Sarah surge

by Mark Bergin

Cover Story | Months and months into our long presidential campaign, a small-town hockey mom turns establishment politics on its head. Those who know her best say Americans have only seen the beginning of Alaskan toughness

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/sarah_surge]

In this issue: "Northern light," Sept. 20, 2008

Forecast: High pressure system

by Jamie Dean

Politics | Palin and Gustav take Republican convention by storm, but political experts say it will take hurricane strength for McCain ticket to weather the general…

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/forecast_high_pressure_system]

The other candidates

by Jamie Dean

Politics | Third-party contenders appear ready to fight on

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/the_other_candidates]

The weathermen

by Mark Bergin

Campaign Issues | Obama and McCain both think they can curb climate change, but their environmental policies are not identical

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/the_weathermen]

Cleaning up the mess

by Lynn Vincent

Disaster | Gulf Coast storm survivors have a different idea of devastation since Hurricane Katrina

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/cleaning_up_the_mess]

Let's make a deal

by Jill Nelson

Middle East | It's U.S. military action in Iraq that holds the main stage, but elsewhere in the region dealmaking is breaking out

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/let_s_make_a_deal]

Aftershocks

by Tom Pfingsten

China | World attention turns to Beijing but Sichuan quake victims struggle toward recovery

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/aftershocks]

He who hesitates is saved

by Marvin Olasky

Health | September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and a grisly statistic is in the news: Some 32,000 Americans kill themselves in a typical year, about twice…

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/he_who_hesitates_is_saved]

Elections and your investments

by David Bahnsen

Personal Finance | The market already is calibrating itself to a new presidency

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/elections_and_your_investments]

'Locavores' rising

by Susan Olasky

Lifestyle/Technology | The Slow Food movement gains adherents

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/locavores_rising]

Parting ways

by Rusty Leonard and Warren Cole Smith

Charity | With latest United Way scandal, cracks in century-old cooperative become gaps

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/parting_ways]

Houses of God

Houses of God | Tree limbs and part of the church bell tower facade lie around the grounds of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church after Hurricane Gustav stormed through Houma,

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/houses_of_god_0]

Shades of 1828

by Marvin Olasky

Politics | This isn't the first time cultural differences have loomed large in a presidential campaign

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/shades_of_1828]

Looking ahead

by The Editors

Looking Ahead | News to watch in the weeks to come

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/looking_ahead_0]

Russian reprise

by Mindy Belz

International | Do Putin and Medvedev have their eyes on other prizes?

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/russian_reprise]

Human Race

by The Editors

Human Race | RESIGNED: After only a year at the helm, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced Sept. 1 he is resigning. The 72-year-old leader, who succeeded Shinzo…

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/human_race_0]

The Buzz

by The Editors

Need-to-know news

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/the_buzz_0]

Quick Takes

by The Editors

Oddball occurrences

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/quick_takes_1]

Quotables

by The Editors

Memorable things they said

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/quotables]

Notable CDs

by Joan Lippincott, Marek Konstantynowicz, Cikada Ensemble, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Various ensembles

Notable CDs | Four new or recent classical CDs reviewed by Arsenio Orteza

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/notable_cds_0]

Brothers grim

by Megan Basham

Movies | Joel and Ethan Coen take their misanthropy to another level

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/brothers_grim]

A world apart

by Sam Thielman

Television | Fringe has all the strangeness of a J.J. Abrams series

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/a_world_apart]

Puerile and Pro-Life

by Kenan Minkoff

Television | South Park crudely slays liberal views

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/puerile_and_pro_life]

Teenage trash

by Megan Basham

Television | Struggling CW tries to sell sex again with its new 90210

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/teenage_trash]

Belief matters

by Stan Oakes

Books | "Moral freedom" may leave nothing left to lose

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/belief_matters]

Western ties

by David Tubbs

Books | Jay Winik captures the splendor and sordidness of the "old order"

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/western_ties]

Notable books

by Julia Spencer-Fleming, Nicola Upson, David Wroblewski, Jennifer Haigh

Notable Books | Four recent novels of mystery and misery reviewed by Susan Olasky

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/notable_books_0]

Doubter's prison

by Marvin Olasky

Books | Faith is reasonable, say authors J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler, and Christians need not wallow in lack of confidence or lack of belief

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/doubter_s_prison]

Glen again

by Arsenio Orteza

Music | Campbell successfully covers a surprising list of songs

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/glen_again]

Ireland and beyond

by Arsenio Orteza

Music | Faith of Our Fathers celebrates a religious heritage

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/ireland_and_beyond]

History repeats

by John Dawson

Sports | It's hard to imagine an unlikelier hero for the New England Patriots than Matt Cassel

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/history_repeats]

Unscripted moment

by Joel Belz

Campaign 2008 | The Palin nomination was so rewarding because it was so unexpected

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/unscripted_moment]

The introvert's dilemma

by Tony Woodlief

Christ gave all despite His discomforts

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/the_introvert_s_dilemma]

Give us a robust public square

by Mindy Belz

Campaign 2008 | And one where a few household rules apply

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/give_us_a_robust_public_square]

Mailbag

by The Editors

Letters from our readers

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/mailbag_0]

A family affair

by Andrée Seu

The Pents' crazy chronicle is a story of God's faithfulness

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/a_family_affair]

If not college, what?

by Janie B. Cheaney

Often-lucrative alternatives to the four-year degree abound

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/if_not_college_what]

Interfaith liberals

by Gene Edward Veith

Campaign 2008 | Denver may be a signal of things to come

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/interfaith_liberals]

War of the centuries

by Marvin Olasky

We need to understand the strong historical memory of Muslims

[http://www.worldmag.com/2008/09/war_of_the_centuries]

Table of Contents

In this issue: "Northern light," Sept. 20, 2008

Features

Dispatches

Reviews

Notebook

Voices