COVER
The Outsider: Where Is Sarah Palin Going Next? (The Well / Cover Story)
The exiting Alaska governor's outsider politics take her on the road less traveled. But where is she going?
NATION
No Charisma? Don't Worry, You Can Still Be a Leader (The Well / Leadership)
In the U.S., leaders are expected to look great, sound great and be inspiring. In other countries--not so much
Can Community Colleges Save the U.S. Economy? (The Well / Education)
As laid-off workers add to surging enrollments, the White House looks to two-year schools for an educational bailout
ESSAY
Obama: Getting Down to the Hard Choices (Commentary / In the Arena)
Why President Barack Obama needs to get tougher on his domestic agenda — and come clean on taxes
Michael Jackson: Goodbye, or See You Soon? (Commentary / Tuned In)
Jackson gets a big, cathartic memorial--but that doesn't mean the media frenzy will end
Palin Resignation: A Family Choice?
Does the exiting Alaska Governor prove that women have to make a choice between career and family life? Not at all
WORLD
In Guatemala, Chasing Away the Ghost of Alvarado (Postcard: Guatemala City)
Can the outcry over a shocking murder spur legal reforms in one of Latin America's deadliest capitals? Chasing away the bloody ghost of Alvarado
A New General, and a New War, in Afghanistan (The Well / World)
The Afghan war is going badly, and Stan McChrystal wants to fight it differently. He doesn't have much time
LETTERS
Inbox
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Brüno's Sacha Baron Cohen: More Than a Comedian (Movies)
It's safe to say that after more than a decade honing his characters on television and in films, Sacha Baron Cohen is more than a comedian. He's the world's most famous performance artist
The Boy Who Rocked (Music)
A new generation of bands is taking Harry Potter places J.K. Rowling never did
Maile Meloy's Knockout Short Stories (Books)
In her sharp collection of stories, Maile Meloy pulls no punches
Short List
TIME'S PICKS FOR THE WEEK
SOCIETY
Postpartum Depression: Do All Moms Need Screening? (Life / Women's Health)
Would it help or hurt to screen all mothers for postpartum depression?
The Pros and Cons of Reverse Mortgages (Life / Personal Finance)
More older Americans are cashing in all their home equity. But is that their best option?
Cheating 2.0: New Mobile Apps Make Adultery Easier (Life / Technology)
AshleyMadison.com, a personals site aimed at facilitating extramarital affairs, now has mobile apps that suspicious spouses can't trace
Paying for Virtual Gifts (Life / Web Watch)
Facebook adds a new wrinkle
SCIENCE
The Incredible Shrinking Sheep of Scotland (The Well / Evolution)
According to a new study in Science, it seems that at least one animal — the wild sheep of Soay Island — is adapting to climate change
BRIEFING
Verbatim
The Moment
7|7|09: Los Angeles
The World
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES
Spotlight: China's Ethnic Riots
The Skimmer
Book Review: Free: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson
Milestones (Milestones)
Steve McNair (Milestones)
Black Boxes
It can withstand temperatures up to 2,000°F and impact forces of 100 Gs. It reveals secrets of airplane crashes, including what went wrong and why. And it's not black at all — it's actually orange
Karl Malden (Milestones)
Robert McNamara (Remembrance)
Learning from a great manager's tragedy