Saturday August 19, 2006

The Final Word: “Hyperbole and Its Discontents Edition”

(The media experiment in which we conjoin the headline and last paragraph of each bylined article in the A-section of today's New York Times.)

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Ford Is Slashing Production 20% for 4th Quarter:

"A lot of people in Michigan depend on them," Mr. Deater said. "I think they can recover."

Text: The Announcement: Thank you for your continuing efforts to build a better Ford.
6,300 at Delphi Agree to Leave Company: So far, 12,500 members of the auto workers have chosen retirement options, and others have until mid-September to decide whether to take retirements or buyouts under a second deal; 5,000 auto workers at Delphi can return to G.M. when jobs are available.

Fearful Iraqis Avoid Mosques as Attacks Rise:

"Most of the time, I pray at home now," Mr. Hassan said. "Mosques are filled with militias these days. I don't like the religious parties, and I don't believe in them, thank God."

G.O.P. Deserts One of Its Own for Lieberman:

"It would be far better for Republicans if Joe Lieberman won than Lamont," Mr. Fleischer continued. "There are enough liberals for Republicans to point to — from Russ Feingold to Hillary Clinton to Nancy Pelosi — that we don't need another one to make our case. But what kind of message would it send if a strong defense, pro-Iraq senator won in this environment? It would prove you can be for what George W. Bush is doing in Iraq and still win, even in the Northeast."

Colombia’s Coca Survives U.S. Plan to Uproot It:

"Cocaine availability has gone up, so how can they be so brazen to say it's working?" he said. "If you know where to look, you can find what you want."

Experts Fault Reasoning in Surveillance Decision :

"Justice Stevens was criticized for not including sound bites and sweeping constitutional interpretation," Mr. Lederman said. Judge Taylor's decision, by contrast, he said, "was meant for headlines."

Bush Predicts Ban Will Be Lifted: "The American people expect us to protect them, and therefore, I put this program in place," Mr. Bush said.

Pataki Appoints Fifth Republican to Highest Court:

"I express my sincere appreciation to all those who supported my candidacy for reappointment,'' he said, extending his best wishes to Justice Pigott.

Villagers Cheer as Lebanese Army Marches South:

Most people are pessimistic, he said. "The fighting could start again any time," he said. "There's no clear solution; it's still gray, neither white nor black."

Other News

Jones Is Said to Have Failed Drug Test in June :

Jones was making a successful comeback this year. After only a few races, including one at a meet on Randalls Island, Jones won the 100 at the national championships in Indianapolis. She also raced at several European meets this summer, lowering her time in the 100 to 10.91 seconds, her best in nearly five years, at a meet in July in Rome.

Quattrone May Avoid 3rd Trial:

And since it first began investigating whether First Boston was soliciting kickbacks from investors in exchange for access to hot stock offerings, the United States attorney's office has secured a number of prominent white-collar victories: the convictions of Martha Stewart, Bernard J. Ebbers of WorldCom and John J. Rigas of Adelphia Communications, among others.

Different Focus in Atlanta on Young's Remark:

"In his opinion," said John Hope Bryant, the founder of Operation Hope, which fights urban poverty, "companies like Wal-Mart had simply introduced some much needed competition in our inner-city communities, helping to level the playing field for poor people.''

Caught on Film: A Growing Unease in Hollywood:

He had no sympathy for those who do nothing but complain. "Let them get a real job," he said. "They get paid a lot. They go to great parties. They fly around in jets, not only for business reasons, but for personal things, too. I think there are worse jobs to have."

Movie Review: 'Snakes on a Plane': That's No Seat Belt Around Your Waist:

What the film earns somewhat more slyly is a firm slot in the cultural landscape, not least because of its scarily timely setting. This is, after all, "Snakes on a Plane," not "Snakes on a Greyhound Bus." But unlike "Flightplan" and "Red Eye," two other recent airborne thrillers, "Snakes on a Plane" is less about surviving on airplanes than wresting control of them. In other words, it's "United 93" without the tears. The filmmakers don't overplay the political angle, though they do squeeze in a Middle Eastern snake and a scene of an F.B.I. agent sneering about the A.C.L.U. Mostly, though, what they give us is the chance to win, not with righteous morality, but with an old-fashioned swagger that says, much like the film itself, Hey, we may be stupid, but we rock.

International

U.N. Official Assails South Africa on Its Response to AIDS:

The next AIDS conference will be held in Mexico City in August 2008.

Cuba Mobilized for a U.S. Attack, Raúl Castro Says:

"I have always been discreet," he said. "That is my way, and I am thinking of continuing in that way."

Islamists in Somalia Sharply Rebuff Plan for African Peacekeepers:

It is far from clear, though, who would pay for these peacekeepers and provide the logistical support necessary to make any headway in Somalia, which is awash in guns and warring clans. The last time peacekeepers were sent to Somalia, by the United States and the United Nations in the early 1990's, they went home after heavy casualties and without accomplishing their mission.

On Technical Grounds, Judge Sets Aside Verdict of Billing Fraud in Iraq Rebuilding:

In a news release issued yesterday, lawyers for Custer Battles, from the Washington office of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, praised the judge for setting aside the jury verdict and repeated that Scott Custer, Mike Battles and their company were innocent of any fraud.

Chinese Crackdown on Rights Lawyers Signals Effort to Deter Increasing Legal Challenges:

"It is difficult to accept that this was a fair trial if the defense cannot call witnesses to support its case," Mr. Chen said.

German Police See Possible Lebanon Link to Failed Train Bombs:

The telephone number was found on a piece of paper with Arabic writing — apparently a shopping list — that was tucked inside clothing used to pad the metal gas canisters inside one suitcase. Mr. Zierke said a store sold the starch primarily to Lebanese families around Essen.

National Report

In Nashville, Sounds of Political Uprising From the Left:

Ms. Wright said: "When one does say anything less than, 'Ooh baby, ooh baby, I love you,' in a song, in my format, out of this town, you really put yourself out there as a bit of a lightning rod. I can't have those fears."

Leaked E-Mail Portrays Suspect as Obsessed :

The same month, he posted another message on a newsgroup for lonely people, inviting children to join Powerwurks: "We provide a safe and private environment where you can freely and comfortably express your thoughts and feelings on any subject. No subject is banned from discussion. All conversations are strictly confidential and that's a promise!!"

2 Guardsmen Accused of Robbery in New Orleans:

Mr. Goyeneche added that although the city's murder rate was high last month, other categories of crime had been going down.

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