Cover: Five Essay Pieces
Tales of the bizarre--splatterpunk and beyond--are the results of Jive 4, our annual essay-writing contest.

News: Rail Thin
How much rail service can you buy for $175 million?

Addicted to Love: The downside of cybersex is a hot issue.

Up to the Task?: See how your kids' school did in the state Standardized Testing and Reporting program.

Climbing Up on Capitol Hill: Check up on the your Congressional Representatives and U.S. Senators--where they stand, how they voted.

Fright Night: Turn of the Screw delivers campy chills.

Talking Pictures: Author Bruce Barcott crosses heaven and hell to discuss What Dreams May Come.

Father Figure: Author Gus Lee sounds off about A Soldier's Daughter.

Dead Wrong: Flawed What Dreams May Come is a film in search of an afterlife.

World Beat: Director Iara Lee goes back to the future with rave flick Modulations.

Mused and Abused: Love Is the Devil paints a lurid picture of Francis Bacon's affair.

World Class: LaSalette chef blends Old World flavors.

Heard It Through the Grapevine: Get to the root of all things wine.

Punjabi Pop: East meets West--catching up with Britain's accelerating Asian indies.

Soul Diva-lution: Fuel shines a spotlight on the new breed of female soul singers.

Alien Nation: Dreamland explores the heart of the UFO mythology in Roswell and Area 51.