May 2004

Page turners with a brain By Salon's critics
Dump "The Da Vinci Code" and break the "Rule of Four" -- our reading list for a hot season ventures from 1945 Barcelona to an English ghost story to a haunted Texas bureaucracy, all without insulting your intelligence. (05/29/2004)

A man for all intrigues By Andrew Cockburn
Iyad Allawi, the new choice to lead Iraq, isn't Ahmed Chalabi -- but that's about the only thing to commend this wily member of the old-boy, CIA-sponsored exile club. (05/29/2004)

Letters
Readers, both civilian and military, respond to "Rush's Forced Conscripts," by Eric Boehlert. Plus: Did faulty reporting by the Times ultimately lead to unnecessary deaths in Iraq? (05/29/2004)

A presidential aura By Tim Grieve
With the crowds growing, the campaign money flowing and the media swarming, John Kerry is looking more and more like the front-runner. (05/29/2004)

"Saved!" By Stephanie Zacharek
Judgment bad! Acceptance good! This movie about religious hypocrisy not only thumps us over the head with its kumbaya message, but also gives us Macaulay Culkin as a sex symbol. And that's just wrong. (05/28/2004)

No false "Idol" By Heather Havrilesky
After Super Bowl-style fanfare and 65 million votes, TV's most popular show concludes with Fantasia Barrino as the most deserving "American Idol" yet. (05/28/2004)

"The Day After Tomorrow" By Stephanie Zacharek
In this inane special-effects vehicle, Americans desperately try to cross into Mexico to escape a frozen death. Audiences will do the same. (05/28/2004)

"The Mother" By Stephanie Zacharek
Roger Michell's film about an affair between an older woman and a handyman with an artistic soul is a story of sexual awakening, yes, but that's only part of it. (05/28/2004)

The Fix
Bidding war heats up for Clinton book serial rights, Utah man denied damages for Janet Jackson flash and Paul McCartney says war in Iraq is "very difficult." (05/28/2004)

Blahbusters By Charles Taylor
Don't buy the frantic pleadings of the Hollywood media machine -- summer blockbusters have become a colossal bore. (05/28/2004)

Jessica Simpson may play Daisy Duke ASSOCIATED PRESS
(05/28/2004)

What little boys are made of By Meredith Maran
Rebecca Walker, the editor of a new collection of essays about the meaning of "masculinity," talks about her anthology -- and how her identity as a black, white and Jewish bisexual affects her work. (05/28/2004)

Not the Brady Bunch By Cary Tennis
We want to get married but our teenage kids like each other maybe a little too much. (05/28/2004)

"The truth has a force of its own" By Tim Grieve
In a Salon interview, John Kerry talks about Iraq, his "personal" decision on a running mate and the "craven, petty, childish and destructive" politics of his opponents. (05/28/2004)

Documenting torture By Jeff Horwitz
A farmer and peace activist from the American heartland talks about his frontline battle against human rights abuses in Iraq -- long before the world learned of Abu Ghraib. (05/28/2004)

The fake peace By Phillip Robertson
Hours after a deal was struck, armed Mahdi army forces are back in Najaf -- abetted by fresh volunteers. (05/28/2004)

Guns 'R' Us By Mark Fiore
Thanks to President Bush and GOP lawmakers, there are plenty of bullets flying on the home front, too! (05/28/2004)

Bush's see-no-evil man in Baghdad By Martin Sieff
John Negroponte, the new ambassador to Iraq, proved usefully blind to the horrors perpetrated by the Honduran government in the '80s. But after Abu Ghraib, he won't be able to cover up this dirty war. (05/28/2004)

The battle against Judge Pryor By Amanda Griscom
President Bush's underhanded right-wing judicial appointment faces a constitutional challenge from the Sierra Club. (05/29/2004)

Cynical compassion By Joe Conason
Behind closed doors, Bush and his Republican allies are devising a federal budget for 2006 that ignores those most in need in order to make their tax cuts permanent. (05/28/2004)

Friday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/28/2004)

Left-wing conspiracy against Rush! Geraldine Sealey
(05/28/2004)

Al-Qaida's choice in November Geraldine Sealey
(05/28/2004)

Revenge of the "Kerry intern" Geraldine Sealey
(05/28/2004)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
Never mind the worst airlines. Let's talk about the ultimate horror: The worst passengers! (05/28/2004)

A thrillingly reckless "24" By Heather Havrilesky
And on the third day mayhem ensued, and it was good: Jack swings a mean ax, loses the suspect for the umpteenth time and then weeps -- along, surely, with countless fans at home. (05/27/2004)

Gameboys By Jeff Alexander and Tom Bissell
"Hitman: Contracts" lets you kick major bad-guy butt -- but dealing with all the blood-oozing dead bodies isn't so easy. (05/27/2004)

The Fix
MTV refuses to run "Super Size Me" commercials, Gwyneth to play Marlene Dietrich, and Elizabeth Taylor doesn't want to let van Gogh go. (05/27/2004)

Remote "Control" By Andrew O'Hehir
The season's first smash documentary shows why the war we're seeing looks so different overseas. Plus: A remarkable movie about being crazy, from someone who should know. (05/27/2004)

Moore interviewed Berg for "Fahrenheit" By Rebecca Traister
The murdered American hostage had given an interview for the documentary, but it is not included in the final version. (05/27/2004)

"Notes From Underground" by Fyodor Dostoevsky By Allen Barra
Forget Constance Garnett -- the Pevear-Volokhonsky translation makes the most cryptic of existential cult classics stranger, funnier and more alive than ever (05/27/2004)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
The Homophobic Players present: "Two Years Later -- A Cautionary Tale." (05/27/2004)

The great hair battle By Bryan Miller
My overly thick hair has proved resistant to water, wind and a collection of hair products -- so I finally decided to do something about it. (05/27/2004)

Schoolgirl feeling By Cary Tennis
Should I postpone my wedding if I'm still getting crushes on other men? (05/27/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
NBA officials: They're insane-tastic! Plus: Clang! There's more than just defense to the Pistons-Pacers series. (05/27/2004)

Not fit to print By James C. Moore
How Ahmed Chalabi and the Iraq war lobby used New York Times reporter Judith Miller to make the case for invasion. (05/27/2004)

Washington's Chalabi nightmare By Sidney Blumenthal
One more headache for the besieged Bush administration: The FBI is now interrogating the neocon cronies of Ahmed Chalabi. (05/27/2004)

"The most dishonest president since Nixon"
Former Vice President Al Gore blasts George W. Bush for dangerously inept leadership and a foreign policy that has "brought deep dishonor" to the country. (05/27/2004)

The truth about soaring gas prices By Arianna Huffington
How the Bush White House remains a veritable full-service fueling station for Big Oil. (05/27/2004)

"Security and strength for a new world"
Sen. John Kerry's rallying cry includes bolstering the U.S. military, kicking the country's "dangerous" oil habit -- and restoring America's image as a nation "respected, and not just feared." (05/27/2004)

Thursday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/27/2004)

Separated at birth: The Times' WMD and Wen Ho Lee mea culpas Eric Boehlert
(05/27/2004)

Kerry in no hurry to talk Iraq specifics Tim Grieve
(05/27/2004)

Lott: Attack dog only wrong if it "ate" prisoner Geraldine Sealey
(05/27/2004)

It's the war, stupid Geraldine Sealey
(05/27/2004)

Silicon Valley is the best place ever in the whole world By Farhad Manjoo
Inspired by Google, the high-tech capital's boosters have decided that it's boring to be pessimistic. (05/27/2004)

Flying their freak flag By Thomas Bartlett
Dylanesque rhymes from an "outsider," a free song from a potential Next Big Thing and the shiny, happy sounds of I Am the World Trade Center. (05/26/2004)

"Raising Helen" By Charles Taylor
If you're a Christian Coalition member looking for a movie that reinforces all the homespun values you hold dear, this Kate Hudson vehicle is for you! (05/26/2004)

Bestsellers
He's baaack: Dan Brown returns to the top two slots, and "Stupid White Men" rejoins the list. Also: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night" -- all on this week's list, courtesy of Powell's. (05/26/2004)

New Hampshire Is for Lovers By Dave Eggers
The pumpkin-colored T-shirt of the young bed-headed man working at the coffee shop had a word emblazoned on it that was familiar to Victoria, but from where? Then it dawned on her, and she promptly fainted. (05/26/2004)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Life's little victories. (05/26/2004)

What's Waldorf? By Meagan Francis
The alternative school's holistic, arts-based philosophy seemed like a perfect fit for my kids. Then I started learning about the eccentric mystical beliefs of its founder. (05/27/2004)

Tell me it's OK By Cary Tennis
I have been living for other people but now I know it's time for a change. How do I get on with my life? (05/26/2004)

Helloooo, sailor! By Rebecca Traister
Every year, Fleet Week brings a gaggle of oversexed seamen to New York City. Are they desperate enough to lust after wax statues of J.Lo and Julia? (05/26/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
The Timberwolves are doomed if Devean George and Gary Payton are going to turn in big games for the Lakers. Plus: Flames win unleashes more breasts. (05/26/2004)

The 10 mistakes
Gen. Anthony Zinni, former CentCom commander, lists the catastrophic blunders made by the Bush team that led to the Iraq nightmare. (05/26/2004)

Rush's forced conscripts By Eric Boehlert
American Forces Radio fires a daily barrage of Rush Limbaugh at its million uniformed listeners. So why are liberals kept off the military's airwaves? (05/26/2004)

Right Hook By Mark Follman
National Review pundits do battle over Bush's Iraq speech; Podhoretz says soldiers like Sivits and England deserve their own torture. Plus: Hitchens tags Michael Moore the ultimate ugly American. (05/26/2004)

Wednesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/26/2004)

Speech also flopped in ratings Eric Boehlert
(05/26/2004)

Enough with the passé punch lines Geraldine Sealey
(05/26/2004)

"We cannot afford their blunders" Geraldine Sealey
(05/26/2004)

Kerry: We deserve a president who makes us safer Tim Grieve
(05/26/2004)

Letters
Chinese chaos was not meant to be the cutting edge of traffic design. A response to critics from Linda Baker, author of "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" (05/26/2004)

Letters
So many smarmy roles, so little time. Christopher McDonald fans come out of the woodwork to praise their unsung hero's performances in movies like "Quiz Show" and "SLC Punk." (05/25/2004)

The Fix
Kim Cattrall demands more than HBO will give to make "Sex and the City" movie, Snoop Dogg to get divorced, and Missy Elliott cancels Jakarta show amid terrorist threats. (05/25/2004)

Wail watching By Dave Roos
From "Gladiator" to "The Passion" to "Troy," nothing screams "epic" like an exotic-sounding, ululating female singer. (05/25/2004)

The Fix
Sarah Jessica Parker to appear in Gap ads, Beyonce immortalized in wax, and George Clooney and Matt Damon air downtime antics in public. (05/25/2004)

Home Depot heaven By Laura Miller
New York Times pundit David Brooks was once a funny and keen-eyed observer of America's social foibles. Now he's become a weird cheerleader for fetishized Ordinary Americans who express their spirituality by buying big-screen TVs. (05/25/2004)

WayLay By Carol Lay
I'm a big shot! Gimme some money! (05/25/2004)

Turn off Rush, turn on Salon By David Talbot
We celebrate Memorial Day by offering active-duty soldiers free Premium subscriptions. (05/26/2004)

Bent rules By Cary Tennis
My boyfriend and I decided we could kiss other people, but he went further. What should I do? (05/25/2004)

Lynda Barry
Extreme Marlys (05/25/2004)

Marching off the cliff Compiled by Mark Follman, Jeff Horwitz and Michal Keeley
Free-falling in the polls, Bush stayed with the same tough-guy message. But Michael Lind, Karen Kwiatkowski, Ruy Teixeira and others say he landed with a splat, while AEI's Michael Rubin says the speech was "a good start." (05/25/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
All guarantees all the time, guaranteed! Just like in the NBA. Plus: Miller the goat. And: Fining millionaires a few bucks accomplishes nothing. (05/25/2004)

Letters
Readers respond to "A Call to Conscience," by former U.S. diplomat Roger Morris. Plus: Does the demise of the Soviet Union foretell the fate of Cuba after Fidel? (05/25/2004)

A great job? By Joe Conason
Bush is running on empty -- with neocon fantasies, Chalabi's con and bright young right-wingers recruited to run Iraq. (05/25/2004)

Tuesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/25/2004)

Al-Qaida, alive and well Geraldine Sealey
(05/25/2004)

In the polls Geraldine Sealey
(05/25/2004)

Double-standards in South Dakota Geraldine Sealey
(05/25/2004)

Another bogus ad Geraldine Sealey
(05/25/2004)

Thou shalt not steal By Katharine Mieszkowski
Christian teens are just as eager to file-swap copyrighted music as any other youngsters. But if the word of God gets spread, would Jesus give a damn? (05/25/2004)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
Should you waste your time analyzing Tony Soprano's dreams or fearing for Donna Moss' life? The boss of you weighs in. Plus: How will "The Sopranos" and "24" end? Place your bets here. (05/24/2004)

The Fix
Prosecutors fear that Michael Jackson will flee, P. Diddy may host politics show on MTV, and Paul Newman heads to summer camp. (05/24/2004)

Gothic By Ali Smith
A bookstore clerk confronts corpses, urinators, men with damp handkerchiefs, and a restrictive dress code. And, worst of all, authors. A short story from the author of the Booker-nominated "Hotel World." (05/24/2004)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Defining deviancy down: I'm not as bad as Saddam! (05/24/2004)

Letters
Is it worth it to quit Curves gym in protest over the owner's donations to anti-abortion organizations? Readers -- many of them Curves members -- debate. (05/24/2004)

Decorated and lonely By Cary Tennis
I'm gay, in the military and looking for love. What should I do? (05/24/2004)

House divided By Mary Jacoby
GOP enforcer Tom DeLay and his former partner Dick Armey are locked in a nasty dispute over the future of the Republican Party. (05/24/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
You may not have known Doug Pappas, who died suddenly last week, but he was watching Bud Selig for you, and writing brilliantly about what he saw. (05/24/2004)

Whose country is it, anyway? By Miriam Leiva
A Cuban journalist questions the effectiveness of new U.S. measures aimed at regime change in the island nation -- and says they will merely result in more imprisonment of dissidents. (05/24/2004)

Monday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

Cameras too candid for Rummy? Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

Crossing the line on bioweapons? Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

The Nader factor Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

Familiar theme: Missing documents Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

"Dangerous rhetoric" Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

For the Halliburton file Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

"Lying, incompetence and corruption" Geraldine Sealey
(05/24/2004)

Same old, same old Geraldine Sealey
(05/25/2004)

Bush's cynical ploy Geraldine Sealey
(05/25/2004)

Bush's telling Abu Ghraib gaffe Joan Walsh
(05/25/2004)

What if you deregulated a market, and no one cared? By T.M. Sell
Even in the states where electricity deregulation has supposedly worked, there's little choice for consumers and scant savings. (05/24/2004)

Letters
Don't look to China for a traffic role model. Readers respond to Linda Baker's "Why Don't We Do It in the Road." (05/24/2004)

"Najaf is dying" By Phillip Robertson
A terrified Iraqi bookstore owner denounces the Mahdi Army as "barbarians" as Muqtada al-Sadr prepares for martyrdom at the hands of American troops. (05/22/2004)

Coming to our senses? By James K. Galbraith
What the president's declining approval ratings suggest about Americans' judgment -- and the prospects for redefeating Bush. (05/22/2004)

From John Ashcroft's Justice Department to Abu Ghraib By Joe Conason
The men behind the administration's decision to ignore and undermine the Geneva Conventions in Iraq. (05/22/2004)

"Bachelor" party hangover By Heather Havrilesky
Confused manchild Jesse Palmer fumbles his final play, leaving one girl swooning and another heaving at the side of the road. (05/21/2004)

"The Saddest Music in the World" By Stephanie Zacharek
Guy Maddin's surreal film looks good, but beneath its sizzly, sandpapery surface there's a whole lotta nothin'. (05/21/2004)

The Fix
Martha stock rises after perjury charges filed, Disney heads to the U.K. and Bill Gates endorses blogs. (05/21/2004)

Like sands through the hourglass By Rebecca Traister
Even if you don't spend your afternoons watching "Days of Our Lives," you probably know about the Salem Serial Killer, thanks to those ultra-campy ads. (05/21/2004)

How free is free will? By Farhad Manjoo
Lauren Slater's new book about 10 landmark psychological experiments has ignited a firestorm in the psychological establishment. But whatever her shortcomings as a reporter, Slater is asking profound questions about human nature and its limitations (05/21/2004)

Trashing the Hallmark card mom By Katy Read
Weary of saccharine stereotypes, a diverse group of women is demanding that society do more than pay lip service to mothers. (05/21/2004)

Bad habit By Cary Tennis
My soul mate is a compulsive liar. (05/21/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
The Pistons blow out the Nets to reach the conference finals, setting up the coaching matchup that everyone (in the media) wanted to see. (05/21/2004)

A call to conscience By Roger Morris
The diplomat who quit over Nixon's invasion of Cambodia asks Americans on the front lines of foreign service to resign from the "worst regime by far in the history of the republic." (05/21/2004)

Settler Realty Services, Inc. Cartoon by Mark Fiore
House, new; 2 BR, 1 bath; includes garage, yard, 20,000 troops, endless war and suffering. (05/21/2004)

Letters
Readers weigh in on Michael Savage's invective against Arabs, why "shock and awe" goes to the heart of the Iraq torture disaster, and prisoner abuse inside the U.S. Plus: The Pentagon responds to Joe Conason. (05/21/2004)

Killer diet By Amanda Griscom
As Americans struggle to cut down on the carbs, the Bush administration is helping pump up organic foods with preservatives, mercury and PCBs. (05/21/2004)

White House's week from hell Eric Boehlert
(05/21/2004)

Kerry drives south Eric Boehlert
(05/21/2004)

The GOP outsources its fundraising Eric Boehlert
(05/21/2004)

Kerry may delay accepting official nomination Eric Boehlert
(05/21/2004)

In love and war
Table Talkers on making history in Massachusetts, the two Americas, and scenes from a spring night. (05/21/2004)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
The yin and yang of Southwest. Also, the conundrum that is JetBlue. (05/21/2004)

Beautiful bastard By Cintra Wilson
You know him as that red-faced rageoholic or the drippingly sarcastic dad. But you probably don't know Christopher McDonald's name, despite the dozens of movies he's stolen from bigger stars. (05/20/2004)

Gameboys By Jeff Alexander and Tom Bissell
Join us, as we pick up a "Long Staff of Impairing," dodge "dire badgers" and make friends with Omnoselaakk during our return visit to the world of Dungeons & Dragons. (05/20/2004)

The Fix
Lara Flynn Boyle declares herself "100 percent for Bush," Picasso painting goes missing and Sylvester Stallone offers the world ... pudding. (05/20/2004)

"Colossus" by Niall Ferguson By Ted Widmer
A brilliant British scholar argues that America should embrace its destiny as a global power and create a new, more enlightened kind of empire. (05/20/2004)

New Hampshire Is for Lovers By Dave Eggers
In her mind, she stared at the president and yelled "Liar!" But when she opened her mouth, something altogether different came out. (05/20/2004)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Bush discovered to be evil cyborg -- Kerry still lags in polls. (05/20/2004)

False witness By Cary Tennis
My ex-wife took our daughter away, and she's telling lies about me to her new boyfriends. (05/20/2004)

The imperial Pentagon By Robert Schlesinger
Rumsfeld and his minions are treating Congress as if it's on a need-to-know basis about Iraq -- from the number of private contractors there to how taxpayers' money is being spent to our military strategy. (05/20/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Can the Timberwolves beat the Lakers? Yes, but L.A. won't fold like the Kings. Plus: Canada embraces hockey! (05/20/2004)

America's laziest fascist By Dave Gilson
Infamous shock jock Michael Savage bombed in a bizarre, half-baked stage show this week, but his 6 million listeners just heard him call for the U.S. to murder millions of Arabs. Does the FCC care? (05/20/2004)

Ahmed Chalabi's failed coup By Andrew Cockburn
The U.S. raids his home and headquarters in Iraq to foil his plot. (05/20/2004)

The man who stayed too long By James K. Galbraith
Don't believe the headline writers -- higher interest rates won't beat inflation. But Alan Greenspan's successor might. (05/20/2004)

Smiting the infidels By Sidney Blumenthal
Gen. Boykin, the Bible-thumping crank who said Bush "was appointed by God," is at the center of the Abu Ghraib scandal. (05/20/2004)

Bobby Kennedy's unfinished mission By Arianna Huffington
Like that of JFK's revered brother, John Kerry's legacy is of heroism and service. He still needs to hone a bold campaign vision to match it. (05/20/2004)

Thursday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/20/2004)

And now a message from John Kerry Geraldine Sealey
(05/20/2004)

Cuban dissidents held at Gitmo? Geraldine Sealey
(05/20/2004)

Through the eyes of Dick Cheney Geraldine Sealey
(05/20/2004)

Chalabi's new tune: "Let my people go" Geraldine Sealey
(05/20/2004)

Why don't we do it in the road? By Linda Baker
A new school of traffic design says we should get rid of stop signs and red lights and let cars, bikes and people mingle together. It sounds insane, but it works. (05/20/2004)

Letters
Illegal, unlikely to work and just plain dumb: Readers respond to Micah Joel's "Safe and Insecure." Plus a response from the author. (05/20/2004)

Buck stops here By Thomas Bartlett
Don't waste a dollar on the current crop of buzzy singles (Cullum, Krall, Morrissey, I'm talking about you). Here are five free downloads worth your time. (05/19/2004)

"Shrek 2" By Stephanie Zacharek
Yes, it's for the kids, but this animated sequel may be one of the most mature movies about adult relationships ever made. (05/19/2004)

The Fix
New York Times culture man says he's stupider, Fallon leaves "SNL," and Paula Abdul sues over a botched manicure. (05/19/2004)

New Hampshire Is for Lovers By Dave Eggers
"I'm here representing the young people of this country!" Victoria Passionately shrieked at the president. Then her dream of exposing him was smothered in a rich, enveloping sea of humiliation. (05/19/2004)

Bestsellers
Michael Connelly's "The Narrows" makes a splash at No. 1, James Patterson is back with "The Lake House," and Dan Brown's "Digital Fortress" is just hanging on by a pinkie -- all on this week's list, courtesy of Powell's. (05/19/2004)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
The new era of responsibility -- I'm diggin' it! (05/19/2004)

Curve ball By Rebecca Traister
Curves gym, with its no-stress workout for exercise-averse women, is the fastest-growing franchise in the U.S. But revelations that its founder gives millions of dollars to antiabortion groups has its customers divided over just what a "female-friendly" business is. (05/20/2004)

Sweet jealousy By Cary Tennis
My girlfriend seems to like dessert more than she likes making love with me! (05/19/2004)

The prisoner-abuse scandal at home By Michelle Goldberg
The stories sound familiar: Muslim prisoners beaten and sexually humiliated by American guards. But it happened in Brooklyn, not Baghdad. (05/19/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
A warm farewell to the Miami Heat passes the time during the Nets-Pistons ice age. Plus: It's hot, it's sexy, it hurts! And: Randy Johnson's perfect game. (05/19/2004)

Right Hook By Mark Follman
Steyn slams Bush for torture apology, Hagelin blames abuses on American porn culture; Savage calls for U.S. to kill "thousands" of Iraqi prisoners and drop an H-bomb on an Arab capital. Plus: Heartland hard-liners dub same-sex marriage licenses "death certificates." (05/19/2004)

Wednesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/19/2004)

One for the history books Geraldine Sealey
(05/19/2004)

Veep watch update Geraldine Sealey
(05/19/2004)

Voters reject clergy antics Geraldine Sealey
(05/19/2004)

The gas guzzlers who just can't quit By Katharine Mieszkowski
American consumers won't change their SUV-driving ways until there's a major fuel shortage or a global warming catastrophe, according to the new book "The End of Oil." And by then it may be too late. (05/19/2004)

Letters
Why you downloaded and how you feel about revenge: Readers respond to Neal Gabler's "Downloading Death" and Charles Taylor's "Payback Time." (05/18/2004)

The Fix
Martha Stewart's TV show suspended, Eminem sues Apple, and doctor predicts that Fidel Castro will live to be 140. Plus: Charles and Camilla to wed? (05/18/2004)

"Exterminate all the brutes" By Charles R. Larson
With our highly idealistic war in Iraq turning monstrous, Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is frighteningly relevant -- again. (05/18/2004)

WayLay By Carol Lay
Things I'd miss if I had to leave my hood. (05/18/2004)

Single and picky By Cary Tennis
I reject women all the time because I can't stand the thought of being with someone who's unexceptional. Will I end up alone? (05/18/2004)

When will the U.S. military tackle the problem of sexual abuse? By Cathy Hong
According to a Pentagon-ordered report, sexual violence against female soldiers is rampant -- and not nearly enough is being done to stop it. (05/18/2004)

How high does it go? By Eric Boehlert
The more we find out about what happened at Abu Ghraib, the less it looks like a case of renegade soldiers. (05/18/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Transsexuals on the medal stand? A female coach in the NBA? A good week for gender issues. Plus: Flames, Sharks, bed. (05/18/2004)

The Times pets a Republican "pit bull"
Why is the so-called liberal media fawning over Republican lobbyist and politico Ed Gillespie while they savage John Kerry? (05/19/2004)

Tuesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/18/2004)

Losing the evangelicals? Geraldine Sealey
(05/18/2004)

The golden touch Geraldine Sealey
(05/18/2004)

Making his party proud Geraldine Sealey
(05/18/2004)

Dirty tricks Geraldine Sealey
(05/18/2004)

Rotten to the core Geraldine Sealey
(05/18/2004)

Keep those bullets away from Sistani! Gary Kamiya
(05/18/2004)

Safe and insecure By Micah Joel
I opened up my wireless home network to the world, and I've never felt more comfortable. (05/18/2004)

Letters
When is a bulldozer a weapon? Salon's readers respond to Farhad Manjoo's "Caterpillar Faces an Intifada." (05/18/2004)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
A so-called traitor serves his time. A homewrecker and a balding psychiatrist wave bye-bye. Plus: Is "Survivor's" Rupert America's sweetheart? (05/17/2004)

Bono on the barricades By Geraldine Sealey
The rocker humanitarian talks to Salon about why he's hopeful America will do its duty helping Africa -- and how if diplomacy doesn't work, "I'm ready to be out on the streets." (05/17/2004)

The Fix
Sean Penn calls for more political films, Phil Spector arrested for scuffle with chauffeur, and Britney says she doesn't feel sexy. Plus: Radar magazine lives? (05/17/2004)

Never the twain shall meet By Christopher John Farah
"Occidentalism" offers a grand theory about why Arabs and Muslims feel the way they do about the West -- but ignores what the West has done to them. (05/17/2004)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
Fluffy Bunny and Happy Mouse discuss the war in Iraq! (05/17/2004)

Itching for a change By Cary Tennis
I've been in a relationship for eight years but I fear commitment and crave experience. What should I do? (05/17/2004)

Trust us By Tim Grieve
Defending the administration's enemy-combatant policy, the Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the U.S. doesn't torture prisoners. Just hours later, the Abu Ghraib story broke. Did the U.S. intentionally mislead the court? (05/17/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Only fools write off the Lakers. Plus: NHL playoffs all the time. And: The Smarty Jones bandwagon. (05/17/2004)

Raiding Iraq's piggy bank By Andrew Cockburn
If the Bush administration is truly committed to the nation's sovereignty, it should let Iraqis retake control of their own oil revenues. (05/17/2004)

Monday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/17/2004)

Ann Coulter, meet Al Franken Geraldine Sealey
(05/17/2004)

The right guy for industry Geraldine Sealey
(05/17/2004)

In the polls Geraldine Sealey
(05/17/2004)

Bush celebrates Brown vs. Board Geraldine Sealey
(05/17/2004)

Profiles in economic scourges By Joyce McGreevy
There's so much going on in the world today, it's easy to overlook the lovable rogues who are ripping us off. Let's lift a glass to them! (05/17/2004)

Ode to Billy Joe By Brad Reagan
Billy Joe Shaver lost his wife and his mom the same year his beloved son died of an overdose. He never made any money, and he lives in obscurity in Waco, Texas. But the man Willie Nelson says "may be the best songwriter alive today" is still keeping on. (05/15/2004)

Letters
Is Karen Hughes "monomaniacal" or a brilliant media handler? Will Congress save Iraq? Readers respond to "One Minute From Abnormal," by James Moore, and "Breaking Ranks," by Martin Sieff. (05/15/2004)

After the tanks By Phillip Robertson
The young Al-Mahdi Army soldiers said nothing as we drove past. The U.S. Army had just blasted their cemetery stronghold with Apaches, and they didn't care about anything. (05/15/2004)

"Strayed" ("Les égarés") By Charles Taylor
In this French import, a Parisian family fleeing the Nazis learns the brutal lessons of surviving a war. (05/14/2004)

The Fix
Editors warned of "head on a platter" in Doonesbury strip; Gene Simmons upsets Australian Islamic community; Morrissey calls Bowie names. (05/14/2004)

"Coffee and Cigarettes" By Stephanie Zacharek
Cate Blanchett, Roberto Benigni, Bill Murray, Iggy Pop and Tom Waits are just a few of the familiar faces that pop up in Jim Jarmusch's 11 vignettes in search of a movie. (05/14/2004)

"Troy" By Stephanie Zacharek
Brad Pitt in a leather miniskirt, a Helen who couldn't launch a dinghy: This whole movie is one big Achilles' heel. (05/14/2004)

Payback time By Charles Taylor
It doesn't stop at Abu Ghraib. All of America is awash in violent revenge fantasies -- including me. (05/14/2004)

Bestsellers
Dan Brown stays boxed out of No. 1, "Villa Incognito" comes out in paperback, and Arianna Huffington returns to the list. Plus a Bush sticker book -- all on this week's list, courtesy of Powell's. (05/14/2004)

I'm an insecure saboteur By Cary Tennis
I have a habit of destroying all of my relationships after they're about a year old. (05/14/2004)

Lynda Barry
On the take (05/14/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
The Lakers, Lightning and Sharks all tell hostile crowds to shut their yaps. Plus: NBA climaxes -- they're timeout-tastic! (05/14/2004)

Today's private military Cartoon by Mark Fiore
Don't ask, you don't want to know. (05/14/2004)

Rummy's weird Fotomat defense By Arianna Huffington
I didn't get it till I saw the pictures! (05/14/2004)

Has Bush cleaned up his act? By Amanda Griscom
Big Oil's man in the White House actually makes a green move -- just in time for the election. (05/14/2004)

The Vietnam investor behind the "Swift Boat Vets" attack By Joe Conason
The group attacking Kerry for his antiwar record is backed by a wealthy veteran who's profiting from his business ties to the Communist regime. (05/14/2004)

Friday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/14/2004)

In the polls Geraldine Sealey
(05/14/2004)

Weighing priorities Geraldine Sealey
(05/14/2004)

Picture of compassion Geraldine Sealey
(05/14/2004)

Not taking any chances Geraldine Sealey
(05/14/2004)

Lessons from Vietnam Geraldine Sealey
(05/14/2004)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
The worst, most unspeakable, rotten, horrible, terrible, and very bad airlines in the world, according to Salon's readers. (05/14/2004)

Letters
Don't prevent us from having a choice! Readers criticize those who attacked Salon's decision to post the video of Nick Berg's death. (05/14/2004)

American idle By Lee Soult
I had nothing better to do than watch the taping of Simon Cowell's amateur-hour schlockfest. Here's my shocking story. (05/13/2004)

The Fix
Dick Wolf extends production deal, Tom Brokaw signs 10-year contract, and Lionel Richie and Gloria Gaynor set to headline peace concert. (05/13/2004)

Gameboys By Jeff Alexander and Tom Bissell
Atari is back! And so are "Transformers"! But is either any fun if you're no longer 15? (05/13/2004)

Downloading death By Neal Gabler
Millions will watch Nicholas Berg's tragic murder online not for prurient reasons or to gain insight into evil. They will watch because of the overwhelming urge to be in the know. (05/13/2004)

Writing in the Margins By Scott Thill
Our monthly roundup of indie publishing: DC Comics terrifies with Lovecraft; Lethem and Denis Johnson do avant-cabaret; a harrowing tale of the 1997 Red River flood. (05/13/2004)

New Hampshire Is for Lovers By Dave Eggers
The day had come for Victoria Passionately to make her move -- and cause the president to rue the day he'd ever left his sorry home state. (05/13/2004)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Super-Fun-Pak Comix: Elevator Trip of the Damned, Chaos Butterfly, and more! (05/13/2004)

Letters
How could Salon ask that? Readers take us to task for our article on the gender dynamics of Abu Ghraib, "How Could Women Do That?" Also: You're pregnant and thin -- what's the problem? (05/13/2004)

The honeymoon's over By Cary Tennis
We've been married only two weeks and my husband already thinks we're doomed to failure. (05/13/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Pat Tillman: Hero, victim or mere disposable celebrity? The readers write. (05/13/2004)

Strategic decision By Sidney Blumenthal
Growing sentiment in the Army: Support our troops, impeach Rumsfeld. (05/13/2004)

One minute from abnormal By James C. Moore
A Texas reporter explores Karen Hughes' cultlike devotion to George W. Bush. (05/13/2004)

Thursday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/13/2004)

Woe is Rummy Geraldine Sealey
(05/13/2004)

The Journal vs. the widows Geraldine Sealey
(05/13/2004)

Bush goes back to his base Geraldine Sealey
(05/13/2004)

Caterpillar faces an intifada By Farhad Manjoo
Shareholder activists are targeting the manufacturer of the giant bulldozer that Israel uses to demolish Palestinian homes. (05/13/2004)

Letters
An eloquent mixture of disgust and respect: Readers respond to Salon's posting of the Nick Berg video. (05/13/2004)

The songs of summer By Thomas Bartlett
Warm-weather music beyond Beyonce -- from dios, Walker Kong and David Mead. Plus: Some non-season-specific genius from Ryan Adams. (05/12/2004)

The Fix
Marilyn Manson plans to play Jesus on the big screen, and the porn industry gets back to business. Plus: Will Miramax split from Disney? (05/12/2004)

The right captures the tube By David Brock
Conservative G.E. head Jack Welch tilted TV right with "The McLaughlin Group." Then a Nixon operative named Roger Ailes signed up with a new channel called Fox. (05/12/2004)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Why should we be wasting our pretty little heads on what's going on in Iraq? (05/12/2004)

Loving a loner By Cary Tennis
I'm with a man who doesn't believe in love and thinks he'll end up alone. Will he ever change? (05/12/2004)

Raging hormones By Fred Branfman
In a schizoid world of compulsory chastity and online orgies, how are teenage boys supposed to make sense of sex? (05/12/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Kobe Bryant is breathtaking as the Lakers beat the Spurs to tie their series, but there's no way to know if we're marveling at the exploits of a rapist. (05/12/2004)

"The place is broken" By Mary Jacoby
CIA veteran Bob Baer says torture was forbidden when he worked for the agency. "Now contractors are sent out to torture people to death and then hide it." (05/12/2004)

Breaking GOP ranks By Martin Sieff
As more Republican senators sour on Rumsfeld's war, John McCain and Chuck Hagel may no longer be the party's lone men of conscience. (05/12/2004)

Rumsfeld's ruinous deceptions By Joe Conason
The recklessly arrogant Bush administration has handed Osama bin Laden a victory he never could have won himself. (05/12/2004)

In lockstep with the White House By Robert Scheer
Were the U.S. soldiers who "made it hell" for Iraqi prisoners simply following orders? (05/12/2004)

Right Hook By Mark Follman
The Iraq torture nightmare: Taranto says beheading video shows who's really evil; Sullivan says team Bush humiliated U.S. unforgivably; Brooks calls for a whole new plan; Coulter declares women "too vicious" for military. (05/13/2004)

Wednesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/12/2004)

Showtime with Bubba Geraldine Sealey
(05/12/2004)

Polling junkies be warned Eric Boehlert
(05/12/2004)

Horror show
The government did not want us to see nightmarish images from Iraq. But with our soldiers and our enemies armed with digital cameras, we can't escape the gruesome realities of war. (05/13/2004)

Horror show By Farhad Manjoo
The government did not want us to see nightmarish images from Iraq. But with our soldiers and our enemies armed with digital cameras, we can't escape the gruesome realities of war. (05/12/2004)

The Fix
Bill Clinton turns in 900-page memoir, Washington Times reporter bemoans people who "misunderestimate" Bush, and Cannes will go on. Plus: Noel Gallagher disses Paul McCartney. (05/11/2004)

Letters
"What do people expect, Shakespeare?" Some Salon readers weigh in in defense of "Friends" -- but others find new bones to pick in the finale. (05/11/2004)

The mighty windbags By David Brock
Thirty years ago, conservatives embarked on a plan to subvert journalism and skew America to the right. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. (05/11/2004)

Busting big fat liars By Eric Boehlert
David Brock talks about why the media seems embarrassed to report on Bush's failures, why TV pundit shows are stacked to the right -- and his new media watchdog group. (05/11/2004)

WayLay By Carol Lay
Through the magic of TimeVision, check out that Kerry war record. (05/11/2004)

Faux-carb taste test By Rebecca Traister
Salon persuades four foodies to open wide for some unappetizing low-carb foods spawned by the Atkins-South Beach craze. (05/11/2004)

The private contractor-GOP gravy train By Robert Schlesinger
From Blackwater to CACI, mercenary companies in Iraq have a warm and cozy relationship with the Republican politicians who are employing them. (05/11/2004)

The bulldozer stalls By Aluf Benn
With his right-wing allies in revolt and Bush unable to cut him any more sweetheart deals, Israeli leader Ariel Sharon is floundering -- and he has only himself to blame. (05/11/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Dear idiots: A note to fans who leave games like Monday's classic in Sacramento early. Plus: Chris Webber's delusions of go-to-guydom. (05/11/2004)

Tuesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/11/2004)

Bush hits new low Geraldine Sealey
(05/11/2004)

Inhofe's "outrage" Geraldine Sealey
(05/11/2004)

The tragedy of Nick Berg Geraldine Sealey
(05/11/2004)

Code that kills, for real By Scott Rosenberg
Future military combat systems will require ever more complicated code, but writing software that is bug free and ready for a firefight is a challenge that gets tougher every day. (05/11/2004)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
California splinters in half! Dr. Phil does comedy! Mutual of Omaha's Jackass Kingdom! "Survivor" proclaimed "Best Dating Show Ever" by fans nationwide! (05/10/2004)

The Fix
Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush have their say, and the "Wicked" witches have their day. Plus: Dillon and Tomei bring Bukowski to the big screen. (05/10/2004)

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow
There's only one thing to do on Election Day ... (05/10/2004)

Dukakis-Bush deja vu By Dan Payne
Recalling the presidential race of 1988, the Bush campaign is attacking John Kerry as soft on defense and out of touch with ordinary Americans. And once again, the media are only too happy to join in. (05/10/2004)

Time to get out? By Michelle Goldberg
With the war in Iraq turning into a nightmare, increasing numbers -- on the left and the right -- are calling for America to withdraw. (05/10/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
The Lakers play a whole game against the Spurs -- diving for a loose ball and everything -- and the damnedest thing happens. They win. (05/10/2004)

Monday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/10/2004)

New York Times mocks Kerry quote ... again Eric Boehlert
(05/10/2004)

Taguba report wrongly classified? Geraldine Sealey
(05/10/2004)

Arrested 'by mistake' Geraldine Sealey
(05/10/2004)

Setting the conditions Geraldine Sealey
(05/10/2004)

Microbes in court By Farhad Manjoo
Coming up next on "CSI": Will the science of microbial forensics nail the anthrax killer? (05/10/2004)

"Sometimes they pretended to kill me" By Phillip Robertson
An Al-Jazeera cameraman detained and tortured at Abu Ghraib recalls beatings, threats and photos of torture victims used as screen savers on military PCs. (05/08/2004)

Letters
Who's responsible for torture in Iraq? Is the Kerry campaign doomed? Readers respond to a War Room special report, and "Premature Panic," by Tim Grieve. Plus: Holland and Galbraith square off over JFK. (05/08/2004)

"Valentin" By Charles Taylor
Direct from Argentina, just in time for Mother's Day, a noisy tale of a cute kid, a crabby grandma and an absent mom. (05/07/2004)

"Van Helsing" By Stephanie Zacharek
Even Kate Beckinsale in a leather corset and Hugh Jackman's cast-bronze pecs can't save this lavishly cheap monster mush. (05/07/2004)

"Super Size Me" By Stephanie Zacharek
Morgan Spurlock's much-heralded Big Mac attack is way more fun than it is preachy. In other words, he's no Michael Moore. (05/07/2004)

The Fix
Air America misses payday, loses chairman; Deborah Norville pisses off Van Damme; and Vonnegut calls Bush and co. "adroit criminals." Plus: Trump's secret crush on Rob Lowe. (05/07/2004)

Letters
Ross became a wimp! Monica became a shrew! Chandler stopped being gay! And other reasons you said you stopped watching "Friends." (05/07/2004)

Never forget your "Friends" By Heather Havrilesky
Breathy hype and uninspired finale aside, "Friends" will still be remembered as a fresh, intelligent snapshot of the times. (05/07/2004)

Is "Barney" destroying my kids' brains? By Katy Read
A few weeks ago, a study connected TV watching to ADHD. But the findings have been blown way out of proportion. (05/07/2004)

How could women do that? By Cathy Hong
Female soldiers were supposed to be a civilizing influence on the military. Then came Abu Ghraib. (05/07/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Major League Baseball backs off of its plan to put ads on the bases, the latest P.R. fiasco for a company that makes New Coke look like a stroke of genius. (05/07/2004)

Sucking the Superfund dry By Amanda Griscom
As the Superfund cleanup slows to a crawl, we're in deep toxic doo-doo. (05/07/2004)

The Great Satan By Steven A. Cook
Thanks to Bush's neocon cabal, the Arab world now hates the U.S. as much as it does Israel. (05/07/2004)

Lack of protection By Joe Conason
Long before Abu Ghraib, senior officers warned that Bush appointees in the Pentagon were undermining prisoner safeguards. (05/07/2004)

Define "effective" Geraldine Sealey
(05/07/2004)

Rumsfeld's big day Geraldine Sealey
(05/07/2004)

Who knew what -- and when? Geraldine Sealey
(05/07/2004)

Torture and the chain of command Mark Follman
(05/07/2004)

Maybe too late, definitely too little Jeff Horwitz
(05/07/2004)

Court of public opinion Geraldine Sealey
(05/07/2004)

Rush's words are torture, but not for the White House Mark Follman
(05/07/2004)

Get a free gift subscription
Either renew your subscription and get a gift subscription for free or give two gift subscriptions for the price of one. Hurry, offer ends Mother's Day (05/07/2004)

Ask the pilot By Patrick Smith
What is Salon readers' favorite airline? Hint: It's not one of the big three U.S. carriers. (05/07/2004)

The Fix
Disney suggests Michael Moore pulled publicity stunt for film. Is Rocco losing his "Flavor"? Plus: FCC flooded with Oprah complaints. (05/06/2004)

Love your country By Stephanie Zacharek
With Jack White's help, Loretta Lynn has released a country music album even godless rock 'n' rollers can embrace. (05/06/2004)

Fair-weather "Friends" By Salon staff
As Joey, Monica, Chandler and the rest of the bed-hopping gang prepare to exit, we explain why we kissed them goodbye long ago. (05/06/2004)

Signs and wonders By Laura Miller
A journalist's investigation of holy Christian visions turns into a tortured spiritual quest. (05/06/2004)

New Hampshire Is for Lovers By Dave Eggers
Will a disgruntled campaign volunteer have her revenge? (05/06/2004)

Tom the Dancing Bug By Ruben Bolling
Behold: Zantar! (05/06/2004)

Letters
Readers debate the politics of being a white resident in an all-black neighborhood. Also: Obesity is a serious health problem in America, readers remind Wendy Shanker, author of "The Fat Girl's Guide to Life." (05/06/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Baseball keeps a promise and still screws the fans with its dumb Spider-Man deal. Plus: The Lakers are weird, and they're dying. (05/06/2004)

"Stress and duress" By Tim Grieve
Human Rights Watch's Kenneth Roth says America's use of coercive interrogation techniques inevitably leads to nightmares like Abu Ghraib. (05/06/2004)

The mouse that censored By Craig Unger
What's in Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911" that Disney doesn't want you to see? (05/06/2004)

Reality check By Eric Boehlert
The media are finally showing the war in its full horror. What took them so long? (05/06/2004)

"Abuse"? How about torture By Sidney Blumenthal
The Bush administration has created a gulag that stretches from Afghanistan to Iraq, from Guantanamo to secret CIA prisons around the world. (05/06/2004)

The system is crashing By Arianna Huffington
Like a nasty virus, George W. Bush's anti-American policies have invaded and corrupted the American system. This November it's time to reboot. (05/06/2004)

Letters
L. Marc Zell, a former law partner of Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, responds to John Dizard's Salon story "How Ahmed Chalabi Conned the Neocons." (05/06/2004)

Back to the future Cartoon by Mark Fiore
Everything old is new again in Iraq. (05/06/2004)

Thursday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/06/2004)

Playing politics with the sacraments Geraldine Sealey
(05/06/2004)

In the polls Geraldine Sealey
(05/06/2004)

The "S" word Geraldine Sealey
(05/06/2004)

Limbaugh: Abu Ghraib was just a big frat party! Mark Follman
(05/06/2004)

Let's play: Ask the pollster Geraldine Sealey
(05/07/2004)

"The arrogance of empire" Jeff Horwitz
(05/07/2004)

Why Google shouldn't go public By Lawrence M. Fisher
Co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page believe they can thwart the greed of shortsighted Wall Street, but there's always a price to pay. (05/06/2004)

More heroes than zeros By Thomas Bartlett
Carrying on the Beatles' legacy of eclecticism and aesthetic discontinuity. Plus: A Los Lobos album with only one good track on it? It's a sad day indeed. (05/05/2004)

The Fix
Michael Moore's film blocked by Disney. . . which may soon be headed by Mel Gibson? Cheney and Powell bad blood exposed. Plus: Gore TV's a go, but won't be "partisan channel." (05/05/2004)

Hold the fries By Scott Lamb
Morgan Spurlock, the man behind the film "Super Size Me," talks about eating nothing but McDonald's for 30 days straight and how he feels about Big Macs now. (05/05/2004)

Bunless burger vs. the fluffernutter By Scott Lamb
Fast-food restaurants are launching new "healthy," diet-friendly foods -- including a McDonald's adult happy meal. How do they stack up to some of our lunchtime favorites? (05/05/2004)

"Americans have not been energized" By Mark Lytle
Historian James Chace talks about the presidential campaign of 1912 and how its spirit of progressive reform could energize the 2004 election. (05/05/2004)

The year the GOP turned right By James Chace
When Teddy Roosevelt lost the 1912 election, the Republicans started down the road that led to George W. Bush. (05/05/2004)

The K Chronicles By Keith Knight
Great to finally meet you ... Mr. McGruder! (05/05/2004)

No belly, no respect By Katrina Onstad
During my pregnancy, strangers constantly told me that I was too small to be healthy -- even suggesting my baby might be abnormal. Who said expectant mothers have to look like fertility goddesses? (05/05/2004)

Premature panic By Tim Grieve
The doom-and-gloom brigade is savaging Kerry because the race is still tied after Bush's horrible April. But the campaign has barely begun. (05/05/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Whatever you think of their relative sex appeal, Michelle Tafoya replacing Lisa Guerrero on "Monday Night Football" is good news for sports fans. Plus: Shoo-in champs ain't what they used to be. (05/05/2004)

Right Hook By Mark Follman
Conservatives debate torture by the U.S. military in Iraq: Some call it "sickening" while others claim it could save lives. Plus: The clash of civilizaciones. (05/05/2004)

When we're the evildoers in Iraq By Robert Scheer
Abuses by the U.S. military have left a dirty stain on the reputation of this nation -- another cost of an immoral foreign policy. (05/05/2004)

Wednesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/05/2004)

Ignorance is bliss Geraldine Sealey
(05/05/2004)

Polluters for Bush Katharine Mieszkowski
(05/05/2004)

A message from the State Department Geraldine Sealey
(05/05/2004)

Undisclosed locations, with flowers and TV Geraldine Sealey
(05/05/2004)

You surf just like a woman By Katharine Mieszkowski
Marketers held a conference to find out what women do online. The answer: everything except the one crucial thing -- look for cleaning products. (05/05/2004)

Letters
Who's burning now? Readers respond to articles on "The Jesus Factor," Morrissey and Stephin Merritt. (05/04/2004)

The Fix
A Lennon-Jagger union? Does Kerry's daughter have J.Lo aspirations? Plus: Nudes drive Bush AIDS czar wild. (05/04/2004)

A strange encounter with Robert Novak By Joseph Wilson
Just days before he revealed that my wife was a CIA operative, a friend had a weird run-in with the right-wing columnist. An excerpt from "The Politics of Truth." (05/04/2004)

Bestsellers
Three new in paperback: "Providence of a Sparrow," "Shutter Island," and "Getting Mother's Body." Plus: Woodward battles to stay in the top five -- all on this week's list, courtesy of Powell's. (05/04/2004)

Story Minute By Carol Lay
A collaborative effort. (05/04/2004)

"You got messed-up color" By Robin Lentz
When my husband and I moved to a mostly black neighborhood four years ago, 8-year-old Tyrone became our friend. Then one day he asked me if I was white. (05/04/2004)

Big and lonely By Cary Tennis
My sister, who is quite heavy, comes to me for romantic advice, but I don't know how to help her. (05/04/2004)

Will Roy Moore crack the Bush base? By Fred Clarkson
The "Ten Commandments Judge" is mulling a run for president from the right. Even his conservative admirers say he probably can't damage Bush -- but they hope he doesn't try. (05/05/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
Singling Pat Tillman out as a hero doesn't insult the others making the same sacrifice he did. The NFL player who joined the Army and died in combat really was special to us. (05/04/2004)

How Ahmed Chalabi conned the neocons By John Dizard
The hawks who launched the Iraq war believed the deal-making exile when he promised to build a secular democracy with close ties to Israel. Now the Israel deal is dead, he's cozying up to Iran -- and his patrons look like they're on the way out. A Salon exclusive. (05/04/2004)

The implosion of Chalabi's Petra Bank By John Dizard
The neocons' handpicked leader for the new Iraq blamed Saddam Hussein for the collapse of his Amman-based bank. But a Jordanian investigation and a trail of dubious transactions show otherwise. (05/04/2004)

Fidel, the fall guy By James K. Galbraith
An article in the Atlantic rashly speculates that Fidel Castro was behind the assassination of JFK -- and ignores the allegations that the Mafia, the military and the CIA were involved. (05/04/2004)

Smear Boat Veterans for Bush By Joe Conason
The "swift boat" veterans attacking John Kerry's war record are led by veteran right-wing operatives using the same vicious techniques they used against John McCain four years ago. (05/05/2004)

Tuesday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/04/2004)

U.S. jeopardizes global terror probes Geraldine Sealey
(05/04/2004)

"Discount" drug cards total sham Geraldine Sealey
(05/04/2004)

This man needs a factchecker Geraldine Sealey
(05/04/2004)

The "Velvet-Strike" underground By Jennifer Buckendorff
Taking protests to the street is old hat. Today's rabble-rousers wave their signs inside video games. (05/04/2004)

Letters
Ride a bike, say Salon's readers, responding to Katharine Mieszkowski's "Just Say No, to Hydrogen." (05/04/2004)

The Fix
What does Jackson mean when he says "rubbers"? Mr. Big turns chicken. Plus: Actor playing gay goodfella on "The Sopranos": "I'm a little worried." (05/03/2004)

I Like to Watch By Heather Havrilesky
When your television is your guru, everyone seems crazy or sad -- from teens who go under the knife to the "winners" on "Antiques Roadshow." (05/03/2004)

The cult that's running the country By Joseph Wilson
Joseph Wilson blasts the secretive neoconservative cabal that plunged America into a disastrous war, in this excerpt from his new book. (05/03/2004)

This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow
As war president, I order the media to go bonkers over John Kerry's medal tossing! (05/03/2004)

Disney-free zones By Cary Tennis
Why do people assume it's OK to bring kids to an adult party? (05/03/2004)

Who you callin' fat? By Corrie Pikul
After a lifetime of obsessing over her weight, the author of "The Fat Girl's Guide to Life" embarked on a mission to free women from their fear of fat. (05/03/2004)

I accuse By Joe Conason
Joseph Wilson, author of "The Politics of Truth," talks about his prime suspect in the White House smear campaign against him and his wife. (05/03/2004)

King Kaufman's Sports Daily
The Spurs pound the Lakers in Game 1, but both teams regularly beat up on a cherished basketball myth. (05/03/2004)

Monday's must-reads Geraldine Sealey
(05/03/2004)

Watching the right-wing Geraldine Sealey
(05/03/2004)

Bremer backpedals Geraldine Sealey
(05/03/2004)

Bush's bogus race card Geraldine Sealey
(05/03/2004)

Economic road rage By Joyce McGreevy
Get the women and children off the streets -- the recovery is coming! (05/03/2004)

Irresistible force By Thomas Bartlett
Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields may be the best writer of love songs around today. But that doesn't mean he has to be nice. (05/01/2004)

In the clutches of the Al-Mahdi Army By Phillip Robertson
On the way to Najaf, I fell into the wrong hands. (05/01/2004)