NATION
Can We Afford All This?
The $400 billion Medicare benefit is the latest in a string of pricey outlays — and Congress's spending spree is not over. Does it matter, and does anybody care?
Six Questions About The New Medicare Bill
It Flies! (History)
100 years ago this month, the Wright brothers got the aerial age off the ground. Here's how:
10 Questions For Jimmy Carter (Interview)
Jimmy Carter explains why he wrote a novel and assesses Dean's chances
BRIEFING
Al-Qaeda's tracks? (Notebook)
Al-Qaeda outsources terror to Turkey
Why Bush Stays Away (Essay)
During wartime, a President cannot take on the role of Mourner in Chief
24 Years Ago In Time (Notebook/Milestones)
Cuddle Up With These (Notebook)
Milestones (Notebook/Milestones)
Influenza Fears: An Early Warning From Colorado (Notebook)
Numbers (Notebook)
Reforming Medicare, The Gingrich Way (Notebook)
Newt's Hand in the Medicare Bill
The Greening Of San Francisco (Notebook)
The rise of mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez
Verbatim (Notebook)
Letters (Letters)
People (People)
Q&A With Omar Sharif (People)
INSIDE BUSINESS
Dashing Diversification
Roc-A-Fella's Damon Dash conquered rap. Now, without partner Jay-Z, he wants to prove he's no one-note CEO
Knitpicking the Chinese
U.S. efforts to bash Beijing reveal a remarkable ignorance about economics
Realty Rumble
Web brokers say the real estate industry is trying to lock them out, but customers keep knocking
Say Hello to the Next Phone War
Voice-over-IP, a technology that lets phones act like PCs and vice versa, is about to take off
The Kazaa Boys Are at It Again
ESPN's Hot Play Caller
Mark Shapiro has a new a.m. show on his plate and the NFL on his back
WORLD
Inside "The Wire"
Security breaches. Suicidal detainees. A legal challenge heading to the Supreme Court. Welcome to Guantanamo
Enemies Within?
On the Base: Fear of Spying
The Politics of War
Whisked in secret to Iraq, Bush serves holiday dinner to the troops—boosting G.I. morale and showing he can still pull off a killer photo-op
Losing Hearts And Minds
Unmoved by Bush's visit, Iraqis blame the U.S. for civilian deaths, missing detainees and razed homes
BUSINESS
Will Wal-Mart Steal Christmas?
As the retail king slashes prices on toys, its rivals are dreaming up new ways to compete
American Girl: Rise of a Toy Classic (Business/Dolls)
THE ARTS
Jack of Hearts (Movies)
In his new film, the King of Cads falls for an oldish woman. It's a fantasy
Love Among the Ruins (Movies/Cinema Sex)
Found in Translation (Movies)
Tom Cruise leaves the American frontier for the exquisite ways of old Japan in The Last Samurai
Cruel Yule (Movies)
St. Nick is nefarious in a very unjolly Bad Santa
The Princess of Queens (Music)
Alicia Keys' first CD sent her into the stratosphere. But for her second, she refuses to put on any airs
A Divine Entry Into Paradise (Television)
Heaven on Earth (Television)
In the dazzling HBO mini-series Angels in America, the politics and crises of the '80s feel close to home
YOUR TIME
Practice, Practice (Your Time: Health)
Experienced surgeons do a better job. Check on yours before your operation
A Big Boost For The Littlest Babies (Your Time/Health)
Preemies thrive on nitric oxide
An Almond Surprise (Your Time/Health)
Smoking Hits Women Harder (Your Time/Health)
Striking Back At Credit Thieves (Your Time/Money)
Teen Travels (Your Time/Money)
The Real Fund Rip-Off (Your Time/Money)
Mutual-fund scandals grab headlines, but the bigger bite is heavy-duty fees
Tomorrow's Kitchen (Your Time/Tech)
One family test-drives a cutting-edge room full of really smart appliances