Vol. 172 No. 1
COVER
Americans honor their country in dramatically different ways. Why those differences can make America stronger
The War Over Patriotism (The Well / Cover Story)
The two parties have starkly contrasting views of what it means to love your country. Can they be reconciled?
A Cause Greater Than Self (Cover Story)
By John McCain
A Faith in Simple Dreams (Cover Story)
By Barack Obama
ESSAY
Solving the energy crisis requires sacrifice. For the good of the country, we should be sweating
Give the Girls a Break (The Well / Viewpoint)
What the Gloucester "pregnancy pact" may tell us about changing attitudes on abortion
The Oil Follies? Our Fault
Forget speculators and the Saudis. When it comes to the price of oil, we have only ourselves to blame
Pirating Axl Rose's Record (Commentary / The Awesome Column)
Fourteen years to make, 10 minutes to download. How Joel got Axl Rose's lost album
BUSINESS
Two retailing titans say they profit by not caring too much about shareholders
NOTEBOOK
George Carlin made stand-up relevant and redefined the art form
Sweet deal. (Briefing / The Moment: The Everglades)
How buying out Big Sugar is a first step in reconciling with the earth
The World (Briefing)
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES
A Brief History Of: Robert Mugabe (Briefing)
The Page (Briefing)
Verbatim
The Skimmer (Briefing)
Milestones
Bert Shepard (Briefing)
Tasha Tudor (Briefing)
Pop Chart
SCIENCE
A genetic disorder you've probably never heard of may hold a key to understanding autism, infertility, dementia and more
WORLD
For the first time in five years, more soldiers are dying in Afghanistan than in Iraq. A look at the struggle to secure one vital province shows why the fight against the Taliban is deadlier than ever
Female Suicide Bombers: The Latest Weapon (The Well / World)
Women are the latest weapon of Iraq's terrorist groups. The tragic tale of one suicide bomber
Japan's Booming Sex Niche: Elder Porn (Postcard: Tokyo)
As sex lives sag, an aging society is seeing a boom in pornography appealing to--and starring--Japan's septuagenarian set. Where older dogs are learning new tricks
SOCIETY
Churches are urging spouses to have hot sex (body massage and oral sex encouraged) — and lots of it
Fill Up on Flavor (Life / Fit Nation)
You don't have to binge on fattening foods to feel satisfied. Smart menu selection and clever seasonings can make even the healthiest meals feel like indulgences
Chicken for Breakfast (Life / Food)
Biscuit with ham? Yep. But with a chicken patty? Not so fast
Q&A: Taylor Leming, Texting Motorist (Life)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Marijuana is more prominent, accepted--and profitable--than ever in movies. What's it doing there?
Buckminster Fuller: The Big Thinker (Exhibitions)
A new show about Buckminster Fuller, a visionary whose reach sometimes exceeded his grasp
Dr. Banville and Mr. Black (Books)
Joyce Carol Oates Goes Tabloid! (Books)
In her 37th novel, My Sister, My Love (Ecco), the best-selling author is inspired by the still unsolved JonBenet Ramsey crime.
Three First Novels that Just Might Last (Debut Fiction)
(Downtime)
A band of assassins, a banned writer and a bland TV series