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   December 27, 2001   QUOTE OF THE DAY "I don't like people knowing my business, but to be a viable farmer you have to have government support."  JOHN DOLLINGER, who raises corn in Minooka, Ill.   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 Passenger With Shoe Bombs First Only Raised Eyebrows  Even after wrestling him to the ground and sedating him, most passengers on Flight 63 thought the man who had tried to light his shoes on fire was merely a crank.   New Guidelines Permit Some Sweets for Diabetics  The American Diabetes Association said on Wednesday that people with the disease could eat sweets occasionally, as long as they kept their blood sugar levels under control.   Toddler Reported Abducted in Bus Terminal  Scores of detectives scoured the Chicago region on Wednesday for a 16-month-old girl who they believe was abducted from a crowded downtown bus terminal on Christmas Eve.     MORE NATIONAL NEWS   Advertisement    Listen to Jack - a New York Times Best Seller - For Just $1.95  Audible is the new way to enjoy the best books on the market.   Simply download and listen to any of our best sellers - start  with Jack, the fascinating autobiography by Jack Welch, former  CEO of General Electric.  Or choose any of our other great  business books.  Take your first selection for just $1.95.  Act now!   [IMAGE]   INTERNATIONAL U.S. Putting Off Plan to Use G.I.'s in Afghan Caves  The United States military is offering incentives to get Afghan forces to take the lead in searching the caves of Tora Bora for traces of Osama bin Laden.   Powell Tries to Ease Tension as Kashmir Pressure Builds  Secretary of State Colin L. Powell telephoned leaders in India and Pakistan twice each on Wednesday, urging them to calm the tensions between the two nations.   A Gaunt bin Laden on New Tape  A new videotaped statement from Osama bin Laden that purports to have been made in late November or early December shows the terrorist leader tired and gaunt.     MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS    BUSINESS Late Shopping Gives Retailers a Slight Boost  A surge of last-minute shopping may have given the nation's retailers and the economy a small boost, according to reports on holiday sales released on Wednesday.   America West Seeks Loan Guarantee to Avoid Bankruptcy  Three months after Congress created a board to distribute $10 billion in federal loan guarantees to help the airline industry, the first application is coming down to the wire.   Several Issues Combine to Cause Biggest Oil Price Jump of the Year  Prices for crude oil recorded their largest jump of the year as traders became increasingly convinced that oil-producing nations would follow through on plans to cut production in January.     MORE BUSINESS NEWS    TECHNOLOGY In Rewritten Internet Fables, the Late Bird Gets the Worm  IWon is among a small group of Internet companies that have managed, by not overextending themselves, to survive and pick gems from the remains of the fallen dot-com giants.   Year of Living Geekily: Even the Dogs Evolved  For observers of human nature, the end of the year presents a golden opportunity for spotting geeks in their native habitats. So where were they in 2001?   And the Password Is . . . Waterloo  Even those who are vigilant about guarding passwords may be giving away more than they think.     MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS    POLITICS Security Issues Called a Focus of Next Budget  President Bush will propose billions of dollars in security initiatives in his new budget, White House officials say.   Guard for Bush Isn't Allowed Aboard Flight  An Arab-American member of President Bush's security detail was denied passage on an American Airlines flight on Tuesday evening.   Bush Ponders Tough Issues at Ranch  While vacationing in Texas, President Bush must consider the next target in the war on terrorism, the fate of John Walker Lindh and how to jump-start the economy.     MORE POLITICS NEWS    SPORTS Deferred Money Creates Snag in Deal for Vaughn  A snag developed in the Mets' attempt to restructure the remaining years of Mo Vaughn's contract, delaying a potential trade between New York and the Angels.   Nuggets' Issel Resigns  Dan Issel resigned as head coach and president of the Denver Nuggets, two weeks after he started a national furor by using an ethnic insult toward a fan.   Kidd Powers Nets Over Cleveland  After his team had blown a 25-point third-quarter lead and let it slip to 2 points with a minute to play, Jason Kidd willed the Nets to a win over the Cavaliers.     MORE SPORTS NEWS    ARTS Pompeii's Erotic Frescoes Awake  Buried in A.D. 79, Pompeii's recently restored frescoes are going public again on Jan. 19.   What's in a Band's Name? Plenty if It's Anthrax  Slowly emerging from the Get What You Asked For file, Anthrax has been humbled by its ironic   association with terrorism.   Turning the Camera on a Life Marred by a Deadly Prank  Nearly 20 years ago Peter Wade was part of a late-night prank that caused the death of a Conrail conductor. Now he is an American success story.     MORE ARTS NEWS    NY REGION Quality of Life Is High Priority for Bloomberg  Mayor-elect Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Wednesday that his administration would make "a major effort" to roll back such offenses as prostitution and panhandling.   Hard Questions for Movement to Shut Indian Point  As a broad coalition unites to close the Indian Point nuclear power plant, which is 30 miles north of Manhattan, the movement's leaders face some tough choices.   $700 Million in Federal Aid Will Go to Affected Businesses  Gov. George E. Pataki announced a plan on Wednesday to distribute $700 million to businesses in Lower Manhattan.     MORE NY REGION NEWS    OP-ED  Office Pool, 2002   By WILLIAM SAFIRE  Predict what will happen in the news in 2002 by answering these multiple choice questions.   A Doctor's Story   By BOB HERBERT  An Afghan doctor was imprisoned and tortured by the Taliban before he escaped and fled to the United States.   Textiles and Terrorism   By LAEL BRAINARD  Trade policy that aims to protect America's textile and apparel industry prevents poor countries from getting richer and therefore hurts national security.     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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