January 9, 2005

Former actress Brigitte Nielsen and Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav, who met and say they fell in love on set of VH1 reality show The Surreal Life, will star in their own show Strange Love, which will chronicle their burgeoning romance; photos (M)

THESE days, the screenwriter John Logan is living the dream. He and his longtime partner, Marty Madden, share a place in Malibu with their basset hound, Bill, and his companion, Shaft, a dachshund. Once a struggling playwright who only a decade ago paid his bills by shelving books at Northwestern University, Mr. Logan drives a Lexus convertible, vacations around the world (''I was in Kigali, Rwanda, a month ago to track gorillas for a week'') and takes meetings with some of the biggest stars and directors in Hollywood. Such are the rewards on moviedom's fast track, where Mr. Logan has gained a reputation as the writer who can lift your picture into the Oscar race. Last year, it was ''The Last Samurai'' for Tom Cruise and Warner Brothers. The film earned four Academy Award nominations, a disappointment only when compared with the 2000 movie ''Gladiator,'' a best picture winner, for which Mr. Logan shared a screenwriting Oscar nomination.

Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column contends that New York Jets messy win over San Diego Chargers in wild-card playoff game was result of coach Herman Edwards's inspirational leadership techniques and ability to cut through chaos; photo (M)

General Motors is set to unveil latest hydrogen car prototype, called Sequel, at North American International Auto Show in Detroit; environmentalists see car as cover for GM's laggard performance on emissions and fuel economy; GM defends its efforts; says it has been able to double range of fuel cell vehicles in less than three years, to point that Sequel can travel 300 miles before refueling, making it first hydrogen protype that can go as far between fill-ups as conventional car; photo (M)

New York City has lost more than 750,000 manufacturing jobs in last 50 years, but many factories remain; more than 3,300 manufacturers have plants in Manhattan; New York City offers advantages, including talented pool of employees and excellent location; among challenges is frenetic real estate market; variety of industries noted; photos (M)

Bal Agrawal forms company, Lifeworx, that provides home services such as cooking, shopping and cleaning for busy professionals and retirees; photo (M)

Marilynne Robinson reviews books Though the Heavens May Fall: The Landmark Trial That Led to the End of Human Slavery by Steven M Wise and Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves by Adam Hochschild; drawings (M)

Shareholders and securities lawyers are increasingly concerned that top executives of public companies are building up hidden riches in retirement plans; cites generous packages awarded to Franklin D Raines of Fannie Mae, Charles K Gifford of Bank of America and Robert L Nardelli of Home Depot; say that although companies are required to publish fairly detailed list of more obvious forms of compensation, most companies are not so forthcoming about retirement plans; some compensation specialists believe debate over excess is misplaced, saying packages that make headlines are statistical outliers and do not reflect serious steps that boards have taken to moderate compensation; photos (L)

Train crash in South Carolina that released cloud of chlorine underscores warnings issued by government safety officials in 2004 that half of 60,000 pressurized tank cars are older cars that do not meet industry standards; tank cars are increasing concern to domestic security officials worried about terrorism; Homeland Security Department has asked one leading railroad to reroute toxic shipments away from Washington, DC, in wake of Madrid railway bombings; is working on $6 million security plan to increase surveillance on 42 miles of track in Washington area; photos (L)

Article on plight of tsunami survivors in Sri Lanka; Lal Karunamuni is blind and has lost his possessions, but his house still stands; fisherman Muhammad Zain lost his house, his boat and as many as 60 relatives, including his two children and pregnant wife; G H Premaratna's family survived intact, but their home is damaged and fishing boat is gone; two daughters working in garment factory will provide for family, but finding money to rebuild is another matter; map; photos (L)

THE best thing to happen to the image of the United States in the Muslim world last week may have been the stupidity of one lost water buffalo. After the cow closed the airport in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, by fatally colliding with the landing gear of an aid plane, helicopters from the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln swooped in to save the day, delivering tons of food to victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami.

Article on case of German citizen Khaled el-Masri, who claims he was kidnapped by Macedonian authorities and turned over to American officials who flew him to Afghanistan for questioning under torture about ties to Al Qaeda before finally releasing him in Albania; German officials believe his story, have verified some elements of it, and are working with Americans on investigation; Masri's lawyer suspects Masri was caught up in Central Intelligence Agency sweep involving taking prisoners to another country for interrogation because his name is similar to that of man wanted in Sept 11 attacks; photo (L)