NATION

PERFECTLY IN CHARACTER

ACTOR-SENATOR FRED THOMPSON WOULD BRING GRUFF CONFIDENCE TO THE ROLE OF CLINTON'S CHIEF INQUISITOR

KIDS & POT

MARIJUANA USE AMONG TEENS IS UP, BUT BABY-BOOMER PARENTS (WHO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE SUBJECT) AREN'T SURE WHAT TO DO

O.J. HOLDS THE LINE

BUT IF EVERYTHING HE SAID IS TRUE, NEARLY EVERYONE ELSE, INCLUDING HIS FRIENDS, WOULD HAVE TO BE LYING

WORLD

PREPARING FOR WAR

FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, ISRAEL HAS CONCENTRATED ON ACHIEVING PEACE WITH ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS. NOW ITS FOCUS TURNS TO THE RENEWED THREAT OF CONFLICT

RUSSIA'S REGENT

ANATOLI CHUBAIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNPOPULAR--AND MOST POWERFUL--POLITICIANS IN THE KREMLIN

SCIENCE

LEONARDO REDUX

AN EXHIBITION BRILLIANTLY DISPLAYS HIS SCIENTIFIC GENIUS, THANKS TO A MODERN MEDICI

GOLDEN ANTS (Nature)

ON THE TRAIL OF HERODOTUS' FURRY, ORE-LOVING INSECTS

HEALTH & MEDICINE

A COMMISH MANY WILL MISS (Health)

IN SIX TUMULTUOUS YEARS AT THE FDA, DAVID KESSLER DID THE UNEXPECTED: HE IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH

SMOG ALERT (Health)

THE EPA PROPOSES TOUGH NEW CLEAN-AIR STANDARDS

SOCIETY

BRIEFING

BUSINESS

AMBULANCE CHASING

BIG COMPANIES ARE FIGHTING FIREMEN AND EACH OTHER FOR THE BUSINESS OF PICKING YOU OFF THE PAVEMENT

DISNEY'S CHINA POLICY

DESPITE IMPLIED THREATS TO ITS FUTURE BUSINESS THERE, THE COMPANY WILL RELEASE A FILM CRITICAL OF BEIJING

FIGHT TO THE DEATH (BONUS SECTION)

A BATTLE BETWEEN RIVAL FUNERAL-HOME DYNASTIES PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON A VAST BUT QUIET TRANSFORMATION IN THE WAY WE BURY OUR DEAD

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

...AND SOME NICE THINGS TO READ (The Arts / KIDS' STUFF CRITICS' CHOICE)

HAS K'NEXOSAURUS' BATTERY FINALLY RUN OUT? IF JUNIOR IS READY FOR MORE LITERARY PURSUITS, THESE ARE GOOD BETS

OUR FAVORITE PLAYTHINGS (The Arts / KIDS' STUFF CRITICS' CHOICE)

HERE ARE NINE TOYS THAT WILL GET YOUR KIDS THINKING, CREATING, PLAYING AND MAYBE EVEN FORGETTING SUPER MARIO 64

CINEMA: THEY SORTA GOT RHYTHM (The Arts / CINEMA)

EVER WANTED TO HEAR ALAN ALDA, JULIA ROBERTS OR WOODY ALLEN WARBLE A TUNE? HERE'S YOUR CHANCE

OPERA: SUCCESS IN EXCESS (The Arts / OPERA)

WHILE OTHER PERFORMING ARTS STRUGGLE, OPERA--THE ORIGINAL MULTIMEDIA SENSATION--IS THRIVING

MAXIMUM MINIMALISM (The Arts / OPERA)

LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES, JEAN COCTEAU'S TALE OF TOO-CLOSE SIBLINGS, GETS THE FULL PHILIP GLASS TREATMENT

PEOPLE

LETTERS