Table of Contents
10 QUESTIONS: Tom Brokaw on retirement, replacement and regret 8
LETTERS 10
NOTEBOOK
Pork-Packed Budget Plus: Rebels resume attacks in Sudan; North Korea's Kim Jong Il resurfaces 21
MILESTONES: Dan Rather steps down; author Arthur Hailey dies 27
IN THE ARENA: Joe Klein on the need for a unified spy system 29
NATION
Flagrant Foul An ugly basketbrawl leaves sports fans and players wondering what ever happened to sportsmanship 30
PENALTY KICK: Fan violence is worse--and much more common--at soccer games in Europe 34
SHOOT TO KILL: A family holiday hunting trip turns deadly. Did race play a role in the massacre? 36
ROAD TRIP: The costliest highway project is either a great innovation or a Texas-size boondoggle 40
WORLD
Bomb Threats The mullahs' nuclear showdown with the West has helped Iran's hard-liners get back--and stay--on top 44
RECOUNT: With Russia and the U.S. taking sides, an election crisis risks plunging Ukraine into civil war 50
LITTLE FALLUJAH: Iraqi insurgents are taking the fight--and more deadly tactics--to the big city 56
COVER
Simmer Down One in 3 adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure. Here's how to lower yours 72
DANGER ZONES: A primer 76
ADVICE: Eight dos and don'ts 78
A to Z In 2004 cinnamon soared while Vioxx sank 82
BUSINESS
Toys "R" Bust How video games are taking the fun out of the toy business 60
GIFT CARDS: Use 'em or lose 'em 63
INNOVATORS
Educators Three who make a difference 65
SOCIETY
Sip and Savor Karen MacNeil shows why wine isn't just for snobs 71
ARTS
George Clooney The Ocean's Twelve star is disarmingly direct 100
POETRY: Plath is back 108
SHORT STORIES: Alice Munro and Annie Proulx are golden 109
THEATER: West Germany in the '70s is betrayed by Democracy 112
TV: Who was Peter Sellers? 113
YOUR TIME
MONEY: Free credit checks 121
HEALTH: News on dementia 122
LIVING: Holiday cookbooks 125
PEOPLE: Q&A with Alan Alda 127
ESSAY: Michelle Cottle on the real problems facing liberals 128
COVER: Digital photomontage by Arthur Hochstein