What happened on August 31, 1997
BOOKS
Downhill Racer By Linda Jaivin, \o7 Linda Jaivin is the author of "Eat Me" (Broadway Books)\f7
Pillow Talk By Michael Frank, \o7 Michael Frank is the author of short stories and essays. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Antaeus, the Southwest Review, Glimmer Train and the New York Times\f7
A Gentleman and a Thief By Allen Barra, \o7 Allen Barra writes for several publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and Newsweek\f7
Class Reunion By Benjamin Schwarz, \o7 Benjamin Schwarz is executive editor of World Policy Journal\f7
Preacher Poet By Wanda Coleman, \o7 Wanda Coleman is the author of the poetry and essay collections, "Hand Dance" and "Native In a Strange Land: Trials & Tremors" (Black Sparrow Press)\f7
Capitol Kvetch By Jennifer Bradley, \o7 Jennifer Bradley is a reporter for Roll Call in Washington, D.C. She has also written for the New Republic and the American Prospect\f7
The Secret By Kai Maristed, \o7 Kai Maristed is the author of the novels "Fall" and "Out After Dark." A collection of her stories will be published next year\f7
Wanderlust By Thomas Curwen, \o7 Thomas Curwen is the deputy editor of Book Review\f7
Control Freak By David L. Ulin, \o7 David L. Ulin is the author of "Cape Cod Blues" (Red Dust), a collection of poems. He is writing a book about Jack Kerouac for the University of California Press\f7
ENTERTAINMENT
Fine-Tuning the Authentic By Lewis Segal, Lewis Segal is The Times' dance critic
Stop, Look and Look Again By Suzanne Muchnic, Suzanne Muchnic is The Times' art writer
Just Winging It By Kristine Mckenna, Kristine McKenna is a regular contributor to Calendar
The Post-Whiz Kid Phase By Jan Breslauer, Jan Breslauer is a regular contributor to Calendar
Scratching a Niche By Brian Lowry, Brian Lowry is a Times staff writer
Play 'em Again, Sam By Bill Desowitz, Bill Desowitz is a frequent contributor to Calendar
Looking Down a New Road By Elysa Gardner, Elysa Gardner is a regular contributor to Calendar from New York
Thoroughly Modern Mimi By John Henken, John Henken is a frequent contributor to Calendar
Forget Fiberglass--Canvas Means Romance By Hunter Drohojowska Philp, Hunter Drohojowska Philp is a frequent contributor to Calendar
Start With British Rock By Robert Hilburn, Robert Hilburn is the Times' pop music critic
In Brief By Steve Hochman
In Brief By D. James Romero
In Brief By Steve Hochman
Komeback By Dave Jennings, From London
BUSINESS
Couriers in Combat By Evelyn Iritani, TIMES STAFF WRITER
Unions Could Benefit in the 'New Economy' By Manuel Pastor Jr., MANUEL PASTOR JR. is chair of Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a research fellow at the International & Public Affairs Center at Occidental College in Los Angeles
OPINION
Beyond the Edge By Eric H. Monkkonen, \o7 Eric H. Monkkonen, a professor of history and policy studies at UCLA, is the author of "America Becomes Urban."\f7
Where Does Responsibility Enter the Hernandez Story? By Gregory Rodriguez, \o7 Gregory Rodriguez, an associate editor at Pacific News Service, is a research fellow at the Pepperdine Institute for Public Policy\f7
Fighting for the Soul of the Union Movement By David Kusnet, \o7 David Kusnet, a visiting fellow at the Economic Policy Institute, was chief speech writer for President Bill Clinton from 1992 through 1994. He is the author of "Speaking American: How the Democrats Can Win in the Nineties."\f7
Beyond the Edge By Richard Weinstein, \o7 Richard Weinstein is a professor of architecture at UCLA\f7
Power of the Market Raises India's Star in U.S. By Paula R. Newberg, \o7 Paula R. Newberg, who has lived and worked in South Asia for many years, is a senior associate at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University\f7
After Color Coding: Forging a New American Identity By Jim Sleeper, \o7 Jim Sleeper, a former political columnist for the New York Daily News, is the author of "Liberal Racism."\f7
Choosing Vengeance or Conciliation By Victor Perera, \o7 Victor Perera, who teaches at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, is the author of "Unfinished Conquest: The Guatemalan Tragedy."\f7
A U.S.-Style Union Fight on the Border By David Bacon, \o7 David Bacon, an associate editor of Pacific News Service, is a former union organizer who writes on labor and immigration\f7
Mamphela Ramphele By Scott Kraft, Scott Kraft, the Times' deputy foreign editor, was South Africa correspondent from 1988 until 1993. He interviewed Mamphela Ramphele during her latest visit to Los Angeles and also from South Africa
The New Congress Is Out for Bear By Sam Quinones, \o7 Sam Quinones is an American free-lance journalist in Mexico\f7