NYT > Home Page

Netanyahu and Abbas to Begin Direct Mideast Peace Talks

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders were to open direct peace talks on Thursday after gathering at the White House for a moment of diplomatic theater on Wednesday night.

Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young

Powerful drugs are given to young children despite a lack of study on how they affect development.

Feud With Palin in Background of Alaska Upset

Sarah Palin reveled in the primary upset of Senator Lisa Murkowski, but tensions began well before.

Tabloid Hack Attack on Royals, and Beyond

A London paper listened in on the private messages of the rich and famous, including Britain’s Prince Harry and Prince William.

Roddick Loses, and Foot Faults Take Center Stage

For the second consecutive year, a popular highly ranked American player was ousted from the United States Open in a match marred by a foot-fault controversy.

In Somali Civil War, Both Sides Embrace Pirates

After years of not getting sucked into the messy civil war on land, Somalia’s pirate gangs are taking sides — both sides.

Suicide Bombers in Pakistan Kill Dozens of Shiites

A blast touched off clashes between local police forces and mourners and protesters infuriated by the attack.

Maker of Botox Settles Inquiry

Allergan agreed to pay $600 million to settle charges that it illegally promoted and sold Botox for unapproved uses.

Hurricane Earl Nears Atlantic Coast

On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the approaching storm caused many to flee, and others to head for the waves.

California Senate Debate Turns on Economy

A heated forum between Senator Barbara Boxer and her opponent, Carly Fiorina, in what might be their only debate.

Maryland Hostages Safe as Police Kill Gunman

Officials say a gunman with a history of protesting against the Discovery Channel was killed after a four-hour standoff at the company’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.

Fashion Diary: The Tribes of San Francisco

San Francisco has historically been an also-ran in fashion, but members of its varied style tribes sport an off-hand cool manner.

NYT > World

Netanyahu and Abbas to Begin Direct Mideast Peace Talks

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders were to open direct peace talks on Thursday after gathering at the White House for a moment of diplomatic theater on Wednesday night.

Israeli Peace Effort Rests on Netanyahu

The Israeli prime minister believes that only someone like himself, with his hawkish credentials, has the will and support to produce lasting peace with the Palestinians.

Wiesenthal Worked for Israeli Spy Agency, Book Alleges

Simon Wiesenthal, who ran a one-man Nazi-hunting operation, worked for Israel’s spy agency, a new biography claims.

In Somali Civil War, Both Sides Embrace Pirates

After years of not getting sucked into the messy civil war on land, Somalia’s pirate gangs are taking sides — both sides.

Grief Across Latin America for Migrant Killings

In a startling twist, migrants are apparently dying at the hands of a drug gang seeking money or possibly recruits, officials said, though no

Suicide Bombers in Pakistan Kill Dozens of Shiites

A blast touched off clashes between local police forces and mourners and protesters infuriated by the attack.

Near Kandahar, the Prize Is an Empty Town

While many security operations in Afghanistan are joint ones between NATO and Afghan forces, in most of them, the phrase “Afghan-led” is little more than a polite fiction. This was an exception.

In Baghdad, U.S. Officials Take Note of Milestone

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates inaugurated the post-combat phase.

Sweden Reopens Rape Investigation of WikiLeaks Founder

Swedish authorities said they reopened an investigation of rape allegations against Julian Assange.

Cardinal, Who Mediated in Belgian Abuse Case, Says He Was Misled

Cardinal Godfried Danneels is distancing himself from his colleague and friend, Roger Vangheluwe, the former bishop of Bruges who is accused of abusing his own nephew.

China Will Require ID for Cellphone Numbers; Noncompliance Means No Service

The government is looking to curb cellphone spam, pornography and fraud schemes.

E.U. Casts Legal Doubt on French Roma Expulsion

A European Commission report highlighted failings in France’s law and pointedly declined to endorse the government’s actions.

Corinne Day, Photographer of Kate Moss, Is Dead

Ms. Day, whose photos of Ms. Moss in the 1990s took a startling detour from the glossy world of supermodels, helped usher in a new era in fashion photography.

Australian Leader Wins Support From Greens

Prime Minister Julia Gillard won a formal assurance from the Greens Party that it will support her bid for a further three-year term.

World Briefing | Africa: Mozambique: At Least 4 Are Dead in Protests of High Food Prices

Protests against rising food prices turned deadly in the capital, Maputo, on Wednesday when the police opened fire on demonstrators.

World Briefing | Europe: The Netherlands: 2 Yemenis Freed

The Dutch authorities said that they had freed two Yemeni men held on suspicion of terrorism after no evidence of wrongdoing or traces of explosives were found.

World Briefing | Europe: Poland: Afghan Costs Crimping Force Modernization, Leader Says

President Bronislaw Komorowski said Wednesday that the rising cost of the war in Afghanistan was hampering a program to modernize the military.

World Briefing | Europe: Britain: Inquest Into Spy’s Death

The body of a British spy, found dead in his apartment in London last month, had been padlocked into a gym bag and put in the bathtub, but how he died is not yet certain.

World Briefing | Europe: Germany: Citizen Held by U.S. Is Suspected of Ties to Terrorism

A German citizen has been arrested by United States troops in Afghanistan, the German Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

World Briefing | Africa: South Africa: Sympathy Strike Is Suspended as Talks Continue

Negotiations were continuing on the government’s offer to give more than a million public employees pay raises of 7.5 percent, double the inflation rate.

Names of the Dead

The Department of Defense has identified 1,246 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations.

Tabloid Hack Attack on Royals, and Beyond

A London paper listened in on the private messages of the rich and famous, including Britain’s Prince Harry and Prince William.

Western Schools Sprout in South Korea

Parents in Asia and elsewhere want a more global curriculum for their children, and governments hope to attract foreign investors to their countries.

Iraqis’ Reactions to Obama’s Speech

Stephen Farrell talks with Iraqi citizens on growing frustrations as the United States brings an end to its combat mission.

An Iraqi Woman's Change of Address and New Life

Almost nine months ago, Anwar and her family came to the United States, taking part in a special visa program for Iraqis who risked their lives to help Americans in wartime.

Defining Freedom in Baghdad

"I am free to read the newspaper I want, but what I will read is that my mother is dead."

Video of British Labour Party Debate

Britain’s Channel 4 News has provided The Lede with a live stream of its televised debate among the candidates to be the next leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party.

Blair Recalls Bush Asked, 'Who Is This Guy?' After Meeting Belgium's Leader

Tony Blair's memoir contains some recollections that will make his old friends uncomfortable.

Evacuations as Hurricane Nears U.S.

At 8 a.m. Wednesday the National Hurricane Center in Miami issued its latest advisory on Hurricane Earl, with this updated forecast of the path it could follow in the days ahead.

Hurricane Earl Heads Toward U.S.

Spectacular images of Hurricane Earl seen from space give little sense of its destructive power.

Letter from Europe: In Poland, a Memorial Becomes a Battleground

A monument to those who died in the plane crash in April that killed Poland’s president has become a symbol in the country’s heated secular-religious divide.

Letter from China: Visibility of Gay People Reflects Changes in China

As this society grows richer, its social fabric and mores have been changing drastically, and sexual choice and expression are arguably in the leading edge of this upheaval.

NYT > U.S.

Pain Spreads as Credit Vise Grows Tighter

Lenders have become even less willing to part with their money, further crimping budgets and family spending.

For Rivals, Finance Crisis Is Posing on-the-Fly Tests

The presidential race has turned into an audition for who could best handle a national economic emergency.

Drug Label, Maimed Patient and Test for Court

At issue is whether plaintiffs have the right to sue when the products that hurt them had met federal standards.

After Impasse, New California Budget Agreement

California legislative leaders and the governor have come to an agreement on the state budget, which is now roughly three months late.

California Bans Texting by Operators of Trains

After investigators said an engineer in last week’s collision had been texting on the job, regulators temporarily banned the use of all cellular devices by anyone at the controls of a moving train.

Political Memo: Given G.O.P. Predicament, Rangel Opts to Ride Out the Storm

Democrats believe that a long list of Republican lawmakers with legal troubles makes it impossible for Republicans to gain much ground on the issues of ethics and good government.

Panel Proposes Broad Changes in Federal Financial Aid for College

The recommendations included a simpler application, Pell grant maximums linked to the consumer price index and federally financed college savings accounts for children in low-income families.

Chicago Unveils Multifaceted Plan to Curb Emissions of Heat-Trapping Gases

The blueprint would change the city’s building codes to promote energy efficiency, and it calls for installing huge solar panels at municipal properties and building alternative fueling stations.

Vast Bailout by U.S. Proposed in Bid to Stem Financial Crisis

Treasury and Fed officials were discussing with leaders in Congress a plan for the government to buy up distressed mortgages.

A Bid to Curb Profit Gambit as Banks Fall

A backlash against short sellers has begun, with regulators in the U.S. and Britain tightening rules and authorities in New York intensifying investigations.

Bush Emerges After Days of Financial Crisis

The president spoke briefly on Thursday after remaining largely out of sight as Wall Street has become engulfed by a financial crisis.

The New McCain: More Aggressive and Scripted on the Campaign Trail

Senator John McCain’s once easygoing if irreverent campaign presence — endearing to crowds, though often resulting in gaffes — has been put out to pasture.

Alaska Star May Add Luster to Tarnished Senator

As Gov. Sarah Palin has moved to the national stage, Senator Ted Stevens, who goes on trial next week, has risen in some opinion polls in Alaska.

Husband of Alaska Governor Refuses to Testify in Legislature’s Trooper Inquiry

Todd Palin was one of 13 people subpoenaed in the inquiry into whether Gov. Sarah Palin or members of her administration abused their power in the dismissal of a top state administrator.

The Ad Campaign: Obama Attacks McCain in a Bid to Attract Hispanic Voters

A Spanish-language Obama ad misrepresents John McCain’s record on the immigration issue and his relationship with Rush Limbaugh.

Agency and Bush Are Sued Over Domestic Surveillance

A privacy group filed a class-action lawsuit on Thursday seeking to halt what it describes as illegal surveillance of Americans’ telephone and Internet traffic.

Power Still Not Restored to Many in the Midwest

Remnants of Hurricane Ike swept through the region on Sunday, bringing torrential downpours and strong winds.

Action Is Sought to Ensure Timely Financing for V.A.

As the veterans’ health system strains to handle a growing caseload, a move is under way in Congress to avoid yearly delays in financing that can hamper the medical care of the nation’s veterans.

Simpson Defense Alleges Police Glee in His Arrest

O. J. Simpson’s legal team began Thursday to mount a defense that will sound familiar to anyone who followed his 1995 murder trial.

National Briefing | Midwest: Minnesota: Rebuilt Bridge Opens

Flashing headlights and honking horns penetrated the early-morning sky as police officers and first responders led drivers in a slow procession across the new Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis.

National Briefing | South: Mississippi: Rearranging the Ballot

Gov. Haley Barbour agreed to move a special election for Trent Lott’s former Senate seat to near the top of the November ballot, ending a dispute that had threatened to delay the start of absentee voting.

National Briefing | Northwest: Alaska: Concession in House Race

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska conceded to Representative Don Young in the Republican primary for Alaska’s only House seat.

National Briefing | Immigration: Meat Plant Names Top Executive

Agriprocessors Inc., an embattled kosher meatpacker with a plant in Postville, Iowa, named a corporate lawyer from New York to be its chief executive, responding to an ultimatum from the leading kosher certifying organization.

National Briefing | Religion: Pittsburgh Bishop Is Ousted

An Episcopal bishop, whose diocese is moving toward splitting from the national church, was ousted from ministry.

National Briefing | Midwest: Illinois: 4 More Murder Charges

A man charged in the killings of four people who died during a June killing spree in Illinois and Missouri has been charged with murder in four more bludgeoning deaths.

Bread Stays on Menu for Carp at Pennsylvania Lake

Every year, an estimated 500,000 people trek to a lake to see a veritable carpet of carp, and the state has temporarily called off a plan to force people to stop feeding bread to the fish.

NYT > Technology

From Apple, a Step Into Social Media for Music

Apple on Wednesday introduced a social media service geared to music lovers that is built into iTunes, revamped its lineup of iPods and unveiled an upgraded version of its set-top box.

Of Two Minds About Books

The book business tries to serve two readers, the one who loves the tactile page and the one who loves the digital ease.

F.C.C. Seeks More Input on Wireless Internet Rules

The F.C.C.’s decision to seek more comments on preserving an open and competitive Internet precludes any agency action before the midterm elections.

China Will Require ID for Cellphone Numbers; Noncompliance Means No Service

The government is looking to curb cellphone spam, pornography and fraud schemes.

A Phonebook for the 21st Century

Inflection, the start-up behind genealogy site Archives.com, is introducing a people search engine.

Tech Talk Podcast: New Twists on Old Games

This week's Tech Talk podcast includes Ashlee Vance on efforts to get electronic devices to seamlessly interact, new twists on those old games Monopoly and Scrabble, the tech term "HTML5" and news.

Apple Unveils Music Service and TV Box

Updates from Apple’s event, which is expected to involve new versions of the iPod Touch and Apple TV products.

Sony Introduces New E-Readers

As the e-reader wars ramp up, Sony introduces three new Readers.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing

The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

Sweden Reopens Rape Investigation of WikiLeaks Founder

Swedish authorities said they reopened an investigation of rape allegations against Julian Assange.

To Win Over Users, Gadgets Have to Be Touchable

Researchers say that touch screens are the start of a trend to make computers more open to human gestures.

H.P. to Work With Hynix on New Computer Memory Chips

A simpler alternative to transistors, the memristor, will allow for more computer memory in even smaller devices.

Washington Post Suspends Columnist for Twitter Hoax

Mike Wise said in his Twitter account that a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback was suspended for five games.

Mormon Media Empire Goes More Digital

The Deseret News has laid out an ambitious plan to enhance its digital coverage and begin using a collection of freelance contributors to supplement its news report.

Advances Offer Path to Further Shrink Computer Chips

Researchers say they can overcome a barrier to the continued rapid miniaturization of computer memory.

Autodesk Will Reintroduce Its AutoCAD Design Software for Macs

As Apple’s line of Mac computers has staged a comeback, more customers have asked that Autodesk make its flagship product available on the platform again.

NASA Tests Engine With an Uncertain Future

NASA is revisiting the question of what rocket to build next and whether solid motors will be part of it.

Engaging North Korea in Twitter Diplomacy

A State Department spokesman attempted to engage North Korea on the social network Twitter, but it is not clear if anyone in the "Hermit Kingdom" was picking up his signals.

In India, BlackBerry Gets 2-Month Reprieve on Threat of Ban

The government said it would study and test a proposal by the BlackBerry maker for two months as it tried to settle a dispute over corporate e-mail.

Intel to Buy a Wireless Division of Infineon

The deal would give Intel a foothold in the smartphone chip market, a segment of the wireless business that is experiencing strong growth.

State of the Art: Your Own Hot Spot, and Cheap

Virgin Mobile’s MiFi is nearly like the ones offered by Sprint and Verizon but with three exceptions: an unlimited data plan, no contract and a $40-a-month service fee.

Op-Ed Contributor: Google’s Earth

Do we really desire Google to tell us what we should be doing next? Yes, but with some qualifiers.

Mind the Grid

Can a week of silent meditation make it easier to resist the emotional pull of the digital world?

In Search of a Case to Protect the iPad

While none of the iPad cases are perfect, the variety is endless; one even has a 100-year warranty.

App Smart: How to Get Loyalty Card Prices Without Loyalty Cards

Two apps, Cardstar and Key Ring, serve as repositories for your loyalty shopping card numbers. You just hand your phone to the cashier at checkout.

Can Privacy Sell Ping?

Steven Jobs's comments about social network privacy suggest companies are responding to demands that new services come with simple privacy controls.

Ping Fosters Music Discovery, Not Friend Discovery

Apple's social network for music, Ping, is like an amalgam of Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. But the point is to sell more music.

Q.&A.: Buy or Rent iTunes Movies?

How to buy and rent movies from iTunes.

NYT > Science

Finding Suggests New Aim for Alzheimer’s Drugs

A discovery by Paul Greengard, an 84-year-old scientist and Nobel winner, has illuminated a new direction.

They Crawl, They Bite, They Baffle Scientists

Ask experts why bedbugs disappeared for 40 years, why they came back, why they don’t spread disease, and you hear one answer: “Good question.”

Nobel Winners Sign Letter Backing Obama Space Plan

The letter expresses support for the president’s proposed strategy for NASA and criticizes cuts contained in a NASA authorization bill now before the House.

At Flea Market, Fear of a Different Insect

Buyers in secondhand stores are concerned about bedbugs coming along with the clothing or furniture.

Advances Offer Path to Further Shrink Computer Chips

Researchers say they can overcome a barrier to the continued rapid miniaturization of computer memory.

Scientist at Work: Dr. Donald A. Redelmeier: Think the Answer’s Clear? Look Again

Dr. Donald A. Redelmeier’s work has debunked preconceived notions and revealed some deep truths about the predictors of longevity, the organization of health care and the workings of the medical mind.

NASA Tests Engine With an Uncertain Future

NASA is revisiting the question of what rocket to build next and whether solid motors will be part of it.

Scientists Square Off on Evolutionary Value of Helping Relatives

A team of prominent evolutionary biologists at Harvard is trying to demolish the theory that helping your relatives can spread your genes faster than having children of your own.

Fossil Hunters in Romania Find a 2-Clawed Relative of Velociraptor

The dinosaur lived more than 65 million years ago and had two sicklelike claws on each foot.

Review Finds Flaws in U.N. Climate Panel Structure

The scientists involved in crafting the panel’s climate reports need to be more open to alternative views and more transparent, an independent review said.

Harvard Researcher May Have Fabricated Data

Marc Hauser is on leave after being found “solely responsible” for eight counts of scientific misconduct.

Jacob Bigeleisen, Isotope Chemist on Manhattan Project, Dies at 91

Dr. Bigeleisen’s approach was ultimately unsuccessful, but he went on to open a new field of chemistry that studied ways to speed up or slow down chemical reactions.

Returning to Classrooms, and to Severe Headaches

Doctors say frequent headaches and migraines are among the most common childhood health complaints, yet the problem gets surprisingly little attention from the medical community.

Essay: Isolation, an Ancient and Lonely Practice, Endures

For those who are not just infected on the inside but also infested on the outside our state-of-the-art treatment includes a direct carryover from the Middle Ages.

A Rush to Operating Rooms That Alters Men's Lives

Prostate cancer is a dark and mysterious country, and the authors Ralph H. Blum and Dr. Mark Scholz are good, levelheaded guides through these thickets.

Doctors Heed Call for Books for Afghanistan

The Taliban singled out the texts for destruction because anatomical depictions of the human body were considered blasphemous.

Majority of Caesareans Are Done Before Labor

A new study suggests several reasons for the nation’s rising Caesarean section rate.

Global Update: Africa: Monkeypox Cases Surge in Rural Areas as Price of the Victory Over Smallpox

Monkeypox is 20 times as common in parts of the Congo as it was 30 years ago, when smallpox vaccination was discontinued.

Vital Statistics: Deadliest Catch, Found in Unlikely Waters

Commercial fishing is, by almost any measure, the most dangerous profession in the United States.

Vital Signs: Safety: Assessing the National Bill for Crashes

Motor vehicle accidents cost the nation almost $100 billion dollars a year, about $500 for each licensed driver, according to government data.

Vital Signs: Longevity: For New York Men, a Life Expectancy Gap

Men die about six years younger, according to a new report from the New York City health department.

Vital Signs: Childhood: Athletes’ Concussions Have Doubled

The number doubled over a recent 10-year-period, a new study reports, even though participation in team sports decreased slightly.

Observatory: Special Adhesive Helps Oysters Stick Together

Understanding more about the unique, protein-based oyster adhesive could help scientists develop better synthetic glues for medical use.

Observatory: From a Desert Plant, a Scented Cry for Help

When plants are damaged, they emit a fragrance. But in the case of at least one type of wild tobacco plant found in the Great Basin desert of Southwest Utah, it’s an actual distress call.

Observatory: Geography Has a Hand in Lizards’ Gestation

Eastern fence lizards in northern climates tend to hatch faster than lizards in southern climates, the researchers found.

Q & A: Of Time and Tide

How are tables of tide times and heights made?

Numberplay: How Many Light Bulbs Does It Take ...

A set of puzzles involving light bulbs.

Interviews on Water Use Are Thirsty Work

Learning which water sources villagers use and how far they carry heavy jerrycans of water is itself thirsty work in the Rwandan heat.

Navigating Fieldwork, Rwanda-Style

A team sets out to survey water and sanitation coverage in the District of Rulindo in Rwanda, but each step along the way is messy.

Protest Shuts Down Oil Rig off Greenland

Exploratory drilling by a Scottish oil firm was halted after four Greenpeace protesters scaled the rig and suspended tents from its underside.

Fresh Air for Sale in Hong Kong

A tongue-in-cheek commercial from an anti-pollution group delivers a message about what the city’s pollution could portend.

BP Tripled Ad Spending After Spill

An anatomy of the oil giant's media response to the Gulf disaster.

Passions and Detachment in Journalism

Can personal passions can be reconciled with professional detachment? A reporter answers yes.

Mind: Lasting Pleasures, Robbed by Drug Abuse

Drugs have a competitive advantage over natural rewards and can hijack the brain’s reward system.

Personal Health: Weight Index Doesn’t Tell the Whole Truth

Body mass index may be useful for identifying obesity in large populations, but in individuals it doesn’t differentiate between fatty and lean tissue.

Really?: The Claim: Flying After Breast Cancer Surgery Can Cause Swelling

Lymph nodes are often removed as treatment. The concern is that changes in cabin pressure might influence the movement of fluid in the lymphatic system.

Letters: Comfort at Life’s End (1 Letter)

A letter to the editor.

Letters: Acupuncture and Science (1 Letter)

A letter to the editor.

Letters: Neuro-Pioneers (1 Letter)

A letter to the editor.

Letters: Sticks and Stones (2 Letters)

Letters to the editor.

NYT > Business Day

Maker of Botox Settles Inquiry

Allergan agreed to pay $600 million to settle charges that it illegally promoted and sold Botox for unapproved uses.

Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young

Powerful drugs are given to young children despite a lack of study on how they affect development.

Monetary Fund Warns G-7 on Debt Levels

The world’s most developed economies face record levels of debt as a result of the 2008-9 financial crisis and have little room to maneuver, the I.M.F. warned.

Of Two Minds About Books

The book business tries to serve two readers, the one who loves the tactile page and the one who loves the digital ease.

From Apple, a Step Into Social Media for Music

Apple on Wednesday introduced a social media service geared to music lovers that is built into iTunes, revamped its lineup of iPods and unveiled an upgraded version of its set-top box.

Stimulus Averted Depression, Romer Says

Christina D. Romer also gave her most detailed explanation yet for why her original forecast that unemployment would peak at 8 percent “was so far off.”

Financial Crisis Panel Lends Sympathetic Ear to Lehman’s Ex-Chief

Without federal help, Lehman was not able to wind down operations in an orderly manner, which aggravated the global crisis, the former chief executive said.

F.C.C. Seeks More Input on Wireless Internet Rules

The F.C.C.’s decision to seek more comments on preserving an open and competitive Internet precludes any agency action before the midterm elections.

Sales Fell in August for Carmakers

Most major automakers reported significantly lower sales last month from August 2009 when “cash for clunkers” caused a surge in demand.

Burger King Has Suitors From Brazil

Burger King Holdings is in advanced talks to sell itself to 3G Capital, a Brazilian investment firm.

Stocks and Bonds: Wall Street Surges After Good Reports

Wall Street surged out of the gate and then kept going, fueled by upbeat economic news from Australia, China and, somewhat surprisingly, American manufacturing.

Data Show China Growth Merely Moderating

Manufacturing activity in China picked up a notch in August, figures released on Wednesday showed, supporting the view that the country's economy is by no means screeching to a halt.

China Will Require ID for Cellphone Numbers; Noncompliance Means No Service

The government is looking to curb cellphone spam, pornography and fraud schemes.

State of the Art: Your Own Hot Spot, and Cheap

Virgin Mobile’s MiFi is nearly like the ones offered by Sprint and Verizon but with three exceptions: an unlimited data plan, no contract and a $40-a-month service fee.

Small-Business Guide: How to Choose and Work With a Mentor

Suggestions from business owners on the best strategies to building strong and effective mentoring relationships.

App Smart: How to Get Loyalty Card Prices Without Loyalty Cards

Two apps, Cardstar and Key Ring, serve as repositories for your loyalty shopping card numbers. You just hand your phone to the cashier at checkout.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing

The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

How Baby Fever Spreads Through Offices

A new study out of Sweden finds that women workers are more likely to have babies if their co-workers also recently had babies.

Why Labor Day Is Best for Buying a Car

Why Labor Day is traditionally the best time to buy a car and how the deals this holiday compare to last year.

How I Saved My Company: Tolosa Press Community Newspapers

A newspaper company survives a very tough economy in a very tough industry.

Fresh Air for Sale in Hong Kong

A tongue-in-cheek commercial from an anti-pollution group delivers a message about what the city’s pollution could portend.

NYT > Washington

Waterboarding Used 266 Times on 2 Suspects

C.I.A. interrogators used the near-drowning technique, which Obama administration officials have described as torture, 266 times on two key prisoners from Al Qaeda.

U.S. May Convert Banks’ Bailouts to Equity Share

Obama administration officials say the approach will allow them to shore up the nation’s banking system without seeking more money from Congress.

Hemisphere’s Leaders Signal Fresh Start With U.S.

Leaders from the Western Hemisphere closed a summit meeting proclaiming a new dawn for relations in the region.

Obama’s Revenue Plans Hit Resistance in Congress

Resistance to President Obama’s tax and revenue proposals could threaten a major health care overhaul and other policy initiatives.

The Caucus: But Can Obama Make the Trains Run on Time?

With terms like “socialism” losing their punch, some Republicans are weighing the word “fascism” to describe President Obama’s agenda.

Picking Letters, 10 a Day, That Reach Obama

An official assembles a briefing book of the letters, which offer the president a way to keep in touch with the public.

Marijuana Advocates Point to Signs of Change

Advocates of legalizing marijuana are sensing increasing acceptance of the drug, as medicine or entertainment.

Ill From Food? Investigations Vary by State

Tracking food scares in the U.S. is left to more than 3,000 departments, and in several cases Minnesota officials have safeguarded the rest of the country.

Former C.I.A. Director Defends Interrogation

Gen. Michael V. Hayden said the Obama administration’s release of memos detailing harsh interrogation techniques would limit the agency’s ability to pursue terrorists.

Obama Advisers Challenge G.O.P. to Offer Alternatives

Congress was preparing to return from a two-week recess and take up a charged agenda centered on core Obama objectives.

NYT > Opinion

Editorial: Katrina, Five Years Later

New Orleans is rebounding well from the devastation wrought by the hurricane and could end up on a stronger economic footing — if the city redevelops in the right way.

Editorial: When Warriors Hurt Themselves

A task force has rightly laid out a mandate for Congress and the Pentagon to address the alarming rise in suicides afflicting the military.

Editorial: The Real Say on Pay

Corporate lawyers say that disclosing the ratio between executives’ pay and that of typical employees would be too difficult. The real difficulty would be justifying large pay gaps.

Editorial: On Course for a Cleaner Hudson

The cleanup of the Hudson River by the General Electric Company turned out to be full of unexpected problems. This does not mean the project should be abandoned.

Letters: A Time for Reflection on Two Wars

Readers respond to articles about the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

Letters: Before the Talk of Peace, Terror in the West Bank

Readers respond to an article about the killing of four settlers on the eve of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Letter: Medical-Tube Errors: A View From the Industry

A reader responds to an article about patient deaths because of medical-tube errors.

Op-Ed Columnist: Sarah’s Amazing Race

As the worlds of Alaska and reality TV collide, maybe the next new program should be entitled “Shooting With the Stars.”

Op-Ed Columnist: Cleaning the Henhouse

The salmonella outbreak underscores that this industrial model of farms as meat and egg factories can be a health hazard.

Op-Ed Contributor: A Dream House After All

The residential market took a hit, but owning a home still makes sense.

My Summer Home

Who needs a country house, with 530 million acres of public land that belong to all of us, year-round.

O Urban Pioneers!

Urban revival doesn't start with public policy, but with small movements of risk-takers.

The Blame Game

It's true that many Iraq reconstruction projects failed, but the obstacles of rebuilding while fighting continued were many.

What the Tea Party Really Wants

Are they angry because they think traditional values are being ignored or are they just upset the recorded message told them to press 2 for Spanish?

Mind the Grid

Can a week of silent meditation make it easier to resist the emotional pull of the digital world?

War Is Over — for Some

Despite the president’s announcement that the end of the war in Iraq is near, for many it will linger on.

We’ve Seen This Movie Before

Last week’s attack of a New York taxi driver is a reminder that choosing between blaming an individual and blaming a culture is, for some, a matter of convenience.

Passions and Detachment in Journalism

Can personal passions can be reconciled with professional detachment? A reporter answers yes.

Report Calls for 'Fundamental Reform' of Climate Panel

The world's leading scientific academies prepare to deliver their critique of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Pacific Hot Spells Shifting as Predicted in Human-Heated World

Federal researchers find evidence that global warming may be shifting big, consequential Pacific Ocean temperature patterns.

Lantern Patrols

Searches by British farmers for burnt-out Chinese lanterns.

Darwin Terraces

Dangerous railing-free balconies which risk abruptly accelerating natural selection.

Daily Lexeme: Writrix

A female writer; an authoress.

NYT > Education

Fired Education Chief Says New Jersey Governor Defamed Him

Bret D. Schundler, the former education commissioner, emphatically denied misleading anyone in an episode that cost New Jersey a $400 million grant.

Advertising: Scholastic Books Revamps Its Marketing

The company said it wanted to keep better track of teachers who were new or who had departed and use more methods of communication.

New Trophy for Colleges: Capital One Cup

A team of former N.C.A.A. athletes unveiled the Capital One Cup, which will be awarded to the top men’s and women’s Division I programs based on cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports.

Formula to Grade Teachers’ Skill Gains Acceptance, and Critics

The value-added formula to evaluate teachers is gaining acceptance, and critics, across America.

About New York: Suing a School They Loved

Even though Herbert E. Nass and his wife, Jodi, loved their old school, Horace Mann, legal action seemed right when they found themselves in a fight over their son’s suspension.

Harvard Researcher May Have Fabricated Data

Marc Hauser is on leave after being found “solely responsible” for eight counts of scientific misconduct.

Dean From Northwestern Picked to Lead New School

David E. Van Zandt will replace Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska senator, as the university’s president.

The Bay Citizen: University to Manage Home Costs of President

The University of California has appointed an official to manage spending at the private residence of its president, Mark G. Yudof, after he ran up nearly $700,000 in expenses.

Making Career Development Pay

Treating your career development education as if it were part of a stock portfolio can help you increase the return on your investment.

Social Networking Your Way to a New Job

Job hunters must learn to navigate the social protocol of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites.

Community College Training for Managing Green Jobs

Government money is helping smaller institutions build programs that train students in various emerging and established energy fields.

Some Business Skills to Go With the Passion

Thousands of courses are offered in entrepreneurship by colleges and universities, small-business development centers and chambers of commerce.

Foreign Language Courses, Brushing Up or Immersion

For continuing education students, a variety of options for foreign language classes are available, including online learning.

The Humanities for Love, Not Money

Continuing education programs across the country are finding students increasingly focused on the arts and humanities, whether for new careers or to re-explore great authors.

Learning Curves on the Career Path

Whether they are concerned about job security or climbing the career ladder, people often conclude that if there’s any solution, it’s more education.

National Briefing | South: Louisiana: $1.8. Billion for Schools Lost to Katrina

The Obama administration will give New Orleans $1.8 billion in a lump-sum reimbursement for schools that were damaged or destroyed in the flooding after Hurricane Katrina.

Eastern States Dominate in Winning School Grants

Many educators in states that did not win or even participate in President Obama’s Race to the Top competition said the rules favored densely populated eastern states.

New York Wins Nearly $700 Million for Education

Local officials who pushed for educational changes celebrated a victory in a competition for federal money.

Even at Commuter Schools, Dorm Life Beckons

Queens College’s only dorm houses 500 students out of 20,000, and contains full kitchens, cable television, wireless Internet access and private bathrooms.

Scholars Test Web Alternative to Peer Review

The Internet is calling into question one of academia’s sacred rites: the peer- reviewed journal article.

Students, Welcome to College; Parents, Go Home

Faced with parents who have a hard time saying goodbye to their freshmen, colleges formalize the split.

Western Schools Sprout in South Korea

Parents in Asia and elsewhere want a more global curriculum for their children, and governments hope to attract foreign investors to their countries.

National Briefings | West: California: Colleges Cut Kaplan Tie

Kaplan University had signed an agreement with California community colleges for students shut out of classes at their own campus to take an online version at Kaplan.

Roommates Who Click

Incoming freshmen have Web sites that do for dormitory life what eHarmony and Match.com have long done for romance.

Harvard Finds Scientist Guilty of Misconduct

The university has found Marc Hauser “solely responsible” for eight instances of scientific misconduct.

Wealth Matters: As Private Tutoring Booms, Parents Look at the Returns

Wealthy parents pay a lot for their children’s tutors, and they usually expect more than improved grades.

Talk: School’s In

Waldorf? So last semester. A writer learns that home schooling is suddenly chic.

Grease Paint! Jazz Hands! A Degree?

The author Mary Anna Dennard fields questions from readers about the value of a college education in theater.

Young Lawyers Turn to Public Service

Many recent graduates who had expected to work at big law firms are reconsidering their career options.

Looking for Baby Sitters: Foreign Language a Must

A growing number of New York City parents want caregivers to teach their children a language.

National Briefing | South: Georgia: Governor Wants Inquiry Into Cheating

Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia said Wednesday that he would appoint a special investigator with subpoena power to look into possible cheating on standardized tests in two public school systems.

Books of The Times: Why Johnny’s College Isn’t What It Used to Be

Two academics pose questions about the degree to which universities’ main purpose — for them, the teaching of undergraduates — is being undermined.

Given Money, Schools Wait on Rehiring Teachers

Some of the nation’s biggest school districts are balking at using federal aid to hire teachers right away, citing looming budget deficits.

As Parents Protest, Chancellor and Panel Leave

Angry parents protested a falloff in test scores at a meeting of a citywide education panel, prompting its members and the schools chancellor to walk out.

Triumph Fades on Racial Gap in City Schools

The results of 2010 tests presented a blow to one of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s signature accomplishments.

Troubled School District Is on Road to Recovery

The troubled schools of Roosevelt, N.Y., taken over by the state eight years ago, are showing improvement in achievement, financial stability and morale.

Scissors, Glue, Pencils? Check. Cleaning Spray?

With school budgets shrinking, parents are asked to provide cleaning products as well as crayons and scissors.

A School Fight Over Chocolate Milk

Flavored milk has emerged as both villain and victim in a cafeteria drama that pits the dairy industry, administrators and parents against one another.

Early Bird Specials

Some schools allow students to move into their dorms early -- for a price.

Time for Letting Go

Jan Benzel, an editor at The Times, is taking the younger of her two daughters to college this weekend.

College Online: Virtually the Same?

Many colleges are now testing the waters in online undergraduate studies.

Word of the Day | transgression

This word has appeared in 57 Times articles over the past year.

Teaching and Learning About Hurricanes

Times and Learning Network resources and lesson plans on hurricanes.

Is the End of the Iraq War Cause for Celebration?

Student Opinion | What is your reaction to the removal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq?

Combat Now Complete

6 Q's About the News | Why are some American troops remaining in Iraq?

NYT > N.Y. / Region

At Flea Market, Fear of a Different Insect

Buyers in secondhand stores are concerned about bedbugs coming along with the clothing or furniture.

In Community Service, Celebrity Justice Means the Same Dirty Work

Caroline Giuliani’s court-ordered punishment is likely to be the same kind of humiliating, laborious job that tens of thousands of others are assigned each year.

A Painting Vanishes, and Questions Mount

An owner of a $1.35 million painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot filed suit after the work went missing, then withdrew the lawsuit when the criminal past of the painting’s co-owner surfaced.

Fired Education Chief Says New Jersey Governor Defamed Him

Bret D. Schundler, the former education commissioner, emphatically denied misleading anyone in an episode that cost New Jersey a $400 million grant.

State Pension Fund Faces Shortfall, Candidate Says

Harry J. Wilson, a Republican running for state comptroller, argues that rosy numbers released annually by Albany are an illusion.

Court Blocks New York Tax on Tribal Cigarette Sales

A state judge effectively expanded a federal order that stopped a new law from applying to two tribes.

Officials Deny Misconduct in Sex-Trafficking Inquiry

A dismissal of an indictment involving the Gambino crime family was sought because a witness had been allowed to participate in an operation involving a 15-year-old.

Man Accused of Stealing a Bus Is Arraigned

Darius McCollum answered to charges related to his 27th arrest — this one for stealing a Trailways bus from a maintenance facility in Hoboken, N.J.

After a Cameo on Cable, Jets Hit the Stage

The Jets took in an early private performance of the show “Black Angels Over Tuskegee” on Wednesday in Manhattan.

Experience Necessary: What’s Worse Than Badly Fitting Shoes?

Linda Becker, who sells 200 sizes of bras at Linda’s Bra Salon in Manhattan, says that most women don’t know their true size.

Lottery Numbers

Lottery numbers for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Showcasing Graffiti Taggers’ Art

Graffiti taggers who attended an arts program run by the city Probation Department put on a show of their work (on canvas, not a building).

Furor Over Brooklyn College Reading

The furor over a reading assignment for students at Brooklyn College feels more intense on the Internet than on the campus itself.

Rangel Joins Muslims in Rally for Downtown Mosque

Representative Charles B. Rangel criticized elected officials who are using the planned Islamic center and mosque near ground zero to try to score political points.

Darkness in the Village, Where Lives Were Lost and Saved

Confronting a cherished landmark, boarded up and papered over.

Our Towns: Blasé About the Weather Channel’s Maps? Remember 1938

During the ’38 hurricane, 50 people on Long Island were killed and 600 killed over all.

Immigrants' Oral Histories Going Online

More than 1,700 recordings of people who arrived at Ellis Island will be available.

Researchers Start Job of Sorting Out Yiddish Writer's Papers

They will be moved from his apartment in the Bronx to the YIVO headquarters on West 16th Street.

Sing Along With Yoko Ono!

ArtsBeat tries to provide a libretto.

Late-Summer Slump Hits Broadway

Late summer Broadway box office earnings are down, especially at "The Addams Family" with Nathan Lane on vacation.

NYT > Movies

Movie Review | 'The American': Traveling Man With Few Words and a Big Gun

This suspense thriller, directed by Anton Corbijn, is often more evocative of the art house than of the multiplex.

It’s Another Ride for Ben Affleck, Filmmaker-Star

“The Town” gives Ben Affleck another chance to shine as writer, director and star.

Movie Review | 'My Dog Tulip': A Tender Love Story Between Man and Dog

“My Dog Tulip,” an animated film based on the 1956 memoir by J. R. Ackerley, explores a lonely man’s devotion toward his pet.

Music Review: Satchmo’s Story, Music Substituting for Words

Wynton Marsalis and friends provided the live accompaniment for a silent film about Louis Armstrong’s childhood.

Alain Corneau, César-Winning Film Director, Dies at 67

The director was best known for his 1991 award-winning film “Tous les Matins du Monde.”

Film: Much Taller, Still Plastered

The 1981 Dudley Moore comedy “Arthur” is being remade, starring Russell Brand, and filming is taking place all over Manhattan and Queens.

Film: Following Workers’ Trails of Tears in China

The documentary “Last Train Home” looks at a generation of migrant workers who have sacrificed their families to China’s rush to economic supremacy.

Film: Computer Animation, Made by Hand

The animation team Paul and Sandra Fierlinger, in films like “My Dog Tulip,” use custom-made computers to create their hand-drawn-looking images.

Arts, Briefly: ‘Last Exorcism’ Tops Slow Weekend at the Movies

A PG-13 rating and a wide release helped push the horror movie “The Last Exorcism” to No. 1 at the box office.

Film: Driven by Fierce Visions of Independence

Barbara Loden’s film “Wanda,” a feminist portrayal of a woman struggling to survive, is being reissued.

DVDs: Mythic Mash-Up in Feverish Color

“Pandora and the Flying Dutchman,” Albert Lewin’s morbid, grandiloquent Technicolor film starring Ava Gardner and James Mason, has been released on DVD.

Hey, Big Spender: Hollywood Isn’t in the Mood

How does Joel Silver, the producer behind “Die Hard” and “The Matrix,” adapt to a movie industry that is cutting costs?

A Silent Musical

The new film “Louis” is shown with live music led by Wynton Marsalis.

Thrift Shop Finds a Green Role for Used Film Props

A prop shop in Long Island City, run by Film Biz Recycling, is a nonprofit loaded with items donated from television and commercial productions.

Movie Review | 'Aashayein': Handsome Guy Is Dying, but He Can Afford Care

Nagesh Kukunoor’s “Aashayein” is a genre-defying Bollywood look at death.

Movie Review | 'Mesrine': Drunk on His Own Notoriety

Vincent Cassel, in a four-hour biography of a French gangster, gives a performance reminiscent of Mitchum and De Niro.

Movie Review | 'Takers': Taking a Long, Cool Look at Both Sides of the Law

Matt Dillon plays a cop chasing a gang of highly polished robbers in “Takers.”

Movie Review | 'The Last Exorcism': Loosening the Devil’s Grip in Louisiana

Daniel Stamm’s film “The Last Exorcism” follows a preacher who’s lost faith as he is called on to oust the Devil from a teenage girl.

Movie Review | 'Change of Plans': All Kiss-and-Tell and Wink-and-Nod at a Crowded Dinner Party

“Change of Plans” gathers 11 people and throws them into a bouillabaisse of domestic and romantic complication.

Movie Review | 'Centurion': Two Vastly Different Enemies Share a Common Thirst for Blood

“Centurion,” directed by Neil Marshall, follows a Roman Army mission into Scotland in 117 A.D.

Movie Review | 'Flipped': Young Love, Back When It Was Sweet and Innocent

Rob Reiner directs this story about two youngsters who develop feelings for each other in late 1950s America.

Movie Review | 'Make-Out With Violence': A Teenage Zombie Crush

A first feature from the Deagol Brothers inspects a summer romance with decaying flesh.

Movie Review | 'Highwater': Forever Stoked for More Tasty Waves

From Dana Brown, who made “Step Into Liquid,” comes a documentary about a surfing season on the North Shore of Oahu.

Movie Review | 'The Milk of Sorrow': A Trauma in Peru

Magaly Solier plays a stoic young woman in Lima contending with her mother’s death.

Movie Review | 'Daniel & Ana': Siblings in Mexico City, Criminally Exploited

Michel Franco’s debut feature looks at the fallout of the kidnapping of a brother and sister from a well-off family.

Movie Review | 'Baghdad, Texas': Fleeing Mideast Dictator’s Unscheduled Stop

In David H. Hickey’s comedy, a Middle Eastern strongman headed for Cuba crash-lands in Texas.

Movie Review | 'Piranha 3D': The Fish Are Really Biting Those Women in Bikinis

In “Piranha 3D” Alexandre Aja brings us hungry fish and shredded limbs in this loose remake of a 1978 film.

Film Series and Movie Listings

A listing of movies and film series.

Satoshi Kon, Anime Filmmaker, Dies at 46

Mr. Kon was a Japanese filmmaker and comic-book artist whose dazzling visual compositions won him a devoted following.

Film: The ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Crowd? This Gamer’s Not Part of It

“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” Seth Schiesel argues, fails to make the emotional investment that defines today’s best games.

Film: The Disease: Fatal. The Treatment: Mockery

A screening of “Love Story” at Harvard teaches freshmen that melodrama means never having to say you’re sorry for all the insults.

Christoph Schlingensief, Artistic Provocateur, Dies at 49

Mr. Schlingensief, a German filmmaker, theater director and all-purpose gadfly, waged a tireless assault on received opinion in the arts and politics.

Advertising: With New Products, Nissan Plays Up Innovation Angle

The carmaker, which plans to release a mass-market electric car this year, the Leaf, has enlisted Robert Downey Jr. for its commercial voice-overs.

Books: ‘Deliverance’: A Dark Heart Still Beating

The 40th anniversary of James Dickey’s book about wilderness and survival shouldn’t slip by unnoticed.

Film: It’s Actual Life. No, It’s Drama. No, It’s Both.

Miguel Gomes, Pedro Costa, Ulrich Seidl and Apichatpong Weerasethakul are some of the world cinema directors blending staged and real-life scenes in their work.

Big Shot | Schnabel's Polaroids

The artist and filmmaker is also a devotee of instant film.

D.I.Y. Music Labels Embrace D.I.Y. Film

Some indie record labels are distributing movies too. Their business model is: Stay small and informal, know your audience and put out stuff you like

Arts, Briefly: ‘The Expendables’ Tops Box Office Again

“The Expendables” with Sylvester Stallone leading an ensemble cast was No. 1 with about $16.5 million, bringing the cumulative total to about $65 million, according to Hollywood.com.

DVDs: Sternberg: Chief Director of Private Dream Factory

Three silent films by Josef von Sternberg, the master of shadow and light, have been released in a boxed set by Criterion.

Film: Films in Search of the Faithful

After the success of “The Passion of the Christ,” Hollywood still hasn’t tapped the appetite for faith-based cinema. But new films are trying.

Facebook Feels Unfriendly Toward Film It Inspired

Mark Zuckerberg, the company founder, has been locked in a standoff with the makers of a film about the social network.

Out on a Limb

With two controversial new roles and a candor to match her beauty, the “Slumdog” star Freida Pinto completes her passage from India.

Popcorn Reverie

Gary Giddins looks back at films of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, from Jimmy Stewart westerns to propaganda driven by a samba beat.

Heading West: A Ballet Dancer From China Looks Back

Li Cunxin’s journey from his home in rural China to pursue ballet in the United States is chronicled in “Mao’s Last Dancer,” a new movie by Bruce Beresford.

'Cool It,' Film Rival to 'An Inconvenient Truth,' Gets a U.S. Distributor

The documentary is adapted from the writing of Bjorn Lomborg, a Danish statistician who has argued against what he believes are extreme and alarmist scenarios presented by other environmentalists.

Michael Douglas Discusses His Cancer

Mr. Douglas, the actor and "Wall Street" star, said he had been given the diagnosis over the summer and that he believed he had an 80 percent chance of recovery.

'Crocodile Dundee' Star Bites Back at Australian Tax Office

Paul Hogan, the Australian-born, actor who is based in the United States, has been unable to leave Australia because of a tax dispute.

NYT > Sports

Roddick Loses, and Foot Faults Take Center Stage

For the second consecutive year, a popular highly ranked American player was ousted from the United States Open in a match marred by a foot-fault controversy.

Shedding His Burdens, Murray Embraces New York

At first, Andy Murray comes across as shy, dry and sarcastic. But away from the usual topics, his personality comes alive.

18-Year-Old Qualifier Upsets No. 15 Ljubicic

Making his United States Open singles debut, the American teenager Ryan Harrison upset the 15th seed.

Reds 6, Brewers 1: Eyes Fix on Radar Gun When Rookie Pitches

The Reds’ Aroldis Chapman, a left-hander who routinely throws harder than 100 miles an hour, earned his first victory in the defeat of the Brewers.

Yankees 4, Athletics 3: Still Not in Fine Form, Burnett at Least Gives Yankees a Chance to Win

Mark Teixeira ran his series total to 8 for 10 with seven runs batted in as the Yankees maintained their division lead.

Braves 4, Mets 1: Lineup and Card Game Feel Lonely for Wright

David Wright is not blaming anyone for a season that looked promising but continues to show signs of deterioration, the latest being the Mets’ third straight loss to the Braves.

Scantily Clad Dancers Are Nowhere to Be Found When Turkey Plays

A dance squad from Ukraine, known as the Red Foxes, was pulled to avoid performing in front of Turkish government officials, but no one can agree as to why.

After a Cameo on Cable, Jets Hit the Stage

The Jets took in an early private performance of the show “Black Angels Over Tuskegee” on Wednesday in Manhattan.

Golf Roundup: Woods Looks to Make Another Leap in Standings

Tiger Woods’s finish at the Barclays moved him to 65th in the FedEx Cup points list, and he has a chance to vault near the top.

Son Missing, Arum Skips Promotion

Bob Arum, the fight promoter, did not attend a news conference for a championship fight so that he could be close to the hunt for his missing son.

Liberty 77, Fever 74: Pondexter Leads Liberty Into Finals in the East

Cappie Pondexter scored 30 points as the Liberty defeated the Indiana Fever in the decisive game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Seattle’s Jackson to Get Third M.V.P. Award

Lauren Jackson, a forward for the Seattle Storm, will join Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes as the W.N.B.A.’s only three-time winners.

N.F.L. Roundup: Leinart’s Available, But Buyers Are Scarce

Arizona is trying to gauge the interest in a trade for Matt Leinart, who has repeatedly failed to seize the starting quarterback’s job.

New Trophy for Colleges: Capital One Cup

A team of former N.C.A.A. athletes unveiled the Capital One Cup, which will be awarded to the top men’s and women’s Division I programs based on cumulative on-field performance across multiple sports.

New Divisions, Same Date For Ohio State and Michigan

The teams will still play each other in the last conference game of the season and could conceivably play again in the league title game that starts next year.

United States 88, Iran 51: Opponents for a Game, but No Rivalry Here

The United States easily beat Iran at the FIBA world championships in a game that was overshadowed by a political rivalry.

Hurricane Earl Clears Beaches of All but Surfers

The approach of Hurricane Earl on Wednesday inspires opposite reactions on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Takahashi, as Free Agent, Could Leave the Mets

The 35-year-old pitcher probably sees himself as a starter and may opt for a club that can assure him he would have that role.

Baseball Roundup: Ramirez, in Debut, Has Good View of Win

Chicago trailed, 4-1, going into the eighth, but the White Sox rallied and beat the Indians 6-4.

As Pettitte Progresses, Yankees Move Vazquez Back Into the Rotation

Andy Pettitte continued making progress in his recovery from a left groin injury, throwing 55 pitches at a high intensity.

Wozniacki Wins With Speed and Ease

After waiting hours to get on court, No. 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki required only 61 minutes to dispatch Chelsea Gullickson 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the second round.

North Carolina Suspends Defensive Tackle Indefinitely

North Carolina Coach Butch Davis suspended defensive tackle Marvin Austin indefinitely for violating unspecified team rules.

N.H.L. Extends Deadline on Kovalchuk Deal

The N.H.L. extended its deadline to Friday for ruling on Ilya Kovalchuk’s 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils.

Sports Briefing | Track and Field: Bolt Banters About Gay

The Olympic champion Usain Bolt said his American sprint rival Tyson Gay “probably just hates my guts” because he has dominated major championships.

A Calmer Roddick Accepts Call, if Not Explanation

Considering his sustained level of anger on the court after a disputed foot-fault call during his four-set loss to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia at the United States Open, Andy Roddick was relatively slightly regretful, if not apologetic afterward.

Roddick Slightly More Contrite After the Match

Andy Roddick explains his heated reaction to the foot-fault call of a lineswoman.

A Serve Short of Another Run

Melanie Oudin had a reminiscent rally Wednesday, but she fell to Alona Bondarenko, showing she still has work to do on her serve.

An Army of One, Palmer Turns His Attention to Prostate Cancer Education

Arnold Palmer led the charge in popularizing golf in the United States in the 1950s and now, in retirement, he is in the vanguard of another movement: educating the public about prostate cancer.

In the Finger Lakes, Enjoying a Master's Vision

A tour of courses in upstate New York shows off the work of the famed golf architect Robert Trent Jones.

When Giving Advice Becomes Too Much

What qualifies as advice, and how many penalty strokes can a player incur for giving it?

Reds' Chapman Blazes Into the Majors

Aroldis Chapman and his 103.9-mile-an-hour fastball have joined the first-place Cincinnati Reds.

Yankees Explore Selling Part of Class A Affiliate

The Yankees said on Wednesday that they were in "very preliminary discussions" about selling part of the Tampa Yankees, their Class A affiliate, to investors from Orange County, Fla., who would reportedly like to move the team to Orlando.

Newest Met Is a Footnote in Yankees History

The Mets' trade for Joaquin Arias, the player Texas chose instead of Robinson Cano in the 2004 A-Rod trade with the Yankees.

Cardinals Shopping Leinart

The Arizona Cardinals have begun calling teams with quarterback needs to gauge interest in Matt Leinart.

Unintended Consequences of N.F.L. Umpire Repositioning

The competition committee had the best of intentions in repositioning umpires for their safety, but they don't seem to have considered all the ramifications.

Are Giants and Jets Fans Happy With Their Backups?

Both New York/New Jersey football teams appear to be shaky at backup quarterback.

For Rubio and N.B.A., Nothing Is Certain

The Spanish star Ricky Rubio could come to the United States in 2011, but a looming N.B.A. lockout complicates the situation.

Rethinking the System as N.B.A. Stars Move

The N.B.A. has tried to encourage stars to stay with their teams, a strategy that was upset this off-season.

Knicks Sign Ewing Jr., Again

The Knicks have signed Patrick Ewing Jr.

Five and Five: No. 7, Virginia tech

Virginia Tech, with a reputation built on defense and special teams, will rely on its offense this season.

A Tenure Longer Than Expected and Shorter Than Desired

When Bobby Bowden arrived at Florida State in 1976, he expected it to be a steppingstone to another job. Instead it became his legacy.

Starting Slowly Is Not Allowed

Every season, college football gives fans a host of early nonconference games between teams that rarely face each other. Conference reputations and national title hopes are on the line over the first two weeks of the season.

NYT > Home & Garden

Design Notebook: The Audacity of Taupe

The Home Section asked decorators, pundits and others for their reactions to the Oval Office makeover.

Home Is Where the Tax Exemption Is

As tax authorities look for cheats, they are finding that many people who are eligible for the benefit fail to apply for it.

On Location: In Switzerland, a Cast-Concrete Mountain Retreat

An art collector builds a nontraditional house in an Alpine village where life hasn’t changed that much in decades.

Shopping With Marc Murphy: Picnic Essentials

The chef Marc Murphy shopped for good things to put in the basket while the weather is still nice.

In the Garden: As Summer Fades, Duties in the Garden Shift

The focus turns to preparing plants for cooler weather, assessing what flowers grew well and what didn’t, and then planning for spring.

Property Values: What You Get for ...$275,000

A one-bedroom condo in Philadelphia, a three-bedroom bungalow in Tennessee and a two-bedroom house in Wisconsin.

Currents | Q&A: How Women Reshaped the Modern Kitchen

Talking with Juliet Kinchin, the curator of the Museum of Modern Art exhibition “Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen.”

Currents | Online: A Web Site for Midcentury Modern Buyers

The new site Townhouse.bz includes rare furniture and decorative accessories like a Knoll armchair.

Currents | Open: Monocle Magazine Opens West Village Shop

The small store, which opened last week, carries a fairly large, well-edited selection of merchandise.

Currents | Décor: A New Tableware Line at Metropolitan Museum Gift Shop

Le Chat Noir, a collection inspired by a 19th-century French poster.

Currents | Furniture: Tables Made With Birch Branches

The three tables in the new Resting Branches Collection have glass tops, acrylic sides and white birch limbs suspended underneath.

Currents | Tableware: Ceramics That Seek a Timeless Look

Eric Bonnin, a French designer, has introduced a ceramics collection, his first in this country.

Currents | Deals: Sales at Intérieurs, Nest Interiors and Desiron

Discounts on sofas, stools and other home furnishings and accessories.

Graphic Content | Thurston Moore's Indie Books

Ecstatic Peace Library, started by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, is an indie publisher that's taking a chance on -- of all things -- books.

Venice Report | Dreaming of Architecture

Kazuyo Sejima, the first woman and the first Asian architect to head the Venice Architecture Biennale, used the word "people" in her title of this year's exhibition--and that's a first.

Home Advice on Facebook, With Flair

Timothy Jack Ward's Facebook friends know that he's a fountain of advice on decorating, cooking and domesticity in general, aimed at Everyman but delivered with editorial flair.

NYT > Arts

Music Review: Send in the Heartthrob, Cue the Shrieks

Justin Bieber performed his first headlining show at Madison Square Garden with guests including Usher and Miley Cyrus.

Books of The Times: At the Center of the Storm, but Still a Mystery

Tony Blair’s memoir, “A Journey,” sheds little light on his political vision or on why he took Britain to war against Iraq.

Video Games: Whose Side Are You On? It Might Be the Taliban’s

In Medal of Honor’s multiplayer mode, someone gets to play the role of Taliban fighters, and the outcry has begun.

At Lincoln Center, Information Is Architecture

The architects behind the redesign say the media installations are an expression of an attempt to make the complex more inviting and immediate.

Carrying the Spear (and Dagger) for a Fading Art Form

Beijing opera’s luster has dimmed since its heyday as China’s most popular theatrical entertainment, and this ancient art forms struggles to attract a modern audience.

Theater Talkback: Just When You Think You Know Somebody . . .

Sometimes performers make you see familiar characters in new ways.

Immigrants' Oral Histories Going Online

More than 1,700 recordings of people who arrived at Ellis Island will be available.

'Cool It,' Film Rival to 'An Inconvenient Truth,' Gets a U.S. Distributor

The documentary is adapted from the writing of Bjorn Lomborg, a Danish statistician who has argued against what he believes are extreme and alarmist scenarios presented by other environmentalists.

Arts & Leisure Preview: The Unfinished Tale of an Unlikely Hero

Harvey Pekar, the obsessive chronicler of everyday lives, was collaborating at the end of his life on a Web project whose fate in print remains uncertain.

Music Review: Composers’ Influences, Side by Side

The pianist Ian Hobson explored the Beethoven-Schumann link and the musical contrasts of Ignaz Moscheles and Chopin at the Dicapo Opera Theater on Tuesday evening.

You Never Forget That Star-Struck Encounter With Your Idol

Actors recall how long-ago backstage encounters with their idols changed their lives.

Music Review: Donning Sinatra’s Mystique, From Movie Sailor to Saloon Dandy

The original cast of the revue “Our Sinatra” has reunited to celebrate Ol’ Blue Eyes, at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel.

Of Two Minds About Books

The book business tries to serve two readers, the one who loves the tactile page and the one who loves the digital ease.

Bridge: In Missouri, Card Playing for a Good Cause

At an event to benefit BackStoppers, a deal that shows bridge is a bidder’s game.

The Week Ahead: Aug. 29 — Sept. 4

A listing of cultural events this week.

Crescendo, in Double Time

Russians entered the French festival scene this summer with an open throttle and an open checkbook.

Venice Gears Up for 67th Film Festival

The film festival opens Wednesday and continues through Sept. 11 and will present dozens of features from 34 countries.

Beijing Opera, a Historical Treasure in Fragile Condition

Fans of the Beijing Opera Academy of China fear that it could fall victim to modernization as the economy surges, but the government is helping support the art form.

Design: An Italian Designer’s Homage to His Native Country

In a dazzlingly ambitious exhibition at La Triennale Design Museum in Milan, Alessandro Mendini has assembled a collection of objects to illustrate Italy.

Art Theft Underworld Frustrates France

The vulnerability of museums and high-end art owners to costly thefts has been a concern in France for years, but two events are forcing the issue into the open.

In Mongolia, the Horse-Headed Fiddle Rides Again

While some efforts to resuscitate traditional Mongolian culture have foundered, the broad revival of the morin khuur, or “horse-headed fiddle,” has brought an ancient sound back into the mainstream.

NYT > Dining & Wine

Food: The Cheat: A Hot Tomato

The plump and juicy kind.

Roger Ebert: No Longer an Eater, Still a Cook

After losing his lower jaw to cancer, the film critic, who can’t eat, has written a cookbook that is an ode to the rice cooker.

Shopping With Marc Murphy: Picnic Essentials

The chef Marc Murphy shopped for good things to put in the basket while the weather is still nice.

Power Ingredients: Rose Water Adds a Subtle Kick

Just a drop or two of this relatively inexpensive product adds the fragrance of one of the world’s great flowers to your cooking.

A Chef in His Getaway Galley

Steve Johnson, the owner of the restaurant Rendezvous in Cambridge, Mass., escapes to a houseboat with a tiny, minimally stocked kitchen.

Rosh Hashana Recipes Routed Through Africa

For the Jews of France, holiday dishes often hold the flavors of North Africa rather than Eastern Europe.

Restaurant Review: Il Matto

The chef Matteo Boglione embraces his eccentricity at this spare and radical new restaurant in TriBeCa.

Dining Briefs | Recently Opened: Strong Place

Flexing its muscles in Cobble Hill is this new sister spot to the already popular Bocca Lupo.

Dining Briefs | Recently Opened: Seersucker

Urbane, soft-spoken and modern, Seersucker in Carroll Gardens is not a Northerner’s idea of a Southern restaurant.

Wines of The Times: Freeing Muscadet From a Pigeonhole

The panel tasted 20 bottles of Muscadet, a wine with virtues that extend well beyond its reputation as a natural partner for oysters.

The Minimalist: Grill That Dough, Stack That Bread

Grilled breads have enormous appeal: they represent an easy way to make homemade bread, and they take on a lovely smoky flavor and slight charring.

A Good Appetite: Turning Fennel Into a Sauce

Add some Pernod, and the caramelized onions really get livelier.

Heads Up: Signature Blends at Tokyo Bars

Japanese whiskey has come a long way, but enthusiasts have to search to find specialist bars offering domestic drams.

Food Stuff: Greek Recipes Added to Essex Street Market

Rona Economou opens a shop at Essex Street Market, with Greek recipes.

Food Stuff: From an Old Distillery, New Brandies

Etude, a Napa Valley Winery, has created two one-of-a-kind blends made from aging, unfinished brandies.

Off the Menu

Eataly, the Italian food market, has opened its first American store.

Dining Calendar

Dining events around town.

Recipe Redux: Corncakes With Caviar, 1985

Corncakes with caviar were a signature dish at Arcadia, Anne Rosenzweig’s first restaurant in New York City.

Have Your Brunch and Listen to It, Too

The jazz brunch is a New York institution, but you can also take in live gospel, klezmer, Latin music or bluegrass while you eat your pancakes.

Sam Sifton at the United States Open

The Times' restaurant critic eats between sets.

Whose Menu Is It? Ours, BLT Answers, in Lawsuit Against Tourondel

BLT Restaurant Group says Laurent Tourondel's LT Burger restaurant in Sag Harbor is unfairly using much of their menu.

A Spicy Corn Stir Fry

Ed Schneider's spicy corn stir fry tasted great. But the next time, char the corn first.

Recipes: Robiola-Stuffed Tomatoes

A recipe for four.

Recipes: Smoke-Roasted Chicken Thighs With Paprika

Serve hot, warm or at room temperature, with lemon wedges, sprinkled with mint leaves.

Recipes for Health: Grilled Leeks With Romesco Sauce

Steamed and grilled leeks are paired with romesco sauce, a nut-thickened pepper purée.

Recipes for Health: Grilled Mushrooms in Foil Packets

Prepare these packets at home, then toss them on the grill at a cookout.

Peach Compote With Rose Water

A peach-and-rose-water compote poured over a grilled rose-water poundcake doubles the pleasure. But it’s also fine with ice cream.

Recipe: Grilled Rose-Water Poundcake

A toasty rose-water poundcake adds a fine finish to a summer meal.

Recipe: Moroccan-Style Carrot Salad

In this classic carrot salad, rose water provides a delicate balance to the earthy cumin and coriander.

Recipe: Pairings: Brown Bread With Buckwheat and Seaweed

To go with your Muscadet and oysters, an elemental brown bread made with kelp (for a briny touch) and buckwheat flour (for a nutty edge).

Recipe: Bucatini With Red Clam Sauce

A good jarred tomato sauce is finished with fresh clams, some chopped and some served in the shell.

Recipe: Tunisian Carrot Salad With Cumin, Coriander and Caraway

A carrot dish spiced with Tunisian flavors.

Recipe: Grilled Lebanese Flatbread

In 90 minutes, you’ll have eight flatbreads.

Recipe: Rosh Hashana Meat-Stuffed Vegetables

Vegetables stuffed with a meat filling and baked slowly.