Dispatches: News from the Field

Law Enforcement: This Is the Park Service: Come Out with Your Hands Up
On a hotly contested piece of southern California, the feds move in
By Michael Parrish

Physics: Bloody Idiotic, As You Chaps Might Say
The (possibly apocryphal) tale of British Rail's chicken cannon misadventure
By Shane Dubow

Treasure Hunting: Thank You, Fidel, May I Have Another Gold Ingot
By Miro Cernetig

Environment: The Yellow Haze of Texas
America and Mexico join forces to answer a perplexing question: Why's the air so dirty in our nation's most remote preserve?
By John Shinal

Sport: A Man, A Plan, and a Hell of a Tan
With a patient approach and all the tools, Jos³e Loiola stands poised to become the new King of the Beach
By Johnny Dodd

Entertainment: Who Needs the Great Outdoors?
A few words with Evan Dando, reluctant champion of the proudly slothful
By Hal Espen

For the Record
Around-the-world sailors start asking questions in the wake of tragedy at the Vendée Globe, stargazers stare one another down in Texas, the world's first all-natural cemetery opens for business, a 23-year old heart patient wins four U.S. National swimming titles, and more.
By Todd Balf and Paul Kvinta