Rick Marin article on dismissive reaction by doctor to his declaration that he would rather not witness his child's birth; photo (M)

Count Me Out of the Hard Labor

Frank Rich column questions reasons for exhaustive, week-long media coverage of Ronald Reagan's interment; sees excess shaped more by cultural forces than by partisanship; cites transformation of American television news into 24/7 'news' reality by coverage 10 years ago of O J Simpson murder case; photos (M)

What O. J. Passed To the Gipper

Article explores mystery surrounding deaths of Olivia Goldsmith and Susan Malitz while undergoing cosmetic surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital; two deaths have cast pall over one of country's most prestigious hospitals as well as over business of cosmetic surgery, which has developed reputation as low-risk and almost care-free; Dr Sherrell Aston, well-regarded chairman of hospital's plastic surgery department, is helping to coordinate corrective action plan; photos (M)

Why Did They Die in Cosmetic Surgery?

Article on new subgenere of coffee-table books conceived of, for and by the cream of New York society and published by French company, Assouline; books are lavish volumes which tend to be heavy on photographs and light on text; photos (M)

Of, by and for the Fancy People

No Use Crying Over Spilled Billions

Retief Goosen takes third-round lead at US Open; photos (M)

Shinnecock Shows Teeth, and Field Retreats

As job market starts to recover from prolonged slump, many workers are less choosy about their work space, and even much-maligned cubicle is appealing; some workers are almost wistful about crowding and lack of privacy they had when they were in cubicles surrounded by colleagues; photo (M)

As Hiring Picks Up, Cubicles Don't Look So Bad to Some

Philip Shenon article assesses accuracy of Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11, blistering documentary attack on Pres Bush and war in Iraq; notes central assertions of fact are supported by public record; holds most valid criticisms of film are likely to involve way Moore connects facts, and whether he has left out others that might undermine scathing attack; Moore comments, phone interview; photos (M)

Michael Moore Is Ready for His Close-Up

New York Times reporter Daniel Wakin, amateur clarinetist, describes thrill of performing with New York Philharmonic, only third nonprofessional to do so; photos (L)

His Moment In the Sun

Thousands of ethnic Kurds are pushing into lands formerly held by Iraqi Arabs, forcing tens of thousands of them to flee to refugee camps and transforming demographic and political map of northern Iraq; Kurds are returning to lands from which they were expelled by armies of Saddam Hussein and his predecessors in Baath party, who ordered villages destroyed and sent waves of Iraqi Arabs to fill area with supporters; new movement is quickening amid confusion about American policy along with political pressure by Kurdish leaders to resettle area; meantime, Kurds are threatening to withdraw from government if they are not confident of having sufficient autonomy; American officials are struggling to keep displaced Kurds on north side of Green Line, boundary of Kurdish autonomous region, in order to facilitate orderly migration and avoid ethnic strife and political instability; Kurdish migration appears to be causing widespread misery among Arabs, who are complaining of expulsions and violence; map; photos (M)

KURDS ADVANCING TO RECLAIM LAND IN NORTHERN IRAQ

Two American missiles struck a residential area of Falluja, killing at least 17 people. A spokesman for the occupation forces said the target was a safe house for militants. Page 11.

U.S. Airstrike in Iraq Kills 17

Golfers complain about unusually hard and unforgiving greens at seventh hole of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club during third round of US Open; diagram; chart; photos (M)

A Hard Green, As in Concrete, At the Seventh

Dave Anderson Sports of The Times column contends that Tiger Woods, who is 17 behind leader after third round of US Open, is in denial about both his chances of winning this tournament and his lackluster play recently; photos (M)

Sports of The Times; Woods in Denial About Winning And Swinging

Gretchen Morgenson column warns rising interest rates will hurt stock index funds that mirror Standard & Poor's 500 because financial services stocks are particularly imperiled by rate rises and have quietly come to dominate index; notes such companies make up 20.4 percent of index, up from 12.8 percent 10 years ago; holds that figure significantly understates current weight of financial services in index because it does not count General Electric, General Motors or Ford Motor as financial stocks, even though their big financial operations contribute significantly to their earnings; graphs of bond yields, financial companies' profit margins and weights of key sectors in S&P 500 index (M)

What Lurks Inside Your Index Fund

HABITATS/Sag Harbor, N.Y.; Turning a Nightmare Into a Dream House

AFTER enduring three years of a deteriorating job market and one economic false start after another, Americans finally have reason to think that the long slump of the early 21st century has ended. Employers are hiring again. The stock market has risen more than 40 percent since early last year.     And how have the American people celebrated? By becoming a lot grumpier about the economy.   

The Slump Has Ended, But Not The Gloom

9/11 commission, with fact-finding over, must decide how government, and especially intelligence community, should be changed if there is hope of defending nation from enemy that is morphing into something that may be even more deadly and hard to find than Al Qaeda terrorists; commission members are trying to come up with recommendations that will be revolutionary and realistic enough to be accepted in Congress and White House; photos (M)

The World: Act II; And Now for the Hard Part

Trial of Mikhail B Khodorkovsky, Russia's richest man, on charges of looting public assets and tax evasion, promises to offer one of first public referendums on state of Russia's wealth; could help shape for years nature of nation's experiments with capitalism; Khodorkovsky disputes charges, holding they are effort to neutralize him as political reformer; is on trial with fellow former Yukos Oil top executive Platon Lebedev; Pres Vladimir Putin, who dominates politics in way Khodorkovsky once dominated Russian business, casts huge shadow on proceedings; his crackdown on Khodorkovsky has won support of average Russians dismayed by nation's inequities; seems to favor managed economies that blend market forces with strong state role; graph of Russian economic growth; table of largest private Russian companies; photos (M)

The Capitalist in the Cage

Bush campaign suspends broadcast advertising until next month, after spending $85 million to attack Sen John Kerry's credentials and ideology; 90-day campaign to weaken Kerry, which included record spending on television, began on March 2, after Kerry effectively nailed down nomination; offensive was unusual in its early timing, toughness and decision of Bush to personally engage opponent so far in advance of November election; Bush appears to have succeeded in planting doubts about firmness of Kerry's convictions according to variety of polls, but those polls also show Bush and Kerry tied; photos (M)

G.O.P. OFFENSIVE PUTS SMALL DENT IN KERRY'S IMAGE

 Iraq Shadows Tony Blair, Too  The British prime minister, like President Bush, would prefer that the public focus on domestic affairs. But like Mr. Bush, Mr. Blair is burdened by his choices on Iraq and increasing voter cynicism.   PAGE 6    Capitalism on Trial in Russia  The trial of the Russian tycoon Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, in posters above, the former chief executive of Yukos Oil, will be one of the first public referendums on the state of riches in Russia. And its outcome could help shape the nation's experiments in capitalism.   SUNDAYBUSINESS

INSIDE

Anemona Hartocolis Coping column on street vendors in and around Central Park who short-change patrons; drawing (M)

That Popsicle Costs More Than You Think

Defense attorneys are increasingly allowing suspects to testify before grand juries, with notable success; in years past, such testimony was nearly unthinkable because grand juries were considered to be willing to follow wishes of prosecutors; this year, in Brooklyn alone, nearly 14 percent of felony suspects have testified before grand juries investigating their cases and more than half have ended with no charges being brought; some prosecutors say trend means that glib defendants can get away with crimes, but defense lawyers say development shows grand juries are doing their job; federal courts and most states do not allow accused automatic right to testify before grand juries, but New York has long granted that right; state's grand jury system described; photo (M)

New Trend Before Grand Juries: Meet the Accused

Fetal genetic tests are used routinely, and, while couples say they are profoundly grateful for new information, they are also hugely burdened by choices they are forced to make; availability of tests earlier in pregnancy means that if they opt for abortion, it can be safer and less public; first they must decide what defect is enough to end pregnancy; many new treatments are available for birth defects, but decisions still weigh heavily; doctors and genectic counselors provide scientific data, but ultimate decision rests with parents, who rarely find find someone to turn to with similar dilemma; whatever they choose, couples are exposed to judgments from all sides; wide range and early timing of prenatal tests are raising concern among some bioethicists and advocates for disability rights who argue that medical community is sending message to patients to guard against children with disabilities; some people who have been opposed to abortion will make exceptions for themselves but are left agonizing over their decisions; doctors and genetic counselors say decisions hinge on complex equation that includes perception of disability; chart and illustrations show timing of specific tests; photos (L)

BURDEN OF KNOWLEDGE: Tracking Prenatal Health; In New Tests for Fetal Defects, Agonizing Choices for Parents

Architect Daniel Libeskind, hailed last year as master planner of World Trade Center site, now plays far less visible role in redevelopment of downtown Manhattan; his influence, control and stature have steadily eroded as signature elements of his plan have been altered, reduced or eliminated; planning is now dominated by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns site, and by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, architectural firm hired by Larry A Silverstein, site's leaseholder; Libeskind reportedly no longer attends meetings at which plans are discussed; photos (L)

The Incredible Shrinking Daniel Libeskind

Behind the Wheel column reviews 2004 Chevrolet Aveo, which has starting price under $10,000; chart of features of comparable models; photos (M)

BEHIND THE WHEEL/2004 Chevrolet Aveo; Cheap Date: The Last New Car Under $10,000

James Alexander Bacon, AC was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Tasmania from 1998 to 2004.

June 20, 2004

Headlines from June 20, 2004

Count Me Out of the Hard Labor

What O. J. Passed To the Gipper

Why Did They Die in Cosmetic Surgery?

Of, by and for the Fancy People

No Use Crying Over Spilled Billions

Billboard 200

Confessions

Under My Skin

Here For The Party

Musicology

Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for June 20, 2004