February 17, 2005

Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column contends that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has become subject of contention among opponents and even fans who seem to think he is insincere or less of a Yankee than veterans like Derek Jeter (M)

Mystery surrounds inspiration for The Thug, life-size, two-dimensional paper target that every New York City police officer has shot at since early 1960's; police departments in other states have used image over years, and it is official target used by Dept of Homeland Security; it is also available in gun shops; among theories, some say it looks like actor Ernest Borgnine, others say it resembles various police officers; Edwin Love, first administrative lieutenant at police firing range, claims he ordered artist to make image look like 'nobody,' for fear of offending anybody; photos (M)

Computer game America's Army lets users play soldier online, band together with other Internet warriors and battle enemies in detailed scenarios that Army says are more realistic than any other game; since its introduction in 2002, it has registered about 4.7 million users with about 30,000 logging on every day, making it one of cyberspace's most popular combat games; Army has no detailed figures on game's success in encouraging recruitment, but 2003 survey found that game is more effective at delivering Army's message than its ad campaign; photos (M)

Soundproofing materials and creative design allow developers to put up condominiums near bridges, freeway ramps, rail lines, bus terminals and other noisy sites; photos (M)

Critics say loophole in New York State's weak campaign finance law lets corporations give unlimited amounts to local parties' so-called housekeeping accounts, rendering $5,000 limit on corporate donations largely meaningless; housekeeping committees have few restrictions on how they can spend money; increasing use of such committees was highlighted this year by disclosure that state Republican Party's housekeeping committee pays salary of full-time assistant for state's first lady Libby Pataki; critics note that bond underwriters, barred from making large political donations, are instead giving tens of thousands of dollars to party housekeeping accounts; state records show that over last five years committees have accepted 18 checks for $100,000 each from corporations, including some that lobby state or do business with it; state law bars use of housekeeping money to promote candidacy of specific candidates, but analysis of campaign filings finds parties are finding artful ways to spend money to help specific candidates (M)

Article on First Annual TMN Tournament of Books, presented by Morning News, daily online magazine, and Powells.com, online bookstore; Web tournament is set up exactly like NCAA basketball tournament as novels from 2004 are pitted against each other until one of original 16 remains (M)

American International Toy Fair begins shortly and is likely to reflect growing preference among children for electronic toys; many new items are more advanced than toys were before, and blur distinction between toys and electronic items typically marketed to older customers; experts say shift is part of effort by $20 billion industry to reclaim dollars lost in recent years to high-tech products coveted by children; Toy Industry Assn believes children are more sophisticated; examples of some items that will be shown at fair; photos (M)

Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan strong suggests that central bank will keep raising short-term rates without any pause in months ahead, testimony before Senate Banking Committee; says money has become even more plentiful after six rate increases since last June; adds federal funds rate on overnight loans between banks remains 'fairly low'; admits his own surprise that long-term interest rates are lower today than they were last year, calling trend 'conundrum' that defies all of easy explanations; Fed has raised overnight rate in series of quarter-point increases to 2.5 percent, from 1 percent, since last June; yields on 10-year Treasury bonds are 4.16 percent, far below level of 4.7 percent last June; Greenspan notes mortgage rates are lower than when Fed started raising rates (M)

Federal Reserve Chmn Alan Greenspan voices cautiously hedged support for Pres Bush's plan to create individual investment accounts in Social Security; expresses unease that change could lead to trillions of dollars in additional government borrowing in next few decades; Bush, apparently trying to show Democrats he is serious about bipartisan compromise, says he would not rule out raising or eliminating cap on earnings that are subject to payroll tax that pays for Social Security benefits; taken together, developments reflect continued wariness on all sides about costs, ideological ramifications and political risks of trying to reshape Social Security and put it on sounder financial footing as American population ages; Bush has so far had little success pushing issue ahead in Congress, where many members of his own party have qualms and Democrats are spoiling for a fight; even Bush's suggestion that he would agree to raising or eliminating cap gets cold shoulder on Capitol Hill; photo (M)

NHL's decision to cancel 2004-5 hockey season will likely have long-term effects not yet imagined, as well as short-term impact projected by league and players union; photos (M)

Two New York-born children of Soyeb Thakur, legal US resident, and his wife Shilpi are living with her in Bangladesh following her deportation as illegal migrant, after airport confusion sends them on ahead of her; photos; about three million young Americans have at least one parent in US illegally, and advocates warn of harm as parents are deported with or without children; immigration officials are not responsible for children who are citizens; critics of illegal immigration point out that children are collateral damage from parents' lawbreaking and long-overdue crackdown (M)

Greenspan Backs Idea Of Private Accounts Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chairman, gave his blessing to the creation of individual investment accounts in Social Security but expressed unease that the change could lead to trillions of dollars in additional government borrowing in the next few decades. Meanwhile, President Bush, in newspaper interviews, left the door open to raising taxes on upper-income people to help deal with projected financial problems in the Social Security program. [Page A1.] Intel Makes Advance in Lasers An advance by Intel researchers in blending silicon chip technology with optical lasers could lead to cheaper communications systems and new uses for lasers. [C7.] Cancer Treatment Shows Promise An experimental treatment developed by Dendreon, a Seattle biotechnology company, tripled the survival rate of men with advanced prostate cancer in a clinical trial, doctors said. The result represents perhaps the first significant success for therapies known as cancer vaccines. The treatment tries to harness the body's own immune system to fight cancer after it has developed. [C5.] A Coffee Liqueur From Starbucks Starbucks, in a partnership with Jim Beam, is introducing an alcoholic coffee drink that will not be sold at its coffee outlets. [C3.] Indonesia Maps a Road to Growth On a visit to Singapore, the president of Indonesia talked of the kind of cleaner, more dynamic economy he wants for his country. [C4.] Hewlett Earnings Match Forecasts Hewlett-Packard's quarterly revenues rose by 9.9 percent from a year earlier, in line with Wall Street estimates. [C7.] Rate Remarks Do Little for Stocks The stock markets were nearly flat after the Fed chairman suggested rates would keep rising without pause. The Dow fell 2.44 points, to 10,834.88, and the S.&P. 500-stock index rose 0.22 point, to 1,210.34. [C7.] Script Problems End Film Shoot A film starring Russell Crowe, left, and Nicole Kidman has fallen apart three days before filming was scheduled to start, an embarrassing stumble for Fox Searchlight. Producers told the cast and crew members on the set of the drama, ''Eucalyptus,'' in Australia last Friday that the production would be postponed indefinitely. [C6.] Dispute Over Fen-Phen Settlement Lawyers for people who say they were hurt by the diet drug combination fen-phen said they would reject a comprehensive settlement offer from Wyeth. [C5.] Scrutiny of Stun Guns on the Rise Human rights groups and researchers are stepping up calls for studies and standards governing the use of electric stun guns. [A18.] The Bull Is Back, Promoting Merrill New ads for Merrill Lynch intensify its image makeover. Stuart Elliott: Advertising. [C6.] Scammers Pursue Small Businesses Owners of small businesses make ripe targets for all sorts of unscrupulous tax preparers and tax promoters. Small Business. [C4.] Measuring Self-Interest's Limits Does self-interest explain all behavior, or can we set it aside in the name of a greater good? Robert H. Frank: Economic Scene. [C2.]