A new study casts serious doubt on our all-too-common practice of dosing hyperactive kids with Ritalin. Dr. Lawrence Diller welcomes the news. (12/12/2002)

Bring back Charlie Hustle By King Kaufman
Pete Rose is unrepentant and unapologetic, but so what? He's done his time -- and forgiveness is the American way. (12/12/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to "It's OK -- She's a Public Figure" by Keith Olbermann, the appointment of Elliott Abrams and the Republican reaction to Trent Lott. (12/12/2002)

White House chutzpah By Arianna Huffington
The administration that came to power talking about humility has become gallingly arrogant and drunk with power. (12/12/2002)

Queen of hearts By Amy Reiter
Latifah loves to forgive herself; Jermaine on Jacko: He ain't heavy, he's my bro; Pam and Tommy Lee cash in on sex-video court battle. (12/12/2002)

How YOU can help the economic recovery Cartoon by Mark Fiore
Thousands of workers happily gave their lives to build the Great Pyramids. America needs that team spirit! (12/12/2002)

The antiwar movement goes mainstream By Michelle Goldberg
Groups like NOW, the Sierra Club and the National Council of Churches -- plus a raft of celebrities -- reach out to Middle America as they denounce a preemptive, unilateral war with Iraq. (12/12/2002)

A whole Lott of trouble By Anthony York
Sen. Trent Lott apologized again for his racially insensitive remarks, but even some conservatives called for him to step aside as the next majority leader. (12/12/2002)

Lott's amnesia By Jake Tapper
The senator says he can't fully recall Thurmond's racist presidential run. Here's a refresher course: A 1948 ballot decrying "anti-lynching" legislation, and a letter to Lott from a racist supporter. (12/12/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Lott's involvement with the neo-Confederate movement, racists and extreme rightists goes way back. (12/12/2002)

Sexless love By Cary Tennis
I adore my husband, but his lack of interest in sex is making me angry, sad, hurt and tempted to cheat. (12/12/2002)

United's ESOP fable By Farhad Manjoo
Did employee stock ownership drive the airline into bankruptcy? (12/12/2002)

Off to see the Izzard By Ian Rothkerch
Cross-dressing comedian Eddie Izzard on big breaks, serious roles and talking crap. (12/11/2002)

"Caramelo" by Sandra Cisneros
The author of "The House on Mango Street" reads from her new novel, a tale of real and imagined homelands. (12/11/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 11
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/11/2002)

"Emma's War" by Deborah Scroggins By Michelle Goldberg
When a beautiful, idealistic Western aid worker fell in love with a Sudanese warlord, a terrible tragedy of hunger and violence was set in motion. (12/11/2002)

Bestsellers
This week's bestselling books courtesy of Powells.com. (12/11/2002)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Good gawd, I hate the morning! (12/11/2002)

A real stiff
He passed the makeout test, but then insisted I remain motionless when we were having sex. (12/11/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to "Caught Whistling Dixie" by Anthony York, and "Joe Conason's Journal." (12/11/2002)

Carter warns of "uncontrollable violence" By Jimmy Carter
In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, former President Jimmy Carter blasts the idea of a preemptive war with Iraq. (12/11/2002)

It's OK -- she's a public figure By Keith Olbermann
From Mike Piazza to Winona Ryder, celebs have replaced minorities as the people it's OK for America to make fun of. (12/11/2002)

America's weapons of mass destruction By Robert Scheer
If weapons inspectors were to look at the United States, what would they find? (12/11/2002)

True love and honest labor By Amy Reiter
Winona gets a job; J.Lo gets a spiritual leader; Liam Gallagher gets new teeth. (12/11/2002)

The Salon Interview: Bill Maher By Jake Tapper
The political satirist talks about the 9/11 quote that got him fired from ABC, his new HBO show and why Bush is losing the war on terror. (12/11/2002)

White House economic policy: Confusion By Anthony York
Stephen Friedman was set to be the next chair of Bush's National Economic Council. Then he wasn't. Then he was again. Clearly, the man has enemies. (12/11/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Trent Lott's past -- and how that should affect his future. (12/11/2002)

Breaking up is hard to do By Cary Tennis
How do you stay in contact with an ex and remain emotionally stable? (12/11/2002)

Letters
A prescription for Hollywood's technology problems and other reader responses to Farhad Manjoo's "Replay It Again, Sam." (12/11/2002)

Divorce Italian style By Carina Chocano
No major characters got whacked in the season finale of "The Sopranos." The destruction was way bigger than that. (12/10/2002)

BOMB Interview: Rackstraw Downes
Writer Phillip Lopate talks with painter Downes about naivete, realism and the artistic appeal of urban steel and concrete structures. (12/10/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 10
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/10/2002)

Sex, lies and revolution By Suzy Hansen
Gioconda Belli talks about leaving her marriage for Nicaragua's Sandinistas and a tumultuous life of love affairs, espionage and power struggles. (12/10/2002)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
When he finally pops the question. (12/10/2002)

I'm back! By Anne Lamott
She's tanned, she's rested, she's traumatized by the elections, she's ready to roll. After a three-year absence, longtime Salon columnist Anne Lamott returns. (12/10/2002)

Bush's frightening Middle East appointment By Gary Kamiya
By naming Iran-contra rogue Elliott Abrams its top policy advisor on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the White House is signaling a hard pro-Sharon line that could prove disastrous. (12/10/2002)

Red whips and Nicole's lips By Amy Reiter
Arnold says no to licorice; Tom's ex is a good kisser. Plus: Jack sleeps alone. (12/10/2002)

Caught whistling Dixie By Anthony York
Four days later, Lott's controversial comment gets some attention. But not from top congressional Democrats. (12/10/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Only Gore responds to a senator's racist smear, as other Democrats -- led by the morally deaf and politically dumb Tom Daschle -- keep quiet. (12/10/2002)

I'm in love with a mama's boy By Cary Tennis
She not only lives with us but also comes in and lies on our bed and watches TV with us. (12/10/2002)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
United isn't the first great airline to fall on hard times. Does anyone still remember Eastern? Or the glory days of Pan Am? (12/10/2002)

Real Life Rock Top 10 By Greil Marcus
(12/09/2002)

Various Artists: "Ultra 80's vs. Electro" By Stephen Weiss
A collection of underground dance tracks pits a new generation of electro artists (Fischerspooner) against their progenitors (Kraftwerk). (12/09/2002)

R is for rabid By Sheri Zollinger
Liberals are poopie-heads! and other lessons for the children of far-right-thinking adults in Ann Coulter's new kids book, "I Know You Are but What Am I." (12/09/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 9
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/09/2002)

Salon recommends
Evidence of terrible crimes and more of our favorite new books. (12/09/2002)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Language is still a virus: Another look at how idiotic ideas enter the political mainstream. (12/09/2002)

The patient or the portfolio? By Mary Papenfuss
A growing number of medical researchers have a financial stake in the experimental drugs they administer. The resulting conflict of interest can be decidedly unhealthy for their patients. (12/09/2002)

Last chance to avert catastrophe? By Paul J. Caffera
The U.S. government and airlines have failed to address the terrifying portable missile threat until now. Will al-Qaida's Kenya attack finally spur them into action? (12/09/2002)

The righteous wrath of John McCain By Arianna Huffington
Betrayed by the White House on campaign reform -- "They flat out broke their word," he says -- the straight-talking GOP maverick is fighting back. (12/09/2002)

Dirrty flicks By Amy Reiter
Christina seeks perfect role for her screen debut; ex-Bond can't face another martini; it's bewitching Nicole, by a nose. Plus: Bullock and the Bachelor. (12/09/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
The Senate majority leader is nostalgic for segregation and no one seems to care -- including the New York Times, NPR and the Democratic Party. (12/09/2002)

Do the right thing By Cary Tennis
I hurt my ex-girlfriend but now I know what heartbreak feels like and I want to make amends. Is that a good thing or is it selfish? (12/09/2002)

Replay it again, Sam By Farhad Manjoo
Personal video recorders already have Hollywood running scared. Now Microsoft is pushing a new computer that will make trading TV shows as easy as using ... Napster. (12/09/2002)

A front-row seat at war By Gary Kamiya
HBO's "Live From Baghdad" is the story of one of live journalism's finest hours -- and a cautionary tale for an increasingly docile press. (12/07/2002)

Gridiron general By Allen Barra
A new ESPN movie reminds us that being coached by Paul "Bear" Bryant was like having John Wayne for your grandfather. (12/07/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to recent articles on Kissinger, DiIulio, McDonald's and McVeigh. (12/07/2002)

Wolf in sheep's clothing By Edward W. Lempinen
Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz was in San Francisco to indict Saddam Hussein. But despite growing impatience, he provided no evidence. (12/07/2002)

Bush shakes up economic team By Anthony York
O'Neill and Lindsey are out. But critics of White House policy might not like what comes next. (12/07/2002)

"Empire" By Stephanie Zacharek
This crime drama about a dealer who dips into high finance will rob you of something more precious than drugs: Your time. (12/06/2002)

"Analyze That" By Charles Taylor
The mobster-shrink sequel cracks wise for 15 minutes then puts on a pair of concrete shoes and takes comedy out for a cruise. (12/06/2002)

"Adaptation" By Andrew O'Hehir
A dizzying feature from the self-consciously deranged makers of "Being John Malkovich" imagines Nicolas Cage as a chronic masturbator and Meryl Streep as a mean, mean Susan Orlean. (12/06/2002)

U.S. to Sophia Loren: Go away, Grandma By Karen Croft
American distributors' shallowness and ignorance may mean you'll never see Lina Wertmuller's new film -- and Sophia's breasts covered in pearls. (12/06/2002)

Underground rising By Andrew O'Hehir
From Tarantino to Spike Jonze, from "Memento" to "Y Tu Mama," we're living through an independent film explosion. Salon introduces Indie Film -- a new section dedicated to cinematic life beyond the blockbuster. (12/06/2002)

"BAP Like Me" By Adrienne Crew
Adrienne Crew reads from her piece about black American princesses, responds to reader comments, and swears never to joke about Oprah again. (12/06/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to "Why Do Books Cost So Much?" and "The Decline and Fall of the American Empire." (12/06/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 6
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/06/2002)

Do the wrong thing By Brother Void
(12/06/2002)

Lynda Barry
Marlys Paper Dolls (12/06/2002)

Letters
Readers respond to recent articles on Bush and families, women in Islam, and Indian-crazy Germans. Plus: Young people talk back to Dr. Lynn Ponton. (12/06/2002)

Letters
Jill Nelson to Andrew Sullivan: I don't "hate free societies" or support religious zealots. Stop swinging your you-know-what and threatening people who disagree with you. (12/06/2002)

As snow falls, baseball's in the air By King Kaufman
Some things to remember: Jim Thome's worth the money, the Phillies haven't won anything yet, and the Cubs and White Sox are still the Cubs and White Sox. (12/06/2002)

Bad Times By Andrew Sullivan
Idiocy of the week: The editors of the Times confuse Tiger Woods with Rosa Parks -- and journalism with ideology. (12/06/2002)

Star bore By Amy Reiter
Thespian-challenged Hayden ordered to bulk up to Darth Vader weight; Ben Affleck's mom counting on grandkids. Plus: Halle and hubby working it out. (12/06/2002)

Clinton: Democrats "were missing in action" By Bill Clinton
In a major political address this week, former President Bill Clinton bluntly dissected the Democrats' recent electoral losses. Moving to the left, he said, is not a solution -- but fighting back is. (12/06/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Trent Lott waxes nostalgic over the segregationist era. Plus: Paging John McCain! (12/06/2002)

Funny flesh By Karen Croft
A conversation with legendary pop artist Mel Ramos, who never saw a big-breasted woman he didn't want to paint sitting on a howling hippo. (12/06/2002)

Devoted, or a doofus? By Cary Tennis
I'm in love with a woman who is newly divorced and wants to play the field. Should I wait or move on? (12/06/2002)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
The Pilot returns from Mali wondering why the service on U.S. airlines is so bad and recommending the JetBlue way. (12/06/2002)

"El Crimen del Padre Amaro" By Stephanie Zacharek
Just like its naughty priest, the biggest movie in Mexico is so taken with the heaving breasts of its leading lady that it can't think straight. (12/05/2002)

The week in dirt By Amy Reiter
It's a deal: J.Lo and Ben to have sex no less than four times a week. Plus the latest on Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and more. (12/05/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 5
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/05/2002)

"The Soldier's Return" by Melvyn Bragg By Suzy Hansen
An English soldier returns from World War II to his wife, son and cozy village, but finds the horror and the glory of his wartime memories hard to shake. (12/05/2002)

"The Seven Sisters" by Margaret Drabble By Charles Taylor
A newly divorced woman casts a cold, clear eye on life in contemporary London and the idyllic potential of a trip to Italy. (12/05/2002)

"A Whistling Woman" by A.S. Byatt By Laura Miller
From the author of "Possession," a novel of intellectual life in the 1960s and the dangerous allure of utopian and revolutionary dreams. (12/05/2002)

"Child of My Heart" by Alice McDermott By Suzy Hansen
A remarkably beautiful young girl and her mysteriously bruisable cousin share a last summer of innocence in a town that isn't as safe as it seems. (12/05/2002)

"All Is Vanity" by Christina Schwarz By Michelle Goldberg
A scheming would-be novelist urges her best friend toward financial and marital disaster in her quest for juicy material. (12/05/2002)

"The Cave" by Jose Saramago By Andrew O'Hehir
An unassuming potter faces off against the Center, an all-encompassing commercial monolith with a dark secret, in this futuristic tale from a Nobel laureate. (12/05/2002)

What to read in December By Salon's critics
From a delicious satire of literary ambition to a futuristic mystery by a Nobel laureate, we pick the month's best new books. (12/05/2002)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
So, you're thinking of going to nursery school! (12/05/2002)

No children allowed By Jennifer Foote Sweeney
President Bush wants welfare recipients to marry -- but not have kids. (12/05/2002)

Yes, I bid on Abe Lincoln's hair By Keith Olbermann
When I collected baseball cards, you had to buy them from other humans. Now you can get almost anything you want, anonymously, on the Internet -- and people want ever-stranger things. (12/05/2002)

The day Henry Kissinger cried By Stephen Talbot
My astonishing interview with the man who knows where the bodies are buried. (12/05/2002)

Washington's hottest whodunit By Arianna Huffington
Who turned the Homeland Security bill into the Eli Lilly Protection Act? (12/05/2002)

Blind man's brinksmanship By Eric Boehlert
Early signs suggest Saddam may deny that he has weapons of mass destruction -- just what White House hawks are hoping for. (12/05/2002)

Falling arches By Michelle Goldberg
McDonald's is under fire all over the world -- with Thursday's bombing only the most recent. Can the fast-food conglomerate withstand the heat of global anti-Americanism? (12/05/2002)

Said the spider to the fried By Amy Reiter
Tarantula attacks arachnid-loving Jacko (or so he says); shower play for David and Courteney Cox Arquette.Plus: Angelina Jolie in talks to play the original Deep Throat. (12/05/2002)

Ice, ice, baby Cartoon by Mark Fiore
Revealed! The secret behind the return of ice-age relics like Kissinger, Cheney and Poindexter. (12/05/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Rush -- nailed on his own show! Plus: Will disclosure requirement cause Kissinger to resign? (12/05/2002)

Panicked in Rome By Cary Tennis
Should I give up my career and live the life of an Italian housewife? (12/05/2002)

Screenage wasteland? By Andrew Leonard
When video games look as good as action films, commercials are more fun than cartoons, and everything screams "Buy!" it's easy to lose your bearings. (12/05/2002)

Lightening up the graveyard shift By Carina Chocano
On Comedy Central's "Insomniac," join stand-up comic Dave Attell on his boozy journey through a late-night world of drunks, strippers, cops, sewage workers and just plain folks. (12/04/2002)

"Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts" by Roald Dahl Read by Alan Cumming
Think you know the story of Cinderella? Listen to what really happened. (12/04/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 4
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/04/2002)

"The Matrix and Philosophy" by William Irwin, ed. By Laura Miller
Philosophers tackle the mind-bending questions posed by the science-fiction hit "The Matrix," and come up with some surprisingly deep thoughts. (12/04/2002)

Bestsellers
This week's bestselling books courtesy of Powells.com (12/04/2002)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
It all adds up, or fuzzy math? (12/04/2002)

What would Mohammed do? By Laura McClure
Geraldine Brooks, an expert on the role of women in Islam, says the "haters of beauty" behind the Miss World riots misrepresent what is a "pro-sexuality" religion. (12/04/2002)

Day of the dead By Max Blumenthal
More than 325 women have been murdered in the free-trade boomtown of Ciudad Juarez in the past decade. Faced with government incompetence and corruption, people are rebelling. (12/04/2002)

Boom! Now you've got something! By King Kaufman
John Madden and Al Michaels are meshing nicely on "Monday Night Football" -- but don't assume they're the best in the business. (12/04/2002)

Just don't call her an addict By Amy Reiter
Whitney and Bobby are hooked on everything; Van Damme talks about his cracked nuts. Plus: The return of Chuck Woolery -- he'll be back in two minutes, and two seconds. (12/04/2002)

Bold words from a wobbly man By Joan Walsh
John DiIulio is now begging the White House's forgiveness for his scathing attack on its tyranny of "Mayberry Machiavellis." But he should be begging ours. (12/04/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Before he became a vaunted White House turncoat, DiIulio openly criticized the Bush administration for its lack of compassion. (12/04/2002)

Bad Asian girl By Cary Tennis
I'm dating a non-Asian man who sleeps over, I almost didn't go to medical school, and I'm a liberal. How can I get my parents to accept me as I am? (12/04/2002)

Letters
Readers revolt against Total Information Awareness. (12/04/2002)

A "Fellowship" for fanatics By Laura Miller
Why the Eye of Sauron was the bane of Peter Jackson's life, and other knowledge I gleaned from the extended DVD of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." (12/03/2002)

"The Father Costume" by Ben Marcus
Listen to a live recording of a story set in a world where clothes alter -- at times seemingly dominate -- people's behavior. (12/03/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 3
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/03/2002)

Why do books cost so much? By Christopher Dreher
Thirty bucks for a new hardcover! How book prices got so out of hand, who's responsible and what it will take to make reading more affordable in the future. (12/03/2002)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
As luck would have it. (12/03/2002)

Shoulder-launched missiles? Subscribers read it here first
(12/03/2002)

Future shock By Dr. Lynn Ponton
Dr. Lynn Ponton responds to a 17-year-old boy who despairs of a world threatened by war and run by adult hypocrites. (12/03/2002)

Profits before patriotism By Arianna Huffington
How the Homeland Security bill rewarded corporate tax dodgers. (12/03/2002)

A taste of the whip for Saddam By Kerry Lauerman
U.N. weapons inspector Jack McGeorge's leadership role in the Washington S/M scene isn't a liability, says a friend -- it'll help him distinguish between fantasy and reality. (12/03/2002)

Naked divas demanding sex By Amy Reiter
Celine Dion longs to sing in the buff; J.Lo inks a deal for conjugal bliss -- four times a week. (12/03/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
Regarding Henry: Will he explain his job for Unocal when the oil giant was cozying up to the Taliban? (12/03/2002)

Two problems By Cary Tennis
The woman I want is a colleague at work and she has a boyfriend. What should I do? (12/03/2002)

Is Big Brother our only hope against bin Laden? By Farhad Manjoo
Civil libertarians are outraged about Total Information Awareness, the government's Orwellian plan to monitor everyone, all the time. But some computer scientists say it might be the only way to save civilization. (12/03/2002)

Oprah's hulking stepchild By Carina Chocano
No-nonsense "Dr. Phil" has struck a national nerve with his bootstrap psychology. But can he escape the shadow of his famous patron? (12/02/2002)

"The Hidden Staircase" by Carolyn Keene Read by Laura Linney
Listen to supersleuth Nancy Drew's adventures from the second book in the beloved mystery series. (12/02/2002)

Literary daybook, Dec. 2
Real and imaginary events of interest to readers. (12/02/2002)

The decline and fall of the American empire By Suzy Hansen
An expert on geopolitics says forget Islamic terrorism -- the real future threat to America's supremacy will come from Europe. (12/02/2002)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
These days when teachers warn kids about their permanent record, they really mean it! (12/02/2002)

Free Day Pass to Salon Premium ends soon
Salon's CEO invites you to see what you're missing. (12/02/2002)

Heart burn
We had great sex -- then he returned from his honeymoon. (12/02/2002)

Did Timothy McVeigh have Iraqi helpers? By Eric Boehlert
The Justice Department says no, but an Oklahoma City TV reporter says yes. With war against Iraq looming, her conspiracy theory has new support among right-wingers and hawks. (12/02/2002)

Blizzard of Oz By Amy Reiter
Jack Osbourne rips rival reality shows; Jacko yearns to shop like a normal person. Plus: Choking Halle gets squeezed by her Bond. (12/02/2002)

Joe Conason's Journal
A rare, unvarnished look at the Rove spin machine. Plus: The press goes soft on Kissinger. (12/02/2002)

Oral fixation By Cary Tennis
Sometimes I think my boyfriend prefers blow jobs to intercourse, and it makes me uncomfortable. (12/02/2002)

Prometheus' gift of fission By Jim Fisher
A sonnet commemorating the 60th anniversary of the first laboratory-induced nuclear chain reaction. (12/02/2002)

GayBombay By Sandip Roy
Online gathering places provide safe harbor for India's gays. But they may prevent some people from coming out. (12/02/2002)