Cover: Fighting Words
Quentin Tarantino and gangsta rappers may be ready to resurrect the word 'nigger,' but many African Americans' wounds are still too fresh, J. Douglas Allen-Taylor writes.

News: Foster Family Values
In today's local economy, foster parents must work and place their tiny charges in day care. But the legislature has been reluctant to cover those costs, and foster kids are paying the price.

Public Eye: Al Checchi--man of many plugs.

Code Warriors: They came, they saw, they dove for gift certificates from Fry's.

Little Italy's Last Stand: Twenty-five years later, Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets is still the definitive take on New York lowlifes.

One Very Big Ego: Michael Moore is full of himself in his new documentary, The Big One.

Shoegazers: Tourette's syndrome girl meets shy boy on the road to Toronto in Niagara Niagara.

Freedom's Facet: A young woman dreams of escape in A Price Above Rubies.

Hardcore Pulp: The British band that mooned Michael Jackson holds up the flag for sexy guitar rock.

Audiofile: Reviews of the latest CDs by Bill Laswell, Ruby Lovett, C-Murder and Tara MacLean.

Beat Street: L.A.'s Ozomatli moves listeners in a colorblind musical utopia.

Viet Lux: Bach Dang practices the art of Vietnamese diner fare with more than 100 inexpensive, tasty menu options.

Dark Satanic Malls: John Miller studies commercialization of the landscape in Egotopia.