Saturday October 21, 2006

The Final Word: “Dirty Fucking Sons of Bitches 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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Militias Battle for Iraqi City as Shiite Rivalry Escalates:

Some local leaders warned that the cycle of revenge among Shiites would likely not end with Friday's truce, and that in the fiercely tribal culture of Maysan, relatives of officers who were killed or kidnapped might seek to avenge those attacks.

Many Iraqis Look to Gunmen as Protectors:

"I want to teach him whom to hate," he said.

Anger Festering in French Areas Scarred in Riots:

"It is the anniversary," he said, "of a death."

Open Seats Lift Democratic Hopes in the House:

Republicans are fighting back, spending on television advertisements for Mr. O'Donnell and others in open seat races. But they are also being forced to spend in places like Idaho, where they had expected to avoid a fight. Party officials predict that in the end, many of the seats will remain in Republican hands.

Entrees Break the $40 Barrier, and, Sorry, the Sides Cost Extra:

"Your $40 plate?" Mr. Zagat said. "It comes with a $20 first course."

Doctors Rethink Widespread Use of Heart Stents:

Dr. Holland says a typical patient profile might be a 55-year-old engineer at one of Boulder's high-technology companies who is an avid outdoorsman and cyclist but hobbled by chest pains. To offer such a person drug therapy instead of the quick and more reliable relief of a stent, Dr. Holland said, "just doesn't fly."

Other News

In Debate, Clinton Deflects Questions About 2008:

Yet Mrs. Clinton did recalibrate her tone on the war, growing much sharper in her criticism of its handling — a move that not only secured her landslide victory in the August primary, but also helped lay the groundwork for a possible run in a presidential primary in 2008.

U.N. Says Iraq Seals Data on the Civilian Toll:

Mr. Qazi said the United Nations would continue to seek figures from the Department of Operations at the Ministry of Health and "use our contacts to see what measure of verification may be possible."

Turmoil at Gallaudet Reflects Broader Debate :

Others share this view. Thomas K. Holcomb, a professor of deaf studies whose two daughters were arrested at Gallaudet last weekend, said of Dr. Fernandes, "She says that her leadership style is to act behind the scenes, but what we really need is someone who can lead us out front, who can be our ambassador and inspire the larger public with issues regarding deaf people."

Life, Meet Art: Pinter's Last Stand:

"And all along Pinter makes you feel the gravity, the meticulousness, the sheer power of his endeavor," Mr. Nightingale wrote. "This is an old man's last-gasp search for a meaning he knows he'll never find."

Series Spotlight on Rookie Starters:

"He has his home run ball," Wainwright said. "He'll always have that."

Buffett Acts to Extricate Lloyd's:

Mr. Buffett said serious talks began in July. "We had to look at a lot of things and negotiate a lot of things," he said.

International

Accused Priest's Long Flight From Law in U.S. and Mexico:

In recent months he has been seen saying Mass in tiny towns in the states of Puebla and Morelos. The Tehuacán diocese has never defrocked him.

The Saturday Profile: A Liberal Brother at Odds With the Muslim Brotherhood:

"They want only power," he said. "They don't want freedom of thought. Free thought, that will condemn them."

Iran's Leader Warns West on Support for Israel:

"It is big miscalculation to think the policy of carrot and stick can be pursued at the same time," the statement said, according to ISNA, a government-affiliated news agency.

Muslims Flood Streets of Jerusalem for Ramadan:

In the Gaza Strip on Friday, Palestinian gunmen fired on Palestinian security forces traveling with Prime Minister Ismail Haniya. One security force vehicle was set on fire, but no injuries were reported.

Total Says Executive Questioned Over Iraq Oil Deals Is Innocent:

A Citigroup analyst, Jonathan Wright, brushed off the seriousness of the development, writing in a research note that he expected business as usual at the company.

An Old Bush Hand Takes on a New Role on the Iraq War:

"Jim is one of the best negotiators I've ever seen," Mr. Greenspan said. "Were he not involved in the Social Security commission, I seriously question whether we could have pulled it off."

U.S. and China Call for North Korea to Rejoin Talks :

"I don't think our leaders are prepared to tolerate him much longer," Mr. Zhu said. "My feeling is that they are prepared to implement harsher penalties and will have to proceed with them before long."

National Report

Just a Quiet Retiree Leading Mass in Malta:

There seemed to be little anger at Father Mercieca among his neighbors. "There are a lot of people like this," said one, Carmel Grech, 80. "Everybody has sins. What is the big fuss here?"

Texas Justice Who Spoke for Bush Pick Is Cleared:

The case also left much unclear. "Thirty-seven-hundred judges want to know what to do," Justice McClure wrote. New rules would have to be devised, she said, but she suggested to her fellow jurists: "Our ability to speak does not mean that we should speak. I haven't and I won't."

Priest Named by Foley Is Barred From All Religious Duties:

Ms. Agosta said the archdiocese, which includes Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, would encourage any other victims to come forward by asking every parish to make an announcement about Father Mercieca.

Supreme Court Allows Arizona to Use New Voter-ID Procedure:

Voters without proper identification can cast provisional ballots and provide identification within five days. No identification beyond a signature is required for those who cast an "early ballot."

New Link Makes Road to Cape Cod Clear Sailing:

"I'm glad to see it go," he said.

Limits on Aide in Leak Case Are Protested by Democrat:

"It has become clear to me by your continuing and unauthorized release of information received and maintained by the committee," Mr. Hoekstra wrote, "that the Democrats are not willing to protect committee information."

In a G.O.P. Stronghold, 3 Districts in Indiana Are Now Battlegrounds:

Mr. Lang said he did not know who he would vote for, but predicted, "I think it will be close again."

On Religion: Soured on Baseball, He Turned to the Pulpit:

He has not run in a decade. But he still has the muscular forearms and thick wrists of a hitter, and just lately, he has been thinking about taking up a parishioner's offer to join a softball team.

Man, 20, Arrested in Stadium Threat Hoax:

"It's the curse of the Internet," he said. "I think there is a whole class of folks who post a variety of things to get comments back, and in 2006 I don't think anyone is sure what is a private communication and what is intended for public consumption. I think in the end we will find that this was something that just spiraled out of control."

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