COVER
The Candidates Stump for National Service (The Well / Cover Story)
When he takes office in January, our next President will surely take steps to help more Americans serve. But you don't have to wait that long to get started writes Richard Stengel
21 Ways to Serve America (User's Guide)
A call goes out with 21 ways you can give back and pay it forward to current and future stewards of the country
Barack Obama: A Call to Service (In Their Words)
John McCain: Inspiring Citizens to Do More (In Their Words)
TO OUR READERS
What We Can Do
With a special report and by co-hosting a major summit, TIME challenges thinkers and leaders to reimagine national service
NATION
The Sarah Show (The Well / Campaign '08)
A front-row view of Sarah Palin's campaign debut reveals why her grip on women voters is likely to last
The Truth About Teen Girls (The Well / Society)
So you think they're having sex too soon and it's the media's fault. It's not that simple
ESSAY
Sarah Palin's Myth of America (Commentary / In the Arena)
Viewpoint: The GOP candidate appeals to nostalgia for a country that no longer exists. It might be a winning strategy
Sarah Palin's Alaskonomics
Viewpoint: The candidate says she's a tough fiscal reformer. But Alaska leads the nation in leeching off Washington
Defeat the Press (Commentary / Tuned In)
Is it a loser's strategy for McCain and Palin to run against the media? Actually, it would be insanity not to
BRIEFING
Robert Giroux
The Moment
9|10|08: Geneva
The Page
The World
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES
Milestones
The Skimmer
Pop Chart
A Brief History Of: Sports Medicine
Verbatim
Don Haskins
WORLD
The Central Front (The Well / World)
Pakistan is now the focus of the long war on terrorism. Its new President has a murky past and few democratic credentials. How can this dangerous place be made safe?
Postcard: A Suburb Hopes for One More Delay at O'Hare (Postcard: Bensenville)
As one of America's most congested airports modernizes, a suburb in its shadow faces demolition. Hoping for one more delay at O'Hare
SCIENCE
Eco-Buyer Beware: Green Can Be Deceiving (Going Green)
Those "green" products often aren't
BUSINESS
With Fannie and Freddie, the US Is Bailout Nation (The Well / Business)
Fearing turmoil in housing and the stock market, the government seizes mortgage lenders Fannie and Freddie. What it means for you — and the U.S.
Another Benefit of Health: Wealth (Right on Your Money)
Investing in healthy living now may add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars later in life
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Renaissance Man: Ricky Gervais (Movies)
Ghost Town star Ricky Gervais quotes Keats and cracks wise. What's not to love?
Baffled After Seeing (Movies)
Joel and Ethan Coen's follow-up to No Country for Old Men is a flaky spy comedy--or is it?
Home Is Where the Hurt Is (Books)
In Marilynne Robinson's new novel about a prodigal son, a bad man is hard to find
Metallica's Insanely Fast New Album (Music)
Metallica's ninth album is its fastest, loudest and best ever
5 Things You Should Know About (Downtime)
A sci-fi standout, twangy Simpson and DIY Martha
SPECIAL SECTION
Awash in Sales (Global Business / Small Business)
Stainless-steel water bottles were a nice niche — until sales exploded. The perils of popularity
Teaching Them to Fish (Global Business / Economic Development)
A Virginia-based NGO hands out free wheat to poor countries, at a price: the businesses have to perform
Business Books
Afraid that the ax is about to fall? How to clean up your act and avoid the chop in a slumping economy. Understanding urgency--or stopping the 24/7 clock