NATION

BONE DRY

ACROSS GREAT SWATHS OF THE LOWER PLAINS AND SOUTHWEST, A WITHERING DROUGHT IS SLOWLY, STEADILY ERODING HOPES AND WAYS OF LIFE

SAILORS TURNED SMUGGLERS

HOW THE NAVY BROKE UP A RING OF COURIERS THAT HELPED NIGERIAN GANGSTERS MOVE HEROIN INTO EUROPE

WORLD

THE RIGHT WAY TO PEACE?

PLEDGING TO BOTH SUPPORT AND THWART THE PROCESS, NETANYAHU SQUEAKED INTO POWER. WHICH CAMPAIGN PROMISES WERE FOR REAL?

ACROSS THE SPECTRUM

LEAH RABIN, ELIE WIESEL AND OTHERS, PRO AND CON, ASSESS NETANYAHU'S VICTORY

SCIENCE

HEALTH & MEDICINE

DO WATER FILTERS WORK? (Health)

NOT NECESSARILY, DESPITE THE $450 MILLION AMERICANS SPEND EACH YEAR TO PURIFY WHAT FLOWS FROM THEIR TAPS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

BREATHLESS IN GAZA (World / The Political Interest)

THE PALESTINIANS DID ALL THEY COULD TO HELP PERES, INCLUDING KEEP QUIET. NOW WHAT?

I'M JUST THAT SIMPLE (Essay)

AMERICAN POLITICIANS SHOW GENIUS AT PRETENDING TO BE MODEST, HOMESPUN HEROES

POPCORN CANDIDATES (The Arts / Spectator)

'TIS THE SEASON FOR BIG PROMISES FROM POLS AND MOVIES

BUSINESS

FRITO-LAY UNDER SNACK ATTACK

A FEDERAL PROBE IS LOOKING AT ONE COMPANY'S DOMINATION OF SNACK FOODS. BUT IS IT REALLY A CRIME TO BE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE?

EDUCATION

WITH COLLEGE FOR ALL

MORE THAN THE COST OF HARVARD, IT IS THE RISING TUITION AT STATE SCHOOLS THAT SUBVERTS THE DEMOCRATIC IDEAL

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ART: MODERNISM'S PATRIARCH (The Arts / ART)

THE CEZANNE EXHIBITION IN PHILADELPHIA IS AN EPIC, HUMBLING EVENT, FULLY WORTHY OF ITS GREAT SUBJECT

MUSIC: THE FIERCEST FOLKIE (The Arts / MUSIC)

THE BIG TIME BECKONS, BUT ANI DIFRANCO REMAINS LOYAL TO HER OWN RECORD LABEL AND HER OBSESSIONS

MUSIC: AND SHE SWINGS TOO (The Arts / MUSIC)

SINGER-PIANIST DIANA KRALL HAS A ROMANTIC STYLE AND A THOUGHTFUL WAY WITH THE WORKS OF NAT KING COLE