Leter from Sherry Suib Cohen says Aug 11 article on coincidence failed to mention synchronicity

The Odds of That

Catholic priests in at least four dioceses around United States are using civil courts to strike back against those who accuse them of sexual misconduct; Catholic officials and advocates for victims of abusive priests agree that multiple defamation suits being filed appear to be early salvos in counteroffensive by some of hundreds of priests who have been accused of sexual crimes this year; lawyers for accused priests and some church officials say priests are using anti-defamation laws to defend themselves against people who make unwarranted accusations; claim some supposed victims are exploiting scandal roiling church in hopes of winning financial settlements; advocates for abuse victims see lawsuits as bullying designed to frighten Catholics back into silence; photos of Rev Paul Eichhoff of Tulsa, Okla, and Rev James Mickus of Enid, Okla, two of priests who have filed lawsuits against those accusing them of abuse (M)

Fighting Back, Accused Priests Charge Slander

During telecommunications mania, many executives at large, established companies received gifts of or discounts on stock in equipment suppliers to whom they would then give business; many such deals are not disclosed in company filings; telecommunications executives, already making millions on stock options from their own companies, were able to further enrich themselves through holdings in suppliers; photos; drawing; table of 100 telecommunications insiders who made biggest profits selling stock in own companies before shares plunged (M)

Deals Within Telecom Deals

Letter from Alice MacLarty says legion of fans appreciate Mike Piazza for his discipline, restraint, effort and heart, win or lose (Aug 11 article)

The Season That Wasn't

Interview with Steve Earle, whose song, John Walker's Blues, likens John Walker Lindh to Jesus; says he has 20-year-old son himself, and recalls what he was like at 20; says everybody is vilifying John Walker, but no one is trying to consider how he got to where he got, or proven that he shot at anybody; photo (M)

Sympathy for A Rebel

A Last Ride on G.M.'s Wild Ponies

 No Word on Smallpox Policy  Two months after a national advisory panel recommended vaccinating thousands of health care and emergency workers against smallpox, the federal government has not announced its official policy.   PAGE 22    SPECIAL TODAY  College Football Preview  Coach Mack Brown, left, and quarterback Chris Simms help Texas grab the top spot in The Times's preseason ranking. Rex Grossman turned his back on the N.F.L. to return to the Gators. Plus, a conference outlook, Top 20 and team-by-team schedules.   SPORTSSUNDAY

INSIDE

Correction of Aug 11 article on Mets catcher Mike Piazza, which misidentified one of players cited

Corrections

C J Chivers article on Inuit who sell their rights to kill rare walruses to hunters looking to bag coveted trophy; notes that for 4,500 years, aboriginal people in eastern Arctic region of Canada have killed walruses for their meat, skins and oil; says it is one of oldest surviving hunts on earth, and has endured--through small quotas that allow killing for subsistence--even as dwindling herds are protected from other hunters' guns; says eight years ago Canadian government agreed to proposal to allow hunters to kill some of walruses set aside for Inuit, if hunters paid Inuit money; says Atlantic walruses, protected since 1928, became game animals when government agreed to proposal; says revived walrus shoot ranks among most bizarre hunts ever; notes ease with which walrus can be shot, likening it to shooting beanbag; says it is illegal for American hunters to bring home any part of their kill because walruses remain protected in US, so they store skulls, ivory and bones in Canada; photos (L)

A Big Game

Tim Martin, executive at antique-silver shop in Manhattan, fulfills likelong dream to play Hamlet; he is also producer and show's sole backer, investing $7,500 of his own money to rent Off Off Broadway theater for five nights; recruits rest of cast through ads in Back Stage; description of his efforts to find right cast, rehearse and finance his venture; photos (M)

To Be Hamlet (but Still Keep the Day Job)

Highlights in development of General Motors Corp's Camaro SS and Firebird Trans Am, also known as F-body pony cars, Sept 26, 1966-Aug 28, 2002; GM is ceasing production of cars; photos (M)

The F-Cars, From A to Z28

Soaring costs for medical malpractice insurance prompt hospitals around country to close maternity wards and curtail trauma services, and temporarily shutter string of rural clinics; hospital administrators say increasing malpractice costs first led doctors to order batteries of costly exams and limit risky procedures, or to retire early, and now is directly affecting medical institutions and care they deliver to patients; in all, more than 1,300 health care institutions have already been affected; so far no deaths ahve been attributed to cutback, but hospitals say risks to patients are rising; rising awards by juries in medical malpractice lawsuits seen as major factor in skyrocketing insurance premiums; photos; graph (M)

RISE IN INSURANCE FORCES HOSPITALS TO SHUTTER WARDS

Letter from Myra A Oltsik says Mets are not a team if members do not talk to one another in clubhouse (Aug 11 article)

Gretchen Morgenson Market Watch column urges apathetic shareholders to vote shares on key corporate decisions; warns that brokerage-firm votes of shares held for customers help management maintain control; lauds proposed new Securities and Exchange Commission rules governing stockholder voting; graph of proxies exercised (M)

Pick Up the Proxy, Fill It Out and Exert Some Control

Article by Daniel Yergin addresses question of what war with Iraq would really mean for oil prices; notes prices have already gone up, partly because of fear of such hostilities; says that unless war and disruption spread to other Middle Eastern countries, impact on America, in oil terms, could be more limited than many anticipate; says Iraq is big player in world oil, but in last few years it has so marginalized itself as exporter that world oil market has almost grown accustomed to its unreliability; recalls that when Iraq unilaterally cut off exports for month this spring, hoping to instigate new oil embargo, world hardly noticed; says onset of hostilities would almost certainly mean price surge, but prices would come down when buyers are persuaded that global supply system is working, that exports fromn other Persian Gulf countries are not disrupted, and that rest of OPEC is making up Iraq's exports; photo (M)

The World: Over a Barrel; Oil Prices Won't Depend on Iraq, but on Its Neighbors

Letter from Paul Feiner says it might be easier for president to get nominee to federal appeals court aproved by Senate if federal judgeships were not lifetime appointments (Aug 11 article)

Obstruction Of Judges

New York Mets defeat Colorado Rockies, 5-2; photos (M)

Ninth-Inning Comeback Gives Mets a Victory And Ends the Misery

Food article by Jason Epstein rejoices over pounds he has lost on Atkins diet, but laments number of foods he has had to forgo in the process; offers recipe for guacamole, which is allowed on Atkins diet, and bluebery pie, which is not allowed; photo (M)

A Dieter's Dilemma

Dell Computer, undaunted by industry's current soft sales and hard times, is moving beyond making personal desktop and laptop computers into corporate data centers and large sales of business computers and servers; catering successfully to corporate customers will require marked transition in Dell's business operations; photo; graph of worldwide computer sales (M)

On a Roll, Dell Enters Uncharted Territory

Americans, who have long been avoiding excessive sun exposure because sun can cause skin cancer, must now deal with new theory warning that people who do not get enough sunlight and have diets low in vitamin D may be at higher risk of developing colon, prostate, rectal, ovarian and breast cancer; this is latest case of medical reports offering up completely contradictory advice about what is good--or bad--for people; much confusion stems from fact that researchers in many cases cannot conduct controlled experiments on humans to prove definitively that harm results from exposure (or lack of exposure) to given substance; photo (M)

Ideas & Trends: Mixed Medical Messages; So What's a Responsible Sun Worshiper to Do?

On Language column by Erin McKean, dictionary editor, on neologizing, practice of coining new words; notes that each word in English had to start with person trying to express thought; says skillful employment of neologism is what gives English much of its verve; offers guidelines to successful neologist (M)

Neologist

Anthony Tommasini article says classical music institutions in America have been working hard in recent years to become more accessible; notes that virtually every opera company has adopted titles, transforming innovation that has attracted new audiences and enlivened programming; says New York Philharmonic will inaugurate series of spring concerts throughout city, which should help counter perception that Manhattan is elitist isle of high culture; says New York's musical calendar offers wealth of free or affordable events, most of them less expensive than price of ticket to ballgame; drawing (M)

Classical Music Wriggles Out of Its Tux

Article on summertime phenomenon in which brightly lit streets of New York City are filled with children into wee hours of night; experts offer several reasons why city children, and their parents and guardians, do not go to bed early; photos; drawings (M)

Children Of the Night; Snug in bed? No. Like New York's adults, its kids are often up and about in the wee hours.

Randy Cohen The Ethicist column on whether it is ethical for aging members of university department to vote as bloc and impose decisions that will affect department long after they are gone; on whether it is ethical to take ream of paper from school to copy school-related material on home printer rather than use printer at school; on whether it is ethical to renew gift subscription to magazine at reduced rate, after original gift subscription expires (M)

In With the Old, In With the New

New York bartenders, waitresses and patrons sound off on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on smoking

August 25, 2002

Headlines from August 25, 2002

The Odds of That

Fighting Back, Accused Priests Charge Slander

Deals Within Telecom Deals

The Season That Wasn't

Sympathy for A Rebel

Billboard 200

The Rising

Nellyville

The Eminem Show

The Fix

Now 10

Historical Context for August 25, 2002