How Pumped Up is Baseball?
A growing steroid scandal has entangled the sport's biggest star, and now Washington wants reform

The Cafeteria Crusader
High noon in Texas: the agriculture chief is making a stand against junk food. Can she win?


The Ravages Of Stress (Science/Health)
It might not be visible, but chronic emotional burdens can make your cells age prematurely


Balking At The TSA
New security regulations have some airlines concerned safety is being sacrificed

Do They Know It's Simplistic? (Essay)
Band Aid's intentions are good, but Africa needs more than a Christmas jingle

Letters (Letters)

The Democrats' Hope in the Desert (Notebook/In The Arena)

Creative Thinking In Chicago

People

56 Years Ago In Time (Notebook/Milestones)

Finding Nino ... In Grand Rapids

Milestones (Notebook/Milestones)

Holiday Hit Parade

In Need Of A Helping Hand

Numbers

On The Stump Behind Bars

Payback Time For The Cock Of The Prairie

Performance Of The Week

Verbatim

10 Questions For Tavis Smiley (Interview)

In From The Cold
In 1965, U.S. Army Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins deserted his post in South Korea and fled to the communist North—a move he now calls "the stupidest thing I have ever done." He spent nearly 40 years inside the Hermit Kingdom, as a lingering mystery of the Cold War. In July, Pyongyang finally let Jenkins leave. He turned himself in to the U.S. Army in Japan and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. He left prison two weeks ago. In this special TIME report, Jenkins, who has seen things in secretive North Korea that only a few Westerners have experienced, tells his story in full. It's a tale of despair and regret, redemption and love.

The Fight of His Life
Kofi Annan built a reputation as the world's most trusted diplomat, but the oil-for-food scandal has riled U.S. critics. Is his job in jeopardy?

Is There a Better Model For the U.N.? (World/Reform)

The Great Sunni Hope
Once invisible, Iraq's interim President could win big in next month's election — if he gets out his voters


Woof, Woof, Your Honor (Law)
It's no joke. Animal lawsuits are gaining respect as pet owners seek justice for the ones they love


High Drama, Low Comedy (Arts/Movies)
Meet the rowdy cast of the sequel to that comedy about in-laws. Know any of them?

Not Just an African Story (Arts/Movies)
Hotel Rwanda is the riveting account of a man finding courage in the midst of genocide

At Last, Don Cheadle Is the Hero (Arts/Movies)

Fine China, Kung Fu Style (Arts/Movies)
Zhang Ziyi battles with the big boys in the dazzling, devious martial-arts epic House of Flying Daggers

Pop Goes the Literature (Arts/Books)
When authors as highbrow as Michael Chabon write pulp fiction, what defines a good read?


Fellowship of the Matrix (Your Time/Living)
Star Wars was just the start. Now Frodo and Neo get their fancy DVD spotlights

Toasting Christmas with a Bottle of Turkey Soda (Your Time/Living)

Chandelier Couture (Your Time/Style)

Museum-Quality Beauty (Your Time/Style)

The Season to Relax (Your Time/Style)
Two spas offer accessible pampering services to relieve holiday stress

Welcome Back, Earth Shoes (Your Time/Style)

Joystick Nostalgia (Your Time/Tech)
Atari brings back its golden oldies — but some games don't feel the same

Small-Scale Scanning (Your Time/Tech)

Will Podcasting Kill the Radio Star (Your Time/Tech)


Holiday Trimming (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Connections)
Cut back on the fuss to find the season's real joys

A Gift Bag of Children's Books (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Connections)
Color, fantasy, humor and, above all, magic are prime ingredients of the holiday season, and nowhere are they to be found in greater abundance than in the words and illustrations of books for kids. On the following pages are 10 of the year's best

Gridiron Gals (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Connections)
In cities around the country, the NFL is looking for a few good women to coach youth football


How It Went Sour (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Global Business/TIME Investigative Report)
The inside story of Parmalat, the biggest, most brazen corporate fraud in European history

Hanging by a Thread (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Global Business/Trade)
Textile factories throughout Asia face extinction as a long-standing global trade pact is set to expire

A Tale of Survival (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Global Business/Trade)

World Beaters (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Global Business/World Beaters)
People to Watch in International Business