June 27, 2004

Unusually large number of films about this year's presidential race are in works; include documentary about John Kerry's life by George Butler, who works outside campaign but in sync with its image makers; Butler comments, interview; photos (M)

Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column discusses number of issues that have confronted New York Yankees this season, including pitcher Jose Contreras's reunion with his Cuban-refugee family, introduction of Alex Rodriguez to team, Derek Jeter's early-season slump and on-going investigation into steroid abuse among Major League players; photo (M)

Several mainstream fashion trends have been started by lesbians, who have become powerful presence in fashion is both predictable and unexpected ways; photos (M)

Former Enron chairman and chief executive Kenneth L Lay discusses Enron's collapse, interview; says he did nothing criminal but accepts responsibility for debacle; notes his friendship with Pres Bush probably makes it harder not to bring criminal charges against him; blames collapse on wrong-headed and criminal acts of company's finance organization, specifically chief financial officer Andrew S Fastow; says Fastow misled him and board about activities and true nature of series of off-the-books partnership; defends some controversial moves, including some that set up conflicts of interest for Fastow; photos (M)

Behind the Wheel report revamped Ford Escape; photo (S)

Anemona Hartocollis Coping column on diversity networking reception, attended mainly by African-American professionals, at Judson Grill in Manhattan; drawing (M)

J P Morgan, Chase, prestigious 200-year-old financial institution that has catered to cream of corporate America, is on verge of being swallowed by Bank One, bank from Chicago with roots in Columbus, Ohio, it is nominally acquiring; merger comes at difficulty time for industry, putting added pressure on relationship between J P Morgan chief executive William B Harrison Jr and incoming president James Dimon and their ability to oversee smooth transition while generating profits and big deals; Dimon, set to become chief executive in two years, will place his people in charge and preside over exodus of lame-duck executives; he and Harrison present striking contrast in styles, personalities and backgrounds; photos (M)

Pocket bikes, 18-inch-high vehicles that look almost exactly like racing motorcycles, are now popular with 12- to 15-year-old boys in San Francisco and other West Coast cities and suburbs; photos (M)

Hot housing buying season that seems to be winding to close has been marred by rise in number of sellers accepting higher offer, often surreptitiously, after agreeing to sell to another buyer at lower price; practice, while ethically questionable, is legal until contract has been signed by both parties and sealed with cashed check tucked into escrow account; Manhattan brokers and buyers comment; photos (M)

Perils and pressures limiting lives of Baghdad's teenage girls offer snapshot of changes bedeviling Iraq; access to satellite dishes, Internet cafes and cellphones has given girls new window on outside world, while creeping religious conservatism, lawlessness and economic uncertainty conspire against them in peculiar ways; increasing number of girls seem to be covering their heads, largely out of fear; some have stopped going to school because of threat of violence as much as because of family economic hardship; photos (M)

Federal Reserve Chmn Alan Greenspan, expected to begin raising short-term interest rates, may have to move more quickly and less gently than he apparently hopes; is under continuous second-guessing and criticism from bond traders and investors who hold he has waited too long to start curbing inflation; federal funds target rate graph; photo (M)

Report on Ford Escape Hybrid; photos (S)