Cover Story: Ghosts in the Machine
Jonathan Vankin recalls his 1989 Metro story about the potential for vote-counting mayhem, and marvels that it didn't happen sooner. Plus: Michael Moore on finding the 'you' in W.

News: Ushering in a New Era
The San Jose Redevelopment Agency plans to raze the 4-year-old $11 million UA Pavilion Theater, because it is 'obsolete.'

Metropolis News Extras

• Cupertino: David Copperfield wows Flint Center audience.
  
• Willow Glen: Development at Kmart site approved by city council.
  
• Sunnyvale: County supervisors approve children's health initiative.

Twinkle Wrinkle: Come hell or high energy bills, the holiday light show must go on in Willow Glen.

Public Eye: Councilboy ponders becoming Assemblyboy. Campbell moves out early. Cupertino councillor leaving town.

Millennium Again: Get ready for a festive do-over as the millennium begins--for real this time.

Notes From the Underbelly: Snow in San Jose?!

Work: Eggheads Unite!

It Takes a Global Village: Manu Chao brings the culture of the streets to 'Clandestino,' a mysterious, Latin-flavored 'Nebraska.'

Futuristic Femininity: Hi-Posi '4n5' is a deliciously bizarre trip through Japanese girl pop.

Noisy Night: Papa Roach brings the noise at LIVE 105's Not So Silent Night.

Aural Fixation: A guide to New Year's Eve music and party events around the bay.

Blade Runners: Ang Lee choreographs a martial arts masterpiece in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.'

Nothing but the Truth: David Mamet chills the comedy in pallid Hollywood satire 'State and Main.'

Mind Games: 'What Women Want' doesn't have a clue what women want.

Lost at Sea: Tom Hanks is punished with exile for working too hard in 'Cast Away.'

Horsing Around: Cormac McCarthy's novel pulls up lame in 'All the Pretty Horses.'

Six-Month Itch: Love can't stop blooming in San Jose Rep's 'Enter the Guardsman.'

Fresh on the Boat: The sushi dining experience goes along swimmingly at Westgate's Sushi Boat eatery.

A La Carte: 'Tis the season to relish baked treats.