Newsweek articles from February 2008

Newsweek archives from February 2008

How Old Is Too Old?(Anna Quindlen; THE LAST WORD)
February 4, 2008... Race, gender--they're both up for grabs in this presidential election. It's age that has become the new taboo in a vitality culture. By Anna Quindlen Here's my unscientific theory about the presidency: it ages a person in dog years....

A Model Photographer.(Art)(Biography)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Cathleen Mcguigan The camera loved Lee Miller, and so did a long string of men. But she was able to turn her beauty and her talent into an unlikely, and daring, second career. Lee Miller was a great American beauty. That may be...

The Goat-Gland Grifter's Odd Tale.(Books)(Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam)(Book review)
February 4, 2008... Byline: David Gates John R. Brinkley was a dangerous quack--and a cultural change agent. If Hollywood hasn't already optioned Pope Brock's "Charlatan," an account of the rise and fall of the all-American quack "Dr." John R. Brinkley,...

The Net Meter is Running.(The Technologist)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Steven Levy Government and industry should figure out how to get faster service for less money, no matter where people live. If you are an internet-crazy movie lover in Beaumont, Texas, life may soon take a miserable turn for...

The U.S. Economy Faces the Guillotine.(Cover Story: Business)(Cover story)
February 4, 2008... America is on the road to recession, and many predict a worldwide slowdown. But it's a new economic order, and the emerging markets could take the lead. When a group of community volunteers rang the bell to signal the close of trading at...

Questions of Gender, Race and Power.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 4, 2008... ' "I Found My Own Voice" ': Readers debated the "tangled issues" swirling around Hillary Clinton. "I agree she's found her voice--only it's Bill Clinton's," one said. Another asked, "Can you imagine Margaret Thatcher or Golda Meir getting...

The Editor's Desk.(The Editor's Desk)(World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Jon Meacham Wandering around the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Daniel Gross noticed that things felt different--especially for Americans. "In normal times, Davos--which attracts Type A's the way Florida attracts...

'A Picture Of Gloom'.(International; INTERVIEW)(Afghan President Hamid Karzai )(Interview)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Lally Weymouth Amid stock-market worries at the World Economic Forum, two statesmen remain focused on the violence back home. Afghan President Hamid Karzai Last year was one of Afghanistan's bloodiest since the end of...

'A Picture of Gloom'.(International; INTERVIEW)(Israeli Defense Chief Ehud Barak )(Interview)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Lally Weymouth Israeli Defense Chief Ehud Barak Sitting at the world Economic Forum in Davos last week, Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barak was sharply critical of the recent U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on...

The World Bails Us Out.(Fareed Zakaria; World View)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Fareed Zakaria The United States is in the beginning of a period of relative decline. This is not defeatism, it's math. As global stock markets went wild last week, financial commentators resurrected an old metaphor about...

The Boy Band Next Door.(Music)(Jonas Brothers)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Jac Chebatoris The Jonas Brothers are cute, talented and squeaky clean. Even better: they're friends of Miley Cyrus. The Jonas Brothers are so pure they could be carved from a bar of Ivory soap. All three of them--Kevin, 20,...

A Simple Twist Of Faith.(My Turn)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Theresa Gonzalez; Gonzalez Lives In San Francisco. I didn't understand my sister's draw to evangelical Christianity. But I've learned to trust her choices. It was November 2003, and my two sisters and I were headed to Paris on...

Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself.(Politics; Campaign 2008)(Bill Clinton )
February 4, 2008... Bill Clinton has morphed from statesman into attack dog. Everyone's barking back--except, perhaps, the voters. PHOTOGRAPH BY JONATHAN TORGOVNIK FOR NEWSWEEK CLINTON AND CLINTON: This tag-team effort is much more than just political...

Everything To Everyone.(Politics)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Arian Campo-Flores; With Richard Wolffe, Sarah Kliff And Suzanne Smalley As Feb. 5 draws near, a stark racial divide appears to be hardening. The campaigns are trying to soften it. It was a telling scene. At the boisterous...

'Look At My Record'.(Politics; Report From the Front)(Mitt Romney)(Interview)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Howard Fineman Romney wants to fix the economy and Washington, but first he has to repair his own reputation. Behind Mitt Romney's bland smile, there is a steely drive and a hint of bitterness. Talking to NEWSWEEK's Howard...

Obama Plays Offense.(Politics)(Barack Obama )(Interview)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Jonathan Alter The senator tells NEWSWEEK he's 'not going to back down.' But he knows he'll get knocked around. As Barack Obama rolled across rural South Carolina last week on his campaign bus, he spoke with NEWSWEEK columnist...

Here An F.O.B., There An F.O.B.(Politics)(freight on board)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball; With Sarah Elkins and Daniel Stone Since leaving office, Bill's gotten by with a little help from his friends. Now he's re-examining his circle. Last June, Bill Clinton took a break from...

A Complete And Utter Buzz Kill.(Politics; Farewell)(Fred Thompson )
February 4, 2008... Byline: Holly Bailey Thompson's closest aides on how their ex-boss screwed up Just six months ago, Fred Thompson was the man to beat in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, an articulate former senator turned actor...

Trusted Ally, Loyal Friend.(Remembrance)(Obituary)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Evan Thomas Richard Darman, 1943-2008 It was the day of the Saturday night Massacre, Oct. 20, 1973. President Nixon had just ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox....

Wine Is Her Least Concern.(Newsmakers; Rise And Fall)(Amy Winehouse)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Amy Winehouse almost makes Lindsay Lohan look like a model citizen. Almost. The latest: a video where she seems to be smoking what a U.K. tabloid said was a crack pipe. Other highs (so to speak) and lows: - "Rehab" fever hits the U.S....

Unsolved Mysteries.(Newsmakers; Death Of A Star)(Heath Ledger )
February 4, 2008... Tragic. Untimely. Shocking. The death of 28-year-old actor Heath Ledger last Tuesday was all of those things, but it also was--and still is--mysterious. A look at some of the unanswered questions: 1. How did he die? Police found six...

NO HEADLINE.(Newsmakers)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... When Bigger Isn't Better Maybe if they gave an Oscar for movie titles, Hollywood would try harder. Which mouthful is worse: - The new James Bond movie is "Quantum of Solace." Say what? - Look! It's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom...

Perspectives.(Perspectives)
February 4, 2008... "I know you think it's crazy, but I kind of like to see Barack and Hillary fight." Former president Bill Clinton, stumping for his wife in South Carolina, suggesting that Democrats who are worried about the campaign rancor should lighten...

As Karzai Loses His Grip, A Familiar Face Looms.(Periscope; Afghanistan)(Afghan president Hamid Karzai )
February 4, 2008... Byline: John Barry and Michael Hirsh It wasn't long ago that Afghan president Hamid Karzai was seen as a dependable U.S. ally on par with Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf. But as Afghanistan has fallen into violent chaos--along with...

Signed And Delivered.(Periscope; Terrorism)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Sami Yousafzai, Ron Moreau and Mark Hosenball Osama Bin Laden appears to be reasserting his influence among the Afghan and Pakistani tribal leaders upon whom he's depending for survival.A Since December, the Qaeda chief has...

In Gaza, Borderline Insanity.(Periscope; Israel)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Kevin Peraino A debate has opened among Israeli policymakers about how best to deal with the newly porous border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Last week, Hamas militants blew down part of the barrier, letting thousands of...

We Wish We Knew How to Quit You, Mr. Gibson.(Periscope; THE DIGNITY INDEX)(John Gibson )(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... A weekly mathematical survey of dubious behavior that measures, on a scale of 1 to 100, just how low a person can go After Obama airs a national TV ad, Hillary Clinton's campaign shrieks that he broke a pledge to skip Florida as punishment...

Obama's Back Edition.(Periscope; CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WATCH)(Barack Obama)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... The front-loading of the primaries and proportional delegates make a brokered Denver convention a real possibility. Obama UP: Landslide win in S.C. gives him mo for Super Tuesday. But more specifics, please. Hillary SIDEWAYS: S.C....

What's Hot This Winter.(Periscope; A CW LOOK AT NEW OUTDOOR GEAR)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Sustainability was the word at the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City last week. Google product names for more info. Helmet cam UP: GoPro Helmet Hero is great for filming high-speed face plants, apr s-ski high jinks. ...

Nothing But The Truth At Sundance.(Periscope; Movies)(Movie review)
February 4, 2008... Byline: David Ansen EVERY BONE-CHILLED VETERAN of the Sundance Film Festival will tell you the same thing: stick with the documentaries. You can always count the decent movies in the dramatic competition on one hand; the nonfiction films...

A Life in Books: Ha Jin.(Periscope)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Winner of the National Book Award and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Jin is known for spare and elegant stories about Chinese culture. His latest novel, "A Free Life," is an epic tale of immigrants in America. His picks: My Five Most...

Charisma As Natural As Gravity.(Periscope; TRANSITION)(Heath Ledger)(Obituary)
February 4, 2008... Heath Ledger, 28, Actor Best known for his haunting, Oscar-nominated performance as Ennis Del Mar, one of the gay cowboys in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain," Ledger was a massive young talent on the cusp of greatness when he died last week in...

No Way To Treat The Dying.(Periscope; Health Matters)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Jerry Adler Cancer, says Barrett, is 'a fertile field for exploitation because patients are so often frightened.' What price do you put on hope? Is $3,000 a week too much? Said Nedlouf faced that question when his wife, Mary,...

Just Listen To What He's Saying.(Periscope; Religion)(Phyllis Tickle)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Elise Soukup Harsh. Testy. Uncompromising. These aren't words typically associated with Jesus, but Christian scholar Phyllis Tickle, a former religion editor of Publishers Weekly, says they often came to mind as she wrote her new...

The War Against Jihadism.(Religion)
February 4, 2008... Why can't we call the enemy by its name? We're going to have to in order to win. What kind of campaign is this? Six-plus years after 9/11; while the Taliban attempts an Afghanistan comeback; as Islamist terrorists cause mayhem in Algeria...

The Market's Echo Chamber.(Robert J. Samuelson; JUDGMENT CALLS)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Robert J. Samuelson In recent months, the noisiest and nastiest criticism of the Fed has come not from politicians, but from Wall Street money managers and pundits. Jim Cramer--the hyperactive, loud and opinionated host of...

Rise Of The Real People.(Culture)(fashion industry)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Jennie Yabroff The thin and beautiful have had their turn. The hippest models today look more like the rest of us. Scott Schuman is prowling SoHo, camera over his shoulder, looking for subjects for his photo blog of street...

When Math Warps Elections.(Sharon Begley; ON SCIENCE)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Sharon Begley It is a little disturbing for democracy. One candidate could win with some rules and lose with others. Even if you do not live in an early-primary state, it's almost impossible to avoid online polls and...

I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.(Politics)( Hillary Clinton)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Julia Baird In a new book, 30 female writers critique Hillary Clinton. Again. And again. And still miss the point. CAPTION(S): photo MOTHER, WIFE, CANDIDATE: With Chelsea (top left), stumping for Bill (top right) and...

The Chemicals Within.(Project Green)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Anne Underwood; With Anna Kuchment Many common household products contain compounds that could be affecting our health. As an Alaskan fisherman, Timothy June, 54, used to think that he was safe from industrial pollutants at his...

A Recession Handbook.(The Tip Sheet; INVESTING)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Linda Stern Let Ben Bernanke worry about the world--you worry about your wallet. Some economists are predicting the first U.S. recession since 2001's slide, when the stock market dropped as much as 30 percent, personal income fell...

Checklist: Our Top Picks For The Week.(The Tip Sheet)(Brief article)
February 4, 2008... Go to Disneyland for a chance to win a free stay in Walt Disney's secret lair (uncompleted at the time of his death), a 2,200-square-foot apartment above the Pirates of the Caribbean. Every day for the entire year a lucky park guest will be...

An Ode to Winter Greens.(The Tip Sheet; FOOD AND DRINK)
February 4, 2008... Byline: Julia Reed It is no longer enough for produce to be 'fresh.' Chefs and diners demand that the offerings on the plate be seasonal. When I was 8 years old, our next-door neighbor put in an asparagus bed and I made the...

Crackup? Not So Fast.(Politics)(Republican Party)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Karl Rove; Rove, Former Senior Adviser And Deputy Chief Of Staff For President Bush, Is A Newsweek Contributor. Calm down. The GOP's demise isn't as imminent as some would have it. "We are at the end of the Reagan era." Or, at...

Happiness: Enough Already.(Psychology)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Sharon Begley The push for ever-greater well-being is facing a backlash, fueled by research on the value of sadness. The plural of anecdote is not data, as scientists will tell you, but consider these snapshots of the emerging...

Mess O'Potamian Art.(Culture)(Baghad's Iraq Museum)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Larry Kaplow And Cathleen Mcguigan; With Salih Mehdi The war turned the Baghdad museum into a tomb of antiquities. It's finally time to pick up the pieces. In the renovated Assyrian gallery of Baghdad's Iraq Museum,...

Wall Street Throws A Tantrum.(Daniel Gross; MONEY CULTURE)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Daniel Gross In these turbulent times, traders are the tykes screaming and yelling and writhing on the floor until they get what they want. Monetary policy, the management of global companies and the workings of Wall Street are...

Yahooligans At The Window.(Business)(Microsoft might acquire Yahoo!)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Steven Levy; With Martha Brant In Washington, D.C., And Brian Braiker In New York Microsoft's $45 billion bid for Yahoo is a 'Hail Mary' to beat Google in search. As a veteran of the technology world, Yahoo!'s chairman, Jerry...

Diversity Training.(Entertainment)(tv shows about US presidency)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Joshua Alston Clinton and Obama may be breaking new presidential ground, but Hollywood beat them to the top decades ago. The August 2007 issue of Esquire featured a cocksure John Edwards next to the cover line: CAN A WHITE MAN...

How the Republican Party Lost Its Way.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 11, 2008... 'The Party's Over': Readers overwhelmingly lamented America's course over the last seven years under the stewardship of George W. Bush. One said, "It is sad to find out just how much damage has been done to our prestige, our military forces and...

The Editor's Desk.(The Editor's Desk)(Editorial)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Jon Meacham "Rebels often make good warriors," Evan Thomas was saying to John McCain late last week in Los Angeles. "What is it about that rebellious streak that makes good fighters?" "I think if you can channel it--and it took...

The Biofuel Follies.(George F. Will; THE LAST WORD)(using biofuels)
February 11, 2008... Byline: George F. Will To avoid drilling for oil in ANWR, the planet savers evidently prefer destroying forests that absorb greenhouse gases. Iowa's caucuses, a source of so much turbulence, might even have helped cause the recent...

Afghan Prison Blues.(International)(how to get out of Afghan jails through bribery)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Sami Yousafzai and Ron Moreau; With Mark Hosenball in Washington Why are so few Taliban in jail? Hundreds are buying their way out for cash. Abdul Bari is looking forward to springtime, when fighting will resume in eastern...

A Marine's New Mission.(The Future of Energy)(Frederick Smith)(Interview)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Fareed Zakaria Vietnam vet and FedEx founder Frederick Smith wants to craft an energy policy for America. Frederick W. Smith is not one to shy away from a difficult fight. A former Marine and a Vietnam War veteran, he founded...

Enough Blame For All.(Terror)(Book review)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Michael Isikoff 'The Commission' reveals the political pressures and personal clashes behind the 9/11 investigation. In the summer of 2003, Warren Bass, an investigator for the 9/11 Commission, was digging through highly...

The Wrong Experience.(foreign and military policies of presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Fareed Zakaria ***** CORRECTION: In "The Wrong Experience" (Feb. 11), Fareed Zakaria wrote that Hillary Clinton "won't say" whether she supports an initiative, proposed by Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, William Perry and Sam...

Lost In Translation.(Entertainment; Movies)(Oscar's Best Foreign Language Film category)
February 11, 2008... Byline: David Ansen Oscar botches the best foreign films. Again. You can now see two of the best movies not nominated for the foreign-language Oscar: the charming and poignant "The Band's Visit" from Israel and the powerful, haunting...

When Nature Is Nurture.(My Turn)(taking care of baby mockingbirds)
February 11, 2008... Byline: John Luma; Luma Lives In Moorpark, Calif. An encounter with a feathered friend showed me just how much the natural world needs us. Like many people living in our tight modern suburbs, I don't often think about nature. Sure, I...

What These Eyes Have Seen.(Cover Story: Politics; Campaign 2008)(John McCain)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Evan Thomas; With Pat Wingert, Holly Bailey, John Barry, Michael Hirsh, Karen Breslau And Suzanne Smalley He's endured the unendurable, and survived. Inside the mind and heart of John McCain. During the 2000 election,...

The Gipper Lives On.(Howard Fineman; Living Politics)(John McCain)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Howard Fineman In 1974, as Watergate was destroying the Republican presidency of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan arrived in Washington to cheer up--and electrify--a rising generation of New Right activists. His patriotic speech ("We...

Twilight Of The Baby Boom.(Jonathan Alter; Between The Lines)(Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Jonathan Alter A generational struggle is underway. What's so unusual is it's taking place within a single generation. When he's not playing nice, Barack Obama likes to turn Bill Clinton's words against Hillary. He does it on...

Welcome To The Family.(Politics)(John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Evan Thomas He may be JFK's heir. But Barack Obama lacks Kennedy's crucial ally. The Kennedys were known for cool, also for passion and vigor. In late 1962, President John F. Kennedy discovered that President Theodore...

Where's The Respect?(The Military)(bestowing the Medal of Honor to Marlon Peralta for his heroic efforts in the Iraqi War)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Dan Ephron GIs who risked their lives in Iraq want to know why only two Medals of Honor have been awarded there. Rafael Peralta's heroism in Iraq is apparent to anyone who hears about his story. A 25-year-old Marine sergeant,...

'You Stick To What You Believe In'.(Cover Story: Politics; Interview)(Interview)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Evan Thomas And Holly Bailey On Super Tuesday eve, McCain traces his turnaround. John McCain Has gone to battle many times: in Vietnam, in the Senate and on the campaign trail. But in an interview with NEWSWEEK's Evan Thomas...

Lessons From the Front Line.(military training and experience of U.S. presidents)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Sarah Kliff ***** CORRECTION: The Feb. 11 graphic "Lessons From the Front Line" incorrectly identified the military rank of two presidents. George Washington was a general of the Armies and Dwight D. Eisenhower, general of the...

5 Things You Don't Know About Miley Cyrus.(Newsmakers)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... If you can't get tickets to the Miley Cyrus concert, here's a solution. Her "Best of Both Worlds" tour is now playing in theaters--and, even better (or worse), it's in 3-D. Here's a cheat sheet to all things "Hannah Montana." 1. The best...

Elisabeth Hasselbeck.(Newsmakers; Q&A)(Interview)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Ramin Setoodeh Hasselbeck, a co-host of "The View," has started a baby blog. She spoke to Ramin Setoodeh: Did you get the idea to blog from a certain former co-worker? No. Every artist loves their own format. I certainly...

Paula's Back, But Is She Pitchy?(Newsmakers)(Paula Abdul's song 'Dance Like There's No Tomorrow')(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Paula Abdul's been on the "Idol" bench for a long time, and now she wants to "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow." That's the name of her comback song, produced by Randy Jackson, so it's got to be da bomb, right? We asked three "idol" alums to...

Perspectives.(Perspectives)(quotations)(Quotation)
February 11, 2008... "When I come to feeling overwhelmed -- I want a one-on-one talk with a trained psychiatrist who's either been to war or understands war." Staff Sgt. Gladys Santos, who attempted suicide after three tours in Iraq, on the Army's need to hire...

Barack + GOP = 'Obamacans'.(Periscope; Campaign 2008)(Barack Obama and the Republican Party)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Richard Wolffe Susan Eisenhower is more than just another disappointed Republican. She is also Ike's granddaughter and a dedicated member of the party who has urged her fellow Republicans in the past to stick with the GOP. But now...

Raise Your Right Hand.(Periscope; Steroids)(Brian McNamee, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte on drug trial)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Mark Hosenball Embattled sports trainer Brian McNamee is intensifying his efforts to prove that famed right-handed pitcher Roger Clemens used steroids. McNamee has told federal investigators and former senator George Mitchell's...

This Little Piggy Shortage.(Periscope; China)(pork demand and prices in China)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Melinda Liu And Sam Seibert A new breed of criminal has emerged in China: "pigjackers." Soaring pork prices in the People's Republic have sent thieves roaring off with truckloads of hogs--and sometimes with smaller hauls, as was...

Which of Us Just Ran for President?(quiz on past presidential candidates)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... ***** CORRECTION: Periscope's Feb. 11 election quiz, "Which of Us Just Ran for President?" incorrectly referred to former U.S. senator Mike Gravel's presidential candidacy in the past tense. In fact, Gravel is still actively pursuing the...

Tsunami Tuesday Edition.(Periscope)(U.S. presidential candidates)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... CONVENTIONAL WISDOM It's early February and half the country actually gets to vote. Now that's change! This could be fun all the way to Denver and St. Paul. Hillary SIDEWAYS - Smart, solid and ready on day one. But will it be enough...

The Music Didn't Die.(Periscope; A CW LOOK AT THE GRAMMYS)(Grammy Awards)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... One awards show that will go on is the 50th Grammy lovefest. CW can't wait for the Cirque du Soleil Beatles tribute. Amy Winehouse UP - She'll take a least one of six she's up for, but likely not in person. In rehab, finally. Foo...

No Child Outside The Classroom.(Periscope; Education)(No Child Left Behind Act)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Roxana Popescu When No Child Left Behind became law in 2002, teachers suspected there'd be some casualties--they just didn't think field trips would be one of them. Since the federal government's landmark overhaul of U.S. schools,...

Up 'Close' And Personal.(Periscope; Worth Your Time)('Chuck Close')(Movie review)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Jennie Yabroff We see a lot of portraits in the new documentary "Chuck Close." Most are the celebrated artist's meticulous, highly detailed paintings of himself and his friends. But the film's most revealing portrait involves...

Peter Bogdanovich.(Periscope; A LIFE IN MOVIES)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... A multitalented cinephile, Bogdanovich (above, with Barbra Streisand) is best-known for his 1971 classic "The Last Picture Show" and, more recently, for his role as Dr. Elliot Kupferberg on "The Sopranos." His latest film is "Runnin' Down a...

Notes From The Crack Trade.(Periscope; Fast Chat)(Sudhir Venkatesh)(Interview)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Jessica Bennett In the 2005 best seller "Freakonomics," sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh inspired a chapter about why crack dealers live at home with their moms. The chapter was based on seven years Venkatesh spent trailing actual...

The 'Last Leaf' Falls With Grace.(Periscope; Transition)(Gordon B. Hinckley)(Obituary)(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Elise Soukup Gordon B. Hinckley, 97, Mormon Leader FOR 12 years, Hinckley served as the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was revered by its members as a prophet of God. Though he hated to travel,...

4 Sale: Bones of the Saints.(Periscope; BELIEF WATCH)(selling relics )
February 11, 2008... Byline: Lisa Miller On eBay last week, you could buy strands of hair from the head of Saint Ther se. Bids started at $40. There's always strange stuff for sale on eBay--does anybody really need elk antlers?--but some of the strangest...

When It's Head Versus Heart, The Heart Wins.(Politics)(political psychology)
February 11, 2008... Science shows that when we are deciding which candidate to support, anxiety, enthusiasm and whom we identify with count more than reason or logic. It is a core tenet of political psychology that voters know nothing. Or next to nothing. Or...

I Need a Hit Man. Now.(Crime)(Craiglist.com)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Matthew Philips Craigslist, the online classified-ad giant, has become the unwitting host to criminals of every description. Last November, three people in Northern California responded to a posting on the classified ad site...

Safaris For The Family.(The Tip Sheet; Travel)(Africa)
February 11, 2008... Byline: Tara Weingarten Twice before, Alison and Geoff Edelstein had been on an African safari and thought it was the best vacation they had ever taken. They awoke each morning at 5, hopped on an open-air 4 x 4,aand drove into the world of...