Article in Special Life Styles Issue describes better lives dreamed of by immigrants to New York City; many European immigrants settled in city's outer boroughs and, eventually, on Long Island; photos (M)

A Stew of Dreams For a Better Life

Essayist Stanley Crouch article on 100th anniversary of birth of composer George Gershwin offers overview of Gershwin's ability to incorporate black experience into his work; photo (M)

Gershwin Is Still Cause for Rhapsody; An Inspired Borrower Of a Black Tradition

Article on 1999 Mitsubishi Galant; photos (M)

BEHIND THE WHEEL/1999 Mitsubishi Galant; Dressed Up, and Itching To Be the Life of the Party

New York Yankees defeat Seattle Mariners, 11-6, clinching playoffs berth earlier than any other team in 20th century; photo (M)

Pssst! Yankees Clinch a Berth In the Playoffs

Would-be reformers, urban politicians and partisan Republicans form unusual coalition advocating 'auto choice,' which would impose changes aimed at cutting car insurance premiums by limiting right to sue for damages; drawing (M)

A Call for 'Auto Choice' and Lower Premiums

Collapse of ruble sets off boom in survival strategies among Russians, affecting everyone, from ordinary citizens to small business owners; many shops have raised prices or simply closed while citizens struggle to withdraw money from banks; many who kept savings under mattresses have gone on wild buying sprees, looking for ways to safely park money before value declines any further; photos (M)

Ruble's Crash Sets Off Boom in Survival Strategies

 Awaiting a Report  The capital is consumed by what will be, or what should be, in the independent counsel's report to Congress on the President. Page 20.    India's Religious Flashpoint  Fear lingers in India that Hindu militants may yet try to erect a temple in Ayodhya, where a mosque was once razed, setting off riots. Page 3.

INSIDE

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, in first concentrated study of social and psychological effects of Internet use at home, finds people who spend even few hours on line each week experience higher levels of depression and loneliness than if they used computer network less frequently; participants in two-year study who were lonelier and more depressed, were no more drawn to Internet than those who were originally happier and more socially engaged; result of $1.5 million project ran completely contrary to expectations of social scientists who designed it and to many of organizations that financed it (M)

Sad, Lonely World Discovered in Cyberspace

Women's apparel sizing remains mystery, with manufacturers using own standards; problem is both psychological one for women, who prefer small number on label, and economic one for direct marketers, who face returns because of poor fit; drawing (M)

One Riddle Fits All

Interview with Michael D Blutrich and Lyle K Pfeffer, former business partners, who say greed motivated them to become prominent players in two major conspiracies for which they face prison terms; both are charged with insurance fraud for allegedly siphoning millions from Florida-based National Heritage Insurance Co, and with allowing Gambino organized-crime family to become secret partners in Scores, their upscale topless club on Manhattan's Upper East Side; both have become informers for state and Federal investigators and are in witness protection program (L)

Strip Club Partners, Now Ruined, Blame Greed and the Mob

Rabbi Peter Rubinstein stood before his congregation yesterday morning and vowed that Central Synagogue, their 126-year-old landmark sanctuary on Lexington Avenue, would be rebuilt.  

A Promise to Rebuild Synagogue After Fire

Pres Clinton will leave for Moscow summit on September 1, hoping to repair scandal-stained image, while offering political support, but no aid, for politically beleaguered President, Boris Yeltsin; with Clinton beset by Monica Lewinsky affair and sickly Yeltsin struggling to manage country in political and financial chaos, few expect substantial progress on any issues; despite bad timning and poor prospects, aides say it is America's interest that Clinton proceed (M)

BAD TIMING ASIDE, CLINTON RESOLUTE ON YELTSIN SUMMIT

Composer William Bolcom article heralding 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's birth centers on Gershwin's ability to compose for pop music as well as classical music audiences; drawing (M)

Gershwin Is Still Cause for Rhapsody; A Serious Composer With Broadway Style

Article on recent stirrings over fate of Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal, which has been dead zone for decades; NYC is scheduled to complete renovation of long-abandoned tunnel designed to pump cleaner water from NY Harbor into canal; nearby residents comment on love-hate relationship with canal and current gentrification of neighborhood; photos; map; chart (L)

The Gowanus Canal: An Appreciation

Strike by more than 6,000 pilots, stemming from history of mistrust between management and labor in airline industry and fears of future, shuts down Northwest Airlines; pilots are worried that carrier will use new, smaller jets and alliances with other airlines to phase out high-paying jobs, while management is fearful of getting caught in next inevitable industry downturn with higher labor costs than those of competitors; strike strands thousands of passengers worldwide (M)

NORTHWEST STRIKE GROUNDS ITS FLEET AND ITS CUSTOMERS

Poly Prep Country Day School, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, plans to build $5.2 million science building and spend $1 million to renovate existing science facilities for middle-school science classes; drawing (M)

POSTINGS: A $5.2 Million Facility in Brooklyn; Prep School Awaits New Science Building

Russia's leadership sought to send a message of stability, saying neither the crisis nor bargaining with Communist opponents presages a return to Soviet-era fiscal policy. Page 10.  

Kremlin Tries to Calm Fears

Dog policies in rental, co-op and condominium housing are tightening with current tight market; some buildings are banning dogs outright, while others impose conditions; photos (M)

Buildings Tightening the Leash on Dogs

Toms River, NJ, baseball team wins Little League World Series against Kashima, Japan, 12-9, Williamsport, Pa; is first US team to win World Series since 1993; table; photos (M)

Home Run Swings Bring Toms River the Title

Robert Lipsyte column (Coping) on Qi Hu, Chinese psychiatrist who has opened 15-bed Asian Unit at Gracie Square Hospital in NYC; he comments on difficulties Chinese have in accepting mental health problems and solutions; drawing (M)

The Two Ways of Dr. Hu

Advances in laser technology are drawing doctors and others to lucrative field of cosmetic dermatology; technolgy is developing so rapidly that it is hard for consumers to discern whether procedures to zap away unwanted body hair, wrinkles and leg veins are safe and effective; photo (M)

Beauty's Bomb, but How Smart?

Foreign affairs experts are concerned that major world leaders seem particularly enfeebled at time when economic woes pose unusually grave and complex threats to world order; key issues are danger of global depression, of collapse of Russia's effort to Westernize and of nuclear arms proliferation; photos of world leaders; map showing percentage changes in world's stock markets (M)

The World: Wobbly; It's a Bad Time for Weak Leadership

Claims of miracles have brought thousands of pilgrims seeking sign of God to Worcester, Mass, home of semi-comatose, 14-year-old Audrey Santo to view her through pane of glass in room hung with pictures of Virgin Mary; Santo, bedridden since swimming accident in 1987, is in state of akinetic autism that leaves her inert and unspeaking; she is said by family, and growing number of devotees, to be mystic and 'victim soul' who takes on suffering of people who ask her to intercede with God, relaying their pleas for healing; photos (M)

Semi-Comatose Girl Is Inspiring Pilgrims Seeking Sign of God

St Louis Cardinals player Mark McGwire is ejected from game for arguing umpire's call, angering fans following his quest for single-season home run record; photo (M)/

It's Going, Going, Gone for McGwire

Martina Hingis will defend her U.S. Open title and Ricky Williams is back as one of college football's stars. Previews of both sports. SPORTSSUNDAY  

Game, Set, Hut, Hut

The Second Congo War, also known as Africa's World War or the Great War of Africa, was a major conflict that began on 2 August 1998, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just over a year after the First Congo War. The war initially erupted when Congolese president Laurent-Désiré Kabila turned against his former allies from Rwanda and Uganda, who had helped him seize power. The conflict expanded as Kabila rallied a coalition of other countries to his defense. The war drew in nine African nations and approximately 25 armed groups, making it one of the largest wars in African history.

Second Congo War: Armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and their Angolan and Zimbabwean allies recapture Matadi and the Inga dams in the western DRC from RCD and Rwandan troops.

August 30, 1998

Headlines from August 30, 1998

A Stew of Dreams For a Better Life

Gershwin Is Still Cause for Rhapsody; An Inspired Borrower Of a Black Tradition

BEHIND THE WHEEL/1999 Mitsubishi Galant; Dressed Up, and Itching To Be the Life of the Party

Pssst! Yankees Clinch a Berth In the Playoffs

A Call for 'Auto Choice' and Lower Premiums

Billboard 200

Da Game Is To Be Sold; Not To Be Told

Armageddon -- The Album

Hello Nasty

Funkmaster Flex The Mix Tape Volume III: 60 Minutes Of Funk The Final Chapt

Stunt

Historical Events

Historical Context for August 30, 1998