Friday September 1, 2006

The Final Word: “Master Orators 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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Lockheed Wins Job of Building Next Spaceship:

Mr. Griffin, the NASA administrator, who has been a forceful presence in the space shuttle fleet's return to orbit after the Columbia disaster, stayed in the background at Thursday's news conference. A spokesman said that the announcement spoke for itself and that Mr. Griffin did not take part because his presence would have been a distraction.

In Latest Push, Bush Cites Risk in Quitting Iraq:

"I thought linking together the different elements of this ideological movement was important to do, and was effective,'' Mr. Mehlman said.

Transcript of Bush's Speech:

Thanks for having me. May God bless our veterans, may God bless our troops, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. (Cheers, applause.)

A Younger India Is Flexing Its Industrial Brawn:

The old philosophy was, 'I should work in an office, come in at 10 and leave at 4,' " said Nitin Kulkarni, 35, an engineer at the Hazira steel mill. But in recent years, he added, "there has been a revolution."

Where's Mao? Chinese Revise History Books:

"The government has a big role in approving textbooks," he said. "But the goal of our work is not politics. It is to make the study of history more mainstream and prepare our students for a new era."

On the Job, Nursing Mothers Find a 2-Class System:

"That's a great thing to do, but she had her own office and could set her own schedule," Dr. Philipp said. "The one I want to know about is the lady cleaning her office."

Voters Hearing Countless Ways of Saying 'Sorry':

"I can self-destruct in one sentence," Mr. Burns, a former livestock auctioneer, recently told supporters. "Sometimes in one word."

Other News

Villagers See Violations of a Cease-Fire That Israel Says Doesn't Exist:

"We've been beaten so badly that we still don't want to admit we've been beaten," he said.

Highly Enriched Uranium Found at Iranian Plant:

"There is a standstill" in resolving these issues, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of normal diplomatic rules. The agency, he added, is losing confidence that it can give the world assurances about the "completeness" of Iran's program.

Where Katrina Lingers, Football Is a Refuge:

This is not how Crutchfield wanted to start the season, looking back instead of ahead. But the effects of Katrina will linger. There is no way around it. The South Plaquemines cheerleaders, with the school mascot in mind, believe this can even be an advantage. They have a new battle cry: Hurricane season never ends.

Education Dept. Shared Student Data With F.B.I.:

She said she had accepted a position at Dow Jones Newswires in Washington.

Stolen Munch Paintings Are Recovered:

"For more than two years now — two years and nine days to be exact — the Oslo police have conducted an intensive, systematic investigation of an organized criminal milieu," Mr. Stensrud said. "We have put stone upon stone not only to build a legal case but, just as important, to be able to bring the pictures back to their rightful owner."

Generic of Plavix Is Blocked:

In his 57-page ruling, Judge Stein wrote, "The public interest in lower-priced drugs is balanced by a significant public interest in encouraging the massive investment in research and development that is required before a new drug can be developed and brought to market."

Two Troopers Are Shot in Area Where Fugitive Has Been Spotted:

Local residents have become active spectators in the Bucky saga, creating T-shirts with the logos "Where's Bucky?" and "Run, Bucky, Run."

International

Thousands Flee as Hurricane John Batters Mexican Coast:

The hurricane had reached Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale on Wednesday, but lost force on Thursday. It was forecast to veer west out into the Pacific Ocean after touching Baja California on Friday, and to deluge parts of Mexico's western coast with 6 to 10 inches of rain, meteorologists said.

U.N. Council Votes to Send Troops to Darfur; Sudan Objects:

The Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations did not speak at Thursday's meeting. The Security Council is to meet on Sept. 8 to discuss the situation with Sudanese officials and representatives from the Arab League, the African Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Peque Journal: An Ailing Town Fears a Proposed Cure Would Be Fatal:

But the town must do something, she said, or "it will disappear into the desert."

Car Bomb and Rockets Kill 43 in Baghdad's Shiite Strongholds:

American officials have expressed displeasure with the speaker, who earlier this summer called the American occupation "the work of butchers" and suggested that statues be built for insurgents who kill American soldiers.

Annan to Ask Syria to Keep Arms From Crossing Its Border:

Mark Malloch Brown, the deputy secretary general of the United Nations, said in a speech to delegates, "Aid when there is a blockade is like putting someone on life support when there is a foot on their windpipe."

Canada to Arm Its Border Guards:

Mr. Harper's decision to arm guards may allay fears in the United States that Canada is not doing its part to secure the border. When 17 homegrown terrorism suspects were arrested in Toronto in June, several American newspapers ran editorials questioning the attention paid to the Canadian border at a time when most of the focus was on the Mexican border.

Israelis Arrest a Palestinian Seeking Asylum:

It was not clear who was responsible for his death. Palestinians said an undercover Israeli unit was involved. Capt. Noa Meir, a spokeswoman for the Israeli Army, said she could not comment on the reports.

Iran Remains Steadfast in Pursuing Nuclear Plans as U.N. Deadline Arrives:

"Of course I am worried," he said. "I have been to different countries, to Rome, to Australia, to Asia. I have seen the world. I know what it is to have sanctions."

Highly Enriched Uranium Found at Iranian Plant:

"Foreign services companies working in Libya earn millions," he said. "Why do we not earn these millions which currently go to foreigners?"

National Report

A Top Chicago Official Will Seek Mayor's Job:

At a City Hall news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Daley sounded like a candidate, pointing out his administration's takeovers of the city's public housing authority and school system, and calling his the "best job in America."

Intimate Confessions Pour Out on Church's Web Site:

"Knowing that so many people I see every week on the outside look so normal, and yet inside there is so much pain, that has been surprising," he said. "When you hear about it in their own words, it's hard to bear."

Polygamist Leader Agrees to Face Utah Charges:

The fundamentalist church has about 10,000 members, mostly in and around Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

Tropical Storm Comes Ashore in Carolinas:

Sean Ream, 32, of Myrtle Beach, also shrugged off the storm. "The pressure's not low enough for it to do anything," Mr. Ream said. "All my friends are out surfing."

Debate Lingers Over Definition for a Planet:

Dr. Sykes said: "I think the community at this point and time can organize itself to have this discussion and come up with its own consensus, and the I.A.U. can catch up later."

Oregon Awaits Reimbursement for Storm Duty:

But since the 1990's, Oregon has assured lower-ranking Guard members who respond to natural disasters that they will be paid substantially higher, as if they were serving "state active duty." The lowest-ranking Oregon Guard members would receive $169.72 a day under state active duty, according to the Oregon National Guard. Under Title 32, the soldier would receive $41.17 each day.

Necessity on One Hand, Security on the Other:

"That just breaks my heart," she said.

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