Cover: High on Low-Fi
Eleven days, a venue on every corner, underground rock bands from around the state--the Big Band Festival wants to make a lot of noise.

News: County Checkup
Is the county doing enough to care for patients without health insurance?

Nüz: New local college students face an Oct. 10 deadline to register to vote.

DeCinzo: Stupid student tricks.

Bruce Bratton: The SCAN endorsement forum brings surprises; farewell to Lee Quarnstrom's column; this week's movies.

Work: Information suicide.

Sights & Sounds: Gospel-soul-rock diva Joan Osborne witnesses for a sold-out Catalyst crowd.

Taco Heaven: Enjoy the marvelous Yacht Harbor view and stick to the fresh-fish basics for a tasty meal at Rosa's Rosticeria.

A La Carte: Diners can hear that lonesome whistle blow as the toy trains wind through the Train Place Deli.

Pennies and Paltrow: It's a long way from the musical complexity of Dennis Potter's 'Pennies From Heaven' to the paltry pop platitudes of 'Duets.'

Rolling Tundra: The bleakness gets laid on with a trowel in 'Solomon and Gaenor.'

Weekly World Web: The future of girls.