NEWS & FEATURES

Not only could Ralph Nader screw things up for the Democrats, says Adam Reilly, he could mess up the Green Party too.

The FCC's recent clamp-down purports to be about curtailing sex and violence on the airwaves. But Dan Kennedy finds it's actually about something much darker: money and power.

Dropout rates for Hispanic high-school students in Massachusetts are the second worst in the nation, David S. Bernstein reports. Now, the MCAS test provides incentive for raising them even higher.

Every culture gets the Jesus it wants and needs. We want and need something better than Mel Gibson's hostility to human flesh. Michael Bronski says a group of 16th-century artists can help.

In recent displays of odious stagecraft, Mel Gibson and President Bush have cunningly deployed fear of gays to reassure conservative Christians of their own righteousness. Michael Joseph Gross explains.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Kevin Banks and Scott Getchell make their mark on bar napkins all over town.

At 24 and 32, respectively, Radius chef de cuisine Brian Reimer and sommelier Scott Fraley are making an impression on Boston's restaurant scene. Tamara Wieder talks with them.

In the Phoenix editorial, we decry George W. Bush, the enemy of ideas.

In "Out There," Chris Wright says, "I am, therefore I am."

In "Urban Buy," Brian E. O'Neill says, "holy hangover, Batman!"

Letters to the editor

Moon Signs

Plus, this just in:

MUSIC

Sean Richardson on the 'mature' pop punk of Blink-182 and the Offspring.

Matt Ashare finds the other side of Godsmack.

Ted Drozdowski sinks into Gov't Mule live and on DVD.

Tony Ware on Sixtoo, Blockhead, and the Ninja Tune stable.

Josh Kun remembers Luis Güereña.

Lloyd Schwartz on Garrick Ohlsson and Robert Spano, Robert Levin and Ya-Fei Chuang, Jacques Zoon, and Andrew Rangell.

Live reviews of: Noye's Fludde, Grant Lee Phillips and Erykah Badu

Also, short reviews of:

THEATER

Liza Weisstuch says Lost City loses its way

Iris Fanger sees Tharp and Joel heal America through dance.

Steve Vineberg says Our Lady needs a prayer or two.

Carolyn Clay says New Rep paints a vivid Yellowman.

DANCE

Marcia B. Siegel reviews Doug Varone at the Majestic.

ART

Christopher Millis on African art at the Brush and the Hamill Galleries.

BOOKS

Chris Fujiwara critiques Peter Biskind's Hollywood 'exposé'.

TELEVISION

HOTDOTS: THURSDAY 11 8:00 (25) The 35th NAACP Image Awards. Just what sort of image is being encouraged by OutKast and Beyoncé, UPN's Girlfriends, Ice-T, and the TV-movie about the DC sniper is a bit cloudy. By Clif Garboden

FOOD

SPECIALS