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FEATURES

THE LOVE ISSUE

The People's Pit Bull Pat Buchanan is moving into the void left by liberals' failure to address class.

Supergirls and Little Women By Joyce Millman.
From chemically-empowered Alex Mack to "Sailor Moon's" intrepid heroines, teenage girls are recharging kids TV.

Al Franken Interview. By Mark Schapiro.
Stuart Smalley's creator reminds Rush Limbaugh -- whom he loves -- that every time you point a finger at someone else, three fingers are pointing back at you.

DEPARTMENTS

A SALON editorial: Washington's Indecent Act. The Communications Decency Act is absurd, unconstitutional, probably unenforceable -- and exposes just how fragile freedom of expression online really is.

Hot Button:

Moveable Feast: Love Bites By Amy Wallace
Starved for love? Feast your eyes on the ultimate aphrodisiac menu.

Word by Word: Anne Lamott's Online Diary
SALON introduces a new spoken-word column by the acclaimed writer.

Interview with a Grossologist By Leslie Crawford
Most people, if continually exposed to such substances as ear wax, diarrhea and projectile vomit, produce some of their own. Sylvia Branzei wrote a book.

Verbivore. By Richard Lederer
A Celebration of Presidential Prose. SALON's word wizard looks at Lincoln's Gettysburg address and offers a Presidential poser. The winner receives a $25 gift certificate from Borders Books & Music.

The Listress. By Amy Wallace
Famous Last Words. Did the expiring Henry James say, "I'm bored...I'm bored" -- or was that Dutch Schultz? The first person to successfully match wits with The Listress wins a $25 gift certificate from Borders Books & Music.

Solution to last issue's 5-Minute Mystery

REVIEWS

Books

Music

SNEAK PEEKS

Short reviews of the most intriguing new books, including collections by John McPhee and John Lahr, the biography of a scandalous "queen of bohemia," a pitch-black satire of theme-park America and "Pollen," the psychedelic sequel to Jeff Noon's "Vurt."

COLUMNS

Ill Humor. Ian Shoales insists, even under duress, that his momma is a gangsta.

The Awful Truth. Happy Valentine's Day -- now shut up and dig your trench. Cintra Wilson on breaking up.

COMIX

Tom Tomorrow: This Modern World.
Carol Lay: Story Minute
Keith Knight: The K Chronicles
Ruben Bolling: Tom, The Dancing Bug

TABLE TALK

We've taken Table Talk down for a few days as part of a transition to a whole new system that will retain our conversation area's content and style but will be more stable and reliable. Look for the debut of a new, improved Table Talk by February 18.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Valentines and vituperation from our far-flung readers.

HELP WANTED

SALON is hiring - inquire within.

WELCOME CENTER

What is SALON? Our statement of purpose
Who is SALON? Profiles of the staff
How to use SALON
A brief history of salons
Contributors

BACK ISSUES

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