Cover: Pulp Friction
The steamy paperback tales of yesteryear make a comeback for collectors, and as writer Kelly Luker observes, there's nothing quite like a good old gender role in the hay.

News: Troubled Waters
In the wake of disturbing evidence of racism and taunting at the Santa Clara Valley Water District, management stays its course.

The House Broken: As the regional economy booms and the population swells, Santa Cruz's open-space policies and poor planning threaten to squeeze students and low-income workers out of the housing market.

Seeing Red: Welcome to the Pentagon, where money is no object.

Love, American Style: San Jose's first Weddings International extravaganza unveils the saris, bubas and aodais behind the Cinderella dress.

Public Eye: Psychic Punditry.

Polis Report: Mouse ball maintenance in hand.

A Snow Job on Thin Ice: Bille August's 'Smilla's Sense of Snow' makes no sense at all.

Wight Didn't Make Right: Documentary looks at famously messed-up 60s music festival.

Don't Believe the Hype: The real meaning behind the shooting of rapper Notorious B.I.G.

Vinyl Culture: DJ Shadow samples the past to create the future of hip-hop.

Standing Very Tall: They Might Be Giants give dweebish songs a sonic boost.

Straight Outta Stockton: Is Pavement getting too popular for its own good?

Taking Flight: Harvey Pekar talks to Spanish Fly, the world's only tuba, trumpet and slide-guitar trio.

Question Authority: Todd S. Inoue gets "Next" to the latest album by revolutionary rapper KRS-One.

French Benched: Saint-Saëns symphony saves an all-French program in San Jose.

Audiofile: Reviews of the latest CDs by Leather Hyman and various artists.

Beat Street: Indie-pop Korea Girl goes on and on ...

Malaysian Fare: Asian Garden cultivates a rare culinary import: spicy, pungent dishes from Malaysia.

Bargain Bites: Mai Lan's menu spans the cuisines of three countries.

Undoing Many Myths: 'Immigrant America' refutes some of the misconceptions of assimilation and success.