Monday September 4, 2006

The Final Word: “Sheer Weight of Existence 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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G.O.P. Seen to Be in Peril of Losing House:

Mr. Emanuel, discussing the widespread predictions that his party would win the House if the election were held today, said simply: "It isn't today. That's the unfortunate part."

Some ID Theft Is Not for Profit, but to Get a Job:

"So before I say I'm not upset about it, I don't know the full story," he said. "Other people could be racking up credit cards. The only recourse we have is to go to the credit agencies and check every several months. It's a lot of paperwork to do to have them say, 'Nope, no record.' "

Victims Fight to Clear Their Names After Others' Deeds: "Is the blood type the same as mine?" he said. "I have no clue."

Troops Cut Death, but Not Fear, in a Bloody Baghdad Neighborhood:

The people of Dora say they can hardly bear the thought of being abandoned.

One Last Kiss From Agassi, and It's Over:

"I've lost to B. Becker before," Agassi said much later, when his tears had dried and good humor ruled. "I was proud to shake anybody's hand today."

Roddick Moves On: "I don't know if I can double him, to be honest," Roddick said of Agassi. "I know I do put a lot of time into it. That's a responsibility. I don't know if one person can help to fill that void. I think it's a team effort with all the guys and all the stars on Tour. Even then, like I said, he's pretty much irreplaceable."
Davenport Advances: But there was room in New York for only one goodbye.

Rules Ignored, Toxic Sludge Sinks Chinese Village:

Her husband, meanwhile, is worried about supporting his family. "Even if we put seeds in the earth there," the man, 44, said, "they won't grow because the pollution is too severe."

Cost of Pensions Adds to Factory Town's Troubles:

"Today, we can afford a very good Chevy Impala," she added. "Can we afford a Cadillac anymore? No."

Other News

New Assault Takes Big Toll on Taliban, NATO Says:

The governor of Kandahar Province, Asadullah Khalid, said by telephone that he had asked NATO and Afghan officials to move against Taliban in the area for months, but that the Afghan police were too weak and that troops had often been occupied elsewhere.

Iraqi Official Reports Capture of Top Insurgent Leader Linked to Shrine Bombing:

Falah Mustafa, a senior official in the Kurdistan regional government, downplayed the dispute and said the Iraqi flag has not flown for years in the region controlled by Mr. Barzani's party because it is identified with Saddam Hussein's massacres. Kurdish officials, he said, would fly a new Iraqi flag once the central government changes the design.

New York Trooper Shot in Manhunt Dies of Injuries:

Last night, two men who knew Mr. Phillips offered a safe haven for him to turn himself in. "If he turns himself in, we'll have the news media present to witness it to make sure he's safe," said Dan Suitor, a friend and former employer of Mr. Phillips, who along with John Keavey, Mr. Phillips's parole lawyer, are offering him an opportunity to surrender. "Anything to stop this," Mr. Suitor said.

Many Entry-Level Workers Feel Pinch of Rough Market:

"You're much better off as a young worker today if you're the child of the well-to-do and you get a good education," Professor Danziger said, "and you're much worse off if you're a child of a blue-collar worker and you don't go to college. There's increasing inequality among young people just as there is increasing inequality among their parents."

Hunt for Jihadists: Police Search Islamic School in South Britain:

Mr. Masri, an Egyptian-born cleric who is now a British citizen, is currently serving a seven-year sentence in Britain for inciting racial hatred and soliciting murder. He is wanted in the United States on charges relating to an attack in Yemen in 1998 on 16 tourists, including two Americans. He has also been indicted in the United States, accused of attempting to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Ore., between 1999 and 2000.

In Days Before Primary, Hackles Start Rising in Race for Florida Governor:

"For either to win there, the national desire for change will have to infect Florida," Mr. Sabato said of the Democrats. "With races like this in a mega-state, people frequently ask the old question, 'Am I happy with the direction of the state?' If the answer is yes, you go ahead and stick with the incumbent party."

Ernesto's Remnants Leave Blackouts and Damage in New York Region:

"I figured it was a good time to pick up a book," Mr. Sotallaro said, "and then the power went out."

6 Children Killed in Chicago Apartment Fire:

"The community is in shock," Jasmin Lamb, 16, said as she placed pink and white carnations on the sidewalk near the apartment. "They were a nice, warm family."

International

European Union's Plunging Birthrates Spread Eastward:

"Two kids and six years of maternity would be pretty impossible," she said.

Awaji Journal: In a Graying Japan, Lower Shelves and Wider Aisles:

"When you get older," Mrs. Kobayakawa said, "somehow you end up buying an item you thought cost 300 yen when it was actually 800 yen."

First Large Foreign Unit Arrives for Lebanon-Israel Buffer Zone:

"The cease-fire is holding for the moment," General Pellegrini said. "But it's fragile. Any incident can escalate."

French Interior Minister Is Gathering Support in Race for Premier:

But winning over the youth vote may prove difficult, after two months of student demonstrations last spring over proposals to introduce a similar work contract for people under 26.

Farms' Output Grows Closer to Matching Fishing Harvests:

"It's important to try and restore what we've run down and not just move on to depleting something else," he said.

Justice: Iraqis Infected by H.I.V.-Tainted Blood Try New Tool: A Lawsuit:

Asked if he were bitter, Mr. Abbas shrugged. "I ask for mercy from God," he said. "This was my destiny, so what can I do? Everyone must die."

The Military: Investigator Recommends Courts-Martial for 4 Soldiers:

Colonel Warren could not be reached for comment late Sunday. But in his report on last month's hearing, he said he believed the five soldiers' actions had probably damaged the military's mission in Iraq.

The Courts: Study Finds Sharp Drop in the Number of Terrorism Cases Prosecuted:

"The F.B.I.'s looking for bomb throwers," the prosecutor said, "and we have a lot of small cases that there are no resources devoted to."

National Report

After Polygamist Leader's Arrest, Community Carries On:

Ms. Stubbs said on Friday that Mr. Holm had told her that church members had received instructions on how to conduct their lives if Mr. Jeffs was arrested. "Rodney told me, 'We all know what to do,' " Ms. Stubbs said.

Medicare Chief to Leave Agency, Paper Reports:

Joseph R. Antos, a health policy expert at the institute, said: "It would be great if Dr. McClellan remained in charge of Medicare, but this is a good time for him to go. He has suffered enough, after six years in three incredibly difficult jobs."

Senator Backs the War in Iraq and Rumsfeld in a TV Debate:

More than once, Mr. Santorum accused Mr. Casey of failing to provide specifics, particularly on what programs he would cut in pursuit of a balanced budget and how he would shore up Social Security.

Horse Show Ends in Uproar Over U.S.D.A. Inspections:

Then came the cancellation. On Sunday, she returned, dejected, to South Carolina with her horses. "I think it's terrible," she said by phone. "That show's been going on for 68 years. That's the first time they've never had a world grand champion. When you continually turn horses down, you can't have a horse show."

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