By Joy M. Faulkner Welcome to the era of fear of smoking. The strange thing is that this is being driven by the so-called children who demanded freedom, popularized sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll in the past. Read more...

How’s this for a summer blockbuster? “On August 14, the streets will rumble, the System will tremble, and the masses will be heard! From the people who brought you Seattle in ’99 and A16 in D.C. Read more...

A lot of you are probably excited that a Federal Court judge’s injunction, shutting down your favorite Web site, Napster.com, last Wednesday was reversed. Recently in a Senate Judiciary Committee, Congressmen heard testimony from both the Recording Industry Association of America and Napster representatives to debate the need for Internet copyright legislation for music. Read more...

By Anupa Iyer Amid the festivities of the 2000 Democratic National Convention, there lurks a shadow of Seattle. The convention, which will occur in L.A.’s Staples Center from August 14-17, is supposed to be a period dedicated toward the rejuvenation of the Democratic Party’s spirit for the November elections. Read more...

Last month, while waiting in a long line of indie rockers and punk rockers at a hardcore punk show, I noticed a boy with a green mohawk a few feet ahead of my friend and me, talking on a cell phone. Read more...

Recently a Florida jury awarded $145 billion to more than 300 thousand people who filed a class-action suit against four tobacco companies. How would you assess the decision? Read more...

By Maisha Elonai Major California newspapers covered the “wedding” of two Vermont women on July 2, but the headlines were somewhat misleading. Carolyn Conrad and Kathleen Peterson were the first of many same-sex couples to enter into a civil union on July 1 under new Vermont legislation that allows committed same-sex couples hundreds of the same legal benefits accorded to heterosexual couples. Read more...