July 23, 2004

IN Española, N.M., lowriding -- cruising the streets in tricked-out cars that all but scrape the ground -- is as integral a part of the local culture as green chilies and retablo paintings. Artists paint elaborate murals on the cars' hoods, trunks and sides, depicting everything from naked women to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Cadillacs, like the one at left, are especially popular. Page 10.

Richard Sandomir TV Sports column discusses Outdoor Life Network coverage of Tour de France stage 17, where announcer Phil Liggett mistakenly projected that leading cyclist Andreas Kloden would win stage; Lance Armstrong proved his prediction premature as he won race in final 100 meters; photo (M)

Clyde Haberman NYC column discusses New York City's decision to prohibit protesters from demonstrating in Central Park (NYC) and other places before Republican National Convention and relegation of any protests to West Side Highway instead (M)

AT&T Corp's decision to effectively retreat from residential phone business says great deal not only about AT&T and phone industry, but also about jeopardy once-leading brands in many other industries are in; famous brands have faded before but impact of deregulation, galloping technology, marketing clutter and increasingly global competition has made it harder than ever for established brands to stay on top; marketing experts say companies that think their brands will insulate them against competition are in for shock; contend reverse is more likely to be true: brand will not compensate for missteps, but missteps will devastate brand; photos (M)

News Analysis: partisan wrangling and capital's entrenched resistance to change can be expected to impede adoption of costly, complicated steps 9/11 commission believes are needed to make country safer; there is reason to doubt whether government, let alone public, has fully embraced uncertain realities that have become 'new normal' in aftermath of 9/11; ports, power grids, water supplies, rail hubs and many private buildings remain vulnerable in society that remains open by its essence; some initial political and bureaucratic response to commission's findings and recommendations sound suspiciously like business as usual; while Pres Bush himself has praised report, top White House officials remain noncommittal on specifics; panel's call for new national intelligence director is already being opposed by Pentagon, CIA, Homeland Security Sec Tom Ridge and some in Congress (M)