NATION

The Terror Countdown

A capture on the U.S.-Canadian border heightens fears of a millennial attack against Americans

A Hex on Your Taxes

Politicians and Web retailers want to keep e-sales levy-free. But others are vexed

WORLD

Hard Lessons

The Russian generals rely on blunt force to stave off casualties. But a rebel ambush in Grozny proves they have more to learn

SCIENCE

The Riddle of Time

We're obsessed with it, and never seem to have enough. But scientists don't know how to explain it--or even if it really exists

SOCIETY

Bad to the Bone (Behavior)

How to explain evildoers like Harris and Klebold? Some psychologists say there's a diagnosis at hand

The End of His Season (Crime)

A football player tries to outrun charges that he conspired to kill his girlfriend--and unborn son

Ending the Whitewash (Race)

The N.A.A.C.P. cried boycott to grab TV's attention on race, but quiet diplomacy may get more results

BRIEFING

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Hitchhiker's Cuba (Dispatch)

What the country needs, above all else, is more tourists in rented Subarus

BUSINESS

EDUCATION

Outside, Wanting In

Home schoolers won the right to escape the public system. But should they be able to play on its teams?

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Good and the Grief (Comics)

Charles Schulz's Peanuts, about to retire after five decades, made loneliness and anxiety funny

Cinema: Matt Damon Acts Out (The Arts / Cinema)

He's popular, hardworking and sincere. So it might surprise you how much he has in common with the lonely misfit he plays in The Talented Mr. Ripley

Art: Spain's Conquistador (The Arts / Art)

Velazquez's paintings raised Iberian art to the level of 17th century Europe's greatest masters

Cinema: Bah, Humbug (The Arts / Cinema)

Very few sugarplums are dancing through this year's holiday movies. Still, there are a few satisfying treats

YOUR TIME

Yes, Virginia... (Personal Time / Your Family)

As our kids become more skeptical at an earlier age, what should we say about Santa Claus?

Market Rotisserie (Personal Time / Your Money)

Spending too much time picking this week's NFL games? Switch to stocks and learn something

After the Party (Personal Time / Your Health)

The best way to avoid a hangover is to go easy on the grog. But if you don't, try these remedies

SPECIAL SECTION

Cruising Inside Amazon (Person Of The Year / Inside the Amazon Culture)

It's like a three-ring circus that adds more rings each day

Inside eBay.com: The Attic of e (Person Of The Year / The Year Of E-Tailing)

>>FROM YESTERYEAR'S TREASURES TO YESTERDAY'S GARBAGE, THERE'S A PLACE AND A PRICE FOR EVERYTHING. WHAT ARE YOU COLLECTING?

Auction Nation: Auction Nation (Person Of The Year / The Year Of E-Tailing)

Town square, community center, social scene--eBay turned into much more than an auction

Clicks And Bricks (Person Of The Year / The Year Of E-Tailing)

E-tailers don't own the world yet. In fact, the real winners may have real stores too

Waiting for Wal-Mart (Person Of The Year / The Year Of E-Tailing)

Coming in Y2K: a brand-new website and a deal with AOL

Food Fight! Food Fight! (Person Of The Year / The Year Of E-Tailing)

Grocery-delivery sites are hungry for your business

FutureShop: Web-Free Shopping (Person Of The Year / The Year Of E-Tailing)

Forget your PC. Let your TV, smart fridge or land blimp make the deal

A Dinner @ Margaret's (Person Of The Year / The Year Of E-Tailing)

Having 30 for supper? Let the Internet stock your pantry (just don't count on having goose)

People Who Mattered (Person Of The Year)

A portrait gallery of those who made a difference in 1999

PEOPLE

LETTERS