NEWS & FEATURES

Nonprofits that receive funding through a voluntary federal-employee charitable-giving program are being required by the Bush administration to act as terrorist watchdogs - without being told how to comply. It's sending a chill through the entire philanthropic community, David Bernstein reports.

College dropout Dick Cheney has spent several careers screwing up one important project after another, Dan Kennedy writes. So much for his evil "genius."

Governor Mitt Romney may not win a great sweep of state legislative offices for the GOP, as he'd hoped to, but Adam Reilly warns Dems not to breathe too easy.

Tamara Wieder's Q&A with Newton native Jeb Sharp, who brings international news to an American audience on BBC radio program The World.

Mike Miliard profiles the Worcester-based nonprofit Downhill Battle, which sees a music industry that's broken - bloated, outdated, money-hungry, monopolistic - and aims to fix it.

In "TJI": Bill O'Reilly kids around, and funding the recount. Plus, George W. Feline.

In "Savage Love," Dan Savage on love and sex.

In "Out There," George Grattan is an old man learning old trick.

In "Urban Buy," Nina Schwartz sees people playing dress up, daily.

In the Phoenix editorial, Judge Tauro deserves praise for standing up to the US Attorney's Office. Plus, Sinclair learns the cost of free speech, and Romney to Boston: Drop dead.

Letters to the editor

Moon Signs

Plus, this just in:

MUSIC

Sean Richardson jumps on board as Mike Ness rides into town on Social Distortion.

Matt Ashare and Steve Earle talk about politics, substance abuse, and John Walker Lindh.

Brett Milano hears a sense of renewal on the Twinemen's new Hi-n-Dry release, Sideshow.

Jon Garelick encounters the people, places, and events in Chronicles as Dylan encountered them, with a wide-eyed sense of discovery.

Lloyd Schwartz on Dubravka Tomsic, Mitsuko Shirai and Hartmut Höll, Opera Boston's La vie Parisienne, Benjamin Zander's Mahler, Ilana Davidson with Collage, and Janna Baty with the New England String Ensemble.

Also, short reviews of:

THEATER

Liza Weisstuch aisle hops between black history and black comedy on local stages.

Carolyn Clay says the SpeakEasy's revival is in good Company.

The Actors' Shakespeare Project debuts with a production of Richard III that Carolyn Clay finds lacking.

Caroyln Clay says Sonia Flew soars and playwright Melinda Lopez flies with it.

ART

Christopher Millis on installation and illumination from Cerith Wyn Evans.

BOOKS

Iris Fanger reads Jerome Robbins: His Life, His Theater, His Dance, Deborah Jowitt's comprehensive portrait of a complex artist.

FAMILIAR TUNES: J.L. Johnson finds lush language but old themes in John Updike's latest novel, Villages.

TELEVISION

Joyce Millman says Desperate Housewives gets lost in the wash.

HOTDOTS: FRIDAY 22 9:00 (4) Genius: A Night for Ray Charles. A tribute to the late soul man hosted by Jamie Foxx and featuring performances by a big-tent-ful of talent including Al Green, Elton John, Reba McEntire, Stevie Wonder, and Mary J. Blige. By Clif Garboden

FOOD

SPECIALS