Vol. 172 No. 3
COVER
As he celebrates his 90th birthday, the world's greatest moral leader reflects on a lifetime of service--and what the rest of us can learn from it
TO OUR READERS
Through his example and his good works, Nelson Mandela remains an inspiration for young and old around the world
NATION
Beset by a housing crash, environmental chaos and political turmoil, Florida confronts the death of a dream
Cricket, Texas-Style (The Well / Sports Business)
A high roller says cash and splash will make the game play in the U.S.A.
Caught in the Middle (The Well / Campaign '08 | Obama)
Why Obama's centrist shift is turning off his truest believers
Libertarians: A (Not So) Lunatic Fringe (The Well / Campaign '08)
They are antiwar and pro-gun, against the income tax and in favor of legalizing drugs. But the Libertarians' freedom agenda isn't kooky — it's transforming America's political landscape
ESSAY
If Hillary's supporters refuse to vote for Obama, her agenda will fade. And a united GOP just might win
A Heartbeat Away (The Awesome Column)
If drafted, he will run. If nominated, he will accept. But to be Vice President, Joel has to get vetted first
NOTEBOOK
Verbatim
The Page (Briefing)
The World (Briefing)
The Skimmer (Briefing)
Too Little, Too Late. (Briefing / THE MOMENT: G-8 SUMMIT, JAPAN)
A pledge to cut carbon emissions is less than it seems
Pop Chart
Milestones
Jesse Helms (Briefing)
Sir John Templeton (Briefing)
WORLD
Eighteen years after it burned to the ground, the author's house is again threatened by California's wildfires. Living at the mercy of the winds
SCIENCE
It's in just about everything--which may be harmful to you and the planet. How to shrink your plastic footprint
SOCIETY
Pediatricians call for cholesterol-lowering drugs for some kids. Is this a quick fix for obesity's ills?
I've Got a Mean Left Rook ... (Life)
First person with the world chess-boxing champion
Armoring Your Tank (Life / Crime)
The trendiest car accessory is a lockable gas cap
TECHNOLOGY
The Web needs commenters. But are they ruining the Net faster than they can save it?
The Master Of Memes (The Well / Profile)
"moot" is the founder of 4chan, one of the largest communities on the Web. It's a profane, scary place. It's also the secret wellspring of Internet culture
Powering Up the Electric Slide (Life / Technology)
A new dance floor in London is designed to harness the energy of pounding feet
BUSINESS
Congress's housing bill won't stop the foreclosure mess. That doesn't mean it's a bad idea
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The new Batman epic is a violent, masterly weave of madness and dread
Theater of the Absurd (Television)
HBO 's Generation Kill captures the Iraq invasion as searing drama and surreal comedy
5 Things You Need to Know About (Downtime)
An ingenious heist, a nifty 3-D movie and Mellencamp's best in years
How to Stop Innovation (60-Second Synopsis)
Hellboy Heats Up the Superhero (Movies)
The man who dreamed up Pan's Labyrinth finds humor and a little heart in comic-book mutants
PEOPLE
The host of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style mentors young designers in a new season of Project Runway, debuting July 16. Tim Gunn will now take your questions