Table of ContentsTHE EXECUTIONEE'S SONG HERE'S A NEW YEAR'S SURPRISE: TIM ROBBINS WRITES AND DIRECTS A WRENCHING BUT UNPREACHY DRAMA ABOUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENTEXHALING SUDS IN A TIRED TALE, THE AMAZING ANGELA BASSETT SHINESJIANG PLAYS BULLY AS PART OF A POWER PLAY TO SUCCEED DENG, THE COUNTRY IS IN THE THROES OF ANOTHER CRACKDOWNBIRD LIVES! A CHARLIE PARKER HOMAGE THAT CAPTURES THE ORIGINAL'S VERVEWINNERS & LOSERSFIGHTING WORDS CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS ABOUT THE SIMPSON TRIAL SPLIT THE RANKS OF NOWTHE GLOW FROM A FIRE A NEW ENGLAND TEXTILE MANUFACTURER TURNS TRAGEDY INTO A CHRISTMAS TALE OF WARMTH FOR HIS WORKERSMYSTERIES IN DRAG THREE MALE THRILLER WRITERS TAKE A STAB AT CREATING HEROINES--ONLY ONE SUCCEEDSFED UP WITH LAWYERS SUING IS A STATE SPORT. NOW THERE'S A BACKLASHDUTCH TREAT BUDGET POLITICS INTERRUPT BUT CANNOT DIM THE VISUAL MAGIC OF AN EPOCHAL VERMEER EXHIBITIONCHUFF CHUFF, PUFF PUFF ALL ABOARD THE MARLBORO UNLIMITED, A HIGH-TECH TRAIN WHERE YOU CAN SMOKE IN NEARLY EVERY CARTHERE IS NO SAFE SPEED THREE TODDLERS' DEATHS SPOTLIGHT THE NATION'S LATEST DRUG EPIDEMICNUCLEAR NINJAS A NEW KIND OF SWAT TEAM HUNTS ATOMIC TERRORISTS. AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THEIR OPERATIONHOW DARK A RED IS HE? THE COMMUNISTS NOW HOLD THE MOST SEATS IN THE DUMA. THEIR LEADER MAY NOT BE A STALINIST, BUT HE'S BAD NEWSPARENTHOOD, DINO-STYLE A FOSSIL DINOSAUR FOUND SITTING ON ITS NEST BOOSTS THE IDEA THAT THE TERRIBLE LIZARDS' NEAREST KIN ARE BIRDSSO, HOW DOES IT TASTE?THE COMMISH UNDER FIRENO LATTES, NO BELLY BUTTONS TWO NEW SITCOMS, BOTH WITH TOP PEDIGREES, TURN THEIR BACKS ON TRENDINESS. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ALSO TURN THEIR BACKS ON WITARE WE READY FOR FAT-FREE FAT? THE FDA IS ABOUT TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU CAN EAT THESE CHIPS. THEY ARE FRIED IN A FAKE OIL THAT CAN'T MAKE YOU FAT. DIP, ANYONE?TO OUR READERSTHE SUNBURST SACRIFICES A MURDER-SUICIDE RITUAL IN THE FRENCH ALPS REVIVES EUROPEAN ALARM ABOUT A SHADOWY, WELL-HEELED GROUPCROONING TOWARD OBLIVION DEAN MARTIN 1917-1995REACTIONARY ROMP LIBERALS HAVE LONG HELD A NEW YEAR'S RETREAT. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN CONSERVATIVES GOT ONE, TOOOUTSIDE THE BELTWAYBACK TO THE BLEAK FUTURE IF IT'S AS GROTTY AS IT IS IN 12 MONKEYS, WE'LL STAY PUTGAGGING THE DOCTORS CRITICS CHARGE THAT SOME HMOS REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO WITHHOLD VITAL INFORMATION FROM THEIR PATIENTSMILESTONESTHE WEEK DECEMBER 24 -30TRAVEL ALARM A CABINET SECRETARY FLIES HIGH. SOMETIMES, TOO HIGHCoverTHE HOST MAN'S BURDEN THANKS TO SABRINA, GREG KINNEAR IS MAKING THE DIFFICULT LEAP FROM LATE-NIGHT TV TO BIG-SCREEN DREAMBOAT-HOODSECRETS OF THE KEMP COMMISSIONTAX CUTS WHO WILL GET THE BREAKS? IN THE BUDGET ENDGAME, TAXES ARE ON THE TABLE. REPUBLICANS WANT BOUNTEOUS CUTS. CLINTON SAYS THEY WILL GO MOSTLY TO THE RICH BUT IS TEMPTED TO GO ALONG WITH SOME. IS THIS GOOD FOR AMERICA? WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE GIVEAWAY ATHE WINDSOR WARSPULLING THE PLUG ON PORN CAN GERMAN LAWS LIMIT WHAT WE SAY ONLINE?FIESTA BAWL A STAR RUNNING BACK PLAYS A NEW POSITION--VICTIM