Confirmation Bear Traps
As Democrats get set to bloody some of Bush's Cabinet nominees, the divided Senate faces its first test

Blasting the Crusader
Why the Army's newest and biggest gun may become a target for Bush's Defense Department

In The Crosshairs
Four of Bush's more conservative Cabinet choices face opposition from Democrats hoping to bruise the President-elect. Herewith the lineup--and the big targets

How To Thrive On The Hot Seat (Nation/Survival Guide)

Is A Career A Conflict?
Lynne Cheney

Shall We Dance?
John McCain puts Bush on the spot with a campaign-reform bill the President-elect can't stand

Mrs. Carnahan Goes To Washington (Public Eye)
Still finding her way, the freshman Senator knows where she's headed

When ELF Comes Calling
A radical environmentalist group expands from its Western haunts, staking a claim in the Northeast


Lost On The Campus (Behavior)
More mentally ill students can cope with college. But what happens to the ones who can't?

What Students Should Do (Behavior/Staying Afloat)

Buzzing About Safety (Technology)
The latest studies say there is no cell-phone risk, but many users are making their own decisions about taking precautions

Are Kids at Greater Risk? (Technology/Cell Phones For Children)

Orange County Confidential (Crime)
The double murder on a desolate California road appeared unsolvable. Then the cops got a break

Penne From Heaven (Food)
In an era of kitchen showboats, Mario Batali is a back-to- basics master. Just ignore the shorts

Selling The Sizzle, Not The Steak (Food/The Food Network)

Secrets of the Square
Smuggled out of China, The Tiananmen Papers shows Beijing's nervous leaders at a dangerous time

The Work Of Assassins
From both sides of the intifadeh, high-tech hit squads and low-tech vigilantes wield street justice


Power To The People
As California battles just to keep the lights on, heartland homeowners pay dearly to stay warm

Rebirth Of The Z
Putting Nissan back on the road to success is no easy task, but maybe a blast from the past will help

A Nasty Turn For Ford?
An Explorer rollover lawsuit tries to show that the Firestone crisis is not just about tires


Top performers (The Arts/Cinema)
We like these films. But what we really love is what these actors do in them. Each is worth keeping your eye on--now, at Oscar time and beyond

An Hour Before Daylight (The Arts/Short Takes/Books)
By Jimmy Carter

State And Main (The Arts/Short Takes/Cinema)
Directed By David Mamet

Wow Flash! (The Arts/Short Takes/Music)
Elvis Crespo

Gary & Mike (The Arts/Short Takes/Television)
UPN, Fridays, 8 p.m. E.T.

Three Sisters (The Arts/Short Takes/Television)
NBC, Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m. E.T.

Teller (People/Q&A)

Identity Gap (The Arts/Books)
A memoir of growing up biracial falls too short

More from a Master (The Arts/Books)
Five previously unpublished short stories by the late Raymond Carver attest to his lasting genius

The Chronicles of a Dynasty in the Making (The Arts/Books)
Patriarch Joseph Kennedy's papers offer a cumulative portrait of a hard, enigmatic man

Sundance's Newest Kids (The Arts/Cinema)
A raucous rocker is leading the latest crop of hopefuls at the upcoming indie festival

Call Of The Child (The Arts/Music)
Firings. Lawsuits. And five Grammy nods. Beyonce and Destiny's Child are pop's most-buzzed-about vocal group

Chicks, Not From Dixie (The Arts/Music)
German band Chicks on Speed is making noise in Europe and in the press. Will Americans listen?

Squawking With the Animals (The Arts/Television)
Animal Planet's show-biz approach has made it a cable hit. Now National Geographic enters the alpha channel's territory


Don't Pass the Salt (Personal Time/Your Health)
Cutting back on sodium is a good idea if you have hypertension. And even if you don't

Your Health (Personal Time/Your Health)

The Blame Game (Personal Time/Your Money)
Analysts missed the tech meltdown. They should have known better, but shouldn't you too?

In Brief (Personal Time/Your Money)

Seeking Radio Me (Personal Time/Your Technology)
Are there music stations that broadcast only the tunes you like? Yes, but most just give you static

In Brief (Personal Time/Your Technology)