TODAY'S HEADLINES
The New York Times on the Web
Tuesday, December 25, 2001
------------------------------------------------------------
For news updated throughout the day, visit www.nytimes.com


/------------------- Sponsored Feature -------------------\

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.

http://www.nytimes.com/specials/advertising/movies/tolkien/index.html

\---------------------------------------------------------/


QUOTE OF THE DAY
=========================
"I think he's handled the situation properly and he's showing
that he's a strong president. I don't even look at him now
as having bought the presidency. I just look at him as
president."
-STEVEN PRICE, a Florida barber who, like many other blacks, has turned
toward supporting President Bush.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/national/25BLAC.html?todaysheadlines


NATIONAL
=========================
Officials Remain Uncertain on Identity of Suspect on Jet

The man who tried to ignite explosives in his shoes on a
flight from Paris to Miami was ordered held in federal
custody pending a detention hearing on Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/national/25SUSP.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Blacks Who Voted Against Bush Offer Support to Him in
Wartime

A striking component of President Bush's immense public
approval is his high level of support from black Americans,
hardly any of whom voted for him.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/national/25BLAC.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Health Care Is New Darling of Pork Barrel Spending

Pork barrel spending used to mean roads and bridges. Now
health care projects are also singled out by Congress to
receive tens of millions of federal dollars.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/politics/25SPEN.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE NATIONAL NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/index.html?todaysheadline


/--------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ---------------------\
Tips and Tools to Help You Quit Smoking!

Quitting isn't easy. We've got information about
how you can reduce cravings, manage stress and
overcome other obstacles so that you can live a
smoke-free life.  Learn about the latest approaches
in smoking prevention and treatment. For this
information and more visit:

http://ads.nyt.com/th.ad/th-nytiibhouseb/cessation.html/?_RM_REDIR_=http://www.nytimes.com/smokingcessation
\---------------------------------------------------------/


INTERNATIONAL
=========================
Big Troop Buildup Mounted by India and Pakistan

Both countries are mounting large-scale troop buildups along
their border in response to rising antagonism since a
suicide attack this month on India's Parliament.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/international/asia/25INDI.html?todaysheadlines

-----

For Marines, There's Powder for Eggnog, Tunes on Vinyl

On Christmas Eve at the American Embassy in Kabul, the
marines played host with their usual insistence on ceremony
and flair for making do.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/international/asia/25MARI.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Christmas Eve in Bethlehem: Santas, Songs but No Arafat

Balloons of Santa Claus floated over a festive Christmas Eve
procession in Bethlehem. All that was missing, the
participants said, was Yasir Arafat.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/international/middleeast/25MIDE.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/index.html?todaysheadline




BUSINESS
=========================
Trying to Keep Young Internet Users From a Life of Piracy

America's rush to the online world has created an enormous
population of ever-younger computer pirates.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/technology/25HACK.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Coors Acquires a Big Brand in Britain

Seeking to expand abroad as it faces greater pressure from
rivals at home, the Adolph Coors Company will buy the
Carling operations of Bass Brewers for $1.7 billion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/business/worldbusiness/25BREW.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Lego Tinkered With Success, and Is Now Paying a Price

After years of booming sales, Lego may have lost its way by
incorporating too many electronics and licensed toys into
its product mix.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/business/25LEGO.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE BUSINESS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/business/index.html?todaysheadline




TECHNOLOGY
=========================
Trying to Keep Young Internet Users From a Life of Piracy

America's rush to the online world has created an enormous
population of ever-younger computer pirates.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/technology/25HACK.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Lego Tinkered With Success, and Is Now Paying a Price

After years of booming sales, Lego may have lost its way by
incorporating too many electronics and licensed toys into
its product mix.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/business/25LEGO.html?todaysheadlines

-----

HotJobs.com Tells Suitor to Bolster Its Offer or Lose a Deal

The bidding war for it cooling, HotJobs.com seems likely to
begin formal acquisition negotiations with Yahoo on
Thursday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/technology/ebusiness/25NET.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/technology/index.html?todaysheadline




POLITICS
=========================
Health Care Is New Darling of Pork Barrel Spending

Pork barrel spending used to mean roads and bridges. Now
health care projects are also singled out by Congress to
receive tens of millions of federal dollars.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/politics/25SPEN.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Bush Formalizes Lines of Succession at 7 Cabinet Departments

President Bush has formalized the line of succession at
several crucial federal agencies in case a cabinet
secretary is killed or incapacitated.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/politics/25CABI.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Report Faults Fiscal Review of Nuclear Plants

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has failed to adequately
ensure that owners have enough money to safely own, operate
and later decommission nuclear power plants.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/national/25NUKE.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE POLITICS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.html?todaysheadline




SPORTS
=========================
Jets Discover Even Laterals Are an Option

The Jets discovered on Sunday that they could survive even
if Vinny Testaverde tried an improvisational lateral in the
final minutes of the game.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/sports/football/25JETS.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Giants Lose Sehorn Against Eagles

Jason Sehorn will not play in Sunday's pivotal game against
the Eagles because of a severely sprained ankle, and may
not play again this season.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/sports/football/25GIAN.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Recalling the Assists From Clyde

The short life of Clyde Frazier Jr. provides a chance to
reflect upon the grace of a man who provided hope and
opportunity to inner-city girls with a talent for
basketball.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/sports/basketball/25ARAT.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE SPORTS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/index.html?todaysheadline




ARTS
=========================
Master of the Boast, King of the Ring, Vision of the Future

"Ali" is director Michael Mann's first movie with feeling;
his overwhelming love of its subject will turn audiences
into exuberant, thrilled fight crowds.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/movies/25ALI.html?todaysheadlines

-----

The Artist Louise Bourgeois at 90, Weaving Complexities

She has witnessed most of the art movements of the last
century and influenced her share. And she is still
innovating.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/arts/design/25BOUR.html?todaysheadlines

-----

A Knight Astride a White Charger

"Kate and Leopold" has   only the most tangential relation
to   reality, and therein lies its slender   charm.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/movies/25KATE.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE ARTS NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/arts/index.html?todaysheadline




NY REGION
=========================
Experts Urging Broader Inquiry in Towers' Fall

Structural engineers and fire-safety experts are calling for
a new, independent and better-financed inquiry into how and
why the twin towers fell on Sept. 11.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/nyregion/25TOWE.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Bloomberg Vows to Work at Center of Things

Mayor-elect Michael R. Bloomberg said that he would create a
large, open office in the heart of City Hall  modeled after
the one that he used to manage his private company,
Bloomberg L.P.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/nyregion/25BLOO.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Union Head Objects to Anthrax Vaccine Program

The president of the New York region's postal workers union
said he objected to the anthrax vaccinations that the
federal government would be offering to post office
employees in a few days.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/nyregion/25ANTH.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE NY REGION NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/nyregion/index.html?todaysheadline




OP-ED
=========================
The Scrooge Syndrome
By PAUL KRUGMAN
A sum of money that   Americans would hardly notice, a
dime a day for the average citizen,   would quite literally
save the lives of   millions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/opinion/25KRUG.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Human Rights at Home
By JOHN SHATTUCK
We hear that the war against terrorism requires us to trim
civil liberties at home. But secret military tribunals will
not improve our safety.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/opinion/25SHAT.html?todaysheadlines

-----

Season's Greetings From Houston, the Bipolar City
By MIMI SWARTZ
Houston couldn't   stop itself from overreaching, and
Houston wouldn't be able to stop itself   from crashing
again, either.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/25/opinion/25SWAR.html?todaysheadlines

-----



MORE OP-ED  NEWS:
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/opinion/index.html?todaysheadline





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,
visit: http://www.nytimes.com/neediestcases

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------
You received these headlines because you requested The New
York Times Direct e-mail service. To cancel delivery,
change delivery options, change your e-mail address or sign
up for other newsletters, see http://www.nytimes.com/email.
Check or uncheck the headlines you would like to receive
and remember to go to the bottom of the page and click on
"Save Selections." To change your e-mail address, go to our
help center: http://www.nytimes.com/help.  Suggestions and
feedback are welcome at feedback@nytimes.com.

Please include the following ID number when writing to
feedback@nytimes.com so that we can track any reports of problems:
353648

HOW TO ADVERTISE
------------------------------------------------------------
For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or
other creative advertising opportunities with The New York
Times on the Web, please contact Alyson Racer at
alyson@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at
http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo