November 23, 2003

Fall of Richard A Grasso at New York Stock Exchange, pushed by Goldman Sachs chairman Henry M Paulson Jr, and rise of Lloyd C Blankfein at Goldman discussed as emblematic of fragile state of NYSE's auction-based stock trading model; Blankfein leads group of technology-obsessed executives who have used electronic trading platforms to make bond trading major profit center at Goldman as stock trading increasingly became low-margin commodity business; Goldman reportedly weighs getting rid of its costly research department; photos (M)

Pres Bush and Democratic presidential hopefuls are caught ever more uncomfortably between edges of their parties on gay marriage issue; both Bush and Democrats fear issue will drown out their election priorities; most Democratic presidential candidates oppose gay marriage, but back legal benefits for domestic partners of gays, and some support same-sex civil unions; Bush has not taken public stand on same-sex unions and has yet to back constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage; photos (M)

Life's Work column on Janet Ray Kalson, lawyer for MFY Legal Services in New York; Kalson discusses falling dominoes of her family life since office went on strike in October, particularly need to hold onto baby-sitter (M)

People of small Iraqi village of Kifl, all Shiites repressed under Saddam Hussein's rule--relish their new freedom but complain that their expectations of aid and compensation, democracy and security, remain unmet; beneath outward peace runs undercurrent of need and grievance and simmering resentment that has not boiled over but easily could; village is still recovering from damage of major battle that took place eight months ago, as American forces advanced on Baghdad; 11 people from Kifl died, and more than dozen homes were destroyed; Kifl has recovered more quickly than many places in Iraq, in large part because it has not experienced continuing resistance that has brought new destruction elsewhere and hampered efforts to rebuild; there was no frenzied looting in Kifl, which has little of value; election was recently held to create administrative council with 20 seats; in Kifl, as in other parts of Iraq, freedom and democracy seem beside the point to people with little money in their pockets; photos; map (L)

Article on Joe Quesada, Marvel Comics editor in chief, key part of creative and business team credited with reviving once financially battered company and with helping to spark revival in New York City's comic book industry; Quesada comments on new comic book, NYX; photos; drawngs (M)