Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Times Wire

About 1 minute ago

Shutdown Watch: Nine Days Out

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR

With nine days left until the federal government's spending authority runs out, the Caucus starts a daily afternoon roundup of public relations efforts by both parties.

8 minutes ago

The 10 Things to Talk About This Weekend

By HENRY ALFORD

President Obama is locked outside his office, fruitcake, sperm, colonoscopies and more.
8 minutes ago

Getty Museum Will Return Painting Looted by Nazis

By FELICIA R. LEE

A 370-year-old painting that belonged to a Jewish art dealer who fled Holland around the time of the Nazi invasion in 1940 will be returned to his family by the J. Paul Getty Museum.

11 minutes ago

Nets Open Sale on Season Tickets ... for 2012

By LYNN ZINSER

The Nets have begun selling premium season ticket packages to the Barclays Center for 2012-13.

16 minutes ago

Strangers on a Train, With Explosives

By MEKADO MURPHY
Michelle Monaghan and Jake Gyllenhaal in
Jonathan Wenk/Summit Entertainment

“Source Code,” directed by Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son), is a science-fiction film wrapped in an explosive package.
29 minutes ago

A Ferrari Book to Rival the Real Thing, if Only in Price

By JERRY GARRETT

The most expensive edition of "The Official Ferrari Opus," a definitive history of the Italian sports car marque, exceeds $275,000.

34 minutes ago
Pictures of the Day: Libya and Elsewhere

Pictures of the Day: Libya and Elsewhere

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Photographs from Libya, Pakistan, Japan and Afghanistan.

36 minutes ago

Beauty Spots

By HILARY HOWARD

A star ingredient in hair moisturizers now appears in luxury skin-care products as well.
38 minutes ago

S.E.I.U. Accuses Workers United Chief of Misconduct

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Bruce S. Raynor, one of New York's most prominent union leaders, has been charged with financial misconduct concerning $2,300 in spending on meals.

45 minutes ago

When a Girl is Executed...for Being Raped

By NICHOLAS KRISTOF

A 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl is allegedly raped, and then flogged to death in public on orders of a village court.

47 minutes ago

The Buzz About the Buzz: Learning How Caffeine Affects the Body

By JENNIFER CUTRARO and HOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO

Taking stock of personal caffeine consumption and enacting research-based, informative skits about caffeine's effects.

53 minutes ago

Scooped!

By CHRIS SUELLENTROP

"Here I am thinking that I'm sitting on an-unscoopable story - an essay about what it's like to read the Times Magazine from 100 years ago - and you go and blog it," John Swansburg, Slate's culture editor, fretted in an e-mail to me.

54 minutes ago

Belgium Will Examine Payments for Abuse

By STEPHEN CASTLE

A parliamentary commission called Wednesday for a new panel to adjudicate compensation claims for the hundreds of people who say they were the victims of predatory Belgian priests.
54 minutes ago

Will Other Retailers Adopt L.L. Bean's Free Shipping?

By ANN CARRNS

The Maine outfitter L.L. Bean has adopted free shipping. The question now is whether the policy will be adopted by other online retailers.

54 minutes ago

Dimon Brings On the Drama at the Chamber

By BEN PROTESS

JPMorgan Chase's chief executive assailed some banking regulation, decried the notion of "too big to fail" and asserted that his bank did not need a $25 billion bailout.

59 minutes ago

Freestyle Fellowship

By TONY GERVINO

Indi Cowie is scheduled to display her arsenal of soccer tricks live on national television Thursday on "Good Morning America."

59 minutes ago
Asked and Answered | Harel Skaat

Asked and Answered | Harel Skaat

By ANTHONY GRANT

Skaat, Israel's youngest cultural ambassador, on music, fashion, and coming out of the closet.

60 minutes ago

Galleon Jurors Hear Tapes That Discuss Gupta Calls

By PETER LATTMAN

"I heard yesterday from somebody who's on the board of Goldman Sachs that they are gonna lose $2 per share," Raj Rajaratnam says on October 2008 tape.

60 minutes ago

Greenspan and Unemployment

By DAVID LEONHARDT

He overcame the Federal Reserve's usual bias. It was among his finest hours as chairman.

14:55

Jackson Heights Awakens to a Cricket Bat’s Crack

By KIRK SEMPLE
Patrons watch the World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at Premium Sweets in Jackson Heights, Queens. 
Ángel Franco/The New York Times

Wednesday’s India-Pakistan World Cup match was a reason for many to drop everything and watch.
14:47

Chris Brown Tops the Pop Chart

By BEN SISARIO

His new offering, "F.A.M.E.," is his first No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.

14:42

A New Anchor at 'Good Morning America'

By BRIAN STELTER

Josh Elliott, a co-anchor of ESPN's "SportsCenter," will replace Juju Chang as the news anchor on "Good Morning America."

14:41

App Offers Guide to Sustainable Seafood

By TANYA MOHN

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch app, which is new to Android and has been recently upgraded for iPhone and iPod touch users. It gives diners recommendations for sustainable seafood across the United States.

14:40

Obama: On Peace, Physics and Prizes

By JACKIE CALMES

The president gives a shout-out -- again -- to his energy secretary and the Nobel Prize that he won.

14:36

Survey Finds B, C and D Trains Most in Need of Diction Lessons

By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM

Volunteers fanned out across the subway to gauge the quality and clarity of in-train announcements, and over all, the system performed pretty well.

14:34

Palestinian Rights Group Says Militants’ Rockets Hurt Gazans

By FARES AKRAM and ETHAN BRONNER

A Palestinian human rights group in Gaza took the unusual step this week of condemning the building and storage of anti-Israel rockets in densely populated areas.
14:28

Making the Case to Cephalon Shareholders

By DEALBOOK

J. Michael Pearson, chief executive of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, tells CNBC why his company made a hostile bid for the rival drugmaker.

14:25

The High Low | J. Brand Ela Mae Pants, $235

By EDWARD BARSAMIAN

A "modern flight pant" that will no doubt look better with a pair of high-heeled sandals than it would with, say, a leather helmet and goggles.

14:17

Regrets, Resentment and Trivia in a Microsoft Partnership

By CHRISTINE HAUSER
Paul G. Allen, left, and Bill Gates in 1981. Mr. Allen left Microsoft two years later.

In a new book, Paul Allen describes the years with his co-founder, Bill Gates.
14:14

In NASA’s Lens, Mercury Comes Into Focus

By KENNETH CHANG
NASA

On Wednesday NASA showed off some of the first pictures taken by its Mercury Messenger spacecraft, which is to spend at least a year photographing, measuring and studying the smallest planet.
14:07

Auditors Contributed to Crisis, Find British Lawmakers

By JULIA WERDIGIER

A British parliamentary report published on Wednesday said mistakes by the world's four largest accounting firms, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCooper, helped cause the financial crisis.

14:03

Obama Lays Out Plan to Cut Reliance on Fuel Imports

By JOHN M. BRODER

The president proposed a mix of measures to wean the nation off imported oil, including reducing imports by one-third in 1o years.
14:03

Panda Dads and Parenting Goals

By LISA BELKIN

A rebuttal to those who think parenting is about violins and ivy.

14:03

A Closer Look at the City's Online Learning Contracts

By SHARON OTTERMAN

A breakdown of the roughly $50 million in online learning-related contracts the New York City Department of Education has awarded so far this school year, including a $497,000 contract to pay consultants to advise the city on how to consolidate its I.T. consultants.

14:02

An Evening for the Eco-Glitterati

By LESLIE KAUFMAN

To raise money for environmental causes, soigne bidders compete for quality time with Bill Clinton or Harrison Ford, and take in a fashion show.

13:56

An Hour to Pamper, Remote in Hand

By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
Watching television can be a time to complete a beauty to-do list and to try out all those products you've been meaning to test.
Nick Rowe/Getty Images

An hour of watching television can be a time to pamper yourself.
13:52

S.E.C. Gives Its Support for Rule on Mortgage Securities

By BEN PROTESS

The S.E.C. joined the F.D.I.C. in proposing a rule to require banks to retain a 5 percent stake in all but the safest mortgages they sell off to investors.

13:46

In Salesforce.com's Deal for Radian6, a Nod to Facebook's Rise

By EVELYN M. RUSLI

The $326 million cash-and-stock acquisition of the social media monitoring company is Salesforce.com's largest to date.

13:46

Porsche Panamera Turbo S Breaks Cover Ahead of New York Show

By PAUL STENQUIST

The most powerful version of Porsche's sedan, which will be unveiled at the New York auto show in April, produces 550 horsepower and can reportedly hit 60 m.p.h. in 3.6 seconds.

13:46
Riff Raff’s Tiki Bar

Riff Raff’s Tiki Bar

By BEN?DETRICK

The bar brings the tiki out after a long winter. Cue the mai tais and Polynesian cozy comfort.
13:45

What's Behind Low Investment?

By PAUL KRUGMAN

It's the housing bust.

13:45

Former Auburn Players Say They Were Paid Thousands in College

By BRETT McMURPHY
Defensive lineman Stanley McClover, hugging the former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville in 2004. McClover told HBO he received thousands of dollars from boosters while playing for the Tigers.

In an “HBO Real Sports” report, the four former football players detail payments at Auburn and on recruiting visits elsewhere.
13:44

The Great Wave

By JOEL LOVELL

Jimmy Chen compares David Lynch's hair to great works of art.

13:38

Isringhausen Agrees to Stay Behind

By DAVID WALDSTEIN

Jason Isringhausen agrees to pitch in extended spring training while the Mets monitor his progress.

13:35

A Cloud to Provide Music From (Nearly) Everywhere

By DAVID POGUE
Stuart Goldenberg

Amazon has introduced the Cloud Player, a Web page that allows you listen to your music collection from any computer or Android phone. And it’s almost free.
13:35

Inequality Is Most Extreme in Wealth, Not Income

By CATHERINE RAMPELL

The top 1 percent of earners receive about a fifth of all American income; on the other hand, the top 1 percent of Americans by net worth hold about a third of American wealth.

13:35

What You Get for ... $700,000

By MIKE POWELL
A property is on the market in Indianapolis for $699,000. The great room, which shows off the barn’s post-and-beam construction, has 26-foot ceilings.
A.J. Mast for The New York Times

A converted barn in Indianapolis; a Victorian in Salt Lake City; and a row house in Washington, D.C.
13:33

U.S. U-20 Team Wins Opener ... and More

By JACK BELL

The U.S. won its opening match Tuesday night in the regional qualifying tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

13:32

Going to War: Part 1

By SECOND LT. KELLEY VICTOR GASPER

"Every Marine a Rifleman" still applies as a defining slogan of the Corps, but it comes second to what is demanded each day by a non-infantry unit's primary mission.

13:30

Vocabulinks

By BEN SCHOTT

An occasional assemblage of notable vocabulary and linguistic debate from around the Web.

Photos

Click on a photo to view related article

 
Jonathan Wenk/Summit Entertainment
- 16 minutes ago

Strangers on a Train, With Explosives

By MEKADO MURPHY

“Source Code,” directed by Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son), is a science-fiction film wrapped in an explosive package.

 
- 34 minutes ago

Pictures of the Day: Libya and Elsewhere

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Photographs from Libya, Pakistan, Japan and Afghanistan.

 
- 59 minutes ago

Asked and Answered | Harel Skaat

By ANTHONY GRANT

Skaat, Israel's youngest cultural ambassador, on music, fashion, and coming out of the closet.

 
Ángel Franco/The New York Times
- 14:55

Jackson Heights Awakens to a Cricket Bat’s Crack

By KIRK SEMPLE

Wednesday’s India-Pakistan World Cup match was a reason for many to drop everything and watch.

 
- 14:17

Regrets, Resentment and Trivia in a Microsoft Partnership

By CHRISTINE HAUSER

In a new book, Paul Allen describes the years with his co-founder, Bill Gates.

 
NASA
- 14:14

In NASA’s Lens, Mercury Comes Into Focus

By KENNETH CHANG

On Wednesday NASA showed off some of the first pictures taken by its Mercury Messenger spacecraft, which is to spend at least a year photographing, measuring and studying the smallest planet.

 
Nick Rowe/Getty Images
- 13:56

An Hour to Pamper, Remote in Hand

By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS

An hour of watching television can be a time to pamper yourself.

 
Emily Berl for The New York Times
- 13:46

Riff Raff’s Tiki Bar

By BEN?DETRICK

The bar brings the tiki out after a long winter. Cue the mai tais and Polynesian cozy comfort.

 
- 13:45

Former Auburn Players Say They Were Paid Thousands in College

By BRETT McMURPHY

In an “HBO Real Sports” report, the four former football players detail payments at Auburn and on recruiting visits elsewhere.

 
Stuart Goldenberg
- 13:35

A Cloud to Provide Music From (Nearly) Everywhere

By DAVID POGUE

Amazon has introduced the Cloud Player, a Web page that allows you listen to your music collection from any computer or Android phone. And it’s almost free.

 
A.J. Mast for The New York Times
- 13:35

What You Get for ... $700,000

By MIKE POWELL

A converted barn in Indianapolis; a Victorian in Salt Lake City; and a row house in Washington, D.C.

 
Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times
- 13:24

House Hunting in ... Paris

By ALISON GREGOR

Despite the economic downturn, home prices in Paris remain high, partly because of a housing shortage aggravated by demand.

 
- 13:22

D'un Certain ??ge | 'Potiche' and 70s Style

By YURI CHONG

Nominated for a Cesar award for her period designs in "Potiche," Pascaline Chavanne reveals some of her original sketches for Catherine Deneuve and her creative process for The Moment.

 
Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency
- 13:00

The Imaginary Budget

By DAVID BROOKS AND GAIL COLLINS

Are we really headed toward a government shutdown over numbers that have little to do with the country's deficit problems?

 
David X. Prutting/BFAnyc.com
- 12:54

Does This Green Flatter Me?

By ERIC WILSON

The rage for sustainable fashion has cooled, and the recent Runway to Green show provided evidence of that.

 
Alyson Santoro
- 12:29

Solving the Microbial Whodunit

By ALYSON SANTORO

Studying microbes and chemistry in the ocean can be a bit like forensic science.