TODAY'S HEADLINES
The New York Times on the Web
Monday, December 31, 2001
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For news updated throughout the day, visit www.nytimes.com


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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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/nyregion/31RUDY.html?todaysheadlines


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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/national/31TOUR.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/national/31TENN.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/national/31IRS.html?todaysheadlines

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


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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/international/asia/31MILI.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/international/asia/31TALI.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/international/middleeast/31IRAN.html?todaysheadlines

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




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?
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/technology/ebusiness/31ITV.html?todaysheadlines

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Internet Leash Can Monitor Sex Offenders

Officials in Sangamon County, Ill., are using software to
restrict the Internet communications of sex offenders.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/technology/31SENT.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/business/worldbusiness/31CABL.html?todaysheadlines

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




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?
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/technology/ebusiness/31ITV.html?todaysheadlines

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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?
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/technology/ebusiness/31ECOM.html?todaysheadlines

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Internet Leash Can Monitor Sex Offenders

Officials in Sangamon County, Ill., are using software to
restrict the Internet communications of sex offenders.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/technology/31SENT.html?todaysheadlines

-----



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




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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/national/31DANI.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/national/31IRS.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/nyregion/31RUDY.html?todaysheadlines

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




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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/sports/football/31GIAN.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/sports/football/31JETS.html?todaysheadlines

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Dolphins Clinch Playoff Bid

The Miami Dolphins stopped the Atlanta Falcons in the waning
seconds to win the game and clinch a playoff spot.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/sports/football/31MIAM.html?todaysheadlines

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




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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/arts/design/31NOTE.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/movies/31OSCA.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/arts/music/31MET.html?todaysheadlines

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




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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/nyregion/31RUDY.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/nyregion/31BLOO.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/nyregion/31BID.html?todaysheadlines

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




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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/opinion/31SAFI.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/opinion/31HERB.html?todaysheadlines

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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.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/opinion/31OATE.html?todaysheadlines

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





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