Cover Story:

Eye on the Future

If you're reading this, the future has already arrived! (That's the great thing about a three-week printing schedule.) But don't blame us if there aren't any flying cars whizzing past your window yet. We're just here to present the predictions--like how, in the future, you'll be able to grow your own organs, vacation in space, chow down on levitating food, and drive a (possibly flying) car that's fueled by, oh, whatever you happen to have handy. Also, in the more immediate future, you'll read an article about all of those things.

Features:

GOVERNMENTS FUND THE DARNEDEST THINGS: 7 OF THE LARGEST, ODDEST, AND MOST USELESS STATE PROJECTS IN THE WORLD

BY DOUG CANTOR
Whether it's a few juicy ribs, some tasty chops, or the occasional public works project, pork is an important part of every political diet. But some pig meat is decidedly fattier than others. Dive in as Doug Cantor whips up a veritable buffet of fatback and cracklins, including a program to cheer up goth teens (cost: $141,000) and a $700,000 attempt to turn Indiana's limestone into a theme park gold mine.

A WALK ON THE FAR SIDE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GARY LARSON

BY KELLY FERGUSON
There's nothing we could say here that would be nearly as funny as what Gary Larson could come up with. In fact, we asked him to write the entire issue, but, y'know, he's retired now. So instead, we turned to Kelly Ferguson, who (a) claims to have attended the Midvale School for the Gifted, (b) dresses accordingly (see our contributors' page), and (c) does a darn good job of leading expeditions to "The Far Side." Along the way, she'll tell you all about the celebrated cartoonist, his (literally) wild sense of humor, and the monster that used to live in his closet.

BOB MARLEY: MUSIC MAN, MAN WITH A MISSION

BY MICHAEL A. STUSSER
Sure, his tunes are even more popular at tiki bars than Jimmy Buffett's, but if you think that's the only legacy Bob Marley wanted to leave, you need to "Get Up, Stand Up," sit down, and then read this article. For someone who smoked plenty of reefer, Marley was deep, man. His message of peace gave hope to millions, inspired a country to independence, and almost got him assassinated. Let Michael A. Stusser introduce you to the man behind the "Legend."

scatter_brained:

Television

BY DOUG CANTOR, JEFF FLEISCHER, JOHN GREEN, & DAVID K. ISRAEL
At first, we were a little worried about this issue's Scatterbrained. The minute we informed our writers of its TV theme, they started fighting over the remote. Next thing we knew, they'd been staring at the screen for 16 hours straight and were permanently stuck in their La-Z-Boys. Luckily, just before they went completely non-verbal, they gave us some great TV tidbits. From "This Tape Will Self-Destruct" (real-life spy toys) to "To the Moon, Alice!" (everyday objects brought to us by NASA), their encyclopedic knowledge of boob-tube catchphrases made this Scatterbrained nothing less than "Dy-No-MITE!"

right_brain:

Masterpieces:

ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S "PSYCHO"

BY RANSOM RIGGS
We can understand why a horror-film director might be a little paranoid (all that fake blood can really go to your head). But when "Psycho" came out in 1960, Alfred Hitchcock was so terrified of spoilers that he bought all the copies of the Psycho novel and wouldn't let latecomers into theaters, lest they miss one minute. We won't give away the article's big twist, but let's just say Ransom Riggs takes a stab at explaining Hitchcock's greatest masterpiece.

EDWARD HOPPER'S "NIGHTHAWKS"

BY ELIZABETH LUNDAY

left_brain:

THE FUTURE OF BIRTH CONTROL: HOW THE MALE PILL WILL WORK

BY HOW STUFF WORKS
Oh, baby. We like kids as much as the next magazine, but birth control does have its benefits. Still, 90-plus years after Margaret Sanger, women have realized that taking a daily Pill can be kind of, well, a pill. So why not let men share the burden for a while? Read on as How Stuff Works explains gene therapies, hormone treatments, and other forms of male birth control that scientists have been dreaming up for decades.

spinning_the globe:

50-Cent Tour:

Jamaica

By Maggie Koerth-Baker

plus_the usual departments:

Six Degrees of Ken Jennings:

Wasabi and Kemosabe

By Ken Jennings

[10]

10: Songs Inspired By Real Women