View from the Top
On the Cover: Rope Line (detail), a painting by Greg Drasler.
Meditation Moment: An excerpt from Be Generous by David Marell.

Esteemed Reader: Jason Stern on the process of making suffering useful.
Department of Corrections: Our apologies, corrections.
Letters: Readers respond to last month’s interview with Professor Joel Kovel.
Editor's Note: Brian K. Mahoney explains it all.

Backbone
Lucid Dreaming: The “L” Word. Beth E. Wilson on landscape painting.
Life in the Balance: The Personal is Planetary. Susan Piperato talks to Satish Kumar.

Frankly Speaking: How to See. Frank Crocitto on developing clarity of vision.
Ear Whacks: Aliza Hava profile. CD Reviews. Nightlife Highlights.
Quarter to Three: Larger Head. Musings by Sparrow.
Planet Waves: Science or Political Science? By Eric Francis. Plus Horoscopes.
Poetica: Poems by Joe Lamorte, Mel McCarter, John Nixon, Jr., Christopher Porpora, and Jan Marin Tramontano.

The Book Shelf
Where the Bodies are Buried: Nina Shengold profiles author Fred Rosen.
Book Reviews: Books and more books. Read all about them.

News & Politics
Letter from Fallujah: Jo Wilding’s eyewitness account from the beseiged city.
No Worse Enemy: A Marine speaks out about the killing of civilians by US forces.
Losing “The Great Game": Vanni Cappelli on the failure of US policy in Afghanistan.

Feature
Messing With the Masterpiece, Part II: Lorrie Klosterman investigates how local groups and municipalities are confronting the legacy of pollution in the Hudson Valley.

Community Notebook
Fungi Hunter: Jennifer May profiles noted local mycologist John Boyle.
Painter Laureate: Annie Kane-Horrigan talks with Tivoli artist Joel Griffith.

Tastings
On the Road:Healthy Highways: Nikki and David Goldbeck

Whole Living Guide
Probiotics: Corrina Richards examines the benefits of gastrointestinal microflora.

The Art of Business
Teak Treasures: Pauline Uchmanowicz visits Wood Classics in Gardiner.

Parting Shot
Yawn with Egg: A black-and-white print by Jennifer May.