NATION

Mission to Europe

President Bush tours the Continent, tries to persuade angry allies that he's not a troglodyte and searches for the soul of Vladimir Putin

WORLD

The Palestinians: Torn Apart

The intifadeh was supposed to free the Palestinians from Israeli occupation, but instead it is shattering a society already plagued with fissures

SCIENCE

Who Killed Woolly?

New studies suggest that Stone Age hunters may have driven dozens of huge creatures to extinction

SOCIETY

Adventure: Blind To Failure (Adventure)

Mountaineers scoffed at the notion that ERIK WEIHENMAYER, sightless since he was 13, could climb Everest. But a killer peak is no obstacle for a man who can conquer adversity

BRIEFING

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Who's Your Daddy? (Essay)

Bush and Cheney play the stern '50s father, but the model is a bit rusty

BUSINESS

Rank And Fire

Attrition isn't working, so best-to-worst grading is gaining--and those on the bottom get the boot

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Music: The Newest Jazz Singer (The Arts / Music)

Jane Monheit has good looks, a great voice and the best sidemen around. So what's wrong with that?

YOUR TIME

Your College Cash (Personal Time / Your Money)

Section 529 plans offer tax-free growth and are the clear choice for tuition-wary parents

Herbal Warning (Personal Time / Your Health)

Does echinacea, ginkgo biloba or St. John's wort belong in your food? The FDA says no. Here's why

SPECIAL SECTION

Ain't They Grand! (Time Bonus Section / Generations)

Once exclusive domains of the privileged, America's grande-dame resort hotels are refreshed and reopen to a broader clientele

Luxury For Free (Time Bonus Section / Generations)

How I parlayed my airline, hotel and credit-card points into a totally first-class trip to Italy--and how you can too

PEOPLE

LETTERS