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   December 31, 2001   QUOTE OF THE DAY "Any kind of assessment of what kind of mayor I am right now is unfair. I don't mean unfair to me; I mean unfair historically. The assessment   should be made at least a couple of years from now."  RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI.    TolkienArchives Examine the World of J. R. R. Tolkien - This sponsored feature includes articles from the New York Times archives, slide shows of Tolkien's artwork, multimedia presentations from New Line Cinema, weekly trivia quizzes and more.    Explore Tolkien Today .     NATIONAL In a Town Built Almost Entirely on Tourism, Business Booms  Thanks to 19 special-event weekends a year, Leavenworth, Wash., is booming while most other tourist destinations are suffering.   Cuts in Parks Bring Home Tennessee Budget Woes  A three-year stalemate in the Tennessee General Assembly over tax policy and the proposed creation of a state income tax has led to a tightening budget crisis.   I.R.S. Help by Phone Is Slower and Often Wrong, Study Finds  People calling the Internal Revenue Service for help with their tax returns often get inaccurate information, a new government report says.     MORE NATIONAL NEWS   Advertisement    The most comprehensive Real Estate listings site in town  NYTimes.com/realestate combines The New York Times Classified ads with listings from nearly every broker in the city- more searchable New York listings than you'll find anyplace else.  Most listings feature: neighborhood maps, photos, floor plans and virtual tours.   [IMAGE]   INTERNATIONAL Airborne Troops Relieving Marines at Kandahar Base  The Pentagon has ordered soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to relieve the Marine Corps in southern Afghanistan.   The Legacy of the Taliban Is a Sad and Broken Land  The Afghanistan the Taliban left behind seems an almost apocalyptic place, scattered with orphans and the detritus of wars.   Bin Laden Sought Iran as an Ally, U.S. Intelligence Documents Say  Representatives of Osama bin Laden contacted Iranian agents in the mid-1990's in an attempt to forge an anti-American alliance of terror.     MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS    BUSINESS In the U.S., Interactive TV Still Awaits an Audience  It has become a familiar refrain the last decade: this is the year for interactive television. It has not happened. Will it next year?   Internet Leash Can Monitor Sex Offenders  Officials in Sangamon County, Ill., are using software to restrict the Internet communications of sex offenders.   New View of the Map at Cable and Wireless  Graham Wallace, chief executive of Cable and Wireless, is convinced that his company needs to focus on a global Internet-based strategy.     MORE BUSINESS NEWS    TECHNOLOGY In the U.S., Interactive TV Still Awaits an Audience  It has become a familiar refrain the last decade: this is the year for interactive television. It has not happened. Will it next year?   Expanion Sought for Online Games  Until now, online games have barely registered as a blip on the radar screen of the $14 billon computer game industry. Will 2002 be their breakthrough year?   Internet Leash Can Monitor Sex Offenders  Officials in Sangamon County, Ill., are using software to restrict the Internet communications of sex offenders.     MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS    POLITICS Bush's Budget Director Girds for a Tough Year  In his first year as enforcer of budget discipline, Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. bloodied himself as much as he succeeded in imposing austerity.   I.R.S. Help by Phone Is Slower and Often Wrong, Study Finds  People calling the Internal Revenue Service for help with their tax returns often get inaccurate information, a new government report says.   A Man Who Became More Than a Mayor  After eight years of tumult and change, of loud celebrations and unimaginable crises, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani will leave office on Tuesday.     MORE POLITICS NEWS    SPORTS Giants' Playoff Hopes Disappear  The Eagles won their first N.F.C. East title in 13 years and eliminated the defending division champion Giants from playoff contention.   With Door Open, Jets Hit a Wall  The Jets handled their chance to clinch a playoff spot as poorly as they handled their final, ill-conceived plays in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.   Dolphins Clinch Playoff Bid  The Miami Dolphins stopped the Atlanta Falcons in the waning seconds to win the game and clinch a playoff spot.     MORE SPORTS NEWS    ARTS London Revels in Art, Cheeky or Grandiose  From Pisanello to Victorian nudes and a room with lights that blink, London is tooting its own horn again.   In a Muddled Year, Many Films Have Reason for Oscar Dreams  The only thing clear and inevitable about this year's Oscar race is that some movie will win the best picture prize on the night of March 24.   When a Son Falls in Love With Dad's Intended  The performance of Verdi's longest opera never completely took hold at the Met on Saturday.     MORE ARTS NEWS    NY REGION A Man Who Became More Than a Mayor  After eight years of tumult and change, of loud celebrations and unimaginable crises, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani will leave office on Tuesday.   Bloomberg Chooses Head of Fire Dept.  Mayor-elect Michael R. Bloomberg on Sunday chose Nicholas Scoppetta, who overhauled New York City's child welfare system, to be the city's next fire commissioner.   Panel Weighs New Methods for Security in Times Square  The Times Square Business Improvement District is weighing new security measures, some of which would be likely to lead to clashes with civil liberties groups.     MORE NY REGION NEWS    OP-ED  Oh, You '02   By WILLIAM SAFIRE  Although our basic character is the same, America is rising to the occasion of making our world safe for civilization.   A Family Tale   By BOB HERBERT  After hearing Gary Klahr's family saga, you don't know whether to raise a glass of Champagne or reach for a bottle of Excedrin.   Words Fail, Memory Blurs, Life Wins   By JOYCE CAROL OATES  As soon as an experience is over, we begin the inevitable process of "healing": that is, forgetting.     MORE OP-ED  NEWS    Contribute to The Neediest Cases Fund Make an online donation this Holiday Season to The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund to help thousands of people.   Donate now    About This E-Mail You received these headlines because you requested The New York Times Direct e-mail service. To sign up for other newsletters, cancel delivery, change delivery options or your e-mail address, see http://www.nytimes.com/email .   Check or un-check the headlines you would like to receive or cancel and remember to go to the bottom of the page and click on "Save Selections."  Suggestions and feedback are welcome at feedback@nytimes.com .   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