Cover: Tubular Hell
Mindless brain drain or screen savior? Two writers argue the pros and cons of television culture.

News: Canine Crimes
Sunnyvale public safety officers seek to put a leash on dogfighting.

Metropolis News Extras

• Monte Sereno: Good neighbor helps to head off ugly Monte Sereno battle.
  
• Campbell: A barrel of monkeys.
  
• Saratoga: Planners approve use permits over health objections of local residents.

Public Eye: Cunneen raises big cash--but can he spend it? Lofgren endorses none, supports Napoli. Chang drops out of supe race..

Millennium Men: New boys on the block bring Backstreet to Main Street with a surprisingly spirited show.

Trent Vents: On his first album in five years, Trent Reznor is still singing about the agonies of youth.

Sophomore Luck: Molotov's second album surpasses the Mexican band's acclaimed debut drop.

Aural Fixation: The Agenda Lounge gets paved over by the high-octane Road Kings.

Battered Shrimp: Frank Whaley's 'Joe the King' is an unlovable movie about an unloved kid.

Tricky Business: Gore effects obscure gay drama.

Gallic Treats: Palo Alto Film Festival turns the spotlight on the French.

Stupid Brand Tricks: Companies boost name recognition with logo-laden giveaways--some useful, some just plain dumb.

Grounds for Fear: GYRO's fills Santa Clara Fairgrounds with creatures of the night.

Muralistic 'Moon': Art keeps family history alive in 'Harvest.'

Enchanted 'Night': San Jose Cleveland Ballet scatters choreographic fairy dust in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

Boy Wonder: The original Bob's still beats the buns off the fast-food big boys.

A La Carte: Though the season of ripe tomatoes is past, one chef finds consolation in fall.