Cover: Going It Alone?
Robert D. Putnam's new book, 'Bowling Alone,' argues that Americans are dumping community life to go solo.

News: Chemical Warfare
Contaminated Ecstasy wreaks havoc on unsuspecting ravers as demand for the drug rises and dealers' scruples decline.

Usual Suspects: A federal court reinstates Macias lawsuit against Sheriff's Department.

Breaking with Convention: The alternative media goes live and global for the Republican convention.

The Scoop: Political humorist Bob Harris offers live coverage of the GOP National Convention.

This Modern World: Cartoonist Tom Tomorrow takes on the Republicans.

Fresh Meat: Cole's Chop House serves up the flesh but goes light on the veggies.

Heard It Through the Grapevine: Get to the root of all things wine.

Turning Back the Clock: 'Time Regained' offers a bold but confusing take on Proust's classic novel of memory.

Scraping Bottom: 'What Lies Beneath' aspires to Hitchcock but sinks like a stone.

The Wine Country Film Festival: Official website offers schedule and ticket information.

Hot Tunes: Petaluma Summer Music Festival gears up.

Hart of the Matter: Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart headlines the Marin Music Festival.

Randy Rhythms: Short reviews of new CDs by Lucy Pearl, Nina Gordon, and Lil' Kim.

SF Club Guide: Disco divas, hip-hop connoisseurs and salsa suaves to flannel-clad pinball players, jazz luminaries and more from the City by the Bay.

Doing the Numbers: Math stirs passion in a quirky young woman in 'An Invisible Sign of My Own.'

Please don't forget to write! The Sonoma County Independent welcomes letters commenting on our coverage or other topics of local interest. Please keep all letters at 300 words or less (we reserve the right to edit them for length and style) and sign them (unsigned letters will not be published). A local phone number must be included for verification. Postal: Sonoma County Independent Letters, 540 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Fax: 707/527-1288. Email: [email protected]. Emailers, please include name, city of residence and phone number. Letters printed will list email address unless otherwise specified. Letters to the editor are not currently published in the online version of this paper.